Today, there are more than 250 countries in the world, of which 194 are considered states (yes, these concepts differ). Since childhood, we used to associate the word "country" with something huge and immense. According to our ideas, millions of people should live in countries, but this is not always true. Some states are so small that in comparison with them, many cities seem giants. Such dwarf countries are mostly in Europe, washed by the Caribbean Sea, and are also scattered in the form of island states on the vast territory of the Pacific Ocean. There are many countries on our planet whose area does not exceed 400 km². As for the dozens of dwarf countries of the world, their total area does not even reach 1500 km², which is a whole 1000 km² less than the area of Moscow.
Thanks to competent policies and cultural characteristics, these tiny countries are considered one of the richest in the world with an incredibly high standard of living. Among them, there are both exotic places that are the dream of any tourist, and the central states of Europe. So, let's get acquainted with our rating, consisting of ten independent states with the smallest area.
10
Malta
Located between Africa and Europe, washed by the waters of the Mediterranean, Malta, this is another tiny island nation. Although it would not be superfluous to make a comment - it is divided into three islands, the main of which is just Malta. To be completely frank, there are more islands, they are simply uninhabited.
According to 2018 data, 475 thousand people live on the islands. This is quite a lot, considering its area. It turns out that Malta can boast a fairly large population density. At the same time, many tourists “pass through” the state during the year, who are attracted here due to the excellent weather and good beaches. Malta is extremely popular among young people, as there are many nightclubs here, older tourists will like the rich history of the island with various architectural monuments. So, in tenth place from the end we will have the Republic of Malta with an area of 316 km².
9
Maldives
The next country is not only not inferior to Malta in the field of tourism, but also ahead of it. This is a real paradise in the Indian Ocean - the Maldives. This island nation ranks first from the end in Asia in terms of area and population. An interesting fact is that the Maldives consists of many islands (more than 1190), which are scattered in the ocean over an area of 90 thousand km². It turns out that with a small total area, the Maldives is one of the most dispersed countries in the world.
Throughout its history, the island state has survived many "masters", becoming part of various empires. The atolls were ruled by the Netherlands, Portugal and Great Britain, and the country gained its independence only in 1965. Today, tourists who find here crystal clear water and the famous sandy beaches bring the most profit to the country. The ninth place in the ranking of dwarf countries with an area of 300 km² is Maldives.
8
Saint Kitts and Nevis
This country was one of the first lands settled by Europeans after the discovery of the New World. It consists of a pair of islands located in the eastern waters of the Caribbean. An area of 261 km² allows St. Kitts and Nevis to take an honorable 8th place in the list of the most tiny states in the world. Like previous Maldives, this country is for the most part "fed" due to the development of tourism. In addition, agriculture and some industrial sectors are developed here.
Thanks to the rich wildlife around the coast of St. Kitts and Nevis, these islands are a divers dream. Earlier sugar cane was grown here with might and main, now with a decrease in sugar prices, large plantations have been converted into estates, and the rich homes of planters are now working as prestigious hotels.
7
Marshall Islands
The official name of the country is the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and it occupies the 7th line in the world ranking of tiny states. As the name implies, this is an island country. It is located in the Pacific Ocean, and is equidistant from Australia, the USA and Hawaii. Despite the wealth of flora and fauna, the Marshall Islands are not as popular with tourists as other states of Micronesia.
Around the islands live more than 800 species of fish, as well as many species of coral. One of the reasons for the poor development of tourism can be called frequent shipwrecks that occur near the state. The most important economic sector of the Republic is agriculture, which is sufficient for successful export to other countries.
6
Liechtenstein
This German-speaking country is officially called the Principality of Liechtenstein and, in addition to its tiny size, it is famous for being completely in the Alpine mountains. It borders with Austria and Switzerland, being associated with the latter. Almost all residents are employed in the principality, the unemployment rate is only 1.5% of the population. In addition, the GDP for each inhabitant of Liechtenstein is simply amazing for its high rates.
If you want to get to Liechtenstein, then get ready to face small difficulties, since there is no airport in it. To begin with, you will have to land in Zurich, Switzerland, after which you will arrive at the prince's estate (although his power is limited by the constitution, he still greatly affects the life of the country). Please love and favor, sixth place in the ranking with an area of 160 km² - Principality of Liechtenstein!
5
San marino
The Republic of San Marino is surrounded by beautiful "neighbors", or rather, only one. Who would not want to see only Italy around? Please love and favor - fifth place in the list of dwarf states - San Marino with a total area of 61 km².
Despite its tiny size, this country can be proud of the title of the oldest sovereign state on earth. It also boasts one of the largest GDPs not only in the world, but also in Western Europe. It is interesting that on the Old Continent there are two countries with a smaller area than San Marino, but they will be discussed later. The population of the republic slightly exceeds 33 thousand people, which is 10 times less than the population of Smolensk. Moreover, there are practically no unemployed in the country, which is not surprising with such a small number of residents.
4
Tuvalu
A little over 40 years ago, this Polynesian country was called Ellis Islands. It is located in the Pacific Ocean, from significant states southwest of Tuvalu Australia extends. With an area of 26 km², the country, consisting of atolls and islands, takes 4th place among the world “dwarfs".
The population of the state is smaller than some schools and universities - only 10 thousand. Only one hospital operates throughout the country, and the length of roads on the islands is only 8 kilometers. Like many countries in the region, Tuvalu used to belong to the British, having gained self-government about 40 years ago. Due to the remoteness and poor quality of services, there are very few tourists in Tuvalu. For example, in 2010, only 2,000 people visited it, of which only 35% were travelers, the rest flew on business.
3
Nauru
The official name of the dwarf country is the Republic of Nauru. It is located on the island of the same name, on the "right hand" of Australia. The uniqueness of the republic is that it is the smallest state located on one island. The country's high popularity in the 80s of the XX century was due to the development of phosphate mining, but recently the island has disappeared from tourist radars.
Formerly known as the “Pleasant Island,” the republic fell into decay along with the depletion of phosphate resources. The unemployment rate in the country is 90% of the population. The remaining residents work in government. The more surprising is the next “record" of Nauru - almost all citizens of the state are suffering from obesity, apparently, there are still hidden sources of income. Due to being overweight, 40% of the population of Nauru suffers from type 2 diabetes. Yes, the third country in our rating is not limited to only a tiny area (21 km²).
By the way, there is an interesting article on the largest island states of the world on our site thebiggest.ru.
2
Monaco
What thoughts can come on the French Riviera? Of course, create a state! It is not surprising that such a country will be teeming with millionaires and billionaires. All this is about the second country in our ranking, Monaco, whose area is 2.02 km².
You probably heard about the gambling business of the principality, because there is no point in repeating itself. The level of celebrities and rich people per square kilometer (especially if there are only two of them) just rolls over. Despite the predominance of the French language, the population of Monaco is replete with representatives of different nationalities. The state has a football club of the same name, and is also famous for the annual holding of the Formula 1 racing stage. The population of the principality is a little short of 38 thousand people.
1
Vatican
Meet our winner, with an area of 0.44 km², the Vatican occupies the first place in the world ranking of dwarf countries - This enclave state is located not just inside one country, but inside one city, even if it is such a metropolis as Rome. However, do not underestimate the Vatican, because it is the center of the Catholic Church and a place of pilgrimage for millions of Christians.
A significant part of the state’s territory is occupied by St. Peter's Basilica, which has a record with the plus sign, being the largest church in the world. The country lives on donations from Catholics, whose number exceeds 1 billion people. Another source of income is the sale of postage stamps, fees for visiting excursions and trade in souvenirs.