There are quite a few countries on the planet that can fit, for example, on the territory of one district of Moscow. As a rule, such places are very interesting and exotic. Most of them are little known, but information about these countries is still available to readers of the “Smallest Countries in the World” rating.
In order not to be confused about where the country is located, and where the state or territory is located, you need to know: a territory is a community united by culture, land and history. If this community is isolated, even dependent, then it is already a country. But if it also has sovereignty, that is, political freedom to choose a state-legal organization, then you already have a state. So, which countries are the smallest?
Maldives, 298 sq. km
This is a state consisting of 2 thousand islands in the Indian Ocean. In 1965, the Maldives became independent from Great Britain.The 181 thousand residents, who speak both Maldivian and English, make their living from tourism.
Saint Kitts and Nevis, 269 sq. km
The Caribbean country is home to 41 thousand English-speaking people. In 1983, Saint Kitts and Nevis was recognized as independent. 
Here money comes from the export of sugar, shellfish, electronics and light industrial goods.
Seychelles, 217 sq. km
Seychelles is the smallest country in Africa. Until 1976 it was subordinate to Great Britain. 
After that, 69 thousand local residents became independent. Creole, English and French are spoken here. Residents have their main income from tourism.
Marshall Islands, 180 sq. km
The Pacific Marshall Islands are an archipelago of coral islets and reefs. The population of this small state is 52 thousand people. 
The official language is English. Formally, the islands are subject to the British crown, and this despite the fact that they became independent in 1986. The island produces copra, fish and phosphates. Recently, tourism has become an important source of revenue for the treasury.
Liechtenstein, 160 sq. km
This tiny state is located in the Alps, between Austria and Switzerland. About 29 thousand people live in the country. Liechtenstein lives by exporting food, selling postage stamps, microchips and dental instruments. At the same time, the state is a fairly developed industrial country with a high standard of living and an excellent system of financial services. 
Liechtenstein's population consists mainly of Germans, Austrians and Swiss. A third of the total population are foreigners. Everyone speaks German, but there are several dialects in the area.
San Marino, 61 sq. km
This small state is located on the slope of Mount Titan, in the center of Italy. About 28 thousand inhabitants live on 61 square kilometers of San Marino. And they all speak Italian. 
Citizens are proud that their state is one of the most ancient in Europe. From ancient sources it is known that San Marino was formed in 301. The mason Marinus came to this land.
He was fleeing from the Roman emperor Diocletian, who is known for his hatred of Christians. Marinus hid at an altitude of 701 meters on Mount Titan and created his own small Christian community. The then owner of this land, Felicissima, bequeathed her land to the community. At first the territory was called “Land of St. Marinus”, then it was renamed San Marino.
San Marino retained its physical independence thanks to its inconvenient natural location and poverty. Since the 17th century, the Constitution in the country, ruled by the Council of Sixty, has not changed.
San Marino is a small country in Europe
After the end of World War II, San Marino found itself on the list of the poorest countries in Europe. Now the country is visited annually by about three million tourists, so their money constitutes one of the main sources of income. Ceramics, wine, paints, chemicals, and building stone are exported from San Marino. Now, thanks to this, the inhabitants of this small country have become some of the richest in Europe.
Tuvalu, 26 sq. km
This state is located in the western Pacific Ocean on a chain of nine coral atolls. It has a population of only 10.5 thousand people. 
Every year the island's territory becomes smaller and, perhaps, in a few decades, there will be nothing left of it - if the sea level rises. However, if this does not happen, then Tuvalu will still slowly but surely “go to the bottom.” The main problems in the state are coastal erosion and population growth.
Nauru, 21 sq. km
This dwarf state is located on the coral reef of the same name in the western Pacific Ocean. The island has no capital of its own; it is the only such republic on the planet. About 13 thousand residents live here. 
In the 1970s, the indigenous people of Nauru were the richest people in the world. Everyone profited from phosphates. Local authorities employed 95 percent of citizens, and also provided the people with free education and medicine. However, not everyone appreciated this - only a third of all children attended secondary school.
Nauru Island is the smallest country in the Pacific Ocean
However, phosphates did not last forever, and 90 percent of the island became unproductive. All that remained were depleted mines. And this is not the only problem of a small state. Most local residents suffer from obesity. A too slow and sedentary lifestyle, a large amount of fatty foods and alcohol have taken their toll - 9 out of 10 have too many extra pounds. Moreover, almost half of Nauru's population has diabetes. As a result, the state has the highest incidence of this disease in the world.
