Population: 39,600
Total GDP: 7.97 billion (estimate)
Currency: Euro
Size Comparison: 30 times smaller than Manhattan, New York
Monaco, situated on the French Riviera in Western Europe, encompasses an area of 1.994 square kilometers.
The densely populated principality thrives along the Mediterranean coastline, strategically hugging rugged, rising terrain.
Monaco’s geographic hallmark, the Rock of Monaco, provides a vantage point that emphasizes its smallness, with the entirety of its urban expanse often visible from this point.
3. Nauru
Aerial view of Nauru
Population: 12,100
Total GDP: $160 million
Currency: Australian Dollar
Size Comparison: 75 times smaller than London
Nauru occupies an area of 20.9 square kilometers, earning it the distinction of being the smallest island country not only in Oceania but also in the world.
The central plateau, known as Topside, dominates the geography with phosphate rock outcrops scattered across its surface. An encircling narrow coastal strip fringed with palm trees provides a sharp contrast to this rocky interior.
Although its size is small, Nauru’s features, such as the Buada Lagoon situated inland, demonstrate its compact nature that still provides plenty for its residents.
4. Tuvalu
Aerial of the island of Tuvalu
Population: 10,600
Total GDP: $70 million
Currency: Tuvaluan Dollar & Australian Dollar
Size Comparison: 401 times smaller than Hawaii
Spread across an area of just 25.8 square kilometers, Tuvalu is the second smallest country in Oceania.
It consists of a chain of nine coral atolls, with Funafuti, its largest atoll, serving as the country’s capital. The highest point in Tuvalu is only 4.572 meters (15 feet) above sea level, accentuating its small size.
Despite its compressed dimensions, Tuvalu manages the Funafuti Conservation Area along its coast, an extensive marine protected region that is about 32.8 square kilometers of reef and land.
5. San Marino
San Marino cityscape
Population: 35,200
Total GDP: $2.03 billion
Currency: Euro
Size Comparison: 10 times smaller than Chicago
San Marino, with its 62 square kilometers, is an enclaved microstate situated on the northeastern side of the Apennine Mountains in Italy.
This hilltop republic, the third smallest country in Europe, encompasses a region typified by a rugged, mountainous landscape.
Mount Titano, the highest peak in the country, stands as a testament to the country’s size, as the three towers perched atop it overlook virtually all of San Marino’s territory.
6. Liechtenstein
Landscape view of Balzers village with Saint Nicholas church in Liechtenstein
Population: 39,900
Total GDP: 7.94 billion (estimate)
Currency: The Swiss Franc
Size Comparison: Nine times smaller than Mexico City
The micro-state in Europe takes a leap in size comprising ​​160 square kilometers principality with 39,475 residents and a population density of 243 people per sq. km.
Lichtenstein neighbors Switzerland to the west and south and Austria to the east. Its capital city is Vaduz and German is the main language, while 34% of the inhabitants are foreigners.
The state is most known for its mountainous terrain with many winter sports resorts and tax haven attracting the active wealth. The country’s economy depends on international companies that in turn benefit from Liechtenstein’s low taxes.
7. Marshall Islands
Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands
Population: 39,700
Total GDP: $310 million
Currency: US Dollar
Size Comparison: 269 times smaller than the Dominican Republic
Covering an area of 181.2 square kilometers, the Marshall Islands is an archipelago country in the central Pacific Ocean. It comprises 29 atolls and five islands, a geographical spread that exemplifies its size.
The islands are characterized by flat terrains not exceeding 3.4 meters (10 ft) above sea level on average. The largest atoll, Kwajalein, includes a substantial lagoon measuring approximately 2913.7 square kilometers, despite the island’s thin, encircling 14.5 square kilometers.
Even with its seemingly diminutive landmass, the Marshall Islands’ extensive aquatic territory is a resource in and of itself, helping the government to establish and maintain sovereignty.
