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Vatican

Vatican City: Learn about the world's smallest sovereign state

Portrait of Alexa Juliana Ard Alexa Juliana Ard
April 12, 2025, 8:40 a.m. ET
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, becoming its own sovereign state in 1929. It is enclosed by a 2-mile border with Italy in Rome. According to City Rome Tours , it is one-eighth the size of New York’s Central Park at just over 100 acres. In this handout photo provided by the Italian National Police, an aerial view of St. Peter's Square and Via della Conciliazione is seen as Pope Francis leads a Canonization Mass in which John Paul II and John XXIII were declared saints on April 27, 2014, in Vatican City, Vatican.
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, becoming its own sovereign state in 1929. It is enclosed by a 2-mile border with Italy in Rome. According to City Rome Tours, it is one-eighth the size of New York’s Central Park at just over 100 acres.

In this handout photo provided by the Italian National Police, an aerial view of St. Peter's Square and Via della Conciliazione is seen as Pope Francis leads a Canonization Mass in which John Paul II and John XXIII were declared saints on April 27, 2014, in Vatican City, Vatican.
Italian National Police
The Pope serves as the head of Vatican City, which is governed as an absolute monarchy. Pope Francis leads a rosary prayer for the beginning of the month of May 2021 in the Gregorian Chapel inside Saint Peter's Basilica at Vatican City on May 1, 2021.
The Pope serves as the head of Vatican City, which is governed as an absolute monarchy. Pope Francis leads a rosary prayer for the beginning of the month of May 2021 in the Gregorian Chapel inside Saint Peter's Basilica at Vatican City on May 1, 2021.
RICCARDO ANTIMIANI, Pool/AFP Via Getty Images
There are no taxes in Vatican City, but the sovereign independent territory does mint its own euros, operates media outlets, prints its own stamps, issues passports and license plates.
There are no taxes in Vatican City, but the sovereign independent territory does mint its own euros, operates media outlets, prints its own stamps, issues passports and license plates.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE, AFP Via Getty Images
Pope Francis celebrates Pentecost Mass on June 8, 2014, inside of Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The present basilica, built starting in the 1500s, sits over a maze of catacombs as well as the suspected grave of a disciple of Jesus Christ, St. Peter, according to City Rome Tours.
Pope Francis celebrates Pentecost Mass on June 8, 2014, inside of Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The present basilica, built starting in the 1500s, sits over a maze of catacombs as well as the suspected grave of a disciple of Jesus Christ, St. Peter, according to City Rome Tours.
ALBERTO PIZZOLI, AFP Via Getty Images
The Vatican has its own flag and anthem. The majority of Vatican City’s hundreds of citizens live abroad. As of 2023, the population is 764 people, according to the World Population Review . Pictured here, the Vatican flag flies outside the United Nations headquarters on Sept. 25, 2015, in New York City.
The Vatican has its own flag and anthem. The majority of Vatican City’s hundreds of citizens live abroad. As of 2023, the population is 764 people, according to the World Population Review.

