At just 0.49 square kilometers (0.17 square miles), Vatican City has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the smallest country in the world by area since its founding under the 1929 Lateran Treaty.
Record no. MRB-2026-006996
World's smallest sovereign state by area
Reference Record – Not Certified
This record is compiled from publicly available sources for reference. It has not been examined or certified by The Book of World Records.