Last updated on January 12th, 2022
31. The radio station in the city broadcast in 20 different languages.
32. The Swiss Guard is the official guard of the Vatican City and the Pope.
33. Vatican City is not a member of the UN.
34. It is also an interesting fact to note here that there is an ATM in Vatican City which can be assessed in Latin. It is thought to be the only ATM in the world of this kind. It is run by the Vatican Bank.
35. The Residents of the country drink a lot of wine, approximately 54 liters of it per person every year.
36. The country also boasts the world’s shortest railway. The railway has two tracks of 300 m each.
37. The Vatican Museum receives approximately 5 and a half million travelers each year. This is a huge number considering the small size of the country.
38. The Pope’s personal army has some 135 Swiss Guards. The army has been protecting the pope for more than 500 years now.
39. The city-state does not grant citizenship based on birth but based on the work or office located in the country. There are no hospitals in the country, and practically no one can be born there.
40. People those who receive citizenship from the Vatican City on the basis of their job in the country lose it when they lose their job. They revert back to their original citizenship in such an event and Italian citizenship when they do not have any other citizenship.
41. The city is not surrounded by a thick wall as the majority of the sources on the web suggest. There are plenty of entry points to the city and one may just have to pass a metal detector to gain access.
42. John Paul II is the only non-Italian Pope since the sixteenth century. He is also the most frequently traveling pope, having visited some 130 plus countries until now.
43. The Apostolic Palace (the official residence of the Pope, also known as the Papal Palace, Palace of the Vatican and Vatican Palace.) was opened on 30 April 1589.
44. The license plates in the country read – SCV – “Stato Citta Vaticano.”
45. It is also the only country in the world to be a continuous non-hereditary monarchy.
46. Vatican City is less than 100 years old. It was formed in 1929.
47. The country also has a football team (Vatican City national football team) of its own.
The Vatican City – country at a glance
| Independence | 11 February 1929 |
|---|---|
| Capital City | Vatican City (city-state) (41°54.2′N 12°27.2′E) |
| Largest City | Vatican City (city-state) (41°54.2′N 12°27.2′E) |
| Land Area | 0.44 km2 |
| Population | 498 (2024 est.) |
| Official Language | Italian |
| Borders | Italy |
| Currency | Euro (€) (EUR) |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Average Life Span | 78 Years (2012) |
| Suffrage | election of the pope is limited to cardinals less than 80 years old |
| National anthem | "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March); often called The Pontifical Hymn |
| National symbol | crossed keys beneath a papal tiara |
| National colors | yellow, white |
| Climate | temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September) |
| Terrain | urban; low hill |
| Lowest point | Saint Peter's Square 19 m |
| Highest point | Vatican Gardens (Vatican Hill) 78 m |
| Industries | printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; mosaics, staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Calling Code | +379 |
| Time Zone | CET (UTC+1) Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2) |
| Internet country code | .va |
| Table last updated | November 06, 2024 |