It’s not the size that matters, and with countries, that is often the case. Some of
the least populated countries in the world are also the wealthiest in terms of personal
wealth and gross national product. And some of the larger nations have problems
equally as huge to address. Some of these smaller countries are thinly populated because
they are super-difficult to get to or sit in some of the world’s harshest regions.
Some simply get by on one or two key industries and foreign aid. Some were used as strategic
bases during war time. Some are playgrounds for the rich and famous. And one is reserved
for holy activities. Today we take a closer look at the smallest
of these nations, in this episode of the Infographics Show, The Ten Least Populated Countries in
the World. Human populations usually huddle around places
that are good for agriculture with a source of water nearby. Most great cities were built
beside rivers and have economies or resources that attract a growing number of visitors.
When we think of most countries, we imagine large masses of land, an intricate infrastructure
of roads, railway networks, crowds of people, and towering buildings. But spare a moment
today to take a look at some of the smaller nations.
Countries with the smallest populations are also often the most isolated in the world.
Many of them are islands that are expensive and inconvenient to reach. Also, harsh weather
conditions can cause a place to be remote. When we discuss a country’s population,
we normally talk in terms of millions rather than a few thousand. For the purposes of this
show, we are working on straightforward population (i.e. the number of people living in said
country) rather than population density (i.e. people over a given area). So here we have,
in reverse order, from largest to smallest, the countries with the smallest populations.
Number 10. Dominica. Population 74,344 The island was originally settled by the Kalinago
and later colonized by Europeans, predominantly the French, from the 1690s to 1763. Christopher
Columbus was said to have passed the island, on a Sunday in November 1493, and named it.
The name is said to derive from the Latin for “Sunday.” The Brits took ahold of
the island in 1763 and the island gained independence in 1978. Dominica is known for its outstanding
beauty with natural hot springs, lush rainforests, mountains, and rare flora and fauna. The Sisserou
parrot, also known as the Imperial Amazon parrot, can only be found in Dominica and
is featured on their national flag. Dominica is a popular tourist destination and much
of its economy derives from the tourist industry. Number 9. St Kitts and Nevis. Population 55,855.
Also known as the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, this island country sits in the
West Indies and is the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere in both area
and population. The first people settled on the island 3,000 years ago, and peak native
populations were thought to have been around 500 and 600 AD. In 1623, the English settled
on the islands, soon followed by the French. Both the French and the English later agreed
to partition the island. In 1626, the Anglo-French settlers joined forces and massacred the native
Kalinago people. Fast forward to the late 17th century, and the French and English fought
for control of the island, resulting in the French ceding their territory in 1713. In
1967, Saint Kitts and Nevis became an associated state and became fully independent in 1983.
The economy is mainly comprised of tourism, agriculture, and light manufacturing industries.
Number 8. Marshall Islands, Population 53,170 The Marshall Islands covers a total land space
of less than 175 miles and is an island country near the equator in the Pacific Ocean. Micronesian
colonists reached the islands in canoes around 2,000 BC, and the islands were first explored
by Europeans in the 1520s. The Spanish claimed the islands in 1592, and later sold the islands
to Germany in 1885. During World War two, the USA took control of the islands and used
them for nuclear testing from 1946 to 1958. The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
in 1979 handed independence to the Marshall Islands. With not much in the way of natural
resources, the island’s economy is based on service industries, along with some agriculture
and fishing. Aid from the USA provides a large part of the island’s GDP, and their currency
is the US dollar. Number 7. Monaco. Population 38,911.
Located on the French Riviera, Monaco is a sovereign city-state country with a land area
of just .8 sq miles (2 square km). Monaco has one of the smallest populations in the
world, but is also bizarrely one of the most densely-populated sovereign states. Monaco
has a reputation as a playground for the rich and famous, owing to its favorable tax laws
for the well-heeled playboy. In 2014, 30% of the population was comprised of millionaires,
making it one of the richest and least populated countries in the world.
Number 6. Liechtenstein. Population 38,171. Another super-rich micro-state, Liechtenstein
is bordered by Switzerland to the west and south, and Austria to the east and north.
It covers an area of just over 61 sq miles (160 square km), and is the fourth smallest
country in Europe. Like Monaco, Liechtenstein has one of the highest GDP per person rates
in the world, as well as one of the lowest unemployment rates. This mountainous alpine
country features as a luxury winter sports destination. Before World War 1, the country
was closely tied at first to the Austrian Empire and then later to Austria-Hungary.
