There are approximately 247 countries in the world. Of these, 197 are recognized by the UN, and the rest are microstates or independent provinces. We've heard of most of these countries over the years, but there are territories on our planet Earth we never knew existed, occupying very small areas. Some of them are inhabited by just a few families. Let's take a look at some of the world's smallest countries, most of which have populations smaller than a village.
1. The Republic of Molossia is a self-proclaimed micronation founded by Kevin Baugh in 1999. It is located in the state of Nevada, covers an area of 0.0020 square miles, and currently has a population of 34 people (including dogs).
The idea of creating a micronation of Molossia began as a youthful dream of Kevin Bough and James Speelman. Although James rejected the idea early on, Kevin declared it a micronation and declared himself president in 1999. He also posted a petition on whitehouse.gov demanding official recognition. However, the UN does not recognize Molossia as an independent state.
It has its own flag, national anthem, passport, and its own legislation. It also has its own space program, navy and naval academy, online radio, cinema, and its own time zone. The only thing it can boast of is the war with East Germany, but it's impossible to ignore the fact that the latter no longer exists. ( source)
2. The Principality of Sealand, considered the smallest country in the world, is actually a microstate in the North Sea, but not an island. It has an area of 0.0015 square miles, a population of 27, and is ruled by Prince Michael Bates.
Sealand, located six miles off the coast of Great Britain, was famous for its Rouge Tower, built in 1943 to defend the English coast from Germany during World War II. In 1967, it was ruled by a self-proclaimed prince, Mr. Paddy Roy Bates, who seized it from members of a pirate station, declaring Sealand an independent state.
The state's charter was adopted in 1974. It has its own flag, passport, postage stamps, coins, and national anthem. It claims that Germany granted it independent status, but neither the UN nor any other sovereign state has recognized it as a country. The titles of lord, baron, and count are publicly sold.
Surprisingly, Sealand is represented by several track and field athletes in various sports around the world, including Michael Martell, who represented the country at the Kung Fu World Cup, winning two silver medals. Today, the country is governed by Michael Bates, Padi's son. (source)
3. The Principality of Seborga is a microstate in Liguria, Italy. It covers an area of just 5.4 square miles and has a population of 320. It is currently ruled by Prince Marcello I.
The principality was originally sold to the House of Savoy in 1729. However, later, in 1815, the Congress of Vienna did not include Serboga in the redistribution of European territories, resulting in its status as a microstate in 1963. The principality maintains volunteer border troops and defense forces. Good relations are maintained between the principality and Italy. It pays taxes regularly and participates in local and national (Italian) elections.
This small country has its own flag, monarchy, and, until recently, minted its own coins. Its main income comes from agriculture, olive harvesting, and floriculture, as well as tourism. (source)
4. Nauru is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, better known as "Pleasant Island." It has an area of 8.2 square miles and a population of 11,000. It is one of the smallest independent republics, and its president is Baron Vaca.
Around 3,000 years ago, the island of Nauru was inhabited by Micronesians and Polynesians. Known for its rich phosphate reserves, Nauru was overexploited, transforming its former glory into poverty. In the 1960s and early 1970s, it boasted one of the highest per capita incomes.
In early 1968, the United Nations recognized Nauru as an independent state, making it the smallest island nation in the world. It is known as the least visited destination (with only 200 tourists per year) and has a reputation for having the highest obesity rate. Today, Baron Waqa is the president of Nauru.
He presides over a unicameral parliament of 19 members. The country has no income tax, a high literacy rate, but also a very high unemployment rate. ( source)
5. Tuvalu is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean. It has a population of 10,640 people living in an area of 10 square miles. It was also originally known as "Ellice Island." The current Governor-General is Iacoba Italeli.
Tuvalu is recognized by the United Nations as an independent state within the Commonwealth. The country is a parliamentary democracy, with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state, represented locally by a governor-general. As a low-lying island, Tuvalu is vulnerable to rising sea levels, frequent storms, and cyclones. The country's primary revenue comes from the sale of fishing licenses and approximately $4 million in .tv top-level domain rentals.
Tuvalu is renowned for its maritime skills, with over 120 naval cadets training there. In 2010, Tuvalu sent its football team to the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The country does not have an embassy in the United States, but it does have a UN office in New York. However, its economy is in poor shape, and, unfortunately, it is considered one of the least developed countries. ( source)