The world contains billions upon billions of people spread far and wide.
Just like the people themselves the countries can be rather strange and hold some very interesting facts.
I often wonder what’s the largest, longest, lowest or most luxurious country in the world and what wonders does that particular country hold.
Here we’re going to look at 5 of the world’s smallest countries.
But don’t be fooled by their size, these places hold some fascinating bits of information from the people to the landscape.
#1 San Marino – 23.5 Square Mile
San Marino claim to be the oldest surviving sovereign state.
As of January 2016, San Marino has a population of around 32,000 people.
As you can see, this is a fairly small country that’s actually quite densely populated.
Especially when compared to Saint Kitts and Nevis, which has an extra 77.5 square miles and only 13,000 more people!
San Marino has a rather strange relationship with the US.
In 1861 the San Marino government wrote to then-president Abraham Lincoln asking if he would like to form an alliance.
In turn they would give him honorary San Marino citizenship, Lincoln accepted this offer.
When it comes to sports though, and particularly that of soccer, San Marino aren’t that successful.
After forming in 1990, their first international win didn’t come until 2004 when they beat Liechtenstein 1-0!
#2 Tuvalu – 10 Square Mile
Tuvalu was previously known as the Ellice Islands (no not that Ellis Island) just off the North East of Australia.
There is just one 1 hospital on the island for its population of just under 10,000 as of January 1st 2016, that’s 384 people per sq. km!
The island is quite a low lying one with the highest point being just 16ft above sea-level.
Tuvalu is a reasonably secluded location with only 2,000 visitors in 2010 and 65% of those were for business.
However it does hold a rather strange caving system…
In 1986, 2 scuba divers discovered underwater caves, this is of course not that strange but when they noticed dark patches similar to that of fire scorching, eyebrows were raised.
It’s believed that many thousands of years ago the island was that much higher out of the sea compared to today, theoretically showing just how much sea-levels have varied.
#3 Nauru – 8 Square Mile
Nauru is an island east of Australia.
It’s the smallest island country and with a population of around 10,200 people as of January 2016, it’s obviously not that lowly-populated compared to earlier examples.
The country, even though stunningly beautiful, has a real issue with unemployment.
Only 10% of the residents are employed, all of them are by the government.
The island has a serious problem with obesity too, it’s often categorized as the most obese island nation.
97% of men and 93% of women are obese.
Because of this, type 2 diabetes is also very prominent in Nauru, with 40% of people suffering.
#4 Monaco – 0.75 Square Mile
Monaco is a very wealthy country as we are all aware; hosting Grand Prix’s and numerous other events.
The country is bordered by France and its flag is very similar to that of Indonesia, the difference being that the Indonesian flag is wider.
AS Monaco, the country’s major football club, play in the flag’s red and white and are called Les Rouge et Blanc or the red and whites.
AS Monaco’s stadium Stade Louis II is able to fit over half of the country’s population, which as of January 2016, was over 37,500!
#5 State of the Vatican City – 0.17 Square Miles
Located in Rome, Italy, the Vatican City is the home of the Pope and many other religious figures.
With a population of just 800 and of those only 450 hold actual citizenship, many citizens actually live elsewhere.
Its sovereignty was recognized by Italian government under Lateran Treaty on 11th February 1929.
The Vatican prints its own stamps, issues passports and number plates, mints its own euros and has its own flag and anthem.
The one ability it does lack is that of taxation.
The Swiss Guard protect the Vatican City, its main purpose is to protect the Pope and has been since 1506 when the then-Pope Julius II hired the Swiss as his own protectors.
Whether you’re religious and view the State of the Vatican City simply for its significance in the church, or whether you love the quirkiness of the isolated tiny country, I strongly believe everyone should visit just to say you’ve done so!
Even when you disregard that of Vatican City, the other countries on this list are well worth a visit.
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