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| Map |  |
| 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: none of the selected agreements
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) |
| Population | 932 (July 2006 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 0.01% (2006 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% |
| 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 Angelo SODANO (since 1 December 1990) resigned on 22 June 2006; note - he is to be succeeded by Tarcisio Cardinal BERTONE on 15 September 2006
cabinet: Pontifical Commission 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 |
| 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, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer), 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 Francis ROONEY
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 crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band |
| Economy - overview | This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual contribution from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world (known as Peter's Pence); 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; dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican |
| Population below poverty line | NA% |
| Budget | revenues: $245.2 million
expenditures: $260.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2002) |
| 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 - exports | 0 kWh |
| Electricity - imports | NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy |
| Economic aid - recipient | $0 |
| Currency (code) | euro (EUR) |
| Exchange rates | euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year |
| Telephones - main lines in use | 5,120 (2005) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | NA |
| 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 | 36 (2005) |
| Internet users | NA |
| Military branches | Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) |
| Military - note | defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard |
| Disputes - international | none |