8. Saint Kitts and Nevis
Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Population: 48,400
Total GDP: $1.13 billion
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
Size Comparison: 12 times smaller than Rhode Island, US
Saint Kitts and Nevis, two island territories amassing a total area of 261.5 square kilometers, represent the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere.
Occupying a portion of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, the duo’s geography consists primarily of volcanic landscapes.
The island’s principal physical feature, Mount Liamuiga, reaches its maximum height at only 1,156 m.
9. Maldives
Aerial view of Maldives
Population: 544,700
Total GDP: $7.2 billion
Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa
Size Comparison: Two times smaller than Madrid
The Maldives, an Asian country composed entirely of coral islands, covers an area of approximately 310.7 square kilometers.
It sprawls across the Indian Ocean, near the southwestern coast of India, in a chain of 26 atolls. The highest point in this flat, low-lying country does not exceed 2.4 meters above sea level, a feature that makes the Maldives one of the lowest countries on Earth.
Despite its small size, the Maldives harbors extreme importance in the realm of biodiversity, with over 2000 species of fish calling the island chain home.
10. Malta
A narrow street in Valletta – the capital of Malta.
Population: 550,100
Total GDP: $22.74 billion
Currency: Euro
Size Comparison: Four times smaller than Rome
Malta is an archipelago located in the Mediterranean Sea and composed of three main islands. Its landscape is characterized by high hills and terraced fields, as well as numerous bays, harbors, and beaches.
The small country of 216 square kilometers in area is a popular cultural destination with rich history and prehistoric buildings, like the megalithic temples of Tarxien and the Mnajdra and Hagar Qim temples.
Malta has always been a strategically important place, as well as a scene of battles among its conquerors. It was ruled by several countries over the years, with all leaving a cultural mark, before final independence from Britain.
11. Grenada
View of Saint George’s town, capital of Grenada
Population: 116,400
Total GDP: $1.41 billion
Currency: The Eastern Caribbean Dollar
Size Comparison: 30 times smaller than Puerto Rico
The island country of Grenada, extending over 344 square kilometers, ranks as the second smallest independent country in North America.
Also located in the Lesser Antilles, Grenada features a terrain defined by a central highland spine, where the island’s highest point, Mount Saint Catherine, stands tall at 840 m.
12. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
View of Barrouallie with Sea in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Population: 112,000
Total GDP: $1.13 billion
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar
Size Comparison: Four times smaller than Los Angeles, California
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, an archipelago country in the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, comprises an area of 388 square kilometers.
It is an assemblage of the main island, Saint Vincent, and a chain of smaller islands, the Grenadines. The most significant geographic feature,
La Soufriere volcano is not only the highest peak in the country, but it has been active since 1995 with continuous eruptions.
13. Barbados
Coastline of Barbados Island, Caribbean Paradise
Population: 263,700
Total GDP: $6.86 billion
Currency: Barbados Dollar
Size Comparison: 18 times smaller than the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The Eastern Caribbean country is the 13th smallest independent state in the world spreading over an area of 430 square kilometers. Barbados is the easternmost island of the Lesser Antilles archipelago in the Atlantic, just off the coast of Venezuela and Guyana, and is visited by tourists in the Caribbean.
The sought-after destination encompasses a real paradise with beautiful weather under nearly constant sunshine. Thousands of tourists from around the world flock to Barbados each year.
14. Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua Bay, view from Shirley Heights
Population: 103,600
Total GDP: $2.13 billion
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar
Size Comparison: 159 times smaller than Ireland
Covering an area of only 440 square kilometers, the dual-island country of Antigua and Barbuda is in the Caribbean Sea. Located where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Lesser Antilles, the terrain of both islands is generally hilly, covered in lush vegetation, and dotted with golden sand beaches.
