GK: This Country Has No Hospital, Has Not Seen A Single Birth In 96 Years
Vatican City, the smallest country in the world, has not seen a child born in 96 years due to its religious significance and lack of a hospital. Residents use medical facilities in nearby Rome
While India became the world’s most populous country, there’s a place on Earth where no child has been born in 96 years, and it doesn’t even have a hospital.
At first, you might wonder how a country can exist in the 21st century without a hospital. But there is such a place – the smallest recognised country in the world, Vatican City.
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The home to all Roman Catholic religious leaders, Vatican City is a unique anomaly. Formed on February 11, 1929, it has never seen the birth of a child since its creation.
Wondering Why?
The answer lies in the country’s religious significance. Vatican City is the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Catholic Church, and all its religious leaders, including priests, reside here.
Despite multiple requests for a hospital, none has been built in Vatican City. Those who are ill or pregnant are sent to hospitals in Rome, just a stone’s throw away, as Vatican City is surrounded by the Italian capital.
Why No Hospital Built?
This could be due to the tiny size of Vatican City, covering just 118 acres, as well as the proximity to Rome’s high-quality medical facilities. The lack of a delivery room in the country is likely why no child has been born there for nearly a century.
Vatican City, with a population of only 800-900 residents, mostly priests and religious leaders, is also Interestingly, home to the world’s smallest railway station, built during the reign of Pope Pius XI, with two 300-metre-long tracks used for cargo transport only.
Apart from Vatican City, another rare place where no births have occurred in recent years is the Pitcairn Islands, a British overseas territory with a population of less than 50. Additionally, no births happen in Antarctica, as it is reserved strictly for scientific research and is not a sovereign country.
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