The 10 Smallest Countries In The World

With more than 194 countries in the world, it is easy to think that the word “country” corresponds to a vast area with large numbers of people. Some countries are so small that cities in other countries are giants compared to them. Mostly found in Europe, the Caribbean and the Pacific, there are many countries in the world with an area of less than 400 square kilometers. The top 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)

With their own governments and their own culture, these small countries are some of the richest, most remote and most intriguing places in the world. Let’s look at the 10 smallest countries of the world today:

10. Malta-316 km2

Malta is another island country and is located in the Mediterranean Sea. The Republic of Malta actually consists of three islands: Gozo, Comino and Malta, the largest of the three. This small country has more than 450,000 inhabitants, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Another popular tourist destination, foreigners from all over the world come to Malta for its sunny weather, attractive beaches, rich history and vibrant nightlife. Malta consists of 116 square kilometers, which puts it at Number Ten among 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 more than 1,192 coral islands in the Maldives, spread over 90,000 sq.km, making it one of the world’s most widely distributed 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 tourist economy thanks to its famous white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. The Maldives is the world’s ninth smallest country with a land area measuring a total of 300 kilometers squared.

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 kilometers squared, making Saint Kitts and Nevis the eighth smallest country in the world. The economy depends on tourism, agriculture and small manufacturing industries. The islands also offer fantastic dive sites due to the abundant marine life. The large plantations have been a major sugar exporter for centuries and are now magnificent Estates converted into hotels and resorts.

7. Marshall Islands – 181 km2

The Marshall Islands, officially called The Republic of the MarshalI Islands, is an island country found in the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between the U.S. state of Hawaii and mainland Australia. It is considered part of Micronesia. The area surrounding the islands is incredibly biodiverse, and contains over 800 species of Fish and 160 of coral. The Marshall Islands area is also home to a number of shipwrecks. At 181 square kilometers, the Marshall Islands are the seventh smallest country in the world.

6. Liechtenstein – 160 km2

This German-speaking country is the only nation in the world located entirely in the Alps. Liechtenstein, located between Switzerland and Austria, is the richest country in the world by GDP per capita, with the lowest unemployment rate (1.5%). Entering the country is a bit tricky as there is no airport within its borders. Visitors must pass the Zurich Airport in Zurich to reach this Alpine country still ruled by a prince! With 160 square kilometers, Liechtenstein is the sixth smallest country in the world.

5. San Marino – 61 km2

San Marino is completely surrounded by Italy and is also known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino. With a total of 61 square kilometers, 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 richest in terms of GDP per capita. The 3rd smallest country in Europe, it has a population of just 30,000, boasting one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world.

4. Tuvalu-26 km2

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

3. Nauru – 21 km2

Nauru, an island nation east of Australia, is the smallest island country in the world. It was known in the 1980s for its explosive phosphate mining, but it is now a quiet island that is not in the interest of tourists. Formerly known as Pleasant Island, phosphate resources are now depleted, leading to a national unemployment rate of 90%, with the remaining 10% employed by the government. Nauru is also known as the country with the heaviest 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 the population suffering from the condition. Nauru has a total of 21 square kilometers, making it the world’s third smallest country.

2. Monaco – 2 km2

Monaco, located on the French Riviera, 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 square kilometers in total land area. Known for its gambling and luxury goods and services industries, Monaco is a favorite playground of the rich and famous. Bordered on three sides by France and on one side by the Mediterranean Sea, the inhabitants of Monaco are mostly French-speaking. With a population of over 36,000, Monaco is the world’s most populous country. The most popular annual event is the Formula 1 race, with tracks running through the streets of the city.

1. Vatican City-0.44 km2

The world’s smallest country is the Vatican, also known as the Holy See. At just 0.44 square kilometers, Vatican City is the world’s smallest country by land area. This country fully fits into the Italian capital Rome and is the center of the Catholic Church. It is also home to the largest church in the world: St. Peter’s Basilica, which owns some of the most important works of Renaissance art, such as the Pieta and the creation of Adam. Its income comes from the voluntary contributions of more than 1 billion members of the Roman Catholic Church around the world. The rest of the economy comes from the sale of stamps, tourist memorabilia, and museum admission fees.

1 Vatican City 0.44 0.17
2 Monaco 2.02 0.78
3 nauru 21 8.1
4 tuvalu 26 10
5 San Marino 6-1 2-4
6 Liechtenstein 160 52
7 Marshall Islands 181 70
8 Saint Kitts and Nevis 261 101
9 Maldives 298 115
10 Malta 316 122
11 grenada 344 133
12 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 389 150
13 Barbados 431,166
14 Antigua and Barbuda 443 171
15 Seychelles 455 176
16 Palau 459 177
17 Andorra 468 181
18 Saint Lucia 606 234
19 Singapore 687 265
20 Micronesia 702 271
21 Tonga 717 277
22 Dominica 751 290
23 Bahrain 765 295
24 Kiribati 811 313
25 Sao Tome 964 372
26 Comoros 1,862 719
27 Mauritius 2,030 784
28 Luxembourg 2,586 999
29 samoa 2,821 1,089
30 Cape Verde 4,033 1,557
31 Trinidad and Tobago 5,128-1,980
32 Brunei 5,265 2,033
33 Cyprus 9,241 3,568
34 Gambia 10,000 3,861
35 Bahamas 10,010 3,865
36 Lebanon 10,230 3,950
37 Jamaica 10,831 4,182
38 Qatar 11,586 4,473
39 Vanuatu 12,189 4,706
40 Montenegro 13,452 5,194
41 East Timor 14,874 5,743
42 Swaziland 17,204 6,643
43 Kuwait 17,818 6,880
44 Fiji 18,274 7,056
45 Slovenia 20,151 7,780
46 Israel 20,330 7,850
47 El Salvador 20,721-8,000
48 Belize 22,806 8,805
49 Djibouti 23,180 8,041
50 Macedonia 25,433 9,820