2000 Edition

Background

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.

Area

land

1.95 sq km

total

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

highest point

Mont Agel 140 m

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

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

border countries

France 4.4 km

total

4.4 km

Land use

arable land

0%

forests and woodland

0%

other

100% (urban area)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

0%

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 15% (male 2,449; female 2,336) 15-64 years: 62% (male 9,723; female 10,074) 65 years and over: 23% (male 2,907; female 4,204) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

9.94 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

13.06 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%

Infant mortality rate

5.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

Life expectancy at birth

female

83 years (2000 est.)

male

74.88 years

total population

78.84 years

Literacy

definition

NA

female

NA%

male

NA%

total population

99%

Nationality

adjective

Monegasque or Monacan

noun

Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)

Net migration rate

7.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

31,693 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.48% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

total population

0.91 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.76 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo

Capital

Monaco

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

Monaco does not have an embassy in the US

consulate(s)

New York

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch

chief of state

Prince RAINIER III (since 9 May 1949); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre, son of the monarch (born 14 March 1958)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government

head of government

Minister of State Michel LEVEQUE (since 3 February 1997)

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 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)

International organization participation

ACCT, ECE, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme, judges named by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UND 18

elections

last held 1 and 8 February 1998 (next to be held NA January 2003)

National holiday

National Day, 19 November

Political parties and leaders

National and Democratic Union or UND

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

none

Budget

expenditures

$531 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)

revenues

$518 million

Currency

1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid - recipient

$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. 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. Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates below are extremely rough.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - exports

NA kWh

Electricity - imports

NA kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

NA%

hydro

NA%

nuclear

NA%

other

NA%

Exchange rates

euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995)

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $870 million (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $27,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: 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%

Industries

tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

30,540 (January 1994)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

3.1% (1998)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

4 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)

Radios

34,000 (1997)

Telephone system

automatic telephone system

domestic

NA

international

no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system

Telephones - main lines in use

31,027 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,560 (1994)

Television broadcast stations

5 (1997)

Televisions

25,000 (1997)

Airports

linked to airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service

Heliports

1 (shuttle service between the international airport at Nice, France, and Monaco's heliport at Fontvieille)

Highways

paved

50 km

total

50 km

unpaved

0 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Monaco

Railways

standard gauge

1.7 km 1.435-m gauge

total

1.7 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Disputes - international

none

MONGOLIA