Map of Vatican City
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, an enclave in southern Europe surrounded entirely by the city of Rome, Italy. It lies on the west bank of the Tiber River and is the seat of the pope and the Holy See.
- Capital
- Vatican City
- Population
- 882 (2024)
- Area
- 0.4 km² (0.2 sq mi)
- Population density
- 2,005 per km² (5,192 per sq mi)
- Official languages
- Italian and Latin
- Currency
- euro
- Demonym
- Vatican
- Highest point
- Vatican Hill (75 m (246 ft))
- Calling code
- +379
- Internet domain
- .va
- Also known as
- Holy See
Where is Vatican City?
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, an enclave in southern Europe surrounded entirely by the city of Rome, Italy. It lies on the west bank of the Tiber River and is the seat of the pope and the Holy See.
Neighboring countries: Italy.
Blank and coloring maps of Vatican City
Blank map of Vatican City
Coloring map of Vatican City
Geography of Vatican City
Vatican City covers only about 0.44 km² (0.17 sq mi), about the size of a large city park. It sits on Vatican Hill, one of the low hills on the west side of the Tiber, and the ground rises from St. Peter's Square toward the Vatican Gardens; the highest point is about 75 m (246 ft) above sea level. Most of the border is formed by high stone walls, while St. Peter's Square on the eastern side opens directly onto the streets of Rome.
Much of the territory is taken up by buildings: St. Peter's Basilica, the Apostolic Palace, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. The rest consists of courtyards and the Vatican Gardens, which fill roughly half of the territory in the west. There are no rivers, lakes or farmland inside the walls, and the country depends on Italy for most of its supplies. The climate is Mediterranean, like that of Rome, with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters.
Fun facts
- Vatican City is the smallest country in the world by both area and population, with 882 residents counted in 2024.
- Vatican City and Switzerland are the only countries with square national flags.
- The Swiss Guard, which protects the pope, has served the Vatican since 1506.
Flag of Vatican City
The flag of Vatican City is square and divided into two vertical halves: yellow at the hoist and white at the fly. In the center of the white half are two crossed keys, one gold and one silver, tied together with a red cord and topped by the papal tiara, a triple crown.
Countries bordering Vatican City
Frequently asked questions
Is Vatican City a country?
Yes. Vatican City has been an independent state since the Lateran Treaty of 1929, and it is governed by the pope. It is the smallest country in the world.
What country surrounds Vatican City?
Vatican City is surrounded entirely by Italy, and more precisely by the city of Rome. It is one of only three countries completely surrounded by a single other country, along with San Marino and Lesotho.
What is the capital of Vatican City?
Vatican City is a city-state, so the country and its capital are the same place. The pope lives and works there, and it is the center of the Catholic Church.
What countries border Vatican City?
Vatican City shares land borders with Italy.
What language is spoken in Vatican City?
The official languages are Italian and Latin.
Can I print the map of Vatican City?
Yes. Every map on this page can be downloaded for free as PNG or PDF (US Letter) and printed, including the blank map and the coloring map. Please credit the source (Atlas of Maps, CC BY 4.0).
Use this map
You can download, print and share this map for free, in class, in school projects, in presentations and on websites, as long as you credit the source: Map of Vatican City · Atlas of Maps (atlasofmaps.com), license CC BY 4.0.
See also: Map of Europe · World map