Small European country 10 letters. Dwarf countries of Europe. Bosnia and Herzegovina
There are several so-called dwarf states in Europe. All of them may not be as famous as their large neighbors, but, nevertheless, they have no less number of interesting places per unit area.
1. Vatican (0.44 sq km)
In principle, the Vatican is not a separate country, but it has the status of an "Independent city of the state", the head of which is the Pope. The population of the Vatican - 900 people - are representatives of the Catholic hierarchy. As for attractions, the Vatican is one big attraction.
2. Monaco (1.95 sq km)
The next dwarf country is Monaco, surrounded on one side by French territory and on the other side by the sea. Monaco has the highest population density and the lowest unemployment rate (0%!). The country is known for its gambling business and popularity among the richest people in the world.
3. San Marino (61 sq km)
The tiny Principality of San Marino is the oldest of the currently existing independent states and monarchies, which was founded on September 3, 301. You can get to San Marino and see local sights from Italy.
4. Liechtenstein (62 sq. km)
Liechtenstein lies between Switzerland and Austria. The country is known for having the lowest external debt in the world and for having good conditions for winter sports. Due to the special tax policy, offshore companies are often registered here.
5. Malta (316 sq km)
The Republic of Malta occupies three islands located in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. The country attracts tourists as a good place for a seaside holiday and an abundance of historical sights.
6. Andorra (468 sq km)
Andorra is located in the Pyrenees on the border between Spain and France. Tourists are attracted here by excellent winter resorts and more modest prices for cigarettes, alcohol and electronics compared to other countries.
7. Luxembourg (2586 sq km)
The Duchy of Luxembourg attracts tourists with interesting sights that have been preserved since the Middle Ages.
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.
We learned the names of most large countries 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 is Male, which 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 due to its unique system of government in such a way that the 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 an ancient legend - the 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 beautiful place, however, made it to the ranking of 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 has again begun to develop its economy and increase its 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 large companies were founded. 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.
These states are very small, but they are beautiful in their own way. And they also have their own laws, flag, state structure, they have diplomatic relations with other countries. TravelAsk brings to your attention the smallest countries in Europe.
What is a dwarf state
Usually, a dwarf state is called a country that is distinguished by a small area or population. Most often, their measure is Luxembourg: if the country's area is less than the area of Luxembourg, then it is dwarf. Well, with the population, the concepts diverge here: for example, the UN considers dwarf states in which less than a million people live, and the Commonwealth of Nations - countries where the number of inhabitants does not exceed 1.5 million people.
The smallest states in Europe have a very small territory, a small number of inhabitants, and their resources are limited. Therefore, special economic conditions are created here: low taxes are introduced, foreign investment is limited, and many of the countries enter into a customs or monetary union with their large neighbors.
Of course, in a broad sense, some of these countries do not make social sense, that is, they do not rule society. So, for example, it has the status of a state, but it is the administrative center of the Catholic Church.
Order of Malta (0.012 sq km)
It is the smallest country in Europe. True, not all states consider it a country. But, despite this, it maintains diplomatic relations with 104 countries (including Russia), it prints its own currency and stamps, issues passports and even license plates. Moreover, the Order of Malta has the status of an observer organization at the Council of Europe and the UN. We talked about this country in more detail.
Members of the Order of Malta are considered the population, there are about 13 thousand of them. The dwarf state owns several mansions in Rome, as well as Fort Sant'Angelo in Malta.
Vatican City (0.44 sq km)
At its core, it is close to the Order of Malta and has the status of a sovereign city-state. It is ruled by the Pope and has a population of just over 800. This is the smallest country officially recognized by all states.
Despite the fact that half of the territory of the Vatican is occupied by a garden, there is something to admire here, because the world's masterpieces of culture are collected here: St. Cathedral, museums, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Library, which contains the largest collection of manuscripts of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Principality of Monaco (2.02 sq km)
It also has the status of a city-state. On the one hand it is surrounded by the sea, and on the other -. More than 37 thousand people live here, which makes the state the country with the highest population density. And here is the lowest unemployment rate in the world, moreover, there are about 45 thousand jobs in the country, which is more than the inhabitants themselves.
The country is ruled by Prince Albert II. very famous for its casino and attracts wealthy people. The principality has the most expensive real estate in the world (only it was overtaken by this parameter), and tourism has an elite specialization.
Republic of San Marino (61 sq. km)
The only Italian commune that has been sovereign since the Middle Ages. Therefore, it is one of the oldest constitutional monarchies in the world. Just imagine, founded in 301! The country is located in the Apennine mountains, it was because of its remoteness that it was not annexed to Italy.
