Vatican City

Vatican City is a country in Southern Europe. Its capital is Vatican City.

Find Vatican City

● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.

At a glance

Capital: Vatican City
Language guide: Languages spoken & official status
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Population: 88231 December 2024 · Vatican City residents, citizens and non-citizens.
Area: 0.44 km²0.44 km² as stated by Vatican City State.
State established: 1929Lateran Treaty with Italy.

Vatican City in context

Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Vatican City; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.

Natural Earth · locator map

Geography & environment

Landscape

Vatican City is a very small, landlocked city-state within Rome. Its territory occupies part of Vatican Hill and adjacent developed ground. Buildings, courtyards, gardens and paved spaces dominate rather than extensive natural landscapes.

Saint Peter’s Square is a major open urban space, while the Vatican Gardens occupy sloping ground behind the principal buildings. These provide the most useful geographic contrast within the territory. The surrounding city continues directly beyond its boundaries.

Climate & seasons

Vatican City shares Rome’s Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and generally dry, while winters are milder and wetter.

An urban environment

The climate is Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and milder, wetter winters. Managed gardens provide planted habitats within the built setting. Water, access and infrastructure are closely connected with the surrounding metropolitan area.

Flag

Two vertical bands of yellow (left side) and white, with the arms of the Holy See centered in the white band; the arms show the crossed keys of Saint Peter under the three-tiered papal tiara

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Vatican City State · population

Landscapes & nature

Languages

Public and official use

Italian is the main working language of Vatican City’s administration and everyday life. Latin has an important formal and historical role in the Holy See and the Catholic Church.

Community and regional languages

French and other languages are used in diplomacy, worship and communication with a worldwide community. The Holy See is the Church’s central governing authority; Vatican City is the territorial state.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

History & status

Vatican City State was created by the Lateran Treaty with Italy in 1929, resolving the dispute that followed Italy's annexation of Rome in 1870. The state provides a territorial base for the Holy See, the central governing authority of the Catholic Church; the two are related but distinct.

1870
Rome is incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy
1929
The Lateran Treaty establishes Vatican City State
1984
A revised agreement changes Italy's relationship with the Catholic Church

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Vatican City State · population

Economy

Main activities

Museums, visitor services, publications, stamps and commemorative coins generate revenue. Vatican City and the Holy See have distinct financial activities, so church-wide finances should not be presented as the city's GDP.

Industry and production

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

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Vatican City State · population

Population

882 · 31 December 2024 · Vatican City residents, citizens and non-citizens.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Vatican City State · population

Government

An elective ecclesiastical monarchy headed by the Pope. The Pope holds supreme authority and delegates legislative and administrative functions to the Pontifical Commission and the Governorate. Vatican City State is distinct from the Holy See.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Vatican City State · population

Knowledge check

Three questions about Vatican City.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

Which city is identified as the capital of Vatican City?

Sources & notes

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Vatican City State · population

Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.

Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.