Monaco

The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling GRIMALDI family first seized control in 1297 but was not able to permanently secure its holding until 1419. Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality’s mild climate, coastal Mediterranean scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world-famous as a tourist and recreation center.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Geography

Location

Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

Geographic coordinates

43 44 N, 7 24 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total : 2 sq km

land: 2 sq km

water: 0 sq km

comparison ranking: total 249

Area – comparative

about three times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total: 6 km

border countries (1): France 6 km

Coastline

4.1 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 12 nm

Climate

Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain

hilly, rugged, rocky

Elevation

highest point: Chemin des Revoires on Mont Agel 162 m

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Natural resources

none

Land use

agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 0% (2022 est.)

other: 100% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Population distribution

the second most densely populated country in the world (after Macau); its entire population lives on 2 sq km (0.8 sq mi)

Natural hazards

none

Geography – note

second-smallest independent state in the world (after the Holy See); smallest country with a coastline; almost entirely urban

People and Society

Population

total: 31,813 (2024 est.)

male: 15,366

female: 16,447

comparison rankings: total 216; female 216; male 216

Nationality

noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)

adjective: Monegasque or Monacan

Ethnic groups

Monegasque 32.1%, French 19.9%, Italian 15.3%, British 5%, Belgian 2.3%, Swiss 2%, German 1.9%, Russian 1.8%, American 1.1%, Dutch 1.1%, Moroccan 1%, other 16.6% (2016 est.)

note: data represent population by country of birth

Languages

French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, une source indispensable d’informations de base. (French)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

French audio sample:

Religions

Roman Catholic 90% (official), other 10%

Age structure

0-14 years: 9.1% (male 1,485/female 1,408)

15-64 years: 53.8% (male 8,620/female 8,490)

65 years and over: 37.1% (2024 est.) (male 5,261/female 6,549)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 85.9 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 16.9 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 69 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 1.4 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 56.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 55 years

female: 58.4 years

comparison ranking: total 1

Population growth rate

0.71% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 124

Birth rate

6.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 226

Death rate

11.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 25

Net migration rate

11.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 7

Population distribution

the second most densely populated country in the world (after Macau); its entire population lives on 2 sq km (0.8 sq mi)

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas – population

39,000 MONACO (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female

total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 173

Infant mortality rate

total: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 224

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 89.8 years (2024 est.)

male: 86 years

female: 93.7 years

comparison ranking: total population 1

Total fertility rate

1.54 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 196

Gross reproduction rate

0.76 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

3.7% of GDP (2021)

12% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

8.61 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

7.7% national budget (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 197

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 21 years (2024 est.)

male: 20 years (2024 est.)

female: 22 years (2024 est.)

Environment

International environmental agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Climate

Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

Land use

agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 0% (2022 est.)

other: 100% (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

9.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 46,000 tons (2012 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,484 tons (2012 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.4% (2012 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Principality of Monaco

conventional short form: Monaco

local long form: Principauté de Monaco

local short form: Monaco

etymology: founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name’s origin is unclear; it could derive from the Greek term monoikos (solitary), the Ligurian word monegu (rock), or the Basque word muno (mountain)

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Capital

name: Monaco

geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 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: founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name’s origin is unclear; it could derive from the Greek term monoikos (solitary), the Ligurian word monegu (rock), or the Basque word muno (mountain)

Administrative divisions

none; no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 4 quarters (quartiers, singular – quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo

note: Moneghetti, part of La Condamine, is sometimes called the fifth quarter of Monaco

Legal system

civil law system influenced by French legal tradition

Constitution

history: previous 1911 (suspended 1959); latest adopted 17 December 1962

amendment process: proposed by joint agreement of the chief of state (the prince) and the National Council; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of National Council members

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Monaco; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen and father unknown

