Monaco
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling GRIMALDI family first seized control in 1297 but was not able to permanently secure its holding until 1419. Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation center.

geography

location

43.44° N, 7. 24° E
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

area

2 sq km
land
2 sq km
water
0 sq km

land boundaries

6 km

coastline

4.1 km

climate

Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

terrain

hilly, rugged, rocky

elevation

lowest point
Mediterranean Sea
0
highest point
Chemin des Revoires on Mont Agel
162

land use

  • arable land
  • permanent crops
  • permanent pasture
  • forest
  • other

population distribution

the second most densely populated country in the world (after Macau); its entire population living on 2 square km

people

population

  • 39,000
  • 214
    global rank

nationality

  • Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
    noun
  • Monegasque or Monacan
    adjective

ethnic groups

Monegasque
32.1 %
French
19.9 %
Italian
15.3 %
British
5 %
Belgian
2.3 %
Swiss
2 %
German
1.9 %
Russian
1.8 %
American
1.1 %
Dutch
1.1 %
Moroccan
1 %
other
16.6 %

languages

  • French
    official
  • English
  • Italian
  • Monegasque

religions

Roman Catholic
90 %
other
10 %

birth rate

  • 6.4
    per 1,000 population
  • 229
    global rank

death rate

  • 10.8
    per 1,000 population
  • 24
    global rank

urban population

100 %

major urban areas

  • Monaco
    pop. 39,000

life expectancy

  • 89.3
    total population
  • 1
    global rank
85.4
male
93.3
female

government

country name

    conventional

  • Principality of Monaco
    long form
  • Monaco
    short form

    local

  • Principaute de Monaco
    long form
  • Monaco
    short form

government type

constitutional monarchy

capital

Monaco
43.44 N, 7.25 E

independence

national holidays

  • National Day
    19 November

legal system

civil law system influenced by French legal tradition

age of suffrage

18

flag description

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; the colors are those of the ruling House of Grimaldi and have been in use since 1339, making the flag one of the world's oldest national banners

national colors

  • red
  • white

national anthem

"A Marcia de Muneghu" (The March of Monaco)

economy

overview

Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a banking center and has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. Monaco, however, is not a tax-free shelter; it charges nearly 20% value-added tax, collects stamp duties, and companies face a 33% tax on profits unless they can show that three-quarters of profits are generated within the principality. Monaco was formally removed from the OECD's "grey list" of uncooperative tax jurisdictions in late 2009, but continues to face international pressure to abandon its banking secrecy laws and help combat tax evasion. In October 2014, Monaco officially became the 84th jurisdiction participating in the OECD’s Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, an effort to combat offshore tax avoidance and evasion. Monaco's reliance on tourism and banking for its economic growth has left it vulnerable to downturns in France and other European economies which are the principality's main trade partners. In 2009, Monaco's GDP fell by 11.5% as the euro-zone crisis precipitated a sharp drop in tourism and retail activity and home sales. A modest recovery ensued in 2010 and intensified in 2013, with GDP growth of more than 9%, but Monaco's economic prospects remain uncertain.

GDP

7,672,000,000 USD
2015

budget

  • 896,300,000
    revenue (USD)
  • 953,600,000
    expenditures (USD)

communications

telephones

    fixed lines

  • 43,374
    total subscriptions
  • 161
    global rank

    mobile cellular

  • 32,689
    total subscriptions
  • 208
    global rank

broadcast media

TV Monte-Carlo operates a TV network; cable TV available; Radio Monte-Carlo has extensive radio networks in France and Italy with French-language broadcasts to France beginning in the 1960s and Italian-language broadcasts to Italy beginning in the 1970s; other radio stations include Riviera Radio and Radio Monaco

internet

.mc
country code

    users

  • 29,821
    total
  • 97.05
    % of population
  • 204
    global rank

energy

electricity access

100%
2016

transportation

air transport

military

This entry doesn't have any available military data.