2024 Edition Primary

Background

Geographically the third-smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named MARINUS in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of the EU, although it is not a member.  San Marino is negotiating an Association Agreement that is expected to allow participation in the EU’s internal market and cooperation in other policy areas by late 2024. Social and political trends in the republic track closely with those of its larger neighbor, Italy.

Area

land

61 sq km

total

61 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about one-third the size of Washington, DC

Climate

Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point

Monte Titano 739 m

lowest point

Torrente Ausa 55 m

Geographic coordinates

43 46 N, 12 25 E

Geography - note

landlocked; an enclave of (completely surrounded by) Italy; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennine Mountains

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

border countries

Italy 37 km

total

37 km

Land use

agricultural land

16.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 16.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

83.3% (2018 est.)

Location

Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

occasional earthquakes

Natural resources

building stone

Terrain

rugged mountains

Age structure

0-14 years

14.2% (male 2,614/female 2,387)

15-64 years

64.3% (male 10,916/female 11,648)

65 years and over

21.5% (2024 est.) (male 3,414/female 4,116)

Birth rate

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

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

8.7% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

47.7% (2023 est.)

Death rate

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

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

30

potential support ratio

3.3 (2021)

total dependency ratio

49.6

youth dependency ratio

19.6

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Education expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Sammarinese, Italian

Gross reproduction rate

0.74 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

5 deaths/1,000 live births

male

7.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

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

Languages

Languages

Italian

major-language sample(s)

L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

87 years

male

81.7 years

total population

84.2 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

99.9% (2018)

male

99.9%

total population

99.9%

Major urban areas - population

4,000 SAN MARINO (2018)

Median age

female

47.4 years

male

44.5 years

total

46.1 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

31.9 years (2019)

Nationality

adjective

Sammarinese

noun

Sammarinese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

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

Physician density

6.11 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

female

18,151 (2024 est.)

male

16,944

total

35,095

Population growth rate

0.57% (2024 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

12 years (2021)

male

13 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.1 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.83 male(s)/female

at birth

1.09 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

0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

97.8% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

named after Saint MARINUS, who in A.D. 301 founded a monastic settlement around which the city and later the state of San Marino coalesced

geographic coordinates

43 56 N, 12 25 E

name

San Marino (city)

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of San Marino

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

30 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the Great and General Council; passage requires two-thirds majority Council vote; Council passage by absolute majority vote also requires passage in a referendum; Declaration of Civil Rights amended several times, last in 2019

history

San Marino’s principal legislative instruments consist of old customs (antiche consuetudini), the Statutory Laws of San Marino (Leges Statutae Sancti Marini), old statutes (antichi statute) from the1600s, Brief Notes on the Constitutional Order and Institutional Organs of the Republic of San Marino (Brevi Cenni sull’Ordinamento Costituzionale e gli Organi Istituzionali della Repubblica di San Marino) and successive legislation, chief among them is the Declaration of the Rights of Citizens and Fundamental Principles of the San Marino Legal Order (Dichiarazione dei Diritti dei Cittadini e dei Principi Fondamentali dell’Ordinamento Sammarinese), approved 8 July 1974

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of San Marino

conventional short form

San Marino

etymology

named after Saint MARINUS, who in A.D. 301 founded the monastic settlement around which the city and later the state of San Marino coalesced

local long form

Repubblica di San Marino

local short form

San Marino

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Jack Markell (since September 2023); note - also accredited to Italy

embassy

the United States does not have an Embassy in San Marino; the US Ambassador to Italy is accredited to San Marino, and the US Consulate General in Florence maintains day-to-day ties

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

327 E 50th Street, New York, NY 10022

chief of mission

Ambassador Damiano BELEFFI (since 21 July 2017); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN

email address and website

sanmarinoun@gmail.comRepublic of San Marino Permanent Mission to the United Nations

FAX

[1] (212) 751-1436

telephone

[1] (212) 751-1234

Executive branch

cabinet

Congress of State elected by the Grand and General Council

chief of state

co-chiefs of state Captains Regent Francesca CIVERCHIA and Dalibor RICCARDI (for the period 1 October 2024 - 30 March 2025)

election results

October 2024:  Francesca CIVERCHIA (PDCS) and Dalibor RICCARDI (Free San Marino) elected captains regent; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NAMarch 2024:  Alessandro ROSSI (Demos) and Milena GASPERONI (We for the Republic) elected captains regent; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NASeptember 2023: Filippo TAMAGNINI and Gaetano TROINA elected captains regent; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA2019: Luca BECCARI (PDCS) elected Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA

elections/appointments

co-chiefs of state (captains regent) indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 6-month term; election last held on 1 October 2024 (next to be held in March 2025); Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 5-year term; election last held on 28 December 2019

head of government

Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Luca BECCARI (since 8 January 2020)

note

note: the captains regent preside over meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State), which has seven other members who are selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the captains regent are seven secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has some prime ministerial roles

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the main colors derive from the shield of the coat of arms, which features three white towers on three peaks on a blue field; the towers represent three castles built on San Marino's highest feature, Mount Titano: Guaita, Cesta, and Montale; the coat of arms is flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty); the white and blue colors are also said to stand for peace and liberty respectively

