Facts about Monaco

Where is Monaco?

Monaco is located in the western part of Europe. It is a sovereign city state on the Cote d'Azur (French Riviera).

What countries border Monaco?

It is bordered on three sides by its neighbor, France, and its center is about 9.9 miles from Italy. It also borders the Mediterranean Sea.

What are the administrative divisions of Monaco?

Monaco is the most densely populated country in the world. The state consists of only one municipality (commune). There is no geographical distinction between the State and City of Monaco, although responsibilities of the government (state-level) and of the municipality (city-level) are different.

Who are the political leaders of Monaco?

Monaco has been governed under a constitutional monarchy since 1911, with the Sovereign Prince of Monaco as monarch. Albert II is the current Prince of Monaco.

What currency is used in Monaco?

Monaco, along with France and the other 11 members of the European Monetary Union (EMU), adopted the euro (€) as its official currency on January 1, 2002.

What is the official language of Monaco?

The official language of Monaco is French. Italian is the second most widely spoken language; English is also spoken widely. Apart from these three main groups, there are also two popular languages in Monaco - the Monegasque and Occitan languages.

What is the religion of Monaco?

Roman Catholicism is the official religion in Monaco. Approximately 95% of the population of the country is Roman Catholic.

What is the main ethnic group in Monaco?

47% of people in Monaco are French, and there are also some English and Italian people.

When did Monaco achieve independence?

It became independent on November 19, 1419. It was made part of France in 1793, part of Sardinia in 1815, and became its own state in 1861.

Monaco's name comes from Ancient Greek. What does it mean? It means "single house". A Phocaean Greek colony near Monaco's present location was known as "Monoikos". Its name comes from two Greek words, "monos" which means one or solo, and "oikos" which means house. However, archaeological evidence has shown that Monaco has been inhabited for over 300,000 years - certainly a very long time. The first permanent settlement of the area was by tribes from Italy called Ligures.

What is the economy of Monaco like?

Monaco has an economy primarily geared toward finance, commerce, and tourism. Ever since Monaco's famed casino opened in 1856, the tourism industry has been booming; it currently accounts for close to 25% of annual revenue.