This collection encompasses the world's smallest countries and territories by land area, measured including lakes and rivers within their borders. The list features both independent sovereign states and dependent territories with varying political statuses. From Vatican City at 0.4 square kilometers to Monaco and San Marino in Europe, and island nations in the Caribbean such as Saint Kitts and Nevis, this selection demonstrates the geographic diversity of compact territories. The European microstates offer medieval fortifications, princely palaces, and modern financial districts within limited spaces. Pacific atolls like Nauru and Tuvalu present coral formations and tropical coastlines, while Caribbean islands combine volcanic mountains, rainforests, and colonial architecture. Despite their limited size, these countries and territories maintain their own governmental systems, cultures, and economic models ranging from tourism and financial services to fishing and agriculture.
Vatican City
Vatican City is the world's smallest independent state, covering an area of just 0.4 square kilometers. This city-state is entirely surrounded by Rome, Italy, and houses approximately 764 residents. Vatican City serves as the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church and functions as the residence of the Pope. The territory includes St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, along with various administrative buildings and gardens.
Monaco
The Principality of Monaco covers an area of 2.0 square kilometers along the French Mediterranean coast and has a population of 38,631 residents. This constitutional monarchy ruled by the Grimaldi family holds one of the highest population densities in the world. The territory includes several districts, among them Monte-Carlo with its casino and Monaco-Ville, the old town situated on the rock.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. The territory spans an area of 6.8 square kilometres and is home to 39,329 residents. The limestone promontory rises 426 metres above sea level and forms the northern pillar of the Strait of Gibraltar, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
Tokelau
Tokelau is a dependent territory of New Zealand located in the southern Pacific Ocean. The territory consists of three coral atolls: Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo. The total land area measures 12.2 square kilometers, distributed across these three atolls. The population of approximately 1,647 residents primarily relies on fishing and copra production for their livelihood. Tokelau has no airports, and access to the territory is exclusively by boat from Samoa.
Cocos Islands, Australia
The Cocos Islands are an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean, consisting of 27 coral islands on two atolls. The territory covers an area of 14.2 square kilometers and is home to 593 residents. Located approximately 2,750 kilometers northwest of Perth, these islands feature palm-lined beaches and lagoons characteristic of coral atoll formations.
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Barthélemy is a French overseas collectivity in the Caribbean with an area of 21.0 square kilometers. The island is located northeast of Saint Kitts and has a population of 10,967 inhabitants. This territory was originally part of Guadeloupe before becoming a separate collectivity in 2007. The capital Gustavia serves as the administrative and economic center. The island features several beaches and maintains a French-influenced infrastructure.
Nauru
Nauru is an independent island nation in the Pacific Ocean with an area of 21.1 square kilometers and a population of approximately 11,947 residents. The Republic of Nauru is located northeast of Australia and south of the Equator. The island features a coral reef coastline and an elevated central plateau shaped by historical phosphate mining. Nauru is the third smallest country in the world by area and the smallest island nation.
Tuvalu
Tuvalu is an independent Polynesian island nation in the Pacific Ocean, consisting of nine atolls with a total area of 26 square kilometers. The country is located roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia and has a population of approximately 9,646 residents. The capital, Funafuti, is situated on the atoll of the same name and serves as the economic and administrative center of the country. Tuvalu gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1978 and is now a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations.
Macao, China
Macao is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China located on the southern coast of the country. The territory covers an area of 30.4 square kilometers and is home to approximately 687,000 residents. Macao consists of the Macao Peninsula and the islands of Taipa and Coloane. The region was a Portuguese colony until 1999 and still preserves European architectural elements today. Macao maintains its own currency, legal system, and immigration policies under the "One Country, Two Systems" principle.
Sint Maarten
Sint Maarten is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, occupying the southern portion of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. This territory spans an area of 34 square kilometers and is home to approximately 43,350 residents. The capital city of Philipsburg is situated on Great Bay and serves as the economic and administrative center. Sint Maarten shares the island with the French overseas collectivity of Saint-Martin, with an open border between the two territories. The economy relies primarily on tourism, trade, and financial services.
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is an Australian external territory located in the southern Pacific Ocean, covering an area of 34.6 square kilometers. The island sits approximately 1,400 kilometers east of Australia and is home to a population of around 2,188 residents. This territory operates under a distinct administrative structure that provides it with a degree of self-governance within the Australian jurisdiction.
Pitcairn Islands
The Pitcairn Islands form a British Overseas Territory in the southern Pacific Ocean. The territory spans 49 square kilometers and comprises four volcanic islands. Only Pitcairn itself is inhabited, hosting approximately 47 residents, making it one of the least populated jurisdictions in the world. The islands are located roughly halfway between New Zealand and Peru.
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory in the western Atlantic Ocean, consisting of approximately 181 islands spread across 53.2 square kilometers. The territory lies about 1,030 kilometers east of North Carolina and is home to 64,636 residents. Hamilton, the capital, serves as the economic and administrative center of the archipelago.
Saint Martin
Saint Martin is a French overseas collectivity in the Caribbean that occupies the northern part of the island of Saint Martin. The territory covers 53.2 square kilometers and is home to 26,129 residents. The island is shared with the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten, with Saint Martin maintaining French administration, currency, and legal systems.
