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Population in Iceland compared to the Vatican: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • Iceland's population is 424 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 0.005% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).

Iceland vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Vatican
2100 359,553 2,521
2099 361,331 2,506
2098 363,133 2,497
2097 364,957 2,482
2096 366,850 2,469
2095 368,746 2,452
2094 370,650 2,435
2093 372,614 2,421
2092 374,717 2,400
2091 376,803 2,384
2090 378,807 2,359
2089 380,812 2,337
2088 382,997 2,319
2087 385,164 2,291
2086 387,257 2,269
2085 389,362 2,248
2084 391,416 2,217
2083 393,481 2,183
2082 395,438 2,159
2081 397,470 2,129
2080 399,499 2,105
2079 401,462 2,089
2078 403,324 2,068
2077 405,255 2,050
2076 406,954 2,025
2075 408,546 2,001
2074 410,015 1,970
2073 411,402 1,944
2072 412,903 1,912
2071 414,245 1,866
2070 415,521 1,829
2069 416,683 1,795
2068 417,749 1,777
2067 418,899 1,755
2066 419,918 1,729
2065 420,941 1,701
2064 421,814 1,679
2063 422,695 1,651
2062 423,614 1,623
2061 424,319 1,595
2060 425,096 1,556
2059 425,721 1,530
2058 426,288 1,512
2057 426,844 1,493
2056 427,304 1,469
2055 427,695 1,441
2054 427,915 1,419
2053 428,108 1,382
2052 428,300 1,358
2051 428,278 1,335
2050 428,323 1,311
2049 428,289 1,283
2048 428,213 1,256
2047 428,102 1,237
2046 427,911 1,215
2045 427,683 1,192
2044 427,236 1,174
2043 426,580 1,152
2042 425,915 1,135
2041 425,212 1,105
2040 424,385 1,070
2039 423,407 1,033
2038 422,302 1,001
2037 421,094 996
2036 419,738 1,001
2035 418,238 988
2034 416,721 988
2033 415,006 974
2032 413,150 964
2031 411,039 977
2030 408,677 979
2029 406,109 985
2028 403,085 983
2027 399,797 946
2026 396,141 933
2025 391,759 927
2024 386,506 910
2023 385,663 927
2022 382,003 951
2021 372,520 972
2020 366,463 987
2019 360,563 1,000
2018 352,721 -
2017 343,400 1,000
2016 335,439 -
2015 330,815 1,000
2014 327,386 842
2013 323,764 839
2012 320,716 836
2011 319,014 832
2010 318,041 829
2009 318,499 826
2008 317,414 824
2007 311,566 821
2006 303,782 932
2005 296,734 921
2004 292,074 921
2003 289,521 911
2002 287,523 900
2001 284,968 890
2000 281,205 880
1999 277,381 -
1998 274,047 -
1997 271,128 -
1996 268,916 -
1995 267,468 -
1994 266,021 -
1993 263,725 -
1992 261,057 -
1991 257,797 -
1990 254,826 -
1989 252,852 -
1988 249,740 -
1987 245,859 -
1986 243,180 -
1985 241,405 -
1984 239,511 -
1983 236,977 -
1982 233,860 -
1981 230,755 -
1980 228,138 -
1979 225,735 -
1978 223,537 -
1977 221,799 -
1976 220,154 -
1975 217,979 -
1974 215,209 -
1973 212,317 -
1972 209,137 -
1971 206,098 -
1970 204,438 -
1969 203,369 -
1968 201,488 -
1967 198,751 -
1966 195,570 -
1965 192,286 -
1964 188,983 -
1963 185,653 -
1962 182,378 -
1961 179,029 -
1960 175,574 -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/vatican | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Iceland's population will grow by 7.85% to 428,323 people and will still be ranked 173rd. The population of the Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland Vatican
2100 -0.49% 0.59%
2099 -0.5% 0.37%
2098 -0.5% 0.6%
2097 -0.52% 0.53%
2096 -0.51% 0.68%
2095 -0.51% 0.69%
2094 -0.53% 0.61%
2093 -0.56% 0.85%
2092 -0.55% 0.7%
2091 -0.53% 1.02%
2090 -0.53% 0.95%
2089 -0.57% 0.8%
2088 -0.56% 1.21%
2087 -0.54% 0.98%
2086 -0.54% 0.91%
2085 -0.52% 1.42%
2084 -0.52% 1.53%
2083 -0.49% 1.12%
2082 -0.51% 1.39%
2081 -0.51% 1.15%
2080 -0.49% 0.8%
2079 -0.46% 0.99%
2078 -0.48% 0.9%
2077 -0.42% 1.19%
2076 -0.39% 1.2%
2075 -0.36% 1.6%
2074 -0.34% 1.34%
2073 -0.36% 1.65%
2072 -0.32% 2.49%
2071 -0.31% 2.03%
2070 -0.28% 1.86%
2069 -0.26% 1.04%
2068 -0.27% 1.27%
2067 -0.24% 1.5%
2066 -0.24% 1.64%
2065 -0.21% 1.33%
2064 -0.21% 1.69%
2063 -0.22% 1.71%
2062 -0.17% 1.74%
2061 -0.18% 2.5%
2060 -0.15% 1.7%
2059 -0.13% 1.23%
2058 -0.13% 1.24%
2057 -0.11% 1.64%
2056 -0.09% 1.93%
2055 -0.05% 1.57%
2054 -0.05% 2.68%
2053 -0.04% 1.78%
2052 0.005% 1.67%
2051 -0.01% 1.84%
2050 0.008% 2.17%
2049 0.02% 2.22%
2048 0.03% 1.5%
2047 0.04% 1.83%
2046 0.05% 1.87%
2045 0.1% 1.58%
2044 0.15% 1.93%
2043 0.16% 1.47%
2042 0.17% 2.68%
2041 0.2% 3.29%
2040 0.23% 3.59%
2039 0.26% 3.15%
2038 0.29% 0.56%
2037 0.32% -0.56%
2036 0.36% 1.31%
2035 0.36% 0%
2034 0.41% 1.52%
2033 0.45% 0.96%
2032 0.51% -1.33%
2031 0.58% -0.19%
2030 0.63% -0.56%
2029 0.75% 0.19%
2028 0.82% 3.92%
2027 0.92% 1.39%
2026 1.12% 0.6%
2025 1.36% 1.83%
2024 0.22% -1.8%
2023 0.96% -2.53%
2022 2.55% -2.1%
2021 1.65% -1.5%
2020 1.64% -1.3%
2019 2.22% 0%
2018 2.71% 0%
2017 2.37% 0%
2016 1.4% 0%
2015 1.05% 18.8%
2014 1.12% 0.36%
2013 0.95% 0.36%
2012 0.53% 0.48%
2011 0.31% 0.36%
2010 -0.14% 0.36%
2009 0.34% 0.24%
2008 1.88% 0.37%
2007 2.56% -11.9%
2006 2.38% 1.19%
2005 1.6% 0%
2004 0.88% 1.1%
2003 0.69% 1.22%
2002 0.9% 1.12%
2001 1.34% 1.14%
2000 1.38% -
1999 1.22% -
1998 1.08% -
1997 0.82% -
1996 0.54% -
1995 0.54% -
1994 0.87% -
1993 1.02% -
1992 1.26% -
1991 1.17% -
1990 0.78% -
1989 1.25% -
1988 1.58% -
1987 1.1% -
1986 0.74% -
1985 0.79% -
1984 1.07% -
1983 1.33% -
1982 1.35% -
1981 1.15% -
1980 1.06% -
1979 0.98% -
1978 0.78% -
1977 0.75% -
1976 1% -
1975 1.29% -
1974 1.36% -
1973 1.52% -
1972 1.47% -
1971 0.81% -
1970 0.53% -
1969 0.93% -
1968 1.38% -
1967 1.63% -
1966 1.71% -
1965 1.75% -
1964 1.79% -
1963 1.8% -
1962 1.87% -
1961 1.97% -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/vatican | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Iceland Vatican
Current population
397129
936
Population rank 173/197 197/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.00001%
One net population change
10.4 hours
1 month
One birth every
2.07 hours
n/a
One death every
3.44 hours
n/a
Daily growth/decline +2 +0
Annual growth/decline +843 +0
Annual growth/decline rate +0.22% +0%
Population growth rate rank 155/197 163/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
n/a
Annual migration change +2,709 n/a
Net migration rank 56/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 23/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - -
2024 - 3,543 - -
2023 1,697 4,630 - -
2022 1,719 6,535 - -
2021 2,534 4,911 - -
2020 2,199 2,498 - -
2019 2,163 5,030 - -
2018 1,975 6,638 - -
2017 1,854 8,348 - -
2016 1,711 4,128 - -
2015 1,952 1,499 - -
2014 2,324 1,139 - -
2013 2,169 1,666 - -
2012 2,566 -277 - -
2011 2,521 -1,393 - -
2010 2,862 -2,055 - -
2009 3,026 -4,785 - -
2008 2,825 1,138 - -
2007 2,617 5,254 - -
2006 2,491 5,300 - -
2005 2,433 3,925 - -
2004 2,425 610 - -
2003 2,317 -204 - -
2002 2,243 -333 - -
2001 2,365 867 - -
2000 2,475 1,877 - -
1999 2,192 1,165 - -
1998 2,357 1,014 - -
1997 2,305 225 - -
1996 2,447 -511 - -
1995 2,354 -1,354 - -
1994 2,713 -804 - -
1993 2,875 -194 - -
1992 2,898 -225 - -
1991 2,733 1,145 - -
1990 3,058 -971 - -
1989 2,832 -994 - -
1988 2,847 1,572 - -
1987 2,360 944 - -
1986 2,384 -335 - -
1985 2,221 -628 - -
1984 2,539 -328 - -
1983 2,702 170 - -
1982 2,736 616 - -
1981 2,677 157 - -
1980 2,966 -629 - -
1979 2,980 -572 - -
1978 2,727 -781 - -
1977 2,551 -1,079 - -
1976 2,951 -1,181 - -
1975 2,965 -388 - -
1974 2,776 209 - -
1973 3,121 -310 - -
1972 3,241 362 - -
1971 2,782 -231 - -
1970 2,576 -1,754 - -
1969 2,766 -1,414 - -
1968 2,841 -448 - -
1967 3,021 47 - -
1966 3,305 39 - -
1965 3,442 -194 - -
1964 3,459 -67 - -
1963 3,490 -113 - -
1962 3,465 -228 - -
1961 3,312 164 - -
1960 3,758 -269 - -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/vatican | CC BY

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between Iceland and the Vatican

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/vatican | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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