Monaco
Monaco
Introduction
Background
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.
Geography
Location
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates
43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total: 2 sq km
country comparison to the world: 249 land:2 sq km
water:0 sq km
Area – comparative
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries
total: 4.4 km
border countries:France 4.4 km
Coastline
4.1 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:12 nm
Climate
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain
hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point:Mont Agel 140 m
Natural resources
none
Land use
arable land: 0%
permanent crops:0%
other:100% (urban area) (2005)
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
NA
Environment – current issues
NA
Environment – international agreements
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
Geography – note
second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See)
almost entirely urban
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective:Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups
French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Languages
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Religions
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Population
30,539 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Age structure
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.)
Median age
total: 49.4 years
male:48.4 years
female:50.5 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.124% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Birth rate
6.94 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
Death rate
8.28 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Net migration rate
0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Urbanization
urban population: 100% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Sex ratio
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.)
Infant mortality rate
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.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 89.73 years
country comparison to the world: 1 male:85.77 years
female:93.84 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.5 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Health expenditures
4.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 145
Physicians density
5.81 physicians/1,000 population (1995)
country comparison to the world: 4
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS – deaths
NA
Education expenditures
1.2% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 162
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99%
male:99%
female:99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 18 years
male:18 years
female:17 years (2009)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form:Monaco
local long form:Principaute de Monaco
local short form:Monaco
Government type
constitutional monarchy
Capital
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
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
Independence
1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of Grimaldi)
National holiday
National Day (Saint Rainier’s Day), 19 November (1857)
Constitution
17 December 1962
modified 2 April 2002
Legal system
civil law system influenced by French legal tradition
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration
non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage
18 years of age
universal
Executive branch
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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
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)
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
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council)
Political parties and leaders
Monaco Together
Rally and Issues for Monaco or REM
Union for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco or UNAM)
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
International organization participation
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
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
Flag description
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
National anthem
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
Economy
Economy – overview
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$976.3 million (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201 note:data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$NA
GDP – real growth rate
NA%
GDP – per capita (PPP)
$30,000 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
GDP – composition by sector
agriculture: 0%
industry:4.9%
services:95.1% (2005)
Labor force
44,000
country comparison to the world: 190 note:includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate
0% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 1
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%
Budget
revenues: $863 million
expenditures:$920.6 million (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.9% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 60
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Agriculture – products
none
Industries
tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Electricity – consumption
NA kWh
Electricity – imports
NA kWh
note – electricity supplied by France
Exports
$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
Imports
$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
Debt – external
$18 billion (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.755 (2010)
0.7198 (2009)
0.6827 (2008)
0.7345 (2007)
0.7964 (2006)
Transportation
Heliports
1 (2010)
Roadways
total: 77 km
country comparison to the world: 216 paved:77 km (2008)
Merchant marine
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
Ports and terminals
Monaco
Military
Military branches
no regular military forces
the Palace Guard performs ceremonial duties
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 5,749 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 4,629
females age 16-49:4,597 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 153
female:141 (2010 est.)
Military – note
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes – international
none