Pope Francis, the religious head of over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, has passed away at the age of 88 after a long illness. His death has deeply saddened people across the globe, especially in Vatican City, the world’s smallest country and the heart of the Catholic Church. While many know it for its religious role, Vatican City is also world’s smallest country that does not have proper jail or hospital. The country is also known for its highest crime rates and highest wine consumption per person. Here are 10 interesting facts that reveal just how unique and special Vatican City truly is.
World’s smallest country
Vatican City is the world’s smallest country, covering just 0.44 square kilometers and home to around 825 people. It’s so small that you can walk across the entire country in less than an hour. Remarkably, this tiny nation sits right in the heart of Rome, Italy’s capital.
Only country in the world without proper jail
It’s also probably the only country in the world without a proper jail. There are a few holding cells for short-term detention, but under the Lateran Treaty, anyone convicted of a crime serves their prison sentence in Italian jails. The Vatican government pays for the cost of incarceration.
Highest crime rates
Despite having fewer than 1,000 official residents, Vatican City has one of the highest crime rates in the world — not because it’s unsafe, but because the crime rate is calculated per person. Most of these incidents involve petty theft and pickpocketing, usually by or against the millions of tourists passing through each year. The Vatican’s own tourism website even advises visitors to be cautious at all times.
Highest wine consumption per person
People living in Vatican City drink more wine per person than anywhere else in the world. On average, each person consumes around 74 liters of wine every year — that’s nearly double the amount people drink in wine-loving countries like France and Italy. This high number is mostly because meals are often shared in large groups, and the city’s only supermarket sells wine duty-free, making it more affordable.
Swiss guards protect the Pope
The Pope’s personal security is handled by a group of 135 Swiss soldiers known as the Pontifical Swiss Guard. This tradition began in 1506 when Pope Julius II hired them for protection. They’re easy to spot in their brightly striped uniforms. To join, a man must be Swiss, Catholic, between 19 and 30 years old, at least 5’8″ tall, and have completed basic military training.
No birthplace citizens
Vatican City doesn’t have any hospitals or even a maternity ward, so no one is born there — meaning no one becomes a citizen by birth. Instead, people are granted citizenship only when they work for the Holy See. Their close family members may also be given citizenship, but once the job ends, the citizenship is taken away.
Official language and Latin ATM
Italian is the main language used for daily and official matters in Vatican City, while Latin is used for Church documents. Vatican City is known as the guardian of the Latin language — in fact, there’s even one ATM machine that gives instructions in Latin!
World’s smallest railway
Vatican City has the smallest railway in the world. It has just two short tracks (about 300 meters long), and the station is called “Città del Vaticano.” Built during the reign of Pope Pius XI, the railway is mainly used to transport goods — not for passenger trains.
Powerful Telescope in the US
In 1981, the Vatican purchased one of the world’s most advanced telescopes. It’s called the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope and is located on Mount Graham in Arizona, USA. The Vatican uses it for space and astronomical research.
A UNESCO World Heritage Country
Vatican City is the only entire country in the world listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was added in 1984 and includes not just the Vatican itself, but also key sites in Rome like St. Peter’s Basilica and the Basilica of St. Mary Major.