The Vatican is an independent nation-state.

In 1929, at the signing of the Lateran pact, the Vatican City known in full as the State of the Vatican City and in Italian language as Stato della Città del Vaticano.

This nation-state which is located at the Western bank of Tiber river was established to allow the Pope to exercise his universal authority. The city has it's own banking system, telephone system, post office, a security outfit known as Swiss Guards that is responsible for the safety of the Pope and other relevant institutions for smooth running of the nation-state.

With only a land area of 49 hectares and a polpution of 825 people, this nation-state is the smallest country in the world.