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10 smallest countries in Europe. Dwarf countries of Europe

There are several so-called dwarf states in Europe. All of them may not be as famous as their larger neighbors, but, nevertheless, they have no less interesting places per unit area.

1. Vatican (0.44 sq. km)

In principle, the Vatican is not a separate country, but has the status of an “Independent city of the state”, the head of which is the Pope. The population of the Vatican - 900 people - are representatives of the Catholic hierarchy. As for attractions, the Vatican is one big attraction.

2. Monaco (1.95 sq. km)

The next dwarf country is Monaco, surrounded on one side by French territory and on the other by the sea. Monaco has the highest population density and the lowest unemployment rate (0%!). The country is known for its gambling business and popularity among richest people peace.

3. San Marino (61 sq. km)

The tiny Principality of San Marino is the oldest existing independent state and monarchy, founded on September 3, 301. You can get to San Marino and see local attractions from Italy.

4. Liechtenstein (62 sq. km)

Liechtenstein is located between Switzerland and Austria. This country is known for having the lowest external debt in the world and also has good conditions For winter species sports Due to the special tax policy, offshore companies are often registered here.

5. Malta (316 sq. km)

The Republic of Malta occupies three islands located in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. The country attracts tourists as good place for seaside recreation and an abundance of historical attractions.

6. Andorra (468 sq. km)

Andorra is located in the Pyrenees on the border between Spain and France. Tourists are attracted here by excellent winter resorts and more modest prices for cigarettes, alcohol and electronics compared to other countries.

7. Luxembourg (2586 sq. km)

The Duchy of Luxembourg attracts tourists with interesting sights that have been preserved since the Middle Ages.

You rarely hear about these European countries in the news; they are small and barely visible on the map. Today we will look at photos of the dwarf countries of Europe and find out if there is anything interesting in them.

I selected the 6 smallest countries in Europe and collected the most interesting facts about them. I am sure that after reading this article you will want to visit one of these countries yourself. By the way, sending postcards from these mini-countries with local rare stamps is very popular among Europeans.

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Duchy of Luxembourg

The only surviving duchy in the world headed by a Grand Duke.
It ranks second in the world in terms of GDP per capita, three times higher than the European average.
It ranks second in the world as a safe offshore zone after Switzerland.
The average salary of a Luxembourger is 3189 Euros per month.
There is only 1 university in the country.
40% of the country's population are immigrants, of which a third are Portuguese.
Luxembourg has won the Eurovision Song Contest 5 times.
The country has the most low level unemployment in Europe - 3.3%.
Luxembourg ranks first in Europe in terms of economic freedom.
In country 3 official language: German, French, and Luxembourgish.
Luxembourg is a founding member of NATO, the EU, the UN, and the Benelux.

The most convenient way to get to Luxembourg is by train or plane from Frankfurt am Main.

Principality of Liechtenstein

The license plates of cars from Liechtenstein contain the letters FL (which stands for Fürstentum Liechtenstein - Principality of Liechtenstein).
Low crime rate: the last murder in the country was committed in 2007.
It ranks 189th out of 194 countries in the world by area.
The name of the country comes from the name of the Liechtenstein dynasty that ruled it.
It is one of the top offshore companies in the world, which is why our millionaires and billionaires from Russia love to hide their money here.
Absolute monarchy.
The official currency of Liechtenstein is the Swiss franc.
The country has predominantly mountainous terrain, which makes it attractive for winter sports.
Most residents speak German.
Liechtenstein is part of the EU.
One of the most stable and richest economies in Europe and the world.
The highest average salary in Europe is more than 5,000 Euros!

There is no airport in Liechtenstein. Nearest major airport is located in Zurich, Switzerland. From Zurich to Liechtenstein you can travel by train or Postbus.

