How Tiny Are They?

The tiniest 20 countries cover a combined land area of just over 2,500 square miles between them (5340km). Combined, they could all fit comfortably inside the state of Delaware, the United States’ second smallest state.

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Tiny Countries

Here are the twenty smallest countries in the world, and my opinion as to whether they’d make a good travel destination. These are autonomous states. The list does not include territories of larger countries. Their tinyness ranking is provided in parenthesis.

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The Vatican City (1) – The world’s tiniest country, The Vatican houses His Holiness the Pope. It is the home of the Sistine Chapel and other treasured art and architecture.

Interesting Facts (see more)

• Highest wine consumption rate in the world. Never thought of The Vatican as Party Central 🙂
• Considered to be an absolute monarchy, with the Pope at its head.
• It’s size is a whopping 121 acres.

The Verdict – Strong Yes. The extensive culture and history makes Vatican City a great travel destination even if you aren’t religious.

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Monaco (2) – Around 500 acres, Monaco is similar in size to New York’s Central Park. Bordered by France, it rests on the coast of the Mediterranean.

Interesting Facts

• Home of the Monte Carlo casino. Residents of Monaco are not permitted to gamble inside. Whatever are all those billionaires going to do with their time?
• Completely contained within the French Riviera.
• Poverty rate of zero, and the 2nd highest GDP per capita in the world, trailing only Luxembourg.

The Verdict – Strong Yes. Although expensive (you might want to stay in Nice or another nearby location), Monaco offers everything you could think of in such a small space.

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Nauru (3) – If my top 10 list were the top 10 most fascinating tiny countries, Nauru would head the list. It is an island nation in the South Pacific with a population of 13,000.

Interesting Facts

• Renowned for its one road circling the island and airport runway on the beach.
• Most obese nation in the world (attributed to importing all its food)
• Mostly Christian nation
• Requires a tourist visa to visit, which is extremely difficult to obtain without a local sponsor.
• Receives only about 200 visitors a year
• Hosts an immigration processing site for Australia

The Verdict – No. It would be cool to say I was one of only 200 tourists to visit the place, and it seems like you could strike up some interesting conversations with locals and expats in the local establishments. But there isn’t a lot to do here, the beaches aren’t that great, and the hassle of trying to obtain a tourist visa (a detailed 6-month process) does not seem to be worth the effort.

However, if any missionaries on the island would sponsor me and help expedite the process, who knows?

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Tuvalu (4) – Composed of three islands and six coral atolls in the South Pacific.

Interesting Facts (See More)

• Tuvalu is a cash-only country. No credit cards. Oh – there’s no ATMs either. Dave Ramsey would love it here.
• No tourist visa necessary! Yet only 2000 people visit per year, because it is so remote.
• Tuvalu is a very Christian nation. On a Sunday, you’d probably be invited to church.
• The country sells the .tv domain for a ton of money.

The Verdict – Unlikely. I would like to visit someday, but it seems too remote, and without much infrastructure for tourists. This could be viewed as a positive. Tuvalu would be a true getaway, with good people, and no red tape. But I haven’t read enough to justify a recommendation to travel here.

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San Marino (5) – Enclosed within Italy lies this 24 sq mi republic.

Interesting facts

• Founded in 301, San Marino is Europe’s oldest republic.
• San Marino’s constitution stipulates that every six months, two new leaders (Captains Regent) are elected by its parliament.

The Verdict – Yes, for a day. A beautiful city on mountain with stunning views, good shopping, and historic sites. But travel to this country would be included in a larger Italian or European package.

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Liechtenstein (6) – This tiny country in the upper Rhine Valley of central Europe is only 62 sq miles.

Interesting Facts

• Double-land-locked country. All the countries it borders are also land locked.
• Smallest country to border two or more countries.
• Once a year, all residents are invited by the prince and family to have a beer in the garden of the Vaduz Castle (shown below)
• Liechtenstein is the only country with 100% of its area in the alpine region.

The Verdict – Yes.

