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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
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| Introduction | Holy See (Vatican City) | Top of Page

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, international development, the environment, the Middle East, China, the decline of religion in Europe, terrorism, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About one billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.

| Geography | Holy See (Vatican City) | 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 May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain: | urban; 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% other: 100% (urban area) (2005)
Irrigated land: | 0 sq km
Natural hazards: | NA
Environment - current issues: | NA
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Climate Change signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography - note: | landlocked; 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)

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

Population: | 824 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate: | 0.003% (2008 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: 100% female: 100%

| Government | Holy See (Vatican City) | 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: | 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 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century
National holiday: | Coronation Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 24 April (2005)
Constitution: | new Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaces the first Fundamental Law of 1929)
Legal system: | based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it
Suffrage: | limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch: | chief of state: Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005) head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE (since 15 September 2006) cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope election results: Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI
Legislative branch: | unicameral Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City
Judicial branch: | there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminal matters within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issues pertaining to the Holy See note: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946
Political parties and leaders: | none
Political pressure groups and leaders: | none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation: | CE (observer), IAEA, Interpol, IOM (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WFTU, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro SAMBI chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121 FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Ann GLENDON embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428 FAX: [39] (06) 575-8346
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

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

Economy - overview: | This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual contribution (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world; by the sale of postage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for admission to museums; and by the sale of publications. Investments and real estate income also account for a sizable portion of revenue. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $NA
Labor force: | NA
Labor force - 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
Budget: | revenues: $310 million expenditures: $307 million (2006)
Industries: | printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Electricity - production: | NA kWh
Electricity - consumption: | NA kWh
Electricity - imports: | NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy
Currency (code): | euro (EUR)
Exchange rates: | euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)

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

Telephones - main lines in use: | 5,120 (2005)
Telephone system: | general assessment: automatic digital exchange domestic: connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network international: country code - 39; uses Italian system
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 2 (2004)
Television broadcast stations: | 1 (2005)
Internet country code: | .va
Internet hosts: | 55 (2008)
Internet users: | 93 (2000)

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

Military branches: | Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) (2007)
Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard

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

Disputes - international: | none

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008