The economic devastation caused by the war led the country to join a customs and monetary
union with Switzerland. The Prince of Liechtenstein is one of the world’s wealthiest monarchs
with a net worth estimated to be in the region of $3.5 billion.
Number 5. San Marino. Population 33,568. San Marino is small in size as well as population,
with a land mass of 38 miles (61 km). A series of six books written in Latin in the 16th
century act as the country’s constitution, and it is thought to have the earliest governing
constitution still in effect. The economy here is comprised of tourism and financial
services, and its one of the wealthiest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita. San
Marino has no national debt and a budget surplus along with low unemployment figures. San Marino
is the only country in the world to have more motor vehicles than people. They also have
one of the smallest armies in the world. The Guard of the Rock patrol and defend San Marino’s
borders in their distinctive green and red uniforms.
Number 4. Palau. Population 21,980. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, this
country is made up of somewhere in the region of 340 islands and has an area of 180 miles
(466 km). Migrants from the Philippines settled on Palau 3,000 years ago. The islands were
discovered by Europeans in the 16th century, and were annexed into the Spanish East Indies
in 1574. Following the Spanish-American war, the islands were sold to Germany in 1899 under
terms set out by the German-Spanish treaty. The League of Nations passed on the islands
to the Japanese after the First World War, and it was here that the major battle of Pelejiu
was fought between the Japanese and the Americans. The islands gained full independence in 1994.
The country’s economy relies on tourism, fishing, farming, and foreign aid.
Number 3. Nauru. Population 11,309. The republic of Nauru, formaly called Pleasant
Island, is an island country in Oceania right in the center of the Central Pacific. Nauru
is the third smallest state by population, and the third smallest state by area in the
world. The first settlers here were from Micronesia and Polynesia around 1,000 BC. Snatched from
the Germans in the late 19th century after the First World War, the Island was administered
by Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Nauru became fully independent in
1968. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Nauru had the highest per-capita income rate
of any sovereign state in the world, owing to a rich supply of phosphate. When this reserve
was exhausted, and the environment damaged by mining, the island transformed into a tax
haven destination and has been linked with illegal money laundering.
Number 2. Tuvalu. Population 11,294. Formally known as the Ellice Islands, Tuvalu,
having gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1978, is the second smallest country
in the world in terms of population size. Tuvalu is located to the east of Australia
in the Pacific Ocean, about midway between Hawaii and Australia, and close to Nauru as
well as Fiji. The first European to sail through the islands was the Spanish navigator Alvaro
de Mendana. The islands came under Britain’s influence in the late 19th century. A referendum
in 1974 determined that the Ellice Islands should have their own administration, and
Tuvalu became fully independent on October 1st, 1978. The Tuvalu traditional social system
still survives. Each family member has its own task inside the community, such as fishing
or house building. A traditional meeting is held regularly, where important matters are
discussed, and song and dance are still important parts of their culture.
Number 1. Vatican City, Population 801. With a population of under 1,000 people, the
Vatican has, by far, the smallest population of any country, and it is also the smallest
country in terms of land area. The whole city and country is less than ½ a square mile
in size, and boasts a population of 800 people plus the pope. This independent state sits
within the city of Rome, and is an ecclesiastical state ruled by the pope. Within the City are
some of the most cultural, religious and artistic sites in the world. The Sistine Chapel, St
Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican Museums can all be found here. The economy of Vatican
City is supported by the sale of postage stamps, publications, and various catholic memorabilia
on sale to the public who visit here. So, there’s our top ten. Besides countries
such as San Marino, Liechtenstein, and Monaco, statistics indicate most folks would rather
visit these remote locations for a holiday rather than live there full time, so there
is not much expectation of the smallest populations growing much in the near future. Unfortunately,
we didn’t include colonies in the list, but if we had, Pitcairn Islands with a population
of 57 would have been the smallest in the world. Cocos (Keeling) Islands have 630 people.
Tokelau has 1,320 people, and the Christmas and Norfolk islands are not far behind with
about 2,600 and 2,000 people respectively. So, where’s the most remote country or town
you’ve ever travelled to? Is it in our list? If not, tell us more about it in the comments!
Also, be sure to watch our other video called – 50 insane World War Two Facts that Will
Shock You. Thanks for watching, and as always, don't forget to like, share and subscribe.
See you next time