What is the smallest country in the world by land area?

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world by land area, covering approximately 44 hectares (about 110 acres or 0.17 square miles). It is an independent city-state enclaved within Rome, Italy, and serves as the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican's unique status and size contribute to its distinction as the smallest internationally recognized sovereign state in the world.

In comparison, Monaco, while also small, is significantly larger than Vatican City, covering about 2.02 square kilometers. San Marino also has a greater area than Vatican City, with around 61 square kilometers, and Malta, while tiny, measures approximately 316 square kilometers. Thus, when considering the land area of each of these places, Vatican City undoubtedly occupies the smallest space.