# If you had to pick a small country to live in {Small for this thread is less than 3 million people} **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 27, 2023, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170 "2023-06-27T13:00:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/1 "2023-06-27T13:00:33Z")
I’ve been reading the thread on [famous people from small countries](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/122), and was idly thinking that it might be quite nice to live in a (stable, democratic, socially liberal) small country, unfettered by a history of colonial crimes and an out-dated view of my country’s importance. I’m not from a massive country population-wise (but not small either), but I’m certainly from a country with a domineering presence in history, one which gives us shockwaves to this day. It might be nice to shed the baggage. So if you could pick a nice small country to live in, where would you go? Shall we say sub-3 million population? I don’t have any great opinions. Lichtenstein sounds nice. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/2 "2023-06-27T13:06:29Z")
I like Malta other than that it’s an island and I don’t want to live on an island. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/3 "2023-06-27T13:11:16Z")
I like islands! I really enjoy getting ferries. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/4 "2023-06-27T13:19:42Z")
Iceland. I can think of a few middling-small countries (Sweden, Estonia, New Zealand) but they are over your population limit. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/5 "2023-06-27T13:23:57Z")
If money were no object? Monaco. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/6 "2023-06-27T13:25:11Z")
My wife and I have visited Malta a couple of times and love it. So that would be one choice. I personally would love to live in the Netherlands ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/7 "2023-06-27T13:26:27Z")
Liechtenstein was my first thought. San Marino Might do. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/8 "2023-06-27T13:26:31Z")
The Duchy Of Grand Fenwick. What? [IF IT’S ON WIKI, IT MUST BE REAL!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Fenwick) 😜 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/9 "2023-06-27T13:28:36Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > I like islands! I really enjoy getting ferries. - Did you clap your hands? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/10 "2023-06-27T13:33:31Z")
I was coming in to say **Malta** also. I did a lot of research into living abroad in retirement and that is what came up #1 in my research for me. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/11 "2023-06-27T13:40:58Z")
Sint Maarten, specifically the Cole Bay community. A friendly neighborhood a 20 minute leisurely bike ride to the French side’s capital city Marigot. Or, drop a kayak in the Caribbean and paddle to Marigot, Friar’s Bar, Happy Bay. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/12 "2023-06-27T13:55:18Z")
Somewhere Caribbean. I’d have to research further to determine the ideal, but that would be absolutely lovely. Reading my book on the beach, strolling through a small market area, golfing….mmmmm…… ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/13 "2023-06-27T14:20:23Z")
Luxemburg would be nice. Convenient to the rest of Europe, too. I’ve a few neighbors who have dual US/Lux citizenship, due to them having at least one grandparent who was born there. I wish the Netherlands had that deal. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/14 "2023-06-27T15:09:27Z")
Slovenia, probably? I’m also tempted by Cyprus, Malta, and Montenegro, but I’ve never been to any of them, and it would be kind of scary to pack up and move to a country I’ve never visited. Estonia is nice, but I don’t know if I’d want to spend winters that far north. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/15 "2023-06-27T15:10:11Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > So if you could pick a nice small country to live in, where would you go? Iceland first choice, Estonia second. Nowhere tropical. > [@Ulfreida](#): > > I can think of a few middling-small countries (Sweden, Estonia, New Zealand) but they are over your population limit. Estonia isn’t. Just 1.3 million. > [@peccavi](#): > > Is **New Zealand** a small country? (its population is smaller than New York City) _Lots_ of countries\* are smaller than NYC. But the OP’s limit was 3 million, and NZ is 5+ \* [This site](https://www.mapsof.net/new-york-city/smaller-countries) lists 86, but note that it has no “Africa” section, so can go fuck itself. There are [20 in Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African_countries_by_population#Table). Fucking _Oceania_ gets listed, but not Africa… ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/16 "2023-06-27T15:10:17Z")
Is **New Zealand** a small country? (its population is smaller than New York City) ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/17 "2023-06-27T15:15:19Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Lots of countries are smaller than NYC. But the OP’s limit was 3 million, and NZ is 5+ I was tempted to go lower than 3mn, but that would cut out Wales, which has a nice ‘small country’ feel about it. Although I don’t want to live there, someone else might fancy it. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/18 "2023-06-27T15:17:07Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I was coming in to say **Malta** also. I did a lot of research into living abroad in retirement and that is what came up #1 in my research for me. I’ve never been, but it’s very popular with British tourists, and, well, part of this project would be to get away from vast swathes of my Brexit-voting compatriots. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/19 "2023-06-27T15:18:21Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Nowhere tropical. I’m curious, why not? Mosquitos, the heat, hurricanes? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170/20 "2023-06-27T15:21:28Z")
Malaria specifically, other diseases, the heat, the humidity, and the lack of snow and decent seasons. I mean, mosquitoes themselves aren’t a tropical thing, from what I’ve heard they’re quite bad in lots of the more Northerly locales like Canada and Scandinavia. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-small-country-to-live-in-small-for-this-thread-is-less-than-3-million-people/986170.md?page=2)