Top 100 Smallest Countries by Area
The world is home to a diverse range of countries, each with its unique size and geographical features. This overview focuses on the top 100 smallest countries by area, highlighting the compact nations that make up our world.
List Smallest Countries by Area
Rank | Country | Total area in (km2) | Total area in (mi2) | Continent |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Vatican City | 0.44 | 0.17 | Europe |
2 | Monaco | 2.02 | 0.78 | Europe |
3 | Nauru | 21 | 8.1 | Oceania |
4 | Tuvalu | 26 | 10 | Oceania |
5 | San Marino | 61 | 24 | Europe |
6 | Liechtenstein | 160 | 62 | Europe |
7 | Marshall Islands | 181 | 70 | Oceania |
8 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 269 | 104 | North America |
9 | Maldives | 300 | 116 | Asia |
10 | Malta | 316 | 122 | Europe |
11 | Grenada | 344 | 133 | North America |
12 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 389 | 150 | North America |
13 | Barbados | 430 | 170 | North America |
14 | Antigua and Barbuda | 442 | 171 | North America |
15 | Seychelles | 455 | 176 | Africa |
16 | Palau | 460 | 178 | Oceania |
17 | Andorra | 468 | 181 | Europe |
18 | Saint Lucia | 616 | 238 | North America |
19 | Micronesia | 702 | 271 | Oceania |
20 | Singapore | 719.1 | 277.6 | Asia |
21 | Tonga | 747 | 288 | Oceania |
22 | Dominica | 751 | 290 | North America |
23 | Bahrain | 780 | 301 | Asia |
24 | Kiribati | 811 | 313 | Oceania |
25 | Sao Tome and Principe | 1,001 | 386 | Africa |
26 | Mauritius | 2,040 | 788 | Africa |
27 | Comoros | 2,235 | 863 | Africa |
28 | Luxembourg | 2,586 | 998 | Europe |
29 | Samoa | 2,842 | 1,097 | Oceania |
30 | Cabo Verde | 4,033 | 1,557 | Africa |
31 | Trinidad and Tobago | 5,131 | 1,981 | North America |
32 | Brunei | 5,765 | 2,226 | Asia |
33 | Palestine | 6,220 | 2,402 | Asia |
34 | Cyprus | 9,250 | 3,571 | Europe |
35 | Lebanon | 10,452 | 4,036 | Asia |
36 | Kosovo | 10,887 | 4,203 | Europe |
37 | Jamaica | 10,991 | 4,244 | North America |
38 | Gambia | 11,295 | 4,361 | Africa |
39 | Qatar | 11,586 | 4,473 | Asia |
40 | Vanuatu | 12,189 | 4,706 | Oceania |
41 | Montenegro | 13,812 | 5,333 | Europe |
42 | Bahamas | 13,878 | 5,358 | North America |
43 | Timor-Leste | 14,874 | 5,743 | Asia |
44 | Eswatini | 17,364 | 6,704 | Africa |
45 | Kuwait | 17,818 | 6,880 | Asia |
46 | Fiji | 18,274 | 7,056 | Oceania |
47 | Slovenia | 20,273 | 7,827 | Europe |
48 | Israel | 20,770 | 8,019 | Asia |
49 | El Salvador | 21,041 | 8,124 | North America |
50 | Belize | 22,966 | 8,867 | North America |
51 | Djibouti | 23,200 | 8,958 | Africa |
52 | North Macedonia | 25,713 | 9,928 | Europe |
53 | Rwanda | 26,338 | 10,169 | Africa |
54 | Haiti | 27,750 | 10,714 | North America |
55 | Burundi | 27,830 | 10,745 | Africa |
56 | Equatorial Guinea | 28,051 | 10,831 | Africa |
57 | Albania | 28,748 | 11,100 | Europe |
58 | Solomon Islands | 28,896 | 11,157 | Oceania |
59 | Armenia | 29,743 | 11,484 | Europe |
60 | Lesotho | 30,355 | 11,720 | Africa |
61 | Belgium | 30,528 | 11,787 | Europe |
62 | Moldova | 33,843 | 13,067 | Europe |
63 | Taiwan | 36,000 | 13,900 | Asia |
64 | Guinea-Bissau | 36,125 | 13,948 | Africa |
65 | Bhutan | 38,394 | 14,824 | Asia |
66 | Switzerland | 41,285 | 15,940 | Europe |
67 | Netherlands | 42,199 | 16,293 | Europe |
68 | Estonia | 45,227 | 17,462 | Europe |
69 | Dominican Republic | 48,670 | 18,792 | North America |
70 | Slovakia | 49,036 | 18,933 | Europe |
