1995 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1995 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
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
Climate
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Environment
current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
0 sq km
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 (Italy)
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
none; landlocked
Natural resources
none
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
Terrain
low hill
People and Society
Birth rate
NA
Death rate
NA
Ethnic divisions
Italians, Swiss
Infant mortality rate
NA
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
NA
Nationality
noun: none adjective: none
Net migration rate
NA
Population
830 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate
1.15% (1995 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic
Total fertility rate
NA
Government
Capital
Vatican City
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: [1] (202) 333-7121
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
[39] (6) 6380159
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
Independence
11 February 1929 (from Italy)
Judicial branch
none; normally handled by Italy
Legal system
NA
Legislative branch
unicameral Pontifical Commission
Member of
IAEA, ICFTU, INTELSAT, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE, 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
Suffrage
limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Type
monarchical-sacerdotal state
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN embassy: Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, Rome 00153 mailing address: PSC 59, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (6) 46741
Economy
Budget
revenues: $169 million expenditures: $167.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993)
Currency
1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi
Electricity
capacity: 5,000 kW standby production: power supplied by Italy consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)
Exchange rates
Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,609.5 (January 1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990); 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
Radio
broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Telephone system
2,000 telephones; automatic exchange local: NA intercity: tied into Italian system international: uses Italian system
Television
broadcast stations: 0 televisions: NA
Transportation
Airports
none
Highways
none; all city streets
Ports
none
Railroads
total: 862 meters; note - connects to Italy's network at Rome's Saint Peter's station narrow gauge: 862 meters 1.435-m gauge
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City ________________________________________________________________________ HONDURAS