Which is the second smallest country in the world?


               Located on the French Riviera, Monaco is home to the largest number of millionaires and billionaires in the world.



               It is also the world’s second smallest country, with only two square kilometres in total land area.



               Known for its gambling and luxury goods and services industry, Monaco is a favourite playground of the rich and famous, the former drawn by its climate and the beauty of its setting and the latter by its advantageous tax regime.



               In 2014, it was noted that about 30 per cent of the population was made up of millionaires, more than in Zurich or Geneva. The country is a major banking centre that closely guards the privacy of its clients.



               Bordered by France on three sides and on one side by the Mediterranean Sea, the residents of Monaco are mostly French-speaking.



               With a population of over 38,000, Monaco is the world’s most densely populated sovereign state. The most popular annual event is the Formula 1 race, with tracks passing through the city streets.



 


What are the specialities of Nauru?


               Nauru is an island country situated in Micronesia in the Central Pacific. It has 11,347 residents in a 21 square kilometre area.



               Nauru is the third smallest state by area in the world. Nauru is also the world’s smallest island nation, the smallest independent republic, and the only republic in the world without an official capital. Nauruan is the official language, and the Australian dollar is the currency.



               Nauru only has one significant source of income: phosphates from thousands of years’ worth of guano or bird droppings. This proved to be both a boon and a bane for Nauruans - for a long time, its residents enjoyed a high level of income as the country exported its phosphate like there was no tomorrow.



               Nauru is also known as the country with the most obese people in the world. In the early 21st century Nauru agreed to temporarily house hundreds of Australia-bound asylum seekers while they waited for the processing of their applications. In exchange, Australia provided millions of dollars in aid to Nauru.



 


Where is Tuvalu situated?


               Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is the fourth smallest country in the world. It is located in the Pacific Ocean, about midway between Hawaii and Australia. Tuvalu is a group of nine tiny islands in the South Pacific which won independence from the United Kingdom in 1978.



               Five of the islands are coral atolls; the other four consists of land rising from the sea bed. The closest neighbours are Solomon Islands in the west, Kiribati in north, Samoa in the east, and Fiji in the south.



               The total land area of the islands of Tuvalu is 26 square kilometres. Life on the islands is simple, and often harsh. There are no streams or rivers, so the collection of rain is essential. Copra - dried coconut kernel - is practically the only export commodity.



               The currencies widely used are the Tuvaluan dollar and the Australian dollar. The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesians. On 5th September 2000, Tuvalu became the 189th member of the United Nations.


Which is the 5th smallest country in the world?


               Landlocked San Marino is world’s fifth smallest country. It is a small republic situated on the slopes of Mount Titano, and surrounded on all sides by the Republic of Italy. It is the smallest independent state in Europe after the Vatican City and Monaco and, until the independence of Nauru (1968), the smallest republic in the world.



               San Marino claims to be the oldest surviving sovereign state in the world, and is also one of the wealthiest in terms of GDP per capita. It has a population of only 30,000. The country boasts of one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world.



               Tourism dominates the economy of the 61 square kilometres republic, which plays host to more than three million visitors every year. The official language of the country is Italian. Its capital is the City of San Marino and its largest city is Serravalle.



               The currency of the country is the Euro. The country’s economy mainly relies on finance, industry, services and tourism. It is among the wealthiest countries in the world in terms of GDP (per capita). It is the only country with more vehicles than people!


What are the unique features of Liechtenstein?


            A German-speaking country, this is the only nation in the world to be completely located in the Alps.



            Liechtenstein is located between Switzerland and Austria. It is a constitutional monarchy ruled by the hereditary princes of the house of Liechtenstein. The country’s capital is Vaduz. The country has only about 37,000 people in roughly 160.5 square kilometres. There is no airport within its borders. Visitors must go through Switzerland’s Zurich Airport to reach this Alpine country. Liechtenstein has one of the world’s lowest crime rates.



