0.44km² · Vatican City
Short answer: Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, at about 0.44 km². It is followed by Monaco (about 2 km²), Nauru, Tuvalu and San Marino. The areas below are rounded.
There are around 200 countries in the world. Some are enormous, like Russia and Canada, but others are smaller than an average town. These are the ten smallest countries in the world, from smallest upwards.
1. Vatican City: 0.44 km²
The smallest country in the world lies in the middle of Rome. Vatican City is the centre of the Catholic Church and the home of the Pope. Visitors come mainly for St Peter’s Basilica, St Peter’s Square and the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel.
2. Monaco: about 2 km²
Monaco lies on the Mediterranean, squeezed between France and the sea. It is known for the Monte-Carlo Casino, its Formula 1 street race and a harbour full of superyachts.
3. Nauru: 21 km²
Nauru is an island in the Pacific Ocean, north-east of Australia. The country grew rich from phosphate mining, but most of that resource has been used up. Nauru has no official capital.
4. Tuvalu: 26 km²
Tuvalu consists of nine small atolls and islands in the Pacific. It lies so low that it is highly vulnerable to sea-level rise. Few tourists make the trip.
5. San Marino: 61 km²
San Marino sits on and around Monte Titano and is completely surrounded by Italy. It calls itself one of the oldest republics in the world, and its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
6. Liechtenstein: 160 km²
Liechtenstein lies in the Alps between Switzerland and Austria. The principality offers beautiful mountain scenery and good hiking and skiing.
7. Marshall Islands: 181 km²
The Marshall Islands lie in the Pacific, roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia. Divers know the country for its coral reefs and shipwrecks.
8. Saint Kitts and Nevis: 261 km²
These two Caribbean islands together form the smallest country in the Americas, with beaches, rainforest and a volcano.
9. Maldives: 298 km²
The Maldives consist of more than a thousand coral islands in the Indian Ocean, spread over a wide area. They are popular with divers, snorkellers and honeymooners.
10. Malta: 316 km²
Malta is an archipelago in the Mediterranean with three inhabited islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino. Its sunny climate, historic towns and clear water make it a popular destination.
Final edit: Jan Willem Beumer, editor-in-chief of Mindbogglingmedia
