Stories
Vatican City: The Only Country in the World Without Its Own Hospital
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News18•17-10-2026, 17:18
Vatican City: The Only Country in the World Without Its Own Hospital
- •Vatican City is the world's smallest independent state and the only country that lacks its own hospital.
- •While basic healthcare and primary care are available locally, residents rely on hospitals in neighboring Rome, Italy, for major medical procedures and surgeries.
- •Emergency and specialized transport is arranged to transfer patients to Italian medical facilities depending on the urgency.
- •The country had a recorded citizen population of 673 as of late 2024, supporting its unique administrative and geographical needs.
- •Despite having no hospitals, the microstate effectively manages healthcare through its local first-aid infrastructure and reliance on Rome's extensive medical network.
Key Questions Answered
Vatican City is the world's smallest independent state and the only country that does not have a hospital within its own borders.
While Vatican City offers basic healthcare and initial emergency assistance locally, patients requiring surgeries, hospital admissions, or advanced treatment are referred and transported to medical facilities in neighboring Rome, Italy.
According to figures cited in the source report, the population of citizens in Vatican City stood at 673 as of December 31, 2024.