            Liechtenstein has no natural resources of commercial value, and virtually all raw materials, including wood, have to be imported.



            Despite its small size and limited national resources, Liechtenstein is one of the richest countries in the world, on a per capita GDP basis.



            It has developed since the 1940s from a mainly agricultural, to an industrialized country and a prosperous centre of trade and tourism. In 1921, Liechtenstein adopted the Swiss franc as its currency. Tourism is a leading sector of Liechtenstein’s economy.


Where are the Marshall Islands situated?


               Comprising over a thousand flat coral islands of white sand beaches and turquoise lagoons, The Marshall Islands, are immensely luring to tourists as a tropical paradise. The Marshall Islands are located near the equator in the Pacific Ocean. Geographically, the country is part of the larger island group of Micronesia. Majuro is the political and economic centre of the Marshall Islands.



               The Marshall Islands were claimed by Spain in 1592, but were left undisturbed by the Spanish Empire for 300 years. In 1885, Germany took over the administration of the Marshall Islands, and located trading stations.



               At the beginning of World War I, Japan assumed control of the Marshall Islands. During World War II, the United States conquered the islands in 1944.



               The government is the largest employer in the country, employing about one quarter of the workforce. The gross domestic product is derived mainly from US-funded expenditures. The country uses the US dollar as its currency.


What makes Saint Kitts and Nevis significant?


               Saint Kitts and Nevis is the eighth smallest country in the world by area. This island country in the West Indies is located in the Leeward Islands chain of the Lesser Antilles.



               Saint Kitts and Nevis were among the first islands in the Caribbean to be settled by Europeans. The country has also been titled ‘The Mother Colony of the West Indies’. The official language of the country is English, and the currency is the East Caribbean dollar.



               The country has been a major sugar exporter for centuries. Since independence in 1983, the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis has been an independent member of the Commonwealth, with the British monarch as its head of state. An appointed governor-general represents the crown.



               The islands have a combined land area of 261 square kilometres, making it the smallest sovereign country in the Americas. The country has a population of 52,000 inhabitants. Capital city is Basseterre.


What makes the Maldives special?


               The smallest country in Asia, the Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean, and is home to approximately 427,000 people. Known for its luxurious resorts, stunning white sandy beaches, and amazing crystal-clear turquoise waters, the Maldives is a tourist haven. It consists of a chain of about 26 atolls and sandbanks, grouped in clusters, or atolls.



               The country was once the colony of many empires, the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British, but became an independent country in 1965. Comprising a territory spanning roughly 298 square kilometres, the Maldives is one of the world’s most geographically dispersed countries.



               Male is the capital city, is also the most populated city. Maldives was a member of commonwealth until October 2016 when they withdrew in protest of international criticism of its records in relation to corruption and human rights. The Maldivian rufiyaa is the currency of the Maldives. The official language is Dhivehi (or Maldivian).


Where is Malta situated?


            Malta is a Southern European island country consisting of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea.



            The Republic of Malta is actually made up of three islands: Gozo, Comino, and Malta, which is the largest of the three. This small country has a population of over 410,000 inhabitants, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Another popular tourist destination, foreigners from all over the world come to Malta for its sunny weather, attractive beaches, rich history, and vibrant nightlife.



            The British ruled Malta until 1964, when it became independent. The capital of Malta is Valletta, is the smallest national capital in the European Union by area. Valletta is one of the most concentrated historical areas in the world. Malta has one national language, which is Maltese, and English is used as an official language.



            Malta’s location in the middle of the Mediterranean has historically given it great strategic importance as a naval base. There are more than a few sunken World War II ships along the coastline. It was heavily bombarded by German and Italian aircraft, and by the end of the World War, Malta was devastated.


Where is Grenada located?


               The tiny Caribbean island of Grenada is one of the smallest independent countries in the western hemisphere. It consists of the island of Grenada, and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines island chain. Its size is 348.5 square kilometres. Its capital is St. George’s. Known as the Spice Island, the island of Carriacou is the largest island in the Grenadines. It remains within the British Commonwealth as an independent nation, and the Governor General represents the Queen.