32 thousand people live in the country. It is visited annually by about 3 million tourists, it is easy to make a day trip here from Italy.
Principality of Liechtenstein (160 sq. km)
Liechtenstein is located in the Alps. This is the only surviving state that was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It is located between Austria and Switzerland, it was the location of the principality that contributed to the fact that the country was not absorbed by the German Empire.
The capital of Liechtenstein, the city of Vaduz, does not have an airport, but despite this, tourism is still very developed here.
Republic of Malta (316 sq. km)
This is an archipelago of several islands, the largest and most famous of them, and Comino. This territory was inhabited as early as the 8th century BC: it has always attracted conquerors, since the islands were located on the way from Europe to Asia and Africa.
Tourists come here all year round: it is warm and comfortable even in winter.
More than 400 thousand people live in the republic, which makes the country one of the most populated among the dwarf states.
Principality of Andorra (468 sq. km)
Located in the Pyrenees, between Spain and France, it attracts millions of travelers every year. Tourists in Spain and France do not even need a visa to visit the country. Moreover, tourism is the main income of the state.
Gained independence in the XIII century, today 70 thousand people live on its territory.
Duchy of Luxembourg (2,586 sq km)
More than 570 thousand people live in Luxembourg. The duchy is adjacent to Germany, Belgium and France, and there are many attractions. And here is a high standard of living, the country is one of the richest in Europe.
This is a list of the 15 smallest countries in the world. Countries that can be compared in size to a small city. You can walk almost every one of these countries from end to end in less than a day.
The smallest state on earth. The Vatican is located on the territory of the Eternal City of Rome, on the hill of Monte Vaticano and has a length of the state border, only 3.2 km. In a few hours you can easily walk around the whole country. According to official figures, the population of the Vatican is just over 800 people. Another 3,000 people are not citizens of the country, but come here every day to work.
The Vatican is one of the largest open-air museums. Here is a real treasury of works of art and architectural monuments, relics of Christianity and unique creations of great masters. A huge number of believers and tourists visit the territory of the Vatican every day.
The second place in the list of microstates is occupied by the Principality of Monaco. Its territory is 1.95 sq. km. The length of the state border with France is 4.4 km. The population density in Monaco, unlike the Vatican, is very high - the country is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Local residents are mainly engaged in serving tourists, who are attracted here by magnificent beaches and a huge number of gambling establishments.
The Republic of Nauru is a dwarf state on the coral island of the same name in the Western Pacific Ocean with an area of 21.3 km² and a population of 12 thousand people. Nauru is the smallest independent republic on Earth, the smallest island nation, the smallest nation outside of Europe, and the only republic in the world without an official capital.
Tuvalu is a dwarf Pacific state in Polynesia. The length of the coastal strip is 21 km. The state is located on 5 atolls and 4 islands of the Tuvalu archipelago. The total land area is 26 km². The population of the country is 14 thousand people. The islands gained independence in 1978 (before that, the archipelago was a British colony).
The name of the country, translated from the Tuvalu language, it means “eight standing together” (meaning the eight traditionally inhabited islands of Tuvalu. The main problem of the islands is the rise in the level of the world ocean, which threatens to flood many of the islands, most of which are located no higher than 5 meters above sea level The country lives on the help of other countries, because it does not have its own natural resources.
5. San Marino
European state, surrounded on all sides by the territory of Italy. The name comes from the name of the Christian saint who founded the state. The country claims to be the oldest state in Europe. The area of the state is 60.57 km². Almost 80% of the country's territory is occupied by mountains and rock massifs. The population is 33 thousand people. San Marino is one of the few modern countries with positive economic indicators. Government revenues exceed expenditures and the country has no external debt.
Another dwarf European state. The area of the country is 160 km². The name of the country comes from the ruling dynasty of Liechtenstein. The Principality is located in the spurs of the Alps, the highest point is Mount Grauspitz (2599 m). One of the largest rivers in Western Europe, the Rhine, flows through the western part of the country. The population of the country is 38 thousand people.
Despite its size, Liechtenstein is a prosperous industrial country with a developed banking system. In addition, the Principality of Liechtenstein is included in the black list of "tax havens" - states where residents of other countries evade taxation.
The Marshall Islands is a Pacific state in Micronesia. The state is located on 29 atolls and 5 islands of the Marshall Islands archipelago. The length of the coastal strip is 370.4 km. The total land area is 181.3 km² and 11,673 km² are occupied by lagoons. The population of the Marshall Islands is 65 thousand people.
