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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 91,567,738 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,468,444 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 99,859 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 1.13% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.19% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.5M (27.4% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).

Iran vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran Vatican
2100 80,713,760 2,521
2099 81,246,718 2,506
2098 81,770,953 2,497
2097 82,295,714 2,482
2096 82,818,575 2,469
2095 83,338,446 2,452
2094 83,854,648 2,435
2093 84,371,569 2,421
2092 84,888,626 2,400
2091 85,410,099 2,384
2090 85,934,675 2,359
2089 86,466,409 2,337
2088 87,004,165 2,319
2087 87,549,685 2,291
2086 88,105,571 2,269
2085 88,668,329 2,248
2084 89,239,709 2,217
2083 89,817,194 2,183
2082 90,402,538 2,159
2081 90,995,822 2,129
2080 91,595,122 2,105
2079 92,196,842 2,089
2078 92,801,160 2,068
2077 93,405,954 2,050
2076 94,007,669 2,025
2075 94,606,607 2,001
2074 95,197,577 1,970
2073 95,783,994 1,944
2072 96,355,853 1,912
2071 96,915,335 1,866
2070 97,460,813 1,829
2069 97,988,897 1,795
2068 98,496,927 1,777
2067 98,978,509 1,755
2066 99,439,391 1,729
2065 99,877,457 1,701
2064 100,288,977 1,679
2063 100,668,199 1,651
2062 101,017,348 1,623
2061 101,332,810 1,595
2060 101,612,261 1,556
2059 101,858,931 1,530
2058 102,061,144 1,512
2057 102,228,085 1,493
2056 102,358,266 1,469
2055 102,449,092 1,441
2054 102,498,594 1,419
2053 102,508,245 1,382
2052 102,480,373 1,358
2051 102,417,847 1,335
2050 102,318,917 1,311
2049 102,189,816 1,283
2048 102,024,233 1,256
2047 101,832,213 1,237
2046 101,613,554 1,215
2045 101,371,784 1,192
2044 101,104,998 1,174
2043 100,818,045 1,152
2042 100,512,032 1,135
2041 100,188,214 1,105
2040 99,849,875 1,070
2039 99,501,869 1,033
2038 99,137,385 1,001
2037 98,759,167 996
2036 98,366,612 1,001
2035 97,963,082 988
2034 97,546,148 988
2033 97,118,106 974
2032 96,671,440 964
2031 96,204,118 977
2030 95,718,604 979
2029 95,195,996 985
2028 94,623,034 983
2027 93,987,260 946
2026 93,276,075 933
2025 92,478,162 927
2024 91,567,738 910
2023 90,608,707 927
2022 89,524,246 951
2021 88,455,488 972
2020 87,723,443 987
2019 87,051,648 1,000
2018 86,117,998 -
2017 85,026,754 1,000
2016 83,812,228 -
2015 82,619,362 1,000
2014 81,502,045 842
2013 80,414,686 839
2012 79,370,580 836
2011 78,383,598 832
2010 77,420,842 829
2009 76,457,825 826
2008 75,514,204 824
2007 74,602,648 821
2006 73,392,747 932
2005 71,828,455 921
2004 70,256,316 921
2003 68,769,340 911
2002 68,011,317 900
2001 67,452,005 890
2000 66,418,659 880
1999 65,445,391 -
1998 64,519,859 -
1997 63,639,638 -
1996 62,881,300 -
1995 62,205,567 -
1994 61,520,598 -
1993 61,403,543 -
1992 61,184,983 -
1991 59,986,931 -
1990 58,380,092 -
1989 56,704,914 -
1988 55,072,694 -
1987 53,323,493 -
1986 51,446,045 -
1985 49,582,289 -
1984 47,793,998 -
1983 46,029,535 -
1982 44,272,141 -
1981 41,989,312 -
1980 39,842,324 -
1979 38,424,952 -
1978 37,126,535 -
1977 35,933,181 -
1976 34,837,271 -
1975 33,802,973 -
1974 32,796,463 -
1973 31,839,838 -
1972 30,921,179 -
1971 30,029,071 -
1970 29,145,100 -
1969 28,273,482 -
1968 27,437,391 -
1967 26,628,432 -
1966 25,829,270 -
1965 25,036,978 -
1964 24,262,859 -
1963 23,519,005 -
1962 22,807,907 -
1961 22,125,726 -
1960 21,470,434 -

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/iran/vatican | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th 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) Iran's population will grow by 9.47% to 102,318,917 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of the Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran Vatican
2100 -0.66% 0.59%
2099 -0.64% 0.37%
2098 -0.64% 0.6%
2097 -0.63% 0.53%
2096 -0.62% 0.68%
2095 -0.62% 0.69%
2094 -0.61% 0.61%
2093 -0.61% 0.85%
2092 -0.61% 0.7%
2091 -0.61% 1.02%
2090 -0.61% 0.95%
2089 -0.62% 0.8%
2088 -0.62% 1.21%
2087 -0.63% 0.98%
2086 -0.63% 0.91%
2085 -0.64% 1.42%
2084 -0.64% 1.53%
2083 -0.65% 1.12%
2082 -0.65% 1.39%
2081 -0.65% 1.15%
2080 -0.65% 0.8%
2079 -0.65% 0.99%
2078 -0.65% 0.9%
2077 -0.64% 1.19%
2076 -0.63% 1.2%
2075 -0.62% 1.6%
2074 -0.61% 1.34%
2073 -0.59% 1.65%
2072 -0.58% 2.49%
2071 -0.56% 2.03%
2070 -0.54% 1.86%
2069 -0.52% 1.04%
2068 -0.49% 1.27%
2067 -0.46% 1.5%
2066 -0.44% 1.64%
2065 -0.41% 1.33%
2064 -0.38% 1.69%
2063 -0.35% 1.71%
2062 -0.31% 1.74%
2061 -0.28% 2.5%
2060 -0.24% 1.7%
2059 -0.2% 1.23%
2058 -0.16% 1.24%
2057 -0.13% 1.64%
2056 -0.09% 1.93%
2055 -0.05% 1.57%
2054 -0.009% 2.68%
2053 0.03% 1.78%
2052 0.06% 1.67%
2051 0.1% 1.84%
2050 0.13% 2.17%
2049 0.16% 2.22%
2048 0.19% 1.5%
2047 0.22% 1.83%
2046 0.24% 1.87%
2045 0.26% 1.58%
2044 0.28% 1.93%
2043 0.3% 1.47%
2042 0.32% 2.68%
2041 0.34% 3.29%
2040 0.35% 3.59%
2039 0.37% 3.15%
2038 0.38% 0.56%
2037 0.4% -0.56%
2036 0.41% 1.31%
2035 0.43% 0%
2034 0.44% 1.52%
2033 0.46% 0.96%
2032 0.49% -1.33%
2031 0.51% -0.19%
2030 0.55% -0.56%
2029 0.61% 0.19%
2028 0.68% 3.92%
2027 0.76% 1.39%
2026 0.86% 0.6%
2025 0.99% 1.83%
2024 1.06% -1.8%
2023 1.21% -2.53%
2022 1.21% -2.1%
2021 0.83% -1.5%
2020 0.77% -1.3%
2019 1.08% 0%
2018 1.28% 0%
2017 1.45% 0%
2016 1.44% 0%
2015 1.37% 18.8%
2014 1.35% 0.36%
2013 1.32% 0.36%
2012 1.26% 0.48%
2011 1.24% 0.36%
2010 1.26% 0.36%
2009 1.25% 0.24%
2008 1.22% 0.37%
2007 1.65% -11.9%
2006 2.18% 1.19%
2005 2.24% 0%
2004 2.16% 1.1%
2003 1.11% 1.22%
2002 0.83% 1.12%
2001 1.56% 1.14%
2000 1.49% -
1999 1.43% -
1998 1.38% -
1997 1.21% -
1996 1.09% -
1995 1.11% -
1994 0.19% -
1993 0.36% -
1992 2% -
1991 2.75% -
1990 2.95% -
1989 2.96% -
1988 3.28% -
1987 3.65% -
1986 3.76% -
1985 3.74% -
1984 3.83% -
1983 3.97% -
1982 5.44% -
1981 5.39% -
1980 3.69% -
1979 3.5% -
1978 3.32% -
1977 3.15% -
1976 3.06% -
1975 3.07% -
1974 3% -
1973 2.97% -
1972 2.97% -
1971 3.03% -
1970 3.08% -
1969 3.05% -
1968 3.04% -
1967 3.09% -
1966 3.16% -
1965 3.19% -
1964 3.16% -
1963 3.12% -
1962 3.08% -
1961 3.05% -

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/iran/vatican | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iran grew by 1.06%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Iran Vatican
Current population
93468444
936
Population rank 17/197 197/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.00001%
One net population change
32.9 seconds
1 month
One birth every
26.9 seconds
n/a
One death every
1.24 minutes
n/a
Daily growth/decline +2,627 +0
Annual growth/decline +959,031 +0
Annual growth/decline rate +1.06% +0%
Population growth rate rank 98/197 163/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
n/a
Annual migration change +116,786 n/a
Net migration rank 14/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 103/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - -
2024 - 190,156 - -
2023 750,150 262,044 - -
2022 753,525 403,190 - -
2021 645,725 334,967 - -
2020 663,978 -180,680 - -
2019 893,063 -32,794 - -
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 - -
2017 1,140,549 34,849 - -
2016 1,186,949 66,630 - -
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 - -
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 - -
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 - -
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 - -
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 - -
2010 980,380 -12,849 - -
2009 958,322 211 - -
2008 940,983 -12,184 - -
2007 919,254 -24,950 - -
2006 884,529 640,932 - -
2005 837,305 765,873 - -
2004 801,203 739,996 - -
2003 732,600 700,222 - -
2002 752,205 -668,962 - -
2001 743,658 291,692 - -
2000 731,203 300,133 - -
1999 723,237 191,988 - -
1998 717,655 218,171 - -
1997 726,574 98,009 - -
1996 784,508 -92,435 - -
1995 879,648 -220,258 - -
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 - -
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 - -
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 - -
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 - -
1990 1,530,434 200,711 - -
1989 1,609,739 9,460 - -
1988 1,614,512 30,688 - -
1987 1,639,644 213,524 - -
1986 1,659,289 242,411 - -
1985 1,661,750 163,999 - -
1984 1,653,051 97,748 - -
1983 1,573,612 204,544 - -
1982 1,514,240 222,390 - -
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 - -
1980 1,361,293 103,674 - -
1979 1,294,306 75,451 - -
1978 1,156,974 70,088 - -
1977 1,091,542 68,093 - -
1976 1,013,347 18,825 - -
1975 929,481 106,921 - -
1974 873,369 103,252 - -
1973 831,880 104,779 - -
1972 804,043 96,614 - -
1971 805,830 77,717 - -
1970 794,612 89,757 - -
1969 780,660 78,196 - -
1968 743,992 69,342 - -
1967 727,276 77,313 - -
1966 695,040 98,709 - -
1965 663,029 127,808 - -
1964 635,589 121,817 - -
1963 620,126 110,190 - -
1962 595,538 96,332 - -
1961 594,674 77,811 - -
1960 584,060 54,041 - -

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

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

Biggest cities by population

Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between Iran 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/iran/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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