San Marino

Geographically the third-smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world’s oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named MARINUS in A.D. 301. San Marino’s foreign policy is aligned with that of the EU, although it is not a member. San Marino is negotiating an Association Agreement that is expected to allow participation in the EU’s internal market and cooperation in other policy areas by late 2024. Social and political trends in the republic track closely with those of its larger neighbor, Italy.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Geography

Location

Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy

Geographic coordinates

43 46 N, 12 25 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total : 61 sq km

land: 61 sq km

water: 0 sq km

comparison ranking: total 227

Area – comparative

about one-third the size of Washington, D.C.

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 37 km

border countries (1): Italy 37 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers

Terrain

rugged mountains

Elevation

highest point: Monte Titano 739 m

lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m

Natural resources

building stone

Land use

agricultural land: 38.3% (2022 est.)

arable land: 33.1% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 5.3% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest: 16.7% (2022 est.)

other: 45% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Natural hazards

occasional earthquakes

Geography – note

landlocked; an enclave of (completely surrounded by) Italy; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennine Mountains

People and Society

Population

total: 35,095 (2024 est.)

male: 16,944

female: 18,151

comparison rankings: total 214; female 214; male 214

Nationality

noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)

adjective: Sammarinese

Ethnic groups

Sammarinese, Italian

Languages

Italian

major-language sample(s):
L’Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l’indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Italian audio sample:

Religions

Roman Catholic

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.2% (male 2,614/female 2,387)

15-64 years: 64.3% (male 10,916/female 11,648)

65 years and over: 21.5% (2024 est.) (male 3,414/female 4,116)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 55.5 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 22.2 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 33.4 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 3 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 46.1 years (2024 est.)

male: 44.5 years

female: 47.4 years

comparison ranking: total 14

Population growth rate

0.57% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 144

Birth rate

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

comparison ranking: 199

Death rate

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

comparison ranking: 63

Net migration rate

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

comparison ranking: 18

Urbanization

urban population: 97.8% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas – population

4,000 SAN MARINO (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

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

Mother’s mean age at first birth

31.9 years (2019)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

comparison ranking: 158

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 168

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 84.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 81.7 years

female: 87 years

comparison ranking: total population 6

Total fertility rate

1.54 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 195

Gross reproduction rate

0.74 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved:

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

8% of GDP (2021)

29.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

4.63 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

47.7% (2023 est.)

Education expenditure

3.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

7.5% national budget (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 132

Literacy

total population: 100% (2022 est.)

male: 100% (2022 est.)

female: 100% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years (2015 est.)

male: 15 years (2015 est.)

female: 16 years (2015 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

air pollution; urbanization decreasing rural farmlands; water shortage

International environmental agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution

Climate

Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 97.8% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

9.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,175 tons (2016 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 7,737 tons (2016 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 45.1% (2016 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of San Marino

conventional short form: San Marino

local long form: Repubblica di San Marino

local short form: San Marino

etymology: named after Saint MARINUS, who founded a monastic settlement on Monte Titano in the early 4th century

Government type

parliamentary republic

Capital

name: San Marino (city)

geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 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: named after Saint MARINUS, who founded a monastic settlement on Monte Titano in the early 4th century

Administrative divisions

9 municipalities (castelli, singular – castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle

Legal system

civil law system with Italian civil law influences

Constitution

history: San Marino’s principal legislative instruments consist of old customs (antiche consuetudini), the Statutory Laws of San Marino (Leges Statutae Sancti Marini), old statutes (antichi statute) from the1600s, Brief Notes on the Constitutional Order and Institutional Organs of the Republic of San Marino (Brevi Cenni sull’Ordinamento Costituzionale e gli Organi Istituzionali della Repubblica di San Marino) and successive legislation, chief among them is the Declaration of the Rights of Citizens and Fundamental Principles of the San Marino Legal Order (Dichiarazione dei Diritti dei Cittadini e dei Principi Fondamentali dell’Ordinamento Sammarinese), approved 8 July 1974

amendment process: proposed by the Great and General Council; passage requires two-thirds majority Council vote; Council passage by absolute majority vote also requires passage in a referendum

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of San Marino

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 30 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: co-chiefs of state Captains Regent Denise BRONZETTI and Italo RIGHI (for the period 1 April 2025 – 30 September 2025)

head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Luca BECCARI (since 8 January 2020)

cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Grand and General Council

election/appointment process: co-chiefs of state (captains regent) indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 6-month term; Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 5-year term

most recent election date: co-chiefs of state: 1 April 2025

secretary of state: 28 December 2019

election results:
2025: Denise BRONZETTI (Reformist Alliance) and Italo RIGHI (Christian Democrat) elected captains regent: percent of Grand and General Council vote – NA

2024: Francesca CIVERCHIA (PDCS) and Dalibor RICCARDI (Free San Marino) elected captains regent; percent of Grand and General Council vote – NA

2019: Luca BECCARI (PDCS) elected Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs; percent of Grand and General Council vote – NA

expected date of next election: co-chiefs of state: September 2025

note: the captains regent preside over meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State), which has seven other members who are selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the captains regent are seven secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has some prime ministerial roles