Monaco, 1.96 sq. km.
Monaco takes second place in the list of “Smallest Countries in the World”. The area of this dwarf state is almost two square kilometers, and each has about 24 thousand inhabitants. For the last seven centuries, the Grimaldi family from Genoa has ruled here. Now the Prince rules together with the National Council. 
One to five - this is the ratio of native Monaco residents to visitors. Why did this happen? Because for quite a long time there was no income tax in the country. Therefore, wealthy foreigners, businessmen and owners of large companies came here in droves. After lengthy debates with the French authorities, who were dissatisfied with the outflow of their wealthy entrepreneurs along with their capital to a neighboring state, an income tax was introduced in Monaco. However, this change did not affect the indigenous people.
The smallest country in the world is Vatican City, 0.44 square meters. km
This country may be small, but it is very powerful. The Vatican is an independent territory of the Holy See of the Catholic Church, before which a billion people on the planet bow. In essence, the Vatican is the residence of the head of the Catholic Church. Vatican City is the smallest country in the worldItalian and Latin are spoken in the Vatican. The country's economy is exceptional: it is the only non-profitable one in the world. The Vatican treasury comes from the pockets of Catholics around the world, that is, it is formed from donations, income from the sale of books, postage stamps and tourism. And one more important note: The Vatican does not collect taxes as a spiritual center.
In the ranking of the smallest countries in the world, there are many island states located close to the equator and having a very hot climate. We also invite you to read about the hottest countries in the world.
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Residents of Russia, who at best have only seen a few percent of their country's territory, often forget that not everyone is so lucky. There are small countries, such as Holland, Sweden or the Netherlands, and there are also very tiny ones, such that you can not only travel around them, but also walk around them in a day. But the smallest state in the world has quite serious political weight.
Vatican
This is not just a country within a country – it is a country within a city. Actually, it resembles a nesting doll: in the state of Italy there is the city of Rome, and in the city of Rome there is the state of the Vatican. True, the Vatican does not have a capital; it simply does not fit there. But it has an incredible number of temples, cultural and art monuments. But the main thing is that it is the seat of the Holy See - the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.
There are 557 citizens registered in this state. All of them are men. Most of them are priests, some are military, and only 43 are laymen. Of course, there are not enough of them to service all the museums, churches and other institutions, so the Vatican employs guest workers - residents of another state, in this case, Italy.
As for the territory of the Vatican, it is the smallest recognized state in the world. Its area is about 0.44 square kilometers, and the length of the border is only 3 kilometers.
This state is the second largest in area, it occupies a little more than two square kilometers. If it were presented in the form of a regular figure, it would occupy a rectangle with sides of 1 by 2 kilometers.
But, unlike the Vatican, which has less than a thousand people, Monaco is a fairly densely populated state. Its population is about 36 thousand inhabitants. Another significant difference is the housekeeper. It is clear that industry cannot be built on such territory, but this is not required. Tourists bring money to the Vatican, and most importantly, donations from believers. Monaco was able to build a completely viable and efficient economy. Monte Carlo, one of the largest cities in the country, is the gaming capital of the world, which, if inferior to Las Vegas, is not too much.
The country even has an armed force - 82 people. It’s interesting that there are 85 of them in a standard military band. This completely characterizes Monaco - this country has everything, but it’s miniature. Besides the budget. He's quite impressive.
The Vatican and Monaco are small states, but quite prosperous, with a high standard of living. But Nauru, unfortunately, is not one of them. Or rather, in the seventies, the economy of this island state flourished. Phosphates were mined and exported on the island, but when the deposit was depleted, it turned out that the island had nothing more to boast of. And in parallel with the development of resources, an environmental disaster occurred: the territory was polluted, natural biodiversity was almost destroyed.
Not a very picturesque island
Then the country tried to sell its citizenship, but not for too long and without success. Next came the era of offshores, which brought significant profits, but international groups quickly closed this shop. Tourism is undeveloped, there is no industry, there are no resources, there are no minerals, there is no (fresh) water. The territory is inhabited not by robots, but by ten thousand people, who are evenly distributed over an area of 21 square kilometers. They live mainly thanks to the help of nearby Australia.
The third and fourth from the bottom states are largely similar in territory - island states with a population of predominantly indigenous origin and a catastrophically underdeveloped economy. Tuvalu is classified not even as a third world country, but as a fourth world country, i.e., the poorest of all existing states.
There is little land, but there is a lot of water
Tuvalu receives income by selling the right to fish in its waters to ships of other states. But recently another good source has appeared - the sale of national top-level domain names. It is quite aptly called .tv, which determines good demand.
But even this does not make the life of 11 thousand residents of this state more prosperous. And the tiny territory, 21 square kilometers of land and the adjacent water area do not imply any special prospects.
It so happens that most of the dwarf states are located in Europe. And San Marino is no exception. This little one is another of the independent dwarf states located in Italy. Fortunately, Italy can afford to host more than one such country. Considering that San Marino is only 61 square kilometers in size, this is not difficult. True, it is quite densely populated - about 32 thousand people live in it.
The whole country on one mountainside
However, San Marino is unique in its own way. This is the oldest independent state. It declared its sovereignty on September 3, 301 (this is not a typo, really 301). The political map of the world was redrawn dozens of times, countries changed names and territories, but little San Marino seemed to remain outside this carousel.
Add to this fact thousands of years of architecture and culture, an endless number of monuments, museums and castles, and you have a real tourist trap. It is not surprising that most travelers visiting Italy spend 1-2 days to get to know this unique country.
Now you know which is the smallest state in the world in terms of area. However, its significance is enormous, because all Catholics in the world listen to the opinion of the Vatican, San Marno is a unique ancient state, Monaco is the gambling capital... In politics, size is really not the most important indicator.
There are many dwarf states in the world. Most small countries are located in Europe or on islands. They are often located inside other large states. You can see the sights of mini-countries in one day. However, some of them play an important role in the international political arena. This article provides a list and brief description of the smallest countries in the world by territory in descending order of their area.
10. Malta
Area 316 km². The capital of the archipelago is the city of Valletta. The island state is located in the Mediterranean Sea. The population is represented by Maltese, Arabs, British and Italians. Picturesque places attract tourists. The main component of Malta's economy is the tourism business. The country is famous for its cliffs, forts, cathedrals and temples.
9. Maldives
Area 298 km². The Maldives are located in the southern, equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean. The capital of the archipelago is the city of Male, located on the island of the same name. Most of the population are Maldivians and Indians. The sea near the Maldives takes on a blue, transparent hue. The islands are considered a paradise for vacationers. Diving, yachting, and trips on glass-bottomed vessels are especially popular.
8. Saint Kitts and Nevis
Area 261 km². The Federation is located on two islands in the Caribbean Sea. The capital is the city of Basseterre. The majority of residents are of African descent, the rest of the population is mulatto and white. The federation has its own currency, the East Caribbean dollar. The US dollar is in free circulation. The islands are famous for their beaches and bays. The average air temperature throughout the year is about +24°C. Tourists come for diving, traveling through the rainforest and horseback riding.
7. Marshall Islands
Area 181 km². The republic is located in the North Pacific Ocean. The capital is Majuro Atoll. The archipelago consists of 1152 islands. The population consists of Marshallese, Mestizos, Filipinos and Americans. The republic is associated with the USA. Nuclear weapons tests were carried out here in the last century. Much of the unique nature was destroyed for the sake of coconut palm plantations. There are few attractions on the archipelago. Due to its remoteness, tourism is poorly developed. The islands attract diving enthusiasts: at the depths lies sunken equipment from the Second World War.
6. Liechtenstein
Area 160 km². The state is located in Central. It borders with Austria and Switzerland. The capital is the city of Vaduz. The population is represented by Liechtensteiners, Germans, Swiss, Italians. Despite its modest territory, the country was able to develop economically. In Liechtenstein, per capita income does not lag behind neighboring countries. The cities of the principality are famous for their rich history and have many attractions. The country is replete with Gothic castles, chapels, and authentic villages. Ski resorts are especially popular among tourists.
5. San Marino
Area 61.2 km². The dwarf state is located on the Apennine Peninsula, surrounded on all sides by Italy. The capital has the same name, San Marino. The indigenous people are Sanmarinians and Italians. Despite its size, the country has developed agriculture. People grow grapes, olives, and wheat. More than three million tourists visit San Marino every year. The castle towns in which the population lives have retained their medieval appearance. It is prohibited to drive cars in the historical part of the capital.
