Monaco
Introduction
Background
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
Area - comparative
about three times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries
total
6 km
border countries
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.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
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
32,047 (2025 est.)
male
15,467
female
16,580
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.)
Languages
Languages
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
major-language sample(s)
<br>The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
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)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
88.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
16.6 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
72.1 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
1.4 (2025 est.)
Median age
total
57.5 years (2025 est.)
male
55 years
female
58.4 years
Population growth rate
0.76% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
6.46 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
11.36 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
12.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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.)
Maternal mortality ratio
5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
1.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male
2 deaths/1,000 live births
female
1.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
total population
89.8 years (2024 est.)
male
86 years
female
93.7 years
Total fertility rate
1.55 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.76 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
3.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
12% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
8.61 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
7.7% national budget (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total
21 years (2024 est.)
male
20 years (2024 est.)
female
22 years (2024 est.)
Environment
International environmental 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.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
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.)
Particulate matter emissions
9.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
46,000 tons (2024 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 <em>monoikos</em> (solitary), the Ligurian word <em>monegu</em> (rock), or the Basque word <em>muno</em> (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 <em>monoikos</em> (solitary), the Ligurian word <em>monegu</em> (rock), or the Basque word <em>muno</em> (mountain)
Administrative divisions
no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 4 quarters (<em>quartiers</em>, singular - <em>quartier</em>); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo
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
Minister of State Christophe MIRMAND (since 21 July 2025)
cabinet
Council of Government under the authority of the monarch
election/appointment process
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)<br>Horizon Monaco <br>Priorite Monaco or Primo! <br>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
<br>info@monacodc.org<br><br>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
<strong>description:</strong> two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white<br><br><strong>history:</strong> uses the colors of the ruling House of Grimaldi; colors have been in use since 1339, making it one of the world's oldest national flags
National symbol(s)
red and white lozenges (diamond shapes)
National color(s)
red, white
National anthem(s)
title
"A Marcia de Muneghu" (The March of Monaco)
lyrics/music
Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT
history
music adopted 1867, lyrics adopted 1931; only the Monegasque lyrics are official; the French version is known as "Hymne Monegasque" (Monegasque Anthem); the words are usually 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)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$8.924 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$8.749 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$8.329 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2023
5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022
11% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2021
22.2% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2024
$270,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$256,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022
$226,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$10.434 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
5.9% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
2.1% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
0.5% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
11.5% (2023 est.)
services
88.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products
none
Industries
banking, insurance, tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Exports - partners
<p>Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Spain</p> (2021)
Exports - commodities
jewelry, perfumes, watches, packaged medicines, cars (2021)
Imports - partners
Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, China (2021)
Imports - commodities
jewelry, cars and vehicle parts, recreational boats, plastic products, artwork (2021)
Exchange rates
Currency
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024
0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
0.876 (2020 est.)
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.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
41,500 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
107 (2024 est.)
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.)
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
3A
Heliports
3 (2025)
Railways
<strong>note:</strong> 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
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)
Military - note
by treaty, France is responsible for defending the independence and sovereignty of Monaco
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
17 (2024 est.)