71 | Costa Rica | 51,100 | 19,730 | North America |
72 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 51,209 | 19,772 | Europe |
73 | Croatia | 56,594 | 21,851 | Europe |
74 | Togo | 56,785 | 21,925 | Africa |
75 | Latvia | 64,589 | 24,938 | Europe |
76 | Lithuania | 65,300 | 25,212 | Europe |
77 | Sri Lanka | 65,610 | 25,332 | Asia |
78 | Georgia | 69,700 | 26,911 | Europe/Asia |
79 | Ireland | 70,282 | 27,136 | Europe |
80 | Sierra Leone | 71,740 | 27,699 | Africa |
81 | Panama | 75,420 | 29,120 | North America |
82 | Serbia | 77,474 | 29,913 | North America |
83 | Czechia | 78,867 | 30,451 | Europe |
84 | United Arab Emirates | 83,600 | 32,278 | Asia |
85 | Austria | 83,879 | 32,386 | Europe |
86 | Azerbaijan | 86,600 | 33,436 | Europe/Asia |
87 | Jordan | 89,342 | 34,495 | Asia |
88 | Portugal | 92,220 | 35,606 | Europe |
89 | Hungary | 93,028 | 35,918 | Europe |
90 | South Korea | 100,266 | 38,713 | Asia |
91 | Iceland | 103,000 | 38,768 | Europe |
92 | Guatemala | 108,889 | 42,042 | North America |
93 | Cuba | 109,880 | 42,425 | North America |
94 | Bulgaria | 110,879 | 42,811 | Europe |
95 | Liberia | 111,369 | 43,000 | Africa |
96 | Honduras | 112,090 | 43,278 | North America |
97 | Benin | 114,763 | 44,310 | Africa |
98 | Eritrea | 117,600 | 45,406 | Africa |
99 | Malawi | 118,484 | 45,747 | Africa |
100 | North Korea | 120,540 | 46,541 | Asia |
Understanding Country Sizes
Country sizes vary dramatically, with some nations covering vast landmasses and others encompassing just a few square kilometers. The list of the smallest countries by area provides a fascinating glimpse into these compact nations, many of which hold significant cultural and historical importance despite their small size.
Notable Among the Smallest Countries
- Vatican City: The smallest country in the world, Vatican City is an independent city-state enclaved within Rome, Italy.
- Monaco: Known for its luxury and as a haven for the wealthy, Monaco is the second smallest country globally.
- Nauru: The smallest island nation, Nauru is known for its phosphate mining operations.
- Tuvalu: A Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, known for its low elevation and risk from rising sea levels.
- San Marino: One of the world’s oldest republics, San Marino is landlocked within Italy.
Economic and Cultural Significance
Despite their small size, many of these countries have significant economic and cultural impacts. For instance, Luxembourg, while small in area, is known for its robust economy and high standard of living. Similarly, countries like Malta and the Maldives are popular tourist destinations, known for their unique cultures and beautiful landscapes.
Challenges Faced by Smaller Nations
Smaller countries often face unique challenges, such as limited natural resources, vulnerability to climate change, and economic dependence on a narrow range of industries. Island nations like the Maldives and Tuvalu, for example, are facing the direct impact of rising sea levels due to climate change.
The smallest countries by area demonstrate that size isn’t always indicative of influence or potential. These nations contribute significantly to global diversity, offering unique cultures, histories, and landscapes. Their existence reminds us of the vast variety of human experiences and the importance of preserving and valuing all nations, regardless of size.
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