How big is the Vatican? You’ll Be Surprised by the Size!
Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world, both in terms of size and population. It is a city-state surrounded by the city of Rome, Italy, and is home to the Pope, the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. Despite its small size, the Vatican City is an incredibly significant place for Christians and tourists alike. In this blog, we’ll explore just how big the Vatican City is and what you can expect to find within its walls. At the end of this article, you will be able to answer the question: how big is the Vatican?
Geography
The Vatican City size is approximately 0.44 – 0.49 km² (roughly 49 hectares / 121 acres) according to authoritative sources. It is located on the west bank of the Tiber River, just north of the city center of Rome. The city-state is entirely surrounded by Rome’s walls, which were built in the 3rd century AD to protect the city from invaders. The Vatican City has no airports or train stations and is accessible by foot, taxi, or private car. The Vatican also boasts its own walls, which are approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) long.
Vatican City Population
The Vatican City has a population of around 800 people, most of whom are members of the Catholic Church. Of these 800 people, only about 450 have Vatican citizenship, while the rest are residents or temporary visitors. Despite its small population, the Vatican City is a vibrant community, with its own post office, police force, and newspaper.
Vatican Attractions And Landmarks
The Vatican City is home to many significant landmarks and attractions, including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the world’s largest churches and is home to many priceless works of art, including Michelangelo’s Pieta. The Sistine Chapel is famous for its ceiling, which was painted by Michelangelo and depicts scenes from the Bible. The Vatican Museums are home to an extensive collection of art and artifacts, including works by Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci.
In addition to these world-famous landmarks, the Vatican City also has many beautiful gardens, fountains, and squares. The most famous of these is St. Peter’s Square, which is located in front of St. Peter’s Basilica and is often used for papal events and ceremonies.
Buildings In Vatican City
There are many Buildings in the Vatican that are notable and famous. Some of which include;
1. St. Peter’s Basilica
This is one of the most famous and recognizable buildings within the Vatican City. It is the largest church in the world and is considered one of the holiest Catholic shrines. The basilica’s construction began in 1506 and was completed in 1626.
2. Apostolic Palace
This is the official residence of the Pope within the Vatican City. The palace is made up of several buildings and contains over 1,000 rooms, chapels, and galleries. It is also home to the famous Sistine Chapel.
3. Vatican Museums
This is a series of galleries and museums that contain some of the most important works of art and historical artifacts in the world. The museums contain over 70,000 works of art, including pieces by Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci.
4. Sistine Chapel
This is one of the most famous and recognizable buildings within the Vatican City. It is known for its stunning ceiling frescoes, painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. The Sistine chapel can be visited via the Vatican Museums. The Sistine Chapel ceiling alone is nearly 500 square meters consisting of 40-meters long and 13-meters wide.
5. Vatican Library
This is one of the oldest and most important libraries in the world. It contains over 1.1 million books, including some of the oldest manuscripts and texts in existence.
6. Vatican Gardens
These are private gardens that cover over half of the Vatican City’s area. The gardens contain fountains, sculptures, and various rare plants and trees.
7. Pontifical Gregorian University
This is a private university located within the Vatican City. It is considered one of the most prestigious universities in the world and specializes in theology, philosophy, and canon law.In
What Is the Land Area of Vatican City Compared to the Land Area of Italy?
Vatican City covers an area of approximately 0.44 to 0.49 square kilometers (about 121 acres), making it officially the smallest country in the world. By contrast, Italy spans roughly 301,340 square kilometers, which highlights just how tiny Vatican City is in comparison.
To give some perspective, the land area of Italy is about 685,000 times larger than the land area of Vatican City. While Italy stretches from the Alps down to the Mediterranean, Vatican City is nestled entirely within the city of Rome. Despite its small size, it’s home to St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums, and the residence of the Pope — making it one of the most visited destinations in Europe.
This dramatic difference in size is part of what makes the Vatican so unique: a sovereign city-state with global religious and cultural influence, all contained within less than half a square kilometer.
How Vatican City Compares to Other Countries
When people ask how big is the Vatican?, the answer highlights just how unique this tiny country really is. Vatican City covers an area of 0.49 square kilometers, which equals about 109 acres. In terms of scale, this makes it the smallest country in the world. To put the size of Vatican City into perspective, it is smaller than many urban parks and even some large shopping malls. By comparison, Monaco, the second smallest country, has an area of 2 square kilometers, which is about four times bigger. Liechtenstein, with 160 square kilometers, and San Marino, with 61 square kilometers, are giants compared to the size of the Vatican City.
If we break it down into other measurements, the area of Vatican City in square meters is about 490,000 m², and the area of Vatican City in square feet is over 5.3 million ft². For those thinking in imperial units, the area of Vatican City in miles is roughly 0.19 square miles. You could walk across the entire country in 20 minutes, which answers the common question, how long is Vatican City? Against world capitals like New York, Paris, or London, the Vatican is tiny, almost like a single neighborhood. Yet despite its small size, the population of Vatican City (around 800–900 residents) and its global influence make it one of the most powerful and symbolic places in the world.