15. Seychelles
Mahe Seychelles
Population: 105,000
Total GDP: $2.2 billion
Currency: Seychelles Rupee
Size Comparison: 1,290 times smaller than Madagascar
Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, has a total land area of 453.2 square kilometers, making it Africa’s smallest country. Composed of 115 islands, it displays a mix of coral atolls and granitic islands. For reference, the Morne Seychellois National Park occupies almost 20% of the main island of Mahé.
Final Thoughts
Despite their limited sizes, these independent countries persistently maintain their sovereignty and independent economies, affirming that a country’s significance is not measured by its geographical expanse but by its capability to self-govern and sustain a distinctive culture. Small countries continually challenge our understanding of what defines a country, emphasizing that territorial dimension is just one attribute in the intricate character of statehood.
Map of the Smallest 15 Countries
The locations of the 15 smallest countries in the world, with their areas depicted according to scale
Micronations Around The World
Besides the small states mentioned above, many micronations around the globe claim sovereignty or independence but are not internationally recognized as such. Some of the most notable include Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, The Principality of Sealand, and Liberland.
Macau is a special administrative region of China and a former Portuguese colony. It spans just 32 km2 and is the most densely populated place in the world. Hong Kong is also a special administrative region of China and was a former British colony until 1997. It is one of the most developed places in the world and covers 1,104 km2 of area, making it almost twice the size of the Seychelles. Taiwan is a micronation claiming independence from China but is recognized by only 13 countries.
The Principality of Sealand is a micronation located on a former World War II fort off the coast of England, declared an independent state by British pirate radio broadcaster, Paddy Roy Bates, in 1967. About the size of a football field at just 0.004 km2, it has its own government and currency but is not recognized by the British government. Liberland is a self-proclaimed micronation founded in 2015, situated along the western bank of the Danube River. It has its own flag, government, motto, and currency, but is disputed by Croatia and Serbia and not recognized as a sovereign state by any country.
All 195 Countries Ranked By Total Area (Smallest To Largest)
Rank
Country
Total in km2 (mi2)
Land in km2 (mi2)
1
Vatican City
0.49 (0.19)
0.49 (0.19)
2
Monaco
2.0 (0.77)
2.0 (0.77)
3
Nauru
21 (8.1)
21 (8.1)
4
Tuvalu
26 (10)
26 (10)
5
San Marino
61 (24)
61 (24)
6
Liechtenstein
160 (62)
160 (62)
7
Marshall Islands
181 (70)
181 (70)
8
Saint Kitts and Nevis
261 (101)
261 (101)
9
Maldives
300 (120)
298 (115)
10
Malta
316 (122)
316 (122)
