| Monaco |
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Monaco | Introduction | Top of Page

Background: | Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation center.

Monaco | Geography | Top of Page

Location: | Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

Geographic coordinates: | 43 44 N, 7 24 E

Map references: | Europe

Area: | total: 1.95 sq km land: 1.95 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative: | about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: | total: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km

Coastline: | 4.1 km

Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: | Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain: | hilly, rugged, rocky

Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m

Natural resources: | none

Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (urban area)

Irrigated land: | NA sq km

Natural hazards: | NA

Environment - current issues: | NA

Environment - international agreements: | party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note: | second smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban

Monaco | People | Top of Page

Population: | 31,842 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: | 0-14 years: 15.32% (male 2,503; female 2,375) 15-64 years: 62.23% (male 9,731; female 10,083) 65 years and over: 22.45% (male 2,921; female 4,229) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: | 0.46% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: | 9.74 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: | 13 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: | 7.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: | 5.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 78.98 years male: 75.04 years female: 83.12 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: | 1.76 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA

Nationality: | noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan

Ethnic groups: | French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%

Religions: | Roman Catholic 90%

Languages: | French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

Literacy: | definition: NA total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA%

Monaco | Government | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional long form: Principality of Monaco conventional short form: Monaco local long form: Principaute de Monaco local short form: Monaco

Government type: | constitutional monarchy

Capital: | Monaco

Administrative divisions: | none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo

Independence: | 1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)

National holiday: | National Day (Prince of Monaco Holiday), 19 November

Constitution: | 17 December 1962

Legal system: | based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: | 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch: | chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since 9 May 1949); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre, son of the monarch (born 14 March 1958) head of government: Minister of State Patrick LECLERQUE (since 5 January 2000) cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government

Legislative branch: | unicameral National Council or Conseil National (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 1 and 8 February 1998 (next to be held NA January 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UND 18

Judicial branch: | Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council)

Political parties and leaders: | National and Democratic Union or UND [leader NA]; National Union for the Future of Monaco or UNAM [leader NA]; Rally for the Monegasque Family [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA

International organization participation: | ACCT, ECE, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: | Monaco does not have an embassy in the US consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: | the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France) is accredited to Monaco

Flag description: | two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red

Monaco | Economy | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The Principality has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas. Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates below are extremely rough.

GDP: | purchasing power parity - $870 million (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: | NA%

GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $27,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line: | NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): | NA%

Labor force: | 30,540 (January 1994)

Unemployment rate: | 3.1% (1998)

Budget: | revenues: $518 million expenditures: $531 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)

Industries: | tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products

Industrial production growth rate: | NA%

Electricity - consumption: | NA kWh

Electricity - imports: | NA kWh note: electricity supplied by France (1999)

Agriculture - products: | none

Exports: | $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France

Imports: | $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France

Debt - external: | $NA

Economic aid - recipient: | $NA

Currency: | French franc (FRF); euro (EUR)

Currency code: | FRF; EUR

Exchange rates: | euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996)

Fiscal year: | calendar year

Monaco | Communications | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 31,027 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular: | NA

Telephone system: | general assessment: modern automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system

Radio broadcast stations: | AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)

Radios: | 34,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations: | 5 (1998)

Televisions: | 25,000 (1997)

Internet country code: | .mc

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 2 (2000)

Internet users: | NA

Monaco | Transportation | Top of Page

Railways: | total: 1.7 km standard gauge: 1.7 km 1.435-m gauge

Highways: | total: 50 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 0 km (2001)

Waterways: | none

Ports and harbors: | Monaco

Merchant marine: | none (2000 est.)

Airports: | linked to airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service

Heliports: | 1 (shuttle service between the international airport at Nice, France, and Monaco's heliport at Fontvieille)

Monaco | Military | Top of Page

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of France

Monaco | Transnational Issues | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | none