Vilnius, Lithuania Population 2024

Vilnius's 2024 population is now estimated at 541,505In 1950, the population of Vilnius was 222,309Vilnius has grown by 230 in the last year, which represents a 0.04% annual change.These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Vilnius, which typically includes Vilnius's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.

Vilnius is the capital city of Lithuania. This city is also the largest in the country in terms of population. The most recent estimates in 2015 put the population at 542,664.

Throughout the Baltic states, Vilnius is the second largest city by population. This city has a very unique and interesting history, including being home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site and once earning the nickname “Jerusalem of Lithuania.”

City Size and Population Density

The city of Vilnius covers a surface area of about 401 km² (155 sq mi). This surface area expands to 9,731 km² (3,757 sq mi) when considering the entire metropolitan area of Vilnius. The population density comes to approximately 1,392/km² (3,610/sq mi).

Vilnius Demographics

Vilnius is a very ethnically diverse city. At the time of the 2011 census, there were 128 different ethnicities recorded. This by far makes it the most diverse in the entire country. The census also found that 63.6% of the population is Lithuanian. A year later, estimates show that 63.2% of the population are Lithuanian. 16.5% are Polish, 12% are Russian, and 8.6% were categorized as “Other.”

The city of Vilnius was once known as the Jerusalem of Lithuania because of its large Jewish community. In the late 1800s, 40% of the population was Jewish. This number gradually has decreased throughout the years, dropping to 27.8% in 1931, then again to 7% in 1959. At the time of the 2001 census, the population of Jews was only 0.5%.

Vilnius History

The city of Vilnius first appeared in writing in 1323, although its history began before that. The city in its earliest years was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which extended through what is now Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Transnistria and parts of Poland and Russia.

In the early through mid-1500s, the city expanded, including the building of city walls for protection. The city really began to grow with the establishment of a university, which grew to become one of the most significant universities for science and culture. Migrants began moving to the city, and its residents were extremely diverse. Multiple languages were spoken, including German, Polish, Yiddish and Hebrew.

The 1700s brought challenges to the city. Warfare destroyed the city and killed many of its residents. The bubonic plague and multiple fires also affected the population as well as the city’s buildings. Even though it faced these challenges, it was the third largest city in the Russian Empire by the end of the 18th century.

In the 18th century, the city was annexed and was made the capital of the Vilna Governorate. The city was captured by Napoleon. Thousands died during the retreat, and civil unrest continued throughout the 1800s. During this time, the city’s Jewish population rose significantly.

During the first World War, the city was occupied by the German Army until the Act of Independence of Lithuania declared the country as independent of any other nation. The Germans withdrew, and the city was briefly taken by the Polish until Soviet forces drove them out. The Polish Army later again took the city, then were overtaken by Soviet forces.

In the years that followed, Poland and Lithuania disputed who was the rightful owner of the city. Historians say that it was the Suwałki Agreement that gave control of Vilnius to Lithuania. In 1920, the city was seized again by the Polish Army, and was annexed by Poland two years later. The years that followed saw the city exchange hands several times, until 1990 when Lithuania seceded from the Soviet Union. After a battle that saw hundreds hurt and killed, the Soviet Union recognized the city’s independence in 1991. The Constitution outlined that Vilnius was the historical capital of the country.

Today, the city has undergone some massive changes, including new business and commercial developments, modern residential developments, and updated historic buildings. The city has been named as a European Capital of Culture, has plans to further develop the city, and has a growing economy.

Vilnius Population Growth

Vilnius’ population has risen and fallen multiple times throughout its history. Destruction and fatalities during wars through the years have led to sharp declines, while an influx of refugees and the migration of students have led to increases. In the early 2000s, Vilnius saw years of slight declines in its population, dropping from its peak 644,600 in 1992 to 541,596 in 2008. However, since 2013, the city has seen population increases of less than 1%, indicating that the city may continue to see slow growth in the years ahead.

