Holy See (Vatican City)

The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)

monarchical-sacerdotal stateIndependence 11 February 1929 (from Italy)

Holy See (Vatican City) as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 59 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
Area0.44 km2
LocationSouthern Europe, an enclave of Rome - central Italy
1993

Every edition of Holy See (Vatican City)

Populationas each edition published it
811 people July 1993 est. · 774 in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.15% 1993 est. · 0% in 2025

Geography

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome - central Italy

14 fields

Land useshare of 0.44 km2

forest and woodland 0%other 100%arable land 0% in all · permanent crops 0% in all · meadows and pastures 0% in all · irrigated 0 km2
Area
0.44km2
land area: 0.44 km2comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Coastline
0km
(landlocked)Maritime claims: none; landlocked
Land boundaries
3.2km
total · Italy 3.2 km

Location

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome - central Italy

Climate

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

Terrain

low hill

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

14 fields
Population
811
(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 1.15% (1993 est.)

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population:
NA years
male:
NA years
female:
NA years

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

Nationality

noun:
none
adjective:
none

Ethnic divisions

Italians, Swiss

Religions

Roman Catholic

Languages

Italian, Latin, various other languages

Literacy

total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%

Labor force

NA; by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican

Government

Monarchical-sacerdotal state

20 fields

Names

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)

Type

monarchical-sacerdotal state

Capital

Vatican City

Independence

11 February 1929 (from Italy)

Constitution

Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)

National holiday

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

Other political or pressure groups

none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

Suffrage

limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Elections

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Pontifical Commission

Judicial branch

none; normally handled by Italy

Leaders

Chief of State:
Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978)
Head of Government:
Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA)

Member of

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

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:
Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN
chancery:
3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 333-7121

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:
Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN
embassy:
Villino Pacelli, Via Aurelia 294, 00165 Rome
mailing address:
PSC 59, APO AE 09624
telephone:
[396] 46741
FAX:
[396] 638-0159

Flag

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

Economy

7 fields

Budget

Revenues
$86 millionExpenditures
$178 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)

Overview

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

5,000 kW standby capacity (1992); power supplied by Italy

Industries

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

Currency

1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi

Exchange rates

  • Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,482.5 (January 1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988);
  • note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

3 fields

Railroads

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

Highways

none; all city streets

Telecommunications

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

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Holy See (Vatican City).” The World Factbook 1993. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/holy-see/1993.

How to cite ← 1992 edition 1994 edition →