The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marinus in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of Italy; social and political trends in the republic also track closely with those of its larger neighbor.

Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy

about one third times the size of Washington, DC

Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers

landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines

30,167 (July 2010 est.)

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

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

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

1.46 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Sammarinese, Italian

9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle

Founding of the Republic, 3 September (AD 301)

8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions of a constitution

based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII

Christian Democrats or PDCS [Pasquale VALENTINI]; Communist Refoundation or RC [Ivan FOSHI]; Democrats of the Center or DdC [Giovanni LONGERNINI]; Freedom List (including NPS and We Sammarinesi) or NS [Gabriele GATTEI]; New Socialist Party or NPS [Augusto CASALI]; Party of Socialists and Democrats or PDS [Paride ANDREOLI]; Popular Alliance or AP [Carlo FRANCIOSI]; Union of Moderates (including National Alliance or ANS [Glcuco SANSOVINI] and San Marino Populars or pop [Romeo MORRI and Angela VENTURINI]; United Left of SU [Alessandro ROSSI]

CE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO

the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the ambassador to Italy is accredited to San Marino

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the main colors derive from the shield of the coat of arms, which features three white towers on three peaks on a blue field; the towers represent three castles built on San Marino's highest feature Mount Titano: Guaita, Cesta, and Montale; the coat of arms is flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty); the white and blue colors are also said to stand for peace and liberty respectively

San Marino's economy relies heavily on its tourism and banking industries, as well as on the manufacture and export of ceramics, clothing, fabrics, furniture, paints, spirits, tiles, and wine. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of the most prosperous regions of Italy, which supplies much of its food. San Marino boasts the world's longest life expectancy for men with 80 years. The economy benefits from foreign investment due to its relatively low corporate taxes and low taxes on interest earnings. San Marino has recently faced increased international pressure to improve cooperation with foreign tax authorities and transparency within its own banking sector, which generates about one-fifth of the country's tax revenues. Italy's implementation in October 2009 of a tax amnesty to repatriate untaxed funds held abroad has resulted in financial outflows from San Marino to Italy worth more than $4.5 billion. Such outflows, combined with a money-laundering scandal at San Marino's largest financial institution and the recent global economic downturn, have contributed to a deep recession and growing budget deficit. However, San Marino has no national debt, and an unemployment rate half the size of Italy's. The San Marino government has adopted measures to counter the downturn, including subsidized credit to businesses. San Marino also continues to work towards harmonizing its fiscal laws with EU members and international standards. In September 2009, the OECD removed San Marino from its list of tax havens that have yet to fully implement global tax standards.

$1.662 billion (2007)

$850 million (2004 est.)

$1.048 billion (2004)

NA% (31 December 2008)

7.58% (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$1.326 billion (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$4.584 billion (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$7.511 billion (31 December 2007)

wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides

tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine

$4.628 billion (2007)

$1.291 billion (2004)

building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, ceramics

$3.744 billion (2007)

$2.035 billion (2004)

wide variety of consumer manufactures, food

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7338 (2009), 0.6734 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005)

state-owned public broadcaster operates 1 TV station and 2 radio stations; receives radio and TV broadcasts from Italy (2008)

no regular military forces; voluntary Military Force (Corpi Militari) performs ceremonial duties and limited police support functions (2010)

16-55 for voluntary service in Voluntary Military Force (2006)

defense is the responsibility of Italy