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Europe :: Monaco
page last updated on November 10, 2011
Flag of Monaco
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Monaco
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Map of Monaco
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Photos of Monaco
 
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of Monaco
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Introduction ::Monaco
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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.
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Geography ::Monaco
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Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
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43 44 N, 7 24 E
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total: 2 sq km
country comparison to the world: 249
land: 2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
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total: 4.4 km
border countries: France 4.4 km
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4.1 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
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Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
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hilly, rugged, rocky
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lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
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none
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2005)
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NA
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NA
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NA
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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
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second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban
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People and Society ::Monaco
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noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
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French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
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French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
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Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
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30,539 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
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0-14 years: 12.3% (male 1,930/female 1,841)
15-64 years: 60.8% (male 9,317/female 9,249)
65 years and over: 26.9% (male 3,640/female 4,562) (2011 est.)
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total: 49.4 years
male: 48.4 years
female: 50.5 years (2011 est.)
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-0.124% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
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6.94 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
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8.28 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
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0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
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urban population: 100% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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at birth: 1.039 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
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total: 1.79 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 222
male: 2.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 1.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
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total population: 89.73 years
country comparison to the world: 1
male: 85.77 years
female: 93.84 years (2011 est.)
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1.5 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
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4.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 145
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5.81 physicians/1,000 population (1995)
country comparison to the world: 4
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improved:
urban: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)
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improved:
urban: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)
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NA
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NA
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NA
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1.2% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 162
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
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total: 18 years
male: 18 years
female: 17 years (2009)
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Government ::Monaco
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conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco
local short form: Monaco
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constitutional monarchy
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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
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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
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1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of Grimaldi)
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National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)
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17 December 1962; modified 2 April 2002
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civil law system influenced by French legal tradition
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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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18 years of age; universal
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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
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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
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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 3 February 2008 (next to be held in February 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPM 52.2%, REM 40.5%, Monaco Together 7.3%; seats by party - UPM 21, REM 3
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Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council)
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Monaco Together; Rally and Issues for Monaco or REM; Union for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco or UNAM)
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NA
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CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, 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
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chief of mission: Ambassador Gilles NOGHES
chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Suite 2K-100, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 234-1530
FAX: (202) 244-7656
consulate(s) general: New York
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the 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 routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco
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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
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name: "A Marcia de Muneghu" (The March of Monaco)
lyrics/music: Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT
note: music adopted 1867, lyrics adopted 1931; although French is much more commonly spoken, only the Monegasque lyrics are official; the French version is known as "Hymne Monegasque" (Monegasque Anthem); the words are generally only sung on official occasions
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Economy ::Monaco
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Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a major 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 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.
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$976.3 million (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
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$NA
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NA%
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$30,000 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
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agriculture: 0%
industry: 4.9%
services: 95.1% (2005)
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44,000
country comparison to the world: 190
note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.)
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0% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 1
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NA%
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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revenues: $863 million
expenditures: $920.6 million (2005 est.)
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1.9% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 60
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$NA
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none
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tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
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NA%
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NA kWh
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NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
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$716.3 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 161
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
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$916.1 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 174
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
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$18 billion (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
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euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.755 (2010)
0.7198 (2009)
0.6827 (2008)
0.7345 (2007)
0.7964 (2006)
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Communications ::Monaco
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34,100 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 177
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26,300 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 204
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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 100%
international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system
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TV Monte-Carlo (TMC) operates a TV network; Radio Monte-Carlo has both an Italian-language and a French-language network; a few private radio stations operating (2008)
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.mc
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23,621 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 104
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23,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 189
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Transportation ::Monaco
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1 (2010)
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total: 77 km
country comparison to the world: 216
paved: 77 km (2008)
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registered in other countries: 68 (Bahamas 14, Bermuda 2, Comoros 1, Cyprus 1, Liberia 10, Marshall Islands 21, Norway 1, Panama 14, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Vanuatu 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 62
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Monaco
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Military ::Monaco
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no regular military forces; the Palace Guard performs ceremonial duties
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males age 16-49: 5,749 (2010 est.)
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males age 16-49: 4,629
females age 16-49: 4,597 (2010 est.)
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male: 153
female: 141 (2010 est.)
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defense is the responsibility of France
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Transnational Issues ::Monaco
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none
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