               The East Caribbean dollar is the currency used locally. It is linked to the US dollar. Tourism is Grenada’s main economic force. Conventional beach and water-sports tourism is largely focused in the southwest region around St. George’s. Beautiful scenery with fertile valleys, rainforests, mountain lakes and excellent beaches are a big draw for tourists.


What is the climate in St Vincent and the Grenadines like?


               St Vincent and the Grenadines, one of the Windward Island countries of the Eastern Caribbean, lies near the southern end of the Caribbean chain, about 97 km north of Grenada. Most of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lies within the Hurricane Belt. Kingstown is the capital and main port.



               Some 69 per cent of the country’s land area is forested. The country been colonized by both the French and the British. The country comprises six parishes, one of these being Grenadines.



               St Vincent and the Grenadines is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state, bearing the title Queen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The official language of the country is English, and the currency is the East Caribbean dollar.


What are the features of the country of Barbados?


            Barbados is an island country in the Caribbean region of North America.



            Barbados is one of the more populous and prosperous Caribbean islands. Political, economic and social stability have given it a relatively high standard of living. Its capital and largest city is Bridgetown, which is also the main seaport.



            It has a population of 284,996 people, predominantly of African descent. Barbadians are crazy about afternoon tea, cricket, golfing and scuba diving. The island was a British possession without interruption from the 17th century to 1966, when it attained independence.



            The tropical climate is tempered by an almost constant sea breeze from the northeast in the winter.



            Barbados is host to four species of nesting turtles, and has the second-largest hawksbill turtle breeding population in the Caribbean. The currency of Barbados is the Barbadian dollar.


Which is the 14th smallest country in the world?


               The country which is in the 14th place in the smallest list is Antigua and Barbuda. It is a dual-island nation in the West Indies. It is a sovereign state in the Americas, lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.



               Antigua and Barbuda is part of the Leeward Islands, and consists of two inhabited main islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and a number of smaller islands. The capital and largest city is St. John’s on Antigua.



               Its governance, language, and culture have all been strongly influenced by the British Empire, of which the country was formerly a part, gaining sovereignty on 1st November 1981. It remains a member of the Commonwealth, and Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state.



               The island is tropical and drier than most of the West Indies. The hot season, when most rain falls, is May to November. Hurricanes strike on an average of once a year.



               The most significant environmental issue here is limited natural freshwater resources.


Why is Seychelles a very popular country?


               Located in the continent of Africa, Seychelles covers 459 square kilometres of land. It is the 15th smallest country. In fact, it is the smallest country in Africa.



               Seychelles became an independent state in 1976, after gaining its sovereignty from the UK. The population of Seychelles is 94,228.



               Seychelles’s economy depends heavily on the fishing industry and tourism. Seychelles is very popular because of its scenic beauty, and enchanting climate. The island country, whose capital is Victoria, lies 1,500 kilometres east of mainland East Africa.



               Seychelles is a member of the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the United Nations. It got independence in 1976.



               The currency of Seychelles is the Seychellois Rupee (SCR). As well, the people of Seychelles are referred to as Seychellois.


What are the specialties of Andorra?


            Andorra is situated in south-western Europe, in the eastern Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain.



            The first Andorran Constitution was passed in 1993, establishing parliamentary government. It then joined the United Nations and Council of Europe.



            Andorra has traditionally had a strong affinity with the region of Catalonia in northern Spain. Andorra’s official language is Catalan. Andorra is the sixth-smallest nation in Europe, with an area of 468 square kilometres. Its capital Andorra la Vella is the highest capital city in Europe.



            The mainstay of the highly-prosperous economy is tourism. The country’s banking sector enjoys partial tax-haven status. An estimated 10 million people visit each year, drawn by winter sports, a warm summer climate. Andorra is not a member of the EU, but enjoys a special relationship with it and uses the Euro.