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The Independent City-State of Vatican City, which is situated in the centre of Rome, holds the title of both being the smallest country in the world and smallest city in the world. The city has a total area of 109 acres and has an 800 person population. The Vatican is a small country, as seen by its size, and its economy is highly reliant on gifts and travel. In addition, it produces stamps and coins for the Euro that is sold globally. It is a walled enclave within Rome that makes up the territory of this landlocked sovereign city-state.
Smallest Country in the World
The Vatican is open to visitors, while some parts are only available at particular times of the year or during specific seasons. A visit from the Pope or a meeting with senior leaders must be organised far in advance.
Smallest Country in the World Details
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. The planet is populated by both large and Smallest Country. In general, the two most significant factors used to determine a country’s size are its land area (which determines whether it is a big or small country) and its population (which determines how big a country is).
The Vatican City, usually known as the Holy See, is the smallest country in the world and ranks first. There are 835 individuals living there altogether. The land size of the country is about 0.44 square kilometers. The country is so small that visitors from all over the world can travel across it in just one or one and a half days. The largest cathedral in the world, commonly referred to as St. Peter’s Basilica, is located in this country. The building’s walls are covered in spectacular old-time graffiti and works of art. In this country, the clergy make up 75% of the population. Particularly for Christians from throughout the world, this city is regarded as the most sacred place.
The country with the smallest populations or lands are referred to as “microstates” or “ministates.” Vatican City, Monaco, Nauru, Tuvalu and San Marino are the top five smallest country in the world as of July 2023, with Vatican City topping the list of the smallest country in the world.
List of Top Ten Smallest Countries
Vatican City 0.49 sq. km
The Italian city of Rome contains the separate, landlocked country of Vatican City. The Lateran Treaty, which was signed in 1928, marked its independence from Rome, Italy. By both land and population, it is regarded as the world’s smallest state.
- Population: 807 (estimated)
- Currency: Euro
- Region: Southern Europe
- Official and National language: Italian
- Government: Unitary theocratic Catholic elective absolute monarchy
- Secretary: Pietro Parolin
- President of the Governorate: Fernando Vergez Alzaga
Monaco- 2.08 sq. km
Monaco, or the Principality of Monaco, is a small state on the French Riviera in Western Europe, on the Mediterranean Sea, a few kilometers west of the Italian region of Linguria. France shares borders with it to the north, east, and west. It is commonly acknowledged as the most costly and affluent region on earth.
- Capital: Monaco
- Largest Quarter: Monte Carlo
- Region: Southern Europe
- Population: 39,050 (estimated)
- Currency: Euro
- Official Language: French
- Government: Unitary parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy
- Monarch: Albert II
- Prime Minister: Pierre Dartout
Nauru- 21 sq.km
The smallest island country and third-smallest country in the world is Nauru. It is the second-smallest country in the world in terms of population after Vatican City, with a population of roughly 10,000.
- Capital: Yaren
- Largest City: Denigomodu
- Region: Oceania, Micronesia
- Currency: Australian Dollar
- Official language: Nauruan
- Government: Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency under a non-partisan democracy
- President: Russ Kun
Tuvalu- 26 sq. km
In the Pacific Ocean’s Oceania region, on an island, sits the country of Tuvalu. Three reef islands and six atolls make up Tuvalu. The location of its islands is roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia.
- Capital: Funafuti
- Largest City: Funafuti
- Region: Oceania, Polynesia
- Currency: Tuvaluan Dollar, Australian Dollar
- Official language: Tuvaluan English
- Government: Unitary non-parliamentary constitutional monarchy
- Monarch: Charles III
- Governor-General: Tofiga Vaevalu Falani
- Prime Minister: Kausea Natano
San Marino- 61 sq. km
San Marino, commonly known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, is a microstate in Europe that Italy has annexed. It is situated on the Apennine Mountains’ northeastern edge.
- Capital: San Marino
- Largest city: Dogana
- Region: southern Europe
- Currency: Euro
- Official language: Italian
- Government: Unitary parliamentary diarchic directorial republic
Liechtenstein- 160 sq.km
Between Austria and Switzerland in the Alps, Liechtenstein is a German-speaking, landlocked country. The Liechtenstein prince is the head of this semi-constitutional monarchy.
