Background: 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.

Area
Total: 1.9 km²
Land: 1.9 km²
Comparative: about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: Total 4.4 km, France 4.4 km

Coastline: 4.1 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea:12 nm

Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain: Hilly, rugged, rocky

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mont Agel 140 m

Natural resources: None

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 100%

Irrigated land: NA

Population:
Growth rate:

Nationality
Noun: Monacan(s) or Monegasque(s)
Adjective: Monacan or Monegasque

Ethnic groups:

Languages: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%

Population growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Net migration rate:

Environment
Current issues: NA
Current issues Natural hazards: NA
International agreements: party to_Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified_Law of the Sea
International agreements note: Second smallest independent state in world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
All ages:

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 78.07 years 91,996 est.), 77.9 years (1995 est.)
Male: 74.38 years (1996 est.), 74.18 years (1995 est.)
Female: 81.93 years (1996 est.), 81.8 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate:

Literacy: definition:NA

Country name
Conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
Conventional short form: Monaco
Local long form: Principaute de Monaco
Local short form: Monaco (Pronunciation)

Government type: Constitutional monarchy

Capital: Monaco

Administrative divisions: 4 quarters (quartiers, singular_quartier; Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo

Independence: 1419 (rule by the House of Grimaldi)

National holiday: National Day, 19 November

Constitution: 17 December 1962

Legal system: Based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 25 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since NA November 1949); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre (born 14 March 1958)
Head of government: Minister of State Jaques DUPONT (since NA 1995) was appointed by the prince from a list of three candidates presented by the French Government
Cabinet: Council of Government; under the authority of the Prince

Legislative branch: Unicameral National Council (Conseil National):Elections last held 24 and 31 January 1993 (next to be held NA; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(18 total) Campora List 15, Medecin List 2, independent 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal (Tribunal Supreme)

International organization participation: ACCT, ECE, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFRCS, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

Flag description: Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red

Economy overview: Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The Principality 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. About 55% of Monaco's annual revenue comes from value-added taxes on hotels, banks, and the industrial sector; about 25% of revenue comes from tourism. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.

Real gdp growth rate: NA

Real gdp per capita:

Agriculture products: None

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate NA

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: 3.1% (1994)

Budget
Revenues: $660 million (1993 est.), $424 million (1991 est.)
Expenditures: $586 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.), $376 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1991 est.)

Fiscal year: Calendar year

Exports: total value. NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and Rebates Monacan trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France

Imports: total value:NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and Rebates Monacan trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France

Debt external: NA

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1_5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990)

Electricity
Capacity: 10,000 kW standby; power imported from France
Production: NA kWh
Consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)

Telephone system: 34,600 telephones (1987 est.); automatic telephone system
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: no satellite links; served by cable into the French communications system

Merchant marine: None Airports:Linked to airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service