The maximum height above sea level is 10 meters. In the event of a significant rise in the level of the World Ocean or global climate change, serious environmental consequences are inevitable on individual islands.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands does not have a permanent military force. According to the concluded agreement, the United States is responsible for the security and defense of the country. They have an obligation to protect the Republic of the Marshall Islands and its citizens from outside attacks and threats.
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is a state in the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea, consisting of two islands - Saint Kitts and Nevis. Both islands are of volcanic origin, mountainous. The area of the country is 261 km². The population is 53 thousand people. The total length of the coastline is 135 km.
The islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493, but the Spaniards did not colonize them. Great Britain and France fought for the possession of the islands for a long time. In 1983, the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis gained independence.
The islands have rich tropical vegetation. The mountainous regions are covered with dense tropical forests and orchards. Creepers, mangoes, breadfruit and cinnamon trees, tamarind, avocados, bananas, papaya grow here. On the tops of the mountains, forests give way to meadows, with no less abundant vegetation. Numerous tropical birds and butterflies live in the forests, as well as monkeys. Many seabirds nest on the coast, including pelicans. The waters abound with fish.
The Republic of Maldives or simply the Maldives is a state in South Asia, located on a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south of India. The state is a chain of 20 atolls, consisting of 1192 coral islands. The population is about 330 thousand people. The total area is 90 thousand km², the land area is 298 km². The capital of Male - the only city and port of the archipelago - is located on the atoll of the same name and is the smallest capital in the world. Nevertheless, one third of the total population of the country lives in Male.
The basis of the economy is the service of tourists. Hot, but comfortable weather all year round (air temperature from 24 to 30 °) has made the Maldives a place of pilgrimage for tourists from all over the world. Fishing is in second place.
The Republic of Malta is an island state in the Mediterranean Sea. The country consists of three inhabited islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino and many small and uninhabited ones. The territory of the state is 316 km². The population of Malta is 420 thousand people. The country bears the title of the least populated state of the European Union.
The main branch of Malta's economy is tourism. Most of the cultural and historical sites are associated with the Knights of the Order of St. John (Order of Malta). Due to the wide variety of urban and natural landscapes, Malta is a popular filming location for feature films. Malta is the only country in Europe that does not have rivers, lakes or its own sources of fresh water.
Grenada is an island state in the southeast Caribbean Sea, occupies the island of Grenada and the southern part of the Grenadines. The total area is 344 sq. km. The population is 110 thousand people.
The island of Grenada is of volcanic origin. In the center of the island there is a forested mountain range, above which Mount St. Catherine (840 m), the highest point in the country, rises. There are few rivers on the island, but there are many streams and springs. Grenada's economy is based on tourism as well as offshore financial business.
The song "Grenada", written by M. Svetlov in 1926, as it turned out, has nothing to do with the state of Grenada.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an independent state in the Caribbean. The territory consists of the island of St. Vincent and 32 small islands of the Grenadines. Area - 389 km². The population is 105 thousand people.
Soufrière is an active volcano on the island of Saint Vincent. In our era alone, it has erupted at least 160 times already. The last eruption was in 1979. The beaches of the island are covered with black volcanic sand; the exception is the white sandy beaches at the southern tip of the island.
Barbados is a small state in the West Indies, located on the island of the same name, resembling a pear in shape. The island has an area of 431 km² and is mostly flat with some hills in the middle. The population is 290 thousand people. Barbados is one of the leading developing countries in terms of living standards and literacy.
The basis of the economy is tourism. Many historical monuments are associated with the rise of piracy in the Caribbean. Barbados is also famous for the production of the famous pirate rum. Approximately every 3 years, the island is in the zone of passage of hurricanes and suffers greatly from the elements.
Antigua and Barbuda is a state in the West Indies, located on three islands - Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda. The total area is 442 km². The population is 90 thousand people.
The main source of income is tourism. Antigua and Barbuda is ready to receive tourists 365 days a year. The coastline of Antigua forms many bays (in fact, these are relic volcanic craters) and a long strip of first-class beaches (it is believed that there are exactly 365 of them on the islands). There are both beaches with developed infrastructure and completely wild, secluded corners.
The Republic of Seychelles is an island nation in East Africa. It is located in the western part of the Indian Ocean, slightly south of the equator. The republic consists of 115 islands, only 33 of them are inhabited. The islands cover an area of 455 square kilometers. The population of the country is about 90 thousand people.
The main source of income for the Seychelles for a long time was the export of cinnamon, coconut and vanilla. Since 1976, when Great Britain granted independence to the Seychelles, tourism has become the main source of income (up to 75% of foreign exchange earnings).
The fruit of the Seychelles palm, which grows only in the Seychelles, weighs 20 kg and is considered the largest fruit in the plant world.
