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
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 0.44 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 257

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
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

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

Terrain:
urban; low hill

Elevation:
mean elevation:
[see also: Mean Elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes:
lowest point: Saint Peter's Square 19 m
highest point: Vatican Gardens (Vatican Hill) 77 m

Natural resources:
none

Land use:
agricultural land: 0% arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 0%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 100% (urban area) (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

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)