1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 0.44 km2 land area: 0.44 km2 comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Environment
urban
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
0 km2
Land boundaries
total 3.2 km, Italy 3.2 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Location
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome - central Italy
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
none; landlocked
Natural resources
none
Note
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
Terrain
low hill
People and Society
Birth rate
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate
NA deaths/1,000 population
Ethnic divisions
Italians, Swiss
Infant mortality rate
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Labor force
NA by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican
Languages
Italian, Latin, various other languages
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Literacy
total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality
noun: none adjective: none
Net migration rate
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Population
811 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
1.15% (1993 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic
Total fertility rate
NA children born/woman
Government
Capital
Vatican City
Chief of State
Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978)
Constitution
Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
Digraph
VT
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 333-7121
Executive branch
pope
FAX
[396] 638-0159
Flag
two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal tiara centered in the white band
Head of Government
Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA)
Independence
11 February 1929 (from Italy)
Judicial branch
none; normally handled by Italy
Legal system
NA
Legislative branch
unicameral Pontifical Commission
Member of
CSCE, IAEA, ICFTU, IMF (observer), INTELSAT, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Names
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)
National holiday
Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II) note: Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
Other political or pressure groups
none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
Political parties and leaders
none
Pope
last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); results - Karol WOJTYLA was elected for life by the College of Cardinals
Suffrage
limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Type
monarchical-sacerdotal state
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN embassy: Villino Pacelli, Via Aurelia 294, 00165 Rome mailing address: PSC 59, APO AE 09624 telephone: [396] 46741
Economy
Budget
revenues $86 million; expenditures $178 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Currency
1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi
Electricity
5,000 kW standby capacity (1992); power supplied by Italy
Exchange rates
Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,482.5 (January 1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988); note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely
Fiscal year
calendar year
Industries
printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
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.
Communications
Highways
none; all city streets
Railroads
850 m, 750 mm gauge (links with Italian network near the Rome station of Saint Peter's)
Telecommunications
broadcast stations - 3 AM, 4 FM, no TV; 2,000-line automatic telephone exchange; no communications satellite systems
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City