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Population density: Italy vs Norway compared

Updated on by Georank team

Italy has a population density of 513 people per square mile compared to 40.3 people in Norway. Italy has 55,153 sq ft of land per person vs 744,100 sq ft in Norway. Italy and Norway rank 55th and 182nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Italy has 0.73% of the world's population and 0.2% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.07% of the population and 0.24% of the land area for Norway, making the population density in Italy 1,173% higher than in Norway.

Population density by year

Italy
Norway

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Italy Norway
2026 513 40.3
2025 515 40
2024 516 39.6
2023 517 39.2
2022 517 38.8
2021 518 38.5
2020 521 38.2
2019 523 37.9
2018 527 37.7
2017 526 37.4
2016 527 37.1
2015 528 36.8
2014 528 36.4
2013 528 36
2012 527 35.6
2011 526 35.1
2010 524 34.7
2009 522 34.2
2008 519 33.8
2007 515 33.4
2006 511 33
2005 509 32.8
2004 506 32.6
2003 503 32.4
2002 500 32.2
2001 499 32
2000 499 31.8
1999 501 31.6
1998 501 31.4
1997 501 31.2
1996 501 31.1
1995 501 30.9
1994 501 30.8
1993 500 30.6
1992 500 30.4
1991 500 30.2
1990 499 30.1
1989 499 30
1988 499 29.8
1987 498 29.7
1986 498 29.6
1985 498 29.4
1984 498 29.4
1983 498 29.3
1982 498 29.2
1981 498 29.1
1980 497 29
1979 496 28.9
1978 495 28.8
1977 493 28.7
1976 491 28.5
1975 488 28.4
1974 485 28.3
1973 482 28.1
1972 479 27.9
1971 476 27.7
1970 474 27.5
1969 471 27.3
1968 469 27.1
1967 466 26.8
1966 462 26.6
1965 459 26.4
1964 455 26.2
1963 451 26
1962 448 25.8
1961 445 25.6

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/italy/norway | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Italy increased by 0.28%, compared to a 21.9% growth in Norway.

In 2006, Italy ranked 42nd by population density and is 55th now. Norway was 171st in 2006 and ranks 182nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Italy
Norway
1x
Year Urban population
Italy Norway
2024 69.6% 83.3%
2023 69.5% 83.1%
2022 69.5% 83%
2021 69.5% 82.9%
2020 69.5% 82.7%
2019 69.5% 82.5%
2018 69.5% 82.2%
2017 69.5% 82%
2016 69.6% 81.7%
2015 69.6% 81.2%
2014 69.6% 80.6%
2013 69.3% 80%
2012 68.8% 79.5%
2011 68.4% 79.3%
2010 68.2% 79.2%
2009 68% 79.1%
2008 67.9% 78.8%
2007 67.8% 78.4%
2006 67.7% 78.1%
2005 67.6% 77.8%
2004 67.5% 77.6%
2003 67.4% 77.3%
2002 67.4% 76.8%
2001 67.3% 76.4%
2000 67.2% 76.1%
1999 67.1% 75.8%
1998 67% 75.3%
1997 67% 74.7%
1996 66.9% 74.2%
1995 66.8% 73.9%
1994 66.8% 73.7%
1993 66.7% 73.2%
1992 66.7% 72.6%
1991 66.7% 72.2%
1990 66.7% 71.9%
1989 66.7% 71.7%
1988 66.8% 71.6%
1987 66.8% 71.5%
1986 66.8% 71.4%
1985 66.8% 71.3%
1984 66.9% 71.2%
1983 66.9% 71.1%
1982 66.9% 71%
1981 66.9% 70.8%
1980 66.8% 70.6%
1979 66.7% 70.4%
1978 66.6% 70.1%
1977 66.4% 69.7%
1976 66.2% 69.3%
1975 65.9% 68.9%
1974 65.7% 68.3%
1973 65.4% 67.7%
1972 65.1% 67.1%
1971 64.8% 66.4%
1970 64.5% 65.6%
1969 64% 64.4%
1968 63.6% 62.6%
1967 63.1% 60.5%
1966 62.5% 58.2%
1965 62% 55.9%
1964 61.4% 53.6%
1963 60.9% 51.6%
1962 60.3% 50.1%
1961 59.8% 49%
1960 59.3% 48.7%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/italy/norway | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 67.5% to 69.6% in Italy and from 77.6% to 83.3% in Norway.

Densely populated cities

Italy
City Population
Rome 2.75M
Milan 1.35M
Naples 913K
Turin 842K
Palermo 630K
Genoa 559K
Bologna 388K
Florence 361K
Bari 315K
Catania 312K
Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 150K
Baerum 132K
Drammen 105K
Asker 100K
Lillestrom 95.8K
Fredrikstad 85.9K
Sandnes 84.9K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/italy/norway | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2019–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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