Vatican City remains the world's least populous nation

Vatican City holds the distinction of being the world's least populous nation, with demographic data from the United Nations and Vatican authorities indicating a population consistently between 800 and 1,000 people.

In addition to its small population, Vatican City is the smallest country in the world by land area, covering just 0.44 square kilometers. It is an enclave located entirely within Rome, Italy. The state's sovereignty was formally recognized through the Lateran Treaty signed on February 11, 1929, between the Holy See and the Italian government.

Despite its size, the city-state maintains all the institutions of a modern sovereign nation, including its own flag, anthem, passports, judicial system, radio station, bank, and internet domain. Notably, citizenship in Vatican City is not granted by birth or bloodline, but is instead based on the principle of ‘office-based rights’ tied to specific roles within the state.