Vatican City - VA - VAT - Europe

Last updated: April 23, 2025

Holy See (Vatican City) Images

The ceiling of the Vatican Museum.
The boundaries of the Holy See (Vatican City) were formally defined by the Lateran Treaty of 11 February 1929, which gave this independent state sovereignty over 44 ha (108 acres) in the center of Rome. Vatican City is the smallest state in the world both by area and by population and is the second-least populated capital in the world. The Vatican is a holy city for Catholics as well as an important Roman archaeological site and a cultural reference point for people all over the world.
Looking past the obelisk that stands at the center of St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, out to the city of Rome, Italy.
The façade of St. Peter's Basilica as viewed from one of the two matching Bernini fountains that grace St. Peter's Square (Piazza) in front of the church. The upper story displays statues of Christ, his apostles, and St. John the Baptist. Constructed over a period of 80 years and consecrated in 1626, the basilica is the largest Christian church in the world, capable of holding some 60,000 people.
An Egyptian obelisk in Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City. Composed of red granite, the obelisk is 25.5 m (84 ft) tall, or 41 m (134.5 ft) to the top of the cross. The Emperor Caligula transferred it to Rome in A.D. 37, and it was moved to its current location at the direction of Pope Sixtus V in 1586.
The statue of St. Peter in front of the Basilica of St. Peter in Vatican City.
Michelangelo designed the dome over the main altar in Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City in 1547; it was completed in 1590 after his death. The dome is 136.57 m (448.1 ft) high, making it the tallest dome in the world.
The baldachin is a massive pavilion-like structure (30 m or 98 ft tall) that stands beneath the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. It is reputed to be the largest piece of bronze in the world. Viewed through the structure are the Cathedra Petri (Throne of St. Peter) and the Gloria, a stained-glass sculpture, both by Bernini.
At age 24, Michelangelo Buonarroti was commissioned by French Cardinal Jean de Bilhères to sculpt La Pietà (meaning "compassion" in Italian) for the cardinal's funerary chapel in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. In the 18th century, the 174 cm x 195 cm (68.5 in x 76.8 in) masterpiece, carved from a single block of Carrara marble, was moved to its current site inside the basilica. Considered one of the finest sculptures ever crafted, it is the only piece Michelangelo signed, after he heard a passerby attribute the work to someone else.
The main altar in Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City is covered by a 30 m- (98 ft-) tall bronze baldacchino (canopy) designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and erected between 1623 and 1634.
The ceiling of the Vatican Museum.
The boundaries of the Holy See (Vatican City) were formally defined by the Lateran Treaty of 11 February 1929, which gave this independent state sovereignty over 44 ha (108 acres) in the center of Rome. Vatican City is the smallest state in the world both by area and by population and is the second-least populated capital in the world. The Vatican is a holy city for Catholics as well as an important Roman archaeological site and a cultural reference point for people all over the world.

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Holy See (Vatican City) Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Laura HOCHLA (since 8 July 2024)

embassy: Via Sallustiana, 49, 00187 Rome

mailing address: 5660 Holy See Place, Washington DC 20521-5660

telephone: [39] (06) 4674-1

FAX: [39] (06) 4674-3411

email address and website:
https://va.usembassy.gov/

Geographic coordinates

41 54 N, 12 27 E

Natural hazards

occasional earthquakes

Area - comparative

about 0.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

about 0.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC

Military service age and obligation

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 (2024)

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.

Environment - current issues

some air pollution from the surrounding city of Rome

Environment - international agreements

party to: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Administrative divisions

none

Military and security forces

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)

note: the Swiss Guard Corps has protected the Pope and his residence since 1506

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

etymology: 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

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

history: 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

amendment process: 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

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)

note: while not an EU member state, the Holy See has a 2000 monetary agreement with Italy and the EU to produce limited euro coinage—but not banknotes—that began enforcement in January 2002

Executive branch

chief of state: Pope FRANCIS (since 13 March 2013)

head of government: 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)

cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope

elections/appointments: pope elected by the College of Cardinals, usually for life or until voluntary resignation; election last held on 13 March 2013 after the resignation of Pope BENEDICT XVI (next to be held after the death or resignation of the current pope); Secretary of State appointed by the pope

election results:
2013: Jorge Mario BERGOGLIO, former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, elected Pope FRANCIS

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

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

Industries

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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)

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

note: the Motu Proprio (papal directive) of Pope PIUS XII established judicial duties on 1 May 1946; most Vatican City criminal matters are handled by the Republic of Italy courts

Land boundaries

total: 3.4 km

border countries (1): Italy 3.4 km

Land use

agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)

forest: 0% (2022 est.)

other: 100% (2022 est.)

Legal system

religious legal system based on canon (religious) law

Legislative branch

legislature name: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City (Pontificia Commissione per lo Stato della Citta del Vaticano)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 7

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 22 September 2018

percentage of women in chamber: 0%

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

International organization participation

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)

National holiday

Election Day of Pope FRANCIS, 13 March (2013)

Nationality

noun: none

adjective: none

Natural resources

none

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)

Economic overview

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

Political parties

none

Suffrage

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

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: the Vatican’s interior telecommunication system is composed of two strongly integrated sub-systems: fixed infrastructure and mobile infrastructure; it is important to note that the mobile communication system has been designed to be capable of using satellite connections so that it is possible to ensure telecommunication services whenever needed, including wherever the Pope travels; the telephone system operates through an automatic digital exchange (2020)

domestic: the telephone system operates through an automatic digital exchange (2020)

international: country code - 39; uses Italian system

Terrain

urban; low hill

Government type

ecclesiastical elective monarchy; self-described as an "absolute monarchy"

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Italy

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 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

Location

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Map references

Europe

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Cardinal Christophe PIERRE (since 27 June 2016)

chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121

FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036

email address and website:
nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org

http://www.nuntiususa.org/

Internet country code

.va

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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; Vatican News website partners with Vatican Radio and provides Catholic news provided by the Vatican (2021)

National anthem

name: "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March); often called The Pontifical Hymn

lyrics/music: Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD

note: adopted 1950

This is an audio of the National Anthem for Holy See (Vatican City). The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

1,000 VATICAN CITY (capital) (2018)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

National symbol(s)

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

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

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

Roman Catholic

Languages

Italian, Latin, French, various other languages

major-language sample(s):
L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Italian audio sample

Communications - note

the Vatican Apostolic Library is one of the world's oldest libraries, formally established in 1475, but actually much older; it holds a significant collection of historic texts including 1.1 million printed books and 75,000 codices (manuscript books with handwritten contents); it serves as a research library for history, law, philosophy, science, and theology; the library's collections have been described as "the world's greatest treasure house of the writings at the core of Western tradition"

Elevation

highest point: Vatican Gardens (Vatican Hill) 78 m

lowest point: Saint Peter's Square 19 m

Drinking water source

improved:

total: 100% of population (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2021)

Total renewable water resources

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Air pollutants

methane emissions: 0 megatons (2020 est.)

Internet users

percent of population: 75% (2021 est.)

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura; Vatican City

Illicit drugs

Labor force

4,822 (2016)

Population

total: 1,000 (2024)

Area

total : 0 sq km

land: 0.44 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Heliports

1 (2025)

Population growth rate

0% (2014 est.)

Sources: