San Marino
Introduction
Background
Geographically the third-smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named MARINUS in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of the EU, although it is not a member. San Marino is negotiating an Association Agreement that is expected to allow participation in the EU’s internal market and cooperation in other policy areas by late 2024. Social and political trends in the republic track closely with those of its larger neighbor, Italy.
Geography
Location
Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Geographic coordinates
43 46 N, 12 25 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total
61 sq km
land
61 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
about one-third the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries
total
37 km
border countries
Italy 37 km
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain
rugged mountains
Elevation
highest point
Monte Titano 739 m
lowest point
Torrente Ausa 55 m
Natural resources
building stone
Land use
agricultural land
38.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 33.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 5.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
forest
16.7% (2023 est.)
other
45% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Natural hazards
occasional earthquakes
Geography - note
landlocked; an enclave of (completely surrounded by) Italy; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennine Mountains
People and Society
Population
total
35,291 (2025 est.)
male
17,035
female
18,256
Nationality
noun
Sammarinese (singular and plural)
adjective
Sammarinese
Ethnic groups
Sammarinese, Italian
Languages
Languages
Italian
major-language sample(s)
<br>L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Roman Catholic
Age structure
0-14 years
14.2% (male 2,614/female 2,387)
15-64 years
64.3% (male 10,916/female 11,648)
65 years and over
21.5% (2024 est.) (male 3,414/female 4,116)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
56.5 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
22.2 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
34.3 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
2.9 (2025 est.)
Median age
total
46.3 years (2025 est.)
male
44.5 years
female
47.4 years
Population growth rate
0.55% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
9.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
8.9 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
5.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
97.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
4,000 SAN MARINO (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.09 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.83 male(s)/female
total population
0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
31.9 years (2019)
Maternal mortality ratio
8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male
7.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female
5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
total population
84.2 years (2024 est.)
male
81.7 years
female
87 years
Total fertility rate
1.54 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.74 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
29.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
4.63 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
13% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy
total population
99.9% (2022 est.)
male
99.9% (2022 est.)
female
99.9% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total
16 years (2015 est.)
male
15 years (2015 est.)
female
16 years (2015 est.)
Environment
Environmental issues
air pollution; urbanization decreasing rural farmlands; water shortage
International environmental agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
Air Pollution
Climate
Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Land use
agricultural land
38.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 33.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 5.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
forest
16.7% (2023 est.)
other
45% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
97.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
9.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
17,200 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
45.1% (2016 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form
Republic of San Marino
conventional short form
San Marino
local long form
Repubblica di San Marino
local short form
San Marino
etymology
named after Saint MARINUS, who founded a monastic settlement on Monte Titano in the early 4th century
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name
San Marino (city)
geographic coordinates
43 56 N, 12 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
named after Saint MARINUS, who founded a monastic settlement on Monte Titano in the early 4th century
Administrative divisions
9 municipalities (<em>castelli</em>, singular - <em>castello</em>); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle
Legal system
civil law system with Italian civil law influences
Constitution
history
San Marino’s principal legislative instruments consist of old customs (<em>antiche consuetudini</em>), the Statutory Laws of San Marino (Leges Statutae Sancti Marini), old statutes (<em>antichi statute</em>) from the1600s, Brief Notes on the Constitutional Order and Institutional Organs of the Republic of San Marino (Brevi Cenni sull’Ordinamento Costituzionale e gli Organi Istituzionali della Repubblica di San Marino) and successive legislation, chief among them is the Declaration of the Rights of Citizens and Fundamental Principles of the San Marino Legal Order (Dichiarazione dei Diritti dei Cittadini e dei Principi Fondamentali dell’Ordinamento Sammarinese), approved 8 July 1974
amendment process
proposed by the Great and General Council; passage requires two-thirds majority Council vote; Council passage by absolute majority vote also requires passage in a referendum
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of San Marino
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
30 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
co-chiefs of state Captains Regent Matteo ROSSI and Lorenzo BUGLI (for the period 1 October 2025 - 31 March 2026)
head of government
Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Luca BECCARI (since 8 January 2020)
cabinet
Congress of State elected by the Grand and General Council
election/appointment process
co-chiefs of state (captains regent) indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 6-month term; Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 5-year term
most recent election date
<em>co-chiefs of state:</em> 1 April 2025<br><br><em>secretary of state:</em> 28 December 2019
election results
<em><br>2025</em>: Denise BRONZETTI (Reformist Alliance) and Italo RIGHI (Christian Democrat) elected captains regent: percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA<br><br><em>2024</em>: Francesca CIVERCHIA (PDCS) and Dalibor RICCARDI (Free San Marino) elected captains regent; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA<br><br><em>2019:</em> Luca BECCARI (PDCS) elected Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA
expected date of next election
<em>co-chiefs of state:</em> September 2025
Legislative branch
legislature name
Great and General Council (Consiglio grande e generale)
legislative structure
unicameral
number of seats
60 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
term in office
5 years
most recent election date
