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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 131,065 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 1.48% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.25% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).

Japan vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Vatican
2100 76,978,998 2,521
2099 77,363,458 2,506
2098 77,742,445 2,497
2097 78,118,375 2,482
2096 78,498,614 2,469
2095 78,875,245 2,452
2094 79,250,325 2,435
2093 79,628,057 2,421
2092 80,007,967 2,400
2091 80,383,529 2,384
2090 80,760,724 2,359
2089 81,140,553 2,337
2088 81,521,696 2,319
2087 81,908,373 2,291
2086 82,304,497 2,269
2085 82,709,534 2,248
2084 83,123,058 2,217
2083 83,544,006 2,183
2082 83,980,325 2,159
2081 84,429,305 2,129
2080 84,899,768 2,105
2079 85,387,247 2,089
2078 85,897,934 2,068
2077 86,434,291 2,050
2076 86,993,007 2,025
2075 87,577,777 2,001
2074 88,190,392 1,970
2073 88,834,763 1,944
2072 89,499,356 1,912
2071 90,184,464 1,866
2070 90,899,136 1,829
2069 91,625,421 1,795
2068 92,367,969 1,777
2067 93,113,499 1,755
2066 93,869,240 1,729
2065 94,633,430 1,701
2064 95,391,433 1,679
2063 96,148,081 1,651
2062 96,902,907 1,623
2061 97,654,031 1,595
2060 98,400,894 1,556
2059 99,144,216 1,530
2058 99,868,968 1,512
2057 100,585,601 1,493
2056 101,295,868 1,469
2055 101,989,736 1,441
2054 102,683,462 1,419
2053 103,359,083 1,382
2052 104,036,901 1,358
2051 104,706,698 1,335
2050 105,377,283 1,311
2049 106,053,011 1,283
2048 106,731,207 1,256
2047 107,419,237 1,237
2046 108,115,358 1,215
2045 108,820,982 1,192
2044 109,529,333 1,174
2043 110,245,586 1,152
2042 110,968,174 1,135
2041 111,704,629 1,105
2040 112,438,759 1,070
2039 113,175,948 1,033
2038 113,915,783 1,001
2037 114,662,374 996
2036 115,410,956 1,001
2035 116,162,381 988
2034 116,911,001 988
2033 117,652,676 974
2032 118,393,188 964
2031 119,127,425 977
2030 119,856,131 979
2029 120,574,242 985
2028 121,287,543 983
2027 121,989,133 946
2026 122,677,250 933
2025 123,339,586 927
2024 123,975,371 910
2023 124,516,650 927
2022 125,124,989 951
2021 125,681,593 972
2020 126,261,000 987
2019 126,633,000 1,000
2018 126,811,000 -
2017 126,972,000 1,000
2016 127,076,000 -
2015 127,141,000 1,000
2014 127,276,000 842
2013 127,445,000 839
2012 127,629,000 836
2011 127,833,000 832
2010 128,070,000 829
2009 128,047,000 826
2008 128,063,000 824
2007 128,001,000 821
2006 127,854,000 932
2005 127,773,000 921
2004 127,761,000 921
2003 127,718,000 911
2002 127,445,000 900
2001 127,149,000 890
2000 126,843,000 880
1999 126,631,000 -
1998 126,400,000 -
1997 126,057,000 -
1996 125,757,000 -
1995 125,472,000 -
1994 125,178,000 -
1993 124,829,000 -
1992 124,425,000 -
1991 123,964,000 -
1990 123,478,000 -
1989 123,069,000 -
1988 122,578,000 -
1987 122,069,000 -
1986 121,482,000 -
1985 120,837,000 -
1984 120,083,000 -
1983 119,307,000 -
1982 118,480,000 -
1981 117,661,000 -
1980 116,807,000 -
1979 115,890,000 -
1978 114,913,000 -
1977 113,872,000 -
1976 112,775,000 -
1975 111,573,000 -
1974 110,162,000 -
1973 108,707,000 -
1972 107,188,000 -
1971 105,697,000 -
1970 103,403,000 -
1969 102,219,000 -
1968 101,011,000 -
1967 99,879,000 -
1966 98,851,000 -
1965 97,952,000 -
1964 96,903,000 -
1963 95,900,000 -
1962 94,933,000 -
1961 94,055,000 -
1960 93,216,000 -

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/japan/vatican | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th 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) Japan's population will shrink by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of the Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

