SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(7 fields)
Broadcast media
TV Monte-Carlo (TMC) 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 (2012)
Internet country code
.mc
Internet hosts
26,009 (2012) country comparison to the world: 111
Internet users
23,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 191
Telephone system
general assessment: modern automatic telephone system; the country's sole fixed line operator offers a full range of services to residential and business customers domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 200 per 100 persons international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system (2011)
Telephones - main lines in use
44,500 (2012) country comparison to the world: 166
Telephones - mobile cellular
33,200 (2012) country comparison to the world: 207
◆ ECONOMY(23 fields)
Agriculture - products
none
Budget
revenues: $1.125 billion expenditures: $1.197 billion (2011 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-1.3% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Debt - external
$NA
Economy - overview
Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a banking center and has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. Monaco, however, is not a tax-free shelter; it charges nearly 20% value-added tax, collects stamp duties, and companies face a 33% tax on profits unless they can show that three-quarters of profits are generated within the principality. Monaco's reliance on tourism and banking for its economic growth has left it vulnerable to a downturn in France and other European economies which are the principality's main trade partners. In 2009, Monaco''s GDP fell by 11.5% as the euro-zone crisis precipitated a sharp drop in tourism and retail activity and home sales. A modest recovery ensued in 2010 with GDP growth of 2.5%, but Monaco''s economic prospects remain clouded in uncertainty tied to future euro-zone growth. Weak economic growth also has deteriorated public finances as the principality recorded a budget deficit of 1.3% of GDP in 2012. Monaco was formally removed from the OECD''s "grey list" of uncooperative tax jurisdictions in late 2009, but continues to face international pressure to abandon its banking secrecy laws and help combat tax evasion. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.78 (2012 est.) 0.72 (2011 est.) 0.76 (2010 est.) 0.72 (2009 est.) 0.68 (2008 est.)
Exports
$864.6 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 162 $684.9 million (2010) note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate)
$5.748 billion (2011 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$5.748 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 $5.47 billion (2010 est.) $5.337 billion (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 0% industry: 10% services: 90% (2011)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$70,600 (2011) country comparison to the world: 6 $63,400 (2009 est.) $61,800 (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
5.1% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 2.5% (2010 est.) -11.5% (2009)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$847.9 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 183 $850.2 million (2010) note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.5% (2010) country comparison to the world: 28
Labor force
50,580 country comparison to the world: 191 note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2011 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Population below poverty line
NA%
Taxes and other revenues
19.6% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 170
Unemployment rate
0% (2011) country comparison to the world: 2
◆ GEOGRAPHY(18 fields)
Area
total: 2 sq km country comparison to the world: 250 land: 2 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Coastline
4.1 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Environment - international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
43 44 N, 7 24 E
Geography - note
second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
total: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 1% other: 99% (urban area) (2011)
Location
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
none
Terrain
hilly, rugged, rocky
◆ GOVERNMENT(20 fields)
Administrative divisions
none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo; note - Moneghetti, a part of La Condamine, is sometimes called the 5th quarter of Monaco
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
Constitution
previous 1911 (suspended 1959); latest adopted 17 December 1962; amended 2002 (2013)
Country name
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco conventional short form: Monaco local long form: Principaute de Monaco local short form: Monaco
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to France, currently Ambassador Charles H. RIVKIN, is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France), under the authority of the US ambassador to France, handles routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Maguy Maccario DOYLE (since 3 December 2013) chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Suite 2K-100, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-1530 FAX: (202) 244-7656 consulate(s) general: New York
Executive branch
chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005) head of government: Minister of State Michel ROGER (since 29 March 2010) cabinet: Council of Government under the authority of the monarch (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government
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 flag one of the world's oldest national banners note: similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red
Government type
constitutional monarchy
Independence
1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
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
Legal system
civil law system influenced by French legal tradition
Legislative branch
unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16 members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 10 February 2013 (next to be held in February 2018) election results: percent of vote by party - Horizon Monaco 50.3%, Union Monegasque 39%, Renaissance 10.7%; seats by party - Horizon Monaco 20, Union Monegasque 3, Renaissance 1
National anthem
name: "A Marcia de Muneghu" (The March of Monaco)
National holiday
National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)
Political parties and leaders
Horizon Monaco [Laurent NOUVION] Renaissance [SBM (corporation)] Union Monegasque [Stephane VALERI]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
◆ INTRODUCTION(1 fields)
Background
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling GRIMALDI family first seized temporary control in 1297, and again in 1331, but were not able to permanently secure their 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, splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation center.
◆ MILITARY(5 fields)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 5,749 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 4,629 females age 16-49: 4,597 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 153 female: 141 (2010 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of France
Military branches
no regular military forces; Directorate of Public Security (2012)
◆ PEOPLE AND SOCIETY(28 fields)
Age structure
0-14 years: 11.9% (male 1,856/female 1,782) 15-24 years: 9.4% (male 1,479/female 1,384) 25-54 years: 35.6% (male 5,387/female 5,456) 55-64 years: 14.4% (male 2,217/female 2,172) 65 years and over: 28.7% (male 3,913/female 4,854) (2013 est.)
Birth rate
6.79 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 224
Death rate
8.75 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2010 est.)
Education expenditures
1.2% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 170
Ethnic groups
French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Health expenditures
4.3% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 157
Hospital bed density
16.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Infant mortality rate
total: 1.81 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 224 male: 2.05 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Languages
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 89.63 years country comparison to the world: 1 male: 85.7 years female: 93.71 years (2013 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)
Median age
total: 50.5 years male: 49.4 years female: 51.7 years (2013 est.)
Nationality
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Net migration rate
1.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 44
Physicians density
7.06 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
Population
30,500 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 218
Population growth rate
-0% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Religions
Roman Catholic 90% (official), other 10%
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2010 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 18 years male: 18 years female: 17 years (2009)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.51 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 188
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 6.9% country comparison to the world: 127 male: 6.6% female: 7.4% (2000)
Urbanization
urban population: 100% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(1 fields)
Disputes - international
none
◆ TRANSPORTATION(4 fields)
Heliports
1 (2012)
Merchant marine
registered in other countries: 64 (Bahamas 8, Bermuda 2, Liberia 8, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 30, Panama 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2) (2010) country comparison to the world: 63
Ports and terminals
Monaco
Roadways
total: 77 km country comparison to the world: 217 paved: 77 km (2010)