Europe has always been considered a tourist attraction. The reason is that it has the most beautiful and modern counties in the world. People generally assume that the countries in Europe are quite populated. And they are true in this assumption. The largest country in terms of population is Russia with almost 144.7 million people. Turkey is the next largest country with over 85 million people. Then there are countries like Germany (at 83.4 million), the UK (at 67.4 million), and France (at over 65 million).
The smallest Country in Europe is Vatican City, which is basically a city under the Pope’s jurisdiction located in the heart of Rome. Because of religious relevance, it has been given a sovereign status. It has a population of just under 600 people. This also makes Vatican City the least populated country in Europe.
Though it is noteworthy that both the top 2 largest European populations have most of their territorial borders or populations in Asia. Though only a small portion of both countries lies in European lines, they are still happy to consider themselves European. Turkey only has Istanbul, Antalya, and a couple of other cities within the European borders. Russia on the other hand has most of its population on the Asian side of their borders. But most of their land is within Europe, and this trend can be credited to weather conditions. However, this can change soon because of technological advancements and the need for more workers on the European side of the border.
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Top 11 Least Populated Countries in Europe
Europe is also home to some of the least populated countries in the region. These countries may be small in their size but are very beautifully formed. We will take a tour of some of these tiniest and least populated countries in Europe.
1. The Vatican City
Vatican City is not only the least populous country in the entire world but also the least populated in the entire European continent. According to statistics, Around 825 people live within the region that is called Vatican City.
Geographically, it is also the smallest country in the world. However, it is surrounded by Italy’s capital. The fact that it is primarily a religious state, causes a lot of priests and nuns to reside in this area. However, Vatican City is a religious tourist destination, and Christians, especially Catholics, visit the city from around the world.
2. San Marino
San Marino is one of the smallest countries in the European continent. Historians claim it to be one of the oldest republics as well.
The entire territory of San Marino is surrounded by the state of Italy. It was founded back in 301 AD, and it’s named after a Christian stonemason, named Saint Marinus. It is a religious and cultural hub. It is also one of the world’s most desired tourist attractions.
The reason behind this is that it is located at the top of a mountain and has one of the most beautiful architectural designs. There are a lot of stores and restaurants and other commercial places surrounding the area, which allows people to visit and live for several days or even weeks.
It is beautiful countryside surrounded by nearby towns which are populated by native citizens. The entire population of San Marino is around 34,000.
3. Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a small European country. The majority of the people living in this region speak the German language. Liechtenstein is surrounded by Austria and Switzerland. Historians believe it to be the last remnant of the Holy Roman Empire.
Switzerland and Liechtenstein are very closely related as far as the economy, politics, and social structure are concerned. Liechtenstein is famous for its high standard of living there. It has one of the highest GDPs per capita in the European countries and that is due to the low population
The population of Liechtenstein is around 33,987. Although it is geographically not a very vast region, the industry and economy of the region have ameliorated in the past couple of decades. Hence, it has become one of the leading contributors to the European economy. The living standards are above par, and it has also attracted a lot of tourists and foreign investments.
However, there’s one thing that often refrains people from permanently living in this region, and that is cold weather. There are frequent rains and snow within this region, hence people do not enjoy living permanently within the region and only visit during the summers. Nonetheless, it is a tourist destination for winter sports. A lot of ski professionals visit this area during the Winter Olympics.
4. Monaco
Monaco is a country located in Western Europe near the Mediterranean Sea. The population of Monaco is around 38,682 people. Monaco is famous for being one of the most expensive places in the world.
French is spoken as the official language, however, there is a certain segment of the population that also speaks English and Italian. Some of the largest investments by foreign investors have been done in the region of Monaco, due to the higher rate of returns.
Monaco is a constitutional monarchy that is governed by Prince Albert the Second. However, there is also a Prime Minister who heads the government. Economic improvement took place in the 19th century. This happened after the first casino was operational.
One important thing to mention over here is that Monaco is not formally part of the European Union. However, there are certain rules and regulations, as far as customs and border controls are concerned, in which the state participates.
Monaco has the strongest relationship with France, which gives it a lot of security and political freedom as well.
5. Andorra
Andorra is another nation located in southern Western Europe. It is a mountainous region.
There are seven parishes. The area of Andorra is not that big. It is one of the smallest nations in the entire European continent.
However, it is also the largest microstate in Europe and some of the richest people in European countries live in Andorra. The population of Andorra is around 77,142. However, the GDP is quite staggering. It accounts for almost $3.4 billion in the European continent.
And if you want to know about the GDP per capita, it is over $40,000. This shows that economically, Andorra is an attractive region for foreign investments. However, to become a resident within this region, you need a lot of money and other resources
6. Iceland
The total area of Iceland is over 103,000 kilometers square. It is located in the North Atlantic Ocean. The reason why Iceland exists today is due to a volcanic eruption that took place in the mid-Atlantic ridge.
Geographically speaking, the area of the Nordic island nation is increasing every year by five centimeters. It is an Arctic desert. There are mountains and glaciers and hot springs. If you want to find vegetation and agricultural areas, it would be difficult for you to find them, however, there are lowlands close to the coastline that can give you some vegetation.
Iceland is one of the best destinations for tourism due to the amazing mountains in glaciers that ameliorate its attractiveness and appeal to people around the world. There are over eight regions in Iceland. However, the population of Iceland is 361,313. But the GDP is amazing. It’s over $25 billion which shows that Iceland is economically a progressing state among the European nations
7. Malta
Geographically speaking, Malta is a very small nation. The entire area of the Malta region is around 316 kilometers square. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea.
However, Malta is not just one region, it is an accumulation of multiple small islands. If you are interested in the composition of what makes these islands, then it would be interesting for you to know that it is Coraline limestone.
However, most of the islands are rocky and have steep coastal cliffs. This makes it an attractive tourist destination for people around the world. One interesting thing about the region of Malta is that there are no natural rivers located within the region. But, due to extensive rainfalls during certain seasons, there are a lot of small rivers that form for a small period.
The population of Malta is 502,653. The GDP is around $15 billion and the GDP per capita accumulates to around $30,000. Malta is also a popular tourist spot. However, few people come to this place to live as permanent residents due to the lack of agriculture.
8. Luxembourg
Luxembourg is another European nation that is very small as far as the area is concerned. It is only around 2500 kilometers square. However, the region consists of thick green forests and the area is very mountainous with high heels.
The region is divided into two segments. One is known as Gotland, and the other is known as Ohllsling. However, there is a certain part of Luxembourg that is very bad for vegetation Hence, it is considered uninhabitable. Consequently, the population of the region is also very small
According to the latest statistics, the total population of Luxenberg is 619,896. However, the GDP is around $71 billion and the GDP per capita is over $115,000. Luxembourg is actually on the North-Eastern or North-Eastern side of the European continent.
However, it is a sovereign country and also has a rich history, and it’s very culturally interactive. The fact that some of the regions are divided into 110 communities makes it a cultural hub of the European countries
9. Montenegro
Montenegro is located in the southeastern part of the European continent. The total area of Montenegro is around 13,000 kilometers square. It is a very mountainous area and there are a lot of towering peaks over there. One can find the diversity of landscape within the region.
However, there are small rugged areas within Montenegro’s territory. Some of the most famous mountain regions are located there known as Mount Lufkin and Mount origin. There are over 24 municipalities in Montenegro. The total population in Montenegro is 622,137 people, the GDP is over $5 billion, and the GDP per capita is over $1,000.
Montenegro is considered one of the Royal regions within the European continent due to its rich history. It is also an attractive tourist destination. And a lot of famous Hollywood movies are also shot in Montenegro due to its amazing landscape and mountainous areas.
10. Estonia
Estonia is located in the northeastern part of the European continent. It is also one of the Baltic states. There are over 1500 islands in Estonia. However, the region of Estonia has been majorly influenced by Western and foreign powers.
The Russian influence within Estonia is still apparent today. The climate in Estonia is quite humid. And is often prone to be avoided by the majority of the European states and is only livable during the summer regions.
However, the landscape of Estonia is quite beautiful, hence it’s a curious tourist attraction, as well. Almost half of Estonia’s region is covered by various species of shrubs and trees. There are mixed forests.
The official language spoken in Estonia is Estonian. However, Estonia is not a religious state. However, the majority of Estonians follow the Christian religion. The population of Estonia is around 1.3 million people.
It is not a major contributor to the European continent as far as the economy is concerned. But still, it has a rich history and culture. And if you ever get a chance to visit the place, you should communicate with the local people, they are very warm and welcoming.
11. Kosovo
Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is Europe’s newest as well as the youngest country in terms of population. Home to around 2 million people, Kosovo is actually a self-declared sovereign nation that is partially recognized. The country declared its independence on February 17, 2018. If we put politics aside, this is a fantastic country to visit. Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, is a very historic place with mosques, cafes, and many markets. The population density of this amazing country is roughly 166.1 per square kilometer.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed some of the least populated countries in the European continent. Europe is a well-developed region of the world. And has been able to contribute significantly to the world economy. However, certain countries are not very populated but contribute significantly to the GDP. Nonetheless, Europe is rich in history, and culture and has one of the most attractive tourist destinations.
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