Statistical information Holy See 1989

Holy See in the World
top of pageBackground: Popes in their secular role ruled much of the Italian peninsula, including Rome, for about a thousand years, until 1870. A dispute between a series of popes and Italy was settled in 1929 by treaties that recognized the Vatican City as an independent sovereignty and gave Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. The US established formal diplomatic relationships with the Vatican in 1984. Present issues in the Vatican concern the health of Pope John Paul II, inter-religious dialogue and reconciliation, and the adjustment of church doctrine in an era of rapid change. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Roman Catholic faith.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: 3.2 km with Italy
Coastline: none - landlocked
Maritime claims: none - landlocked
Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain: low hill
ElevationNatural resources: none
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City Vatican City Vatican City Vatican City
top of pagePopulation: 755 (July 1989), growth rate 0.3% (1989)
Nationality: no noun or adjectival forms
Ethnic groups: primarily Italians but also many other nationalities
Languages: Italian, Latin, and various other languages
Religions: Roman Catholic
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rateDeath rateNet migration ratePopulation distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: urban
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthTotal fertility rateContraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 100%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: State of the Vatican City
Government type: monarchical-sacerdotal state, seat of the Holy See
Capital: Vatican City
Administrative divisionsDependent areasIndependence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
National holiday: Installation day of the Pope (John Paul II), 22 October (1978; note - Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
Legal systemInternational law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLLA; since 16 October 1978)
Legislative branch: the pope possesses full executive, legislative, and judicial powers; he delegates these powers to the president of the Pontifical Commission, who is subject to pontifical appointment and recall; the administrative structure of the Roman Catholic Church is known as the Roman Curia; its most important temporal components include the Secretariat of State and Council for Public Affairs (which handles Vatican diplomacy) and the Prefecture of Economic Affairs; the College of Cardinals act as chief papal advisers
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participationDiplomatic representationIn the us: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Pio LAGHI; 3,339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 333-7,121; US - Ambassador Frank SHAKESPEARE; Embassy at Villino Pacelli, Via Aurelia 294, 00165 Rome (mailing address is APO New York 9,794; telephone Õ396å 639-0558
Flag description
: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of St. Peter and the papal tiara centered in the white band Vatican City Vatican City Vatican City
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy is supported financially by contributions (known as Peter's pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps, tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture productsIndustries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Industrial production growth rateLabor force: about 1,500; Vatican City employees divided into three categories - executives, office workers, and salaried employees
Unemployment rateYouth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $57 million; expenditures $113.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year Vatican City Vatican CityVatican City
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExportsImportsReserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,344.2 (January 1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987), 1,490.8 (1986), 1,909.4 (1985; the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 3,000 kW standby capacity (1988; power supplied by Italy
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirportsHeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs