This is the Smallest Country in the World

At 0.19 square miles, Vatican City is the smallest nation in the world. This city-state has a population of 825 people, and is surrounded by Rome, Italy. Home to the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, learn more about the world's tiniest country.

April 13, 2022

By: Tatum Lenberg

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Vatican City is home to the Pope and St Peter's Basilica. The sovereign state was signed into existence after a dispute between the Italian government and the Catholic church.

The Pope is the head of the country, and the government operates as a monarchy.

Although Vatican City is home to a population of less than a thousand citizens, the city-state attracts almost 5.5 million visitors yearly.

Vatican City has its own army, known as the Swiss Guard, which has 135 members. (The uniform hasn't changed since the Renaissance.)

Vatican City is the only country in the world that's entirely designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The entire country of Vatican City sits on just over 100 acres of land. The nation is 1/8 the size of New York's Central Park.

The Vatican mints its own euros, issues passports & license plates, and prints its own stamps.

Vatican City has its own national flag and anthem. The only government function the Vatican doesn't participate in is taxation. The country's main revenue comes from museum admission fees and souvenir sales.