
Languages spoken in Vatican City
Europe · Capital: Vatican City · Population 882
Italian is the de facto official language of Vatican City, which names no official language in law. An estimated 82% of the population speaks it as a first or additional language, or roughly 723 people. Italian belongs to the Indo-European language family. Italian is also spoken in one of its one neighbour: Italy.
What languages are spoken in Vatican City?
| Language | Share of population | Status | Estimated speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| ItalianIndo-European | 82% | De facto official | 723 |
Percentages are the share of the population that speaks each language, including as a second language, so they add up to well over 100% in multilingual countries. Speaker counts are estimates derived from the percentage and the country's population, not counted figures.
What is the official language of Vatican City?
Vatican City names no official language in law. Italian is the de facto official language. Italian is spoken by an estimated 82% of the population, or roughly 723 people, counting both first-language and additional speakers. A de facto official language is one used throughout government and public life without being named as official in law.
Official status comes from Unicode CLDR. It distinguishes languages that are official nationwide, those used as de facto official without being named in law, and those official only in particular regions or territories.
How many people speak Italian in Vatican City?
An estimated 82% of Vatican City's 882 people speak Italian, which works out at roughly 723 speakers. That figure is derived from the population and the reported share, and it counts second-language speakers, so it is an estimate rather than a census count.
Key facts about Vatican City
- Capital
- Vatican City
- Population
- 882
- Continent
- Europe
- Area
- 0.44 km²
- Currency
- EUR
- Languages recorded
- 1
- Land borders
- 1
- ISO codes
- VA / VAT / 336
Which countries border Vatican City?
Vatican City shares a land border with one country: Italy. Italian, the most widely spoken language in Vatican City, is also spoken in Italy.
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Language shares, population, and official status: Unicode CLDR. Capital, area, borders, and currency: mledoze/countries (ODbL 1.0). Flag image: flagcdn.com. Speaker counts are estimates derived from population and reported share.