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.

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

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

Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

hilly, rugged, rocky

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

32,965 (July 2010 est.)

9.1 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

12.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

7.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

1.5 children born/woman (2010 est.)

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

Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%

French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

constitutional monarchy

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

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

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

17 December 1962; modified 2 April 2002

based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16 members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional representation to serve five-year terms)

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

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

CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

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

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

Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a major 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. 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.

$976.3 million (2006 est.)

tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France

$716.3 million (2005)

$916.1 million (2005)

$18 billion (2000 est.)

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005)

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

no regular military forces; the Palace Guard performs ceremonial duties

defense is the responsibility of France