Top 10 Smallest Countries In the World

Vatican City Cathedral Panorama

World Ranking - Many of us think that the word of "country" is a vast land with a large population. There are around 196 countries that stretch in this world. But of the many countries, there are small countries that are no more than a city in another country. Some even have the size of a village in another country, and maybe smaller.

Some of these small countries are considered as rich countries, the most beautiful countries or even very remote countries. The following is a list of the 10 smallest countries in the world:

10. Malta - 316 sq. Km

Malta is an island country in Southern Europe consisting of three islands namely Gozo, Comino and Malta. This country is located in the Mediterranean sea, south of Italy, east of Tunisia and north of Libya. Malta only has an area of 316 square kilometers with a population of around 450,000 people. The capital of Malta is the Valletta city. The national language is Maltese, while the official language is English.

9. Maldives - 300 sq. Km

Maldives is the smallest country in Asia in terms of area and population. Maldives is an archipelago consisting of a collection of atolls (coral islands that surround a lagoon) located in the Indian Ocean. There are more than 1,192 coral islands in Maldives, spread over 90,000 square kilometers, making it one of the most scattered countries in the world. The Maldivian economy depends on two main sectors, namely Tourism and Fisheries. The capital of Maldives is Male city, and the official language is Divehi.

8. Saint Kitts and Nevis - 261 sq. Km

Saint Kitts and Nevis is a two island federation located on the Leeward islands, Caribbean. This country is the first islands in the Caribbean that are visited by Europeans. Saint Kitts was home to the first British and French settlement in the Caribbean. The country's economy depends on the tourism, agriculture and small manufacturing industries. The capital of Saint Kitts and Nevis is Basseterre city, while the official language is English.

7. Marshall Islands - 181 sq. Km

Marshall Islands is a small island country located in the western Pacific Ocean. This country is in the middle between Hawaii and Australia. Most of the area is surrounded by the ocean. The capital of the Marshall Islands is Majuro city, while the official language is Marshall and English.

6. Liechtenstein - 160 sq. Km

Liechtenstein is a princely country that is confined by dual land and is the only country in the world that is entirely located in the Alps. The country is located on the banks of the Rhine between Switzerland and Austria. Although it only has a very small area, Liechtenstein is included in the list of the richest countries in the world with a very high GDP per capita and the lowest unemployment rate. The capital city of Liechtenstein is Vaduz city, and the official language is German.

5. San Marino - 61 sq. Km

San Marino is the fifth smallest country in the world and third in Europe. The country is located in the Italian state, bordering the province of Rimini, the Emilia-Romagna region to the north, and the provinces of Pesaro and Urbino, the Marche region to the south. San Marino is the oldest constitutional republic in the world. This country is also a rich country with a high GDP per capita and a low unemployment rate. The capital of San Marino is San Marino city, and the official language is Italian.

4. Tuvalu - 26 sq. Km

Tuvalu was once known as the Ellice islands, is an islands country located in the Pacific Ocean to the northeast of Australia. The country's population of 10,000 people with a land area of only 26 square kilometers makes it the third most populous sovereign country in the world. This country was once a territory of Great Britain (England), but later became independent in 1978. The capital of Tuvalu is Funafuti city, the official language used is Tuvalu and English, and the applicable currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD).

3. Nauru - 21 sq. Km

Nauru, formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country located in the Pacific Ocean to the northeast of Australia. Nauru is the smallest island country in the world. In 1960s to 1970s, Nauru was a rich country with abundant phosphate mining. But now the phosphate reserves are exhausted, so they turn out to be poor country with very high unemployment rates (90%), and the remaining 10% are employed by the government. As a result of mistakes in managing mining, finally Nauru is currently hit by serious environmental problems. The capital of Nauru is Yaren, and the official language is the language of Nauru and English.

2. Monaco - 2 sq. Km

Monaco is a sovereign city state bordering France on three sides, and one side by Mediterranean Sea. With a country that is only 2.02 square km and the population reaching 37,000 makes it the second smallest and most densely populated country in the world. Known for gambling and its luxury goods and services industry, Monaco is a favorite playground for the rich and famous. The capital of this country is Monaco city, and the official language used is French.

Related article: Top 10 Largest Countries in the World

1. Vatican City - 0.44 sq. Km

The Vatican City State is the smallest independent country in the world by land area. Vatican is an enclosure surrounded by walls in the Rome city, Italy. This country is also known as the Holy See, and is the center of the world Catholic Church. The main economy of the Vatican City is quite unique because it is supported by non-commercial activities, which come from voluntary contributions of more than 1 billion members of the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world. The rest comes from stamp sales, tourist mementos and museum entrance fees. The capital of Vatican is Vatican City, and the official language is Italian and Latin.