San Marino
San Marino is a republic entirely surrounded by Italy, located on Monte Titano in the Apennine Mountains. The country covers 61.2 square kilometers and has a population of 33,977 residents. San Marino is considered one of the oldest surviving republics in the world, traditionally founded in the year 301. The capital city shares the same name as the country itself.
British Indian Ocean Territory
The British Indian Ocean Territory covers 63.2 square kilometers in the central Indian Ocean. This British Overseas Territory comprises the Chagos Archipelago with approximately 60 tropical islands. The largest island, Diego Garcia, hosts a military facility. The territory features extensive coral reefs and marine protected areas. The population consists primarily of military and civilian personnel stationed on Diego Garcia.
Guernsey
Guernsey is a British Crown Dependency located in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. The territory covers 78 square kilometers and is home to approximately 63,950 residents. The island maintains its own legal system based on Norman customary law and operates an independent government. The economy relies primarily on financial services, tourism, and horticulture. Saint Peter Port serves as the capital and main harbor of the island.
Anguilla
Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory in the eastern Caribbean, covering an area of 96.0 square kilometers and home to 15,753 inhabitants. This territory comprises the main island of Anguilla along with several smaller uninhabited islands and cays. The population is primarily concentrated in The Valley, the capital and administrative center of the territory.
Montserrat
Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory located in the eastern Caribbean, covering an area of 102.0 square kilometers. The island sits in the Lesser Antilles chain and is home to approximately 4,390 residents. The Soufrière Hills volcano, active since 1995, defines the island's geography and has rendered the southern half uninhabitable. Plymouth, the former capital, was destroyed by volcanic eruptions, while Brades now serves as the de facto administrative center.
Jersey
Jersey is a British Crown Dependency located in the Channel Islands, covering an area of 119.6 square kilometers. The island sits off the coast of Normandy and has a population of 103,267 residents. Jersey maintains its own legal system based on Norman law, along with independent governance and taxation powers. The capital, Saint Helier, serves as the economic and administrative center of the island.
Christmas Island
Christmas Island is an Australian external territory located in the Indian Ocean, covering 135 square kilometers. The territory has a population of approximately 1,613 residents and sits south of Java. The island is known for its rainforests, coral reefs, and the annual mass migration of red land crabs, during which millions of crabs travel from the forest to the ocean to breed.
Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna is a French overseas collectivity in the South Pacific, comprising three main volcanic islands: Wallis, Futuna, and Alofi. The territory spans 142 square kilometers and is home to approximately 11,151 residents, predominantly of Polynesian descent. Located between Fiji and Samoa, the islands maintain traditional kingdoms that coexist with French administration. The economy relies on subsistence agriculture, fishing, and financial support from France.
British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands form a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, covering an area of 150 square kilometers. The territory comprises more than 60 islands and cays, of which approximately 15 are inhabited. The largest islands include Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke. With a population of 39,471 residents, the British Virgin Islands rank among the smallest territories in the world by area.
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein covers 160.5 square kilometers between Switzerland and Austria in the Alpine region. This German-speaking state has 40,197 inhabitants and ranks among the smallest countries in the world. The constitutional monarchy uses the Swiss franc as its currency and maintains close economic ties with its western neighbor. Vaduz serves as the seat of government for the country.
Aruba
Aruba is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands located in the southern Caribbean Sea. The island covers an area of 178.9 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 107,624 inhabitants. Aruba lies about 29 kilometers north of the Venezuelan coast and forms part of the ABC islands along with Bonaire and Curaçao. The capital city Oranjestad serves as the economic and administrative center of the country.
Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands extend across 181.4 square kilometers in the Pacific Ocean and comprise 29 atolls and five individual islands. This independent island nation spreads over two parallel island chains, the Ratak Chain in the east and the Ralik Chain in the west. The capital Majuro sits on one of the largest atolls and houses approximately half of the total population of 37,548 inhabitants. The Marshall Islands gained independence from the United States in 1986 and remain connected through a Compact of Free Association.
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean. The territory covers 199.0 square kilometers and has a population of 46,765 residents. This island group lies roughly halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand and consists of five main islands and two coral atolls. Pago Pago on the island of Tutuila serves as the capital and main harbor of the territory.
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands are a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand located in the South Pacific Ocean. The territory spans 241.7 square kilometers across 15 islands and is home to approximately 15,040 residents. These islands lie between French Polynesia and Samoa, divided into two distinct groups: the northern coral atolls and the southern volcanic islands. Rarotonga serves as the main island and seat of government, while Aitutaki is known for its lagoon.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a French overseas collectivity located in the North Atlantic Ocean off the southern coast of Newfoundland. The archipelago consists of eight islands of volcanic origin covering 242 square kilometers. The two main islands are Saint Pierre, home to the capital town of the same name, and the larger Miquelon-Langlade island. This territory preserves French culture and language in North America and supports approximately 5,257 residents who depend primarily on fishing, fish processing, and increasingly on tourism for their livelihoods.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis is an independent Caribbean island nation consisting of two main islands with a total area of 260.0 square kilometers. The country has a population of 46,843 residents and ranks among the smallest sovereign states in the Western Hemisphere. Located in the Lesser Antilles, the two islands have formed an independent nation within the Commonwealth since 1983.