The 10 least populous countries in the world

Let's take a look at the top 10 countries with smaller populations.

First Vatican

The Vatican is the least populous country in the world. The Vatican has 615 citizens, but 205 live in Vatican City without Vatican citizenship, sometimes bringing the total to 820.

The Vatican is the least populous country in the world and the smallest in the world.

The Vatican is a country ruled by the Pope and is the headquarters of the Catholic Church. Many people living in the Vatican are Catholic, and most Vatican nationals are clergy with special religious status.

II Niue

Niue is the second least populous country in the world, with about 1,800 people. It is located about 2,400 km northeast of New Zealand and has an area of about 259 square kilometers. Niue was formed by the uplift of coral reefs, and it is also the largest coral reef island in the world. Niue of Polynesian descent make up 90% of the population, with agriculture, fishing and tourism being the main industries.

Niue maintains free association with New Zealand, which is responsible for its defence and foreign affairs. It also relies on New Zealand in many other areas, including financial aid, economic cooperation, trade and immigration.

Due to the country's small land area and weak economic base, islanders prefer to migrate to New Zealand.

Third Nauru

Nauru is the smallest republic in the world, with about 11,000 people, located between Tokyo and New Zealand. The land area is 21.1 square kilometers. It is said to be the third smallest country in the world in terms of area after the Vatican and Monaco. The island is about 17 kilometers long and compact, allowing for a detour in 4 to 5 hours. （※6）

Nauru used to earn foreign exchange by exporting phosphate rock, but its resources are now depleted. In addition, Japan currently relies on imports for most of its food and daily necessities, and domestic prices are rising due to the impact of global price increases. The economy is looking for industries to support the economy, but the economic situation is serious. On the other hand, in recent years, they have been focusing on tourism PR.

Fourth Tuvalu name

Tuvalu is a country made up of nine atolls in the South Pacific Ocean with a population of about 12,000. It is internationally seen as one of the countries in danger of being inundated due to rising sea levels. The area is about 26 square kilometers. Its land area is considered the fourth smallest country in the world.

Tuvalu pursues a policy of "establishing diplomatic relations only with peace-loving countries" and maintains friendly relations with Australia and New Zealand.

It has no resources, and although it supports its finances with fishing fees and agriculture, it is almost self-sufficient. It is surrounded by a beautiful sea and tourism resources remain untapped.

As of 2017, the population is about 11,000. The population of the capital, Funafuti, is increasing rapidly due to immigration from remote islands.

Fifth Palau

Palau is a republic in the Micronesian region. It consists of 200 islands of various sizes, covers an area of about 488 square kilometers, and has a population of about 18,000 people.

Palau is a country with close ties to the United States and Japan. Among them, the Free Association Agreement "Compact" was signed with the United States in 1994. The administration will not accept grant assistance from the United States, but will delegate defense and security powers to the United States. The main industries are tourism, agriculture and fishing, but as things stand, the country is financially dependent on the United States.

The population of Palau is decreasing year by year, and the reason for the decline is the migration to the partner country of the United States.

VI Cook Islands

The Cook Islands is a country made up of 15 islands in the South Pacific Ocean. The total area is about 237 square kilometers and the population is about 18,000.

The main industry is tourism. The government is looking to integrate tourism and agriculture to increase agricultural productivity. However, on remote islands outside the capital, Rarotonga, there has been no progress in development. As a result, there is a serious economic disparity within the country.

In addition, many people move to New Zealand because of their free connection to New Zealand. This situation also affects the decline and ageing of the agricultural population.

VII San Marino

San Marino is the oldest republic in the world, surrounded on all sides by Italy and has a population of approximately 34,000. It is thought to have originated in the early 4th century, when a mason named Marino founded a community to escape persecution of Christians by Roman emperors.

San Marino ranks fifth in the world in terms of area. It is characterized by a townscape built on a hill surrounded by walls.

In addition, San Marino is known as one of the countries with high life expectancy.

VIII Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a landlocked country surrounded by Austria and Switzerland with a population of about 38,000. The surname of the Marquis of Liechtenstein is the name of the country and became independent in 1806. It has close ties with neighboring Switzerland and Austria, as well as Germany.

Liechtenstein has an area of about 160 square kilometres. Although it has a small area and population, it is known to be a small and wealthy country. In addition to the manufacture of medical equipment and precision equipment, the financial industry is also booming.

9th Monaco 39,000 (0.031293%)

Located on the Mediterranean coast of France, Monaco is a famous tourist destination. The population is about 39,000 and the population density is 19,075 people per square kilometer. As an independent country, it has the highest population density to date, ranking first in the ranking of countries with high population density.

The small population is related to the small land area. With an area of 2.02 square kilometers, Monaco is the second smallest country in the world after the Vatican.

10th Saint Kitts and Nevis 53000,0 (042526.<>%)

Saint Kitts and Nevis is an island nation consisting of two islands in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It has an area of about 260 square kilometers and a population of about 53,000. Discovered by Columbus in 1493, it was a colony of England and France after 1623, but gained independence in 1983.

The main industry is tourism. The number of tourists from Europe and the United States by cruise ship is increasing, and the economy has continued to grow positively in recent years.

St. Kitts and Nevis, sometimes described as a mini-state, is the smallest and least populous independent state in the Western Hemisphere.