Which is the smallest country in the world by land area? A) Monaco B) San Marino C) Vatican City D) Liechtenstein
VerifiedAnswer: C) Vatican City
Explanation:
Vatican City is indeed the smallest country in the world by land area, covering just 0.17 square miles (0.44 square kilometers). To put this in perspective, it's about one-eighth the size of New York's Central Park! This tiny nation is completely enclosed within Rome, Italy, and serves as the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
Let's compare Vatican City with the other options to understand why it's the correct answer. Monaco, while very small, is significantly larger at 0.78 square miles (2.02 square kilometers). This Mediterranean principality is famous for its casinos, luxurious lifestyle, and the Monaco Grand Prix. San Marino covers 24 square miles (61 square kilometers), making it much larger than both Vatican City and Monaco. Located within Italy, San Marino is one of the oldest republics in the world. Liechtenstein is the largest among these options at 62 square miles (160 square kilometers), situated between Austria and Switzerland.
Vatican City became an independent state in 1929 through the Lateran Treaty with Italy. Despite its tiny size, it functions as a complete sovereign nation with its own postal system, telephone system, radio station, and even issues its own euros. The Pope serves as the absolute monarch of this ecclesiastical state, which has a population of around 800 people, though only about 450 hold Vatican citizenship.
The country houses some of the world's most famous art and architecture, including St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's ceiling, and the Vatican Museums. These contain one of the world's greatest art collections, built up by the Catholic Church over centuries. Every year, millions of tourists and pilgrims visit this tiny nation, making tourism a significant aspect of its economy alongside donations from Catholics worldwide.
