<P> At its peak , after the Antonine Plague of the 160s CE , it had a population of about 60 -- 70 million and a population density of about 16 persons per square kilometer . In contrast to the European societies of the classical and medieval periods , Rome had unusually high urbanization rates . During the 2nd century CE , the city of Rome had more than one million inhabitants . No Western city would have as many again until the 19th century . </P>
<P> At its peak , after the Antonine Plague of the 160s CE , it had a population of about 60 -- 70 million and a population density of about 16 persons per square kilometer . In contrast to the European societies of the classical and medieval periods , Rome had unusually high urbanization rates . During the 2nd century CE , the city of Rome had more than one million inhabitants . No Western city would have as many again until the 19th century . </P>
population of the roman empire at its peak
population of the roman empire at its peak
60 -- 70 million
60 -- 70 million