History of Vatican City Size
To truly understand how big is Vatican City today, you need to explore its history. The Vatican was not always this small. For centuries, the Pope ruled over the Papal States, a vast territory stretching across much of central Italy. This control continued until the 19th century, when Italian unification gradually absorbed these lands into the new Kingdom of Italy. The question of how large is Vatican City was settled in 1929, when the Lateran Treaty created the independent state of Vatican City as we know it today.
At that time, its boundaries were carefully drawn around an area of 0.49 km² (109 acres), which has remained unchanged. This compact Vatican City land area is encircled by medieval and Renaissance walls, which not only mark how wide Vatican City is but also symbolize its independence. In other terms, that’s 490,000 square meters or about 121 hectares of Vatican City land. The Vatican City length across its longest section is only about 1.05 km, so how wide is the Vatican City? Less than a mile.
Today, these borders are more than physical—they are political and spiritual boundaries. They emphasize the Vatican’s sovereignty and independence from Italy, ensuring that the Pope’s authority remains both religious and non-political. This small but secure territory is why the Vatican population remains stable, why how many acres is Vatican City is still a relevant query, and why the size of the Vatican City continues to fascinate travelers and historians alike.
Why is Vatican City So Small?
When asking why is the Vatican City so small?, the answer lies in centuries of history and symbolism. After the loss of the Papal States in the 19th century, the Pope’s role shifted from political leader to primarily spiritual figure. The Lateran Treaty of 1929 gave the Pope sovereignty over the Vatican City area, a territory large enough to ensure independence but small enough to symbolize humility. This explains how large is Vatican City today—just 0.49 km² (about 109 acres).
The Vatican is deliberately small. Its size highlights the Church’s focus on spiritual power rather than political power. By keeping the size of the Vatican City limited, the agreement created a neutral territory where the Pope could act as a global moral voice rather than a political rival. For this reason, people often wonder, how much big is Vatican City really compared to other states? The answer—tiny in area but immense in influence.
In practical terms, the Vatican size in miles is only about 0.19 square miles, or how many acres is the Vatican? Just over 100. The Vatican City population 2023 is fewer than 1,000, showing that sovereignty doesn’t require vast numbers or lands. Instead, the Vatican’s compact size reinforces its independence. While many ask how wide is the Vatican City or how big the Vatican City is compared to Rome, the key point is that its symbolic size serves a global role: representing faith, tradition, and continuity.
How to Explore Vatican City in One Day
Visitors often wonder not just how big is Vatican City? but also how to see it all in a single day. Given its compact size of Vatican City, just 0.49 square km (109 acres). It’s possible to explore the highlights on foot. Start in St. Peter’s Square, one of the most iconic open spaces in the world. From there, enter St. Peter’s Basilica—often mistaken when people ask how big is the Vatican Church? The basilica itself is one of the largest churches on Earth, covering over 15,000 square meters and fitting into the size of Vatican City in square meters seamlessly.
Next, head into the Vatican Museums, which contain over 7 km of galleries. Spend at least 2–3 hours focusing on must-see sections like the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, and the Sistine Chapel. Many visitors ask how long is Vatican City or how many square miles is Vatican City because they’re surprised at how much there is to see within such a small state. Despite the Vatican City size in miles being under 0.2, it holds treasures equal to entire countries.
If time allows, explore the Vatican Gardens, a serene area that makes up nearly half of the Vatican City area in hectares. The walking time across Vatican City is only about 20–30 minutes, but with so many attractions, your day will easily be filled. The Vatican may be small in physical size, but its spiritual and cultural presence is vast, proving that when people ask how large is the Vatican City?, the answer goes far beyond measurements.
Conclusion
The Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world measuring just 44 hectares and encased in the Vatican City walls. Although the Vatican is the smallest state in the world, it houses some incredible buildings including Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums.
Beyond its small physical size, the Vatican City area represents an unmatched concentration of history, spirituality, and art. With fewer than 1,000 residents, the population of Vatican City is tiny, yet its influence stretches across the globe. From the breathtaking interior of the Sistine Chapel to the expansive collections inside the Vatican Museums, the treasures within its borders make the Vatican feel far larger than its footprint of just 0.49 km² (109 acres).
Visitors are often surprised when they ask how big is the Vatican? and learn that you can walk across it in under 30 minutes. Still, the size of Vatican City does not limit its importance—it is the symbolic heart of the Catholic Church, a diplomatic hub, and a cultural landmark. Its compact borders ensure sovereignty while its role as a spiritual center makes it one of the most significant destinations in the world.
In short, while the Vatican City size is small on the map, its impact on history, religion, and culture is immeasurable, making it a must-see for anyone visiting Rome.
FAQ
How large is the Vatican in miles?
Vatican City covers approximately 0.19 square miles (0.49 square kilometers), making it the smallest independent country in the world. Despite its size, it’s home to many world-famous landmarks like St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.
Can I buy land in Vatican City?
No — you cannot buy land in Vatican City. The entire territory is owned and administered by the Holy See. Property is not sold to private individuals or foreign investors.
How many people live in the Vatican?
The population of Vatican City is around 800 residents, most of whom are clergy, members of religious orders, or officials of the Holy See. Only a few hundred hold Vatican citizenship, which is typically tied to their official role.
