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Population density: Italy vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Italy has a population density of 513 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. Italy has 55,153 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. Italy and Rwanda rank 55th and 13th 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 0.18% of the population and 0.02% of the land area for Rwanda, making the population density in Italy 67.2% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Italy
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Italy Rwanda
2026 513 1,563
2025 515 1,529
2024 516 1,497
2023 517 1,465
2022 517 1,433
2021 518 1,402
2020 521 1,372
2019 523 1,341
2018 527 1,311
2017 526 1,281
2016 527 1,251
2015 528 1,222
2014 528 1,193
2013 528 1,165
2012 527 1,137
2011 526 1,110
2010 524 1,083
2009 522 1,056
2008 519 1,029
2007 515 1,003
2006 511 976
2005 509 951
2004 506 926
2003 503 901
2002 500 882
2001 499 870
2000 499 862
1999 501 855
1998 501 848
1997 501 814
1996 501 704
1995 501 596
1994 501 713
1993 500 838
1992 500 807
1991 500 790
1990 499 774
1989 499 754
1988 499 732
1987 498 709
1986 498 686
1985 498 663
1984 498 641
1983 498 620
1982 498 600
1981 498 580
1980 497 562
1979 496 545
1978 495 529
1977 493 513
1976 491 498
1975 488 484
1974 485 470
1973 482 456
1972 479 443
1971 476 430
1970 474 418
1969 471 405
1968 469 393
1967 466 381
1966 462 370
1965 459 359
1964 455 350
1963 451 342
1962 448 334
1961 445 326

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Italy increased by 0.28%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, Italy ranked 42nd by population density and is 55th now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Italy
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Italy Rwanda
2024 69.6% 29.9%
2023 69.5% 28.9%
2022 69.5% 27.8%
2021 69.5% 26.1%
2020 69.5% 24.5%
2019 69.5% 23%
2018 69.5% 21.5%
2017 69.5% 20.2%
2016 69.6% 19.1%
2015 69.6% 18.2%
2014 69.6% 17.5%
2013 69.3% 17.1%
2012 68.8% 16.9%
2011 68.4% 16.9%
2010 68.2% 16.9%
2009 68% 16.9%
2008 67.9% 16.9%
2007 67.8% 16.9%
2006 67.7% 16.9%
2005 67.6% 16.9%
2004 67.5% 16.9%
2003 67.4% 16.9%
2002 67.4% 16.9%
2001 67.3% 16.5%
2000 67.2% 15.8%
1999 67.1% 14.7%
1998 67% 13.3%
1997 67% 11.8%
1996 66.9% 10.3%
1995 66.8% 8.82%
1994 66.8% 7.48%
1993 66.7% 6.4%
1992 66.7% 5.66%
1991 66.7% 5.36%
1990 66.7% 5.27%
1989 66.7% 5.2%
1988 66.8% 5.14%
1987 66.8% 5.09%
1986 66.8% 5.05%
1985 66.8% 5.01%
1984 66.9% 4.98%
1983 66.9% 4.95%
1982 66.9% 4.91%
1981 66.9% 4.87%
1980 66.8% 4.82%
1979 66.7% 4.75%
1978 66.6% 4.67%
1977 66.4% 4.55%
1976 66.2% 4.39%
1975 65.9% 4.19%
1974 65.7% 3.97%
1973 65.4% 3.75%
1972 65.1% 3.55%
1971 64.8% 3.37%
1970 64.5% 3.24%
1969 64% 3.14%
1968 63.6% 3.06%
1967 63.1% 3%
1966 62.5% 2.94%
1965 62% 2.88%
1964 61.4% 2.83%
1963 60.9% 2.78%
1962 60.3% 2.72%
1961 59.8% 2.67%
1960 59.3% 2.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 67.5% to 69.6% in Italy and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K

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/rwanda | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2012–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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