Vatican City population pyramid 2026
506 people in 2026 (projected). Vatican City’s pyramid describes about 500 people with almost no births; its widest bands are at ages 75–89, and its figures are modelled estimates, not counts.
- 2026 population
- 506rank 237 of 237
- Median age
- 56.2 yearsoldest rank 1
- Fertility rate
- 1.00births per woman · below replacement
- Structure
- Older41.0% age 65+
Vatican City population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Hover over or tap a bar to see exact values.
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Use the publication-ready SVG, create a high-resolution PNG, or download the complete age-by-sex dataset.
The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Vatican City age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 7.4% of the population, while 41.0% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 51.6% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Vatican City’s age structure as older; the guide to constrictive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 93.9: about 94 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (14.4 children and 79.5 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Vatican City’s population pyramid
A population made by appointment
The Vatican City State, listed by the UN as the Holy See, has only about 500 residents in the UN series, and almost none are born there. Residence and citizenship come from holding a post in the Church or the state, such as clergy, members of the Swiss Guard and lay staff, and are usually given up when the post ends. Births, about two a year in the UN figures, add almost nothing; the roughly 13 deaths a year in the 2026 series are matched by about 13 net arrivals.
Reading the figures with care
That makes the pyramid unusual in several ways. In 2026 the widest bands are at ages 75–89, giving a median age of about 56. The UN shows slightly more women than men, about 92 men per 100 women, which does not match widely reported figures showing that most residents are men. Many bands contain round values such as 10 or 15 per sex, and every band from 35 to 69 holds exactly 30 people, so the figures are best read as modelled estimates. The fertility rate, fixed at about 1.0 in every year, is an assumption, not a measurement.
With counts this small, a single appointment or departure changes a band visibly, and percentages exaggerate the effect, as the guide to counts and percentages explains. The UN medium scenario projects growth to about 700 by 2050, a figure driven by migration assumptions. The surrounding city is better described by the Italy pyramid.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
Comparing each five-year band with its neighbours picks out the cohorts that break a smooth slope. These irregularities usually record past surges or deficits in births, or migration concentrated at particular ages; the pattern alone does not identify which. The guide to baby booms and echo cohorts explains how to date and interpret them.
| Age band in 2026 | Born about | Feature | Versus neighbouring bands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70–74 | 1952–1956 | Notch (smaller cohort) | −42% |
| 5–9 | 2017–2021 | Notch (smaller cohort) | −19% |
Deaths have exceeded births every year since 1983. People aged 65 and older came to outnumber children under 15 between 1980 and 1985.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Vatican City is projected to record 2 births (about 2 births a year) and 13 deaths, a natural decrease of 11. Net migration adds +13 people, ranking #1 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 64 births, 247 deaths, and cumulative net migration of 0. Over that period the balance of births and deaths moved the total more than migration did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of +357 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 85.4 years67.4 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 81.3 years64.2 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 21.0 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 5.7per 1,000 births · 46 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 6.7per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 31.1 yearssex ratio at birth 105.0
Women in Vatican City are projected to live 4.1 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 46 to 5.7 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #158 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 31.1 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Vatican City
The median age of 56.2 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 1.00 births per woman is below the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 83.4 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 506 | #237 | Largest first |
| Median age | 56.2 years | #1 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 1.00 | #229 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +1.4% | #75 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 83.4 years | #23 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 41.0% | #1 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Vatican City
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80–84 | 56 | 10.9% | 24 / 32 |
| 2 | 75–79 | 49 | 9.6% | 22 / 27 |
| 3 | 85–89 | 33 | 6.4% | 13 / 20 |
| 4 | 35–39 | 30 | 5.9% | 15 / 15 |
| 5 | 40–44 | 30 | 5.9% | 15 / 15 |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Vatican City has 242 males and 264 females. That is 91.5 males per 100 females, ranking #205 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 47.8% of the population and females for 52.2%. There are 22 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 75.0 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 105.0 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Vatican City has changed since 1950
The population has decreased from 880 in 1950 to 506 in 2026, a change of 43%. Over the same span, median age moved from 19.7 to 56.2 years.
The under-15 share changed from 38.0% to 7.4%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 3.5% to 41.0%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Vatican City’s population is projected to grow by about 41%, reaching 714 in 2050. The median age changes from 56.2 to 42.8 years.