Republic of San Marino

A state within a state: the territory of San Marino is surrounded on all sides by Italy.
San Marino consists of the capital of the same name and 8 villages.
It is not a member of the EU or Eurozone, although the official currency of San Marino is the Euro.
Cars from San Marino have the letters RSM on their license plates.
San Marino is believed to be the oldest sovereign state in the entire world.
Athletes from San Marino took part in 12 summer and winter Olympic Games, but never won a medal.
There is no regular army here. The responsibility to defend San Marino rests with Italy.
The state has the oldest constitution in the world, which came into force back in 1600.
San Marino has no public debt, and is included in the list of the wealthiest countries in the world.
In total, 30,000 people live on the territory of the republic.
The official language is Italian.
Travel to San Marino from Italy is free; if you wish, for 5 Euros at the border you can put an entry stamp of the republic as a souvenir.
50% of GDP comes from tourism.
Since 1992 it has been a member of the UN.

There is no airport in San Marino. The closest airport to the republic is Rimini.

Principality of Monaco

The Principality of Monaco is the second smallest state in the world after the Vatican. Total area countries - only 2 km²!
The form of government is a constitutional monarchy. The dynasty of monarchs in Monaco is the oldest in Europe.
One of the most famous races in the world, the Monaco Grand Prix, is held here.
Mostly wealthy foreigners live here, and only 19% of the population are natives of Monaco.
Monte Carlo is home to the famous casino that James Bond visited. Residents of Monaco are prohibited from playing in the casino or even entering it! This entertainment is only for visitors.
The official currency of Monaco is the Euro.
Monaco can be reached on foot in 56 minutes.
There is no income tax in Monaco.
Real estate in Monaco is among the most expensive in the world (approx. 69,700 US dollars per 1 square meter).
Almost half of the people living here are French, and there are also quite a few large group made up of Italians and English.
Almost 20% of the country is land reclaimed from the sea. This is how the place of Fontvieille appeared.
There is only one university in Monaco where teaching is conducted in English.
Monaco has the most large number police officers per capita.
Monaco is not part of the EU.

Monaco cannot be reached by plane: there is no airport here. The easiest way is to fly to Nice and get to Monaco by train, bus, or car.

Vatican

State within a state: the Vatican territory is entirely located in Rome and is one of the.
The smallest state in the world, headed by the Pope. Its area is only 0.44 km²!
The state has its own flag and anthem.
The Vatican itself prints its own Euro and postage stamps. Significant income is generated by foreigners sending letters from the Vatican with stamps of this state.
Residents of Rome believe that the Vatican post office is much faster than the Italian post office.
The Vatican has only 800 residents, not all of whom are Vatican citizens. Most Vatican citizens live in diplomatic missions abroad.
The Vatican Museum has one of the largest collections of art in the world.
The Pope holds an audience every Wednesday morning, during which he addresses the public in several languages.
St. Peter's Basilica on the Vatican grounds is the largest Catholic cathedral in the world. The cathedral was built at the burial place of the Apostle Peter.
Secret underground paths lead from the Vatican to Rome, connecting the state with the Castel Sant'Angelo.
The Vatican has its own radio station, which broadcasts in 20 world languages.
Italians are allowed to pay 8% of their annual taxes to the Vatican.
High level of literacy of the population: almost everyone living in the Vatican speaks several European languages (Latin, Italian, English, French).
The Vatican and the Pope are guarded by the Swiss Guard.
The Vatican is the only generally recognized independent state that is not a member of the UN.
The Vatican Museums extend over 14 km. It will take you 4 years to view all the paintings if you allocate 1 minute to each of them.
At ATMs in the Vatican, in addition to the main European languages, you can choose Latin.

The nearest airport is Rome Airport.

