Living in Cities in Italy: 1800 to Today (and Tomorrow)

Updated October 2026 · ⬇ download this dataset (CSV) · methodology

In the 2020s, living in cities in Italy stands at 71 % — ranking #76 of 157 countries. In 1900 it was 34.1 %. (Source: UN / World Bank, compiled by MYRIAD)

The shift from rural to urban living in Italy represents a profound change in daily existence, as millions relocated from the soil to the pavement. This transformation is reflected in the percentage of the population living in cities, which stands at 71 % in the 2020s. Behind every percentage point lies a fundamental shift in how people work, gather, and build communities.

The historical trajectory of urbanization in Italy reveals a steady upward climb, from 34.1 % in 1900 to 71 % in the 2020s, ranking #76 of 157 countries. The movement continued through the decades, with estimates ranging from 11.78 in the 1800s to 69.83 in the 2010s. As the years passed, the percentage of people living in cities continued to rise, shaping the lives of generations to come.

As you consider the urban landscape of Italy, it is clear that the country's trajectory is part of a larger global trend. With a ranking of #76 of 157 countries, Italy's urbanization rate is just one piece of a complex puzzle. To explore more about how your life fits into the broader statistics, compute your own parallel lives on MYRIAD.

🇮🇹 Share of the population living in urban areas. For Italy, the story across three centuries is below — every value is a statistical fact about the lives actually lived there.

Decade by decade

DecadeLiving in Cities (%)
1800s estimate11.78
1810s estimate14.01
1820s estimate16.24
1830s estimate18.47
1840s estimate20.71
1850s estimate22.94
1860s estimate25.17
1870s estimate27.41
1880s estimate29.64
1890s estimate31.87
1900s estimate34.1
1910s estimate37.34
1920s estimate40.59
1930s estimate43.83
1940s estimate47.07
1950s50.31
1960s55.31
1970s60.31
1980s65.32
1990s66.99
2000s68.66
2010s69.83
2020s71
2030s projection73
2040s projection75
2050s projection77
2060s projection79
2070s projection81
2080s projection83
2090s projection85
2100s projection87

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Questions people ask

What is the Living in Cities in Italy today?

71 % in the 2020s (UN / World Bank).

How much did Living in Cities in Italy change since 1950?

From 50.31 to 71 % — a change of about 41%.

Where does Italy rank worldwide?

#76 of 157 countries covered by MYRIAD in the 2020s.

Where does YOUR life rank? →