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Population density: Italy vs Russia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Italy has a population density of 513 people per square mile compared to 22.4 people in Russia. Italy has 55,153 sq ft of land per person vs 1,280,521 sq ft in Russia. Italy and Russia rank 55th and 186th 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 1.77% of the population and 11% of the land area for Russia, making the population density in Italy 2,185% higher than in Russia.

Population density by year

Italy
Russia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Italy Russia
2026 513 22.4
2025 515 22.6
2024 516 22.7
2023 517 22.7
2022 517 22.8
2021 518 22.9
2020 521 23
2019 523 23
2018 527 23
2017 526 23
2016 527 22.9
2015 528 22.9
2014 528 22.8
2013 528 22.7
2012 527 22.7
2011 526 22.6
2010 524 22.6
2009 522 22.6
2008 519 22.6
2007 515 22.6
2006 511 22.6
2005 509 22.7
2004 506 22.8
2003 503 22.9
2002 500 23
2001 499 23.1
2000 499 23.2
1999 501 23.3
1998 501 23.3
1997 501 23.4
1996 501 23.4
1995 501 23.5
1994 501 23.5
1993 500 23.5
1992 500 23.5
1991 500 -
1990 499 -
1989 499 -
1988 499 -
1987 498 -
1986 498 -
1985 498 -
1984 498 -
1983 498 -
1982 498 -
1981 498 -
1980 497 -
1979 496 -
1978 495 -
1977 493 -
1976 491 -
1975 488 -
1974 485 -
1973 482 -
1972 479 -
1971 476 -
1970 474 -
1969 471 -
1968 469 -
1967 466 -
1966 462 -
1965 459 -
1964 455 -
1963 451 -
1962 448 -
1961 445 -

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/russia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Italy increased by 0.28%, compared to a 0.79% decline in Russia.

In 2006, Italy ranked 42nd by population density and is 55th now. Russia was 179th in 2006 and ranks 186th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Italy
Russia
1x
Year Urban population
Italy Russia
2024 69.6% 75.1%
2023 69.5% 75%
2022 69.5% 74.9%
2021 69.5% 74.8%
2020 69.5% 74.7%
2019 69.5% 74.6%
2018 69.5% 74.5%
2017 69.5% 74.5%
2016 69.6% 74.4%
2015 69.6% 74.3%
2014 69.6% 74.2%
2013 69.3% 74.1%
2012 68.8% 74%
2011 68.4% 73.9%
2010 68.2% 73.7%
2009 68% 73.5%
2008 67.9% 73.5%
2007 67.8% 73.4%
2006 67.7% 73.2%
2005 67.6% 73.2%
2004 67.5% 73.3%
2003 67.4% 73.4%
2002 67.4% 73.3%
2001 67.3% 73.2%
2000 67.2% 73.2%
1999 67.1% 73%
1998 67% 73.2%
1997 67% 73.1%
1996 66.9% 73.1%
1995 66.8% 72.9%
1994 66.8% 73%
1993 66.7% 73.1%
1992 66.7% 73.4%
1991 66.7% 73.7%
1990 66.7% 73.7%
1989 66.7% 73.6%
1988 66.8% 73.2%
1987 66.8% 72.9%
1986 66.8% 72.5%
1985 66.8% 72%
1984 66.9% 71.6%
1983 66.9% 71.3%
1982 66.9% 70.9%
1981 66.9% 70.3%
1980 66.8% 69.9%
1979 66.7% 69.3%
1978 66.6% 68.8%
1977 66.4% 68.2%
1976 66.2% 67.7%
1975 65.9% 66.9%
1974 65.7% 66.1%
1973 65.4% 65.1%
1972 65.1% 64.2%
1971 64.8% 63.2%
1970 64.5% 62.6%
1969 64% 61.8%
1968 63.6% 60.9%
1967 63.1% 60%
1966 62.5% 59.2%
1965 62% 58.3%
1964 61.4% 57.6%
1963 60.9% 56.8%
1962 60.3% 55.9%
1961 59.8% 55.1%
1960 59.3% 54.1%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 67.5% to 69.6% in Italy and from 73.3% to 75.1% in Russia.

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
Russia
City Population
Moscow 13.3M
Saint Petersburg 5.65M
Novosibirsk 1.64M
Yekaterinburg 1.47M
Kazan 1.33M
Nizhny Novgorod 1.2M
Chelyabinsk 1.18M
Krasnodar 1.15M
Samara 1.15M
Ufa 1.14M

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/russia | 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 (2018–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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