There are quite a few countries on the planet that can be located, 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 nevertheless, information about these countries is available to readers of the rating "The smallest countries in the world."

In order not to get confused on which point the country is located, and on which state or territory you need to know: the territory is a community that is united by culture, land and history. If this community is isolated, even if it is dependent, then this 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 in front of you. So which countries are the smallest?

Maldives, 298 sq. km

This state, consisting of 2 thousand islands in Indian Ocean. In 1965, the Maldives became independent from Great Britain.

181 thousand inhabitants who speak Maldivian and English make a living from tourism.

Saint Kitts and Nevis, 269 sq. km

IN Caribbean country 41 thousand English-speaking people live. In 1983 Saint Kitts and Nevis was declared 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 the UK.

After that, 69 thousand local residents became independent. They speak Creole, English and French. And the main income of residents is from tourism activities.

Marshall Islands, 180 sq. km

The Pacific Marshall Islands is an archipelago of coral islands 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 in 1986 they became independent. The island trades in copra, fish and phosphates. IN Lately Tourism has become an important source of income 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 products, 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.

The population of Liechtenstein consists mainly of Germans, Austrians and Swiss. One third of the population are foreigners. Everyone speaks German, but there are several dialects in the territory.

San Marino, 61 sq. km

This small state is located on the slopes of Mount Titan, in the center of Italy. About 28 thousand inhabitants live in 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", after which it was renamed San Marino.

Physical independence of San Marino has been preserved due to its inconvenient natural location and poverty. Since the 17th century, the Constitution in the country, which is governed 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 was on the list of the poorest countries in Europe. Now the country is visited annually by about three million tourists, so their money is one of the main sources of income. Ceramics, wine, paints, chemicals, building stone are exported from San Marino. Now, thanks to this, the inhabitants of this small country have become one of the richest in Europe.

Tuvalu, 26 sq. km

This state is located in the western part of the Pacific Ocean on a chain of nine coral atolls. It has a population of only 10.5 thousand people.

Every year the territory of the island becomes smaller and, perhaps, in a few decades, nothing will remain of it - if the ocean level rises. However, if this does not happen, then Tuvalu is still slowly but surely "going to the bottom." In the state, the main problems are coastal erosion and population growth.

Nauru, 21 apt. km

This dwarf state is located on the coral reef of the same name, in the western Pacific Ocean. The island does not have its own capital, it is the only such republic on the planet. About 13 thousand inhabitants live here.

In the 70s of the last century, the indigenous people of Nauru were the richest people in the world. Everyone profited from phosphates. Local authorities have employed 95 percent of the citizens, besides providing the people with free education and medicine. However, not everyone appreciated it - high school attended by only a third of all children.

Nauru is the smallest country in the Pacific

However, phosphates were not eternal, and 90 percent of the island became unproductive. Only exhausted mines remained everywhere. And that's not the only problem small state. Most of the locals are obese. Too slow and sedentary lifestyle a large number of fatty foods and alcohol have done their job - 9 out of 10 have too many extra pounds. Moreover, almost half of the population of Nauru have diabetes. As a result, the state has the highest incidence of this disease in the world.

Monaco, 1.96 sq. km.

Second place in the list of "The smallest countries in the world" is Monaco. 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 ruled here. Now the Prince rules with the National Council.

One to five - this is the ratio of the indigenous inhabitants of Monaco to visitors. Why did it 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 a lengthy debate with the French authorities, who were dissatisfied with the outflow of their wealthy entrepreneurs along with their capital to a neighboring state, Monaco introduced an income tax. However, this change did not affect the natives.

The smallest country in the world is the Vatican, 0.44 sq. km

Although this country is small, it is very powerful. The Vatican is an independent territory of the Holy See of the Catholic Church, before which a billion people bow down on the planet. In fact, the Vatican is the residence of the head of the Catholic Church.

