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In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


Map of Holy See (Vatican City)

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Holy See (Vatican City)
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 the failing health of Pope John Paul II, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.
   Geography    Holy See (Vatican City)
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
41 54 N, 12 27 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 0.44 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 3.2 km
border countries: Italy 3.2 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
low hill
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
none
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
urban; landlocked; enclave in 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
   People    Holy See (Vatican City)
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
911 (July 2003 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.01% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: none
adjective: none
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Italians, Swiss, other
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%
   Government    Holy See (Vatican City)
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
ecclesiastical
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Vatican City
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
none
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
11 February 1929 (from Italy)
note: on 11 February 1929, three treaties were signed with Italy which, among other things, recognized 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:
Definition Field Listing
Coronation Day of Pope JOHN PAUL II, 22 October (1978)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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 Pius XII on 1 May 1946
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, 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:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO
FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador R. James "Jim" NICHOLSON
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) 5758346
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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    Holy See (Vatican City)
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual tax on Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world, as well as by special collections (known as Peter's Pence); the sale of postage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; fees for admission to museums; and 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.
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
essentially services with a small amount of industry; note - dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $173.5 million
expenditures: $176.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps, a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
none
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
EUR
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.1324 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Holy See (Vatican City)
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: automatic exchange
domestic: tied into Italian system
international: uses Italian system
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (1996)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.va
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
NA
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
   Transportation    Holy See (Vatican City)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 0.86 km
standard gauge: 0.86 km 1.435-m gauge
note: a spur of the Italian Railways system, serving Rome's Saint Peter's station (2001 est.)
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
none; all city streets
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
none
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
none (2002)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2002)
   Military    Holy See (Vatican City)
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Swiss Guards Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City to provide security and protect the Pope
   Transnational Issues    Holy See (Vatican City)
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


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