Small But Mighty
The European microstates are easy to overlook; in fact, you may not be able to name all six. Go on, we'll give you a minute. If you guessed Andorra, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City, then you guessed correctly. Either way, read on to learn more about this tiny countries!
1. It's Not All About Size
The name may lead you to believe that microstates are all about being the smallest of the small. While this is true, size isn't all that counts. Microstates are generally defined as being less than 386 square miles with a population of under a million.
2. Luxembourg Doesn't Count
if you answered our earlier question with "Luxembourg", you'd be wrong, but we wouldn't really blame you. Luxembourg has a population of 681k and it is pretty small. However, at 998 sq miles, you could fit all the other microstates inside its borders with room to spare!
3. Andorra Has A Unique Official language
Now, onto the real microstates, starting with Andorra. Andorra is the only country in the world where Catalan is the official language. Catalan is spoken in parts of Spain, but it's actually closer to Italian or Portuguese.
4. Andorra's Capital Is The Highest In Europe
Nestled in the Pyrenees mountains between Spain and France, Andorra has a rough and rocky terrain. So, it should come as no surprise that its capital city, Andorra la Vella, is the highest elevation in Europe at 3536 feet! Andorra la Vella is the second highest capital city in the world, behind La Paz, Bolivia.
5. Andorra Has Two Rulers
The people of Andorra must know how to play nice, because they have two rulers at the same time. Andorra's leadership was put into place in the Middle Ages following a disagreement between a French count and a Spanish bishop. So, Andorra has co-princes: the Bishop or Urgell and the President of France; confusingly, each co-prince also elects a personal representative.
Christophe Licoppe / European Union, 2024 / EC - Audiovisual Service on Wikimedia
6. Liechtenstein Knows How To Party
Liechtenstein National Day was first celebrated in 1940 as a way of asserting the country's independence during WWII. Since then, August 15 has been designated a national holiday. Every year, the prince opens Vaduz castle so the whole country can enjoy drinks and fireworks.
Presse- und Informationsamt, Vaduz on Wikimedia
7. Liechtenstein Was A Little Late To Women's Lib
This may be the understatement of the century. Liechtenstein was the last European country to grant women the right to vote, waiting all the way til 1984 to do so. Some of the reasons why they waited so late include the country's rural setting, strong Catholic influence, and women being denied education.
8. Liechtenstein Is Double-Landlocked
If you want to smell the salty sea air, Liechtenstein is one of the worst places to do so! Liechtenstein isn't just landlocked, it's double-landlocked, meaning that all its bordering countries are also landlocked. The only other country to fit this crtiera is Uzbekistan.
9. Malta Is Actually Pretty Big
Unlike the other microstates, which are nestled between larger countries, Malta is a series of islands, which means they have a bit of room to breathe. Malta is an archipelago, though only the three largest islands are inhabited. Malta is about twice the size of Washington, D.C., which is pretty big for a microstate!
10. Maltese Love Cars
While America may be the archetypal car-loving country, they have nothing on Malta. Malta has a human population of around 500k and a car population of 438k, adding up to almost one car for every person. You'll often find that every member of the family has their own car, even when childen still live with their parents.
11. Malta Has No Permanent Rivers
This may sound hard to believe, especially because Malta is an island, but the country has no permanent rivers! Malta has plenty of bays along the coast, but no permanent rivers. For a lot of their history, Maltese were reliant on rainfall for potable water.
12. Monaco Is One Of The Richest Countries On Earth
Known as a tax haven, it shouldn't be a surprise that Monaco is one of the richest countries on Earth. However, these numbers come not from GDP but from private wealth. One in three people in Monaco are millionaires.
13. Monaco Doesn't Allow Citizens To Gamble
in a move that may seem contradictory to the previous points, you aren't actually allowed to gamble in Monaco...at least if you're a citizen. Only foreigners are allowed to enter casinos, and passport checks are held at every door. Yes, even at Monte Carlo.
Hush Naidoo Jade Photography on Unsplash
14. Monaco Has The Highest Life Expectancy
According to data from the CIA, Monaco has the oldest life expectancy in the world, with an average of 89.8! If we're being optimistic, we could clock this up to the beautiful climate and Mediterranean diet. More likely, private wealth gives its' citizens better access to healthcare.
15. San Marino Is The Oldest Republic
Vive la République! San Marino declared independence from the Roman Empire in 301. According to legend, the country was founded by a stonemason named Marinus, who would go on to become a saint.
16. San Marino Doesn't Worry About Traffic
We're not trying to say that San Marino doesn't have any cars—in fact, they have the most on Earth, even more than Monaco! Despite the high level of car ownership and congestion in the ancient streets, San Marino is not fond of traffic lights. Rather than having traffic lights, the city police deal with cars.
17. San Marino Has No National Debt
San Marino is one of the most economically stable countries in Europe. not only do they have one of the lowest unemployment rates on the continent, but they also have no national debt.
18. Vatican City Is The Smallest Country On Earth
Okay, you probably knew this one, but do you know how small Vatican City really is? The entire country is about 121 acres, about the size of Disneyland, or, an eighth of Central Park for our New Yorkers. For extra contrast, the next smallest country, Monaco is almost 5x the size of Vatican City!
19. Vatican City Has No Permanent Citizenship
The religious and political nature of Vatican City means that nobody—not even the Pope—has permanent citiizenship. Those who perform specific administrative duties are granted temporary citizenships, which are then revoked once employment ceases. Children of employees age out of citizenship once they turn 18.
20. Vatican City Has One Of The Oldest Armies
The Swiss guard may look a little silly in their colorful Renaissance uniforms, but they're actually an elite military force. The Swiss Guard were founded in 1506 against the turbulent backdrop of the Italian Wars. While they don't see much combat nowadays, the early Swiss Guard faced a bloodbath.
