Facts About Monaco
- ️Fri May 01 2009
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control in the late 13th century, and a principality was established in 1338. 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.
Geography of Monaco
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Location: |
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy |
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Coordinates: |
43 44 N, 7 24 E |
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Area: |
total: 1.95 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 1.95 sq km |
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Area comparative: |
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries: |
total: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km |
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Coastline: |
4.1 km |
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Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate: |
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers |
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Terrain: |
hilly, rugged, rocky |
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m |
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Natural resources: |
none |
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Geography - note: |
second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban |
Population of Monaco
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Population: |
32,796 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure: |
0-14 years: 15.2% (male 2,539/female 2,417) 15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,959/female 10,266) 65 years and over: 22.6% (male 3,015/female 4,347) |
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Median age: |
45.4 years |
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Growth rate: |
0.4% |
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Infant mortality: |
5.35 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 79.69 years male: 75.85 years female: 83.74 years |
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Fertility rate: |
1.76 children born/woman |
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Nationality: |
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan |
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Ethnic groups: |
French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21% |
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Religions: |
Roman Catholic 90% |
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Languages: |
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque |
Government
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Country name: |
conventional long form: Principality
of Monaco local long form: Principaute de Monaco |
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Government type: |
constitutional monarchy |
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Capital: |
Monaco |
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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 |
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Independence: |
1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi) |
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National holiday: |
National Day (Prince of Monaco Holiday), 19 November |
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Constitution: |
17 December 1962 |
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Legal system: |
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage: |
21 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch: |
chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April
2005) head of government: Minister of State Jean-Paul PROUST (since 1 June 2005) cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch 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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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) |
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Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council) |
Economy
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. 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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GDP: |
$976.3 million note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates are extremely rough (2006 est.) |
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GDP per capita: |
$30,000 |
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Labor force: |
41,110 note: includes workers from all foreign countries |
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Budget: |
revenues: $719.2 million expenditures: $864.1 million |
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Industries: |
tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products |
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Agriculture: |
none |
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Exports: |
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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Imports: |
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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Currency: |
euro (EUR) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
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