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Vatican City

Vatican City State

Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, is an absolute papal monarchy with its capital in Vatican City. This page brings together source-cited key facts, international memberships, economic and social indicators and practical information.

Independent referenceNot affiliated with any government
Sources citedFigures link to the sources listed below
Data status Under reviewLast updated 24 September 2026
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Key facts

Core reference data for Vatican City. Numbers in brackets link to the sources at the end of this page.

Official name
Vatican City State [1]
Capital
Vatican City [2]
Official languages
Italian, Latin [2]
Population
800 [2]2026 est.
Area
0 km² [2]
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Time zone
Europe/Vatican [4]
Calling code
+379
Internet domain
.va
UN member since
8 October 2026 [3]
Recognition
Universally Recognized
Official portal
vatican.va

Government and leadership

Form of government
Absolute papal monarchy [1]
Head of state
Pope Leo XIV [1]
Head of government
Pope Leo XIV [1]
Parliament
Pontifical Commission7 seats
Constitution
11 February 1929 [1]
Independence
8 October 2026 [2]
Legal system
Civil Law

International memberships

Membership status in major international organizations and groups.

  • UNUnited Nations, since 2026Member
  • EUEuropean UnionNot a member
  • NATONorth Atlantic Treaty OrganizationNot a member
  • SchengenSchengen AreaNot a member
  • IMFInternational Monetary FundNot a member
  • World BankWorld Bank GroupNot a member
  • WTOWorld Trade OrganizationNot a member
  • G20Group of TwentyNot a member
  • G7Group of SevenNot a member
  • UNSC P5Permanent seat, UN Security CouncilNot a member

Economy

Headline indicators. Values marked est. are projections for the current or a future year.

GDP
$0 B [5]2026 est.
GDP per capita
$0 [5]2026 est.
GDP growth
0.0% [5]2026 est.
Inflation
0.0% [5]2026 est.
Unemployment
0.0% [5]2026 est.
Exports
$0 B [10]Reference year not recorded
Imports
$0 B [10]Reference year not recorded

Main exports

  • Postage stamps
  • Printed materials
  • Souvenirs

Main imports

  • Consumer goods
  • Electrical energy
  • Natural gas

Geography

Area
0square kilometres
Coastline
Nonelandlocked
Highest point
75 mVatican Hill
Coordinates
41.9022, 12.4535Geographic centre (approx.)

Bordering countries

Society and development

Life expectancy
84.0 years [10]Reference year not recorded
Literacy rate
100.0% [10]2023
Human Development Index
0.916 [6]Rank 29, 2023
Corruption Perceptions Index
75/100 [7]Reference year not recorded
Press freedom rank
6 [8]Reference year not recorded
Internet use
99.0% [10]of population
International tourist arrivals
5.0 M [11]2024
Majority religion
Christianity

Practical information

Emergency number
112
Driving side
Right
Electricity
230
Plug types
  • Type C
  • Type F
  • Type L
Tap water
Generally safe to drinkLocal conditions can vary; follow local advice.
Calling code
+379

Travel and visa

Passport rank
25 [9]Henley Passport Index
Visa-free or on-arrival access
154 [9]destinations for this country's passport holders

Visiting Vatican City? Check official sources before you travel

Entry requirements depend on your nationality, the purpose of your trip and the length of your stay, and they can change at short notice. NexaNations does not provide immigration or legal advice.

Quick answers

What is the capital of Vatican City?

The capital of Vatican City is Vatican City.

What currency does Vatican City use?

Vatican City uses the Euro (EUR).

What is the official language of Vatican City?

The official languages of Vatican City are Italian, Latin.

What is the emergency number in Vatican City?

The emergency number in Vatican City is 112.

Which side of the road do people drive on in Vatican City?

In Vatican City, traffic drives on the right.

Sources

  1. Official government portal of Vatican City. vatican.va
  2. Wikidata, item Q237. wikidata.org
  3. United Nations, member states. un.org
  4. GeoNames, entry 3164670. geonames.org
  5. International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook. imf.org
  6. United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report. hdr.undp.org
  7. Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index. transparency.org
  8. Reporters Without Borders, World Press Freedom Index. rsf.org
  9. Henley and Partners, Henley Passport Index. henleyglobal.com
  10. World Bank, World Development Indicators. data.worldbank.org
  11. UN Tourism, tourism statistics. untourism.int

Data last updated on 24 September 2026. Read how we select and verify sources in our methodology.

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