The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling GRIMALDI family first seized control in 1297 but was not able to permanently secure its holding until 1419. 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, coastal Mediterranean scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world-famous as a tourist and recreation center.
Geography
Location
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates
43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total : 2 sq km
land: 2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
comparison ranking: total 249
Area – comparative
about three times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries
total: 6 km
border countries (1): France 6 km
Coastline
4.1 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Climate
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain
hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation
highest point: Chemin des Revoires on Mont Agel 162 m
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Natural resources
none
Land use
agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2022 est.)
other: 100% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution
the second most densely populated country in the world (after Macau); its entire population lives on 2 sq km (0.8 sq mi)
Natural hazards
none
Geography – note
second-smallest independent state in the world (after the Holy See); smallest country with a coastline; almost entirely urban
People and Society
Population
total: 31,813 (2024 est.)
male: 15,366
female: 16,447
comparison rankings: total 216; female 216; male 216
Nationality
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups
Monegasque 32.1%, French 19.9%, Italian 15.3%, British 5%, Belgian 2.3%, Swiss 2%, German 1.9%, Russian 1.8%, American 1.1%, Dutch 1.1%, Moroccan 1%, other 16.6% (2016 est.)
note: data represent population by country of birth
Languages
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, une source indispensable d’informations de base. (French)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
French audio sample:
Religions
Roman Catholic 90% (official), other 10%
Age structure
0-14 years: 9.1% (male 1,485/female 1,408)
15-64 years: 53.8% (male 8,620/female 8,490)
65 years and over: 37.1% (2024 est.) (male 5,261/female 6,549)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 85.9 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 16.9 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 69 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 1.4 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 56.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 55 years
female: 58.4 years
comparison ranking: total 1
Population growth rate
0.71% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 124
Birth rate
6.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 226
Death rate
11.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 25
Net migration rate
11.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 7
Population distribution
the second most densely populated country in the world (after Macau); its entire population lives on 2 sq km (0.8 sq mi)
Urbanization
urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
39,000 MONACO (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 224
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 89.8 years (2024 est.)
male: 86 years
female: 93.7 years
comparison ranking: total population 1
Total fertility rate
1.54 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 196
Gross reproduction rate
0.76 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
NA
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
3.7% of GDP (2021)
12% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
8.61 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Education expenditure
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
7.7% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 197
Literacy
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Environment
Environment – international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Land use
agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2022 est.)
other: 100% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 9.21 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
methane emissions: 0.05 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 46,000 tons (2012 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,484 tons (2012 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.4% (2012 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local long form: Principauté de Monaco
local short form: Monaco
etymology: founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name’s origin is unclear; it could derive from the Greek term monoikos (solitary), the Ligurian word monegu (rock), or the Basque word muno (mountain)
Government type
constitutional monarchy
Capital
name: Monaco
geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name’s origin is unclear; it could derive from the Greek term monoikos (solitary), the Ligurian word monegu (rock), or the Basque word muno (mountain)
Administrative divisions
none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but there are 4 quarters (quartiers, singular – quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo
note: Moneghetti, part of La Condamine, is sometimes called the fifth quarter of Monaco
Legal system
civil law system influenced by French legal tradition
Constitution
history: previous 1911 (suspended 1959); latest adopted 17 December 1962
amendment process: proposed by joint agreement of the chief of state (the prince) and the National Council; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of National Council members
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Monaco; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen and father unknown
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)
head of government: Acting Minister of State Isabelle BERRO-AMADEI (since 10 January 2025)
cabinet: Council of Government under the authority of the monarch
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Council (Conseil national)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 24 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 2/5/2023
parties elected and seats per party: Monegasque National Union – l’Union (24)
percentage of women in chamber: 45.8%
expected date of next election: February 2028
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 permanent members and 2 substitutes)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court members appointed by the monarch upon the proposals of the National Council, State Council, Crown Council, Court of Appeal, and Trial Court
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; Civil Court of First Instance
Political parties
Monegasque National Union (includes Horizon Monaco, Primo!, Union Monegasque)
Horizon Monaco
Priorite Monaco or Primo!
