4. Italy and Vatican City

Border: Encircled by Vatican Walls
Area: 3.2 km*
Est. Gross Domestic Product: $30 billion (Vatican City) / $2.629 trillion (Italy)*
The border between Vatican City and Italy, encircled by the towering Vatican Walls, serves as both a geopolitical and symbolic mark of spiritual authority. Enclosed by this distinct border is the world’s smallest sovereign state in terms of territory and population.

Italy and the Vatican City ©r/polandball/Reddit
The walls, which were established in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty, include a rich tapestry of religious, cultural, and historical significance in addition to defining the territorial boundaries of this independent city-state. Housed behind these walls is the Pope’s residence and the centre of ecclesiastical influence for the Roman Catholic Church.