Top 10 Tiniest Nations
In the realm of countries, there exists a category known as microstates or ministates, denoting those with the most minuscule population or land area. As of July 2023, five nations hold the title of the smallest, namely Vatican City, Monaco, Nauru, Tuvalu, and San Marino, with Vatican City standing at the very pinnacle of this list.
Let’s delve into the rankings of the smallest countries:
1. The Vatican City
The Vatican City is a tiny, independent nation with an area of 0.49 sq. km and an estimated population of 807. It uses the Euro as its currency and is located in Southern Europe. The official and national language is Italian. The government system is a unitary theocratic Catholic elective absolute monarchy, with Pietro Parolin as the Secretary and Fernando Vergez Alzaga as the President of the Governorate. Vatican City is a landlocked enclave within Rome, Italy, and gained independence from Rome in 1928 through the Lateran Treaty. It holds the distinction of being the world’s smallest state both in terms of area and population.
2. Monaco
Monaco officially known as the Principality of Monaco, is a microstate covering an area of 2.08 sq. km in Southern Europe. Its capital is Monaco, and its largest quarter is Monte Carlo. With an estimated population of 39,050, Monaco uses the Euro as its currency and has French as its official language. It operates under a unitary parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy, with Albert II as the reigning monarch and Pierre Dartout as the Prime Minister. Monaco is located on the French Riviera, a few kilometers west of the Italian region of Linguria, bordering France to the north, east, and west. It is widely renowned as one of the world’s most expensive and wealthiest places.
3. Nauru
Nauru is the third smallest country in the world, covering an area of 21 sq. km. It is situated in the region of Oceania, Micronesia. The capital is Yaren, and the largest city is Denigomodu. Nauru uses the Australian Dollar as its currency and has Nauruan as its official language. The government system is a unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency operating under a non-partisan democracy, with Russ Kun as the President. Nauru is also the smallest island nation globally, with a population of approximately 10,000, second only to Vatican City in terms of population size.
4. Tuvalu
Tuvalu is an island country located in the Polynesian sub-region of Oceania, covering an area of 26 sq. km. Its capital and largest city is Funafuti. Tuvalu uses both the Tuvaluan Dollar and the Australian Dollar as its currency and has Tuvaluan and English as its official languages. It operates under a unitary non-parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with Charles III as the monarch, and Tofiga Vaevalu Falani as the Governor-General, and Kausea Natano as the Prime Minister. Tuvalu comprises three reef islands and six atolls, situated approximately midway between Hawaii and Australia.
5. San Marino
San Marino, also known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, is a European microstate with an area of 61 sq. km. It is an enclave within Italy and is situated in Southern Europe. San Marino’s capital is San Marino, and its largest city is Dogana. The country uses the Euro as its currency and has Italian as its official language. San Marino operates under a unitary parliamentary diarchic directorial republic.
6. Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a German-speaking and doubly landlocked country in Western Europe, covering an area of 160 sq. km. Its capital is Vaduz, and it uses the Swiss Franc as its currency. The official language is German, and Liechtenstein operates under a unitary parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy, with Hans-Adam II as the reigning monarch and Daniel Risch as the Prime Minister. The country is located in the Alps, between Austria and Switzerland.
7. The Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands is an island country located in the region of Oceania, Micronesia, covering an area of 181 sq. km. The capital and largest city are Dilap-Uliga-Djarrit. The country uses the US Dollar as its currency and has Marshallese and English as its official languages. The government system is a unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency, with David Kabua serving as the President. The Marshall Islands is located near Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean, slightly west of the International Date Line, and is part of the larger island group of Micronesia.
8. Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis is a Caribbean nation consisting of two islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, with a combined area of 261 sq. km. The capital and largest city is Basseterre. Saint Kitts and Nevis use the East Caribbean Dollar as their currency, and English is the official language. The government system is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with Charles III as the monarch, Marcella Liburd as the Governor-General, and Terrance as the Prime Minister. The islands are located in the West Indies, within the Leeward Islands chain of the Lesser Antilles.
9. Maldives
Maldives is an archipelagic nation situated in the Indian Ocean, with an area of 298 sq. km. The capital and largest city are Male. Maldives uses the Maldivian rufiyaa and the US Dollar as its currencies, and Dhivehi is the official language. The government system is a unitary presidential constitutional republic, with Ibrahim Mohamed Solih serving as the President. Maldives is located southwest of Sri Lanka and India, approximately 7,500 km from the Asian continent’s mainland.
10. Malta
Malta is an island country in Southern Europe, covering an area of 316 sq. km. Its capital is Valletta, and the largest unit is St. Paul’s Bay. Malta uses the Euro as its currency, and the official languages are Maltese and English. The government system is a unitary parliamentary republic, with George Vella as the President and Robert Abela as the Prime Minister. Malta is situated in the Mediterranean Sea, forming an archipelago between Italy and Libya.
