Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 392,404 in 2025 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 398,674 people compared to 939 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • Iceland's population is 425 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 +1.66% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 399K (31.2% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 939 (0.75% growth).

Iceland vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Vatican
2100 360,144 2,521
2099 361,926 2,506
2098 363,730 2,497
2097 365,557 2,482
2096 367,453 2,469
2095 369,353 2,452
2094 371,260 2,435
2093 373,227 2,421
2092 375,333 2,400
2091 377,423 2,384
2090 379,430 2,359
2089 381,438 2,337
2088 383,627 2,319
2087 385,798 2,291
2086 387,894 2,269
2085 390,003 2,248
2084 392,060 2,217
2083 394,128 2,183
2082 396,088 2,159
2081 398,124 2,129
2080 400,156 2,105
2079 402,122 2,089
2078 403,988 2,068
2077 405,922 2,050
2076 407,624 2,025
2075 409,218 2,001
2074 410,690 1,970
2073 412,079 1,944
2072 413,583 1,912
2071 414,926 1,866
2070 416,204 1,829
2069 417,368 1,795
2068 418,437 1,777
2067 419,588 1,755
2066 420,609 1,729
2065 421,634 1,701
2064 422,508 1,679
2063 423,391 1,651
2062 424,311 1,623
2061 425,017 1,595
2060 425,795 1,556
2059 426,421 1,530
2058 426,989 1,512
2057 427,546 1,493
2056 428,007 1,469
2055 428,399 1,441
2054 428,619 1,419
2053 428,812 1,382
2052 429,004 1,358
2051 428,983 1,335
2050 429,028 1,311
2049 428,993 1,283
2048 428,917 1,256
2047 428,806 1,237
2046 428,615 1,215
2045 428,387 1,192
2044 427,939 1,174
2043 427,281 1,152
2042 426,616 1,135
2041 425,912 1,105
2040 425,083 1,070
2039 424,104 1,033
2038 422,997 1,001
2037 421,786 996
2036 420,429 1,001
2035 418,926 988
2034 417,406 988
2033 415,689 974
2032 413,829 964
2031 411,715 977
2030 409,349 979
2029 406,777 985
2028 403,748 983
2027 400,455 946
2026 396,793 933
2025 392,404 927
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 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 63,235 people (a 18.9% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 61 people (a 6.1% 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 7.61% to 429,028 people and will still be ranked 173rd. The population of the Vatican will increase by 39.6% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 429K 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 1.53% 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 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Iceland grew by 1.53%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Iceland Vatican
Current population
398674
939
Population rank 173/197 197/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.00001%
One net population change
1.49 hours
1 month
One birth every
2.02 hours
n/a
One death every
3.33 hours
n/a
Daily growth/decline +16 +0
Annual growth/decline +5,898 +0
Annual growth/decline rate +1.53% +0%
Population growth rate rank 70/197 158/197
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 1,700 3,543 - -
2023 1,736 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 2026-07-08).

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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.