Monaco

Map of Monaco Principality of Monaco National name: Principauté de Monaco Ruler: Prince Albert II (2005) Minister of State: Patrick Leclercq (2000) Current government officials Total area: 0.8 sq mi (2.0 sq km) Population (2007 est.): 32,671 (growth rate: 0.4%); birth rate: 9.1/1000; infant mortality rate: 5.3/1000; life expectancy: 79.8; density per sq mi: 42,309 Capital (2003 est.): Monaco, 1,400 Largest city: Monte Carlo, 15,400 Monetary unit: Euro Languages: French (official), English, Italian, Monégasque Ethnicity/race: French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21% Religion: Roman Catholic 90% Literacy rate: 99% (2003 est.) Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2006 est.): $976.3 million; note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates are extremely rough; per capita $30,000. Real growth rate: 0.9%. Inflation: 1.9%. Unemployment: 0% (2005). Arable land: 0%. Agriculture: none. Labor force: 44,000; note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.). Natural resources: none. Industries: tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products. Exports: $716.3 million (2005); note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France. Imports: $916.1 million (2005); note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU. Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 34,000 (2005); mobile cellular: 17,200 (2005). Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM n.a., shortwave 8 (1998). Radios: 34,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 5 (1998). Televisions: 25,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 14,520 (2007). Internet users: 20,000 (2006). Transportation: Railways: total: 1.7 km. Highways: total: 50 km; paved: 50 km; unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.). Ports and harbors: Monaco. Airports: linked to airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service. International disputes: none. Major sources and definitions

Geography

Monaco is a tiny, hilly wedge driven into the French Mediterranean coast; it is 9 mi east of Nice, France.

Government

Constitutional monarchy.

History

The Phoenicians, and after them the Greeks, had a temple on the Monacan headland honoring Hercules. The principality took its name from Monoikos, the Greek surname for this mythological hero. After being independent for 800 years, Monaco was annexed to France in 1793 and placed under Sardinia's protection in 1815. By the Franco-Monegasque treaty of 1861, Monaco went under French guardianship but continued to be independent. A treaty made with France in 1918 contained a clause providing that, in the event that the male Grimaldi dynasty should die out, Monaco would become an autonomous state under French protection.

Monaco has a tourist business that attracts as many as 1.5 million visitors a year and is famous for its beaches and casinos, especially world-famous Monte Carlo. It had gaming tables as early as 1856.

Prince Rainier III, born on May 31, 1923, succeeded his grandfather, Louis II, on the latter's death, on May 9, 1949. Rainier was married, in 1956, to American actress Grace Kelly and they subsequently had three children. Their son, Prince Albert Louis Pierre (b. 1958) was heir to the throne. Immensely popular, Princess Grace died on Sept. 14, 1982, of injuries received in a car accident near Monte Carlo. She was 52.

Monaco's practice of providing a tax shelter for French businessmen resulted in a 1962 dispute between the countries. A compromise was reached by which French citizens with less than five years' residence in Monaco were taxed at French rates, and taxes were imposed on Monegasque companies doing more than 25% of their business outside the principality. The country was admitted to the UN in May 1993, making it the smallest country represented there. It celebrated the 700th anniversary of the Grimaldi reign in 1997. In 2002, the constitution was revised to ensure that the Grimaldis retain the throne even if Crown Prince Albert has no heir. On April 6, 2005, Prince Rainier, Europe's longest-reigning monarch, died, and Prince Albert II succeeded him.

See also Encyclopedia: Monaco.
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Monaco

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