Vatican City is officially 97 years old in 2026, because it became an independent sovereign state on February 11, 1929. Its history as a religious center is much older, stretching back about 1,700–2,000 years depending on what you count.

Quick Scoop

  • As a country: 97 years old.
  • As a historic religious site: roughly 1,700+ years old.
  • Why the difference: the modern state was created in 1929, but the area has deep Christian roots going back to early centuries of the Roman Empire.

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