- Capital: Vaduz
- Region: Western Europe
- Currency: Swiss Franc
- Official language: German
- Government: Unitary parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy
- Monarch: Hans-Adam II
- Prime Minister: Daniel Risch
Marshall Islands- 181 sq.km
The Marshall Islands is an island country in the Pacific Ocean, west of the International Date Line and close to Kiribati. The country is a component of Micronesia’s broader island chain.
- Capital: Dilap-Uliga-Djarrit
- Largest city: Dilap-Uliga-Djarrit
- Region: Oceania, Micronesia
- Currency: US Dollar
- Official language: Marshallese English
- Government: Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency
- President: David Kabua
Saint Kitts and Nevis- 261 sq.km
The Lesser Antilles’ Leeward Islands chain in the West Indies is home to the two islands that make up Saint Kitts and Nevis: Saint Kitts and Nevis. The Caribbean’s sole sovereign federation is this one.
- Capital: Basseterre
- Largest city: Basseterre
- Region: Caribbean
- Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
- Official language: English
- Government: Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
- Monarch: Charles III
- Governor-General: Marcella Liburd
- Prime Minister: Terrance
Maldives- 298 sq.km
Maldives is an archipelagic, situated in the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 7,500 km from the Asian continent’s mainland.
- Capital: Male
- Largest city: Male
- Region: Western Asia
- Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa, US Dollar
- Official language: Dhivehi
- Government: Unitary presidential constitutional republic
- President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
Malta- 316 sq.km
Malta is an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea, part of Southern Europe. An archipelago between Italy and Libya makes up this region.
- Capital: Valletta
- Largest unit: St. Paul’s Bay
- Region: Southern Europe
- Currency: Euro
- Official language: Maltese English
- Government: Unitary parliamentary republic
- President: George Vella
- Prime Minister: Robert Abela
Smallest Country in the World by Area
Look at the list of the smallest countries in the world according to their land area. The ten country with the smallest areas are shown below. Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, covering just 0.49 square kilometers.
Rank | Country | Area (km2) | Area (mi2) | Continent | Bordering countries by land |
1 | Vatican City | 0.49 | 0.19 | Europe | Italy |
2 | Monaco | 2.02 | 0.78 | Europe | France |
3 | Nauru | 21 | 8.1 | Australia and Oceania | – |
4 | Tuvalu | 26 | 10 | Australia and Oceania | – |
5 | San Marino | 61 | 24 | Europe | Italy |
6 | Liechtenstein | 160 | 62 | Europe | Austria, Switzerland |
7 | Marshall Islands | 181 | 70 | Australia and Oceania | – |
8 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 269 | 104 | North America | – |
9 | Maldives | 300 | 116 | Asia | – |
10 | Malta | 316 | 122 | Europe | – |
Smallest Countries in the World Population Wise
The smallest country in the world can also be determined by other criteria, such as population size. With a population of just 825, Vatican City is the smallest country in this list as well. See the table below for a list of the ten smallest countries in terms of population.
Country | Population | Area (km2) |
Vatican City | 825 | 0.44 |
Tuvalu | 11,508 | 26 |
Nauru | 12,704 | 21 |
Palau | 17,907 | 459 |
San Marino | 33,785 | 61 |
Liechtenstein | 38,557 | 160 |
Monaco | 38,682 | 2.02 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 52,441 | 269 |
Marshall Islands | 58,413 | 181 |
Dominica | 71,625 | 750 |
Which is the Smallest Country in the World?
The smallest country in the world in 2023 is the Vatican City, also known as the Holy See. It has an area of 0.44 square kilometres only; it has the least headcount in any country in the world. 75 per cent of the Vatican’s citizens are members of the clergy. It is the home to the biggest church in the world i.e., St. Peter’s Basilica, it has some of the most significant artworks of the old period such as The Pieta and the Creation of Adam. Its GDF is all based on the contributions or donations given by the Roman Church around the world and worshipers of Christianity it.