2018 Edition

Background

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.

Area

land

2 sq km

total

2 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area Comparative

about three times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC

Climate

Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

Coastline

4.1 km

Elevation

0 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea

note

162 highest point: Chemin des Révoires on Mont Agel

Environment Current Issues

no serious issues; actively monitors pollution levels in air and water

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 the Holy See); smallest country with a coastline; almost entirely urban

Irrigated Land

0 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

border countries (1)

France 6 km

total

6 km

Land Use

arable land: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

1% (2011 est.)

forest

0% (2011 est.)

other

99% (2011 est.)

Location

Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

Map References

Europe

Maritime Claims

exclusive economic zone

12 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural Hazards

none

Natural Resources

none

Population Distribution

the most densely populated country in the world; its entire population living on 2 square km

Terrain

hilly, rugged, rocky

Age Structure

0-14 years

10.27% (male 1,622 /female 1,533)

15-24 years

9.39% (male 1,498 /female 1,387)

25-54 years

32.15% (male 4,964 /female 4,916)

55-64 years

15.04% (male 2,305 /female 2,315)

65 years and over

33.15% (male 4,530 /female 5,657) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

6.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

10.1 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2016)

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% (2016 est.)

note

data represent population by country of birth

Health Expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

NA

Hiv Aids Deaths

NA

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

NA

Hospital Bed Density

13.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

1.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

1.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

93.4 years (2018 est.)

male

85.5 years (2018 est.)

total population

89.4 years (2018 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

39,000 MONACO (capital) (2018)

Median Age

female

55.3 years (2018 est.)

male

52.4 years

total

53.8 years

Nationality

adjective

Monegasque or Monacan

noun

Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)

Net Migration Rate

5.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Physicians Density

6.65 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

30,727 (July 2017 est.) (July 2018 est.)

note

immigrants make up almost 55% of the total population, according to UN data (2017)

Population Growth Rate

0.3% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 90% (official), other 10%

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 100% of population (2015 est.)

total: 100% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2015 est.)

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.54 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

27.9% (2016 est.)

male

25.7% (2016 est.)

total

26.6% (2016 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.51% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 4 quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo; note - Moneghetti, a part of La Condamine, is sometimes called the 5th quarter of Monaco

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

43 44 N, 7 25 E

name

Monaco

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of Monaco; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen and father unknown

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by joint agreement of the chief of state (the prince) and the National Council; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of National Council members; amended 2002 (2016)

history

previous 1911 (suspended 1959); latest adopted 17 December 1962 (2016)

Country Name

conventional long form

Principality of Monaco

conventional short form

Monaco

etymology

founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name derives from two Greek words "monos" (single, alone) and "oikos" (house) to convey the sense of a people "living apart" or in a "single habitation"

local long form

Principaute de Monaco

local short form

Monaco

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

note

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 diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

chancery

3400 International Drive NW, Suite 2K-100, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Maguy MACCARIO-DOYLE (since 3 December 2013)

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

(202) 244-7656

telephone

(202) 234-1530

Executive Branch

cabinet

Council of Government under the authority of the monarch

chief of state

Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)

elections/appointments

the monarchy 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 Serge TELLE (since 1 February 2016)

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

note

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 permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI)

International Law Organization Participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International Organization Participation

CD, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Judicial Branch

highest courts

Supreme Court (consists of 5 permanent members and 2 substitutes)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court members appointed by the monarch upon the proposals of the National Council, State Council, Crown Council, Court of Appeal, and Trial Court

subordinate courts

Court of Appeal; Civil Court of First Instance

Legal System

civil law system influenced by French legal tradition

Legislative Branch

description

unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 8 directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Priorite Monaco 57.7%, Horizon Monaco 26.1%, Union Monegasque 16.2%; seats by party - Priorite Monaco 21, Horizon Monaco 2, Union Monegasque 1; composition - men 16, women 8, percent of women 33.3%

elections

last held on 11 February 2018 (next to be held in February 2023)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT

name

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

note

music adopted 1867, lyrics adopted 1931; although French is commonly spoken, only the Monegasque lyrics are official; the French version is known as "Hymne Monegasque" (Monegasque Anthem); the words are generally only sung on official occasions

National Holiday

National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)

National Symbol S

red and white lozenges (diamond shapes); national colors: red, white

Political Parties And Leaders

Horizon Monaco [Laurent NOUVION]Priorite Monaco [Stephane VALERI]Renaissance [SBM (public corporation)]Union Monegasque [Jean-Francois ROBILLON]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

none

Budget

expenditures

953.6 million (2011 est.)

revenues

896.3 million (2011 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-1% (of GDP) (2011 est.)

Debt External

note

 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 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.

Exchange Rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.885 (2017 est.)

0.903 (2016 est.)

0.9214 (2015 est.)

0.885 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

Exports

$964.6 million (2017 est.)

$1.115 billion (2011)

note

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 Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

0% (2013)

industry

14% (2013)

services

86% (2013)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$6.006 billion (2015 est.) (2015 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$115,700 (2015 est.)

$109,200 (2014 est.)

$101,900 (2013 est.)

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$7.672 billion (2015 est.)

$7.279 billion (2014 est.)

$6.79 billion (2013 est.)

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

5.4% (2015 est.)

7.2% (2014 est.)

9.6% (2013 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$1.371 billion (2017 est.)

$1.162 billion (2011 est.)

note

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

6.8% (2015)

Industries

banking, insurance, tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

1.5% (2010)

Labor Force

52,000 (2014 est.)

note

includes all foreign workers

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

0%

industry

16.1%

services

83.9% (2012 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

note

NA

Population Below Poverty Line

NA

Taxes And Other Revenues

14.9% (of GDP) (2011 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2% (2012)

Electricity Access

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

63 (2017 est.)

total

19,258 (2017 est.)

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 (2012)

Internet Country Code

.mc

Internet Users

percent of population

95.2% (July 2016 est.)

total

29,116 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 250 per 100 persons (2016)

general assessment

modern automatic telephone system; the country's sole fixed-line operator offers a full range of services to residential and business customers (2016)

international

country code - 377; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system (2016)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

153 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

47,013 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

108 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

32,978 (2017 est.)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

3A (2016)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Ports And Terminals

major seaport(s)

Monaco

Roadways

paved

77 km (2010)

total

77 km (2010)

Military Branches

no regular military forces; Directorate of Public Security (2012)

Military Note

defense is the responsibility of France

Disputes International

none