| Holy See (Vatican City) |
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Holy See (Vatican City) | Introduction | Top of Page

Background: | Popes in their secular role ruled much 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 Vatican 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 the failing health of Pope John Paul II, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the adjustment of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.

Holy See (Vatican City) | Geography | Top of Page

Location: | Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Geographic coordinates: | 41 54 N, 12 27 E

Map references: | Europe

Area: | total: 0.44 sq km land: 0.44 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative: | about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: | total: 3.2 km border countries: 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

Elevation extremes: | lowest point: unnamed location 19 m highest point: unnamed location 75 m

Natural resources: | none

Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (urban area)

Irrigated land: | 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: | NA

Environment - current issues: | NA

Environment - international agreements: | party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Geography - note: | urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights

Holy See (Vatican City) | People | Top of Page

Population: | 890 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate: | 1.15% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA

Nationality: | noun: none adjective: none

Ethnic groups: | Italians, Swiss, other

Religions: | Roman Catholic

Languages: | Italian, Latin, French, various other languages

Literacy: | definition: NA total population: 100% male: NA% female: NA%

Holy See (Vatican City) | Government | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional 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: | ecclesiastical

Capital: | Vatican City

Independence: | 11 February 1929 (from Italy)

National holiday: | Coronation Day of Pope JOHN PAUL II, 22 October (1978)

Constitution: | Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)

Legal system: | NA

Suffrage: | limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Executive branch: | chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978) head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since 2 December 1990) cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope election results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope

Legislative branch: | unicameral Pontifical Commission

Judicial branch: | none; normally handled by Italy

Political parties and leaders: | none

Political pressure groups and leaders: | none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

International organization participation: | CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WHO (observer), WIPO, WToO (observer), WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele MONTALVO chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121

Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00162 Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428 FAX: [39] (06) 5758346

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

Holy See (Vatican City) | Economy | Top of Page

Economy - 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.

Population below poverty line: | NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Labor force: | NA

Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%; note - dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican

Budget: | revenues: $209.6 million expenditures: $198.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)

Industries: | printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities

Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Electricity - consumption: | NA kWh

Electricity - imports: | NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy

Economic aid - recipient: | none

Currency: | Italian lira (ITL); euro (EUR)

Currency code: | ITL; EUR

Exchange rates: | euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Vatican lire per US dollar - 2,099 (2000), 1817.2 (1999), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996); note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira; the Vatican will start using euros in 2002 in conjunction with Italy at a fixed rate of 1,936.17 lire per euro

Fiscal year: | calendar year

Holy See (Vatican City) | Communications | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | NA

Telephones - mobile cellular: | NA

Telephone system: | general assessment: automatic exchange domestic: tied into Italian system international: uses Italian system

Radio broadcast stations: | AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios: | NA

Television broadcast stations: | 1 (1996)

Televisions: | NA

Internet country code: | .va

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 93 (Holy See and Italy) (2000)

Internet users: | NA

Holy See (Vatican City) | Transportation | Top of Page

Railways: | total: 862 m; note - a spur of the Italian Railways system, serving Rome's Saint Peter's station standard gauge: 862 m 1.435-m gauge (1999)

Highways: | none; all city streets

Waterways: | none

Ports and harbors: | none

Airports: | none

Heliports: | 1 (2000 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City) | Military | Top of Page

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City to provide security and protect the Pope

Holy See (Vatican City) | Transnational Issues | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | none