1994 Edition

Area

total area: 0.44 sq km land area: 0.44 sq km comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Birth rate

NA

Budget

revenues: $86 million expenditures: $178 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)

Capital

Vatican City

Climate

temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)

Currency

1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi

Death rate

NA

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

Electricity

capacity: 5,000 kW standby production: power supplied by Italy consumption per capita: NA (1992)

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Ethnic divisions

Italians, Swiss

Exchange rates

Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,700.2 (January 1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989); note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely

Executive branch

chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978); election 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 head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA 1991) cabinet: Pontifical Commission; appointed by Pope

FAX

[396] 638-0159

Fiscal year

calendar year

Flag

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

Highways

none; all city streets

Independence

11 February 1929 (from Italy)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

NA

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Judicial branch

none; normally handled by Italy

Labor force

NA by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican

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%

Languages

Italian, Latin, various other languages

Legal system

NA

Legislative branch

unicameral Pontifical Commission

Life expectancy at birth

NA

Literacy

total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Location

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome - central Italy

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none; landlocked

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

Nationality

noun: none adjective: none

Natural resources

none

Net migration rate

NA

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

defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City

Other political or pressure groups

none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

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.

Political parties and leaders

none

Population

821 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

1.15% (1994 est.)

Railroads

850 m, 750-mm gauge (links with Italian network near the Rome station of Saint Peter's)

Religions

Roman Catholic

Suffrage

limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Telecommunications

broadcast stations - 3 AM, 4 FM, no TV; 2,000-line automatic telephone exchange; no communications satellite systems

Terrain

low hill

Total fertility rate

NA

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