There are countries in the world that are really pitifully small. Their land area is nothing more than a city, or even a mountain, or a beach. These countries, we call them pocket states. Although small, they also have their own history and culture, as well as their own pride and dignity. Today, we're going to talk about these pocket countries and see how small they really are.
First, we need to give a definition of a pocket country. The United Nations has given a standard that countries with a land area of less than 500 square kilometers are considered pocket countries. By this standard, there are 33 pocket states in the world, spread across five continents. The smallest of these, called the Knights of Malta.
The Knights of Malta is an ancient religious organization that once built a powerful maritime empire in the Mediterranean. But then it was hit by the Ottoman Empire and gradually declined. Now, all that remains of it is a mansion, located on a street in Rome. The building is its national territory and covers an area of only 12,000 square meters, equivalent to two football fields. You may ask, how can such an organization be considered a country? Actually, it has its own head of state, government, army, diplomacy, currency, stamps and so on. It is also one of the sovereign observer entities of the United Nations. So, although it is small, it is also a real country.
The second smallest country is the Vatican. The Vatican is the headquarters of the Catholic Church and the residence of the Pope. It is located on a high ground in the northwest corner of Rome and covers an area of only 0.44 square kilometers, which is equivalent to most of the national palace. The Vatican is a theocratic country, with the Pope being the supreme power and the spiritual leader of Catholics worldwide. The Vatican has a rich artistic and cultural heritage, such as the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and many more. The Vatican is also one of the sovereign observer entities of the United Nations.
The third smallest pocket country is Monaco. Monaco is one of the richest countries in Europe and one of the highest life expectancy in the world. It is located on a promontory off the coast of the southeastern corner of France and has an area of only 2.02 square kilometers. Monaco is a constitutional monarchy that has been ruled by the Grimaldi dynasty for more than 700 years. Monaco is famous for casinos, racing cars, yachts, etc., attracting many rich and famous people to spend and live.
The fourth and fifth smallest pocket countries are both in the Pacific. The fourth smallest is called Nauru and the fifth is called Tuvalu. Nauru is an independent coral reef island with a length of 6 km, a width of 4 km, a coastline of about 30 km, a land area of 21.1 square kilometers, and a marine exclusive economic zone of 320,000 square kilometers, making it the smallest island nation in the world. Nauru used to be one of the richest countries in the world because of its rich phosphate resources. However, due to overexploitation and mismanagement, Nauru's economy and environment have been severely damaged. Now, Nauru relies mainly on Australian aid to make ends meet.
Tuvalu is made up of nine atolls and coral islands, with a land area of 26 square kilometers and a marine exclusive economic zone of 900,000 square kilometers, making it one of the lowest-lying countries in the world. The highest point in Tuvalu is only 4.6 meters, and the average elevation is only 1.5 meters. Tuvalu faces the threat of global warming and rising sea levels and threatens to be submerged by the end of the century. Tuvalu's main sources of income are fishing, tourism, international stamps and Internet domain names.
The sixth to tenth smallest pocket countries are San Marino, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Malta and Grenada. San Marino is the third smallest country in Europe and one of the oldest republics in the world, founded in 301. San Marino is completely surrounded by Italy and is therefore also known as "China of China". With tourism as its main economic pillar, San Marino attracts millions of tourists every year.
Liechtenstein is the fourth smallest country in Europe and the only country in the world located within the Alps. Bordered by Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein does not have its own airfield and army. Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy that has been ruled by the Liechtenstein dynasty for more than 300 years. Liechtenstein has a financial and industrial economy as its main source of economy and has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.
The Maldives is an archipelago country made up of more than 1,200 coral islands located in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives has a land area of 298 square kilometres and an exclusive maritime economic zone of 900,000 square kilometres. The Maldives is also a low-lying country with an average elevation of only 1.8 meters. With tourism and fishing as its main economic sources, the Maldives is known as a "paradise on the water".
Malta is an island nation consisting of three islands located in the middle of the Mediterranean. Malta has a land area of 316 square kilometres and an exclusive maritime economic zone of 250,000 square kilometres. Malta is a member of the European Union and a member of the Eurozone. Malta has a rich history and culture, once being the meeting point of many countries and civilizations such as Rome, Byzantium, Arabia, Sicily, France, Great Britain, etc. Malta's main economic sources are tourism, finance, and manufacturing.
Grenada is an island nation consisting of a main island and six small islands, located in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Grenada has a land area of 344 square kilometers and a maritime exclusive economic zone of 120,000 square kilometers. Grenada is famous for growing and exporting nutmeg and is known as the "Spice Island". Grenada's main economic resources are agriculture, tourism and educational services.
The above are the top ten small pocket countries in the world, although they are small, they also have their own characteristics and charm. If you have the opportunity, why not visit these pocket countries and feel their customs. You can admire the spectacular churches of the Vatican, experience the luxurious life of Monaco, taste the seafood cuisine of the Maldives, explore the spice cultivation of Grenada, and mingle with locals in Nauru and Tuvalu to learn how they are responding to the challenges of climate change. These pocket countries are unique in the world, worthy of your discovery and cherishing.