In the Vatican, Italian and Latin are spoken. The country's economy is exceptional: it is the only unprofitable one in the world. The treasury of the Vatican is replenished 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 suggest you also read about the hottest countries in the world.
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On the Internet, you can easily find information about where the smallest country in the world is located. Thanks to the global network in the 21st century, you can walk the streets of another country without leaving your city. Moreover, many states in their size are not far from Russian megacities: in distant Europe there are states much smaller than the smallest district of Moscow.

Rating of the smallest countries in the world

According to official data, the list of the smallest states looks something like this:

1. Order of Malta
2. Vatican
3. Monaco
4. Nauru
5. Tuvalu
6. San Marino
7. Liechtenstein
8. Marshall Islands
9. Cook Islands
10. Saint Kitts and Nevis

Of these, Tuvalu is the poorest, but its government registered a .tv zone and sold it, and successfully: after all, TV is an excellent domain zone for telecommunications companies, channels and Internet portals with video materials from all over the world. Tuvalu itself is located in Polynesia. For tourists, entry is absolutely free: a visa is issued for 30 days upon arrival at a local airport.

The Order of Malta is the smallest country on the planet

The Order of Malta is a state with an area of ​​​​only 0.012 sq. km. It consists of two buildings in Rome and one in Birgu, Malta. The main state building, the Main Palace, is located in the capital of Italy near the Spanish Steps.
Moreover, part of this palace is rented out for restaurants and shops. It is here that government meetings are held, and the residence of the prince is located. The palace is recognized as the capital of the Order.

Small spool, yes in the UN

The sovereignty of the miniature state was recognized by about 100 countries. It has the status of a UN observer. There are representatives of the Order of Malta in different parts of the world. In the Russian Federation, his Mission is located in Moscow on Volkhonka.
The order issues identity cards that allow free entry without a visa to 30 countries, and mints coins - skudo. Its exchange rate changes, but approximately 1 scudo is equal to 0.24 euros. Although the real cost is slightly higher, because These coins are minted from real precious metals.
The state language of the state is Latin. The Order issues exclusive stamps that are very popular with collectors. The Order's mail is not part of the Universal Postal Union, so its stamps can not be used in all countries of the world, but only in 60.

The Order of Malta even has its own car plate numbers, but they belong exclusively to the government of the country and are found mainly in Rome. Machine number format: SMOM alphabetic code and 2 digits. Between the numbers and letters is a small Maltese cross. The Order of Malta does not have its own domain zone. Also, the country cannot boast of the presence of the police and the army.

The Order of Malta: a walk through a small country

The Order of Malta can be called the most isolated state in the whole world. For example, on Sunday, any visits to the country are prohibited. All 3 buildings of the small state are closed.
On a weekday, the Main Palace is open to the public. Moreover, each person can enroll in the library of the Order of Malta, which is located on the second floor of the palace. To do this, you need to fill out an application for.
But the entrance to the Maltese villa (the second building of the state) is strictly prohibited for outsiders. But enterprising tourists came up with another fun. There is a small keyhole at the gate of the building, through which you can see 3 European countries at the same time:

• Order of Malta
• Vatican
• Italy

Those. Rome is a city that hosts two of the smallest countries in the world. To look into this well, you often have to stand in a long line of travelers from all over the world.
The third building of the Order of Malta is located in the city of Birgu and is called Fort Sant'Angelo. But it has been reconstructed for many years, and therefore is closed to tourists.

Little Vatican

The Vatican is the most famous small country on earth. This state is located in one of the districts of Rome. Its area is 0.44 sq. km. The length of the Vatican State Border is 3.2 km.

Politics and economics of the Vatican

The Vatican is the residence of the Pope. This small state serves as an observer to the UN and cooperates with Interpol. The Vatican has diplomatic relations with 176 states around the world, incl. with EU countries. The country falls under the Hague Convention, which provides for the protection of cultural property if a war breaks out. It is included in the UNESCO list.
The Vatican is governed by the Holy See, represented by the sovereign - the Pope. The pontiff is elected by the cardinals. If he dies or abdicates, the Camerlengo assumes his duties until the election of a new Pope. Moreover, the election of the Pope can last from 2 days to several years!
When a new pontiff is appointed, white smoke rises from the small chimney of the Sistine Chapel. Traditionally, the ballots of those who voted are burned, but to give the smoke the desired shade, they throw into the fire:

• rosin
• lactose
• Berthollet salt

White smoke is accompanied by the iridescent ringing of the bells of St. Peter's Cathedral. This is necessary to once again confirm the election of a new pontiff.

