Vatican City
Holy See (Vatican City)
Key facts and a structured country profile. 🧾 Change log 📐 True Size
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1,000 (2024)
0 sq km
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
🧭 Background
Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid-19th century, when the newly established Kingdom of Italy seized many of the Papal States. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between Italy and a series of "prisoner" popes were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified some of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, threats against minority Christian communities in Africa and the Middle East, the plight of refugees and migrants, climate change and the environment, conflict and war, nuclear weapons, artificial intelligence, sexual misconduct by clergy, humanitarian issues, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1.3 billion people worldwide profess Catholicism, the world's largest Christian faith.
🗺️ Geography
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
41 54 N, 12 27 E
Europe
0 sq km
0.44 sq km
0 sq km
About 0.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
3.4 km
Italy 3.4 km
0 km (landlocked)
None (landlocked)
Temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Urban; low hill
Vatican Gardens (Vatican Hill) 78 m
Saint Peter's Square 19 m
None
0% (2022 est.)
0% (2022 est.)
100% (2022 est.)
Occasional earthquakes
Landlocked; an enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state
👥 People and Society⬆️ Top
1,000 (2024)
None
None
Italian, Swiss, Argentinian, and other nationalities from around the world (2017)
Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Roman Catholic
0% (2014 est.)
100% of total population (2023)
0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
1,000 VATICAN CITY (capital) (2018)
🌿 Environment⬆️ Top
Some air pollution from the surrounding city of Rome
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
0% (2022 est.)
0% (2022 est.)
100% (2022 est.)
100% of total population (2023)
0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
🏛️ Government⬆️ Top
The Holy See (Vatican City State)
Holy See (Vatican City)
La Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
"Holy" comes from the Greek word hera, meaning "sacred"; "see" comes from the Latin word sedes, meaning "seat," and refers to the episcopal chair; the name Vatican derives from the hill Mons Vaticanus on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin vates (prophet), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman times
Ecclesiastical elective monarchy; self-described as an "absolute monarchy"
Vatican City
41 54 N, 12 27 E
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
The name derives from the hill called Mons Vaticanus, on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin vates (prophet), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman times
Religious system based on canon (religious) law
Previous 1929, 2000; latest issued by Pope FRANCIS 13 May 2023, effective 7 June 2023 (Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, the main governing document of the Vatican's civil entities); the Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus – the departments and ministries – used by the pontiff in governing the church
Although the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State makes no mention of amendments, Article Four (drafting laws), states that this legislative responsibility resides with the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State; draft legislation is submitted through the Secretariat of State and considered by the pope
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
No
No
No
Not applicable
Election of the pope is limited to cardinals under 80 years old
Pope LEO XIV (since 8 May 2025)
President of the Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City and President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State Fernando VERGEZ ALZAGA (since 1 October 2021)
Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope
Pope elected by the College of Cardinals, usually for life or until voluntary resignation; Secretary of State appointed by the pope
2025: Robert PREVOST elected Pope LEO XIV
Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City (Pontificia Commissione per lo Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
Unicameral
7
5 years
22 September 2018
0%
Supreme Court or Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura (consists of the cardinal prefect, who serves as ex-officio president of the court, and 2 other cardinals of the Prefect Signatura)
Cardinal prefect appointed by the pope; the other 2 cardinals of the court appointed by the cardinal prefect on a yearly basis
Appellate Court of Vatican City; Tribunal of Vatican City
None
Apostolic Nuncio Cardinal Christophe PIERRE (since 27 June 2016)
3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
[1] (202) 333-7121
[1] (202) 337-4036
Nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org http://www.nuntiususa.org/
Ambassador Brian Francis BURCH II (since 13 September 2025)
Via Sallustiana, 49, 00187 Rome
5660 Holy See Place, Washington DC 20521-5660
[39] (06) 4674-1
[39] (06) 4674-3411
Https://va.usembassy.gov/
CE (observer), IAEA, Interpol, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNWTO (observer), UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)
11 February 1929
Description: two vertical bands of yellow (left side) and white, with the arms of the Holy See centered in the white band; the arms show the crossed keys of Saint Peter under the three-tiered papal tiara meaning: yellow stands for the pope's spiritual power, and white for his worldly power
Crossed keys under a papal tiara
Yellow, white
“Hymnus Pontificius" (Pontifical Anthem)
Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD
Adopted 1949
2 (both cultural)
Historic Center of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura; Vatican City
💹 Economy⬆️ Top
Limited, tourism-based economy; euro user with own minted coins; produces commemorative stamps, coins, and publications to support museums and religious needs; residents pay no direct taxes; “zero deficit” plan to address budget shortfall
Printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; mosaics, staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.924 (2024 est.)
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
⚡ Energy⬆️ Top
100% (2021)
📡 Communications⬆️ Top
The Vatican Television Center (CTV) transmits live broadcasts of the Pope's weekly audiences, as well as his public celebrations; CTV also produces documentaries; Vatican Radio is the official broadcasting service via shortwave, AM, and FM frequencies, as well as satellite and web; Vatican News website partners with Vatican Radio and provides Catholic news from the Vatican (2021)
.va
87% (2023 est.)
🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top
1 (2025)
🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top
The Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) serves as the de facto military force of Vatican City; the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City (Corpo della Gendarmeriais) is a police force that helps augment the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps during the Pope’s appearances, as well as providing general security, traffic direction, and investigative duties for the Vatican City State (2025)
Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps: 19-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; must be a single Roman Catholic male with Swiss citizenship who has completed basic training with the Swiss military and can obtain a certificate of good conduct; qualified candidates must apply to serve; the service contract is between 2 and 25 years (2025)
Defense is the responsibility of Italy
Source: Factbook JSON archive.