Smallest Country in the World, List of Top-10 Smallest Countries [Current Affairs]

In a realm where significant is frequently linked to size, Vatican City stands out as a remarkable anomaly. Situated in the center of Roma, this sovereign city-state holds the distinction of being the smallest country in the world. Despite its diminutive size, Vatican City’s impact, historical importance and cultural richness extend far beyond its compact borders.

These petite nations, often referred to as microstates or ministates, are characterized by their minimal land area and population. As of 2024, the top five smallest countries are Vatican City, Monaco, Nauru, Tuvalu and San Marino. At the pinnacle of this list stands Vatican City, reigning as the smallest country in the world.

List of Top 10 Smallest Countries in the World by Area

Vatican City is considered to be the smallest country in the world with the total land area of just 49 hectares and a population of less than 1,000 people, followed by Monaco, Nauru and Tuvalu.

Here is the list of Top-10 smallest countries in the world:

S. No.	Country	Area (in sq. km)	% of Earth land Area
1.	Vatican City	0.49	<0.01%
2.	Monaco	1.95	<0.01%
3.	Nauru	21	<0.01%
4.	Tuvalu	26	<0.01%
5.	San Marino	61	<0.01%
6.	Liechtenstein	160	<0.01%
7.	Marshall Islands	181	<0.01%
8.	Saint Kitts and Nevis	261	<0.01%
9.	Maldives	300	<0.01%
10.	Malta	316	<0.01%

Smallest Countries In The World in Brief

Here is the complete details of smallest country in the world. In this article you can read the top 10 smallest country in the world with it Population, curreny, region, offical language, and leaders also.

Vatican City, Smallest Country in the World

• Population: 807 (estimated)
• Currency: Euro
• Region: Southern Europe
• Official and National language: Italian
• Government: Unitary theocratic Catholic elective absolute monarchy
• Secretary: Pietro Parolin
• President of the Governorate: Fernando Vergez Alzaga

Vatican City is a landlocked independent country, and enclave within Rome, Italy. It became independent from Rome Italy in 1928 with the Lateran Treaty. It is considered to be the smallest state in the world both by area and population.

Second Smallest Country in the World – Monaco

• Capital: Monaco
• Largest Quarter: Monte Carlo
• Region: Southern Europe
• Population: 39,050 (estimated)
• Currency: Euro
• Official Language: French
• Government: Unitary parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy
• Monarch: Albert II
• Prime Minister: Pierre Dartout

Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Linguria, in Western Europe, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by France to the north, east and west. It is widely recognised as the most expensive and wealthiest places in the world.

World’s Third Smallest Country – Nauru

• Capital: Yaren
• Largest City: Denigomodu
• Region: Oceania, Micronesia
• Currency: Australian Dollar
• Official language: Nauruan
• Government: Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency under a non-partisan democracy
• President: Russ Kun

Nauru is the third smallest country and the smallest island nation. It has a population of about 10,000 which makes it the second smallest nation in the world in terms of population after Vatican City.

Tuvalu, Fourth Smallest Country by Area

• Capital: Funafuti
• Largest City: Funafuti
• Region: Oceania, Polynesia
• Currency: Tuvaluan Dollar, Australian Dollar
• Official language: Tuvaluan English
• Government: Unitary non-parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Monarch: Charles III
• Governor-General: Tofiga Vaevalu Falani
• Prime Minister: Kausea Natano

Tuvalu is an island country in the Polynesian sub-region of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean. Tuvalu is composed of three reef islands and six atolls. Its islands are situated about midway between Hawaii and Australia.

San Marino, Fifth Smallest Country of the World

• Capital: San Marino
• Largest city: Dogana
• Region: southern Europe
• Currency: Euro
• Official language: Italian
• Government: Unitary parliamentary diarchic directorial republic

San Marino also known as Most Serene Republic of San Marino is a European microstate and country enclaved by Italy. It is located on the north-eastern side of the Apennine Mountains.

Liechtenstein- 160 sq.km

• Capital: Vaduz
• Region: Western Europe
• Currency: Swiss Franc
• Official language: German
• Government: Unitary parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy
• Monarch: Hans-Adam II
• Prime Minister: Daniel Risch

Liechtenstein is a Germany-speaking and doubly landlocked country, located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy headed by the prince of Liechtenstein.

Marshall Islands- 181 sq.km

• Capital: Dilap-Uliga-Djarrit
• Largest city: Dilap-Uliga-Djarrit
• Region: Oceania, Micronesia
• Currency: US Dollar
• Official language: Marshallese English
• Government: Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency
• President: David Kabua

The Marshall Islands is an island country near Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean, slightly west of the International Date Line. The country is part of the larger island group of Micronesia.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

• Capital: Basseterre
• Largest city: Basseterre
• Region: Caribbean
• Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
• Official language: English
• Government: Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Monarch: Charles III
• Governor-General: Marcella Liburd
• Prime Minister: Terrance

Saint Kitts and Nevis consists of two islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, both located in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands chain of the Lesser Antilles. It is the only sovereign federation in the Caribbean.

Maldives

• Capital: Male
• Largest city: Male
• Region: Western Asia
• Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa, US Dollar
• Official language: Dhivehi
• Government: Unitary presidential constitutional republic
• President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

Maldives is an archipelagic, situated in the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 7,500 km from the Asian continent’s mainland.

Malta

• Capital: Valletta
• Largest unit: St. Paul’s Bay
• Region: Southern Europe
• Currency: Euro
• Official language: Maltese English
• Government: Unitary parliamentary republic
• President: George Vella
• Prime Minister: Robert Abela

Malta is an island country in Southern Europe, located in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya.