Holy See (Vatican City)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Internet country code

.va

Internet users

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998)

Telephone system

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

Telephones - main lines in use

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

1 (1996)

Budget

revenues: $173.5 million expenditures: $176.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)

Currency

euro (EUR)

Currency code

EUR

Economic aid - recipient

none

Economy - overview

This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual tax on Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world, as well as by special collections (known as Peter's Pence); the sale of postage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; fees for admission to museums; and the sale of publications. Investments and real estate income also account for a sizable portion of revenue. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - exports

0 kWh

Electricity - imports

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.1324 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Industries

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

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

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

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

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

Geographic coordinates

41 54 N, 12 27 E

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

Irrigated land

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 3.2 km border countries: Italy 3.2 km

Land use

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

Location

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

none

Terrain

low hill

Administrative divisions

none

Capital

Vatican City

Constitution

Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)

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)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador R. James "Jim" NICHOLSON embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428 FAX: [39] (06) 5758346

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

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

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

Government type

ecclesiastical

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

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)

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

Legal system

based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it

Legislative branch

unicameral Pontifical Commission

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

Suffrage

limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Background

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.

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

Military branches

Swiss Guards Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera)

Ethnic groups

Italians, Swiss, other

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Languages

Italian, Latin, French, various other languages

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: none adjective: none

Population

911 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

0.01% (2003 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic

Disputes - international

none

Airports

none (2002)

Heliports

1 (2002)

Highways

none; all city streets

Ports and harbors

none

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.)

Waterways

none