Milan Population 2023

Milan's 2023 population is now estimated at 3,154,570In 1950, the population of Milan was 1,883,420Milan has grown by 5,347 in the last year, which represents a 0.17% annual change. These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Milan, which typically includes Milan's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.

Milan is a global city in Italy, and it is the country’s most populated city. The “moral capital of Italy,” as it is known, is located in northern Italy and is the capital of the Lombardy region. This manufacturing and commercial city has seen recent declines over the years, however, the population is bouncing back in recent years. Milan’s urban area has an estimated population of 3.1 million in 2016.

The urban area of Milan has a population of 3.1 million in 2016, while the city proper is estimated to have a population of around 1.7 million. The metropolitan area has an even larger population, with some estimates placing it as high as 10 million people. Milan has become renowned around the world as a global city that leads the world in sectors including tourism, fashion, manufacturing, education and the arts.

City Size and Population Density

The surface area that Milan occupies comes to a total of 181.76 square kilometers (70.18 square miles). With a population of atleast 1,372,075 in the year 2018, the population density currently sits at approximately 7,551.3 residents per square kilometer.

Milan Demographics

Industrialization during the post-war years led to a population boom that put the Milan city population at a record high of 1,743,427 in 1973, a number that was matched in 2016. This has dropped slightly according to Milans 2017 estimates. The larger urban area boasts a population of over 3 million, while the metropolitan area has an estimated population of 7 to 10 million.

According to Istat information in 2011, over 200,000 residents within the city limits are foreigners. The city is no stranger to influxes of immigrants, having seen over 400,000 people arrive throughout the 1950s through 1970s and experiencing additional immigrant growth during the late 1980s through the 1990s. Much of the immigration has been attributed to the rapid industrialization and public works of the city.

Milan has the largest community of Chinese in the country, with approximately 21,000 Chinese residents last recorded in 2011. There are also a growing number of Filipinos and Sri Lankans migrating to Milan, with 2014 estimates putting their numbers at 42,236 and 16,023, respectively. Other immigrants include those coming from Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

The population of Milan is primarily Catholic, although there are also large communities of Buddhists, Jews, Muslims and Protestants. The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milan and has its own rites – the Ambrosian Rite – that differs from traditional Catholicism.

The city has seen population declines over the last few decades, most recently due to the financial crisis of the 1990s and declines in industries including textiles and steel production. However, the last official census taken in 2013 showed that there was a population increase of 7% compared to the last census, indicating that Milan was rebounding from these past issues.

Milan History

The history of the settlement of Milan dates back to 600 BC. Early settlement of the area was founded by the Gauls, a Celtic group. During the emperor Augustus’ reign, the already powerful city began gaining increasing power and prestige before becoming a part of the Western Roman Empire. The city was attacked by Attila the Hun in 452 and again in 539 by the Goths, but by the second half of the 10th century, the area had bounced back from the attacks.

Over the next thousands of years, Milan faced multiple conflicts and power struggles but always remained or regained its power as one of the world’s most powerful cities. Rapid industrialization throughout the 1800s and 1900s led to population growth and the city’s role as Italy’s leading financial center. The post-war economic boom led to the construction of skyscrapers and an increase in market capitalization in the stock exchange. The city has not been without controversy and hard times, however, as street violence and terrorism in the 1960s and 1970s and a financial crisis in the 1990s plagued the city.

In the 1980s, fashion powerhouses including Versace and Armani led to Milan becoming one of the fashion capitals of the world, and Milan Fashion Week continues to be one of the most exciting and anticipated events in the world of fashion. In the late 21st century, Milan has undergone redevelopments including the construction of new business districts and development of revenue sources including tourism, logistics, transport, fashion design, finance and banking, to name a few.

Milan Population Growth

Milan has been plagued with decades of a declining population, in part due to the financial crisis and industry declines. However, the city is showing slow signs of growth, with city limits of 1.7 million matching the record-high from years ago. The urban population is expected to see slow but progressive growth over the years, with a 2020 estimated population of 3.124 million and a population of 3.16 million in 2030.

Country
Italy
Growth Rate
0.17%

Milan Population 2023

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Year
Population
Growth Rate
Growth
19501,883,420
19511,900,5760.91%17,156
19521,939,7952.06%39,219
19531,991,5292.67%51,734
19542,044,7182.67%53,189
19552,099,3272.67%54,609
19562,155,4722.67%56,145
19572,212,9592.67%57,487
19582,272,0612.67%59,102
19592,332,7422.67%60,681
19602,395,1302.67%62,388
19612,459,0092.67%63,879
19622,517,9592.4%58,950
19632,575,5092.29%57,550
19642,634,4572.29%58,948
19652,694,5872.28%60,130
19662,756,1752.29%61,588
19672,819,1702.29%62,995
19682,883,6952.29%64,525
19692,949,5132.28%65,818
19703,016,9272.29%67,414
19713,085,8832.29%68,956
19723,112,6520.87%26,769
19733,119,5320.22%6,880
19743,126,4360.22%6,904
19753,133,3560.22%6,920
19763,140,3010.22%6,945
19773,147,2420.22%6,941
19783,154,2070.22%6,965
19793,161,1890.22%6,982
19803,168,1950.22%7,006
19813,175,1970.22%7,002
19823,168,277-0.22%-6,920
19833,154,909-0.42%-13,368
19843,141,580-0.42%-13,329
19853,128,343-0.42%-13,237
19863,115,143-0.42%-13,200
19873,102,000-0.42%-13,143
19883,088,893-0.42%-13,107
19893,075,878-0.42%-13,015
19903,062,900-0.42%-12,978
19913,049,977-0.42%-12,923
19923,041,104-0.29%-8,873
19933,034,023-0.23%-7,081
19943,026,948-0.23%-7,075
19953,019,890-0.23%-7,058
19963,012,839-0.23%-7,051
19973,005,823-0.23%-7,016
19982,998,815-0.23%-7,008
19992,991,822-0.23%-6,993
20002,984,837-0.23%-6,985
20012,977,886-0.23%-6,951
20022,982,0830.14%4,197
20032,991,2370.31%9,154
20043,000,4320.31%9,195
20053,009,6290.31%9,197
20063,018,8680.31%9,239
20073,028,1350.31%9,267
20083,037,4430.31%9,308
20093,046,7540.31%9,311
20103,056,1070.31%9,353
20113,065,4880.31%9,381
20123,074,9110.31%9,423
20133,084,3630.31%9,452
20143,093,8440.31%9,481
20153,103,3540.31%9,510
20163,112,8940.31%9,540
20173,122,4620.31%9,568
20183,132,0600.31%9,598
20193,136,0770.13%4,017
20203,140,1810.13%4,104
20213,144,4730.14%4,292
20223,149,2230.15%4,750
20233,154,5700.17%5,347
20243,160,6310.19%6,061
20253,167,4470.22%6,816
20263,174,9620.24%7,515
20273,183,0350.25%8,073
20283,191,4970.27%8,462
20293,200,1490.27%8,652
20303,208,8250.27%8,676
20313,217,4320.27%8,607
20323,225,9360.26%8,504
20333,234,3070.26%8,371
20343,242,5290.25%8,222
20353,250,5880.25%8,059
showing: 86 rows

Milan Population Data (Urban Area)

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Other Cities in Italy

  1. Municipality of Milan - Information from the Municipality of Milan
  2. Municipality of Milan - Milan population data

Sources