4. Tuvalu
Area 26 km². The country is located in . The capital of the islands is Funafuti Atoll. Tuvalu is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The population is represented by Polynesians, the number of foreigners does not exceed two hundred people. The Governor General of the dwarf state represents the interests of the Queen of Great Britain. The local currency, the Tuvalu dollar, has an original design. All the islands are low-lying, the height does not exceed 5 m above sea level, so they suffer. Rising sea levels are degrading groundwater quality. Because of this, agriculture is in decline and the soil is subject to erosion. If the situation worsens, the population will have to move to New Zealand or Fiji.
3. Nauru
Area 21.3 km². The state is located on the island of the same name in the Pacific Ocean. There is no capital; the administrative center is the city of Yaren. Most residents are Nauruans. The island was covered with tropical forests. In the 20th century, while mining the mountains, people discovered huge deposits of phosphates and began to mine them. Forest areas in mining areas have turned into rocks. It is impossible to build anything here or plant new forests. Almost the entire territory of the island became a wasteland. Today there is a problem with fresh water; special reservoirs are installed on the roofs of houses to extract it. Tourist activities are limited. Nauru mainly attracts divers.
2. Monaco
Area 2.02 km². The country is located in the south of Europe, the capital is Monte Carlo. On land, Monaco borders France. The ethnic composition is diverse, with French, Italian and Monegasque residents living in the districts. The Principality can be crossed in just a few hours. For many centuries, Monaco has enjoyed the status of a luxury resort. The country is famous for its casinos, beaches of the Cote d'Azur and magnificent. Tourists are recommended to visit the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, the Prince's Palace, and the Oceanographic Museum.
1. Vatican
Area 0.44 km². The city-state is located in Europe, it is surrounded by Italy. Just over eight hundred people live here. The country is dominated by a theocratic monarchy. Most tour operators include a visit to the Vatican in their Italy itineraries. The city abounds with palace complexes and museums. An Egyptian obelisk dominates St. Peter's Square. Pilgrims from all over the world come here all year round. Tourists should definitely visit the Sistine Chapel, the Chiaramonti Museum, the Vatican Pinacoteca, and the Gregorian Etruscan Museum.
For travelers, small countries have a special appeal because for many of these countries tourism is the main source of income, and a lot is done there in order to surprise and attract tourists from other countries.
Top 10 smallest countries in the world
Among the independent and associated states in terms of territory, the following are the smallest. So…
1st place – Order of Malta
Located on the territories of Rome and the island of Malta with a total area of 0.012 square meters. km. The population of the order is considered to be 12,500 people.
The Vatican is in association with Italy and covers an area of 0.44 square meters. km and is inhabited by about 830 people.
III place - Principality of Monaco
Monaco, a country with an area of just over 2 square meters. km and a population of about 36 thousand people, associated and adjacent to France. Located on the resort Mediterranean coast.
IV place – Republic of Nauru
The country is a Pacific coral island with an area of 21 square kilometers. km and a population of about 9 thousand people. Of the independent, island and Oceanian states, this is the smallest. Unlike all other republics in the world, it does not have a capital.
5th place – Tuvalu
A country that includes 5 Pacific atolls and 4 islands. Territory area – 26 sq. km, population is approximately 10 thousand people. One of the poorest countries in the world, whose financial situation has recently improved slightly due to the sale of the national domain zone .ty, for the right to which television companies and video sites pay Tuvalu about 1 million. dollars per quarter.
A state within the state of Italy. Occupies 61 sq. km, about 32 thousand people live in San Marino.
VII place – Liechtenstein
A Central European country with a rich history and culture, of which it is almost impossible for an outsider to become a citizen, with the capital Vaduz, an area of about 160 square meters. km and a population of about 36 thousand people. Associated with its neighbor Switzerland.
VIII place – Marshall Islands
The state includes 29 atolls and 5 islands in the Pacific Ocean on an area of 181 square meters. km and with a population of 68 thousand people. Is in association with the USA.
IX place – Cook Islands
Pacific islands south of New Zealand and associated with it with an area of 236 square meters. km are inhabited by about 20 thousand people. Among the inhabitants of these fabulous corners, there may now be descendants of those who once ate the famous captain.
X place – Saint Kitts and Nevis
These two islands, united into one Latin American country with an area of 261 square meters. km and a population of about 50 thousand people, located in the Caribbean Sea.
