Europe :: Monaco

- Introduction :: Monaco
- Background:
  The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling GRIMALDI family first seized control in 1297 but was not able to permanently secure its holding until 1419. 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.
- Geography :: Monaco
- 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: 2 sq km
  land: 2 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 255
  Area - comparative:
  about three times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  total: 6 km
  border countries (1): France 6 km
  Coastline:
  4.1 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
  Climate:
  Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
  Terrain:
  hilly, rugged, rocky
  Elevation:
  0 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea
  162 highest point: Chemin des Révoires on Mont Agel
  Natural resources:
  none
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 1% (2011 est.)
  arable land: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
  forest: 0% (2011 est.)
  other: 99% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  0 sq km (2012)
  Population distribution:
  the most densely populated country in the world; its entire population living on 2 square km
  Natural hazards:
  none
  Environment - current issues:
  no serious issues; actively monitors pollution levels in air and water
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note:
  second-smallest independent state in the world (after the Holy See); smallest country with a coastline; almost entirely urban
- People and Society :: Monaco
- Population:
  30,727 (July 2017 est.) (July 2018 est.)

  note: immigrants make up almost 55% of the total population, according to UN data (2017)

  country comparison to the world: 217
  Nationality:
  noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
  adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
  Ethnic groups:
  Monegasque 32.1%, French 19.9%, Italian 15.3%, British 5%, Belgian 2.3%, Swiss 2%, German 1.9%, Russian 1.8%, American 1.1%, Dutch 1.1%, Moroccan 1%, other 16.6% (2016 est.)

  note: data represent population by country of birth

  Languages:
  French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic 90% (official), other 10%
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 10.27% (male 1,622 /female 1,533)
  15-24 years: 9.39% (male 1,498 /female 1,387)
  25-54 years: 32.15% (male 4,964 /female 4,916)
  55-64 years: 15.04% (male 2,305 /female 2,315)
  65 years and over: 33.15% (male 4,530 /female 5,657) (2018 est.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Europe :: Monaco Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Monaco. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Median age:
  total: 53.8 years
  male: 52.4 years
  female: 55.3 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 1
  Population growth rate:
  0.3% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Birth rate:
  6.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 226
  Death rate:
  10.1 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Net migration rate:
  5.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Population distribution:
  the most densely populated country in the world; its entire population living on 2 square km
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 100% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 0.51% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  39,000 MONACO (capital) (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 1.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 223
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 89.4 years (2018 est.)
  male: 85.5 years (2018 est.)
  female: 93.4 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 1
  Total fertility rate:
  1.54 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Health expenditures:
  4.3% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 160
  Physicians density:
  6.65 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
  Hospital bed density:
  13.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved: urban: 100% of population
  total: 100% of population
  unimproved: urban: 0% of population
  total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved: urban: 100% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 100% of population (2015 est.)
  unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Education expenditures:
  1.4% of GDP (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 26.6% (2016 est.)
  male: 25.7% (2016 est.)
  female: 27.9% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
- Government :: Monaco
- Country name:
  conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
  conventional short form: Monaco
  local long form: Principaute de Monaco
  local short form: Monaco
  etymology: founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name derives from two Greek words "monos" (single, alone) and "oikos" (house) to convey the sense of a people "living apart" or in a "single habitation"
  Government type:
  constitutional monarchy
  Capital:
  name: Monaco
  geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E
  time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
  Administrative divisions:
  none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 4 quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo; note - Moneghetti, a part of La Condamine, is sometimes called the 5th quarter of Monaco
  Independence:
  1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI)
  National holiday:
  National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)
  Constitution:
  history: previous 1911 (suspended 1959); latest adopted 17 December 1962 (2016)
  amendments: proposed by joint agreement of the chief of state (the prince) and the National Council; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of National Council members; amended 2002 (2016)
  Legal system:
  civil law system influenced by French legal tradition
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Monaco; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen and father unknown
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Judicial branch:
  highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 5 permanent members and 2 substitutes)
  judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court members appointed by the monarch upon the proposals of the National Council, State Council, Crown Council, Court of Appeal, and Trial Court
  subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; Civil Court of First Instance
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)
  head of government: Minister of State Serge TELLE (since 1 February 2016)
  cabinet: Council of Government under the authority of the monarch
  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 8 directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
  elections: last held on 11 February 2018 (next to be held in February 2023)
  election results: percent of vote by party - Priorite Monaco 57.7%, Horizon Monaco 26.1%, Union Monegasque 16.2%; seats by party - Priorite Monaco 21, Horizon Monaco 2, Union Monegasque 1; composition - men 16, women 8, percent of women 33.3%
  Political parties and leaders:
  Horizon Monaco [Laurent NOUVION]
  Priorite Monaco [Stephane VALERI]
  Renaissance [SBM (public corporation)]
  Union Monegasque [Jean-Francois ROBILLON]
  International organization participation:
  CD, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Maguy MACCARIO-DOYLE (since 3 December 2013)
  chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Suite 2K-100, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: (202) 234-1530
  FAX: (202) 244-7656
  consulate(s) general: New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France), under the authority of the US Ambassador to France, handles diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco
  Flag description:
  two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; the colors are those of the ruling House of Grimaldi and have been in use since 1339, making the flag one of the world's oldest national banners

  note: similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red

  National symbol(s):
  red and white lozenges (diamond shapes); national colors: red, white
  National anthem:
  name: "A Marcia de Muneghu" (The March of Monaco)
  lyrics/music: Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT

  note: music adopted 1867, lyrics adopted 1931; although French is commonly spoken, only the Monegasque lyrics are official; the French version is known as "Hymne Monegasque" (Monegasque Anthem); the words are generally only sung on official occasions

- Economy :: Monaco
- Economy - overview:

  Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a banking center and has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. 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.

  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. Monaco, however, is not a tax-free shelter; it charges nearly 20% value-added tax, collects stamp duties, and companies face a 33% tax on profits unless they can show that three-quarters of profits are generated within the principality. Monaco was formally removed from the OECD's "grey list" of uncooperative tax jurisdictions in late 2009, but continues to face international pressure to abandon its banking secrecy laws and help combat tax evasion. In October 2014, Monaco officially became the 84th jurisdiction participating in the OECD’s Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, an effort to combat offshore tax avoidance and evasion.

  Monaco's reliance on tourism and banking for its economic growth has left it vulnerable to downturns in France and other European economies which are the principality's main trade partners. In 2009, Monaco's GDP fell by 11.5% as the euro-zone crisis precipitated a sharp drop in tourism and retail activity and home sales. A modest recovery ensued in 2010 and intensified in 2013, with GDP growth of more than 9%, but Monaco's economic prospects remain uncertain.

  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $7.672 billion (2015 est.)
  $7.279 billion (2014 est.)
  $6.79 billion (2013 est.)

  note: data are in 2015 US dollars

  country comparison to the world: 165
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $6.006 billion (2015 est.) (2015 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  5.4% (2015 est.)
  7.2% (2014 est.)
  9.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $115,700 (2015 est.)
  $109,200 (2014 est.)
  $101,900 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 3
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 0% (2013)
  industry: 14% (2013)
  services: 86% (2013)
  Agriculture - products:
  none
  Industries:
  banking, insurance, tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
  Industrial production growth rate:
  6.8% (2015)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Labor force:
  52,000 (2014 est.)

  note: includes all foreign workers

  country comparison to the world: 190
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 0%
  industry: 16.1%
  services: 83.9% (2012 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  2% (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Population below poverty line:
  NA
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA
  highest 10%: NA
  Budget:
  revenues: 896.3 million (2011 est.)
  expenditures: 953.6 million (2011 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  14.9% (of GDP) (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -1% (of GDP) (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.5% (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Market value of publicly traded shares:

  NA

  Exports:
  $964.6 million (2017 est.)
  $1.115 billion (2011)

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

  country comparison to the world: 162
  Imports:
  $1.371 billion (2017 est.)
  $1.162 billion (2011 est.)

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

  country comparison to the world: 175
  Debt - external:

  NA

  Exchange rates:
  euros (EUR) per US dollar -
  0.885 (2017 est.)
  0.903 (2016 est.)
  0.9214 (2015 est.)
  0.885 (2014 est.)
  0.7634 (2013 est.)
- Energy :: Monaco
- Electricity access:
  electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
- Communications :: Monaco
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 47,013 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 153 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total subscriptions: 32,978 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: modern automatic telephone system; the country's sole fixed-line operator offers a full range of services to residential and business customers (2016)
  domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 250 per 100 persons (2016)
  international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system (2016)
  Broadcast media:
  TV Monte-Carlo operates a TV network; cable TV available; Radio Monte-Carlo has extensive radio networks in France and Italy with French-language broadcasts to France beginning in the 1960s and Italian-language broadcasts to Italy beginning in the 1970s; other radio stations include Riviera Radio and Radio Monaco (2012)
  Internet country code:
  .mc
  Internet users:
  total: 29,116 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 95.2% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 203
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
  total: 19,258 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 63 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 152
- Transportation :: Monaco
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
  3A (2016)
  Heliports:
  1 (2012)
  Roadways:
  total: 77 km (2010)
  paved: 77 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 218
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Monaco
- Military and Security :: Monaco
- Military branches:
  no regular military forces; Directorate of Public Security (2012)
  Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of France
- Transnational Issues :: Monaco
- Disputes - international:
  none