Holy See (Vatican City)

monarchical-sacerdotal stateIndependence 11 February 1929 (from Italy)

Holy See (Vatican City) as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 46 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalVatican City

Area0.438 km2

1990

Every edition of Holy See (Vatican City)

Populationas each edition published it

774 people July 1990 · 1,000 in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 1.15% in 1993

Geography

11 fields

Land useshare of 0.438 km2

forest and woodland 0%other 100%arable land 0% in all · permanent crops 0% in all · meadows and pastures 0% in all

Total area

0.438km2

land area: 0.438 km2Comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundary

3.2km with Italy

Climate

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

Note

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

People

8 fields

Population

774

(July 1990), growth rate 0.5% (1990)

Labor force

1,500

about · Vatican City employees divided into three categories--executives, office workers, and salaried employees

Literacy

100%

Ethnic divisions

primarily Italians but also many other nationalities

Language

Italian, Latin, and various other languages

Organized labor

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

Government

Monarchical-sacerdotal state

16 fields

Long-form name

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

Constitution

Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)

National holiday

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

Judicial branch

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

Suffrage

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

Other political or pressure groups

none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

Member

IAEA, INTELSAT, ITU, IWC--International Wheat Council, UPU, WIPO, WTO; permanent observer status at FAO, OAS, UN, and UNESCO

Diplomatic representation

Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Pio LAGHI;
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

Flag

two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of St. Peter and the papal tiara centered in the white band

Economy

7 fields

Budget

Revenues

$57 millionExpenditures

$113.7 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986)

The 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.

Electricity

5,000 kW standby capacity (1989); power supplied by Italy

Industries

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

Currency

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

Exchange rates

Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1--1,262.5 (January 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