Holy See (Vatican City) Geography - 2021

Location

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Geographic coordinates

41 54 N, 12 27 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 0 sq km

land: 0.44 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Land boundaries

total: 3.4 km

border countries (1): Italy 3.4 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

highest point: Vatican Gardens (Vatican Hill) 78 m

lowest point: Saint Peter's Square 19 m

Natural resources

none

Land use

agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

other: 100% (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Natural hazards

occasional earthquakes

Environment - international agreements

party to: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Geography - note

landlocked; an 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)