FX.co ★ Top 10 smallest countries around the world

Malta (316 sq. km)

Malta, a favorite tourist destination, tops the lists. Malta is the largest of the three major islands that form the Maltese archipelago. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea, consists of seven Islands, and only two of them are inhabited. Travelers note that you can walk around three cities in 15 minutes along the Maltese seafront. Despite its tiny size and declared neutrality, Malta has its own army units.

Maldives (298 sq. km)

The Maldives, located in the Indian Ocean, is famous for its terrestrial landscapes. The Maldives is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the flattest country in the world. The Villingili island with a height of 2.4 m. is considered the highest point of the archipelago, consisting of 1,190 coral Islands. In the Maldives, only 200 islands are inhabited, the rest are wild. The state religion is Islam. Thus, local residents are prohibited from selling and buying alcohol and keeping dogs.

Saint Kitts and Nevis (261 sq. km)

This state consists of two islands where the population does not exceed 50,000. To improve the efficiency of the economy, the island authorities offer citizenship to everyone. The main condition for obtaining it is high solvency. Citizenship of Saint Kitts and Nevis can be obtained for investments and for the purchase of real estate. However, many potential buyers refrain from buying any property due to the country's higher crime rate compared to the entire Caribbean region.

Marshall Islands (181 sq. km)

The Marshall Islands includes several mini islands. Curiously enough, Bikini, an atoll in the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands, is the place where the United States conducted its first nuclear tests in 1946. This has had a negative impact on the health of residents of the Marshall Islands: many of them suffer from cancer, thyroid diseases, and tumors caused by radiation. Experts say that even magnificent natural landscapes cannot hide these devastating consequences.

Principality of Liechtenstein (157 sq. km)

Among the dwarf states, Liechtenstein is considered to be one of the most prosperous industrial countries with high standards of living. In 2009, the country's GDP reached an impressive $139,000 per capita. As a result, the Principality came out on top in terms of the level of well-being of the population. In Liechtenstein, there are very few police officers (only 120 people), but they are quite enough to maintain law and order. According to analysts, the crime rate here is close to zero. The Principality of Liechtenstein is an independent state that is not a member of either the European Union or NATO.

San Marino (61 sq. km)

San Marino is one of the oldest states in Europe, founded in 301 AD. The country is located in the South-West of the Monte Titano mountain range (738 m above sea level), in the foothills of the Apennines. Rock massifs cover almost 80% of the territory of San Marino. It retains its sovereignty and is not a member of either NATO or the EU. The official currency is the euro, although the San Marino Lira was in circulation until 2002. The captains regent are the two heads of state who are elected for six months.

Tuvalu (26 sq km)

Tuvalu, located in the Pacific Ocean, consists of many atolls and islands. The rise in the level of the World's Oceans poses a major threat to the country. If it happens, the lowlands of Tuvalu may be under water. There are no railways on the island but there are two schools – primary and higher. In 1978, the country gained independence from the United Kingdom, although Queen Elizabeth II is still considered the head of state. Tuvalu's main problem is the lack of fresh water. Therefore, local residents have to collect rainwater from roofs and store it in concrete tanks.

Nauru (21 sq. km)

Nauru is the world's smallest island nation. Previously, the island had huge reserves of phosphorites. Now they are depleted. The main foreign trade partners of Nauru were Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Since the mineral resources dwindled, their trading relations were broken off. During the extraction of phosphorites, 90% of woodlands were destroyed. As a result, about 80% of the territory of Nauru turned into a desert. Currently, the country has a very high level of unemployment (80%) and obesity (95% of overweight citizens). There is no public transport in Nauru, but it has 40 km of roads and its own airline.

Monaco (2.02 sq. km)

One of the smallest European States, the Principality of Monaco, attracts tourists from all over the world with its breathtaking landscapes and high standard of living. In Monaco, there is no income tax, and the level of social security is quite high. The life expectancy here is also praiseworthy - 89 years. The population density in the country does not exceed 18,679 people per square km. The Monegasque army consists of 82 people. In Monaco, there is the popular "Oceanographic Museum of Monaco", whose director was once Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the famous explorer of the deep sea.

Vatican City (0.44 sq. km)

The Vatican closes the top 10 smallest territories in the world. Experts consider it a state within a state. The Vatican has the shortest railway in the world. The population density in the country is half that of the Russian capital, Moscow, while the level of militarization is three times higher than in North Korea. The number of people who have the citizenship of this microstate does not exceed 594, namely 71 cardinals, 109 members of the guard, and 52 members of the Catholic clergy. The Vatican authorities are trying to keep up with the times. In Arizona (USA), at the top of Mount Graham, scientists from the Vatican conduct astronomical research using a powerful telescope.