Vatican City
The smallest sovereign state in the world, both by area and population.
Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, often shortened as the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state in Southern Europe. Ruled by the pope, it is an enclave within the city of Rome, Italy, and serves as the administrative centre of the Catholic Church. Vatican City is governed by the See of Rome, commonly known as the Holy See, itself a sovereign entity under international law. The independent state of Vatican City came into existence in 1929 via the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. With an area of 44 ha and a population of about 882 in 2024, it is the smallest sovereign state in the world both by area and by population.
Quick Facts
- Head of state
- The Pope (Elected by the College of Cardinals)
- Religion
- Roman Catholicism
- Official languages
- Latin, Italian
- Currency
- Euro
- Key landmark
- St. Peter's Basilica
Lore & Background
The name 'Vatican' was already in use in the time of the Roman Republic for the Ager Vaticanus, a marshy area on the west bank of the Tiber across from the city of Rome, located between the Janiculum, the Vatican Hill and Monte Mario, down to the Aventine Hill and up to the confluence of the Cremera creek. The toponym Ager Vaticanus is attested until the 1st century AD; afterwards, another toponym appeared, Vaticanus, denoting an area much more restricted: the Vatican Hill, today's St. Peter's Square, and possibly today's Via della Conciliazione.
Reader's Guide
Vatican City contains religious and cultural sites such as St Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Apostolic Library, and the Vatican Museums. They feature some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures. The economy of Vatican City is supported financially by donations from Catholic believers, by the sale of postage stamps and souvenirs, fees for admission to museums, and sales of publications. Vatican City has no taxes, and items are duty-free.
Did You Know?
- Vatican City is the only country in the world with a population of fewer than 1,000 people.
- The Vatican obelisk in St. Peter's Square was brought to Rome from Egypt by Caligula.
- The Lateran Treaty, signed on 11 February 1929, established the modern city-state named after Vatican Hill.
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