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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,256,567 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 14,975,051 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 15,999 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • Rwanda is ranked the 77th most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.18% for Rwanda vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, Rwanda has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15M (61% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).

Rwanda vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda Vatican
2100 33,092,520 2,521
2099 32,987,847 2,506
2098 32,907,335 2,497
2097 32,832,706 2,482
2096 32,747,490 2,469
2095 32,615,044 2,452
2094 32,529,590 2,435
2093 32,396,544 2,421
2092 32,274,083 2,400
2091 32,171,077 2,384
2090 32,068,626 2,359
2089 31,872,593 2,337
2088 31,726,882 2,319
2087 31,533,364 2,291
2086 31,379,315 2,269
2085 31,235,000 2,248
2084 31,092,940 2,217
2083 30,917,707 2,183
2082 30,733,578 2,159
2081 30,557,819 2,129
2080 30,367,298 2,105
2079 30,176,627 2,089
2078 29,997,866 2,068
2077 29,800,561 2,050
2076 29,627,021 2,025
2075 29,423,503 2,001
2074 29,225,643 1,970
2073 29,007,777 1,944
2072 28,780,763 1,912
2071 28,560,382 1,866
2070 28,316,533 1,829
2069 28,103,541 1,795
2068 27,854,906 1,777
2067 27,591,747 1,755
2066 27,355,659 1,729
2065 27,084,704 1,701
2064 26,821,315 1,679
2063 26,543,184 1,651
2062 26,296,132 1,623
2061 25,985,356 1,595
2060 25,712,904 1,556
2059 25,437,446 1,530
2058 25,106,242 1,512
2057 24,837,928 1,493
2056 24,566,784 1,469
2055 24,266,669 1,441
2054 23,976,914 1,419
2053 23,690,426 1,382
2052 23,406,346 1,358
2051 23,099,207 1,335
2050 22,800,250 1,311
2049 22,484,698 1,283
2048 22,157,938 1,256
2047 21,834,786 1,237
2046 21,540,566 1,215
2045 21,215,262 1,192
2044 20,902,695 1,174
2043 20,535,605 1,152
2042 20,201,608 1,135
2041 19,832,577 1,105
2040 19,463,015 1,070
2039 19,096,860 1,033
2038 18,761,626 1,001
2037 18,421,864 996
2036 18,116,691 1,001
2035 17,753,910 988
2034 17,421,234 988
2033 17,089,349 974
2032 16,811,505 964
2031 16,485,559 977
2030 16,167,916 979
2029 15,858,862 985
2028 15,544,959 983
2027 15,207,733 946
2026 14,888,776 933
2025 14,560,205 927
2024 14,256,567 910
2023 13,954,471 927
2022 13,651,030 951
2021 13,355,260 972
2020 13,065,837 987
2019 12,776,103 1,000
2018 12,487,996 -
2017 12,202,060 1,000
2016 11,919,183 -
2015 11,640,022 1,000
2014 11,364,757 842
2013 11,093,340 839
2012 10,829,901 836
2011 10,573,733 832
2010 10,317,553 829
2009 10,060,432 826
2008 9,804,269 824
2007 9,549,933 821
2006 9,299,246 932
2005 9,054,528 921
2004 8,816,844 921
2003 8,586,875 911
2002 8,400,180 900
2001 8,287,094 890
2000 8,213,931 880
1999 8,147,912 -
1998 8,081,681 -
1997 7,755,238 -
1996 6,708,764 -
1995 5,674,118 -
1994 6,792,352 -
1993 7,981,132 -
1992 7,683,266 -
1991 7,526,966 -
1990 7,375,307 -
1989 7,184,706 -
1988 6,968,071 -
1987 6,749,493 -
1986 6,531,881 -
1985 6,317,228 -
1984 6,107,627 -
1983 5,905,311 -
1982 5,711,549 -
1981 5,527,230 -
1980 5,353,259 -
1979 5,189,541 -
1978 5,035,171 -
1977 4,888,240 -
1976 4,745,954 -
1975 4,607,728 -
1974 4,474,228 -
1973 4,345,047 -
1972 4,220,335 -
1971 4,100,044 -
1970 3,980,669 -
1969 3,861,271 -
1968 3,744,010 -
1967 3,629,577 -
1966 3,521,626 -
1965 3,423,210 -
1964 3,334,834 -
1963 3,258,890 -
1962 3,186,025 -
1961 3,106,779 -
1960 3,022,294 -

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/rwanda/vatican | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Rwanda increased by 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Rwanda gained 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).

