The seven tiniest countries in Europe are testament to the fact that good things do indeed come in small packages. How many have you been to?
Size: 0.44 km2 • Population: 801 (nope, not just one person!) • Capital city: Vatican City
Okay, so technically Vatican City is actually a ‘sovereign city-state’ within the city of Rome rather than a country, but we’ll let it slide. Whether you measure it by size or population, Vatican City is not only the smallest country/state/whatever you want to call it in Europe, but also the world. It’s the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, and is ruled by the whichever Pope is currently in office – as of October 2018, that’s Pope Francis. He’s Argentinian, but the official language of the Vatican is Italian – and the ATMs in this teeny walled enclave are the only place in the world that will let you use Latin to withdraw cash!
Size: 1.95 km2 • Population: 38,897 • Capital city: Monaco
It can lay claim to all sorts of records – the highest number of millionaires and billionaires per capita, the most expensive real estate, the world’s lowest poverty rate – but Monaco doesn’t quite make the number-one spot on this particular list. Officially known as the Principality of Monaco, the world’s second-largest country is actually a tiny city-state and has been a constitutional monarchy since 1911 (the current ruler is Prince Albert II). Situated on some prime real estate on the French Riviera, Monaco is famous for its yacht-lined harbour, glam casino, Grand Prix, Mediterranean weather… and tax breaks.
Size: 61 km2 • Population: 33,557 • Capital city: Città di San Marino
This tiny, gorgeous country (a.k.a the Most Serene Republic of San Marino)is the world’s oldest sovereign state and its oldest republic. Described by Lonely Planet as a “land of clifftop castles”, the mountainous microstate – which is also one of the richest countries in the world – is three hours’ drive from Florence, surrounded on all sides by Northern Italy.
San Marino may be number three on this list, but on a recent list of the top 10 fastest-growing tourist economies in Europe, it took out the top spot. According to 2018 data from the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), from 2016 to 2017 the number of visitors to San Marino increased by more than 30%. For a tiny country, it was an epic result. Rounding out the top 10 (although we’d argue some of these aren’t actually in Europe) were Georgia, Israel, Turkey, Iceland, Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Armenia.
Size: 160 km2 • Population: 38,155 • Capital city: Vaduz
Squeezed into half a valley in the heart of the Alps, between Austria and Switzerland, Liechtenstein is a double-landlocked principality. It’s a popular winter sport destination and an important financial centre.
Size: 316 km2 • Population: 432,089 • Capital city: Valletta
The Republic of Malta is a small archipelago in the Mediterranean, between Sicily and North Africa. Theislands – the largest of which are Malta, Gozo, and Comino – have a history that spans an incredible 7,000 years, but Malta only gained its independence in 1964 and became a republic in 1974. Valletta, the capital city, is the joint European Capital of Culture in 2018, a title it shares with Leeuwarden-Fryslân in the Netherlands.
Size: 468 km2 • Population: 76,953 • Capital city: Andorra la Vella
It seems that many of Europe’s tiny independent principalities are famous for their generous tax breaks, and Andorra is no exception. This landlocked country situated between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains is also famous for its ski resorts, duty-free shopping and having the highest capital in Europe, Andorra la Vella.
Size: 2,586 km2 • Population: 590,321 • Capital city: Luxembourg City
Bordered by Belgium, Germany, and France, the landlocked Duchy of Luxembourg is, according to Global Finance magazine, the second-richest country in the world. Its capital, Luxembourg City, boasts a medieval, fortified old town and is one of the three capitals of the European Union, along with Brussels in Belgium and Strasbourg in France. The rest of this tiny country is predominantly rural, home to forests, rocky gorges and the Moselle river valley, as well as enough farms, vineyards and breweries to ensure Luxembourg is gaining a reputation as a destination for foodies.