Union Monegasque
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Maguy MACCARIO DOYLE (since 3 December 2013)
chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 234-1530
FAX: [1] (202) 244-7656
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://monacodc.org/index.html
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy: US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France), under the authority of the US Ambassador to France, handles diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco; +(33)(1) 43-12-22-22, enter zero “0” after the automated greeting; US Embassy Paris, 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris, France
International organization participation
CD, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Independence
1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI)
National holiday
National Day (Saint Rainier’s Day), 19 November (1857)
Flag description
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; the colors are those of the ruling House of Grimaldi and have been in use since 1339, making the national flag one of the world’s oldest
note: similar to the flags of Indonesia (longer) and Poland (colors reversed)
National symbol(s)
red and white lozenges (diamond shapes)
National colors
red, white
National anthem
name: “A Marcia de Muneghu” (The March of Monaco)
lyrics/music: Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT
note: music adopted 1867, lyrics adopted 1931; although French is commonly spoken, only the Monegasque lyrics are official; the French version is known as “Hymne Monegasque” (Monegasque Anthem); the words are generally only sung on official occasions
Economy
Economic overview
high-income European economy; non-EU euro user; considered a tax haven; tourism and banking are largest sectors; negatively impacted by COVID-19; major oceanographic museum; among most expensive real estate; major state-owned enterprises
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$7.672 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2015 dollars
comparison ranking: 171
Real GDP growth rate
5.04% (2023 est.)
11.05% (2022 est.)
21.87% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 52
Real GDP per capita
$115,700 (2015 est.)
$109,200 (2014 est.)
comparison ranking: 4
GDP (official exchange rate)
$9.995 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
industry: 11.5% (2023 est.)
services: 88.5% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 11; industry 184
Agricultural products
none
Industries
banking, insurance, tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Industrial production growth rate
-3.16% (2014 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 191
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 26.6% (2016 est.)
male: 25.7%
female: 27.9%
comparison ranking: total 33
Exports
$964.6 million (2017 est.)
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
comparison ranking: 184
Exports – partners
Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Spain(2021)
Exports – commodities
jewelry, perfumes, watches, packaged medicines, cars (2021)
top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$1.371 billion (2017 est.)
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
comparison ranking: 189
Imports – partners
Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, China (2021)
Imports – commodities
jewelry, cars and vehicle parts, recreational boats, plastic products, artwork (2021)
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
0.924 (2024 est.)
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
note: while not an EU member state, Monaco, due to its preexisting monetary and banking agreements with France, has a 1998 monetary agreement with the EU to produce limited euro coinage—but not banknotes—that began enforcement in January 2002 and superseded by a new EU agreement in 2012
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 43,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 159
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 41,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 208
Broadcast media
TV Monte-Carlo operates a TV network; cable TV available; Radio Monte-Carlo has extensive radio networks in France and Italy, with French-language broadcasts to France beginning in the 1960s and Italian-language broadcasts to Italy beginning in the 1970s; other radio stations include Riviera Radio and Radio Monaco
Internet country code
.mc
Internet users
percent of population: 99% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 22,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 168
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
3A
Heliports
3 (2025)
comparison ranking: 117
Railways
note: Monaco has a single railway station but does not operate its own train service; the French operator SNCF operates rail services in Monaco
Merchant marine
total: 1
comparison ranking: total 185
Ports
total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 0
key ports: Monaco
Military and Security
Military and security forces
no regular military forces; Prince’s Company of Carabiniers (Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince, Police Department (Direction de la Sûreté Publique), Fire and Emergency Service (Corps des Sapeurs-pompiers de Monaco) (2025)
note: the primary responsibility for the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince is guarding the palace; the Police maintain public order
Military service age and obligation
the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince is staffed by French nationals (2024)
Military – note
by treaty, France is responsible for defending the independence and sovereignty of Monaco
