Which sovereign country has the world's smallest population?

Vatican City has the world's smallest population among sovereign countries.

Its population is only in the hundreds and includes clergy, members of the Swiss Guard, administrative workers and other residents. Citizenship is unusual: it is generally connected to an office or service for the Holy See and is often temporary rather than based simply on birthplace.

The city-state's small population reflects its role as a religious and administrative center rather than a conventional residential country. Many people who work there live elsewhere in Rome or commute across the border. Vatican City does not have a normal permanent birth-based population comparable with larger states.

Population figures can vary because residents and citizens are counted differently. Vatican City is therefore best identified as the sovereign state with the smallest population, while the Holy See refers to the Catholic Church's central governing authority. Both are headquartered in the Vatican complex, but they are distinct entities.