Europe :: Monaco
page last updated on May 17, 2010
Flag of Monaco
Location of Monaco
 
Map of Monaco
Introduction ::Monaco
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control in the late 13th century, and a principality was established in 1338. 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.
Geography ::Monaco
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
43 44 N, 7 24 E
total: 2 sq km
country comparison to the world: 248
land: 2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
total: 4.4 km
border countries: France 4.4 km
4.1 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Current Weather
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)
NA
NA
NA
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban
People ::Monaco
30,586 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
0-14 years: 12.6% (male 1,973/female 1,881)
15-64 years: 61.3% (male 9,390/female 9,349)
65 years and over: 26.1% (male 3,555/female 4,438) (2010 est.)
total: 48.9 years
male: 48 years
female: 49.9 years (2010 est.)
-0.183% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
7.03 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
8.01 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
-0.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
at birth: 1.048 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
total: 1.78 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 224
male: 2.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 1.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
total population: 89.78 years
country comparison to the world: 1
male: 85.81 years
female: 93.9 years (2010 est.)
1.5 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
NA
NA
NA
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
4.4% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 92
Government ::Monaco
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco
local short form: Monaco
constitutional monarchy
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
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 rule by the House of Grimaldi)
National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)
17 December 1962; modified 2 April 2002
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)
head of government: Minister of State Michel ROGER (since 29 March 2010)
cabinet: Council of Government under the authority of the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government
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 on 3 February 2008 (next to be held in February 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPM 52.2%, REM 40.5%, Monaco Together 7.3%; seats by party - UPM 21, REM 3
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council)
Monaco Together; Rally and Issues for Monaco or REM; Union for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco or UNAM)
NA
CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
chief of mission: Ambassador to the US and Representative to the UN Gilles NOGHES
chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Suite 2K-100, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 234-1530
FAX: (202) 552-5778
consulate(s) general: New York
the 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 routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco
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 flag one of the world's oldest national banners
note: similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red
Economy ::Monaco
Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a major banking center and 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.
$976.3 million (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
$NA
NA% (2000 est.)
$30,000 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
agriculture: 0%
industry: 4.9%
services: 95.1% (2005)
44,000
country comparison to the world: 191
note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.)
0% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 1
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $863 million
expenditures: $920.6 million (2005 est.)
1.9% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 63
$NA
none
tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
NA%
NA kWh
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
$716.3 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 158
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
$916.1 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 172
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.)
country comparison to the world: 70
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005)
Communications ::Monaco
35,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 175
22,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 206
general assessment: modern automatic telephone system; the country's sole fixed line operator offers a full range of services to residential and business customers
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100%
international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system
AM 1, FM 11, shortwave 1 (2008)
5 (1998)
.mc
22,608 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 100
22,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 189
Transportation ::Monaco
1 (2007)
total: 50 km
country comparison to the world: 216
paved: 50 km (2007)
registered in other countries: 70 (Bahamas 15, Georgia 4, Isle of Man 3, Liberia 8, Marshall Islands 13, Norway 5, Panama 16, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Vanuatu 1) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 61
Monaco
Military ::Monaco
no regular military forces; the Palace Guard performs ceremonial duties
males age 16-49: 5,814 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 4,680
females age 16-49: 4,691 (2010 est.)
male: 147
female: 133 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues ::Monaco
none