Which European country has the smallest population among sovereign states?

Vatican City is the European country with the smallest population among sovereign states.

Enclosed within Rome, Vatican City is the world’s smallest internationally recognized sovereign state by both area and population. It was established as an independent state in 1929 under the Lateran Treaty, which settled a long dispute between the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See.

The population is unusually small and fluid because Vatican City is primarily an institutional and religious center rather than a conventional residential country. Its residents include clergy, members of the Swiss Guard, and lay employees. Citizenship is generally connected to an office or role and is often temporary, rather than being acquired simply by birth in the territory.

Vatican City should not be confused with the Holy See. The Holy See is the central governing authority of the Catholic Church and maintains diplomatic relations; Vatican City is the territorial state that gives the Holy See independence. Microstates such as Monaco, San Marino, and Liechtenstein have far larger populations.