Rural population | Italy – yearly data, chart and table

According to the World Bank’s estimate, the rural population of Italy in 2024 amounted to 16 343 847, which is 1.15% less than in 2023, when it was  16 534 101 people. It has been falling in this country for already 14 years in a row. Over the entire period of data since 1960, this indicator has decreased in 1.25 times. The lowest population of rural area was recorded in 2024, when it was 16 343 847 people. The highest value was in 1960, when the rural population in Italy reached 20 400 656. World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects.
Aggregation of urban and rural population may not equal the total population due to differences in country coverage. There is no single consistent or universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, partly because of the wide diversity of situations across countries. Many countries classify areas as urban based on the size or characteristics of settlements. Others define urban areas by the presence of specific infrastructure and services, while some rely on administrative arrangements to make the distinction.