6/9/2024
parties elected and seats per party
Christian Democratic Party of San Marino (PDCS) (22); Free (Libera) – Socialist Party (PS) (10); Future Republic (RF) (8); Party of Socialists and Democrats (PSD) (8); Tomorrow - Motus Liberi (5); Reformist Alliance (AR) (4); R.E.T.E. Citizens' Movement (3)
percentage of women in chamber
35%
expected date of next election
June 2029
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII (consists of 12 members)
judge selection and term of office
judges elected by the Grand and General Council from among its own to serve 5-year terms
subordinate courts
first instance and first appeal criminal, administrative, and civil courts; Court for the Trust and Trustee Relations; justices of the peace or conciliatory judges
Political parties
Domani - Modus Liberi or DML <br>Free San Marino (Libera San Marino) or Libera <br>Future Republic or RF <br>Party of Socialists and Democrats or PSD <br>Reformist Alliance or AR <br>RETE Movement <br>Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party or PDCS <br>Socialist Party or PS <br>Tomorrow in Movement coalition (includes RETE Movement, DML)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
Ambassador Damiano BELEFFI (since 21 July 2017); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
chancery
327 E 50th Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone
[1] (212) 751-1234
FAX
[1] (212) 751-1436
email address and website
<br>sanmarinoun@gmail.com<br><br>Republic of San Marino Permanent Mission to the United Nations
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
the United States does not have an Embassy in San Marino; the US Ambassador to Italy is accredited to San Marino, and the US Consulate General in Florence maintains day-to-day ties
International organization participation
CE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Independence
3 September 301 (traditional founding date)
National holiday
Founding of the Republic (or Feast of Saint Marinus), 3 September (A.D. 301)
Flag
<strong>description:</strong> two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue, with the national coat of arms in the center; the main colors come from the shield on the coat of arms, which features three white towers on mountain peaks on a blue field; a wreath and a crown are around the shield, above a scroll with the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)<br><br><strong>meaning: </strong>the towers represent the Guaita, Cesta, and Montale castles on Mount Titano; white and blue are said to stand for peace and liberty
National symbol(s)
three peaks, each displaying a tower
National color(s)
white, blue
National anthem(s)
title
"Inno Nazionale della Repubblica" (National Anthem of the Republic)
lyrics/music
no lyrics/Federico CONSOLO
history
adopted 1894; the music for the anthem, which has no lyrics, is based on a 10th-century chorale piece
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
San Marino Historic Center and Mount Titano
Economy
Economic overview
high-income, non-EU European economy; surrounded by Italy, which is the dominant importer and exporter; open border to EU and a euro user; strong financial sector; high foreign investments; low taxation; increasingly high and risky debt
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$2.393 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$2.218 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$1.947 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
7.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2021
13.9% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2020
-6.6% (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$70,900 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2021
$64,700 (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2020
$56,000 (2020 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.832 billion (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
5.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture
0% (2022 est.)
industry
37.6% (2022 est.)
services
55.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
35.5% (2022 est.)
government consumption
17.1% (2022 est.)
investment in fixed capital
17.8% (2022 est.)
investment in inventories
5.2% (2022 est.)
exports of goods and services
197.4% (2022 est.)
imports of goods and services
-173% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products
wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides
Industries
tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate
10.7% (2022 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021
1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2020
1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Budget
revenues
$841.03 million (2023 est.)
expenditures
$816.886 million (2023 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2022
103.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
17.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
$284.256 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021
$100.118 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2020
$42.98 million (2020 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$3.616 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021
$3.23 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2020
$2.439 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners
Germany 12%, Austria 10%, USA 9%, Romania 8%, Brazil 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities
washing and bottling machines, other foods, packaged medicine, woodworking machines, aircraft (2023)
Imports
Imports 2022
$3.169 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021
$2.94 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2020
$2.232 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners
Germany 24%, Italy 13%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 9%, Poland 8% (2023)
Imports - commodities
garments, cars, electricity, animal food, footwear (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$836.088 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$716.066 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$954.383 million (2021 est.)
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
0.951 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
0.877 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
16,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
47 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
41,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
120 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media
state-owned public broadcaster operates 1 TV station and 3 radio stations; receives radio and TV broadcasts from Italy (2019)
Internet country code
.sm
Internet users
percent of population
87% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
12,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
36 (2022 est.)
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
T7
Airports
1 (2025)
Military and Security
Military and security forces
San Marino Military Corps (Corpi Militari Sammarinesi; aka Sammarinese Armed Forces or Forze Armate Sammarinesi): Fortress Guard Command (or Guard of the Rock), Uniformed Company of the Militias, Guard of the Great and General Council, Corps of the Gendarmerie<br><br>Ministry of Internal Affairs: Civil Police Corps (2025)
Military service age and obligation
18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; government has the authority to call up all San Marino citizens from 16-60 years of age to serve in the military (2025)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Italy