Pictured here, the Vatican flag flies outside the United Nations headquarters on Sept. 25, 2015, in New York City.
Carl Court, Getty Images
Pope Francis leads a rosary prayer for the beginning of the month of May in 2021 in the Gregorian Chapel inside Saint Peter's Basilica. Popes didn’t live at the Vatican until the 14th century, according to City Rome Tours.
Pope Francis leads a rosary prayer for the beginning of the month of May in 2021 in the Gregorian Chapel inside Saint Peter's Basilica. Popes didn’t live at the Vatican until the 14th century, according to City Rome Tours.
RICCARDO ANTIMIANI, Pool/AFP Via Getty Images
Members of the Swiss Guard outside St. Peter's Basilica on March 26, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Swiss Guard has been protecting the pope since 1506.
Members of the Swiss Guard outside St. Peter's Basilica on March 26, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Swiss Guard has been protecting the pope since 1506.
Dan Kitwood, Getty Images
Faithfuls attend a prayer vigil at the Chiesa Degli Artisti in Vatican City, Vatican.
Faithfuls attend a prayer vigil at the Chiesa Degli Artisti in Vatican City, Vatican.
Franco Origlia, Getty Images
The interior of the Saint Mary Major basilica during the vespers to mark the anniversary of the Dedication of the Papal Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore on Aug. 5, 2024, in Rome. The Holy Door will be reopened during the Holy Year of 2025. Pope Francis has chosen to be buried not in St Peter's Basilica alongside his immediate predecessors but in Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) basilica in Rome, he revealed in an interview broadcast on Dec. 13, 2023.
The interior of the Saint Mary Major basilica during the vespers to mark the anniversary of the Dedication of the Papal Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore on Aug. 5, 2024, in Rome. The Holy Door will be reopened during the Holy Year of 2025. Pope Francis has chosen to be buried not in St Peter's Basilica alongside his immediate predecessors but in Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) basilica in Rome, he revealed in an interview broadcast on Dec. 13, 2023.
ALBERTO PIZZOLI, AFP Via Getty Images
People pray inside St Peter's Basilica on March 6, 2025, in Vatican City. Pope Francis was hospitalized in Rome on Feb. 14 with bronchitis, and later developed pneumonia in both his lungs.
People pray inside St Peter's Basilica on March 6, 2025, in Vatican City. Pope Francis was hospitalized in Rome on Feb. 14 with bronchitis, and later developed pneumonia in both his lungs.
Christopher Furlong, Getty Images
A view of the dome of Saint Peter's Basilica following the announcement of the death of former Pope Benedict XVI at The Vatican, on Dec. 31, 2022.
A view of the dome of Saint Peter's Basilica following the announcement of the death of former Pope Benedict XVI at The Vatican, on Dec. 31, 2022.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE, AFP Via Getty Images
The lights of the dome of St Peter's Basilica are switched off and cast in darkness to mark the WWF Earth Hour on March 22, 2025, in Vatican City, Vatican. The dome of St. Peter's Basilica is turned off for an hour, starting at 8:30 p.m., for the WWF Earth Hour initiative. Pope Francis says that the ecological issue must be focussed on ethics and social justice and what is happening to the earth, "our common home."
The lights of the dome of St Peter's Basilica are switched off and cast in darkness to mark the WWF Earth Hour on March 22, 2025, in Vatican City, Vatican. The dome of St. Peter's Basilica is turned off for an hour, starting at 8:30 p.m., for the WWF Earth Hour initiative. Pope Francis says that the ecological issue must be focussed on ethics and social justice and what is happening to the earth, "our common home."
Christopher Furlong, Getty Images
Pilgrims walk to the Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica on March 25, 2025, in Vatican City, Vatican. Pilgrims pass through the Holy Door. "Passaggio Porta Santa Basilica Vaticana - Giubileo del Mondo del Volontariato," which translates as "Passage through the Holy Door of the Vatican Basilica during the Jubilee of the World of Volunteering."
Pilgrims walk to the Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica on March 25, 2025, in Vatican City, Vatican. Pilgrims pass through the Holy Door. "Passaggio Porta Santa Basilica Vaticana - Giubileo del Mondo del Volontariato," which translates as "Passage through the Holy Door of the Vatican Basilica during the Jubilee of the World of Volunteering."
Dan Kitwood, Getty Images
Pilgrims pass through the 'Holy Door' as they enter St Peter's Basilica on March 26, 2025, in Vatican City, Vatican.
Pilgrims pass through the 'Holy Door' as they enter St Peter's Basilica on March 26, 2025, in Vatican City, Vatican.
Dan Kitwood, Getty Images
St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City dominates the skyline from the top of Monte Mario Nature Reserve on March 26, 2025, in Rome, Italy.
St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City dominates the skyline from the top of Monte Mario Nature Reserve on March 26, 2025, in Rome, Italy.
Dan Kitwood, Getty Images
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