Andorra's area is 291 km².
Catalan is spoken in Andorra, due to its proximity to the Spanish province of Catalonia.
Andorra lives mainly from tourism from neighboring Spain and France.
Andorra is one of the five countries in the world with the highest life expectancy.
The average here is 300 sunny days per year.
The country has no airports or railways, but a well-developed road network.
There is no regular army here, and the defense of the country is entrusted to Spain and France.
The capital, Andorra la Vella, is a popular ski resort.
The country is famous cigarette production, residents neighboring countries Traditionally people flock here for cheap cigarettes. There is a free customs zone here, however, when exporting alcohol and cigarettes from here, you must take into account that you may be checked by customs officers in Spain or France
Andorra does not have a national bank, and the official currency is the Euro, despite the fact that the country is not part of the Eurozone

The closest airports to Andorra are located in Barcelona and Girona.

Personally, from these countries I managed to visit Luxembourg on the way to Paris, Liechtenstein on the way from Switzerland to Austria, and the Vatican. I would really like to get to Monaco and the French Riviera. Have you been to any of these countries? If so, what did you like best there?

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These states are very small, but they are beautiful in their own way. And they also have their own laws, flag, government structure, they have diplomatic relations with other countries. TravelAsk brings to your attention the smallest countries in Europe.

What is a dwarf state

Typically, a dwarf state is a country that is characterized by a small area or population. Most often, their measure is Luxembourg: if the country’s area is smaller than the area of Luxembourg, then it is dwarf. Well, here the concepts differ with the population: for example, the UN considers dwarf states with a population of less than a million people, and the Commonwealth of Nations considers countries where the number of inhabitants does not exceed 1.5 million people.

The smallest states in Europe have a very small territory, small quantity residents, and their resources are limited. Therefore, special economic conditions have been created here: low taxes have been introduced, foreign investment has been limited, and many of the countries are part of a customs or currency union with their larger neighbors.

Of course, in the broad sense, some of these countries do not make social sense, that is, they do not govern society. So, for example, it has the status of a state, but it is an administrative center catholic church.

Order of Malta (0.012 sq. km)

This is the smallest country in Europe. True, not all states consider it a country. But, despite this, it maintains diplomatic relations with 104 countries (including Russia), where they print their currency and stamps, issue passports and even license plates. Moreover, the Order of Malta has observer status with the Council of Europe and the UN. We talked about this country in more detail.

The population is considered to be members of the Order of Malta; there are about 13 thousand of them. The dwarf state owns several mansions in Rome, as well as Fort Sant'Angelo in Malta.

Vatican City (0.44 sq. km)

In its essence it is close to the Order of Malta and has the status of a sovereign city-state. It is ruled by the Pope and has a population of just over 800 people. This is the smallest country officially recognized by all states.

Despite the fact that half the territory of the Vatican is occupied by a garden, there is something to admire here, because the world’s cultural masterpieces are collected here: the Cathedral of the Holy One, museums, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Library, which contains the largest collection of manuscripts from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Principality of Monaco (2.02 sq. km)

It also has the status of a city-state. On one side it is surrounded by the sea, and on the other. More than 37 thousand people live here, making the state the country with the highest population density. It also has the lowest unemployment rate in the world; moreover, there are approximately 45 thousand jobs in the country, which is more than the number of residents.

The country is ruled by Prince Albert II. very famous for its casino and attracts wealthy people. The principality has the most expensive real estate in the world (it is only surpassed in this parameter) and tourism has an elite specialization.

Republic of San Marino (61 sq. km)

The only Italian commune that has been sovereign since the Middle Ages. It is therefore one of the oldest constitutional monarchies in the world. Just imagine, it was founded in 301! The country is located in the Apennine Mountains, and it was precisely because of its remoteness that it was not annexed to Italy.

32 thousand people live in the country. It is visited by about 3 million tourists annually and is an easy day trip from Italy.

Principality of Liechtenstein (160 sq. km)

Liechtenstein is located in the Alps. This is the only surviving state that was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It is located between Austria and Switzerland; it was the location of the principality that contributed to the fact that the country was not absorbed German Empire.

The capital of Liechtenstein, Vaduz, does not have an airport, but despite this, tourism is still very developed here.

