The smallest countries in the world, in Europe and in each continent
The smallest recognized and independent country in the world is Vatican City (0.49 km²). It is entirely located within the city of Rome, at the same time it is the least populous country in the world, with about 825 inhabitants.
The smallest dependent territory in the world is the Coral Sea Islands (3 km²). It is a dependent territory of Australia located on dozens of islets, reefs and atolls.
The smallest country in the world by continent:
- Europe – Vatican City (0.49 km²)
- Asia – Maldives (300 km²)
- Africa – Seychelles (459 km²)
- North America – Saint Kitts and Nevis (261 km²)
- South America – Suriname (163,820 km²)
- Australia and Oceania – Nauru (21km²)
- The smallest country that is not internationally recognized is Sealand. Its territory is an abandoned anti-aircraft platform measuring 40 x 140m.
- The smallest country in NATO is Monaco and the smallest country in EU is Malta.
Wondering what the smallest recognized country in the world is? And what is the smallest country in the world in general? Moreover, do you want to know the smallest country of each continent? Then you have come to the right place, here you will learn the most important facts about the smallest countries in the world.
The smallest country in the world – Vatican City
Vatican City is not only the smallest country in the world, but also the least populous. And these are not the only interesting facts about this micro-state. Below you can read more about Vatican City and learn more about the other smallest countries in the world.
The smallest country in the world is located in Europe, and it is Vatican City, which is only 0.49 km². And that means it is 38.8 million times smaller than the world’s largest country, Russia. Vatican City is actually a city-state, located within the city limits of Rome.
Vatican City is the smallest recognized state in the world, which is independent and its existence has been confirmed by the international community. After all, there are plenty of territories smaller than Vatican City in the world that have not been officially recognized as full-fledged states.
Perhaps in the future the smallest state in the world will be different. There are quite a few possibilities for its creation: gaining independence by a new country, disintegration, secession, flooding of part of the country by the rising level of seas and oceans.
The smallest countries in the world by continents
The smallest country in the world is only one, so to further explore the topic of the smallest countries in the world we have prepared a list broken down by continent.
Vatican City is truly unique in terms of area. Even Nauru, the smallest country in Oceania is almost 42 times bigger.
- Europe – Vatican City (0,49 km²)
- Asia – Maldives (300 km²)
- Africa – Seychelles (459 km²)
- North America – Saint Kitts and Nevis (261 km²)
- South America – Suriname (163,820 km²)
- Australia and Oceania – Nauru (21km²)
The smallest country in Europe, not including the Vatican is Monaco, which is about 4 times larger.
What is the smallest country in the world – next places
- Vatican City – area: 0.49 km²
- Monaco – surface area: 2.02 km²
- Nauru – area: 21 km²
- Tuvalu – surface area: 26 km²
- San Marino – Area: 61 km²
- Liechtenstein – Area: 160 km²
- Marshall Islands – surface area: 181 km²
- Saint Kitts and Nevis – Area: 261 km²
- Maldives – surface area: 300 km²
- Malta – surface area: 316 km²
You already know what is the smallest country in the world, you also know another 9 positions in this list. As many as 5 out of 10 smallest countries in the world are located in Europe. The rest are island countries scattered around the globe.
What is the smallest country in the world? Other records.
Let’s learn some other interesting facts about the smallest countries in the world. The first one is about Monaco, which can be considered as the smallest country belonging to NATO (check all NATO countries). And as for the smallest EU country, it is Malta, located off the Italian coast.
Tuvalu is the smallest member of the Commonwealth of Nations, which is an international organization of 32 countries of the former British Empire or Dominions of the United Kingdom.
Nauru is the smallest island nation, the smallest republic, and the smallest country in the world that is not a city-state.
World’s smallest countries – summary
Small countries are primarily the domain of Europe, where there is great cultural and national diversity. The relatively small size of individual European countries is the result of hundreds of years of history and the merging or breaking up of various alliances.
Today anyway, the fragmentation is much smaller than in the past. Suffice it to say that before unification in the 19th century Germany was divided into almost 30 principalities, countries or free cities.
So we already know the name of the smallest country in the world and the smallest countries on each continent. We also got to know a brief description of Vatican City, a country which is unique in many respects.