11
Grenada
344 (133)
344 (133)
12
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
389 (150)
389 (150)
13
Barbados
431 (166)
431 (166)
14
Antigua and Barbuda
442 (171)
442 (171)
15
Seychelles
452 (175)
455 (176)
16
Palau
459 (177)
459 (177)
17
Andorra
468 (181)
468 (181)
18
Saint Lucia
616 (238)
606 (234)
19
Micronesia
702 (271)
702 (271)
20
Singapore
728 (281)
716 (276)
21
Tonga
747 (288)
717 (277)
22
Dominica
751 (290)
751 (290)
23
Bahrain
786 (303)
786 (303)
24
Kiribati
811 (313)
811 (313)
25
São Tomé and PrÃncipe
964 (372)
964 (372)
26
Comoros
1,862 (719)
1,862 (719)
27
Mauritius
2,040 (790)
2,030 (780)
28
Luxembourg
2,586 (998)
2,586 (998)
29
Samoa
2,842 (1,097)
2,821 (1,089)
30
Cape Verde
4,033 (1,557)
4,033 (1,557)
31
Trinidad and Tobago
5,130 (1,980)
5,128 (1,980)
32
Brunei
5,765 (2,226)
5,265 (2,033)
33
Palestine
6,220 (2,400)
6,000 (2,300)
34
Cyprus
9,251 (3,572)
9,241 (3,568)
35
Lebanon
10,452 (4,036)
10,230 (3,950)
36
Jamaica
10,991 (4,244)
10,831 (4,182)
37
Gambia
11,295 (4,361)
10,000 (3,900)
38
Qatar
11,586 (4,473)
11,586 (4,473)
39
Vanuatu
12,189 (4,706)
12,189 (4,706)
40
Montenegro
13,812 (5,333)
13,452 (5,194)
41
Bahamas
13,943 (5,383)
10,010 (3,860)
42
East Timor
14,919 (5,760)
14,919 (5,760)
43
Eswatini
17,364 (6,704)
17,204 (6,643)
44
Kuwait
17,818 (6,880)
17,818 (6,880)
45
Fiji
18,272 (7,055)
18,274 (7,056)
46
Slovenia
20,273 (7,827)
20,151 (7,780)
47
Israel
20,770 (8,020)
20,330 (7,850)
48
El Salvador
21,041 (8,124)
20,721 (8,000)
49
Belize
22,966 (8,867)
22,806 (8,805)
50
Djibouti
23,200 (9,000)
23,180 (8,950)
51
North Macedonia
25,713 (9,928)
25,433 (9,820)
52
Rwanda
26,338 (10,169)
24,668 (9,524)
53
Haiti
27,750 (10,710)
27,560 (10,640)
54
Burundi
27,834 (10,747)
25,680 (9,920)
55
Equatorial Guinea
28,051 (10,831)
28,051 (10,831)
56
Albania
28,748 (11,100)
27,398 (10,578)
57
Solomon Islands
28,896 (11,157)
27,986 (10,805)
58
Armenia
29,743 (11,484)
28,342 (10,943)
59
Lesotho
30,355 (11,720)
30,355 (11,720)
60
Belgium
30,528 (11,787)
30,278 (11,690)
61
Moldova
33,846 (13,068)
32,891 (12,699)
62
Guinea-Bissau
36,125 (13,948)
28,120 (10,860)
63
Bhutan
38,394 (14,824)
38,394 (14,824)
64
Switzerland
41,284 (15,940)
39,997 (15,443)
65
Netherlands
41,850 (16,160)
33,893 (13,086)
66
Denmark
43,094 (16,639)
42,434 (16,384)
67
Estonia
45,227 (17,462)
42,388 (16,366)
68
Dominican Republic
48,671 (18,792)
48,320 (18,660)
69
Slovakia
49,037 (18,933)
48,105 (18,573)
70
Costa Rica
51,100 (19,700)
51,060 (19,710)
71
Bosnia and Herzegovina
51,209 (19,772)
51,187 (19,763)
72
Croatia
56,594 (21,851)
55,974 (21,612)
73
Togo
56,785 (21,925)
54,385 (20,998)
74
Latvia
64,559 (24,926)
62,249 (24,034)
75
Lithuania
65,300 (25,200)
62,680 (24,200)
76
Sri Lanka
65,610 (25,330)
62,732 (24,221)
77
Georgia
69,700 (26,900)
69,700 (26,900)
78
Ireland
70,273 (27,133)
68,883 (26,596)
79
Sierra Leone
71,740 (27,700)
71,620 (27,650)
80
Panama
75,417 (29,119)
74,340 (28,700)
81
Czech Republic
