Monaco
Monaco is the second smallest country in the world, small enough to walk across in under an hour, and it is the most densely populated.
- CapitalMonacoThe country and the city are the same thing
- PopulationAbout 39,000The most densely populated country on Earth
- Area2.08 km2Second smallest country in the world
- Ruling familyGrimaldi since 1297One of the oldest ruling houses in Europe
Monaco is a city-state on the French Riviera, squeezed between steep hills and the Mediterranean. It is only about 2 km2, and it has grown some of that by reclaiming land from the sea. Because space is so scarce, it builds upwards and underground.
The Grimaldi family has ruled Monaco since 1297, when Francesco Grimaldi took the fortress disguised as a monk. That makes it one of the longest-ruling dynasties in Europe.
National symbols
- National colours Red and white
- National anthem Hymne Monegasque (Translation: Monegasque Anthem)
- National day Sovereign Prince's Day, 19 November
- Patron saint Saint Devota
Map of Monaco
Geography
Monaco covers just 2.08 km2 and borders only France, with the Mediterranean Sea on its other side. It is around 2 km long and in places only 350 m wide.
The land rises steeply from the sea to about 160 m at its highest point. Around 20 per cent of the country's current area is land reclaimed from the sea, and further reclamation projects continue because there is nowhere else to build.
Climate
Monaco has a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers around 26C to 30C and very mild winters that rarely drop below 8C.
It gets around 300 days of sunshine a year and very little rain, mostly in autumn and winter. The hills behind shelter it from northerly winds, which is why the Riviera became a winter resort for wealthy Europeans in the 1800s.
Culture
French is the official language. Monegasque, a dialect related to Ligurian Italian, is taught in schools to keep it alive but is spoken by only a few thousand people.
Native Monegasques make up only around 20 to 30 per cent of the residents; the rest are French, Italian and other nationalities. Around 90 per cent of the population is Catholic. The Monte Carlo Casino, opened in 1863, is a national institution, though Monegasque citizens are forbidden to gamble there.
Economy
Monaco has no income tax for residents, which has drawn wealthy individuals and businesses. Banking, wealth management and real estate are the largest sectors.
Tourism is the other pillar, built on the casino, the Grand Prix, the yacht harbour and the Riviera setting. Property in Monaco is among the most expensive per square metre anywhere in the world.
The flag
Two equal horizontal bands, red above and white below. The colours come from the heraldic colours of the Grimaldi family, used since the 1300s.
It is essentially identical to the flag of Indonesia, which is only slightly different in proportions, and it is the reverse of Poland's. Monaco raised the point when Indonesia became independent in 1945, but Indonesia kept its design.