Category Geography

               Landlocked San Marino is world’s fifth smallest country. It is a small republic situated on the slopes of Mount Titano, and surrounded on all sides by the Republic of Italy. It is the smallest independent state in Europe after the Vatican City and Monaco and, until the independence of Nauru (1968), the smallest republic in the world.

               San Marino claims to be the oldest surviving sovereign state in the world, and is also one of the wealthiest in terms of GDP per capita. It has a population of only 30,000. The country boasts of one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world.

               Tourism dominates the economy of the 61 square kilometres republic, which plays host to more than three million visitors every year. The official language of the country is Italian. Its capital is the City of San Marino and its largest city is Serravalle.

               The currency of the country is the Euro. The country’s economy mainly relies on finance, industry, services and tourism. It is among the wealthiest countries in the world in terms of GDP (per capita). It is the only country with more vehicles than people!

            A German-speaking country, this is the only nation in the world to be completely located in the Alps.

            Liechtenstein is located between Switzerland and Austria. It is a constitutional monarchy ruled by the hereditary princes of the house of Liechtenstein. The country’s capital is Vaduz. The country has only about 37,000 people in roughly 160.5 square kilometres. There is no airport within its borders. Visitors must go through Switzerland’s Zurich Airport to reach this Alpine country. Liechtenstein has one of the world’s lowest crime rates.

            Liechtenstein has no natural resources of commercial value, and virtually all raw materials, including wood, have to be imported.

            Despite its small size and limited national resources, Liechtenstein is one of the richest countries in the world, on a per capita GDP basis.

            It has developed since the 1940s from a mainly agricultural, to an industrialized country and a prosperous centre of trade and tourism. In 1921, Liechtenstein adopted the Swiss franc as its currency. Tourism is a leading sector of Liechtenstein’s economy.

               Comprising over a thousand flat coral islands of white sand beaches and turquoise lagoons, The Marshall Islands, are immensely luring to tourists as a tropical paradise. The Marshall Islands are located near the equator in the Pacific Ocean. Geographically, the country is part of the larger island group of Micronesia. Majuro is the political and economic centre of the Marshall Islands.

               The Marshall Islands were claimed by Spain in 1592, but were left undisturbed by the Spanish Empire for 300 years. In 1885, Germany took over the administration of the Marshall Islands, and located trading stations.

               At the beginning of World War I, Japan assumed control of the Marshall Islands. During World War II, the United States conquered the islands in 1944.

               The government is the largest employer in the country, employing about one quarter of the workforce. The gross domestic product is derived mainly from US-funded expenditures. The country uses the US dollar as its currency.

               Saint Kitts and Nevis is the eighth smallest country in the world by area. This island country in the West Indies is located in the Leeward Islands chain of the Lesser Antilles.

               Saint Kitts and Nevis were among the first islands in the Caribbean to be settled by Europeans. The country has also been titled ‘The Mother Colony of the West Indies’. The official language of the country is English, and the currency is the East Caribbean dollar.

               The country has been a major sugar exporter for centuries. Since independence in 1983, the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis has been an independent member of the Commonwealth, with the British monarch as its head of state. An appointed governor-general represents the crown.

               The islands have a combined land area of 261 square kilometres, making it the smallest sovereign country in the Americas. The country has a population of 52,000 inhabitants. Capital city is Basseterre.

               The smallest country in Asia, the Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean, and is home to approximately 427,000 people. Known for its luxurious resorts, stunning white sandy beaches, and amazing crystal-clear turquoise waters, the Maldives is a tourist haven. It consists of a chain of about 26 atolls and sandbanks, grouped in clusters, or atolls.

               The country was once the colony of many empires, the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British, but became an independent country in 1965. Comprising a territory spanning roughly 298 square kilometres, the Maldives is one of the world’s most geographically dispersed countries.

               Male is the capital city, is also the most populated city. Maldives was a member of commonwealth until October 2016 when they withdrew in protest of international criticism of its records in relation to corruption and human rights. The Maldivian rufiyaa is the currency of the Maldives. The official language is Dhivehi (or Maldivian).

            Malta is a Southern European island country consisting of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea.

            The Republic of Malta is actually made up of three islands: Gozo, Comino, and Malta, which is the largest of the three. This small country has a population of over 410,000 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.

            The British ruled Malta until 1964, when it became independent. The capital of Malta is Valletta, is the smallest national capital in the European Union by area. Valletta is one of the most concentrated historical areas in the world. Malta has one national language, which is Maltese, and English is used as an official language.

            Malta’s location in the middle of the Mediterranean has historically given it great strategic importance as a naval base. There are more than a few sunken World War II ships along the coastline. It was heavily bombarded by German and Italian aircraft, and by the end of the World War, Malta was devastated.