Republic of Malta (316 sq. km)

This is an archipelago of several islands, the largest and most famous of them are Comino. This territory was inhabited back in the 8th century BC: it has always attracted conquerors, since the islands were on the way from Europe to Asia and Africa.

Tourists come here all year round: it is warm and comfortable even in winter.

More than 400 thousand people live in the republic, which makes the country one of the most populated among dwarf states.

Principality of Andorra (468 sq. km)

Located in the Pyrenees, between Spain and France, it attracts millions of travelers every year. Tourists in Spain and France do not even need a visa to visit the country. Moreover, tourism constitutes the main income of the state.

Gained independence back in the 13th century, today 70 thousand people live on its territory.

Duchy of Luxembourg (2,586 sq. km)

More than 570 thousand people live in Luxembourg. The Duchy neighbors Germany, Belgium and France and has many attractions. And also here high level life, the country is one of the richest in Europe.

Historically, humanity strives to divide the vast expanses of our planet into separate pieces. Over the course of thousands of years of conquest, each nation secured its own territories - some more, some less.

Most titles large countries We studied it in school, but few people remember about these states. They do not have huge armies or natural deposits, but are known for their tiny area. This collection contains the 10 smallest countries in the whole world!

10 Maldives

This ranking of countries is headed in descending order. Among the top tiny countries they have the most large area- 298 km². But in terms of population density, this state can compete with any big country- More than 400 thousand people live here in such an area.

The Maldives consists of 26 atolls, which in turn are a chain of 1,192 coral islets. The only city in the Maldives is Male, which is also the capital of this country. This amazing archipelago is a unique ecosystem with reefs, various types fish and marine organisms.

9 Saint Kitts and Nevis

This small country covers an area of 261 km² and consists of two islands - Saint Kitts and Nevis. It is located in the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea and has the title of the smallest state in the Western Hemisphere. The population of Saint Kitts and Nevis is small - only 50 thousand people.

The state is well known among tourists and the income from this destination accounts for more than 70% of the country's GDP per year. Sugar cane and shellfish are also processed here. The largest city in this country, and also the capital, is populated by 11 thousand people. Saint Kitts and Nesiv have their own army of 300 people.

8 Marshall Islands

The Republic of the Marshall Islands covers an area of 181.3 km² of land. It is located in the western part Pacific Ocean and is a chain of atoll islands. These islands were discovered in 1526 by Alonso de Salazar, and for many centuries they were transferred as a colony from one country to another.

These days, these 34 atoll islands are a real paradise. The territory of the republic has a unique odds and fauna, which, by the way, was almost destroyed by man. The Americans tested a hydrogen bomb here in the mid-20th century. The explosion was so powerful that it was 1000 times larger than Hiroshima. However, local residents managed to slowly restore the ecosystem of the islands.

7 Liechtenstein

The European Principality of Liechtenstein is tiny in size and very famous in the world. Despite its area of 160 km², this state has a very powerful economy and developed industry. It can serve as an example for many powers due to its unique system of government so that people lived very well here.

Liechtenstein is located in the Alps and borders Switzerland and Austria. The country's name comes from ruling dynasty, which has been governing together with the Landtag for many years. The population of this European country is small - about 36 thousand people.

6 San Marino

In sixth place in our ranking is the state of San Marino, which has an area of 60 km². It is unique in its location - it borders on Italy on all sides. The name of the country was formed from the name of the saint who founded it according to ancient legend- stonecutter Marin.

At modern borders San Marino is considered the most ancient state in Europe, it was founded in 301. Almost the entire territory of the country (80%) is the foothills of the Apennines, so there is practically no arable land here. The country's population is 33 thousand people in such a small area. This country has many unique architectural monuments on its territory.

5 Tuvalu

This small state in Polynesia has an area of 26 km². It consists of nine coral atolls, four of which make up the Tuvalu archipelago. The discoverer of the islands, Alvaro Mendaña de Neira, called them Lagoon Islands, but they only received the name Tuvalu in 1975.

