Monaco

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Monaco's Information


Capital	Monaco
Languages	French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Ethnic Groups	French (official) 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religion	Roman Catholic 90% (official), other 10%
Government	Constitutional monarchy
Independance	1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI)
Area	2.00 km²
Land Area	2.00 km²
Population	30,581.00 The most densely populated country in the world; its entire population living on 2 square km
Location	Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
No. Bordering Countries	1
Bordering Countries	France 6 km
GDP(PPP)	$7,672,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$115,700.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are Europe, Africa, and America.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are Europe, Asia, and America.
Climate	Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain	Hilly, rugged, rocky

Where is Monaco?

Located in Western Europe, Monaco has a 6.00 km border with France. It has a 4.00 km coastline.

The capital city of Monaco is Monte Carlo. It is located on an escarpment at the base of Maritime Alps, bordering France in the east and Italy in the west. About 3,500 people live in the city center while the Monte Carlo Quarter has a population of approximately 15,000 people, accounting for 40% of Monaco’s population. Monte Carlo is full of life and excitement. It is a gambling center, known for the world’s famous Place du Casino and the Salle Gainer. It also hosts the Circuit de Monaco which hosts the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix. Monte Carlo experiences Mediterranean climate, characterized by cold and fairly sunny winter. The temperatures range between 10 degrees Celsius in January and 30 degrees Celsius in August/September.

Geography

Monaco has a mean elevation of 0 m above sea level.

It has a Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Its terrain is mostly hilly, rugged, and rocky.

Population

Monaco has a population of 30,581 making it the 216th largest in the world. It is the most densely populated country in the world.

French is the official language. The major ethnic groups are French, Monegasque and Italian. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic.

The official language of Monaco is French, though there are several other languages spoken in the country. French is popularly spoken in the country as a result of the influence of France in the state. Italian and English languages are spoken by 19% and 8.5% of the population as the first language. Monegasque language is considered the country’s traditional language, mainly spoken by 26% of the population. It is a dialect of the Ligurian language. Other local languages spoken in Monaco include Occitan and Intemelo. The local languages, especially Occitan and Intemelo are slowly fading away. Monegasques language has only been rescued by the government effort following a decline in its use in the 1970s.

Government

Monaco is an independent country. It has been ruled by the House of Grimaldi since 1419. Its constitution was last ratified in 1962.

The politics of Monaco is conducted in the context of a constitutional monarchy. The Crown Prince of Monaco is the head of state and shares some of his powers with a unicameral National Council or parliament. The government of Monaco is headed by the Minister of State who also presides over a cabinet of 5 ministers. The current head of state and Prince of Monaco is Albert II whose official name is Albert Alexander Louis Grimaldi. He has been the prince since April 2005, having succeeded his late father, Prince Rainer III. Prince Albert is the 13th sovereign prince of Monaco. The prince’s official residence is the Prince’s Palace of Monaco which was built in 1191. The Grimaldi family celebrated their 700th-year rule at the palace in 1997. The National Council building is located in Monaco City. Citizens of Monaco who have attained the age of 21 are allowed by law to elect legislatures. The 24 legislatures are elected by universal suffrage and serve for a 5-year term.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Monaco's GDP is $7,672,000,000.00 (USD) with $115,700.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 163rd largest economy and its citizens the 3rd richest in the world. The currency of Monaco is the Euro (EUR).

Its major export partners are Europe, Africa, and America. Its major import partners are Europe, Asia, and America.

Flag

The flag of Monaco resembles that of Indonesia with the only difference being the dimension ratio. It consists of equal horizontal bands of red and white which signify the flesh of human body and the purity of soul and spiritual life respectively. The two horizontal bands are of equal width with the height to width ratio being 4:5. The red and white colors have been the colors of the House of Grimaldi since 1339. The current flag was founded by Prince Charles III on April 4, 1881, and was created based on the colors of Monaco’s court of arm. The current flag resembles the older version with the only difference being the exclusion of the older version of the country’s court of arm in the new design. The older version of the flag was used from the early days of the principality and was only replaced in 1881 by the new flag.