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

To measure the human life in Italy across three centuries is to trace the physical relocation of millions from the soil to the pavement. Behind every percentage point lies a fundamental shift in daily existence: the transition from agrarian routines shaped by seasons and villages to the shared density of municipal life. This slow migration redrew the map of human experience, altering how generations worked, gathered, and built communities within the country's ancient geography.

The trajectory unfolds decade by decade, revealing a steady upward climb from the 1800s estimate of 11.78 and the 1810s estimate of 14.01, moving onward through the 1820s estimate of 16.24, the 1830s estimate of 18.47, the 1840s estimate of 20.71, the 1850s estimate of 22.94, the 1860s estimate of 25.17, the 1870s estimate of 27.41, the 1880s estimate of 29.64, and the 1890s estimate of 31.87. By 1900 it was 34.1 %, which was mirrored by the 1900s estimate of 34.1. The movement continued through the 1910s estimate of 37.34, the 1920s estimate of 40.59, the 1930s estimate of 43.83, the 1940s estimate of 47.07, the 1950s of 50.31, the 1960s of 55.31, the 1970s of 60.31, the 1980s of 65.32, the 1990s of 66.99, the 2000s of 68.66, and the 2010s of 69.83.

For anyone born in the 2020s, living in cities in Italy stands at 71 % — ranking #76 of 157 countries. Looking ahead, this urban landscape will continue to evolve according to the 2030s projection of 73, the 2040s projection of 75, the 2050s projection of 77, the 2060s projection of 79, the 2070s projection of 81, the 2080s projection of 83, the 2090s projection of 85, and the 2100s projection of 87. Keep exploringLife Expectancy at Birth in ItalyIncome per Person (GDP per capita, PPP) in ItalyChild Mortality (under 5) in ItalyYears of Schooling in ItalyChildren per Woman in ItalyFull country profile: ItalyWhere do YOU rank among everyone ever born? →