# Smallest country in the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 20, 2005, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallest-country-in-the-world/304717 "2005-05-20T07:08:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallest-country-in-the-world/304717/21 "2005-05-21T04:14:55Z")
This site – [http://www.angelfire.com/nv/micronations/](http://www.angelfire.com/nv/micronations/) – is a “collection of links to active websites concerning micronation, new country, new nation and homeland projects, as well as governments-in-exile, seditionist/independence movements and tribal sovereignty.” This page of it – [http://www.angelfire.com/nv/micronations/real.html](http://www.angelfire.com/nv/micronations/real.html) – lists “Actual Small Countries,” which is the most relevant to the OP. This Wikipeida article – [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microstate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microstate) – also covers such “microstates.” ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallest-country-in-the-world/304717/22 "2005-05-21T04:48:36Z")
[The Order of Malta’s website](http://www.orderofmalta.org/index.asp?idlingua=5) According to the [FAQ](http://www.orderofmalta.org/domrisp.asp?idlingua=5), they are “recognised by nations as an independent subject of international law,” but nowhere, AFAICT, do they refer to themselves as a country, state, or nation. Their two headquarters in Rome (see last question) have been granted extraterritoriality by Italy, so they do in fact have a very small territory over which they exercise sovereignty, and they issue stamps and coinage. The Grand Master of the Order resides at one of the headquarters, so they have a permanent population. No mention of passports that I can see, but it wouldn’t surprise me. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallest-country-in-the-world/304717/23 "2005-05-21T07:26:26Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Monaco is smaller than Nauru, but it’s a monarchy not a republic. Monaco is only “semi-autonomous”. The USA doesn’t recognize the Order of Malta AFAIK. It does have some nation-like authorities. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallest-country-in-the-world/304717/24 "2005-05-21T12:17:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Monaco is only “semi-autonomous”. I’m not quite sure what you’re using to define this. It has full UN status, and a recent treaty guaranteed it would stay independent from France. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallest-country-in-the-world/304717/25 "2005-05-21T18:19:00Z")
I am pretty sure it’s treaty with France doesn’t allow Monaco it’s own armed services, and France will defend it. I don’t think it has full treaty powers with other nations, either. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallest-country-in-the-world/304717/26 "2005-05-21T18:43:34Z")
The constitution of Monaco is fairly clear on the matter: > [@](#): > > Article 1: The Principality of Monaco is a sovereign and independent state within the framework of the general pricniples of international law and the particular conventions with France. The territory of the Principality is unalienable. [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/national/monaco.htm](http://www.heraldica.org/topics/national/monaco.htm) Also [this](http://www.bergduffy.com/Monaco/2002treatyanal.htm): > [@](#): > > The new treaty greatly increases Monaco’s ability to conduct it own foreign relations. The Principality may freely establish diplomatic relationship with other countries. The treaty does not prevent other countries from establishing embassies in the Principality. France also has the option of opening an embassy in Monaco. It’s not that Monaco ‘isn’t allowed’ its own military, but has agreed to another country taking the role of defense. If you regard this as removing its status as a country, you can cross Costa Rica and Iceland off the list, too. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallest-country-in-the-world/304717/27 "2005-05-21T20:36:36Z")
What about Pitcairn Island? I know its area is larger than some of these places but surely it has the smallest population? (Except for Sealand, but I really don’t think that one counts.) ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallest-country-in-the-world/304717/28 "2005-05-21T20:49:05Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > What about Pitcairn Island? I know its area is larger than some of these places but surely it has the smallest population? (Except for Sealand, but I really don’t think that one counts.) Looks like Pitcairn is still a UK territory: [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/pc.html](http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/pc.html) ---
**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:** [May 21, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallest-country-in-the-world/304717/29 "2005-05-21T20:49:52Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > What about Pitcairn Island? I know its area is larger than some of these places but surely it has the smallest population? (Except for Sealand, but I really don’t think that one counts.) It’s not an independent nation, but part of the overseas territory of the UK ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallest-country-in-the-world/304717/30 "2005-05-25T06:12:30Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > What about Pitcairn Island? I know its area is larger than some of these places but surely it has the smallest population? (Except for Sealand, but I really don’t think that one counts.) According to [this Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_300.html) column, however, Sealand does satisfy the conditions under which many would consider it a “country,” though others say it’s “[controversial](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sealand).” I’m surprised that Cecil didn’t mention it as a case in point. BTW, I heard that the real reason the future Prince of Sealand fired on those British sailors was that they were watching his sister sunbathe in the nude. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallest-country-in-the-world/304717.md?page=1)