diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index dcb7c68..ac1dc4c 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -8,10 +8,16 @@ if(HUNTER_ENABLED)
     )
 endif()
 
+# Read version from file VERSION
+FILE(READ "VERSION" PROJECT_VERSION)
+STRING(STRIP "${PROJECT_VERSION}" PROJECT_VERSION)
+cmake_policy(SET CMP0048 NEW)
+
 project(nlohmann_json_schema_validator
+        VERSION "${PROJECT_VERSION}"
         LANGUAGES CXX)
 
-set(PROJECT_VERSION 2.1.1)
+message(STATUS "Version: ${PROJECT_VERSION}")
 
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.2)
 
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e3c2f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+2.1.1