Monaco

Broadcast media

TV Monte-Carlo (TMC) operates a TV network; Radio Monte-Carlo has both an Italian-language and a French-language network; there are a few private radio stations (2008)

Internet country code

.mc

Internet hosts

26,009 (2012) country comparison to the world: 111

Internet users

23,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 191

Telephone system

general assessment: modern automatic telephone system; the country's sole fixed line operator offers a full range of services to residential and business customers domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 200 per 100 persons international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system

Telephones - main lines in use

44,500 (2011) country comparison to the world: 166

Telephones - mobile cellular

31,800 (2011) country comparison to the world: 206

Agriculture - products

none

Budget

revenues: $1.007 billion expenditures: $1.11 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Debt - external

$NA

Economy - overview

Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a banking center and has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. Monaco, however, is not a tax-free shelter; it charges nearly 20% value-added tax, collects stamp duties, and companies face a 33% tax on profits unless they can show that three-quarters of profits are generated within the principality. Monaco's reliance on tourism and banking for its economic growth has left it vulnerable to a downturn in France and other European economies which are the principality's main trade partners. In 2009, Monaco's GDP fell by 11.5% as the euro-zone crisis precipitated a sharp drop in tourism and retail activity and home sales. A modest recovery ensued in 2010 with GDP growth of 2.5%, but Monaco's economic prospects remain clouded in uncertainty tied to future euro-zone growth. Weak economic growth also has deteriorated public finances as the principality recorded a budget deficit of 1.9% of GDP in 2010. Monaco was formally removed from the OECD's "grey list" of uncooperative tax jurisdictions in late 2009, but continues to face international pressure to abandon its banking secrecy laws and help combat tax evasion. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7838 (2012 est.) 0.7185 (2011 est.) 755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.)

Exports

$711 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 166 $716.3 million (2005) note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.47 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.47 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 $5.337 billion (2009 est.) $6.03 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 0% industry: 4.9% services: 95.1% (2005)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$NA (2010) $63,400 (2009 est.) $71,600 (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 -11.5% (2009)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$882.6 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 180 $916.1 million (2005) note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2010) country comparison to the world: 22

Labor force

49,300 country comparison to the world: 192 note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2010 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

18.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Unemployment rate

0% (2005) country comparison to the world: 1

Area

total: 2 sq km country comparison to the world: 250 land: 2 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Climate

Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

Coastline

4.1 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

43 44 N, 7 24 E

Geography - note

second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

total: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (2005)

Location

Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

none

Terrain

hilly, rugged, rocky

Administrative divisions

none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo

Capital

name: Monaco geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Constitution

17 December 1962; modified 2 April 2002

Country name

conventional long form: Principality of Monaco conventional short form: Monaco local long form: Principaute de Monaco local short form: Monaco

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France), under the authority of the US ambassador to France, handles routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Gilles NOGHES chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Suite 2K-100, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-1530 FAX: (202) 244-7656 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005) head of government: Minister of State Michel ROGER (since 29 March 2010) cabinet: Council of Government under the authority of the monarch (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; the colors are those of the ruling House of Grimaldi and have been in use since 1339, making the flag one of the world's oldest national banners note: similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

CD, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council)

Legal system

civil law system influenced by French legal tradition

Legislative branch

unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16 members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 3 February 2008 (next to be held in February 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - UPM 52.2%, REM 40.5%, Monaco Together 7.3%; seats by party - UPM 21, REM 3

National anthem

name: "A Marcia de Muneghu" (The March of Monaco) lyrics/music: Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT note: music adopted 1867, lyrics adopted 1931; although French is much more commonly spoken, only the Monegasque lyrics are official; the French version is known as "Hymne Monegasque" (Monegasque Anthem); the words are generally only sung on official occasions

National holiday

National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)

Political parties and leaders

Monaco Together; Rally and Issues for Monaco or REM; Union for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco or UNAM)

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family first seized temporary control in 1297, and again in 1331, but were not able to permanently secure their holding until 1419. Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation center.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 5,749 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 4,629 females age 16-49: 4,597 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 153 female: 141 (2010 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Military branches

no regular military forces; Directorate of Public Security (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 12.1% (male 1,892/ female 1,807) 15-64 years: 60.1% (male 9,183/ female 9,143) 65 years and over: 27.8% (male 3,790/ female 4,695) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

6.85 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 222

Death rate

8.52 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Education expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 162

Ethnic groups

French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

4.7% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 145

Infant mortality rate

total: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 223 male: 2.04 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 89.68 years country comparison to the world: 1 male: 85.74 years female: 93.77 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 49.9 years male: 48.9 years female: 51 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan

Net migration rate

1.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Physicians density

5.81 physicians/1,000 population (1995)

Population

30,510 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 217

Population growth rate

-0.066% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Religions

Roman Catholic 90% (official), other 10%

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population total: 100% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 18 years male: 18 years female: 17 years (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.51 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries: 64 (Bahamas 8, Bermuda 2, Liberia 8, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 30, Panama 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2) (2010) country comparison to the world: 63

Ports and terminals

Monaco

Roadways

total: 77 km country comparison to the world: 217 paved: 77 km (2007)