Holy See (Vatican City) (2001) | Bouvet Island (2006) | |
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Airports | none | - |
Area | total:
0.44 sq km land: 0.44 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 49 sq km
land: 49 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC |
Background | Popes in their secular role ruled much 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 Vatican 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 adjustment of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith. | This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom the island was named. No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In 1928, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island the previous year. In 1971, Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the island. |
Budget | revenues:
$209.6 million expenditures: $198.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997) |
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Capital | Vatican City | - |
Climate | temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September) | antarctic |
Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | 29.6 km |
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 long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano) |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bouvet Island |
Currency | Italian lira (ITL); euro (EUR) | - |
Dependency status | - | territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo |
Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant) embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00162 Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428 FAX: [39] (06) 5758346 |
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Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission:
Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele MONTALVO chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121 |
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Disputes - international | none | none |
Economic aid - recipient | none | - |
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. | no economic activity; declared a nature reserve |
Electricity - consumption | NA kWh | - |
Electricity - imports | NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy | - |
Electricity - production by source | fossil fuel:
NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% |
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Elevation extremes | lowest point:
unnamed location 19 m highest point: unnamed location 75 m |
lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Olav Peak 935 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Environment - international agreements | party to:
none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification |
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Ethnic groups | Italians, Swiss, other | - |
Exchange rates | euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Vatican lire per US dollar - 2,099 (2000), 1817.2 (1999), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996); note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira; the Vatican will start using euros in 2002 in conjunction with Italy at a fixed rate of 1,936.17 lire per euro | - |
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 |
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Fiscal year | calendar year | - |
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 | the flag of Norway is used |
Geographic coordinates | 41 54 N, 12 27 E | 54 26 S, 3 24 E |
Geography - note | urban; 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 | covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve |
Heliports | 1 (2000 est.) | - |
Highways | none; all city streets | - |
Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%:
NA% highest 10%: NA% |
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Imports | NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy | - |
Independence | 11 February 1929 (from Italy) | - |
Industries | printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities | - |
International organization participation | CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WHO (observer), WIPO, WToO (observer), WTrO (observer) | - |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | 93 (Holy See and Italy) (2000) | - |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1993) | 0 sq km |
Judicial branch | none; normally handled by Italy | - |
Labor force | NA | - |
Labor force - by occupation | agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%; note - dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican | - |
Land boundaries | total:
3.2 km border countries: Italy 3.2 km |
0 km |
Land use | arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (urban area) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (93% ice) (2005) |
Languages | Italian, Latin, French, various other languages | - |
Legal system | NA | the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply |
Legislative branch | unicameral Pontifical Commission | - |
Literacy | definition:
NA total population: 100% male: NA% female: NA% |
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Location | Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy) | island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) |
Map references | Europe | Antarctic Region |
Maritime claims | none (landlocked) | territorial sea: 4 nm |
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 | defense is the responsibility of Norway |
National holiday | Coronation Day of Pope JOHN PAUL II, 22 October (1978) | - |
Nationality | noun:
none adjective: none |
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Natural hazards | NA | NA |
Natural resources | none | none |
Political parties and leaders | none | - |
Political pressure groups and leaders | none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers) | - |
Population | 890 (July 2001 est.) | uninhabited (July 2006 est.) |
Population below poverty line | NA% | - |
Population growth rate | 1.15% (2001 est.) | - |
Ports and harbors | none | - |
Radio broadcast stations | AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998) | - |
Radios | NA | - |
Railways | total:
862 m; note - a spur of the Italian Railways system, serving Rome's Saint Peter's station standard gauge: 862 m 1.435-m gauge (1999) |
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Religions | Roman Catholic | - |
Suffrage | limited to cardinals less than 80 years old | - |
Telephone system | general assessment:
automatic exchange domestic: tied into Italian system international: uses Italian system |
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Telephones - main lines in use | NA | - |
Telephones - mobile cellular | NA | - |
Television broadcast stations | 1 (1996) | - |
Terrain | low hill | volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible |
Waterways | none | - |