From Wikitravel

This article is an import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a real Wikitravel country article according to our country article template. Please plunge forward and edit the Vatican City article.

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 the failing health of Pope John Paul II, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.

[edit] Geography

Location 

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Geographic coordinates 

41 54 N, 12 27 E

Map references 

Europe

Area 

total: 0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 0.44 sq km

Area - comparative 

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

Land boundaries 

total: 3.2 km
border countries: Italy 3.2 km

Coastline 

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims 

none (landlocked)

Climate 

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

Terrain 

low hill

Elevation extremes 

lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m

Natural resources 

none

Land use 

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards 

NA

Environment - current issues 

NA

Environment - international agreements 

party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Geography - note 

urban; landlocked; enclave in 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

[edit] People

Population 

900 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate 

1.15% (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths 

NA

Nationality 

noun: none
adjective: none

Ethnic groups 

Italians, Swiss, other

Religions 

Roman Catholic

Languages 

Italian, Latin, French, various other languages

Literacy 

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

[edit] Government

Country name 

conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)

Government type 

ecclesiastical

Capital 

Vatican City

Administrative divisions 

none

Independence 

11 February 1929 (from Italy)
note: on 11 February 1929, three treaties were signed with Italy which, among other things, recognized 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

National holiday 

Coronation Day of Pope JOHN PAUL II, 22 October (1978)

Constitution 

Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)

Legal system 

based on canon law and revisions to it

Suffrage 

limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Executive branch 

chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978)
head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since 2 December 1990)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the 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

Legislative branch 

unicameral Pontifical Commission

Judicial branch 

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 of Pius XII on 1 May 1946

Political parties and leaders 

none

Political pressure groups and leaders 

none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

International organization participation 

CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WHO (observer), WIPO, WToO (observer), WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US 

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

Diplomatic representation from the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador R. James "Jim" NICHOLSON
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00162 Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428
FAX: [39] (06) 5758346

Flag description 

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

[edit] Economy

Economy - 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.

Population below poverty line 

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Labor force 

NA

Labor force - by occupation 

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%; note - dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican

Budget 

revenues: $209.6 million
expenditures: $198.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)

Industries 

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

Electricity - production by source 

fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%

Electricity - consumption 

NA kWh

Electricity - imports 

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy

Economic aid - recipient 

none

Currency 

euro (EUR); Italian lira (ITL)

Currency code 

EUR; ITL

Exchange rates 

euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Vatican lire per US dollar - 2,099 (2000), 1817.2 (1999), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997); note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira; the Vatican started using euros in 2002 in conjunction with Italy at a fixed rate of 1,936.17 lire per euro

Fiscal year 

calendar year

[edit] Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular 

NA

Telephone system 

general assessment: automatic exchange
domestic: tied into Italian system
international: uses Italian system

Radio broadcast stations 

AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios 

NA

Television broadcast stations 

1 (1996)

Televisions 

NA

Internet country code 

.va

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

NA

Internet users 

NA

[edit] Transportation

Railways 

total: 0.86 km
standard gauge: 0.86 km 1.435-m gauge
note: a spur of the Italian Railways system, serving Rome's Saint Peter's station (2001 est.)

Highways 

none; all city streets

Waterways 

none

Ports and harbors 

none

Airports 

none (2001)

Heliports 

1 (2002)

[edit] Military

Military branches 

Swiss Guards Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera)

Military - note 

defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City to provide security and protect the Pope

[edit] Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

none