The Vatican has its own state bank, which is otherwise called the Institute of Religious Affairs. The state is part of the eurozone and can create an individual design for the obverse of euro coins. Traditionally, the obverse depicts a portrait of the Pope, who is currently ruling.
The Vatican has a separate domain zone: .va. Official languages: Latin and Italian. The Vatican is the only country in the world where you can find menus in Latin in ATMs!

What kind of visa is needed to visit the smallest country - the Vatican

The Vatican is a separate state, but you do not need any special visa to visit it. Before traveling to Italy, Russians apply for a regular Schengen visa and, on its basis, cross the border of the Vatican. But tourists from all over the world sometimes have difficulties because of the appearance. On the territory of the Vatican, you can not be in open T-shirts, short skirts and shorts. Travelers will be asked to change or leave the country.
Only the clergy and special guests can live on the territory of the Vatican. Hotels and inns (even the most expensive ones!) are not provided for ordinary tourists.

Top 10 most famous sights of the Vatican

The most significant cultural and historical sites of the Vatican include:

• St. Peter's Square - a huge space, symmetrically bounded by semicircles of colonnades and having a high obelisk in the center;
• St. Peter's Cathedral - a spectacular building erected over the tomb of the Apostle Peter, it is here that you can see mosaics and paintings by Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini;
• Apostolic Palace - the residence of the pontiff, representing a single complex of palaces, galleries, chapels and gardens;
• The Sistine Chapel is a landmark famous for the frescoes of Botticelli, Rosselli and Perugino, as well as the monumental depiction of the Last Judgment by Michelangelo;
• The Pinacoteca is an art gallery that exhibits over 450 paintings by Raphael, Giotto, Caravaggio, Titian, etc. mainly on religious themes (the unfinished painting by Leonardo da Vinci "Saint Jerome" is stored here);
• Raphael's Stanzas - 4 huge rooms in Apostolic Palace with frescoes by Raphael;
• Belvedere Palace - a small complex of buildings, on the territory of which you can see unusual bronze sculptures in the form of a pine cone and a broken ball - the famous "Sphere in the Sphere";
• The Vatican Gardens is a park area of ​​more than 20 hectares, it is here that the heliport for transport communication with Italian airports;
• Grotta di Lourde - a consecrated artificial grotto in the Vatican Gardens;
• The Apostolic Library is the greatest book depository in the world, where you can find Renaissance and Medieval manuscripts, but only a part of the library is allowed for tourists.

Usually the Vatican Museums are open for visits from 9-00 to 18-00, the box office closes at 16-00. You can also purchase tickets to the Vatican Museums on their website www.museivaticani.va. During the periods from May 2 to July 29 and from September 2 to October 28, the Vatican Museums are also open from 19-00 to 23-00. To visit the Vatican attractions after sunset, you need to book a ticket in advance.

Little Principality of Monaco

Monaco is the smallest country in the Mediterranean. She is close to Cote d'Azur. The area of ​​the principality is only 2.02 sq. km. Moreover, over the past 20 years, this area has even increased by 40 hectares due to the drainage of sea borders.
Everyone who comes to Monaco should visit at least a few of its attractions. These include:

• Monte Carlo Casino is a grandiose gambling establishment where anyone can play (except for the citizens of Monaco - gambling is prohibited for them at the legislative level);
• Casino Square - a small square and a park area in front of the casino, where you can’t be in jeans and T-shirts - the status of a nearby establishment obliges;
• Opera Monte Carlo - a famous opera house, on the stage of which Chaliapin, Caruso, Verdi and many other eminent singers and musicians from all over the world performed;
• a museum of vintage cars, which even houses the London taxi that Grace Kelly once drove;
• Larvotto - amazing beautiful beach With clean water and artificial white sand, where many vacationers sunbathe without even taking off their jewelry;
• Museum of Oceanography built by Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

Of course, this is an incomplete list. Monaco - amazing country, which seems to consist entirely of architectural and cultural monuments, therefore, each tourist must independently choose the most important sights for himself.

