MONACO
Geography: Monaco is a tiny, hilly wedge driven into the French Mediterranean coast; it is 9 mi east of Nice, France.
Government: Constitutional monarchy.
History: The Phoenicians, and after them the Greeks, had a temple on the Monacan headland honoring Hercules. The principality took its name from Monoikos, the Greek surname for this mythological hero. After being independent for 800 years, Monaco was annexed to France in 1793 and placed under Sardinia's protection in 1815. By the Franco-Monegasque treaty of 1861, Monaco went under French guardianship but continued to be independent. A treaty made with France in 1918 contained a clause providing that, in the event that the male Grimaldi dynasty should die out, Monaco would become an autonomous state under French protection.
Monaco has a tourist business that attracts as many as 1.5 million visitors a year and is famous for its beaches and casinos, especially world-famous Monte Carlo. It had gaming tables as early as 1856.
Map of Monaco
Ruler: Prince Albert II (2005)
Minister of State: Michel Roger
(2010)
Total area: 0.8 sq mi (2.0 sq km)
Population (2013 est.): 30,508 (growth rate:
0.06%); birth rate: 6.72/1000; infant mortality rate: 1.81/1000; life
expectancy: 89.57
Capital (2003 est.):
Monaco, 1,400
Largest city: Monte Carlo, 15,400
Monetary unit: Euro
National
name: Principauté de Monaco
Languages:
French (official), English, Italian,
Monégasque
Ethnicity/race:
French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other
21%
Religion:
Roman Catholic 90%
National Holiday:
National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), November
19
Literacy rate: 99% (2003
est.)
Economic summary: GDP/PPP
(2012 est.): $6.213 billion; per capita $85,500.
Real growth rate: 0.9%. Inflation: 1.5%.
Unemployment: 2% (2012). Arable land: 0%.
Agriculture: none. Labor force: 52,490; note: includes
workers from all foreign countries (2012 est.). Natural
resources: none. Industries: tourism, construction,
small-scale industrial and consumer products. Exports: $1.115 billion (2011); 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:
$1.162 billion (2011); note: full customs integration with France,
which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates
in EU. Trading partners: Europe, Africa, Asia, U.S.
Communications: Telephones: main
lines in use: 44,500 (2012); mobile cellular: 33,200 (2012). Broadcast media:
TV Monte-Carlo (TMC) operates a TV network; cable TV available; Radio
Monte-Carlo has extensive radio networks in France and Italy with
French-language broadcasts to France beginning in the 1960s and
Italian-language broadcasts to Italy beginning in the 1970s; other radio
stations include Riviera Radio and Radio Monaco (2012). Internet Service
Providers (ISPs): 26,009 (2012). Internet users: 23,000
(2009).
International disputes: none.
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