This beautiful place, however, was ranked among the poorest countries as of 2016. The area of the islands is decreasing from year to year, so in 50 years, according to experts, Tuvalu may completely disappear from the face of the Earth as a state. The country's population according to the latest data is just over 12 thousand people.

4 Nauru

The dwarf state of Nauru covers an area of 21 km² and was very popular in the mid-20th century. Such popularity was ensured by phosphates, which filled the territory of this piece of land. But these days, all that remains of the phosphates are dilapidated mines, and the ecology of the country has been irrevocably damaged, even for tourism.

Like the islands of Tuvalu, Nauru is located near the Republic of Kiribati and lies 42 km south of the equator. This country has no official capital and a population of only 10 thousand people. But, unlike Tuvalu, this dwarf country has again begun to develop its economy and increase its birth rate.

3 Monaco

The third place in our ranking is occupied by the well-known European principality of Monaco. Probably everyone has heard about it, despite the fact that it occupies only 2.02 km². The legendary Monaco Grand Prix race is held here, and the casino in Monte Carlo is very famous among gambling enthusiasts.

The population of Monaco (with such and such an area!) is 38 thousand people. This is a lot, but such popularity has its own explanation. For a long time there was no taxation in Monaco, so many businessmen, wealthy foreigners settled here and founded large companies. Monaco is governed by Prince Albert II, assisted by a national council.

2 Vatican

The Vatican State, with its tiny area of 0.44 km², is a very powerful state that has ruled the destinies of many countries for many centuries. The country's population is equal to the number of employees - 836 people. At the same time, the Vatican has no economy, and the country’s budget is replenished only through numerous donations from Catholic organizations.

Here is the residence of the Pope - the heart of the Catholic Church. The state is located inside Rome and is directly associated with Italy. But despite the proximity, the Vatican gained its independence in 1929 and has been an independent country ever since. It rightfully holds the title of the smallest country in the world, but there is another state that deserves attention.

1 Order of Malta

And the first place in this list is occupied by the state, which some countries do not recognize as a separate state unit. It's about about the Order of Malta with a territory of 0.012 km². This Order has about 13,000 members who have national passports and use their own currency.

Not all countries recognize the sovereignty of the Order of Malta and consider it only at the level of diplomatic relations. Largest city The Order is Fort Sant'Angelo, which the country leases from Malta. Apart from the shaky recognition of this sovereignty, the Order is the smallest state in the world.

All these dwarf states rightfully take their place in the ranking of the smallest countries. They are unique and distinctive, and most of them, despite their small territory, are prosperous countries.

It is believed that the economy of European countries is better than many Central Asian and African ones. But there are also countries in Europe whose economic growth is at a low level. Among such countries we can note the republics former USSR and Yugoslavia. The following are the poorest countries in Europe in 2018, Top 10 rating.

1. Ukraine

Torn apart by internal problems, Ukraine now ranks first on the list of poorest countries European countries for 2018. The tourist center - Crimea, today “de facto” belongs to Russia. Most mines are closed or do not transfer funds for coal to Kyiv. The situation is also deplorable with agriculture, which, thanks to the climate, has always enjoyed great popularity in the region.

On at the moment There are no prerequisites for the recovery of the Ukrainian economy. GDP growth depends primarily on the resolution of the conflict in Donbass. And only after this will it be possible to draw conclusions about whether this country will be able to overcome all the problems and turn the economy back.

2. Belarus

This former Soviet republic ranks 73rd in the world in terms of GDP. The government of Belarus failed to reduce the decline in domestic demand and the growth of household debt. Officially, unemployment in the country is minimal. But the labor market is constantly shaken by various negative phenomena.

The government of this country, together with its permanent leader, is looking for ways to increase economic growth and development. Not long ago, Lukashenko declared Belarus a cryptocurrency mecca. The most interesting thing is that after this the market for new digital currencies collapsed. But if it recovers, and companies involved in cryptocurrency move their representative offices to Minsk, then Belarus may well become the new Singapore.