Rwanda was ranked 86th most populous country in 2006 and is 77th 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) Rwanda's population will grow by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people with a rank change from 77th to 72nd. The population of the Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.

Population growth rate by year

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Rwanda Vatican
2100 0.32% 0.59%
2099 0.24% 0.37%
2098 0.23% 0.6%
2097 0.26% 0.53%
2096 0.41% 0.68%
2095 0.26% 0.69%
2094 0.41% 0.61%
2093 0.38% 0.85%
2092 0.32% 0.7%
2091 0.32% 1.02%
2090 0.62% 0.95%
2089 0.46% 0.8%
2088 0.61% 1.21%
2087 0.49% 0.98%
2086 0.46% 0.91%
2085 0.46% 1.42%
2084 0.57% 1.53%
2083 0.6% 1.12%
2082 0.58% 1.39%
2081 0.63% 1.15%
2080 0.63% 0.8%
2079 0.6% 0.99%
2078 0.66% 0.9%
2077 0.59% 1.19%
2076 0.69% 1.2%
2075 0.68% 1.6%
2074 0.75% 1.34%
2073 0.79% 1.65%
2072 0.77% 2.49%
2071 0.86% 2.03%
2070 0.76% 1.86%
2069 0.89% 1.04%
2068 0.95% 1.27%
2067 0.86% 1.5%
2066 1% 1.64%
2065 0.98% 1.33%
2064 1.05% 1.69%
2063 0.94% 1.71%
2062 1.2% 1.74%
2061 1.06% 2.5%
2060 1.08% 1.7%
2059 1.32% 1.23%
2058 1.08% 1.24%
2057 1.1% 1.64%
2056 1.24% 1.93%
2055 1.21% 1.57%
2054 1.21% 2.68%
2053 1.21% 1.78%
2052 1.33% 1.67%
2051 1.31% 1.84%
2050 1.4% 2.17%
2049 1.47% 2.22%
2048 1.48% 1.5%
2047 1.37% 1.83%
2046 1.53% 1.87%
2045 1.5% 1.58%
2044 1.79% 1.93%
2043 1.65% 1.47%
2042 1.86% 2.68%
2041 1.9% 3.29%
2040 1.92% 3.59%
2039 1.79% 3.15%
2038 1.84% 0.56%
2037 1.68% -0.56%
2036 2.04% 1.31%
2035 1.91% 0%
2034 1.94% 1.52%
2033 1.65% 0.96%
2032 1.98% -1.33%
2031 1.96% -0.19%
2030 1.95% -0.56%
2029 2.02% 0.19%
2028 2.22% 3.92%
2027 2.14% 1.39%
2026 2.26% 0.6%
2025 2.13% 1.83%
2024 2.16% -1.8%
2023 2.22% -2.53%
2022 2.21% -2.1%
2021 2.22% -1.5%
2020 2.27% -1.3%
2019 2.31% 0%
2018 2.34% 0%
2017 2.37% 0%
2016 2.4% 0%
2015 2.42% 18.8%
2014 2.45% 0.36%
2013 2.43% 0.36%
2012 2.42% 0.48%
2011 2.48% 0.36%
2010 2.56% 0.36%
2009 2.61% 0.24%
2008 2.66% 0.37%
2007 2.7% -11.9%
2006 2.7% 1.19%
2005 2.7% 0%
2004 2.68% 1.1%
2003 2.22% 1.22%
2002 1.36% 1.12%
2001 0.89% 1.14%
2000 0.81% -
1999 0.82% -
1998 4.21% -
1997 15.6% -
1996 18.2% -
1995 -16.5% -
1994 -14.9% -
1993 3.88% -
1992 2.08% -
1991 2.06% -
1990 2.65% -
1989 3.11% -
1988 3.24% -
1987 3.33% -
1986 3.4% -
1985 3.43% -
1984 3.43% -
1983 3.39% -
1982 3.33% -
1981 3.25% -
1980 3.15% -
1979 3.07% -
1978 3.01% -
1977 3% -
1976 3% -
1975 2.98% -
1974 2.97% -
1973 2.96% -
1972 2.93% -
1971 3% -
1970 3.09% -
1969 3.13% -
1968 3.15% -
1967 3.07% -
1966 2.87% -
1965 2.65% -
1964 2.33% -
1963 2.29% -
1962 2.55% -
1961 2.8% -

