Communications: Broadcast media
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)
Communications: Internet country code
.va
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
87% (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
0.876 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
0.845 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
0.95 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
0.925 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
0.924 (2024 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2021)
Environment: Climate
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Environment: Environmental issues
some air pollution from the surrounding city of Rome
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
0% (2022 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
0% (2022 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
100% (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
100% of total population (2023)
Geography: Area - comparative
about 0.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Geography: Area: land
0.44 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Vatican Gardens (Vatican Hill) 78 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Saint Peter's Square 19 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
41 54 N, 12 27 E
Geography: Geography - note
landlocked; an enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Italy 3.4 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
3.4 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
0% (2022 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
0% (2022 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
100% (2022 est.)
Geography: Map references
Europe
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
occasional earthquakes
Geography: Terrain
urban; low hill
Government: Capital: daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Government: Capital: etymology
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
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
41 54 N, 12 27 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
no
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
not applicable
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: 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
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Holy See (Vatican City)
Government: Country name: 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
Government: Country name: local long form
La Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
Government: Country name: local short form
Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Brian Francis BURCH II (since 13 September 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
https://va.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Via Sallustiana, 49, 00187 Rome
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[39] (06) 4674-3411
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
5660 Holy See Place, Washington DC 20521-5660
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[39] (06) 4674-1
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Apostolic Nuncio Cardinal Christophe PIERRE (since 27 June 2016)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org http://www.nuntiususa.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 337-4036
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 333-7121
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
Pope LEO XIV (since 8 May 2025)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2025: Robert PREVOST elected Pope LEO XIV
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
pope elected by the College of Cardinals, usually for life or until voluntary resignation; Secretary of State appointed by the pope
Government: Executive branch: 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)
Government: Flag
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
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: 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)
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Appellate Court of Vatican City; Tribunal of Vatican City
Government: Legal system
religious system based on canon (religious) law
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City (Pontificia Commissione per lo Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
22 September 2018
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
7
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
0%
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1949
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD
Government: National color(s)
yellow, white
Government: National heritage: 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
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
2 (both cultural)
Government: National symbol(s)
crossed keys under a papal tiara
Government: Political parties
none
Government: Suffrage
election of the pope is limited to cardinals under 80 years old
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Italy
Military and Security: 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)
Military and Security: 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 (2025)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Italian, Swiss, Argentinian, and other nationalities from around the world (2017)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
People and Society: 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.
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1,000 VATICAN CITY (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
none
People and Society: Population growth rate
0% (2014 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
100% of total population (2023)
Transportation: Heliports
1 (2025)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.