Population simply means the total number of people living in a particular place—like a village, city, or country. It tells us how crowded or empty a place is. While countries like India and China are known for having huge populations, there are also countries where very few people live.
These countries are called the least populated countries. They have small populations either due to their tiny size, remote location, harsh geography, or limited resources. Despite their low population, these nations are often rich in culture, history, and uniqueness.
Key Highlights – Least Populated Countries
As of 2025, the total global population is estimated to be around 8.1 billion people. The most populated countries include India, China, the United States, and Indonesia. These nations are home to millions—even over a billion—people.
| World Population | 8,012,508,000 |
| World Population Growth Rate (Avg.) | 1.17 % |
| Least Populated Country | Vatican City |
| Most Populated Country | India – 17.78 % |
On the other hand, some countries have less than 100,000 people. The smallest country in the world by population is Vatican City, with around 800 to 1,000 residents. Located within Rome, Italy, Vatican City is the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church and home to the Pope.
Many other nations in the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean, or small European principalities also have extremely small populations, but they function as independent, sovereign countries with their own flags, governments, and identities.
List of Least Populated countries in the world
Source of Data is United Nations Population Division 2024. Population in million people and World Share in Percentage(%)
| ^ | Countries | Population | World Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| – | Earth | 8,012,508,000 | 100% |
| 1 | Vatican City | 882 | 0% |
| 2 | Tuvalu | 10,643 | 0.0001% |
| 3 | Nauru | 11,680 | 0.0001% |
| 4 | Palau | 16,733 | 0.0002% |
| 5 | San Marino | 34,138 | 0.0004% |
| 6 | Monaco | 38,423 | 0.0005% |
| 7 | Liechtenstein | 40,900 | 0.0005% |
| 8 | Saint Kitts & Nevis | 42,418 | 0.0005% |
| 9 | Marshall Islands | 51,320 | 0.0006% |
| 10 | Dominica | 67,408 | 0.0008% |
| 11 | Andorra | 87,971 | 0.0010% |
Population plays a crucial role in defining a country’s development, resources, and challenges. While the world often focuses on highly populated nations, the least populated countries have their own charm. They are often peaceful, close-knit societies with beautiful landscapes, rich traditions, and unique governance systems.
Whether it’s the spiritual calm of Vatican City or the island beauty of Tuvalu and Palau, these nations remind us that size or numbers don’t define importance. In a world filled with billions, these small nations stand tall in their identity.
Reference
Source: World Population Prospects 2024 by United Nations Population Division
See also: Largest Countries by Population
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.