There is a nation where no child has been born in almost a century—one without even a hospital. This special country, which is home to the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, is none other than Vatican City.

Why has no child been born in Vatican City?

The smallest nation in the world, Vatican City, was founded on February 11, 1929. However, to date, not a single birth has taken place within the city-state's borders. The reason for this is primarily that the city-state lacks a maternity ward or a hospital, thereby rendering childbirth within its boundaries a practical impossibility. Any pregnant woman living in Vatican City has to go to Rome for medical care since no medical facilities have ever been constructed within the 118-acre country.

The lack of a hospital is mainly because Vatican City has a very small geographical area and lies close to Rome, where top-notch medical facilities are available. Considering it has a very tiny population of approximately 800–900 permanent residents, who are predominantly elderly members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy, there has never been any such requirement for a hospital within Vatican territory.

A country with high crime rate 

In spite of its tiny population, Vatican City has a much higher crime rate than other countries. This has nothing to do with its citizens but, instead, to the millions of tourists who troop into the city every year. Pickpocketing, stealing of purses, and shoplifting are top crimes, hence the small nation becoming a prime destination for all sorts of minor crimes..

The world's smallest railway station

Another interesting feature of Vatican City is its railway system. The country boasts the world’s smallest railway station, Città del Vaticano, which was built under Pope Pius XI. However, this station, with its two 300-meter-long tracks, is primarily used for cargo transport, as regular passenger trains do not operate within Vatican City.

Other places where no births have been recorded in years

Outside of Vatican City, there are some locations where childbirth is practically non-existent. The Pitcairn Islands, a distant British overseas territory, is home to fewer than 50 individuals. Consequently, no births have been recorded there in recent years. Antarctica, although not a nation, also has no documented natural births, as it is mostly a center for scientific research and not a permanent residence.

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