The Smallest Countries in the World

1. The Smallest Countries in the World – What You Need to Know Size matters, when it comes to the world map. It is easy to spot and remember the largest countries in the world, like USA, Russia, Canada, or China. They are hard to ignore owing to their massive landscapes. As a result of their size and seemingly never-ending borders, these countries are believed to be very powerful too. However, we should not underestimate the power of the small. From religion to economy, the smallest countries in the world do exercise power in their own way. Let us look at the list of the smallest countries in the world and understand more about them. These are the smallest countries in the world It is possible to rank all the countries of the world according to their populations or by the least land area. The total area of a country is its physical size denoted numerically in square miles or kilometres. It is the total area including land and water which is enclosed by the borders of the country. So, here are the smallest countries in the world as far as land area is concerned – Vatican City – 0.19 mi²  Monaco - 0.78 mi²  Nauru – 8.1 mi²  Tuvalu – 11.6 mi²  San Marino – 24 mi²  Liechtenstein – 62 mi²  Marshall Islands – 70 mi²  Saint Kitts and Nevis – 101 mi² 

2. Maldives – 116 mi²  Malta – 122 mi² What are the smallest population countries in the world?  The first on the list of smallest countries in the world as far as population is concerned is Vatican City, which has about 800 citizens. There are quite a few other countries with a tiny population too, as listed below. Vatican City — approx. 800  Nauru — approx. 10,000  Tuvalu — approx. 12,000  Palau — approx. 18,000  San Marino — approx. 34,000  Liechtenstein — approx. 38,200  Monaco — approx. 39,500  Saint Kitts and Nevis — approx. 53,000  Marshall Islands — approx. 59,000  Dominica — approx. 72,000  Let us look at the smallest countries in the world in detail From Vatican City to Malta, the smallest countries in the world are independent entities. These countries contribute to the global economy, religion, politics, etc. Most of these countries are also members of the United Nations. Vatican City – It is the smallest country in the world at 0.19 square miles. It may be small in size but definitely not in power. The country is known all over the world because it is the residence of the Pope. The Pope, who is the leader of the Catholic Church, as well as his staff, make up a major chunk of the Vatican’s small population of a little more than 800 people. However, the smallest country in the world does exercise a lot of power across the globe, on more than 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, in various countries. Vatican City is considered as the holiest place for Christians. Even though the Vatican is inside Rome, its influence surpasses the boundaries of Italy.  Monaco - The second one on the list of the smallest countries in the world is Monaco. While the influence of Vatican City lies primarily through religion, Monaco exercises more purchasing power. Monaco is surrounded on all sides by France and it is near the 

3. Italian border as well. Though Monaco is spread across only 0.78 square miles, it boasts a high GDP and many millionaires as its residents. Luxembourg and Liechtenstein are also included in the list of smallest countries in the world but have a high GDP. Similarly, Singapore, Switzerland, and the Netherlands are a few of the top smallest countries in the world that contribute generously to the global economy. Nauru – This small country is situated in the region of Oceania. Nauru has an area of just around 8.1 square miles and a population of about 10,000 people. This country is famous for its phosphate mining operations that started in the 20th century. Nauru was called Pleasant Island earlier and it gained independence from Australia in 1968. Nauru has no official capital.  Tuvalu - Tuvalu is a tiny country in the region of Oceania consisting of nine islands. The region has no groundwater as the Tuvalu islands have no rivers. All the drinking water is obtained from storage facilities. Tuvalu’s capital is Funafuti, which is also its largest city. The people of Tuvalu speak Tuvaluan as well as English.  San Marino - One of the smallest countries in the world, San Marino is surrounded by Italy on all sides. The region is located in Northern Central Italy and is believed to be one of the oldest regions of Europe. San Marino has a rugged terrain with a lot of mountains and its highest peak is Monte Titano.  Liechtenstein - The European country of Liechtenstein is only about 62 square miles in area and is one of the smallest countries in the world. It is surrounded by the Alps locked between Switzerland and Austria and is situated on the River Rhine. Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy but has a prime minister to run its affairs.  The Marshall Islands – It includes twenty-nine coral islands as well as five main islands spread over the Pacific Ocean. The Marshall Islands are positioned between Hawaii and Australia. These islands are near the equator as well as the International Date Line. The Marshall Islands were part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, managed by the United States and became independent in 1986.  Saint Kitts and Nevis – It is a Caribbean Island country that gained independence from the United Kingdom in the year 1983. It is situated between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago. It is the smallest country in the Americas in terms of area as well as population.  Maldives – Apart from being one of the major tourist attractions of the world, Maldives has about 1200 coral islands, of which around 200 have occupancy. The Maldives got independence from the United Kingdom in the year 1965. The highest point of Maldives is only over 7 feet above sea level, raising concerns about climate change as well as rising sea levels.  Malta - Malta, which is officially called the Republic of Malta, is an island country situated in southern Europe. Malta is one of the smallest countries in the world and the most densely populated country as well. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily and east of Tunisia. Its capital is Valletta. 

4. There are some other small territories like Tokelau in New Zealand, Macau in China, and Saint Barthélemy in France that may be tiny, but are not included in the top smallest countries in the world as they are not independent countries. What are some of the problems faced by the smallest countries in the world? Let us look at some of the common problems faced by the smallest countries in the world. Most of the economies of these countries are dependent on global forces. Their economic situation is dependent on international economies and global exchange rates. A few small countries have made money with the help of tourism and tax-free trading. However, some countries are not conveniently located geographically. Most of these countries also highly rely on cash crops and there is no diversification. These countries are prone to economic fluctuations which can affect their budgets.  It has been observed that many of the small countries, especially the island nations, have an issue of isolation. Isolation can be geographic, cultural as well as political in nature.  Small nations are also unable to have a basic number of administrators, given their population size. These countries lack personnel at administrative levels as compared to their larger counterparts. There is a shortage of manpower which causes problems.  What are the benefits of the smallest countries in the world? The biggest benefit for small nations is the fact that even though they are small in size or population, they are still independent countries of the world.  The smaller countries tend to have much higher levels of per capita foreign help as compared to large countries.  There is a lot of transparency in smaller countries as it is easier to identify and remove any bottlenecks.  Communication is also more effective.  It is easier to initiate reforms in the field of education.  The advent of new technologies has been able to reduce the challenges faced by small countries.  The internet also simplifies the process of distance learning, which allows people in small countries to gain education and assistance without going to other countries. 

5. Takeaway All in all, the smallest countries in the world have their own distinct features as well as ecologies. The countries are defined as big or small on the basis of how much land area that region occupies as well as the total population of the country. And through this blog, you also managed to gather some interesting details about them. So, if you ever travel to one of these countries for business, leisure or education, you will have an idea about what to expect. Also Read :-The Smallest Countries in the World – What You Need to Know