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)

head of government: Minister of State Christophe MIRMAND (since 21 July 2025)

cabinet: Council of Government under the authority of the monarch

election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government

Legislative branch

legislature name: National Council (Conseil national)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 24 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 2/5/2023

parties elected and seats per party: Monegasque National Union – l’Union (24)

percentage of women in chamber: 45.8%

expected date of next election: February 2028

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 permanent members and 2 substitutes)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court members appointed by the monarch upon the proposals of the National Council, State Council, Crown Council, Court of Appeal, and Trial Court

subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; Civil Court of First Instance

Political parties

Monegasque National Union (includes Horizon Monaco, Primo!, Union Monegasque)
Horizon Monaco
Priorite Monaco or Primo!
Union Monegasque

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Maguy MACCARIO DOYLE (since 3 December 2013)

chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20006

telephone: [1] (202) 234-1530

FAX: [1] (202) 244-7656

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://monacodc.org/index.html

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France), under the authority of the US Ambassador to France, handles diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco; +(33)(1) 43-12-22-22, enter zero “0” after the automated greeting; US Embassy Paris, 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris, France

International organization participation

CD, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Independence

1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI)

National holiday

National Day (Saint Rainier’s Day), 19 November (1857)

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; the colors are those of the ruling House of Grimaldi and have been in use since 1339, making the national flag one of the world’s oldest

note: similar to the flags of Indonesia (longer) and Poland (colors reversed)

National symbol(s)

red and white lozenges (diamond shapes)

National color(s)

red, white

National anthem(s)

title: “A Marcia de Muneghu” (The March of Monaco)

lyrics/music: Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT

history: music adopted 1867, lyrics adopted 1931; only the Monegasque lyrics are official; the French version is known as “Hymne Monegasque” (Monegasque Anthem); the words are usually only sung on official occasions

Economy

Economic overview

high-income European economy; non-EU euro user; considered a tax haven; tourism and banking are largest sectors; negatively impacted by COVID-19; major oceanographic museum; among most expensive real estate; major state-owned enterprises

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$8.924 billion (2024 est.)
$8.749 billion (2023 est.)
$8.329 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2015 dollars

comparison ranking: 167

Real GDP growth rate

5% (2023 est.)
11% (2022 est.)
22.2% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 39

Real GDP per capita

$270,100 (2024 est.)
$256,600 (2023 est.)
$226,100 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2015 dollars

comparison ranking: 1

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.434 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.9% (2022 est.)
2.1% (2021 est.)
0.5% (2020 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 152

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

industry: 11.5% (2023 est.)

services: 88.5% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 8; industry 177

Agricultural products

none

Industries

banking, insurance, tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products

Exports – partners

Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Spain(2021)

Exports – commodities

jewelry, perfumes, watches, packaged medicines, cars (2021)

top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports – partners

Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, China (2021)

Imports – commodities

jewelry, cars and vehicle parts, recreational boats, plastic products, artwork (2021)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
0.924 (2024 est.)
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)

note: while not an EU member state, Monaco, due to its preexisting monetary and banking agreements with France, has a 1998 monetary agreement with the EU to produce limited euro coinage—but not banknotes—that began enforcement in January 2002 and superseded by a new EU agreement in 2012

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 43,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 159

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 41,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 208

Broadcast media

TV Monte-Carlo operates a TV network; cable TV available; Radio Monte-Carlo has extensive radio networks in France and Italy, with French-language broadcasts to France beginning in the 1960s and Italian-language broadcasts to Italy beginning in the 1970s; other radio stations include Riviera Radio and Radio Monaco

Internet country code

.mc

Internet users

percent of population: 99% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 22,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 168

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Heliports

3 (2025)

comparison ranking: 117

Railways

note: Monaco has a single railway station but does not operate its own train service; the French operator SNCF operates rail services in Monaco

Merchant marine

total: 1

comparison ranking: total 185

Ports

total ports: 1 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 0

very small: 1

ports with oil terminals: 0

key ports: Monaco

Military and Security

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Prince’s Company of Carabiniers (Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince, Police Department (Direction de la Sûreté Publique), Fire and Emergency Service (Corps des Sapeurs-pompiers de Monaco) (2025)

note: the primary responsibility for the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince is guarding the palace; the Police maintain public order