Smallest Countries in the World by Area

At just 0.44 square kilometers, Vatican City is so small that Central Park in New York City is larger. It tops the list of the smallest countries in the world by a wide margin, but it’s far from the only tiny sovereign nation.

The Smallest Countries by Area

• Vatican City — 0.44 km², the smallest country in the world, entirely surrounded by Rome, Italy
• Monaco — about 2 km², a densely built city-state on the French Riviera
• Nauru — about 21 km², the smallest island nation and the smallest republic in the world
• Tuvalu — about 26 km², spread across a handful of low-lying Pacific atolls
• San Marino — about 61 km², entirely surrounded by Italy
• Liechtenstein — about 160 km², doubly landlocked between Switzerland and Austria
• Marshall Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the Maldives — all under 500 km²

See exact area figures for every country on our Rankings page.

Small Area, Small Population — Usually

Small countries by area are very often also among the least populous countries in the world, though there are exceptions: Monaco is tiny in area but among the most densely populated places on Earth, while Bangladesh is comparatively small in area yet home to well over 100 million people.

How Do Countries This Small Function?

Microstates like Monaco, San Marino, and Liechtenstein survive economically through highly specialized niches — banking and finance, tourism, low or no corporate taxation, and close economic integration with much larger neighbors. Vatican City is a special case entirely, functioning as the administrative and spiritual center of the Catholic Church rather than a conventional economy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the smallest country in the world?

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world by area, at just 0.44 square kilometers.

What is the smallest country by area that isn’t a city-state?

Nauru, a Pacific island nation of about 21 square kilometers, is often cited as the smallest country that isn’t built around a single historic city.

Is Monaco smaller than Vatican City?

No — Monaco, at roughly 2 square kilometers, is larger than Vatican City, though it is still one of the smallest countries in the world.

Compare land area, population, and more with our Compare Countries tool.

Related Reading

• Countries That Span Two Continents
• Countries with the Most Neighboring Countries
• Countries with No Land Borders at All