Background: Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid-19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of 'prisoner' popes and Italy 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 certain 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, sexual misconduct by clergy, international development, 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.

Geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 0 km²
Land: 0.44 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 257
Comparative: about 0.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries
Total: 3.4 km
Border countries: (1) Italy 3.4 km

Coastline: 0 km
Note: (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)

Terrain: urban; low hill

Elevation
Lowest point: Saint Peters Square 19 m
Highest point: Vatican Gardens (Vatican Hill) 78 m

Natural resources: none

Land use
Agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
Forest: 0% (2011 est.)
Other: 100% (2011 est.)

Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes

Geography
Note: landlocked; an enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; beyond the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the Lateran Treaty of 1929 grants the Holy See extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome and five outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo (the Pope's summer residence)

Population: 1000 (2019 est.)
Rank: 235
Growth rate: 0% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 192
Below poverty line note: NA

Nationality
Noun: none
Adjective: none

Ethnic groups: Italian, Swiss, Argentinian, and other nationalities from around the world (2017)

Languages: Italian, Latin, French, various other languages

Religions: Roman Catholic

Population growth rate: 0% (2014 est.)
Rank: 192

Urbanization
Urban population: 100% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: -0.05% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 1,000 VATICAN CITY (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: some air pollution from the surrounding city of Rome
International agreements party to: Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate note: NA
People living with hivaids note: NA
Deaths note: NA

Education expenditures
Note: NA

Country name
Conventional long form: The Holy See (Vatican City State)
Conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
Local long form: La Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
Local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Etymology: 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 term Vatican derives from the hill Mons Vaticanus on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin vaticinari (to prophesy), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman times

Government type: ecclesiastical elective monarchy; self-described as an 'absolute monarchy'

Capital
Name: Vatican City
Geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: 11 February 1929; note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Holy See and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over centuries varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to A.D. 754

National holiday: Election Day of Pope FRANCIS, 13 March (2013)

Constitution
History: previous 1929, 1963; latest adopted 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (Fundamental Law of Vatican City State); note - in October 2013, Pope Francis instituted a 9-member Council of Cardinal Advisors to reform the administrative apparatus of the Holy See (Roman Curia) to include writing a new constitution
Amendments: note - 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

Legal system: religious legal system based on canon (religious) law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: no
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: not applicable
Note: in the Holy See, citizenship is acquired by law, ex iure, or by adminstrative decision; in the first instance, citizenship is a function of holding office within the Holy See as in the case of cardinals resident in Vatican City or diplomats of the Holy See; in the second instance, citizenship may be requested in a limited set of circumstances for those who reside within Vatican City under papal authorization, as a function of their office or service, or as the spouses and children of current citizens; citizenship is lost once an individual no longer permanently resides in Vatican City, normally reverting to the citizenship previously held

Suffrage: election of the pope is limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Executive branch
Chief of state: Pope FRANCIS (since 13 March 2013)
Head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro PAROLIN (since 15 October 2013); note - Head of Government of Vatican City is President Cardinal Giuseppe BERTELLO (since 1 October 2011)
Cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope
Electionsappointments: pope elected by the College of Cardinals, usually for life or until voluntary resignation; election last held on 13 March 2013 (next to be held after the death or resignation of the current pope); Secretary of State appointed by the pope
Election results: Jorge Mario BERGOGLIO, former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, elected Pope FRANCIS

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State or Pontificia Commissione per lo Stato della Citta del Vaticano (7 seats; members appointed by the pope to serve 5-year terms)
Elections: last held on 11 July 2018
Election results: composition - men 7, women 0

Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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); note - judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio, papal directive, of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946; most Vatican City criminal matters are handled by the Republic of Italy courts
Judge selection and term of office: cardinal prefect appointed by the pope; the other 2 cardinals of the court appointed by the cardinal prefect on a yearly basis
Subordinate courts: Appellate Court of Vatican City; Tribunal of Vatican City

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: CE (observer), IAEA, Interpol, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), SICA (observer), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Christophe PIERRE (since 27 June 2016)
In the us chancery: 3,339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 333-7,121
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 337-4,036
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Callista GINGRICH (since 22 December 2017)
From the us telephone: [39] (06) 4,674-1
From the us embassy: American Embassy to the Holy See, Via Sallustiana, 49, 00187 Rome
From the us mailing address: Unit 5,660, Box 66, DPO AE 9,624-0066
From the us FAX: [39] (06) 4,674-3,412

Flag description: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band; the yellow color represents the pope's spiritual power, the white his worldly power

National symbols: crossed keys beneath a papal tiara; national colors: yellow, white

National anthem
Name: Inno e Marcia Pontificale (Hymn and Pontifical March); often called The Pontifical Hymn
Lyricsmusic: Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD
Note: adopted 1950

Real gdp purchasing power parity
Real: NA

Industries: printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; mosaics, staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities

Labor force: 4,822 (2016)
Rank: 220
By occupation note: essentially services with a small amount of industry; nearly all dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and the approximately 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican

Population below poverty line
Note: NA

Budget
Revenues: 315 million (2013)
Expenditures: 348 million (2013)
Surplus or deficit note: NA

Taxes and other revenues
Note: NA

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2020)

Broadcast media: the Vatican Television Center (CTV) transmits live broadcasts of the Pope's Sunday and Wednesday audiences, as well as the Pope's public celebrations; CTV also produces documentaries; Vatican Radio is the Holy See's official broadcasting service broadcasting via shortwave, AM and FM frequencies, and via satellite and Internet connections

Internet
Country code: .va

Military and security forces: Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia); the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City is a police force that helps augment the Pontifical Swiss Guard during the Pope’s appearances, as well as providing general security, traffic direction, and investigative duties for the Vatican City State (2019)

Military service age and obligation: Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia): 19-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; must be Roman Catholic, a single male, and a Swiss citizen, with a secondary education (2019)

Disputes international: none