The Vatican is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 2.52K people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Japan
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Vatican
2100 -0.5% 0.59%
2099 -0.49% 0.37%
2098 -0.48% 0.6%
2097 -0.48% 0.53%
2096 -0.48% 0.68%
2095 -0.47% 0.69%
2094 -0.47% 0.61%
2093 -0.47% 0.85%
2092 -0.47% 0.7%
2091 -0.47% 1.02%
2090 -0.47% 0.95%
2089 -0.47% 0.8%
2088 -0.47% 1.21%
2087 -0.48% 0.98%
2086 -0.49% 0.91%
2085 -0.5% 1.42%
2084 -0.5% 1.53%
2083 -0.52% 1.12%
2082 -0.53% 1.39%
2081 -0.55% 1.15%
2080 -0.57% 0.8%
2079 -0.59% 0.99%
2078 -0.62% 0.9%
2077 -0.64% 1.19%
2076 -0.67% 1.2%
2075 -0.69% 1.6%
2074 -0.73% 1.34%
2073 -0.74% 1.65%
2072 -0.76% 2.49%
2071 -0.79% 2.03%
2070 -0.79% 1.86%
2069 -0.8% 1.04%
2068 -0.8% 1.27%
2067 -0.81% 1.5%
2066 -0.81% 1.64%
2065 -0.79% 1.33%
2064 -0.79% 1.69%
2063 -0.78% 1.71%
2062 -0.77% 1.74%
2061 -0.76% 2.5%
2060 -0.75% 1.7%
2059 -0.73% 1.23%
2058 -0.71% 1.24%
2057 -0.7% 1.64%
2056 -0.68% 1.93%
2055 -0.68% 1.57%
2054 -0.65% 2.68%
2053 -0.65% 1.78%
2052 -0.64% 1.67%
2051 -0.64% 1.84%
2050 -0.64% 2.17%
2049 -0.64% 2.22%
2048 -0.64% 1.5%
2047 -0.64% 1.83%
2046 -0.65% 1.87%
2045 -0.65% 1.58%
2044 -0.65% 1.93%
2043 -0.65% 1.47%
2042 -0.66% 2.68%
2041 -0.65% 3.29%
2040 -0.65% 3.59%
2039 -0.65% 3.15%
2038 -0.65% 0.56%
2037 -0.65% -0.56%
2036 -0.65% 1.31%
2035 -0.64% 0%
2034 -0.63% 1.52%
2033 -0.63% 0.96%
2032 -0.62% -1.33%
2031 -0.61% -0.19%
2030 -0.6% -0.56%
2029 -0.59% 0.19%
2028 -0.58% 3.92%
2027 -0.56% 1.39%
2026 -0.54% 0.6%
2025 -0.51% 1.83%
2024 -0.43% -1.8%
2023 -0.49% -2.53%
2022 -0.44% -2.1%
2021 -0.46% -1.5%
2020 -0.29% -1.3%
2019 -0.14% 0%
2018 -0.13% 0%
2017 -0.08% 0%
2016 -0.05% 0%
2015 -0.11% 18.8%
2014 -0.13% 0.36%
2013 -0.14% 0.36%
2012 -0.16% 0.48%
2011 -0.19% 0.36%
2010 0.02% 0.36%
2009 -0.01% 0.24%
2008 0.05% 0.37%
2007 0.11% -11.9%
2006 0.06% 1.19%
2005 0.009% 0%
2004 0.03% 1.1%
2003 0.21% 1.22%
2002 0.23% 1.12%
2001 0.24% 1.14%
2000 0.17% -
1999 0.18% -
1998 0.27% -
1997 0.24% -
1996 0.23% -
1995 0.23% -
1994 0.28% -
1993 0.32% -
1992 0.37% -
1991 0.39% -
1990 0.33% -
1989 0.4% -
1988 0.42% -
1987 0.48% -
1986 0.53% -
1985 0.63% -
1984 0.65% -
1983 0.7% -
1982 0.7% -
1981 0.73% -
1980 0.79% -
1979 0.85% -
1978 0.91% -
1977 0.97% -
1976 1.08% -
1975 1.28% -
1974 1.34% -
1973 1.42% -
1972 1.41% -
1971 2.22% -
1970 1.16% -
1969 1.2% -
1968 1.13% -
1967 1.04% -
1966 0.92% -
1965 1.08% -
1964 1.05% -
1963 1.02% -
1962 0.93% -
1961 0.9% -

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/japan/vatican | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Japan Vatican
Current population
122677250
936
Population rank 12/197 197/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.00001%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
1 month
One birth every
42.2 seconds
n/a
One death every
19.5 seconds
n/a
Daily growth/decline -1,483 +0
Annual growth/decline -541,279 +0
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% +0%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 163/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
n/a
Annual migration change +140,579 n/a
Net migration rank 10/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -
2024 - 153,357 - -
2023 -871,617 175,003 - -
2022 -825,825 175,003 - -
2021 -640,976 -34,996 - -
2020 -542,923 42,001 - -
2019 -531,858 318,190 - -
2018 -456,520 320,601 - -
2017 -406,310 322,564 - -
2016 -343,106 314,732 - -
2015 -292,424 168,896 - -
2014 -267,279 58,109 - -
2013 -242,146 66,449 - -
2012 -229,733 67,904 - -
2011 -204,533 97,720 - -
2010 -128,070 131,860 - -
2009 -76,828 125,450 - -
2008 -51,225 142,605 - -
2007 -25,600 138,024 - -
2006 12,785 130,065 - -
2005 -25,554 113,017 - -
2004 76,656 69,014 - -
2003 114,946 74,875 - -
2002 178,423 60,864 - -
2001 203,438 59,563 - -
2000 228,317 23,468 - -
1999 202,610 56,901 - -
1998 265,440 45,912 - -
1997 277,325 43,366 - -
1996 314,392 25,030 - -
1995 276,039 87,714 - -
1994 363,017 154,214 - -
1993 312,073 168,836 - -
1992 360,833 170,878 - -
1991 396,685 161,331 - -
1990 407,478 124,582 - -
1989 467,662 31,202 - -
1988 527,085 51,154 - -
1987 598,138 28,001 - -
1986 631,706 27,987 - -
1985 676,687 -141,323 - -
1984 756,523 -273,686 - -
1983 775,495 -269,755 - -
1982 805,664 -288,550 - -
1981 811,861 -278,525 - -
1980 864,372 -92,314 - -
1979 950,298 -57,692 - -
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 - -
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 - -
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 - -
1975 1,204,989 107 - -
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 - -
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 - -
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 - -
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 - -
1970 1,230,496 33,731 - -
1969 1,195,962 49,447 - -
1968 1,191,930 43,593 - -
1967 1,258,475 29,632 - -
1966 682,072 68,934 - -
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 - -
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 - -
1963 987,770 -100,742 - -
1962 901,864 -57,075 - -
1961 893,522 -58,882 - -
1960 894,874 -150,371 - -

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

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

Biggest cities by population

Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between Japan 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/japan/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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