The smallest countries in the world 🗺
You and I live in huge countries. But there are also small countries on earth. Moreover, although they are small in size, some of them are quite significant and authoritative.
Of the 10 smallest countries, two are located in the Caribbean, four are in Europe, one is in Asia and three are in Oceania. There are four more countries on the continent, 3 of which do not even have access to the sea, and six tiny countries are located on islands. For such countries, livelihoods are vital.
Country Vatican
The smallest state is with an area of 0.44 square kilometers, located inside the territory of Rome. The Vatican is a state associated with Italy. Population - 836 people. The Vatican employs the strongest apparatus of the entire Roman Catholic Church with a large number of followers around the world. He receives all his finances from donations from Catholics on a voluntary basis. He also sells stamps, books and part of the money comes from tourists. There is no tax in the Vatican.
Country Monaco
The second smallest country is considered to be with an area of 1.96 km². Moreover, there are 23,660 inhabitants per square kilometer. The country is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and has about 30 thousand inhabitants. The main income for residents comes from tourism. Monaco is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Country Nauru
Nauru- a state located on a coral island in the western Pacific Ocean with an area of 21 km². Population - 9,322 people. Nauru is the world's smallest independent republic, the smallest island state, the smallest state in Oceania, the smallest state outside Europe, and the world's only republic without an official capital. The state of Nauru does not have an army.
Country Tuvalu
A Pacific country located on 5 atolls and 4 islands. The total area is 26 km². Population - 10,544 people. Due to the lack of natural resources, Tuvalu has to rely on help from other countries. This country is one of the poorest countries in the world and would have been even poorer if the country’s leadership had not thought of putting the national domain zone .tv up for auction and a buyer was quickly found, because zone.tv is a tasty morsel for television companies and video sites. Now Tuvalu receives $1 million every quarter in exchange for the right to use the domain zone.tv
Country San Marino
A state surrounded on all sides by Italy. Its area is 61 km², population - 32,075 people. Most of the population is engaged in agriculture, growing grapes, fruits, corn and livestock. But the main source of income is tourism. San Marino is one of the richest countries in the world, its income exceeds its expenses.
Country Liechtenstein
A state in Central Europe associated with Switzerland. Area - 160.4 km², population - 35,870 people. has no access to the sea. One of the richest countries in the world, the main income comes from a large flow of tourists.
Pacific state associated with the United States. The Republic of the Marshall Islands is located on 29 atolls and 5 islands, with a total area of 181 km² and a population of 68,000 people.
- an archipelago consisting of 15 islands. The State of the Cook Islands is in free association with New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean. Area - 236 km², population - 19,569 people, of which almost 80% are on the island of Rarotonga. The basis of the economy is tourism.
A state in the eastern Caribbean, between North and South America. Consists of two islands - Saint Kitts and Nevis, with a total area of 261 square meters. km. These were the first islands inhabited by Europeans. The main source of income is, of course, tourism, but agriculture and offshore banking are also developed here.
Country Maldives
The island country is located in the Indian Ocean and is the smallest Asian country in terms of area. Includes approximately 1190 coral islands with a total area of 298 square meters. km, population 396 thousand. Two thirds of the population lives in the country's capital, Male. Previously, the country developed thanks to the export of dried tuna, cowrie shellfish and coconut ropes, now the main income comes from tourism.
State of Sealand
All these countries are recognized by the international community, but there is a state that, in terms of area and population, can rightfully be considered the smallest in the world. This state is ( Sealand), with an area of 500 square meters. It is a concrete platform with dimensions of 30 by 10 meters. The platform is located outside the three-mile zone in the North Sea, which means it is in neutral waters.
Roy Bates took advantage of this in the 70s and officially occupied this area. Roy proclaimed himself king, his wife queen, and the state proclaimed a monarchy and settled down with all his loyal subjects in his state. But he did not think to stop there; in 1975, Roy issued a constitution and a national currency.
The platform was originally created during the Second World War as a base for the British Army, but was subsequently abandoned, which was used by British Army Major Roy Bates to host a pirate radio station and, to avoid trial, officially declared the independence of Sealand.
Two years later, Britain attempted to occupy the state, but Roy fired several warning shots into the air. A lawsuit was brought against Roy, as an English citizen. But justice triumphed, the court made a historically important verdict, it recognized that the case was outside the jurisdiction of Great Britain. In 2002, the population of Sealand was 27 people. However, only a guard permanently lives on the territory of Sealand.
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