*Holy See (Vatican City), Geography

Location:
  Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome - central Italy
Map references:
  Europe
Area:
 total area:
  0.44 km2
 land area:
  0.44 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  total 3.2 km, Italy 3.2 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers
  (May to September)
Terrain:
  low hill
Natural resources:   none
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  urban
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

*Holy See (Vatican City), People

Population:
  811 (July 1993 est.)
Population 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

*Holy See (Vatican City), Government

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)
Digraph:
  VT
Type:
  monarchical-sacerdotal state
Capital:
  Vatican City
Independence:
  11 February 1929 (from Italy)
Constitution:
  Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
  Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II)
 note:
  Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
Political parties and leaders:
  none
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
Executive branch:
  pope
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

*Holy See (Vatican City), Government

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

*Holy See (Vatican City), 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.
Budget:
  revenues $86 million; expenditures $178 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
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

*Holy See (Vatican City), Communications

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

*Holy See (Vatican City), Defense Forces

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