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/rwanda/vatican | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.16%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Rwanda Vatican
Current population
14975051
936
Population rank 77/197 197/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.00001%
One net population change
1.74 minutes
1 month
One birth every
1.33 minutes
n/a
One death every
6.35 minutes
n/a
Daily growth/decline +828 +0
Annual growth/decline +302,096 +0
Annual growth/decline rate +2.16% +0%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 163/197
One migration net change every
1.4 hours
n/a
Annual migration change +6,282 n/a
Net migration rank 48/196
Foreign-born residents 513,316 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Rwanda
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Rwanda Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,282 - -
2024 - -15,582 - -
2023 312,762 -9,001 - -
2022 312,145 -9,001 - -
2021 309,895 -21,492 - -
2020 312,692 -22,251 - -
2019 313,525 -24,492 - -
2018 312,512 -25,323 - -
2017 310,323 -25,634 - -
2016 305,549 -24,474 - -
2015 299,114 -21,862 - -
2014 292,779 -19,505 - -
2013 286,331 -16,779 - -
2012 282,584 -25,260 - -
2011 282,922 -27,915 - -
2010 286,848 -29,501 - -
2009 287,034 -30,128 - -
2008 287,334 -31,913 - -
2007 285,791 -32,537 - -
2006 282,149 -34,008 - -
2005 275,121 -33,830 - -
2004 265,273 -31,214 - -
2003 251,243 -25,355 - -
2002 239,036 -91,518 - -
2001 230,845 -152,197 - -
2000 221,276 -153,588 - -
1999 210,518 -146,162 - -
1998 197,185 -129,089 - -
1997 174,687 410,106 - -
1996 140,455 1,367,700 - -
1995 121,137 439,995 - -
1994 -719,479 -2,078,111 - -
1993 183,926 236,110 - -
1992 188,025 -12,334 - -
1991 196,431 -59,519 - -
1990 207,895 -41,483 - -
1989 217,632 -2,826 - -
1988 223,759 -5,285 - -
1987 225,744 -7,062 - -
1986 225,526 -8,982 - -
1985 223,794 -11,031 - -
1984 219,337 -12,899 - -
1983 212,750 -14,560 - -
1982 205,147 -15,818 - -
1981 195,769 -16,453 - -
1980 184,988 -16,359 - -
1979 174,477 -15,669 - -
1978 163,779 -13,838 - -
1977 155,011 -11,084 - -
1976 147,665 -7,027 - -
1975 140,596 -4,791 - -
1974 135,743 -4,535 - -
1973 131,021 -3,862 - -
1972 126,403 -4,156 - -
1971 122,567 -4,230 - -
1970 119,273 1,149 - -
1969 115,394 2,983 - -
1968 111,422 4,728 - -
1967 108,053 4,655 - -
1966 105,128 -1,930 - -
1965 103,422 -9,774 - -
1964 102,562 -19,458 - -
1963 94,296 -25,524 - -
1962 102,548 -25,594 - -
1961 102,051 -20,508 - -
1960 100,627 -13,198 - -

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

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

Biggest cities by population

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between Rwanda 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/rwanda/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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