Statistical information Holy See 1995

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 ill health of Pope John Paul II, who turned 75 on 20 May 1995, 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 pageLocation: Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
EuropeAreaTotal area total: 0.44 km²
Land: 0.44 km²
Comparative: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total 3.2 km, Italy 3.2 km
Coastline: 0 km (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 useArable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 0%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 km²
Major 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
top of pagePopulation: 830 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 1.15% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: none
Adjective: none
Ethnic groups: Italians, Swiss
Languages: Italian, Latin, various other languages
Religions: Roman Catholic
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.15% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Net migration rate: NA
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: NA
Current issues natural hazards: NA
Current issues international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: NA
Life expectancy at birth: NA
Total fertility rate: NA
Contraceptive 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 expendituresLiteracySchool life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
Conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
Local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
Local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Government type: monarchical-sacerdotal state
Capital: Vatican City
Administrative divisionsDependent areasIndependence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II)
Note: Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
Legal system: NA
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branchChief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978); election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); results - Karol WOJTYLA was elected for life by the College of Cardinals
Head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA 1991)
Cabinet: Pontifical Commission; appointed by Pope
Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: IAEA, ICFTU, INTELSAT, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN
In the us chancery: 3,339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 333-7,121
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN
From the us embassy: Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, Rome 00153
From the us mailing address: PSC 59, APO AE 9,624
From the us telephone: [39] (6) 46,741
From the us FAX: [39] (6) 6,380,159
Flag description
: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
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: NA
Note: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards and 3,000 layworkers who live outside the Vatican
Unemployment rateYouth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $169 million
Expenditures: $167.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
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 - 1,609.5 (January 1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990; note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 5,000 kW standby
Capacity production: power supplied by Italy
Capacity consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone system: 2,000 telephones; automatic exchange
Local: NA
Intercity: tied into Italian system
International: uses Italian system
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: none
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs