2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Background
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control in the late 13th century, and a principality was established in 1338. 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
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: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, 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 the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
total: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (2005)
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 exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
none
Terrain
hilly, rugged, rocky
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 14.8% (male 2,488/female 2,369) 15-64 years: 62.4% (male 10,110/female 10,353) 65 years and over: 22.8% (male 3,048/female 4,428) (2008 est.)
Birth rate
9.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate
12.96 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Education expenditures
4.4% of GDP (2004)
Ethnic groups
French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: 5.18 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Languages
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 79.96 years male: 76.14 years female: 83.97 years (2008 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)
Median age
total: 45.5 years male: 43.5 years female: 47.5 years (2008 est.)
Nationality
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Net migration rate
7.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Population
32,796 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
0.375% (2008 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.75 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Government
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
name: Monaco geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France), under the authority of the US ambassador to France, handles routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador to the US and UN Gilles NOGHES chancery: 2314 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-1530
Executive branch
chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005) head of government: Minister of State Jean-Paul PROUST (since 1 June 2005) cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch elections: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government
FAX
(202) 552-5778
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 rule by the House of Grimaldi)
International organization participation
CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed 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 (24 seats; 16 members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional representation; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 3 February 2008 (next to be held February 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - UPM 52.2%, REM 40.5%, Monaco Together 7.3%; seats by party - UPM 21, REM 3
National holiday
National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)
Political parties and leaders
Union for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco or UNAM); Rally and Issues for Monaco or REM; Monaco Together
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
none
Budget
revenues: $863 million expenditures: $920.6 million (2005 est.)
Currency (code)
euro (EUR)
Currency code
EUR
Debt - external
$18 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
$NA
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 major banking center and 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.
Electricity - consumption
NA kWh
Electricity - imports
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)
Exports
$716.3 million note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France (2005)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 0% industry: 4.9% services: 95.1% (2005)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$30,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
0.9% (2000 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$NA
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$976.3 million note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates are extremely rough (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$916.1 million note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France (2005)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.9% (2000)
Labor force
44,000 note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
0% (2005)
Communications
Internet country code
.mc
Internet hosts
21,058 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2000)
Internet users
20,000 (2006)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)
Radios
34,000 (1997)
Telephone system
general assessment: modern automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system
Telephones - main lines in use
34,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
17,200 (2005)
Television broadcast stations
5 (1998)
Televisions
25,000 (1997)
Transportation
Heliports
1 (2007)
Merchant marine
registered in other countries: 70 (Bahamas 15, Georgia 4, Isle of Man 3, Liberia 8, Marshall Islands 13, Norway 5, Panama 16, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Vanuatu 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals
Monaco
Roadways
total: 50 km paved: 50 km (2007)
Military and Security
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 6,687 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 5,376 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 191 female: 182 (2008 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of France
Military branches
no regular military forces; the Palace Guard performs ceremonial duties
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008