Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, smaller than most golf courses.

Vatican City covers about 49 hectares, roughly 0.49 square kilometers, or about a fifth of a square mile, making it the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world by both area and population. It was established as a sovereign entity in 1929 under the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and Italy, ending decades of dispute over the status of the former Papal States.

Despite its size, Vatican City functions as a fully independent country with its own postal system, currency issuance rights, police force, and diplomatic relations. Its population is under a thousand, made up largely of clergy and Swiss Guards, and almost the entire territory is occupied by St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the surrounding gardens and administrative buildings.