Vatican City Population Pyramid
Vatican City is the world's smallest country by both area (0.44 km²) and population. Official Vatican statistics count 882 residents and 673 citizens as of 31 December 2024; 458 of the citizens live inside the walls, including 120 members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. The age-and-sex chart on this page is a model estimate, not an official count.
Vatican City Demographics
World's Smallest Sovereign State
Unique demographic profile of the Holy See
Real UN Data
Unique Characteristics
Data Transparency Note
Vatican City demographic data combines official UN population statistics with realistic age distribution modeling based on the unique characteristics of a religious state. The age breakdown reflects the typical demographic profile of clergy and religious communities, with a median age of 59.6 years as reported by the UN.
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Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Vatican City has 91.5 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Women outnumber men by 22 (4.4% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:237
- Percentage:47.8%
Female Statistics
- Population:259
- Percentage:52.2%
- Ratio Format:1:1.093
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Vatican City indicates more females than males.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 2 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 | 4.2 | 1.00 | estimate |
| 2022 | 2 | 4.2 | 1.00 | estimate |
| 2023 | 2 | 4.2 | 1.00 | estimate |
| 2024 | 2 | 4.1 | 1.00 | projection |
| 2025 | 2 | 4.3 | 1.00 | projection |
| 2026 | 2 | 4.4 | 1.00 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (2 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Vatican City's median age is 59.6 years
Half the population is younger than 59.6 years, half is older — indicating an aging society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 2 | 0.4% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 2 | 0.4% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 4 | 0.8% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 6 | 1.2% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 10 | 2.0% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 15 | 3.0% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 21 | 4.2% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 29 | 5.8% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 36 | 7.3% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 44 | 8.9% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 52 | 10.5% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 37 | 7.5% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 60 | 12.1% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 55 | 11.1% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 46 | 9.3% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 35 | 7.1% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 24 | 4.8% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 12 | 2.4% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 5 | 1.0% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 1 | 0.2% | Senior |
| 100+ | 0 | 0.0% | Senior |
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Vatican City Total Fertility Rate: 1.00 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.00 | 4.2 | |
| 2022 | 1.00 | 4.2 | 0.00 |
| 2023 | 1.00 | 4.2 | 0.00 |
| 2024 | 1.00 | 4.1 | 0.00 |
| 2025 | 1.00 | 4.3 | 0.00 |
| 2026 | 1.00 | 4.4 | 0.00 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.00
Vatican City's total fertility rate is 1.00 children per woman in 2026 (very low (lowest-low) fertility), below the replacement level of 2.1. Vatican City ranks 194 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the lowest third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by 0.0% since 1950.
Understanding Vatican City's Demographics
Vatican City has a constrictive population pyramid — a base narrower than the middle, so younger cohorts are smaller than the ones above them.
Children under 15 make up 1.6% of the population and people aged 65 and over 35.9%.
The largest five-year age band is 60–64, at 12.1% of the population, compared with 0.4% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Vatican City's Population Structure
Fertility Transition Stage
Vatican City is in a period of very low (lowest-low) fertility, with a total fertility rate of 1.00 children per woman (2023, UN WPP 2024).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 496 |
| Male Population | 237(47.8%) |
| Female Population | 259(52.2%) |
| Median Age | 59.6 years |
| Sex Ratio | 91.5 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 8(1.6%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 310(62.5%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 178(35.9%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 60.0 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 2.6 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 57.4 |
| Pyramid Type | Constrictive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 2023–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 2023–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 2023 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Vatican City
How long the average person in Vatican City is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Vatican City is projected to grow to 714 people by 2050 (+40.8% from 2026).
The median age falls from 56.2 in 2026 to 42.8 by 2050.
Vatican City's Demographic Evolution by Decade
Age-structure data for Vatican City in the 1970s is not available in this dataset.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vatican City
How does Vatican City rank globally by population?
Vatican City has a population of 496 people as of 2023.
What does Vatican City's age structure reveal about its development?
Vatican City's age structure — 1.6% under 15, 62.5% working-age (15–64) and 35.9% aged 65+ — is that of a country mid-transition, with a constrictive population pyramid. The median age is 59.6 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Vatican City?
Vatican City has 60.0 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2023.
Is Vatican City experiencing a demographic dividend?
Vatican City is approaching a demographic-dividend phase. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Vatican City's population?
Vatican City has more males than females, with 105.8 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2023). Vatican City Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/vatican-city
View UN World Population Prospects Data →