Broadcast media [time series]

the Vatican Television Center (CTV) transmits live broadcasts of the Pope's Sunday and Wednesday audiences, as well as the Pope's public celebrations; CTV also produces documentaries; Vatican Radio is the Holy See's official broadcasting service broadcasting via shortwave, AM and FM frequencies, and via satellite and Internet connections (2008)

Internet country code [time series]

.va

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

68 (2010) country comparison to the world: 208

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: automatic digital exchange domestic: connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network international: country code - 39; uses Italian system

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

5,120 (2005) country comparison to the world: 211

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Holy See is supported financially by a variety of sources, including investments, real estate income, and donations from Catholic individuals, dioceses, and institutions; these help fund the Roman Curia (Vatican bureaucracy), diplomatic missions, and media outlets. The separate Vatican City State budget includes the Vatican museums and post office and is supported financially by the sale of stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for admission to museums; and by publications sales. Moreover, an annual collection taken up in dioceses and direct donations go to a non-budgetary fund known as Peter's Pence, which is used directly by the Pope for charity, disaster relief, and aid to churches in developing nations. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - imports [time series]

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy; a small portion of electricity is self-produced from solar panels

Electricity - production [time series]

NA kWh

Exchange rates [time series]

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$NA

Industries [time series]

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

Labor force [time series]

NA

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

total: 0.44 sq km country comparison to the world: 250 land: 0.44 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

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

Climate [time series]

temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to 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 elevation 75 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

NA

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Geographic coordinates [time series]

41 54 N, 12 27 E

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; beyond the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the Lateran Treaty of 1929 grants the Holy See extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome and five outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo (the Pope's summer residence)

Irrigated land [time series]

0 sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 3.2 km border countries: Italy 3.2 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (2005)

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]

urban; low hill

Administrative divisions [time series]

none

Capital [time series]

name: Vatican City geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Constitution [time series]

Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaced the first Fundamental Law of 1929)

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)

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Miguel Humberto DIAZ embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome mailing address: PSC 833, Box 66, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428 FAX: [39] (06) 575-3411

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro SAMBI chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121 FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005) head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE (since 15 September 2006) cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held on 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope election results: Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band; the yellow color represents the pope's spiritual power, the white his worldly power

Government type [time series]

ecclesiastical

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

IAEA, Interpol, IOM (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

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, papal directive, of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946

Legal system [time series]

based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March) lyrics/music: Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD note: adopted 1950; although used as such, "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" is not officially a national anthem but rather a hymn meant to appeal to Roman Catholics throughout the world

National holiday [time series]

Election Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 19 April (2005)

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

Background [time series]

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 environment, the Middle East, China, the decline of religion in Europe, terrorism, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About one billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) (2010)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Italians, Swiss, other

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA

Languages [time series]

Italian, Latin, French, various other languages

Literacy [time series]

definition: NA total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%

Nationality [time series]

noun: none adjective: none

Population [time series]

829 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 236

Population growth rate [time series]

0.004% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 100% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none