3. Moldova

This former Soviet republic is now considered by many to be the poorest country in Europe. Moldova is lucky with its climate, which has allowed it to create a successful agricultural sector. But its technologies are irrevocably outdated and require updates, which in turn cannot be done without investment.

Political infighting has a negative impact on economic growth. This has led to a fifth of the population living below the poverty line.

The tourism sector and winemaking can become a good driver of the Moldovan economy. Today there are about 200 wineries in the country. But to solve problems in the economy of this country, not only reforms are needed, but also the consolidation of society.

4. Russia

It is not surprising, but Russia entered the top 10 most underdeveloped countries in Europe. The country is gradually rebuilding its economy. After the collapse of the USSR, the planned economy was replaced by a market economy. The transition was very painful, but we managed to cope with it. Helped high price for oil. Today the country again has to adapt to changing external factors. The government is implementing a major import substitution program, which has already been able to produce positive results.

It is impossible to give a forecast for Russia's GDP growth today. The development of the country's economy greatly depends on the presidential election. And if their outcome is beyond doubt, then it is difficult to give a forecast for the actions of the elected president, as well as partners.

Today we have managed to decouple the state of the country’s economy from the price of oil. They are still dependent, but not so obvious. New gas pipelines are being built and major projects are being implemented. All this should affect the Russian economy in the near future. But the factor of sanctions has a much greater influence.

5. Türkiye

Turkey's economy is negatively affected internal problems and the war in neighboring Syria. But in the third quarter of last month, the country's economy grew faster than the top twenty countries in the world in terms of development, which can be noted as a very good signal for investors.

The World Bank forecast Turkey's GDP growth to 3.5% - 3.7% per coming years. In fact, this country can already be excluded from this rating today. Türkiye has large production capacities, an excellent tourist climate and successful geographical location, which allows the Turkish economy to look into the future with optimism.

6. Serbia

The Serbian economy has a fairly strong foundation. 60% of GDP comes from the service sector, 20% each from industry and agriculture. The country's economic growth collapsed after NATO bombing, which destroyed part of the infrastructure. Serbia has still not recovered from this. The level of gross domestic product is in 74th place in the world.

7. Macedonia

The economy of this European country suffered more than others after the collapse of Yugoslavia. At the moment, Macedonia ranks 118th in terms of GDP. Landlockedness has been replaced by highways and railway. They connect Bulgaria, Albania, Greece and Serbia with each other. Freight transit brings good income.

The country is heavily dependent on agricultural sector. This makes it difficult to increase Macedonia's economic growth. The smoldering interethnic conflict has a negative impact on attracting investment. Only by solving it will the government be able to carry out reforms aimed at improving the economic sector.

8. Bulgaria

The country ranks 14th in the ranking of European countries by area. There is only $14,200 of GDP per inhabitant of Bulgaria. Things are better in the Black Sea region, where the tourism infrastructure is well developed. The country joined the EU very late. In addition to the tourism sector, agriculture is well developed in Bulgaria.

The reforms helped the Bulgarian economy show significant growth. But the economic crisis again set the country back several years. The EU's ban on growing a popular Bulgarian crop, oriental tobacco, also damaged the economy. Some regions of this country directly depended on the harvest of this plant.

9. Albania

For a long time, Albania and its economy depended on the power of the USSR. When the colossus collapsed, this country began to represent itself. Albania was choked by the activities of organized crime, and a large number of the working population moved to Italy and Greece.

In terms of GDP, Albania ranks 96th in the world. More than half of the treasury's income comes from agriculture. Other sources of income for this country are: mining and oil refining, metallurgy and the service sector.

10. Bosnia and Herzegovina

The country from the former union state of Yugoslavia, with a population of 4 million, was unable to build its economy after receiving sovereign status. Approximately 700 thousand people live below the poverty line. Bosnia and Herzegovina is an agricultural country. About 50% of the entire territory is farmed out to arable land, vineyards, vegetable gardens and pastures.