The 65+ share is projected to fall by 18.1 percentage points to 22.9%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 12.5%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The population is still rising at the end of the UN medium projection in 2100, when it reaches 1,361. The page therefore does not assign a peak year beyond the available horizon.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 880 | 19.7 | 1.00 | 65.9 | 7 | 5 | 0 | +0.7% |
| 1960 | 918 | 26.8 | 1.00 | 69.2 | 8 | 5 | 0 | -0.4% |
| 1970 | 745 | 33.4 | 1.00 | 71.5 | 7 | 5 | 0 | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 743 | 40.1 | 1.00 | 74.1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 1990 | 726 | 46.5 | 1.00 | 76.9 | 5 | 7 | 0 | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 691 | 53.7 | 1.00 | 79.3 | 3 | 8 | 0 | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 621 | 61.0 | 1.00 | 81.5 | 3 | 10 | 0 | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 528 | 60.3 | 1.00 | 83.0 | 2 | 12 | 0 | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 496 | 59.6 | 1.00 | 83.0 | 2 | 13 | 0 | -1.8% |
| 2024* | 496 | 58.7 | 1.00 | 83.1 | 2 | 13 | +18 | +1.8% |
| 2026* | 506 | 56.2 | 1.00 | 83.4 | 2 | 13 | +13 | +1.4% |
| 2030* | 527 | 51.0 | 1.00 | 84.0 | 3 | 12 | +14 | -0.2% |
| 2040* | 587 | 43.1 | 0.99 | 85.3 | 4 | 9 | +14 | +3.2% |
| 2050* | 714 | 42.8 | 0.99 | 86.6 | 5 | 7 | +16 | +1.8% |
| 2060* | 850 | 42.7 | 0.99 | 87.7 | 6 | 7 | +16 | +2.5% |
| 2070* | 996 | 44.2 | 0.98 | 88.8 | 6 | 8 | +16 | +2.0% |
| 2080* | 1,142 | 45.6 | 0.98 | 89.9 | 7 | 9 | +15 | +1.1% |
| 2090* | 1,278 | 47.5 | 0.97 | 91.0 | 7 | 10 | +14 | +1.0% |
| 2100* | 1,361 | 49.5 | 0.97 | 92.0 | 7 | 12 | +13 | +0.3% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 2.3% |
| 5–9 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 2.1% |
| 10–14 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 2.9% |
| 15–19 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 3.9% |
| 20–24 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 3.9% |
| 25–29 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 3.9% |
| 30–34 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 4.7% |
| 35–39 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 5.9% |
| 40–44 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 5.9% |
| 45–49 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 5.9% |
| 50–54 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 5.9% |
| 55–59 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 5.9% |
| 60–64 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 5.9% |
| 65–69 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 5.9% |
| 70–74 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 4.5% |
| 75–79 | 22 | 27 | 49 | 9.6% |
| 80–84 | 24 | 32 | 56 | 10.9% |
| 85–89 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 6.4% |
| 90–94 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 2.9% |
| 95–99 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0.8% |
| 100+ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Vatican City’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Japan87% overlap · median age 50.2
- Monaco84% overlap · median age 53.1
- Italy82% overlap · median age 48.6
- Puerto Rico82% overlap · median age 46.2
- Portugal82% overlap · median age 47.2
- Finland82% overlap · median age 43.4
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Vatican City.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Vatican City Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/vatican-city/
MLA
“Vatican City Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/vatican-city/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “Vatican City Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/vatican-city/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Vatican City in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Vatican City's population in 2026 is projected at 506.
What is the median age in Vatican City?
The projected median age in Vatican City in 2026 is 56.2 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Vatican City?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 1.00 births per woman, below the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Vatican City's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 41%, from 506 to 714.
What share of Vatican City is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 41.0% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 22.9%.
How many babies are born in Vatican City each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 2 births and 13 deaths in 2026, about 2 births a year. Deaths exceed births by 11.
What is life expectancy in Vatican City for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 85.4 years for women and 81.3 years for men, a gap of 4.1 years in favour of women.
Does Vatican City have more immigrants or emigrants?
Vatican City is projected to gain about 13 more people through migration than it loses in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of 0.
What is the sex ratio in Vatican City?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 91.5 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.