The world's least populated countries offer fascinating insights into how geography, history, and economics shape human settlement. These nations, often marked by remote locations, limited land areas, and unique political statuses, host populations that are only a fraction of what might be expected in other parts of the world. From the spiritual hub of Vatican City to the isolated atolls of Tokelau, each of these countries tells a story of survival and adaptation in the face of natural and man-made challenges.
Explore the ten least populated countries, highlighting the factors that contribute to their small populations. List of country with low population density Rank Country Population size 1 Vatican City 764 2 Tokelau 1,915 3 Niue 1,935 4 Falkland Islands 3,803 5 Montserrat 4,372 6 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 5,815 7 Saint Barthelemy 11,019 8 Wallis and Futuna 11,439 9 Tuvalu 11,478 10 Nauru 12,884 Underpopulated countries in the world Vatican City As the smallest internationally recognized independent state, Vatican City has a population of just 764 as of 2023–24. This is largely due to its tiny land area of only 49 hectares, strict citizenship requirements that limit the number of new residents, and its unique role as the spiritual and administrative centre of the Catholic Church rather than a typical country.
Tokelau Tokelau, a group of three remote atolls in the South Pacific, has a population of around 1,915 people. Its isolated location and limited land area of just 2.