Which country is the world’s smallest landlocked state?

Vatican City is the world’s smallest landlocked state by both area and population.

The independent city-state occupies about 49 hectares, or 0.49 square kilometres, inside Rome. It is completely surrounded by Italy and has no coastline. Its small size makes it distinct from San Marino, another landlocked microstate surrounded by Italy.

Vatican City was established as an independent state by the Lateran Treaty of 1929, which settled the long dispute between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. The state serves as the territorial base of the Holy See, the institution governing the Catholic Church.

St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel are all within its boundaries. The pope is the head of state. Although the Vatican has its own citizenship arrangements, most people who work there are not permanent residents in the ordinary sense.