Italy - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Italy was 42,232,350 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 42,559,880 in 2018 and a minimum value of 29,799,040 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 29,799,040
1961 30,249,040
1962 30,708,290
1963 31,188,380
1964 31,702,830
1965 32,227,840
1966 32,737,190
1967 33,233,150
1968 33,703,020
1969 34,152,930
1970 34,592,380
1971 35,012,580
1972 35,369,080
1973 35,720,360
1974 36,065,660
1975 36,393,140
1976 36,687,130
1977 36,955,190
1978 37,198,850
1979 37,418,640
1980 37,607,540
1981 37,764,020
1982 37,819,720
1983 37,822,140
1984 37,819,270
1985 37,818,890
1986 37,809,630
1987 37,802,170
1988 37,809,110
1989 37,826,150
1990 37,846,480
1991 37,861,340
1992 37,907,510
1993 37,964,790
1994 38,006,630
1995 38,041,340
1996 38,086,150
1997 38,140,440
1998 38,185,560
1999 38,226,140
2000 38,277,620
2001 38,333,310
2002 38,447,500
2003 38,686,980
2004 39,006,820
2005 39,267,370
2006 39,454,180
2007 39,722,860
2008 40,056,300
2009 40,308,360
2010 40,502,480
2011 40,641,670
2012 40,894,260
2013 41,548,780
2014 42,109,850
2015 42,247,230
2016 42,351,340
2017 42,462,870
2018 42,559,880
2019 42,249,960
2020 42,232,350

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization