{{Short description|Sovereign state having a very small population or very small land area}} {{For|the specific configuration of particles of a material in statistical mechanics|Microstate (statistical mechanics)}} {{Distinguish|Micronation}} [[File:Microstates.PNG|upright=1.4|thumb|The world's five smallest sovereign states by area, from largest to smallest: San Marino, Tuvalu, Nauru, Monaco, and Vatican City shown in the same scale for size comparison]] thumb|Map of the smallest states in the world by population or land area {{politics}}
A '''microstate''' or '''ministate''' is a sovereign state having a very small population or land area, usually both. However, the meanings of "state" and "very small" are not well-defined in international law.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Warrington |first=Edward |date=June 1994 |title=Lilliput Revisited |journal=Asian Journal of Public Administration |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=3–13 |doi=10.1080/02598272.1994.10800284}}</ref> Some recent attempts to define microstates have focused on identifying qualitative features that are linked to their size and population, such as partial delegation of their sovereignty to larger states, such as for international defense.
Commonly accepted examples of microstates include five historic European microstates: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. Malta and Luxembourg are sometimes included in that list but are generally considered too populous to be genuine microstates. Other examples are small, isolated island states in the Pacific Ocean such as Nauru, Palau, Niue, Cook Islands and Tuvalu. Some small Caribbean countries such as Saint Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines may be considered microstates by some but are often not included due to them being grouped together as small island countries. Singapore and Bahrain are sometimes considered microstates but some argue are too populous, self reliant or powerful to be considered true microstates and their island status can play an important factor too.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kubát |first=Michal |last2=Sokol |first2=Petr |date=2000-09-01 |title=Big Systems in Small Countries (A Comparative Analysis) |url=https://czechpolsci.eu/article/view/34129 |journal=Czech Journal of Political Science |language=en |issue=3 |issn=1805-9503}}</ref> The smallest political entity recognized as a sovereign state is Vatican City, with fewer than 1,000 residents and an area of only {{convert|49|ha}}. Some microstates – such as Singapore, Monaco and Vatican City – are city-states consisting of a single municipality.
== Definitions == === Quantitative === Most scholars identify microstates by using a quantitative threshold and applying it to either one variable (such as the size of its territory<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mehmet |first1=Ozay |last2=Tahiroglu |first2=M. |date=1 January 2002 |title=Growth and equity in microstates: Does size matter in development? |journal=International Journal of Social Economics |volume=29 |issue=1/2 |pages=152–162 |doi=10.1108/03068290210413047}}</ref> or population<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Boyce |first1=Peter J. |last2=Herr |first2=Richard A. |date=April 1974 |title=Microstate diplomacy in the south pacific |journal=Australian Outlook |volume=28 |issue=1 |pages=24–35 |doi=10.1080/10357717408444489}}</ref>) or a composite of different variables.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Reid |first=George L. |title=The impact of very small size on the international behavior of microstates |date=1974 |publisher=Sage Publications |isbn=9780803904064 |location=Beverly Hills, Calif}}</ref> While it is agreed that microstates are the smallest of all states, there is no consensus on what variable (or variables) or cut-off point should be used to determine which political units should be labelled as "microstates" (as opposed to small "normal" states).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite report |url=http://ams.hi.is/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Microstates_OccasionalPaper.pdf |title=Microstates as Modern Protected States: Towards a New Definition of Micro-Statehood |last=Dumienski |first=Zbigniew |date=2014 |publisher=Centre for Small State Studies |access-date=2014-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714195156/http://ams.hi.is/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Microstates_OccasionalPaper.pdf |archive-date=2014-07-14 |url-status=dead |series=Occasional Paper}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite thesis |last=Neemia |first=U. |title=Smallness, islandness and foreign policy behaviour: aspects of island microstates foreign policy behaviour with special reference to Cook Islands and Kiribati |date=1995 |publisher=University of Wollongong |url=https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2439&context=theses |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219212327/https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2439&context=theses |archive-date=19 February 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dommen |first=E. |title=States, Microstates and Islands |date=1985 |publisher=Routledge Kegan & Paul |isbn=978-0-7099-0862-3 |editor-last=Hein |editor-first=P. |location=London; Dover, N.H}}</ref> According to some scholars the quantitative approach to defining microstates suffers from such problems as "inconsistency, arbitrariness, vagueness and inability to meaningfully isolate qualitatively distinct political units".<ref name=":1" />
=== Qualitative === [[File:Panorama Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica and Gardens of Vatican City (39834994173).jpg|upright=1.15|thumb|Vatican City, the smallest independent country in the world, with {{convert|0.49|km2|acre|abbr=on}}]] Some academics have suggested defining microstates according to the unique features that are linked to their geographic or demographic smallness.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Amstrup |first=Niels |date=June 1976 |title=The Perennial Problem of Small States: A Survey of Research Efforts |journal=Cooperation and Conflict |language=en |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=163–182 |doi=10.1177/001083677601100202 |issn=0010-8367}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |title=Small States in International Relations: Lilliputians in Gulliver's World? |date=May 2006 |publisher=University of Washington Press; University of Iceland Press |isbn=978-0-295-98524-4 |editor-last=Ingebritsen |editor-first=Christine |series=New directions in Scandinavian studies |location=Seattle : Reykjavik |publication-date=May 2006 |oclc=ocm63171147 |editor-last2=Neumann |editor-first2=Iver |editor-last3=Gstöhl |editor-first3=Sieglinde |editor-last4=Beyer |editor-first4=Jessica}}</ref> Newer approaches have proposed looking at the behaviour or capacity to operate in the international arena in order to determine which states should deserve the microstate label.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wivel |first1=Anders |last2=Oest |first2=Kajsa Ji Noe |date=September 2010 |title=Security, profit or shadow of the past? Explaining the security strategies of microstates |journal=Cambridge Review of International Affairs |language=en |volume=23 |issue=3 |pages=429–453 |doi=10.1080/09557571.2010.484047 |issn=0955-7571}}</ref> Yet, it has been argued{{By whom|date=September 2020}} that such approaches could lead to either confusing microstates with weak states<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> (or failed states) or relying too much on subjective perceptions.<ref name=":1" />
An alternative approach is to define microstates as "modern protected states".<ref name=":1" /> According to the definition proposed by Dumienski (2014): "microstates are modern protected states, i.e. sovereign states that have been able to unilaterally depute certain attributes of sovereignty to larger powers in exchange for benign protection of their political and economic viability against their geographic or demographic constraints."<ref name=":1" /> Adopting this approach permits limiting the number of microstates and separating them from both small states and autonomies or dependencies.<ref name=":1" />
The smallest political unit recognized as a sovereign state is the Vatican City, though its precise status is sometimes disputed, e.g., Maurice Mendelson argued in 1972 that "[i]n two respects it may be doubted whether the territorial entity, the Vatican City, meets the traditional criteria of statehood".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mendelson |first=M. H. |date=October 1972 |title=Diminutive States in the United Nations |journal=International and Comparative Law Quarterly |language=en |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=609–630 |doi=10.1093/iclqaj/21.4.609 |issn=0020-5893}}{{better source needed|This was published more than half a century ago, when Liechtenstein was not accepted to join the UN for instance.|date=February 2023}}</ref> [[File:St.Kitts and Nevis -Two Islands One Paradise.jpg|upright=1.15|thumb|St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean Sea, the smallest independent country in the Americas with {{convert|261|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}]]
== Politics == Statistical research has shown that microstates are more likely to be democracies than larger states. In 2012, Freedom House classified 86% of the countries with fewer than 500,000 inhabitants as "free".<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Veenendaal |first=Wouter P. |date=2015 |title=Democracy in microstates: why smallness does not produce a democratic political system |journal=Democratization |language=en |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=92–112 |doi=10.1080/13510347.2013.820710 |issn=1351-0347}}</ref> This shows that countries with small populations often had a high degree of political freedom and civil liberties, which is one of the hallmarks of democracies. Some scholars have taken the statistical correlation between small size and democracy as a sign that smallness is beneficial to the development of a democratic political system,<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last=Anckar |first=Dag |date=July 2004 |title=Regime choices in microstates: the cultural constraint |journal=Commonwealth & Comparative Politics |language=en |volume=42 |issue=2 |pages=206–223 |doi=10.1080/1466204042000299263 |issn=1466-2043}}</ref> mentioning social cohesiveness, opportunities for direct communication and homogeneity of interests as possible explanations for why this is the case.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Corbett |first=Jack |date=January 2015 |title="Everybody knows everybody": practising politics in the Pacific Islands |journal=Democratization |language=en |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=51–72 |doi=10.1080/13510347.2013.811233 |issn=1351-0347|hdl=10072/60226 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> [[File:Fortress of Guaita 2013-09-19.jpg|thumb|San Marino, the 3rd smallest independent country in Europe and the oldest republic in the world with {{convert|61.2|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}]] Case study research, however, has led some researchers to believe that the statistical evidence belies the anti-democratic elements of microstate politics.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Erk |first1=Jan |last2=Veenendaal |first2=Wouter |date=July 2014 |title=Is Small Really Beautiful?: The Microstate Mistake |journal=Journal of Democracy |language=en |volume=25 |issue=3 |pages=135–148 |doi=10.1353/jod.2014.0054 |issn=1086-3214}}</ref> Due to small populations, family and personal relations are often decisive in microstate politics. In some cases, this impedes neutral and formal decision-making and instead leads to undemocratic political activity, such as clientelism, corruption, particularism and executive dominance.<ref name=":6" />
The high number of democracies amongst microstates could be explained by their colonial history.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> Most microstates adopted the same political system as their colonial ruler.<ref name=":8">{{Cite journal |last=Anckar |first=Dag |date=February 2008 |title=Microstate Democracy: Majority or Consensus; Diffusion or Problem-Solving? |journal=Democratization |language=en |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=67–85 |doi=10.1080/13510340701768158 |issn=1351-0347}}</ref> Because of the high number of microstates that were British colonies in the past, microstates often have a majoritarian and parliamentary political system similar to the Westminster system.<ref name=":7" /> Some microstates with a history as British colony have implemented some aspects of a consensus political system, to adapt to their geographic features or societal make-up.<ref name=":8" /> While the colonial history often determines what political systems microstates have, they do implement changes to better accommodate their specific characteristics.
=== Microstates and international relations === Microstates often rely on other countries in order to survive, as they have a small military capacity and a lack of resources. This had led some to believe that microstates are forced to subordinate themselves to larger states which reduces their sovereignty.<ref name=":9">{{Cite journal |last=Sharman |first=J.C. |date=October 2017 |title=Sovereignty at the Extremes: Micro-States in World Politics |journal=Political Studies |language=en |volume=65 |issue=3 |pages=559–575 |doi=10.1177/0032321716665392 |issn=0032-3217|hdl=10072/353417 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> However, research has shown that microstates strategically engage in patron-client relationships with other countries.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Veenendaal |first=Wouter P. |date=2017 |title=Analyzing the Foreign Policy of Microstates: The Relevance of the International Patron-Client Model |journal=Foreign Policy Analysis |language=en |pages=561–577 |doi=10.1111/fpa.12068}}</ref> This allows them to trade some privileges to countries that can advance their interests the most. Examples of this are microstates that establish a tax haven or sell their support in international committees in exchange for military and economic support.<ref name=":9" />
== Historical anomalies and aspirant states == A small number of tiny sovereign political units have been founded on historic anomalies or eccentric interpretations of law. Those types of states, often labelled as "microstates," are usually located on small (usually disputed) territorial enclaves, generate limited economic activity founded on tourism and philatelic and numismatic sales, and are tolerated or ignored by the nations from which they claim to have seceded.
The Republic of Indian Stream, now the town of Pittsburg, New Hampshire, was a geographic anomaly that had been left unresolved by the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolutionary War, and was claimed by both the United States and Canada. Between 1832 and 1835, the area's residents refused to acknowledge either claimant.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Doan |first1=Daniel |title=Indian Stream Republic: settling a New England frontier, 1785-1842 |last2=Daniell |first2=Jere R. |last3=MacDougall |first3=Ruth Doan |date=1997 |publisher=University Press of New England |others=Jere R. Daniell, Ruth Doan MacDougall |isbn=978-0-87451-767-5 |series=Library of New England |location=Hanover, NH |oclc=35651345}}</ref>
The Cospaia Republic became independent by a treaty error and survived from 1440 to 1826.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jepson |first=Tim |title=The rough guide to Tuscany & Umbria |date=2009 |publisher=Rough Guides |others=Jonathan Buckley, Mark Ellingham, Rough Guides |isbn=978-1-4053-8529-9 |edition=7th |location=New York |oclc=743223039}}</ref> Its independence made it important in the introduction of tobacco cultivation to Italy. [[File:Mapa do Couto Misto.png|thumb|Couto Misto, a former independent microstate in Europe, located between Spain and Portugal ]] Couto Misto was disputed by Spain and Portugal and operated as a sovereign state until the 1864 Treaty of Lisbon partitioned the territory, with the larger part becoming part of Spain.<ref>{{Cite book |last=United Nations |date=2001-02-14 |title=Treaty Series 1889 |chapter=Treaties and international agreements registered from 22 September 1995 to 29 September 1995 Nos. 32135 to 32181 |series=United Nations Treaty Series |language=en |publisher=UN |doi=10.18356/a43b73bc-en-fr |isbn=978-92-1-045419-3 |issn=2412-1495}}</ref>
Jaxa was a small state that existed during the 17th century at the border between Tsardom of Russia and Qing China. Despite its location in East Asia, the state's primary language was Polish.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sulewski |first=Wojciech |title=Konterfekty dziwnych Polaków |date=1973 |publisher=Iskry |oclc=69483582}}</ref>
==Smallest by population== [[File:Malediven Atoll Luftbild (28800485916).jpg|upright=1.15|thumb|Maldives in the Indian Ocean, the smallest independent country in Asia with an area of {{convert|298|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}]] Here is examples of some of the smallest states by population, with dependencies excluded such semi-autonomous regions or associated states. Countries up to about the size of Malta are included, which is one of the most populous countries that has been called a microstate. Microstate, as discussed in this article is not a precisely defined term, but involves limited land and/or population compared to others, and as it becomes larger its more likely to be called a small state.
{{table alignment}} {| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header {{left}} |+ List of countries and territories by total population ! Location ! Population ! style=width:2em | % of{{br}}world ! Date ! {{nowrap|Source (official or from}}{{br}}the United Nations) ! class="unsortable"|Notes |- | {{flag|Vatican City}} | {{n+p|764|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|26 June 2023|abbr=on}} | Official figure<ref name=va>{{cite web |url=https://www.vaticanstate.va/it/stato-governo/note-generali/popolazione.html |title=Population |publisher=Vatican City State |date=26 June 2023 |website=www.vaticanstate.va |access-date=16 August 2023 |language=it |archive-date=17 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517063650/https://www.vaticanstate.va/it/stato-governo/note-generali/popolazione.html |url-status=live }}</ref> || {{efn|764 residents regardless of citizenship, 618 citizens regardless of residence, 246 resident citizens.<ref name=va/>}} | Enclosed by Italy |- | {{flag|Tuvalu}} | {{n+p|10679|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jul 2021|abbr=on}} | National annual projection<ref name="pacificdata" /> || Pacific |- | {{flag|Nauru}} | {{n+p|11680|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|30 Oct 2021|abbr=on}} | 2021 Census<ref>{{cite web |title=NAURU 2021 POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS - ANALYTICAL REPORT |url=https://sdd.spc.int/news/2023/08/23/nauru-2021-population-and-housing-census-analytical-report |access-date=6 December 2023}}</ref> || Pacific |- | {{flag|Cook Islands}} | {{n+p|15040|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jul 2021|abbr=on}} | 2021 Census<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mfem.gov.ck/statistics/census-and-surveys/census/267-census-2021 |title=Census 2021 - Cook Islands - Ministry of Finance and Economic Management |website=www.mfem.gov.ck |access-date=16 November 2022 |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630084401/https://www.mfem.gov.ck/statistics/census-and-surveys/census/267-census-2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref>|| Pacific |- | {{flag|San Marino}} | {{n+p|33950|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|May 2024|abbr=on}} | Monthly national estimate<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statistica.sm/pub1/StatisticaSM/en/Dati-statistici/Popolazione/Struttura-Demografica.html |title=Demographic structure |access-date=8 July 2024 |archive-date=26 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326182005/https://www.statistica.sm/on-line/en/home/statistics/population.html |url-status=live }}</ref> || Enclosed by Italy |- | {{flag|Monaco}} | {{n+p|38367|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|31 Dec 2023|abbr=on}} | Census<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.monacostatistics.mc/Population-and-employment |title=Population and employment / IMSEE - Monaco IMSEE |website=www.monacostatistics.mc |access-date=27 Dec 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227230517/https://www.monacostatistics.mc/Population-and-employment |archive-date=27 Dec 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> || |- | {{flag|Liechtenstein}} | {{n+p|40023 |{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|31 December 2023|abbr=on}} | National estimate<ref>{{cite web |title=LLV |url=https://www.statistikportal.li/de/themen/bevoelkerung/bevoelkerungsstand#collapse-accordion-6374a91a53010709246463-1 }}</ref>|| Enclosed by Switzerland and Austria |- | {{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}} | {{n+p|51320|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts| 2022|abbr=on}} | 2022 census result<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nia.gov.kn/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Census-Report-2021-2022.docx |title= THE POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS SUMMARY |access-date=16 July 2024 }}</ref> || Caribbean |- | {{flag|Dominica}} | {{n+p|67408|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|31 Dec 2017|abbr=on}} | Official estimate<ref>{{cite web |date=2011 |title=End of year Population by Sex 2005 to 2017 |url=https://stats.gov.dm/subjects/demographic-statistics/end-of-year-population-by-sex-2005-to-2017/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331200204/https://stats.gov.dm/subjects/demographic-statistics/end-of-year-population-by-sex-2005-to-2017/ |archive-date=31 Mar 2023 |access-date=25 Jun 2023 |website=stats.gov.dm |publisher=Central Statistics Office of Dominica}}</ref>|| Caribbean |- | {{flag|Andorra}} | {{n+p|86398|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|31 Jul 2024|abbr=on}} | Official estimate<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.estadistica.ad/portal/apps/sites/#/estadistica-en/pages/estadistiques-i-dades-detall?Idioma=en&N2=605&N3=606&DV=1143 |title=Departament d'Estadística |website=www.estadistica.ad |access-date=22 Aug 2024 }}</ref> || Enclosed by Spain and France |- | {{flag|Tonga}} | {{n+p|100179|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jan 2022|abbr=on}} | National annual estimate<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tongastats.gov.to/ |title=Tonga Statistics Department | The official statistics provider for Tonga |access-date=16 November 2022 |archive-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925121044/https://tongastats.gov.to/ |url-status=live}}</ref>|| |- | {{flag|Antigua and Barbuda}} | {{n+p|103603|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jan 2024|abbr=on}} | National annual estimate<ref>{{cite web |title=National Annual estimate - Antigua and Barbuda; 2022 |url=https://statistics.gov.ag/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111065316/https://statistics.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Population-Projections-by-Age-Group-Annual-1991-2026.xlsx |archive-date=11 Jan 2021 |access-date=2 Jul 2024 |website=statistics.gov.ag}}</ref>|| Caribbean |- | {{flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}} | {{n+p|110872 |{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jul 2022|abbr=on}} | Official estimate<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=Mid Year Total Population Estimates by Age and Sex, 2018 to 2022 |url=https://stats.gov.vc/subjects/population-and-demography/mid-year-total-population-estimates-by-age-and-sex/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422031423/https://stats.gov.vc/subjects/population-and-demography/mid-year-total-population-estimates-by-age-and-sex/ |archive-date=22 Apr 2023 |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=stats.gov.vc |publisher=Statistical Office, Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |language=en-US}}</ref>|| Caribbean |- | {{flag|Grenada}} | {{n+p|112579|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jul 2019|abbr=on}} | Official estimate<ref>{{cite web |url = https://stats.gov.gd/subjects/population-2/annual-population-estimates-by-parish-and-sex-2011-to-2019/ |title = Annual Population Estimates by Parish and Sex, 2011 to 2019 |website = stats.gov.gd |access-date = Jun 24, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624211753/https://stats.gov.gd/subjects/population-2/annual-population-estimates-by-parish-and-sex-2011-to-2019/| archive-date=Jun 24, 2023}}</ref> || Caribbean |- | {{flag|Seychelles}} | {{n+p|120581|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|31 Dec 2023|abbr=on}} | Official estimate<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbs.gov.sc/downloads/1547-end-of-year-2023-population/download |title=POPULATION AND VITAL STATISTICS DECEMBER 2023 |website=www.nbs.gov.sc |access-date=23 Jun 2024 }}</ref> || Indian Ocean |- | {{flag|Kiribati}} | {{n+p|120740|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jul 2021|abbr=on}} | National annual projection<ref name="pacificdata" /> || Pacific |- | {{flag|Saint Lucia}} | {{n+p|184100|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jul 2023|abbr=on}} | Official estimate<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stats.gov.lc/ |title=Home |website=The Central Statistical Office of Saint Lucia |access-date=23 Jun 2024 }}</ref> || Caribbean |- | {{flag|Samoa}} | {{n+p|205557|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|6 Nov 2021|abbr=on}} | Census 2021<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sbs.gov.ws/ |title=POPULATION & HOUSING CENSUS 2016 - 2021 |website=www.sbs.gov.ws |access-date=27 Apr 2023 |archive-date=22 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322144201/https://www.sbs.gov.ws/ |url-status=live}}</ref> || Pacific |- | {{flag|São Tomé and Príncipe}} | {{n+p|228319|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jul 2024|abbr=on}} | National annual projection<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ine.st/ |title=Instituto Nacional de Estatística |website=ine.st |access-date=23 Jun 2024 }}</ref> || Atlantic |- | {{flag|Barbados}} | {{n+p|267800|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|31 Dec 2022|abbr=on}} | Official estimate| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://stats.gov.bb/subjects/social-demographic-statistics/population-demography-statistics/vital-statistics-indicators-2022/ |title=Vital Statistic Indicators |access-date=15 Jun 2023 |archive-date=11 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611031804/https://stats.gov.bb/subjects/social-demographic-statistics/population-demography-statistics/vital-statistics-indicators-2022/ |url-status=live}}</ref> || Caribbean |- | {{flag|Vanuatu}} | {{n+p|321409|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jul 2024|abbr=on}} | National annual projection<ref name = "pacificdata">{{cite web |url = https://stats.pacificdata.org/ |title = Pacific Data Hub Explorer |website = stats.pacificdata.org |access-date = 4 August 2024 |archive-date = 21 July 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230721002349/https://stats.pacificdata.org/ |url-status = live }}</ref> || |- | {{flag|Iceland}} | {{n+p|383726|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jan 2024|abbr=on}} | National quarterly estimate<ref>{{cite web |url=https://statice.is/statistics/population/inhabitants/ |title=Statistics - Population |publisher=Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Íslands) |website=www.statice.is |date=21 March 2024 |access-date=18 Apr 2024}}</ref> || Atlantic |- | {{flag|Bahamas}} | {{n+p|397360|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jul 2022|abbr=on}} | National annual projection| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/22f9b2b0-68fa-4a26-8bd8-474952e42dc2/Population+Projection+Report+2010-2040.pdf?MOD=AJPERES |title=Population Projections 2010-2040 |website=www.bahamas.gov.bs |access-date=27 Apr 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701011446/http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/22f9b2b0-68fa-4a26-8bd8-474952e42dc2/Populati396,960on+Projection+Report+2010-2040.pdf?MOD=AJPERES |archive-date=1 Jul 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> || |- | {{flag|Belize}} | {{n+p|410919|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 July 2024|abbr=on}} | Official estimate<ref>{{cite web |title=Statistical Institute of Belize Presents Key Finding of the 2022 Population and Housing Census |website=Statistical Institute of Belize|date=8 April 2024 |url=https://sib.org.bz/statistics/population/ |access-date=2 Aug 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409065601/https://sib.org.bz/press-release_census-launch/ |archive-date=9 Apr 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> || |- | {{flag|Brunei}} | {{n+p|445400|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jul 2022|abbr=on}} | Official estimate<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deps.mofe.gov.bn/SitePages/National%20Statistics.aspx |title=National Statistics |website=www.deps.mofe.gov.bn |access-date=23 Sep 2023 |archive-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801041429/https://deps.mofe.gov.bn/SitePages/National%20Statistics.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref> || |- | {{flag|Cape Verde}} | {{n+p|491233|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|16 Jun 2021|abbr=on}} | 2021 census result<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ine.cv/ine_censos_quadros_category/censo-2021/ |title=CENSO 2021 |publisher=ine.cv |access-date=23 Sep 2023 |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327051422/https://ine.cv/ine_censos_quadros_category/censo-2021/ |url-status=live }}</ref> || |- | {{flag|Maldives}} | {{n+p|515132|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|13 Sep 2022|abbr=on}} | 2022 census result<ref>{{cite web |url = https://census.gov.mv/2022/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/WPD2023.pdf |title = Census 2022: Combined Summary |date = 11 Jul 2022 |website = census.gov.my |access-date = 14 Mar 2024}}</ref> || |- | {{flag|Malta}} | {{n+p|542051|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|31 Dec 2022|abbr=on}} | Official estimate<ref>{{cite web |url = https://nso.gov.mt/intercensal-population-revisions-2012-2021/ |title = Population and migration: 2012-2022 |date = 26 Jan 2024 |website = nso.gov.mt |access-date = 23 Jun 2024 }}</ref> || |- | {{flag|Suriname}} | {{n+p|616500|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jul 2021|abbr=on}} | Official estimate<ref>{{cite web |url=https://statistics-suriname.org/en/population-statistics-2/ |title=Population Statistics |date=15 Aug 2019|publisher=Statistics-Suriname.org |access-date=20 Apr 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328181226/https://statistics-suriname.org/en/population-statistics-2/ |archive-date=28 Mar 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> || |- | {{flag|Montenegro}} | {{n+p|616695|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jan 2023|abbr=on}} | National annual estimate<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.monstat.org/eng/page.php?id=234&pageid=48 |title=Statistical Office of Montenegro - MONSTAT |website=www.monstat.org |access-date=10 Aug 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712071239/http://www.monstat.org/eng/page.php?id=234&pageid=48 |archive-date=12 Jul 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> || |- | {{flag|Luxembourg}} | {{n+p|672020|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jan 2024|abbr=on}} | Official estimate<ref>{{cite web |url=https://statistiques.public.lu/dam-assets/actualite/2024/stn16-pop-2024/stn16-2024-population-2024-v20.pdf |title=Une croissance démographique réduite en 2023 |date=2024-04-18 |website=statistiques.public.lu |language=fr}}</ref> || |- | {{flag|Solomon Islands}} | {{n+p|750325|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|1 Jul 2024|abbr=on}} | National annual projection<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.statistics.gov.sb/statistics/social-statistics/population |title = Population |website = www.statistics.gov.sb |access-date = 3 Jul 2024 |archive-date = 30 June 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220630191359/https://statistics.gov.sb/statistics/social-statistics/population |url-status = live }}</ref> || |- | {{flag|Comoros}} | {{n+p|758316|{{worldpop}}|sigfig=1|disp=table}} || {{dts|15 Dec 2017|abbr=on}} | 2017 census result<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inseed.km/index.php/publications/rapport1/rapports-rgph-2017 |title=Rapports RGPH 2017 |website=www.inseed.km |access-date=31 Aug 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030105743/http://www.inseed.km/index.php/publications/rapport1/rapports-rgph-2017 |archive-date=30 Oct 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> || |}
== See also == {{Div col|colwidth=40em}} * City-state * European microstates * Free State of Fiume * Free Territory of Trieste * Island country * List of countries and dependencies by population density * List of countries and outlying territories by total area * List of countries by population * Microstates and the United Nations * Neutral Moresnet * Free City of Danzig * Free City of Cracow {{div col end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
== Further reading == * {{Cite book |last1=Sack |first1=John |author-link=John Sack |url=https://archive.org/details/reportfrompracti00sack |title=Report from Practically Nowhere |last2=Silverstein |first2=Shel |author-link2=Shel Silverstein |publisher=Harper & Brothers |year=1959 |asin=B0006D96LU |oclc=1321371 |url-access=registration}}
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Category:Microstates Category:Types of countries