ARCHIVE // VA // 1998

Holy See (Vatican City)

1998 Edition — sovereign

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Economy
Budget [time series]
revenues: $175.5 million expenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi
Economic overview (Economy-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 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.
Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]
5,000 kW standby note: electricity supplied by Italy
Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]
NA kWh note: electricity supplied by Italy
Exchange rates [time series]
Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1-1,787.7 (January 1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993); note-the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year Communications
Industries [time series]
printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Labor force [time series]
NA by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios [time series]
NA
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
automatic exchange domestic: tied into Italian system international: uses Italian system
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]
2,000
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
1 (1996)
Televisions [time series]
NA
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 0.44 sq km land: 0.44 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]
about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Coastline [time series]
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: unnamed location 19 m highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]
NA
International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]
party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geographic coordinates [time series]
41 54 N, 12 27 E
Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]
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
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km (1993)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 3.2 km border countries: Italy 3.2 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (urban area)
Location [time series]
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Map references [time series]
Europe
Maritime claims [time series]
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards [time series]
NA
Natural resources [time series]
none
Terrain [time series]
low hill
Government
Constitution [time series]
Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
Country name [time series]
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)
Data code [time series]
VT
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Corrine BOGGS embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, Rome 00153 mailing address: PSC 59, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (6) 46741
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978) head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since 2 December 1990) cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by Pope elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope election results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[39] (6) 5758346, 57300682
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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
Government type [time series]
monarchical-sacerdotal state
Independence [time series]
11 February 1929 (from Italy)
International organization participation [time series]
IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)
Judicial branch [time series]
none; normally handled by Italy
Legal system [time series]
NA
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral Pontifical Commission
Capital (National capital) [time series]
Vatican City
National holiday [time series]
Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II) note: Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
none
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
Suffrage [time series]
limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Military
Military - note (Military-note) [time series]
defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City
People
Ethnic groups [time series]
Italians, Swiss, other
Languages [time series]
Italian, Latin, various other languages
Nationality [time series]
noun: none adjective: none
Population [time series]
860 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
1.15% (1998 est.)
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]
none HONDURAS
Transportation
Airports [time series]
none
Heliports [time series]
1
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
none; all city streets
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
none
Railways [time series]
total: 862 meters; note-connects to Italy's network at Rome's Saint Peter's station narrow gauge: 862 meters 1.435-m gauge