I’m intrigued by the scenic hiking opportunities like the Liechtenstein Trail. There are tons of summer and winter sporting activities available. Numerous castles and cultural sites to explore. And stunning, un-crowded views.

UPDATE – I made it! Just out of sight to the left is the Liechtenstein Trail. Sadly, I only had a few hours, and wasn’t able to explore. Hope I can return some day!

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The Marshall Islands (7) – Islands in the north Pacific.

Interesting Facts

• Home of the world’s largest shark sanctuary (shark fishing prohibited)
• Some of the islands are still radioactive from the nuclear bomb tests conducted by the U.S. for 12 years after World War II, with plutonium levels higher than Fukushima and Chernobyl.
  • Bikini island is uninhabitable
  • The bikini was named after the island because its designer wanted it to be “explosive” like the bomb tested there

The Verdict – Not for me. If you have the time and ability to immerse yourself in the culture it sounds like it could be a rewarding trip. There are also plentiful diving opportunities in the Marshall Islands. But given the remoteness and the lack of advanced facilities, there are other island getaways that I would choose first.

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St. Kitts and Nevis (8) – With 39,000 citizens, this pair of volcanic Caribbean Islands is the smallest sovereign nation in the Western Hemisphere, in both size and population.

Interesting Facts

• The first European to see the islands was Christopher Columbus.
• Alexander Hamilton was born here, on his family’s estate.

The Verdict – Unlikely. There is a lot to do and explore here, both in the water and on land, such as world heritage site Brimstone Hill. St. Kitts is said to have a buzzing nightlife. But this is a cruise destination that seems a bit too touristy for my taste.

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The Maldives (9) – Two chains of islands in the Indian Ocean comprise the smallest nation in Asia, at around 116 sq miles.

Interesting Facts

• There are over 1,100 islands in the Maldives, if you include the uninhabited strips of sand that can be found in this atoll paradise.
• The Maldives might be disappearing due to erosion and rising sea levels.
• The Maldives is a strict Muslim nation, affecting what you can do and how you can dress outside the resorts.
• The country’s name does not mean “bad dives” 🙂

The Verdict – Yes, if you like the idea of a secluded resort, some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and coral reefs teaming with life. Not so much if you want hiking and exploring the local culture, and a wild night life. A trip to the Maldives could be paired with a journey to India. It can also be quite costly.

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Malta (10) – An archipelago with three inhabited islands, The Republic of Malta sits in the Mediterranean a bit south of Sicily.

Interesting Facts

• Malta includes St. Paul’s island, where he shipwrecked during a missionary journey. The island is currently uninhabited.
• A lot of film work happens in Malta, but not The Maltese Falcon.

The Verdict – Yes. I’ll take an island getaway in the Mediterranean with rich history, culture, and natural beauty. City life on the main island or a more relaxed, scenic excursion to one of the sister islands makes this an intriguing vacation target.

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Grenada (11) – 135 sq mile island in the southern Caribbean, near South America. It also includes several smaller islands.

Interesting Facts

• Grenada is the world’s leading exporter of nutmeg.
• The U.S. invaded Granada in 1983.

The Verdict – Doubtful. I’m sure I’d enjoy a visit – the waterfalls and beaches and other tourist attractions sound nice. But nothing in particular is calling me to target as a destination unless part of a cruise package.

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The Seychelles (12) – An archipelago of 155 islands in the Indian Ocean belonging to Africa.

Interesting Facts

• The city of Victoria is the smallest capital city in the world.
• On the main island of Mahe, Morne Seychellois National Park covers 20% of the country, and includes the highest mountain peak, hiking trails, and beaches.

The Verdict – Strong Yes. An island paradise with some of the greatest beaches and snorkeling in the world, but a place where you can still immerse yourself in the local culture and take mountain hikes with stunning views.

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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (13) – A bit north of Grenada in the south Caribbean, the country is often referred to as simply Saint Vincent.

