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.

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

43 44 N, 7 24 E

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

total: 4.4 km
border countries: France 4.4 km

4.1 km

territorial sea: 12 nm

Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

hilly, rugged, rocky

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Agel 140 m

none

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2005)

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

32,543 (July 2006 est.)

0-14 years: 15.2% (male 2,539/female 2,417)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,959/female 10,266)
65 years and over: 22.6% (male 3,015/female 4,347) (2006 est.)

total: 45.4 years
male: 43.3 years
female: 47.3 years (2006 est.)

0.4% (2006 est.)

9.19 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

12.91 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

7.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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 (2006 est.)

total: 5.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

total population: 79.69 years
male: 75.85 years
female: 83.74 years (2006 est.)

1.76 children born/woman (2006 est.)

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

French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%

Roman Catholic 90%

French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco
local short form: Monaco

constitutional monarchy

Monaco

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

 1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)

National Day (Prince of Monaco Holiday), 19 November

17 December 1962

based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16 members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional representation; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UNAM 21, UND 3

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

Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. In 2001, a major construction project extended the pier used by cruise ships in the main harbor. 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.

$870 million
note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates are extremely rough (2000 est.)

0.9% (2000 est.)

$27,000 (2000 est.)

agriculture: 17%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

30,540 (January 1994)

22% (1999)

1.9% (2000)

revenues: $518 million
expenditures: $531 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)

none

tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France

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

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

$18 billion (2000 est.)

euro (EUR)

calendar year

33,700 (2002)

19,300 (2002)

general assessment: modern automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system

AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)

5 (1998)

.mc

716 (2005)

16,000 (2002)

none; note - linked to the airport at Nice, France by helicopter service (2005)

1 (shuttle service between the international airport at Nice, France, and Monaco's heliport at Fontvieille) (2005)

total: 50 km
paved: 50 km (1999)

registered in other countries: 81 (The Bahamas 17, Barbados 1, Georgia 12, Hong Kong 1, Isle of Man 1, Italy 6, Liberia 11, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 8, Norway 3, Panama 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Switzerland 2, Turkey 1, unknown 1) (2005)

Monaco

defense is the responsibility of France; the Palace Guard performs ceremonial duties (2003)