Top 8 countries with smallest population in the world, lowest tally is mere 800

New Delhi: Our world is full of steep inequalities and contradictions. On one hand, we have countries like India and China struggling with unbridled population growth, on the other hand, there are some nations like Russia that have monetarily rewarded their citizens to have babies.

But if we dig even further, there are some countries that have an unimaginable scarce population with just a handful of citizens.

You must know about Vatican city already, but are you aware of the other 7 on the list? Let’s see-

1. Vatican City (800)

Vatican City is one of the smallest countries in the world with a total area equal to 82 football fields. The bite-sized country has the smallest population with only 800 residents. The country is considered the center of catholic Christianity with the Pope as its head.

The city came into being in the year 1929 after Italy claimed the land from the Church, leading to the treaty of Lateran.

However, unlike other ones on this list, if you were to step into Vatican City today, you wouldn’t see empty public spaces.

Being an important site for Catholics, the country attracts a huge number of visitors every day. Some major tourist attractions in Vatican City are the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and a number of museums.

2. Nauru (10,876)

In the past few decades, Nauru has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The small island in the southwest of the Pacific Ocean was once recalled in its glory as the ‘Pleasant Island.’

Besides being the second smallest country by population, Nauru holds another unpleasant record of being a nation with the highest unemployment rates. 90 percent of its citizens are jobless and 95 percent are obese with comorbidities.

Nauru depends heavily on its phosphate deposits. The country has faced annexation from Germany and Britain in the past who plundered its mineral resources.

3. Tuvalu (11,931)

 

The cluster island country lies between of Hawai and Australia in the Pacific Ocean.
With only 11,931 residents, the island nation gained independence from the British freshly in 1978. A democracy, Tuvalu is still a part of the Commonwealth of Nations and hence considers the King of England as its nominal head.

Tuvalu, despite its scenic beauty, doesn’t see the footfalls of many visitors as many claims that the country has no cultural or heritage significance.

 

4. Palau (18,169)

Palau is considered the island of paradise. The scarcely populated island country lies in the Pacific Ocean by the Kyushu-Palau Ridge.

Palau is known for 2 things. Firstly, it is a haven for water sports lovers, especially scuba diving. Second, the island is blessed with a wide array of marine life. So much so that the small island has more aquatic species than anywhere in the world.

5. San Marino (34,017)

 

San Marino is a historically rich country located near Italy. It is also visited for its premier resorts.

The Southern European country is named after Saint Marinus, who essentially rebuilt the country after a brutal attack from pirates of Liburnia. San Marino is also considered one of the oldest sovereign states as well as the constitutional republic in the world, going as back as the 16th century. The country is still governed by its ancient constitution.

6. Liechtenstein (38,250)

The German-speaking nation shares its borders with Switzerland and Austria. The country perched on the Rhine Valley of the Alps has the second-highest GDP rating in the world.

The wood-lock country is blessed with scenic beauty. Pristine rivers, mountains, and pleasant weather make it an attractive destination for tourists.

7. Monaco (39,685)

Monaco is the second smallest country in the world with an area of 2.1 Km².

All we can say is that Monaco is drowning in wealth and opulence. The microstate shares its border with France in the north, east, and west.

The constitutional monarchy has a really dense demography where a large number of its millionaire population resides in a small area.

The bite-sized state is a go-to-go destination for the wealthy for casinos and Yatch shows.

8. Marshall Islands (53,327)

The Marshall Islands are made of 5 islands and 29 atolls in Micronesia, Pacific Ocean.

Blessed with a diversity of marine life, the island aggregate is a hot spot for Scuba divers.

The USA has used the Marshall Islands as its test grounds for nuclear weapons with as many as 67 nuclear tests. The island nation gained independence in the year 1986 and has been free of such experiments since then. Yet, it still has close ties with the US.