San Marino

Map of San Marino

Background:

The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco) also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marino in 301 A.D. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of Italy. Social and political trends in the republic also track closely with those of its larger neighbor.

Location:

Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy

Geographic coordinates:

43 46 N, 12 25 E

Area:

total: 61.2 sq km
land: 61.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Land boundaries:

total: 39 km
border countries: Italy 39 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers

Terrain:

rugged mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m
highest point: Monte Titano 755 m

Natural resources:

building stone

Land use:

arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 83.33% (2005)

Geography - note:

landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines

Population:

29,251 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.8% (male 2,534/female 2,372)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 9,316/female 10,055)
65 years and over: 17% (male 2,149/female 2,825) (2006 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.6 years
male: 40.3 years
female: 41 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.26% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:

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

Death rate:

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

Net migration rate:

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

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.71 years
male: 78.23 years
female: 85.5 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.34 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sammarinese

Ethnic groups:

Sammarinese, Italian

Religions:

Roman Catholic

Languages:

Italian

Literacy:

definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95% (1976 est.)

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
conventional short form: San Marino
local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
local short form: San Marino

Government type:

independent republic

Capital:

San Marino

Administrative divisions:

9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle

Independence:

3 September A.D. 301

National holiday:

Founding of the Republic, 3 September (A.D. 301)

Constitution:

8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions of a constitution

Legal system:

based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Legislative branch:

unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 10 June 2001 (next to be held by June 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDCS 41.4%, PSS 24.2%, PD 20.8%, APDS 8.2%, RC 3.4%, AN 1.9%; seats by party - PDCS 25, PSS 15, PD 12, APDS 5, RC 2, AN 1

Judicial branch:

Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII

Economy - overview:

The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP. In 2000 more than 3 million tourists visited San Marino. The key industries are banking, wearing apparel, electronics, and ceramics. Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of the most prosperous regions of Italy, which supplies much of its food.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$940 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.5% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$34,600 (2001 est.)

Labor force:

18,500 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1%
industry: 42%
services: 57% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2.6% (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.3% (2001)

Budget:

revenues: $400 million
expenditures: $400 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides

Industries:

tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine

Industrial production growth rate:

6% (1997 est.)

Exports:

trade data are included with the statistics for Italy

Exports - commodities:

building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, ceramics

Imports:

trade data are included with the statistics for Italy

Imports - commodities:

wide variety of consumer manufactures, food

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Telephones - main lines in use:

20,600 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

16,800 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate connections
domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system
international: country code - 378; connected to Italian international network

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)

Internet country code:

.sm

Internet hosts:

2,166 (2005)

Internet users:

14,300 (2002)

Airports:

none (2005)

Roadways:

total: 104 km
paved: 104 km (2003)

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Voluntary Military Force (Corpi Militari Voluntar) performs ceremonial duties and limited police functions (2006)