The United States Of America (USA) is the third or fourth-largest country in the world, covering an area of 3.7 million square miles. By population, the USA ranks third with a population of about three hundred and thirty-one million (331,000,000) people. It is located in North America, sharing borders with Canada and Mexico which are two of the world’s largest countries.

Monstera/Pexels | By population, the USA ranks third at about three hundred and thirty-one million

While countries like the USA, Canada, and Mexico cover millions of square miles of land, there are some countries that are significantly smaller and with fewer people, occupying an area of less than two hundred square miles. In this article, we will discuss some of the world’s smallest countries and some fascinating facts about them.

Monaco

Monaco is the second smallest sovereign state in the world after the Vatican. The country shares borders with France to the north, east, and west. It is also just a few miles from Italy. If you’re a soccer fan, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Monaco is a city in France. Such a misconception is common because Monaco’s major football club, AS Monaco, plays in the French Ligue 1.

JESHOOTS/Pexels | Monaco

Monaco has a population of 38,400 people living within its 0.75 square miles area. This means that AS Monaco’s stadium, Stade Louis II with a capacity of 18,523 persons can accommodate half of its entire population! Monaco is opulent, attractive, and famous for casinos, gambling, and hosting wealthy tourists. It is common to spot mega yachts and super rare motorcars in Monaco’s vicinity. The city-state has become a tax haven and is good for business since it has low business taxes and does not impose income taxes on its constituents. It is one of the few countries in the world where thirty percent of its citizens are millionaires.

Pixabay/Pexels | Vatican City

State of the Vatican City

The Vatican City is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and has a population of about 800 people living within its 0.17 square miles area. Only 450 of the residents have Vatican citizenship and residency is reserved for the clergy and the Swiss guards. The Vatican City is located in Rome, Italy, and is the Pope’s resident city. The Lateran Treaty of 1929 is the reason why Vatican City is able to function as a country within another country (Italy). The Vatican City is the only UNESCO world heritage country and does allow visitors and tourists but there are strict rules with regards to their dressing.

Roberta Cole