Due to their miniature size, small states cannot boast of success in military affairs or industry, therefore they actively attract travelers from all over the world. Everyone needs to visit them in order to feel their originality.

22.07.2014 at 23:03 · Johnny · 163 120

Top 10 smallest countries in the world

On the world political map There are about 250 officially recognized independent states in the world. Among them there are mighty powers that have significant weight in various international organizations and taking an active part in the life of other states. As a rule, these states have enough (for example, Russia) and the amount of population (China).

Along with giant countries, there are also very small states, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich does not exceed 500 km², and the number of people living is comparable to the population small town. However, some of these countries play a very significant role. These, for example, include the state of the Vatican - the religious center of all Catholics, headed by the Pope.

As you may have guessed, today we have prepared a rating of the smallest countries in the world, the main criterion for the distribution of places is the area of ​​​​the territory occupied by the state.

10. Grenada | 344 sq. km

• Main language: English
• Capital: St. George's
• Number of population: 89.502 thousand people
• GDP per capita: $9,000

Grenada - Island state with a constitutional monarchy. Located in the Caribbean. It was first discovered by Columbus in the 14th century. In the agricultural sector, bananas, citrus fruits, nutmeg are grown, which are subsequently exported to other countries. Grenada is an offshore zone. Thanks to the provision of offshore financial services, the country's treasury is annually replenished by $ 7.4 million.

9. Maldives | 298 sq. km

• Main language: Maldivian
• Capital: Male
• Number of population: 393 thousand people
• GDP per capita: $7,675

The Republic of Maldives is located in an archipelago of more than 1,100 islands in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is one of the best resorts in the world, therefore, along with fishing, the main share of the economy is the service sector (about 28% of GDP). There are all conditions for have a great holiday: magnificent nature with mild climate, . abundance different types animals, among which are almost never found. The presence of beautiful underwater caves stretching along the entire archipelago, which will be a real gift for tourists who are fond of diving.

Interesting fact: With such a cluster of islands, there is not a single river or lake.

8. Saint Kitts and Nevis | 261 sq. km

• Main language: English
• Capital: Basseterre
• Population: 49.8 thousand people
• GDP per capita: $15,200

Saint Kitts and Nevis is a federation located on two islands of the same name, in the east caribbean. In terms of territory and population, this state is the smallest country in the Western Hemisphere. The climate is tropical. Due to this, the islands have a very rich flora and fauna. The main industry that provides most of the revenue to the treasury is tourism (70% of GDP). Agriculture is poorly developed, mainly sugarcane is grown. To modernize agriculture and industry in the country, a program was launched - "Citizen for Investment", thanks to which you can get by paying $ 250-450 thousand.

Interesting: Pavel Durov (creator of the social network VKontakte) has citizenship in this country.

7. Marshall Islands | 181 sq. km

• Main language: Marshallese, English
• Capital: Majuro
• Population: 53.1 thousand people
• GDP per capita: $2,851

Marshall Islands (republic), located in the Pacific Ocean. The country is located on an archipelago, which includes 29 atolls and 5 islands. The climate on the islands is different, from tropical - in the south, to semi-desert - in the north. Flora and fauna have been significantly altered by man, including strong influence nuclear tests held by the United States in 1954. Therefore, on the islands, plant species characteristic of this area are practically not found; others were planted instead. The main sector of the economy is the service sector. The products produced in agriculture, for the most part, are used for their own needs within the country. The country has quite low taxes, which allows you to create an offshore zone. Due to undeveloped infrastructure and high prices for transport (flight to the islands), tourism is at an early stage of development.

6. Liechtenstein | 160 sq. km

• Main language: German
• Capital: Vaduz
• Number of population: 36.8 thousand people
• GDP per capita: $141,000

The Principality of Liechtenstein is located in Western Europe bordering Switzerland and Austria. Although this state occupies a small area, it is very beautiful. Beautiful mountain scenery, because. the country is located in the Alps, also in the western part of the state flows the largest of Europe - the Rhine. The Principality of Liechtenstein is a technologically advanced state. Precision instrumentation enterprises operate in the country. Also, Liechtenstein is one of the largest financial centers in the world, with a highly developed banking sector. The country has a very high standard of living and well-being. In terms of GDP per capita, it ranks second in the world, after Qatar, with an amount of 141,000 thousand dollars. Liechtenstein is a vivid example of the fact that even such a small country can exist with dignity and occupy a significant place in world politics and the economy.

5. San Marino | 61 sq. km

• Main language: Italian
• Capital: San Marino
• Number of population: 32 thousand people
• GDP per capita: $44,605

The Republic of San Marino is located in the southern part of Europe and borders Italy on all sides. San Marino is the oldest European state formed in the 3rd century. This country is located in a mountainous area, 80% of the territory lies on the western slope of Monte Titano. Ancient buildings and Mount Titano itself belong to the objects world heritage UNESCO. The basis of the economy is production, which gives 34% of GDP, and the service sector and tourism also play an important role.

4. Tuvalu | 26 sq. km

• Main language: Tuvalu, English
• Capital: Funafuti
• Number of population: 11.2 thousand people
• GDP per capita: $1,600

The state of Tuvalu is located on a cluster of atolls and islands (there are 9 in total) and is located in the Pacific Ocean. The climate in this country is tropical, with pronounced seasons - rains and droughts. Often, they pass through the islands. vegetable and animal world of this state is quite scarce and is represented mainly by animals brought to the islands - pigs, cats, dogs and plants - coconut palms, bananas, breadfruit. The economy of Tuvalu, like other countries in Oceania, is mainly made up of the public sector, and to a small extent agriculture and fishing. Also, Tuvalu is among the poorest in the world.

3. Nauru | 21.3 sq. km

• Main language: English, Nauruan
• Capital: None (Government is in Yaren County)
• Population: 10 thousand people
• GDP per capita: $5,000

Nauru is located on coral island in the Pacific Ocean and is the smallest republic in the world. This country does not have a capital, which also makes it unique. The climate on the island is quite hot, with high humidity. One of the main problems of this country is the shortage fresh water. Just like in Tuvalu, the flora and fauna are very scarce. The main source of replenishment of the treasury for a long time was the extraction of phosphorites (in those years, the country was one of the richest countries in the world with a high GDP), but since the 90s, the level of production began to decline, and with it the well-being of the population. According to some estimates, phosphate reserves should have been sufficient until 2010. In addition, the development of phosphorites caused irreparable damage to the geology and ecosystem of the island. Tourism is not developed due to the severe pollution of the country.

2. Monaco | 2.02 sq. km

• Main language: French
• Capital: Monaco
• Number of population: 36 thousand people
• GDP per capita: $16,969

Notable: Monaco is the only state in which the number of regular troops (82 people) is less than in a military band (85 people).

1. Vatican | 0.44 sq. km

• Main language: Italian
• Form of government: Absolute theocratic monarchy
• Pope: Francis
• Number of population: 836 people

The Vatican is the leader of our ranking, is the smallest country in the world. This city-state is located inside Rome. The Vatican is the seat of the highest leadership of the Roman Catholic Church. The citizens of this state are subjects of the Holy See. The Vatican has a non-profit economy. Donations make up the bulk of the budget. Also, cash receipts to the treasury come from the tourism sector - payment for visiting museums, selling souvenirs, etc. The Vatican plays a significant role in the settlement of military conflicts, calling for the preservation of peace.

There is an opinion that the smallest country in the world is the Order of Malta, with an area of ​​0.012 km2, because. it has all the necessary attributes to be called a state (its own currency, passports, etc.), but its sovereignty is not recognized by all members of the world community.

