| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | VAISO 3166 [2024] |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | VATISO 3166 [2024] |
| Capital | Vatican CityGeoNames [2024] |
| Continent | EuropeGeoNames [2024] |
| Common name | Holy See (Vatican City)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Official name | The Holy See (Vatican City State)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Local name | Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Etymology | "holy" comes from the Greek word hera, meaning "sacred"; "see" comes from the Latin word sedes, meaning "seat," and refers to the episcopal chair; the name Vatican derives from the hill Mons Vaticanus on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin vates (prophet), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman timesCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Government type | ecclesiastical elective monarchy; self-described as an "absolute monarchy"CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Independence | 11 February 1929; note: the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged the full sovereignty of the Holy See and established its territorial extent, but the origin of the Papal States, which over centuries varied considerably in extent, can be traced back to A.D. 754CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National holiday | No authoritative open source found |
| Head of state | No authoritative open source found |
| Currency code (ISO 4217) | EURISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Currency | EuroISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Administrative subdivisions | No authoritative open source found |
| Subdivision names | No authoritative open source found |
| Historical overview | No authoritative open source found |
| National symbols | crossed keys under a papal tiaraCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National anthem | title: “Hymnus Pontificius" (Pontifical Anthem); lyrics/music: Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD; history: adopted 1949CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National colors | yellow, whiteCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Citizenship rules | citizenship by birth: no; citizenship by descent only: no; dual citizenship recognized: no; residency requirement for naturalization: not applicable; note: in the Holy See, citizenship is acquired by law, ex iure, or by adminstrative decision; in the first instance, citizenship is a function of holding office within the Holy See as in the case of cardinals resident in Vatican City or diplomats of the Holy See; in the second instance, citizenship may be requested in a limited set of circumstances for those who reside within Vatican City under papal authorization, as a function of their office or service, or as the spouses and children of current citizens; citizenship is lost once an individual no longer permanently resides in Vatican City, normally reverting to the citizenship previously heldCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
"holy" comes from the Greek word hera , meaning "sacred"; "see" comes from the Latin word sedes , meaning "seat," and refers to the episcopal chair; the name Vatican derives from the hill Mons Vaticanus on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin vates (prophet), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman times
description: two vertical bands of yellow (left side) and white, with the arms of the Holy See centered in the white band; the arms show the crossed keys of Saint Peter under the three-tiered papal tiara meaning: yellow stands for the pope's spiritual power, and white for his worldly power
Source: CIA World Factbook (Historical Archive — final edition) · CC0 · Edition 2026-05