78,871 (30,452)
77,171 (29,796)
82
United Arab Emirates
83,600 (32,300)
83,600 (32,300)
83
Austria
83,871 (32,383)
82,445 (31,832)
84
Azerbaijan
86,600 (33,400)
86,100 (33,200)
85
Serbia
88,361 (34,116)
88,246 (34,072)
86
Jordan
89,342 (34,495)
88,802 (34,287)
87
Portugal
92,226 (35,609)
91,119 (35,181)
88
Hungary
93,028 (35,918)
89,608 (34,598)
89
South Korea
100,210 (38,690)
99,909 (38,575)
90
Iceland
103,000 (40,000)
100,250 (38,710)
91
Guatemala
108,889 (42,042)
107,159 (41,374)
92
Cuba
109,884 (42,426)
109,884 (42,426)
93
Bulgaria
111,002 (42,858)
108,612 (41,935)
94
Liberia
111,369 (43,000)
96,320 (37,190)
95
Honduras
112,492 (43,433)
111,890 (43,200)
96
Benin
114,763 (44,310)
114,305 (44,133)
97
Malawi
118,484 (45,747)
94,080 (36,320)
98
North Korea
120,540 (46,540)
120,538 (46,540)
99
Eritrea
125,000 (48,000)
125,000 (48,000)
100
Nicaragua
130,373 (50,337)
119,990 (46,330)
101
Greece
131,957 (50,949)
130,647 (50,443)
102
Tajikistan
143,100 (55,300)
141,510 (54,640)
103
Nepal
147,516 (56,956)
143,686 (55,477)
104
Bangladesh
148,460 (57,320)
134,208 (51,818)
105
Tunisia
163,610 (63,170)
155,360 (59,980)
106
Suriname
163,820 (63,250)
156,000 (60,000)
107
Uruguay
176,215 (68,037)
175,015 (67,574)
108
Cambodia
181,035 (69,898)
176,515 (68,153)
109
Syria
185,180 (71,500)
183,630 (70,900)
110
Senegal
196,722 (75,955)
192,530 (74,340)
111
Kyrgyzstan
199,951 (77,202)
191,801 (74,055)
112
Belarus
207,600 (80,200)
202,900 (78,300)
113
Guyana
214,969 (83,000)
196,849 (76,004)
114
Laos
236,800 (91,400)
230,800 (89,100)
115
Romania
238,397 (92,046)
231,291 (89,302)
116
Ghana
238,533 (92,098)
227,533 (87,851)
117
Uganda
241,550 (93,260)
197,100 (76,100)
118
United Kingdom
242,495 (93,628)
241,930 (93,410)
119
Guinea
245,857 (94,926)
245,717 (94,872)
120
Gabon
267,668 (103,347)
257,667 (99,486)
121
New Zealand
270,467 (104,428)
262,443 (101,330)
122
Burkina Faso
274,222 (105,878)
273,602 (105,638)
123
Ecuador
276,841 (106,889)
256,369 (98,985)
124
Philippines
300,000 (120,000)
298,170 (115,120)
125
Italy
301,339 (116,348)
294,140 (113,570)
126
Oman
309,500 (119,500)
309,500 (119,500)
127
Poland
312,696 (120,733)
311,888 (120,421)
128
Ivory Coast
322,463 (124,504)
318,003 (122,782)
129
Malaysia
330,803 (127,724)
329,613 (127,264)
130
Vietnam
331,212 (127,882)
310,070 (119,720)
131
Finland
338,425 (130,667)
303,816 (117,304)
132
Congo
342,000 (132,000)
341,500 (131,900)
133
Germany
357,114 (137,882)
348,672 (134,623)
134
Japan
377,976 (145,937)
364,546 (140,752)
135
Norway
385,207 (148,729)
365,957 (141,297)
136
Zimbabwe
390,757 (150,872)
386,847 (149,362)
137
Paraguay
406,752 (157,048)
397,302 (153,399)
138
Iraq
438,317 (169,235)
437,367 (168,868)
139
Morocco
446,550 (172,410)
446,300 (172,300)
140
Uzbekistan
447,400 (172,700)
425,400 (164,200)
141
Sweden
447,425 (172,752)
407,284 (157,253)
142
Papua New Guinea
462,840 (178,700)
452,860 (174,850)
143
Cameroon
475,442 (183,569)
472,710 (182,510)
