Principality of Monaco
Western Europe
Glittering · Tiny · Glamorous
Monaco (officially Principality of Monaco) is a country located in Western Europe. Its capital city is Monaco, with other major cities including Monte Carlo and La Condamine. With a population of approximately 36,000, the main language spoken is French. The country covers an area of 2 km². The official currency is the euro (€). Traffic drives on the right side.
Monaco is the world's second smallest country and most densely populated sovereign state, yet it has no income tax — a policy that has attracted so many wealthy residents that 32% of its 36,000 residents are millionaires.
Monaco serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Monaco, positioned in Western Europe. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Monte Carlo, La Condamine — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Monaco is its own capital — a city-state of 2 square kilometres housing 36,000 citizens and 30,000 workers who commute daily from France and Italy, the world's most densely populated sovereign territory, where the Grimaldi family has ruled since 1297 in one of Europe's longest continuous dynasties.
With a population of approximately 36,000, Monaco is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The official language is French, which reflects the country's cultural heritage and connects it with a wide international community. Internationally, Monaco is reached via the dialling code +377. Monégasques (native Monacans) constitute only 21% of Monaco's population — the rest being French, Italian, British, and international residents attracted by zero income tax, strict security, and the glamour of a principality whose casino opened in 1863 to save the Grimaldi family from bankruptcy and inadvertently created the template for destination gambling resorts worldwide.
Monaco spans 2 km², in the Western Europe subregion of Europe. Geographically centred around 43.7°N, 7.4°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Europe convention.
The official currency is the euro (€), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Monaco's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+01:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.
Football / Formula One holds a special place in the heart of Monaco's national identity. The Monaco Grand Prix is the world's most prestigious motor race — a street circuit through the principality's roads that has run annually since 1929, where catching a fallen napkin in the harbour from an overtaking car is an acceptable anecdote, and where the combination of narrow streets, elevation changes, and harbour tunnel creates driving conditions that make Monaco a different skill test from any other circuit.
The highest point in Monaco is Mont Agel (edge), rising to 163 metres above sea level. Monaco's Exotic Garden (Jardin Exotique) cascades down a cliff face above the Mediterranean with the world's most remarkable collection of cacti and succulent plants growing in an outdoor environment that the mild microclimate sustains year-round — overlooking a cave whose prehistoric archaeological finds established that Homo sapiens inhabited the Ligurian coast 300,000 years ago.