It is worth noting that there is a so-called principality Sealand(from English - sea ​​land), the area of ​​which is 550 sq.m. This state is located on a platform, not far from the coast of Great Britain. But, since the sovereignty of this state was not recognized by any country in the world, it was not included in our rating.

The smallest country in Eurasia - - 0.44 sq. km.
The smallest country on the African continent Seychelles – 455 sq. km.
The smallest country on the North American continent - - 261 sq. km.
The smallest country of the South American continent - Suriname - 163,821 sq. km.

Historically, it so happened that humanity seeks to divide the vast expanses of our planet into separate pieces. In the course of thousands of years of conquest, each nation has secured its own territories - some have more, some have less.

Majority names major countries we studied at school, but few people remember about these states. They do not have huge armies or natural deposits, but are known for their tiny area. This compilation contains the 10 smallest countries in the world!

10 Maldives

This ranking of countries in descending order is headed by . Among the top tiny countries, they have the largest area - 298 km². But in terms of population density, this state can compete with any large country - more than 400 thousand people live here on such an area.

The Maldives consists of 26 atolls, which, in turn, are a chain of 1192 coral islands. The only city in the Maldives - Male, it is also the capital of this country. This amazing archipelago is a unique ecosystem with reefs, various types of fish and marine life.

9 Saint Kitts and Nevis

This small country covers an area of ​​261 km² and consists of two islands - St. Kitts and Nevis. It is located in the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea and has the title of the smallest state in the Western Hemisphere. The population of Saint Kitts and Nevis is small - only 50 thousand people.

The state is well known among tourists and the income from this destination is more than 70% of the country's GDP per year. It also processes sugar cane and shellfish. The largest city of this country, and concurrently the capital, is inhabited by 11 thousand people. Saint Kitts and Nesiv have their own army of 300 people.

8 Marshall Islands

The Republic of the Marshall Islands covers an area of ​​181.3 km² of land. It is located in the western part of the Pacific Ocean and is a chain of atoll islands. These islands were discovered in 1526 by Alonso de Salazar, and for many centuries passed as a colony from one country to another.

These 34 atoll islands are a true paradise these days. The territory of the republic has a unique head start and fauna, which, by the way, was almost destroyed by man. In the middle of the 20th century, Americans tested a hydrogen bomb here. The explosion was so powerful that it surpassed Hiroshima by 1000 times. However, local residents managed to slowly restore the ecosystem of the islands.

7 Liechtenstein

The European Principality of Liechtenstein is tiny and very famous in the world. Despite its area of ​​160 km², this state has a very powerful economy and developed industry. It can serve as an example for many powers thanks to its unique system management of the state in such a way that people here lived very well.

Liechtenstein is located in the Alps and borders Switzerland and Austria. The name of the country comes from the ruling dynasty, which has been ruling together with the Landtag for many years. The population of this European country is small - about 36 thousand people.

6 San Marino

On the sixth line of our rating is the state of San Marino, which has an area of ​​​​60 km². It is unique in its location - it borders Italy on all sides. The name of the country was formed from the name of the saint who founded it according to ancient legend- stonemason Marin.

With modern borders, San Marino is considered the most ancient state in Europe, it was founded in 301. Almost the entire territory of the country (80%) is the foothills of the Apennines, so there is practically no arable land here. The population of the country is 33 thousand people with such a small area. This country has many unique architectural monuments on its territory.

5 Tuvalu

This small state in Polynesia has an area of ​​26 km². It consists of nine coral atolls, four of which make up the Tuvalu archipelago. The discoverer of the islands, Alvaro Mendanya de Neira, called them Lagoons, but they received their name Tuvalu only in 1975.

This a nice place, nevertheless, was ranked among the poorest countries as of 2016. The area of ​​the islands is decreasing from year to year, so in 50 years, according to experts, Tuvalu may completely disappear from the face of the Earth as a state. The population of the country according to the latest data is just over 12 thousand people.