144
Turkmenistan
488,100 (188,500)
469,930 (181,440)
145
Spain
505,992 (195,365)
498,980 (192,660)
146
Thailand
513,120 (198,120)
510,890 (197,260)
147
Yemen
555,000 (214,000)
555,000 (214,000)
148
Kenya
580,367 (224,081)
569,140 (219,750)
149
Botswana
581,730 (224,610)
566,730 (218,820)
150
Madagascar
587,041 (226,658)
581,540 (224,530)
151
Ukraine
603,550 (233,030)
579,300 (223,700)
152
Central African Republic
622,984 (240,535)
622,984 (240,535)
153
Somalia
637,657 (246,201)
627,337 (242,216)
154
France
640,679 (247,368)
640,427 (247,270)
155
South Sudan
644,329 (248,777)
644,329 (248,777)
156
Afghanistan
652,867 (252,073)
652,867 (252,073)
157
Myanmar
676,578 (261,228)
653,508 (252,321)
158
Zambia
752,612 (290,585)
743,398 (287,028)
159
Chile
756,102 (291,933)
743,812 (287,187)
160
Turkey
783,562 (302,535)
769,632 (297,157)
161
Mozambique
801,590 (309,500)
786,380 (303,620)
162
Namibia
825,615 (318,772)
823,290 (317,870)
163
Pakistan
881,913 (340,509)
856,690 (330,770)
164
Venezuela
916,445 (353,841)
882,050 (340,560)
165
Nigeria
923,768 (356,669)
910,768 (351,649)
166
Tanzania
945,087 (364,900)
885,800 (342,000)
167
Egypt
1,002,450 (387,050)
995,450 (384,350)
168
Mauritania
1,030,700 (398,000)
1,025,520 (395,960)
169
Bolivia
1,098,581 (424,164)
1,083,301 (418,265)
170
Ethiopia
1,104,300 (426,400)
1,096,630 (423,410)
171
Colombia
1,141,748 (440,831)
1,038,700 (401,000)
172
South Africa
1,221,037 (471,445)
1,214,470 (468,910)
173
Mali
1,240,192 (478,841)
1,220,190 (471,120)
174
Angola
1,246,700 (481,400)
1,246,700 (481,400)
175
Niger
1,267,000 (489,000)
1,266,700 (489,100)
176
Chad
1,284,000 (496,000)
1,259,200 (486,200)
177
Peru
1,285,216 (496,225)
1,279,996 (494,209)
178
Mongolia
1,564,110 (603,910)
1,553,556 (599,831)
179
Iran
1,648,195 (636,372)
1,531,595 (591,352)
180
Libya
1,759,540 (679,360)
1,759,540 (679,360)
181
Sudan
1,861,484 (718,723)
1,731,671 (668,602)
182
Indonesia
1,904,569 (735,358)
1,811,569 (699,451)
183
Mexico
1,964,375 (758,449)
1,943,945 (750,561)
184
Saudi Arabia
2,149,690 (830,000)
2,149,690 (830,000)
185
DR Congo
2,344,858 (905,355)
2,267,048 (875,312)
186
Algeria
2,381,741 (919,595)
2,381,741 (919,595)
187
Kazakhstan
2,724,900 (1,052,100)
2,699,700 (1,042,400)
188
Argentina
2,780,400 (1,073,500)
2,736,690 (1,056,640)
189
India
3,287,263 (1,269,219)
2,973,190 (1,147,960)
190
Australia
7,692,024 (2,969,907)
7,633,565 (2,947,336)
191
Brazil
8,515,767 (3,287,956)
8,460,415 (3,266,584)
192
United States
9,833,517 (3,796,742)
9,147,593 (3,531,905)
193
China
9,596,961 (3,705,407)
9,326,410 (3,600,950)
194
Canada
9,984,670 (3,855,100)
9,093,507 (3,511,023)
195
Russia
17,098,246 (6,601,670)
16,378,410 (6,323,740)
Source link : https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/the-smallest-countries-in-the-world.html
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Publish date : 2024-05-28 07:00:00
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