Roadways (Highways) [time series]

none; all city streets

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

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

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

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

Note [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues $76.6 million; expenditures $168 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Vatican lira (plural--lire); 1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi

Electricity [time series]

5,000 kW standby capacity (1990); power supplied by Italy

Exchange rates [time series]

Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1--1,134.4 (January 1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987), 1,490.8 (1986), 1,909.4 (1985); note--the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Industries [time series]

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

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

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, 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.

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

none--landlocked

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

urban

Land boundaries (Land boundary) [time series]

3.2 km with Italy

Land use [time series]

arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Maritime claims [time series]

none--landlocked

Natural resources [time series]

none

Note [time series]

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 [time series]

low hill

Area (Total area) [time series]

0.438 km2; land area: 0.438 km2

Capital [time series]

Vatican City

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

NA

Constitution [time series]

Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN; 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 333-7121; US--Ambassador Thomas P. MELADY; Embassy at Villino Pacelli, Via Aurelia 294, 00165 Rome (mailing address is APO New York 09794); telephone [396] 639-0558

Executive branch [time series]

pope

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

11 February 1929 (from Italy)

Judicial branch [time series]

none; normally handled by Italy Chief of State--Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978); Head of Government--Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo SODANO

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Pontifical Commission

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

State of the Vatican City; note--the Vatican City is the physical seat of the Holy See, which is the central government of the Roman Catholic Church

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

CSCE, IAEA, ICFTU, IMF (observer), INTELSAT, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)

National holiday [time series]

Installation Day of the Pope (John Paul II), 22 October (1978); note--Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

none

Suffrage [time series]

limited to cardinals less than 80 years old 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

Government type (Type) [time series]

monarchical-sacerdotal state

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

primarily Italians but also Swiss and other nationalities

Labor force [time series]

high dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican

Languages (Language) [time series]

Italian, Latin, and various other languages

Literacy [time series]

100% (male NA%, female NA%)

Nationality [time series]

no noun or adjectival forms

Organized labor [time series]

Association of Vatican Lay Workers, 1,800 members (1987)

Population [time series]

778 (July 1991), growth rate NEGL% (1991)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

Roman Catholic

Holy See (Vatican City)