The smallest countries in the world are places you can explore in your next vacation if you want less congested environments. They have fewer populations; the country with the largest number of people among them is Dominica while the smallest is Vatican City.
Here are the smallest countries in the world as listed by BBC Science Focus Magazine:
1. Vatican City
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world with an estimated 517 people. It is an independent nation founded in 1929 at the time Roman Catholicism became a special status in Italy. The major and famous landmark sites in the country are St. Peter’s Square, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica.
2. Tuvalu
Tuvalu is a small country in the west-central Pacific Ocean. It has nine small coral Islands dispersed over 676 km. Tuvalu became an independent country in 1978 and currently has a population of 11,387.
3. Nauru
Nauru is a tiny Island in Oceania. It has a population of 12,769 people which makes it the third smallest country in the world. Nauru gained independence in 1968. The country is 4000 kilometres northeast of Sydney.
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4. Palau
Palau has been an ancient micro-country since 1000 BC. The country gained sovereignty in 1994 but had its constitution in 1981. Palau comprises 340 Islands with a total land area of 459 kilometres square. The country has a population of 18,058 people.
5. San Marino
San Marino is a republic mountainous country situated on the side of central Italy with about 33,644 citizens. It has a total land area of 61 kilometres square. San Marino is the oldest republic in the world.
6. Monaco
Monaco is an independent nation with a total land area of 2 kilometres square. Its population is around 37,000. The country is well known for its casinos and playgrounds for the rich and famous.
7. Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a small country in Europe with about 40,000 people living there. This country is famous for its mountainous landscape and views. The foothills in Liechtenstein comprise two-thirds of the nation’s total land area, 160 kilometres square.
8. Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands is in Oceania and it comprises five major Islands with a total land area of 181 kilometres square. This Island has been existing since 2000 BC. It was granted independence by the United States in 1979 after being ruled by Germany, Japan, and Spain.
9. Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis is known as the smallest independent country in the Western Hemisphere. The country has a land area of 261 kilometres square with an estimated 47,745 population. Saint Kitts and Nevis is a tropical nation that attracts tourists.
10. Dominica
Dominica is not the same as the Dominican Republic. Dominica is located between Puerto Rico , Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. It has about 73,006 people living there. After years of being colonised by the Europeans, Dominica became an independent country.
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