Country
Lithuania
Growth Rate
0.04%

86 Rows

Year
Population
2035539,988
2034540,141
2033540,294
2032540,447
2031540,599
2030540,752
2029540,905
2028541,058
2027541,211
2026541,364
2025541,517
2024541,505
2023541,275
2022540,775
2021539,978
2020538,894
2019537,563
2018536,055
2017534,453
2016532,856
2015531,260
2014529,671
2013528,086
2012526,509
2011524,931
2010525,590
2009527,373
2008529,160
2007530,958
2006532,760
2005534,567
2004536,379
2003538,201
2002540,027
2001541,859
2000544,383
1999547,136
1998549,899
1997552,676
1996555,463
1995558,272
1994561,092
1993563,925
1992566,769
1991569,635
1990572,512
1989575,403
1988571,160
1987560,860
1986550,759
1985540,840
1984531,113
1983521,534
1982512,143
1981502,919
1980493,874
1979484,968
1978472,784
1977458,149
1976443,987
1975430,225
1974416,908
1973404,003
1972391,514
1971379,379
1970366,673
1969352,849
1968339,564
1967326,745
1966314,427
1965302,573
1964291,181
1963280,189
1962269,625
1961259,459
1960249,692
1959240,266
1958235,179
1957233,530
1956231,895
1955230,268
1954228,653
1953227,051
1952225,461
1951223,878
1950222,309

86 Rows

Year
Population
Change
Growth
1950222,3090%0
1951223,8780.71%1,569
1952225,4610.71%1,583
1953227,0510.71%1,590
1954228,6530.71%1,602
1955230,2680.71%1,615
1956231,8950.71%1,627
1957233,5300.71%1,635
1958235,1790.71%1,649
1959240,2662.16%5,087
1960249,6923.92%9,426
1961259,4593.91%9,767
1962269,6253.92%10,166
1963280,1893.92%10,564
1964291,1813.92%10,992
1965302,5733.91%11,392
1966314,4273.92%11,854
1967326,7453.92%12,318
1968339,5643.92%12,819
1969352,8493.91%13,285
1970366,6733.92%13,824
1971379,3793.47%12,706
1972391,5143.2%12,135
1973404,0033.19%12,489
1974416,9083.19%12,905
1975430,2253.19%13,317
1976443,9873.2%13,762
1977458,1493.19%14,162
1978472,7843.19%14,635
1979484,9682.58%12,184
1980493,8741.84%8,906
1981502,9191.83%9,045
1982512,1431.83%9,224
1983521,5341.83%9,391
1984531,1131.84%9,579
1985540,8401.83%9,727
1986550,7591.83%9,919
1987560,8601.83%10,101
1988571,1601.84%10,300
1989575,4030.74%4,243
1990572,512-0.5%-2,891
1991569,635-0.5%-2,877
1992566,769-0.5%-2,866
1993563,925-0.5%-2,844
1994561,092-0.5%-2,833
1995558,272-0.5%-2,820
1996555,463-0.5%-2,809
1997552,676-0.5%-2,787
1998549,899-0.5%-2,777
1999547,136-0.5%-2,763
2000544,383-0.5%-2,753
2001541,859-0.46%-2,524
2002540,027-0.34%-1,832
2003538,201-0.34%-1,826
2004536,379-0.34%-1,822
2005534,567-0.34%-1,812
2006532,760-0.34%-1,807
2007530,958-0.34%-1,802
2008529,160-0.34%-1,798
2009527,373-0.34%-1,787
2010525,590-0.34%-1,783
2011524,931-0.13%-659
2012526,5090.3%1,578
2013528,0860.3%1,577
2014529,6710.3%1,585
2015531,2600.3%1,589
2016532,8560.3%1,596
2017534,4530.3%1,597
2018536,0550.3%1,602
2019537,5630.28%1,508
2020538,8940.25%1,331
2021539,9780.2%1,084
2022540,7750.15%797
2023541,2750.09%500
2024541,5050.04%230
2025541,5170%12
2026541,364-0.03%-153
2027541,211-0.03%-153
2028541,058-0.03%-153
2029540,905-0.03%-153
2030540,752-0.03%-153
2031540,599-0.03%-153
2032540,447-0.03%-152
2033540,294-0.03%-153
2034540,141-0.03%-153
2035539,988-0.03%-153

Vilnius Population Data (Urban Area)

Name
2024 Pop.
2024 Growth
Vilnius541,5050.04%

Other Cities in Lithuania