Holy See (Vatican City) Geography Profile 2009

Location

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Geographic coordinates

41 54 N, 12 27 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 0.44 sq km
land: 0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries

total: 3.2 km
border countries: Italy 3.2 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)

Terrain

urban; low hill

Elevation extremes

lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m

Natural resources

none

Land use

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2005)

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Natural hazards

NA

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

party to: Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Geography - note

landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; beyond the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the Lateran Treaty of 1929 grants the Holy See extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome and five outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo (the Pope's summer residence)