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Communications

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

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 (2015)

Economy

Budget [time series]

revenues: $308 million | expenditures: $326.4 million (2011)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

NA%

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. Moreover, an annual collection taken up in dioceses and from 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. Donations increased between 2010 and 2011. | 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 publication sales. Its revenues increased between 2010 and 2011 because of expanded opening hours and a growing number of visitors. However, the Holy See has not escaped the financial difficulties engulfing other European countries; in 2012, it started a spending review to determine where to cut costs to reverse its 2011 budget deficit of $20 million. The Holy See generated a modest surplus in 2012 before recording a $32 million deficit in 2013, driven primarily by the decreasing value of gold. Most public expenditures go to wages and other personnel costs; the incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome. In February 2014, Pope FRANCIS created the Secretariat of the Economy to oversee financial and administrative operations of the Holy See, part of a broader campaign to reform the Holy See’s finances.

Exchange rates [time series]

euros (EUR) per US dollar - | 0.885 (2015 est.) | 0.7525 (2014 est.) | 0.7634 (2013 est.) | 0.78 (2012 est.) | 0.7185 (2011 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

$NA

Industries [time series]

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

Labor force [time series]

2,885 (December 2011) | country comparison to the world: 225

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%

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 0.44 sq km | land: 0.44 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 257

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 [time series]

mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Saint Peter's Square 19 m | highest point: Vatican Gardens (Vatican Hill) 77 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 3.4 km | border countries (1): Italy 3.4 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 0% | arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0% | forest: 0% | other: 100% (urban area) (2011 est.)

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]

Natural resources [time series]

none

Terrain [time series]

urban; low hill

Government

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

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent: no | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: not applicable | note: in the Holy See, citizenship is acquired by law, ex iure, or by adminstrative decision; in the first instance citizenship is a function of holding office within the Holy See as in the case of cardinals resident in Vatican City or diplomats of the Holy See; in the second instance, citizenship may be requested in a limited set of circumstances for those who reside within Vatican City under papal authorization, as a function of their office or service, or as the spouses and children of current citizens; citizenship is lost once an individual no longer permanently resides in Vatican City, normally reverting to the citizenship previously held

Constitution [time series]

previous 1929, 1963; latest adopted 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (Fundamental Law of Vatican City State); note - in October 2013, Pope Francis instituted a 9-member Council of Cardinal Advisors to reform the administrative apparatus of the Holy See (Roman Curia) to include writing a new constitution (2016)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: The Holy See (Vatican City State) | conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City) | local long form: La Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) | local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano) | etymology: "holy" comes from the Greek word "hera" meaning "sacred"; "see" comes from the Latin word "sedes" meaning "seat," and refers to the episcopal chair; the term "Vatican" derives from the hill Mons Vaticanus on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin "vaticinari" (to prophecy), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman times

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth Francis HACKETT (since 21 October 2013) | embassy: American Embassy to the Holy See, Via Sallustiana, 49, 00187 Rome, Italy | mailing address: Unit 5660, Box 66, DPO AE 09624-0066 | telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428 | FAX: [39] (06) 575-8346

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Christophe PIERRE (since 27 June 2016) | 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 FRANCIS (since 13 March 2013) | head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro PAROLIN (since 15 October 2013) | cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope | elections/appointments: pope elected by the College of Cardinals, usually for life or until voluntary resignation; election last held on 13 March 2013 (next to be held after the death or resignation of the current pope); Secretary of State appointed by the pope | election results: Jorge Mario BERGOGLIO, former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, elected Pope FRANCIS

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 elective monarchy; self described as an "absolute monarchy"

Independence [time series]

11 February 1929; note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Holy See and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over centuries varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to 754

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura (consists of the cardinal prefect, who serves as ex-officio president of the court, and 2 other cardinals of the Prefect Signatura); note - judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio, papal directive, of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946; most Vatican City criminal matters are handled by the Republic of Italy courts | judge selection and term of office: cardinal prefect appointed by the pope; the other 2 cardinals of the court appointed by the cardinal prefect on a yearly basis | subordinate courts: Appellate Court of Vatican City; Tribunal of Vatican City

Legal system [time series]

religious legal system based on canon (religious) law

Legislative branch [time series]

description: unicameral Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State or Pontificia Commissione per lo Stato della Citta del Vaticano (7 seats; members appointed by the pope to serve 5-year terms)

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

name: "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March); often called The Pontifical Hymn | lyrics/music: Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD | note: adopted 1950

National holiday [time series]

Election Day of Pope FRANCIS, 13 March (2013)

National symbol(s) [time series]

crossed keys beneath a papal tiara; national colors: yellow, white

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]

election of the pope is limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Introduction

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, threats against minority Christian communities in Africa and the Middle East, sexual misconduct by clergy, international development, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1.2 billion people worldwide profess Catholicism - the world's largest Christian faith.

Military and Security

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) (2013)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia): 19-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; must be Roman Catholic, a Swiss citizen, with a secondary education (2013)

People and Society

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

Italians, Swiss, other

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

Italian, Latin, French, various other languages

Major urban areas - population [time series]

VATICAN CITY (capital) 1,000 (2014)

Nationality [time series]

noun: none | adjective: none

Population [time series]

1,000 (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 236

Population growth rate [time series]

0% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 100% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 0.03% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none