Did You Know That The Vatican City Is The Smallest Independent Country In The World?

Many know the Vatican City as a city and not as a country. But did you know that the Vatican City is the smallest country in the world?

Covering just 44 hectares (0.44 square kilometers), it holds the prestigious title of the smallest country in the world, both in area and population. Vatican City has an estimated population of around 882 people. It is smaller than a village in Kenya.

The Vatican is the epicenter of the Roman Catholic Church, the spiritual home to over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. It is the residence of the Pope, the Church’s supreme leader, who is not just a religious figure but also the head of state of the Vatican, making this a theocracy in its truest form.

With Swiss Guards in brightly colored Renaissance-era uniforms watching over its gates, the Vatican blends solemnity and spectacle in the most dignified of ways. What is more, it has its currency.

Within its walls lies a treasure trove of art and architecture that rivals the world’s greatest museums. St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the holiest Catholic shrines and an architectural masterpiece of the Renaissance, dominates the skyline. Step inside and be awestruck by its grand dome — designed in part by Michelangelo — and the breathtaking Pietà, also sculpted by the master himself.

Then there’s the Sistine Chapel, whose ceiling alone draws millions of pilgrims and tourists. One look up at Michelangelo’s fresco of The Last Judgment, and you’ll understand why people call this the crown jewel of religious art.

The Vatican isn’t just a city of saints and sculptures — it’s a scholarly hub. Its Vatican Apostolic Library, one of the oldest in the world, houses ancient manuscripts, priceless texts, and confidential documents dating back centuries. Nearby, the Vatican Secret Archives (recently renamed the Vatican Apostolic Archive) guard the private correspondence of popes through history — including letters from kings, emperors, and even Galileo.

Although it’s enclosed by walls, Vatican City doesn’t have customs, border patrols, or passports for visiting tourists. You simply walk in from Rome — a unique quality for a sovereign state. It even has its own radio station, post office, currency (the Vatican Euro), license plates, and flag. Yet, no one is born a citizen. Citizenship is granted only to those who serve the Vatican, such as clergy, Swiss Guards, and high-ranking church officials — and it’s revoked once their service ends.

Despite its size, the Vatican is no stranger to international diplomacy. It has observer status at the United Nations, maintains embassies in over 180 countries, and regularly plays a behind-the-scenes role in global peace and humanitarian initiatives.

The Vatican City is proof that greatness is not measured in square kilometers. It’s a country where ancient wisdom meets modern relevance, where marble halls echo with prayers and political whispers, and where the past and present hold hands beneath the gaze of centuries-old saints.

Tiny in size, mighty in spirit, the Vatican stands as the beating heart of Catholicism and a beacon of influence far beyond its walls.

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