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

3 September 301 (traditional founding date)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

CE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII (consists of 12 members); note - the College of Guarantors for the Constitutionality and General Norms functions as San Marino's constitutional court

judge selection and term of office

judges elected by the Grand and General Council from among its own to serve 5-year terms

subordinate courts

first instance and first appeal criminal, administrative, and civil courts; Court for the Trust and Trustee Relations; justices of the peace or conciliatory judges

Legal system

civil law system with Italian civil law influences

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by list proportional representation vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party/coalition - (PDCS 34.1% & AR 6.9% coalition), (PS 15.8% & PSD 12.2% coalition), RF 12%, DML 8.5%, RETE 5.1% seats by party/coalition - (PDCS 22 & AR 4 coalition), (PS 10 & PSD 8 coalition), RF 8, DML 5, RETE 3, composition - men 42, women 18, percentage women 30%

elections

last held on 9 June 2024 (next to be held by 30 June 2029)

National anthem

lyrics/music

no lyrics/Federico CONSOLO

name

"Inno Nazionale della Repubblica" (National Anthem of the Republic)

note

note: adopted 1894; the music for the lyric-less anthem is based on a 10th century chorale piece

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

San Marino Historic Center and Mount Titano

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

National holiday

Founding of the Republic (or Feast of Saint Marinus), 3 September (A.D. 301)

National symbol(s)

three peaks each displaying a tower; national colors: white, blue

Political parties

Domani - Modus Liberi or DML Free San Marino (Libera San Marino) or Libera Future Republic or RF Party of Socialists and Democrats or PSD Reformist Alliance or AR RETE Movement Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party or PDCS Socialist Party or PS Tomorrow in Movement coalition (includes RETE Movement, DML)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides

Budget

expenditures

$816.572 million (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$817.27 million (2022 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

BB+ (2020)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

$0 (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

$0 (2017 est.)

Economic overview

high-income, non-EU European economy; surrounded by Italy, which is the dominant importer and exporter; open border to EU and a euro user; strong financial sector; high foreign investments; low taxation; increasingly high and risky debt

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

0.893 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.877 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.951 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

note

note: while not an EU member state, San Marino, due to its preexisting monetary and banking agreements with Italy, has a 2000 monetary agreement with the EU to produce limited euro coinage—but not banknotes—that began enforcement in January 2002 and was superseded by a new EU agreement in 2012

Exports

Exports 2019

$2.651 billion (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$2.535 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$3.42 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

washing and bottling machines, woodworking machines, furniture, other foods, packaged medicine (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

US 10%, Germany 9%, France 9%, Austria 9%, Romania 7% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

184.3% (2021 est.)

government consumption

18.5% (2021 est.)

household consumption

33.1% (2021 est.)

imports of goods and services

-158.2% (2021 est.)

investment in fixed capital

17.5% (2021 est.)

investment in inventories

4.7% (2021 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0% (2021 est.)

industry

36.6% (2021 est.)

note

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

services

56.5% (2021 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.855 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports

Imports 2019

$2.315 billion (2019 est.)

Imports 2020

$2.164 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$2.934 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

electricity, garments, cars, aluminum, footwear (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Italy 22%, Germany 20%, Poland 7%, Spain 7%, Netherlands 7% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

11.57% (2021 est.)

note

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

Industries

tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015

0.15% (2015 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016

0.57% (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

1.05% (2017 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2021

95.12% of GDP (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$2.19 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$2.045 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$2.218 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2019

2.07% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-6.65% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

8.46% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2019

$64,100 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$60,100 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$65,700 (2021 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2019

1.08% of GDP (2019 est.)

Remittances 2020

1.15% of GDP (2020 est.)

Remittances 2021

1.13% of GDP (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$954.383 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$716.066 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$836.088 million (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.3% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2016

8.6% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate 2017

8.1% (2017 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

36%

male

21.4%

total

27.4% (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

32 (2020 est.)

total

11,000 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

state-owned public broadcaster operates 1 TV station and 3 radio stations; receives radio and TV broadcasts from Italy (2019)

Internet country code

.sm

Internet users

percent of population

75% (2021 est.)

total

25,500 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line is 47 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is 119 telephones per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system (2018)

international

country code - 378; connected to Italian international network

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

48 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

16,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

122 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

41,000 (2022 est.)

Airports

1 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

T7

Heliports

1 (2024)

Roadways

paved

292 km (2006)

total

292 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Italy

Military and security forces

Military Corps (National Guard): Guard of the Rock (or Fortress Guard), Uniformed Militia, Guard of the Great and General Council, Corps of the GendarmerieMinistry of Internal Affairs: Civil Police Corps (2024)

note

note: the captains regent oversees the Gendarmerie and National Guard when they are performing duties related to public order and security; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs exercises control over such administrative functions as personnel and equipment, and the courts exercise control over the Gendarmerie when it acts as judicial police

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; government has the authority to call up all San Marino citizens from 16-60 years of age to serve in the military (2024)

Air pollutants

methane emissions

0.02 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

9.85 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers

Environment - current issues

air pollution; urbanization decreasing rural farmlands; water shortage

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution

Land use

agricultural land

16.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 16.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

83.3% (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

97.8% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

17,175 tons (2016 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

7,737 tons (2016 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

45.1% (2016 est.)