Palermo Population 2026

Palermo has a population of 648,260, making it the #5 biggest city in 🇮🇹 Italy, located in Sicily. Roughly 1.1% of Italy's population lives here. It is about 3.6× smaller than Rome, the country's biggest city.

RomePalermo
Location of Palermo (capital Rome shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.
Population (city proper)
648,260
Rank in Italy
#5
Coordinates
38.12°N, 13.36°E
~14 m elevation · Europe/Rome
Distance to capital (Rome)
426 km
265 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Sicily

CityPopulationRank in Italy
Catania311,584#10
Messina219,948#12
Siracusa121,605#31
Marsala77,915#67
Gela75,001#72
Ragusa74,251#75
Trapani67,531#84
Caltanissetta62,797#92

Cities near Palermo

FAQ

What is the population of Palermo?
Palermo has a population of 648,260 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #5 biggest city in Italy.
What region is Palermo in?
Palermo is located in Sicily, Italy.
Is Palermo the capital of Italy?
No, the capital of Italy is Rome, about 426 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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