Smallest Country in the World, List of Top 10 Countries

For UPSC aspirants, a thorough understanding of global geography is crucial. Among the diverse range of countries, some are exceptionally small, both in terms of land area and population. This article provides a List of the smallest countries in the world.

Smallest Country in the World

Vatican City, the smallest country in the world, spans just 0.49 square kilometers and has a population of about 825. Situated entirely within Rome, Italy, it functions as the center of the Roman Catholic Church. Its economy is supported by donations, tourism, and sales of stamps and coins. Vatican City is renowned for St. Peter’s Basilica and its significant religious and cultural heritage.

Smallest Country in the World Details

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.

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.

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