4 Nauru

The dwarf state of Nauru covers an area of ​​21 km² and was very popular in the middle of the 20th century. Such popularity was provided by phosphates, which the territory of this piece of land was full of. But today, only dilapidated mines remain from phosphates, and the country's ecology has been irretrievably damaged even for tourism.

Like the islands of Tuvalu, Nauru is located near the Republic of Kiribati and is located 42 km south of the equator. This country does not have an official capital, and the population is only 10 thousand people. But, unlike Tuvalu, this dwarf country again began to develop its economy and increase the birth rate.

3 Monaco

The third line of our rating is occupied by the well-known European Principality of Monaco. Probably everyone has heard about it, despite the fact that it occupies only 2.02 km². The legendary Monaco Grand Prix races are held here, and the casino in Monte Carlo is very famous among gambling enthusiasts.

The population of Monaco (with such and such an area!) Is 38 thousand people. This is a lot, but such popularity has its own explanation. For a long time there was no taxation in Monaco, so many businessmen, wealthy foreigners settled here and founded large companies. Monaco is governed by Prince Albert II, who is assisted by a national council.

2 Vatican

The State of the Vatican, with its tiny area of ​​​​0.44 km², is a very powerful state that has been deciding the fate of many countries for many centuries. The country's population is equal to the number of employees - 836 people. At the same time, the Vatican has no economy, and the country's budget is replenished only through numerous donations from Catholic organizations.

Here is the residence of the Pope - the heart of the Catholic Church. The state is located inside Rome and is directly associated with Italy. But despite the proximity, the Vatican gained its independence in 1929 and has been an independent country ever since. By right, he has the title of the smallest country in the world, but there is another state that should be paid attention to.

1 Order of Malta

And the first place in this list is occupied by the state, which some countries do not recognize as a separate state unit. We are talking about the Order of Malta with a territory of 0.012 km². This Order has about 13,000 members who have the country's passports and use their own currency.

Not all countries recognize the sovereignty of the Order of Malta and consider it only at the level of diplomatic relations. The largest city of the Order is Fort St. Angelo, which the country rents from Malta. If you do not take into account the shaky recognition of this sovereignty, then the Order is the smallest state in the world.

All these dwarf states rightfully take their place in the ranking of the smallest countries. They are unique and distinctive, and most of them, despite their small territory, are prosperous countries.

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There are more than 200 countries in the world whose names we have heard at least once. But on our planet there are also states whose existence we did not even know, because some of them occupy a very small area or even include several houses.

website will tell you about 10 countries with very small territories, the population of which is less than not big city and, in some places, villages.

Palau

Palau is made up of over 300 islands of various sizes. Palau is one of the most amazing places on Earth, in the waters of which there are 130 species of sharks that are on the verge of extinction. Rainforests Palau is full of unique plants and birds, but the most interesting attraction of the country is the lake, inhabited by 2 million jellyfish, which, in the process of evolution, have lost the ability to sting.

Niue

The state consists of two islands, one of which is called St. Kitts, and the other - Nevis. One of the main sources of income for the island nation is the sale of citizenship, which can be acquired by anyone who has at least $250,000 to invest in the local sugar industry. Another way to obtain citizenship is to purchase property worth at least $400,000 on one of the islands.

Principality of Hutt River

Tuvalu is one of the smallest and poorest countries in the world. The economic situation of the tiny state could be completely useless if Tuvalu did not get the .tv Internet domain, on the sale of which the country earns millions of dollars annually.

Nauru

Nauru is the smallest independent republic and the smallest island state on the planet. Nauru does not have an official capital and public transport- 40 km of roads locals ride on personal vehicles. The island has a poor ecological situation, so tourism is practically not developed here. And another record of Nauru, however, with a minus sign - this country has the largest percentage of the population suffering from obesity.

Principality of Seborga

Another state on the map of Italy, however, this time virtual, is the Principality of Seborga, which includes the village of the same name near the border with France. The title of the ruler of Seborg sounds like "His Greatness", and the army unrecognized state consists of 3 people: the Minister of Defense and two border guards.

Republic of Molossia