Which is the smallest country in the world?

Vatican City is the smallest sovereign state in the world, covering only about 0.49 square kilometers. It is located entirely within Rome, Italy, and serves as the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church. Despite its tiny size, it is a fully independent country with its own government, postage, and currency arrangements. Its population is only a few hundred people, most of whom are clergy or staff. The city-state was established in its modern form by the Lateran Treaty of 1929.