Vatican City is the world’s smallest country by population, with a population of roughly 500 to 900 people depending on the date and counting method.
The independent city-state occupies about 49 hectares inside Rome and was established by the Lateran Treaty of 1929. It is the sovereign territory of the Holy See, the central governing institution of the Catholic Church. Residents include clergy, members of religious orders, Swiss Guards and other officials.
Vatican City’s citizenship is unusual. It is generally linked to an office or service performed for the Holy See and is often temporary rather than inherited by birth. Many people who work there live outside the walls and are not Vatican citizens.
Population figures can differ because sources may count residents, citizens or people present in the territory. Small Pacific states such as Tuvalu and Nauru have much larger permanent populations, even though they are also among the world’s least populous countries.