The World's Twenty Smallest Countries

Found below is a list of the world’s twenty smallest sovereign states.These tiny countries cover a combined land area of 5,340.46 square kilometers between them, meaning that they could all fit into either the sovereign state of Brunei - the world’s 172^nd largest country, the American state of Delaware - the country’s second smallest state, the Asian Island of Bali - the world’s one hundred and eighth largest island or the Chinese city of Shanghai, all with room to spare.

THE VATICAN CITY STATE.

The Vatican City State covers an area of just 0.44 square kilometers and has a temporary population of 770 people.

This tiny country, which is an enclave of the Italian city of Rome, has His Holiness the Pope as it’s head of state and is is not only the world's smallest country but the world’s smallest monarchy, the world's smallest city state and the world's smallest land locked country.

As a city state the country does not have a capital city.

MONACO.

Monaco is a principality which covers an area of 2.02 square kilometers and has a population of 32,000 people. Also classified as a city state, Monaco is an enclave located on the south east coast of France and is renowned for being a tax haven, for being the home of the world famous Monte Carlo Rally, Monaco Grand Prix and the Monte Carlo Casino, for having the world’s largest police force per head of population and for having the world's largest resident population of billionaires.

As a city state the country does not have a capital city, although Monte Carlo is often mistakenly listed as such.

NAURU.

Nauru, pictured above, is an island in the South Pacific, which is not just the world's smallest island nation but also the world's smallest republic. The country covers an area of just 21 square kilometers and has a population of 13,000 people.

The island is renowned for having only one road, a nineteen kilometer coastal ring road, and for it's airport and runway which are located along a beach.

TUVALU.

This South Pacific island nation is a constitutional monarchy which consists of sixteen reef islands which cover an area of 26 square kilometers with a population of 10,500 people. Much of the tiny country's GDP comes from tourism and the sale of it's much sought after internet domain name of .tv .

SAN MARINO.

Located in the Appenine Mountains of Italy, this tiny enclave is classified as Europe's oldest republic, having been in existence since the year 301. San Marino covers an area of 61 square kilometers and has a population of 29,000 people.

LIECHTENSTEIN.

Liechtenstein is a principality located in central Europe. The country covers an area of 160 square kilometers and has a population of 34,000 people. The country is renowned for being one of only two double land locked countries in the world, which means that it is a land locked country surrounded by other land locked countries.

THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.

Located in the north Pacific Ocean, the Republic of the Marshall Islands are a group of 1,156 islands which cover an area of 181 square kilometers with a popualtion of 58,000 people.The island nation, which is in free association with the United States, is home to the world's largest shark sanctuary, which covers an ocean area of two million square kilometers.

ST KITTS & NEVIS.

Are two volcanic islands which make up part of the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean Sea. Covering an area of 261 square kilometers and with a population of 39,000 people this tiny federal constitutional monarchy is the smallest sovereign state located in the Americas.

THE MALDIVES.

The Maldives are an island nation which consists of two chains of twenty six islands located in the Indian Ocean. Covering an area of 300 square kilometers and with a population of 340,000 people, this tiny republic is the smallest sovereign state located in the continent of Asia.

MALTA.

Comprising of just three inhabited islands which cover an area of 316 square kilometers, this Mediterranean republic has a population of 400,000 people, making it the world's most densely populated sovereign state.

GRENADA.

Located in part of the island group known as the Lesser Grenadines, located in the Caribbean Sea, Grenada is a constitutional monarchy made up of six islands which cover an area of 344 square kilometers with a population of 90,000 people. Despite it's size, Grenada is the world's largest exporter of nutmeg.

THE SEYCHELLES.

The Seychelles are an archipelago of 155 islands located in the Indian Ocean. With a land area of 452 square kilometers and a population of just 81,000 people, this tiny republic is the smallest sovereign state in the African continent.

ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES.

Is an island nation which consists of six hundred islands which cover a land area of 280 square kilometers. The constitutional monarchy makes up part of the Windward Islands Group located in the Caribbean Sea and has a population of 117,000 people. The country is best known for it's vast crops of bananas, which make up sixty per cent of the country's GDP.

BARBADOS.

The island of Barbados is the eastern most island of the Lesser Antilles Island Group located in the Atlantic Ocean. This constitutional monarchy covers an area of 430 square kilometers and has a population of 280,000 people. Despite being located in the Atlantic Ocean, the island has been classified as the Caribbean’s most visited tourist destination.

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA.

Is a twin island constitutional monarchy which make up part of the Leeward Islands Group located in the Caribbean Sea. The country covers an area of 442 square kilometers and has a population of 69,000 people.The islands are renowned for their many beaches, three hundred and sixty five to be exact, which is just as well as sixty per cent of the country's GDP is dependent upon tourism.

PALAU.

Is an island nation which consists of two hundred and fifty islands located in the larger, Caroline Islands Group, of the north Pacific Ocean. This tiny republic, which is in free association with the United States, covers an area of 459 square kilometers and has a population of 20,000 people.

ANDORRA.

Is a land locked country located in the Pyrenees Mountains of Europe. This tiny co - principality covers an area of 468 square kilometers and has a population of 70,000 people. The country is renowned for it’s unique form of monarchy which has both the President of France and the Bishop of Ugrell in Spain as it’s heads of state. The country is also renowned for having no airport or train stations located anywhere within it’s borders.

SAINT LUCIA.

Is a volcanic island located in the Caribbean Sea. This island constitutional monarchy covers an area of 616 square kilometers and has a population of 162,000 people.

Saint Lucia is renowned for it's two offshore volcanic plugs, which are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a drive in volcano located in the dormant caldera of the island's Mount Qualibou.

THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA.

This island chain of over six hundred islands is located in the north Pacific Ocean and covers an ocean area of 2,6000,000 square kilometers.

The island republic, which is made up of the four states of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap, cover a land area of 702 square kilometers and has a population of 103,000 people.

SINGAPORE.

This island city state consists of sixty three islands which cover an area of 710 square kilometers with a massive population of 5.3 million people.

The island is located along the Strait of Singapore which lies just north of Indonesia and south of Malaysia in the continent of Asia.

Singapore is renowned for having the world's lowest drug use, for being the world's fourth leading financial centre and eleventh largest foreign reserve. The country's main port is the world's largest trans shipment port and fourth busiest container port and it's international airport at Changi has won more awards (430) than any other airport in the world.

As a city state the country does not have a capital city.

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