Monday, December 16, 2019

The 10 Smallest Countries In The World

A list of the 10 smallest countries by total land area. Some of the coziest nations, islands, and places on the planet.
With over 194 countries in the world, it's easy to think the word "country" equates to a massive land area with large numbers of people. However, some nations are so small that cities within other nations are giants compared to them. Mostly found in Europe, the Carribean, and the Pacific, there are many countries in the world with an area of less than 400 square kilometers. The 10 smallest countries in the world cover a total area of 1491.4 km² which is smaller than the area of the city of Houston, Texas (1625.2 km²). These small countries are some of the richest, most remote, and most intriguing places in the world. Let us take a look at the 10 smallest countries in the world today, according to the United Nations Statistics Division.

10. Malta - 316 km²


Malta is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. The Republic of Malta is made up of three islands: Gozo, Comino, and Malta, which is the largest of the three. This small country has a population of over 450,000 inhabitants, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Foreigners from all over the world come to Malta for its sunny weather, attractive beaches, rich history, and vibrant nightlife. Malta encompasses an area of 316 square kilometers, which puts it at number ten of the world's smallest countries.

9. Maldives - 300 km²


A popular tourist destination in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is the smallest country in Asia in terms of area and population. There are over 1,192 coral islands in the Maldives, which are spread over 90,000 sq.km, making it one of the world's most dispersed countries. The country was once the colony of many empires, the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British, but became an independent country in 1965. Today, the Maldives has a vibrant tourism economy due to its famous white sand beaches and crystal blue waters. The Maldives is the world's ninth smallest country with a land area that measures a total of 300 sq. km.

8. Saint Kitts and Nevis - 261 km²


The Mother Colony of the West Indies, these 2 islands in the Caribbean were some of the first islands to be occupied by Europeans. They occupy a total of 261 sq.km, which makes Saint Kitts and Nevis the world's eighth smallest country. Its economy is dependent on tourism, agriculture, and small manufacturing industries. The islands also provide fantastic diving sites due to abundant marine life. A major sugar exporter for centuries, the large plantations are now beautiful estates that have been converted into hotels and resorts.

7. Marshall Islands - 181 km²

The Marshall Islands, which is officially called the Republic of the MarshalI Islands, is an island country that can be found in the Pacific Ocean, approximately halfway between the US State of Hawaii and the continent of Australia. It is considered to be part of Micronesia. The area surrounded the islands are incredibly biodiverse and include over 800 species of fish as well as 160 of coral. The area around the Marshall Islands also hosts several shipwrecks. With 181 sq.km, the Marshall Islands are the world's seventh smallest country.

6. Liechtenstein - 160 km²


A German-speaking country, this is the only nation in the world to be completely located in the Alps. Located between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein is the richest country in the world by GDP per capita, with the lowest unemployment rate (1.5%). Getting into the country is a little tricky, as there is no airport within its borders. Visitors must go through Switzerland's Zurich Airport to reach this Alpine country that's still ruled by a prince! With 160 sq.km, Liechtenstein is the world's sixth smallest country.

5. San Marino - 61 km²


Surrounded by ItalySan Marino is also known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino. With a total of 61 sq.km, it is the fifth smallest country in the world. it claims to be the oldest surviving sovereign state in the world and is also one of the wealthiest in terms of GDP per capita. The 3rd smallest country in Europe, it has a population of only 30,000, boasting of one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world.

4. Tuvalu - 26 km²

Formerly known as the Ellice Islands, Tuvalu is located in the Pacific Ocean northeast of Australia. With a total of 26 sq.km, Tuvalu is the fourth-smallest country in the world.There are about 10,000 inhabitants, with 8 km of roads, and only one hospital present on the main island. The country was once a British territory but became independent in 1978. Due to the country's location further afield, tourism is not very significant. In 2010, less than 2,000 visitors came to Tuvalu, with 65% of them coming for business.

3. Nauru - 21 km²


An island nation located east of Australia, Nauru is the smallest island country in the world. It was known in the 1980s for its booming phosphate mining but is now a quiet island off the radar of tourists. Formerly known as Pleasant Island, its phosphate resources are now depleted, leading to a 90% national unemployment rate, with the remaining 10% employed by the government. Nauru is also known as the country with the most obese people in the world, with 97% of its men and 93% of women being obese or overweight. Because of this, Nauru is also home to the world's highest level of type 2 diabetes, with 40% of its population suffering from the ailment. Nauru has a total of 21 sq.km, which makes it the world's third-smallest country.

2. Monaco - 2 km²


Located on the French Riviera, Monaco is home to the largest number of millionaires and billionaires in the world per capita. It is also the world's second-smallest country, with only 2 sq.km in total land area. Known for its gambling and luxury goods and services industry, Monaco is a favorite playground of the rich and famous. Bordered by France on three sides and one side by the Mediterranean Sea, the residents of Monaco are mostly French-speaking. With a population of over 36,000, Monaco is the world's most densely populated country. The most popular annual event is the Formula 1 race, with tracks passing through the city streets.

1. Vatican City - 0.44 km²



The world's smallest country is the Vatican, also known as the Holy See. With only 0.44 sq.km, Vatican City is the world's smallest country by land area. This country fits entirely within the Italian capital city of Rome and is the center of the Catholic Church. It is also home to the biggest church in the world – St. Peter's Basilica, which holds some of the most significant artworks of the Renaissance such as The Pieta and the Creation of Adam. Its income comes from the voluntary contributions of over 1 billion members of the Roman Catholic Church around the world. The remainder of its economy comes from the sales of postage stamps, tourist mementos, and admission fees of museums.

What's the Smallest Country in the World?

Vatican City holds the distinction of being the world's smallest country, with a size of only 0.44 square kilometers, or 0.17 square miles. The other smallest countries are Monaco, Nauru, Tuvalu, San Marino, Liechtenstein, and the Marshall Islands.

The World's 50 Smallest Countries

RankCountryArea (km sq)Area (sq mi)
1Vatican City0.440.17
2Monaco2.020.78
3Nauru218.1
4Tuvalu2610
5San Marino6124
6Liechtenstein16052
7Marshall Islands18170
8Saint Kitts and Nevis261101
9Maldives298115
10Malta316122
11Grenada344133
12Saint Vincent and the Grenadines389150
13Barbados431166
14Antigua and Barbuda443171
15Seychelles455176
16Palau459177
17Andorra468181
18Saint Lucia606234
19Singapore687265
20Micronesia702271
21Tonga717277
22Dominica751290
23Bahrain765295
24Kiribati811313
25Sao Tome964372
26Comoros1,862719
27Mauritius2,030784
28Luxembourg2,586999
29Samoa2,8211,089
30Cape Verde4,0331,557
31Trinidad and Tobago5,1281,980
32Brunei5,2652,033
33Cyprus9,2413,568
34Gambia10,0003,861
35Bahamas10,0103,865
36Lebanon10,2303,950
37Jamaica10,8314,182
38Qatar11,5864,473
39Vanuatu12,1894,706
40Montenegro13,4525,194
41East Timor14,8745,743
42Swaziland17,2046,643
43Kuwait17,8186,880
44Fiji18,2747,056
45Slovenia20,1517,780
46Israel20,3307,850
47El Salvador20,7218,000
48Belize22,8068,805
49Djibouti23,1808,041
50Macedonia25,4339,820

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