2024 Edition Primary

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, coastal Mediterranean 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

highest point

Chemin des Revoires on Mont Agel 162 m

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

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 (2022)

Land boundaries

border countries

France 6 km

total

6 km

Land use

agricultural land

1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

99% (2018 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 second most densely populated country in the world (after Macau); its entire population living on 2 square km

Terrain

hilly, rugged, rocky

Age structure

0-14 years

9.1% (male 1,485/female 1,408)

15-64 years

53.8% (male 8,620/female 8,490)

65 years and over

37.1% (2024 est.) (male 5,261/female 6,549)

Birth rate

6.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

1.7% of GDP (2020)

Death rate

11.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

70.2

potential support ratio

1.4 (2021)

total dependency ratio

95.2

youth dependency ratio

25

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

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

note: data represent population by country of birth

Gross reproduction rate

0.76 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

13.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

1.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

1.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Languages

French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

major-language sample(s)

The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

93.7 years

male

86 years

total population

89.8 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

39,000 MONACO (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

58.4 years

male

55 years

total

56.9 years (2024 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Monegasque or Monacan

noun

Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)

Net migration rate

11.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Physician density

7.51 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

female

16,447 (2024 est.)

male

15,366

total

31,813

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

0.71% (2024 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 90% (official), other 10%

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.8 male(s)/female

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.54 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2023)

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

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"

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

history

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

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

Principauté de Monaco

local short form

Monaco

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

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; +(33)(1) 43-12-22-22, enter zero "0" after the automated greeting; US Embassy Paris, 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris, France

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

888 17th Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20006

chief of mission

Ambassador Maguy MACCARIO DOYLE (since 3 December 2013)

consulate(s) general

New York

email address and website

info@monacodc.orghttps://monacodc.org/index.html

FAX

[1] (202) 244-7656

telephone

[1] (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 Didier GUILLAUME (since 2 September 2024)

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

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 court(s)

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 coalition - Monegasque National Union 100%; seats by coalition - Monegasque National Union 24; composition - men 13, women 11, percent of women 45.8%

elections

last held on 5 February 2023 (next to be held in February 2028)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT

name

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

note

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

Monegasque National Union (includes Horizon Monaco, Primo!, Union Monegasque)Horizon Monaco Priorite Monaco or Primo! Union Monegasque 

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

none

Economic overview

high-income European economy; non-EU euro user; considered a tax haven; tourism and banking are largest sectors; negatively impacted by COVID-19; major oceanographic museum; among most expensive real estate; major state-owned enterprises

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

0.893 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

note

note: while not an EU member state, Monaco, due to its preexisting monetary and banking agreements with France, has a 1998 monetary agreement with the EU to produce limited euro coinage—but not banknotes—that began enforcement in January 2002 and superseded by a new EU agreement in 2012

Exports

Exports 2017

$964.6 million (2017 est.)

note

note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France

Exports - commodities

jewelry, perfumes, watches, packaged medicines, cars (2021)

Exports - partners

Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Spain (2021)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

industry

12.3% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

87.7% (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.784 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports

Imports 2017

$1.371 billion (2017 est.)

note

note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France

Imports - commodities

jewelry, cars and vehicle parts, recreational boats, plastic products, artwork (2021)

Imports - partners

Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, China  (2021)

Industrial production growth rate

-3.16% (2014 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Labor force

52,000 (2014 est.)

note

note: includes all foreign workers

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2015 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015

$7.672 billion (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-13.01% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

21.87% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

11.1% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2014

$109,200 (2014 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2015

$115,700 (2015 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

27.9%

male

25.7%

total

26.6% (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

53 (2020 est.)

total

20,877 (2020 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

Internet country code

.mc

Internet users

percent of population

86% (2021 est.)

total

31,820 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line a little over 117 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is 99 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

modern automatic telephone system: the country's sole fixed-line operator offers a full range of services to residential and business customers; competitive mobile telephony market; 4G LTE widely available (2020)

international

country code - 377; landing points for the EIG and Italy-Monaco submarine cables connecting Monaco to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

122 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

45,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

107 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

39,000 (2022 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

3A

Heliports

3 (2024)

Merchant marine

total

1

Ports

key ports

Monaco

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

1

Railways

note: Monaco has a single railway station but does not operate its own train service;  the French operator SNCF operates rail services in Monaco

Military - note

by treaty, France is responsible for defending the independence and sovereignty of Monaco

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Ministry of Interior: Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince (Prince’s Company of Carabiniers), Corps des Sapeurs-pompiers de Monaco (Fire and Emergency), Police Department (2024)

note

note: the primary responsibility for the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince is guarding the palace; the Police maintain public order

Military service age and obligation

the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince is staffed by French nationals (2024)

Air pollutants

methane emissions

0.05 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

9.21 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

99% (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

46,000 tons (2012 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

2,484 tons (2012 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

5.4% (2012 est.)