1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 1.95 sq km land: 1.95 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Coastline
4.1 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Environment-current issues
NA
Environment-international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
43 44 N, 7 24 E
Geography-note
second smallest independent state in world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
total: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (urban area)
Location
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
none
Terrain
hilly, rugged, rocky
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 17% (male 2,730; female 2,659) 15-64 years: 64% (male 9,934; female 10,463) 65 years and over: 19% (male 2,300; female 3,949) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
10.71 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
11.86 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Infant mortality rate
6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.41 years male: 74.79 years female: 82.21 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
NA
Nationality
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Net migration rate
5.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
32,035 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
0.4% (1998 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 95%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.7 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
4 quarters (quartiers, singular-quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo
Constitution
17 December 1962
Country name
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco conventional short form: Monaco local long form: Principaute de Monaco local short form: Monaco
Data code
MN
Executive branch
chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since 9 May 1949); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre (born 14 March 1958) head of government: Minister of State Michel LEVEQUE (since 3 February 1997) cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the prince elections: none; the prince is a hereditary monarch; minister of state appointed by the prince from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government
Flag description
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red
Government type
constitutional monarchy
Independence
1419 (rule by the House of Grimaldi)
International organization participation
ACCT, ECE, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: Monaco does not have an embassy in the US consulate(s): New York honorary consulate(s) general: Boston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) honorary consulate(s): Dallas, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France) is accredited to Monaco
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme, judges named by the prince on the basis of nominations by the National Council Political parties and leaders: National and Democratic Union or UND [Jean-Louis CAMPORA]
Legal system
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral National Council or Conseil National (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 24 and 31 January 1993 (next to be held NA January 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-National and Democratic Union 15, other 3
National capital
Monaco
National holiday
National Day, 19 November
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture-products
none
Budget
revenues: $623.3 million expenditures: $638.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Currency
1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Debt-external
$NA
Economic aid
$NA
Economy-overview
Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The Principality has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. 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. About 55% of Monaco's annual revenue comes from value-added taxes on hotels, banks, and the industrial sector. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.
Electricity-capacity
10,000 kW standby note: electricity imported from France
Electricity-consumption per capita
NA kWh
Electricity-production
NA kWh
Exchange rates
French francs (F) per US$1-6.0836 (January 1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993)
Exports
$NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$800 million (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$25,000 (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
NA%
Imports
$NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index
NA%
Labor force
total: 30,540 (1 January 1994)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios
33,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system
automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system
Telephones
53,180 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations
5 (1987 est.)
Televisions
24,000 (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate
3.1% (1994)
Transportation
Airports
linked to airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service
Highways
total: 50 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Monaco
Merchant marine
none
Railways
total: 1.7 km standard gauge: 1.7 km 1.435-m gauge
Military and Security
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
none