Quick facts
Bologna overview
Bologna (orange) and the other large cities of Italy
Bologna lies in Emilia-Romagna in Italy at 44.49°N, 11.34°E, about 54 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Rome (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Genoa (580,097) and larger than Florence (367,150). The largest city in Italy is Rome with 2,318,895 people; the capital, Rome, has 2,318,895.
The national capital, Rome, is about 305 km away; the nearest large city is Modena, 37 km from Bologna.
Italy as a whole has a live population of 58,858,426 (-0.4% a year) and ranks #25 of 238 countries — see the Italy population page for the full statistics and the Italy atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Bologna
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Modena Emilia-Romagna | 37 km | 184,732 |
| Ferrara Emilia-Romagna | 44 km | 132,009 |
| Reggio nell'Emilia Emilia-Romagna | 60 km | 171,944 |
| Forlì Emilia-Romagna | 64 km | 116,696 |
| Prato Tuscany | 71 km | 195,089 |
| Florence Tuscany | 80 km | 367,150 |
| Parma Emilia-Romagna | 87 km | 198,292 |
| Verona Veneto | 108 km | 258,031 |
Largest cities in Italy
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bologna?
Bologna has about 394,843 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Bologna the capital of Italy?
No. The capital of Italy is Rome (2,318,895 people), about 305 km away. Bologna is the 7th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Bologna compared with the rest of Italy?
Its 394,843 residents are 0.7% of the 58,858,426 people living in Italy today. Rome is larger with 2,318,895 people.
Where is Bologna?
In Emilia-Romagna, Italy, at latitude 44.49 and longitude 11.34, 54 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Modena (37 km), Ferrara (44 km), Reggio nell'Emilia (60 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Bologna Population 2026 — Italy. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/italy/bologna/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/italy/bologna/">Bologna Population 2026 — Italy</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.