Legislative branch

legislature name: Great and General Council (Consiglio grande e generale)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 60 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 6/9/2024

parties elected and seats per party: Christian Democratic Party of San Marino (PDCS) (22); Free (Libera) – Socialist Party (PS) (10); Future Republic (RF) (8); Party of Socialists and Democrats (PSD) (8); Tomorrow – Motus Liberi (5); Reformist Alliance (AR) (4); R.E.T.E. Citizens’ Movement (3)

percentage of women in chamber: 35%

expected date of next election: June 2029

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII (consists of 12 members)

judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Grand and General Council from among its own to serve 5-year terms

subordinate courts: first instance and first appeal criminal, administrative, and civil courts; Court for the Trust and Trustee Relations; justices of the peace or conciliatory judges

note: the College of Guarantors for the Constitutionality and General Norms functions as San Marino’s constitutional court

Political parties

Domani – Modus Liberi or DML
Free San Marino (Libera San Marino) or Libera
Future Republic or RF
Party of Socialists and Democrats or PSD
Reformist Alliance or AR
RETE Movement
Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party or PDCS
Socialist Party or PS
Tomorrow in Movement coalition (includes RETE Movement, DML)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Damiano BELEFFI (since 21 July 2017); note – also Permanent Representative to the UN

chancery: 327 E 50th Street, New York, NY 10022

telephone: [1] (212) 751-1234

FAX: [1] (212) 751-1436

email address and website:
[email protected]

Republic of San Marino Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: the United States does not have an Embassy in San Marino; the US Ambassador to Italy is accredited to San Marino, and the US Consulate General in Florence maintains day-to-day ties

International organization participation

CE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

Independence

3 September 301 (traditional founding date)

National holiday

Founding of the Republic (or Feast of Saint Marinus), 3 September (A.D. 301)

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue, with the national coat of arms in the center; the main colors come from the shield on the coat of arms, which features three white towers on mountain peaks on a blue field; the towers represent the Guaita, Cesta, and Montale castles on Mount Titano; a wreath and a crown are around the shield, above a scroll with the word LIBERTAS (Liberty); the white and blue colors are said to stand for peace and liberty

National symbol(s)

three peaks, each displaying a tower

National color(s)

white, blue

National anthem(s)

title: “Inno Nazionale della Repubblica” (National Anthem of the Republic)

lyrics/music: no lyrics/Federico CONSOLO

history: adopted 1894; the music for the anthem, which has no lyrics, is based on a 10th-century chorale piece

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: San Marino Historic Center and Mount Titano

Economy

Economic overview

high-income, non-EU European economy; surrounded by Italy, which is the dominant importer and exporter; open border to EU and a euro user; strong financial sector; high foreign investments; low taxation; increasingly high and risky debt

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.393 billion (2022 est.)
$2.218 billion (2021 est.)
$1.947 billion (2020 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 195

Real GDP growth rate

7.9% (2022 est.)
13.9% (2021 est.)
-6.6% (2020 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 12

Real GDP per capita

$70,900 (2022 est.)
$64,700 (2021 est.)
$56,000 (2020 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 16

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.832 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.2% (2024 est.)
5.9% (2023 est.)
5.3% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 29

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0% (2022 est.)

industry: 37.6% (2022 est.)

services: 55.1% (2022 est.)

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

comparison rankings: services 121; industry 27; agriculture 202

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 35.5% (2022 est.)

government consumption: 17.1% (2022 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 17.8% (2022 est.)

investment in inventories: 5.2% (2022 est.)

exports of goods and services: 197.4% (2022 est.)

imports of goods and services: -173% (2022 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides

Industries

tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine

Industrial production growth rate

10.7% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 7

Remittances

1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $817.27 million (2022 est.)

expenditures: $816.572 million (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

103.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 17

Taxes and other revenues

17.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 67

Current account balance

$284.256 million (2022 est.)
$100.118 million (2021 est.)
$42.98 million (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 68

Exports

$3.616 billion (2022 est.)
$3.23 billion (2021 est.)
$2.439 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 151

Exports – partners

Germany 12%, Austria 10%, USA 9%, Romania 8%, Brazil 7% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

washing and bottling machines, other foods, packaged medicine, woodworking machines, aircraft (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$3.169 billion (2022 est.)
$2.94 billion (2021 est.)
$2.232 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 164

Imports – partners

Germany 24%, Italy 13%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 9%, Poland 8% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

garments, cars, electricity, animal food, footwear (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$836.088 million (2023 est.)
$716.066 million (2022 est.)
$954.383 million (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking: 146

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
0.924 (2024 est.)
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.951 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.877 (2020 est.)

note: while not an EU member state, San Marino, due to its preexisting monetary and banking agreements with Italy, has a 2000 monetary agreement with the EU to produce limited euro coinage—but not banknotes—that began enforcement in January 2002 and was superseded by a new EU agreement in 2012

Energy

Electricity access

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

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 16,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 179

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 41,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 209

Broadcast media

state-owned public broadcaster operates 1 TV station and 3 radio stations; receives radio and TV broadcasts from Italy (2019)

Internet country code

.sm

Internet users

percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 12,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total 182

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

1 (2025)

comparison ranking: 215

Military and Security

Military and security forces

San Marino Military Corps (Corpi Militari Sammarinesi; aka Sammarinese Armed Forces or Forze Armate Sammarinesi): Fortress Guard Command (or Guard of the Rock), Uniformed Company of the Militias, Guard of the Great and General Council, Corps of the Gendarmerie

Ministry of Internal Affairs: Civil Police Corps (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; government has the authority to call up all San Marino citizens from 16-60 years of age to serve in the military (2024)