The Smallest Countries in the World
At the opposite end of the scale from Russia and Canada sit the world's smallest sovereign states — countries you could cross in an afternoon. They are also, not coincidentally, the ones players miss most often in a geography game.
The ten smallest countries by area
Land areas below are approximate, in square kilometres, and are useful mainly for ranking rather than precision.
| Country | Continent | Area (km², approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Vatican City | Europe | ~0.49 |
| Monaco | Europe | ~2.0 |
| Nauru | Oceania | ~21 |
| Tuvalu | Oceania | ~26 |
| San Marino | Europe | ~61 |
| Liechtenstein | Europe | ~160 |
| Marshall Islands | Oceania | ~181 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | North America | ~261 |
| Maldives | Asia | ~300 |
| Malta | Europe | ~316 |
Europe’s micro-states
Vatican City is the smallest country on Earth by both area and population — a walled enclave inside Rome and the seat of the Catholic Church. Monaco, on the French Riviera, is the most densely populated country in the world. San Marino claims to be the world's oldest republic, Liechtenstein is a doubly-landlocked Alpine principality, and Malta is a Mediterranean island nation. Europe packs more micro-states than any other continent, which is why our Europe guide reminds you not to overlook them.
The tiny nations of the Pacific
Several of the smallest countries are Pacific island states. Nauru is the smallest island nation and the smallest republic, with no official capital. Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands are low-lying atoll nations, among the most exposed in the world to rising seas. Their tiny land areas are scattered across enormous stretches of ocean, which is exactly why they are so easy to miss on a map — see the Oceania guide for the full set.
Small island states elsewhere
Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest country in the Americas, one of the chain of Caribbean micro-states. The Maldives, in the Indian Ocean, has very little land but spreads across hundreds of coral islands and is the smallest country in Asia by both area and population.
Why the smallest countries matter in the game
Tiny countries are worth disproportionate attention because they are the points most players drop. Knowing that Vatican City, San Marino, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Nauru and Tuvalu exist — and roughly where they are — is one of the quickest ways to lift your score. Learn the small ones, and the big ones take care of themselves.