2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

none

Airports

none (2004 est.) Military Holy See (Vatican City)

Area

land

0.44 sq km

total

0.44 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Background

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 religious freedom, international development, the Middle East, terrorism, 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)

Budget

expenditures

$260.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2002)

revenues

$245.2 million

Capital

Vatican City

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

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)

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)

Currency (code)

euro (EUR)

Currency code

EUR

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant)

embassy

Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome

FAX

[39] (06) 575-8346

mailing address

PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624

telephone

[39] (06) 4674-3428

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO

FAX

[1] (202) 337-4036

telephone

[1] (202) 333-7121

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Economic aid - recipient

none

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.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - exports

0 kWh

Electricity - imports

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed location 75 m

lowest point

unnamed location 19 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

party to

none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Ethnic groups

Italians, Swiss, other

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope

chief of state

Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005)

election results

Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI

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

head of government

Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since 1 December 1990)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Holy See (Vatican City)

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 Holy See (Vatican City)

Geographic coordinates

41 54 N, 12 27 E

Geography - note

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)

Government type

ecclesiastical

Highways

none; all city streets

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

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

Industries

printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities

International organization participation

CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer), WTO (observer)

Internet country code

.va

Internet hosts

9 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Internet users

NA Transportation Holy See (Vatican City)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (1998 est.)

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 Pius XII on 1 May 1946

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

essentially services with a small amount of industry; note - dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican

Land boundaries

border countries

Italy 3.2 km

total

3.2 km

Land use

arable land

0%

other

100% (urban area) (2001)

permanent crops

0%

Languages

Italian, Latin, French, various other languages

Legal system

based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it

Legislative branch

unicameral Pontifical Commission

Literacy

definition: NA

female

100% Government Holy See (Vatican City)

male

100%

total population

100%

Location

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard Transnational Issues Holy See (Vatican City)

Military branches

Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia)

National holiday

Coronation Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 24 April (2005)

Nationality

adjective

none

noun

none

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

none

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

Population

921 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.01% (2005 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

NA

Religions

Roman Catholic

Suffrage

limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Telephone system

domestic

tied into Italian system

general assessment

automatic exchange

international

country code - 39; uses Italian system

Telephones - main lines in use

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

1 (1996)

Televisions

NA

Terrain

low hill