Interesting facts

• The movie Pirates of the Carribbean was filmed here

The Verdict – Yes. Can’t go wrong with a Caribbean Island vacation, and this seems like one of the better spots, without having so much tourism that it’s overbearing, yet having plenty to do for different tastes.

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Barbados (14) – The farthest east of all the Caribbean’s islands, it sits a bit northeast of Venezuela.

Interesting Facts:

• Over 99% of Barbadians over the age of 15 can read and write.
• You drive around the 75 mile circumference of the island in three hours.
• Barbados is the Caribbean’s most visited tourist destination.

The Verdict – No. I can’t pick all the Caribbean Islands, so I’d choose Saint Vincent and Grenada over Barbados. I’d be happy to visit here on a cruise, as Bridgetown seems like a nice city and there are good beaches and attractions. But it might be too commercial for my tastes.

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Antigua and Barbuda (15) – Two main islands situated in the Leeward Islands, east of Puerto Rico.

Interesting Facts

• It’s highest point is named Mt. Obama. It was renamed in 2009 on Barack Obama’s birthday.

The Verdict – Maybe. Similar to Barbados – I can’t pick all the island nations. If you’ve already hit a bunch of the other destinations, then give Antigua and Barbuda a try, especially Antigua. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

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Palau (16) – Palau is an archipelago of over 500 islands, part of the Micronesia region in the western Pacific Ocean. Over 500 miles due east of the Philippines, it’s not really close to anything.

Interesting Facts

• You can swim/snorkel the famous Jellyfish Lakes among thousands of jellyfish and not get stung.
• The United States captured Palau from Japan in 1944 after the Battle of Peleliu, when more than 2,000 Americans and 10,000 Japanese were killed.

The Verdict – Yes, especially if you’re a diver. I’m not, but I still would love to go – the snorkeling looks great too. The world war II history of the islands is interesting, especially on Babeldaob Island. It would be a long, lonely trip to get there, but it sure appears to be worth it.

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Andorra (17) – Another tiny European country nestled between Spain and France, in the Pyrenees Mountains. Yeah, that’s right. Andorra is a country. In Europe.

Interesting Facts

• It’s been 1,000 years since Andorra has been in a war. Even in WWI and WWII they were ignored.
• Andorra is a co-principality, with two princes. And the princes aren’t even from Andorra.
• Andorra is the only country where the official language is Catalan.

The Verdict – No. While Andorra sounds appealing, and a great place for skiing, and has beautiful scenery, I can’t see building a travel itinerary around it.

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Saint Lucia (18) – A West Indies island in the Eastern Caribbean. Yeah, another tiny Caribbean country.

Interesting Facts

• The only sovereign nation named for a woman

The Verdict – Yes.

All right, I gotta level with you. I’m getting tired of researching these Caribbean island nations and comparing them to each other. So I’m going by the U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of the top Caribbean destinations. Great food, scenery, beaches, and other adventures.

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Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) (19) – Ugh, another island nation. Is anyone still reading this blog?

Interesting Facts

• It’s land area is 271 sq mi. But the islands are so spread out, FSM occupies more than 1 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean.

The Verdict – No. FSM doesn’t really have a tourism industry.

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Singapore (20) – An island city-state just north of Indonesia, with a population of over 5 million, scrunched into 277 square miles.

Interesting Facts

• Has the world’s highest concentration of millionaires (one out of every six Singaporean households)
• Singapore is the 5th most visited city in the world
• Singapore’s Bukit Timah Nature Reserve holds more species of trees than the entire North American continent
• Only one out of seventeen readers of this blog have made it this far
• Singapore’s national anthem is in micro-text on the back of their $1,000 note.

The Verdict – Yes. In 2015, Lonely Planet ranked Singapore as its top world destination to visit. The city contains a wealth of of things to do and see. I could easily spend a week in this vibrant city-state.

To make the list, a country has to be one of the 20 smallest in the world and sound like an intriguing place to visit. My criteria does not include activities available for children.

I haven’t actually been to any of these countries, so if you have, and think my list is wrong, drop a comment telling me why! I’d love to learn what you liked and disliked about your trip.