Monaco

Monaco is the second smallest nation in the world, and the second most densely populated. Located in Europe, it is divided into 10 wards. It borders France on three sides and the Mediterranean Sea on its fourth.

Roughly the same size as New York’s Central Park (1.95 sq kilometers or 0.75 square miles), the city of Monaco and the Principality are essentially the same thing. Tourists are attracted to Monaco by its weather and casino, and its glamorous reputation.

Ruled by the House of Grimaldi since 1297, the city-state’s sovereignty was declared in 1861 after centuries of being passed between Genoa, France and Sardinia.

Mussolini’s troops invaded in 1943, swiftly followed by the Nazis, but the post-war era was happier and more glamorous, encapsulated by Prince Rainier III’s marriage to the actress Grace Kelly. In 2005, their son, Albert II, took the throne.

Monaco Facts

• Full name: Principality of Monaco (Principauté de Monaco)
• Capital: Monaco-Ville population 1,034
• Head of state: Prince Albert II
• Head of government Minister of state Jean-Paul Proust
• Government: Constitutional Monarchy and Principality
• Population: 32,796 (2008 estimate)
• Currency: Euro (EUR)
• Official language: French Italian and English widely spoken
• Grimaldi family has ruled Monaco since 1297
• Defended by France
• An average person can walk across the width of the county in ~56 min.
• Not a member of the EU
• No income tax
• Most expensive real estate in the world prime property at $68,000/m² in 2009
• No international disputes
• Second most tourist arrivals per capita 7,991.61 per 1,000 people
• Largest police force in the world per-capita and per-area basis
• One of the safest countries in the world
• Highest point: Chemin des Révoirés 162 meters
• Hosted Monaco Grand Prix since 1929
• Time zone: Central European time (+1 hour)
• Calling code: +377
• Internet domain extension: .mc

Map of the Principality of Monaco

Sources: Mahalo, Wikipedia, Guardian, NationMaster, Google Maps and Forbes