A Guide to the 15 Smallest Countries Across Europe

What’s your dream travel destination in Europe? Could it be one of these 15 smallest countries in Europe? Keep reading this article as we count down the tiniest countries in Europe.

Vatican City, (0.44 km²)

In legal terms, the Vatican City is a “sovereign city-state” that is overseen by the Pope rather than a nation. Anyhow, it’s the smallest autonomous state in the world—both in terms of size and population—with only 900 citizens.

On your first visit to the Vatican City, you must check out the St. Peter’s Basilica, tour the Vatican Museums, and have a glance at the Swiss Guard—these are all must-see attractions there.

Monaco, (1.95 km²)

Located on the French Riviera, a few miles west of Liguria, Italy, on the Mediterranean Sea, Monaco is a sovereign city-state and microstate.

38,682 people are living in the principality, 9,486 of them are citizens of Monégasque. Monaco is well known as one of the most expensive and affluent regions in the world that also has French as its official language.

After Vatican City, it is the smallest sovereign state in the world with a 2.02 km2 (0.78 sq mi) area. It has 19,009 residents per square kilometre (49,230/square mile). Additionally, it has the shortest shoreline in the world, 3.83 kilometres (2.38 mi), and a land boundary of 5.47 km (3.40 mi) separates Monaco from the rest of the globe.

San Marino, (61 km²)

The tiny Republic of San Marino, established on September 3, 301, is the oldest sovereign state and constitutional republic still in existence. It is a very well-liked day trip for residents of the surrounding Italy.

San Marino is also the fifth-smallest nation in the world and is situated on the northeastern edge of the Apennine Mountains, with a population of 33,562 and a land area of just over 61 km².

Liechtenstein, (160 km²)

Because it has the lowest foreign debt in the world, tiny Liechtenstein, which is sandwiched between Austria and Switzerland, holds a record. Its location in the Alps makes it a (slightly underrated) winter sports destination in addition to its spectacular claim to fame. Vaduz its capital is well-known as a tax hideaway.

It has a population of 38,749 as of 2019 and is the fourth-smallest country in Europe. Its territory is barely over 160 square kilometres (62 square miles).

Malta, (316 km²)

One of the most well-liked vacation spots in Europe is Malta, an idyllic getaway in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Malta is the only island nation in the world where towns, beaches, museums, treks, historical sites, and adventures can all be reached within one or two hours.

Malta is the fifth-smallest inhabited sovereign state in Europe with a population of about 475,000 and a land area of 316 square kilometres (122 square miles).

Birkirkara is the largest town, while Valletta is the country’s capital.

Andorra, (468 km²)

With a total territory of 468 square kilometres (181 square miles) and a population of roughly 79,034, Andorra is the sixth-smallest state in Europe. A Romance ethnic group initially descended from Catalonia, the Andorrans. Andorra ranks as the 11^th-smallest nation in terms of people and the 16^th-smallest nation in terms of area.

An estimated 10.2 million people visit Andorra each year due to tourism.

Luxembourg, (2,586 km²)

Luxembourg, Western Europe’s only landlocked nation is the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. 

In terms of topography, Luxembourg is divided into two main areas: Gutland, which is located in the south and is mostly urbanized, and the Oesling, which is a mountainous region in the north that is a part of the Ardennes massif and has huge mixed forests.

Luxembourg is somewhat smaller than the U.S. state of Rhode Island with a land area of 2586 km2 (999 sqm), or more than ten times smaller than its neighbour Belgium.

Cyprus, (9,251 km²)

The island nation of Cyprus is situated in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Geographically, it is in West Asia, but politically and culturally, it is in Southeast Europe.

Cyprus has a total area of 9,250 square kilometres, or 3,500 square miles, and a coastline that is almost 400 miles long. The island is 225 kilometres long and 97 km wide at its widest point. 3500 sq km make up the separated region in the north.

Kosovo, (10,887 km²)

Kosovo is a nation in Southeast Europe that has only received limited international recognition.

It has a surface area of 10,887 km2, making it somewhat larger than Cyprus (an island).

In 2023, Kosovo’s population is expected to be between 1.8 and 2 million, with a majority of Albanian descent (92+%). Pristina, the nation’s capital and largest city replaced Prizren as the original capital. Both Serbian and Albanian are spoken. More than 97 per cent of people identify as Muslim.

Montenegro, (13,812 km²)

Montenegro, a little nation, manages to cram a lot into its confines. Along its Adriatic coast, there are numerous picturesque fishing villages, deserted coves and beaches, and resorts that are becoming more popular. 

The interior of the country is made up of stunning mountains that rise to snow-capped summits and are covered with ancient forests, lakes, and rivers. This terrain is perfect for skiing in places like Kolain.

Montenegro has a land area of 13,812 km2, which makes it slightly smaller than half of Belgium or the state of Connecticut in the United States.

Slovenia, (20,273 km²)

The Central European nation of Slovenia is a small yet stunning place. Croatia, Hungary, Italy, and Austria are its neighbours.

With its incredible natural beauty, rich cultural legacy, and dynamic cities like Ljubljana, Slovenia is a place worth visiting.

This tiny country in Europe has a total area of 20,273 km2. It’s slightly smaller than the U.S. state of New Jersey and roughly half the size of Switzerland. 2,064,000 people are living in the nation as of 2016.

Turkey, (23,764km²)

The region of Turkey that is geographically a part of Southeast Europe is called East Thrace, often known as Turkish Thrace or European Turkey. 15% of Turkey’s population lives there, making up just 3.4% of the country’s total land area.

East Thrace is slightly smaller than Sardinia, covering 23,764 km2 (3.4 per cent of Turkey’s total land area), and has a population density of about 430 inhabitants per km2.

The entire Turkey, however, has a land area of 783,562 km2, which is slightly less than the combined size of the U.S. states of Texas and Louisiana but more than twice as large as Germany. The largest city in Turkey, Istanbul, and the national capital, Ankara, have a combined population of 83.2 million as of 2020.

North Macedonia, (25,710km²)

Landlocked North Macedonia is located in Southeast Europe. North Macedonia is home to almost two-thirds of the entire ethnic Macedonian population including other communities.

North Macedonia is a landlocked nation in the southern Balkans. Kosovo and Serbia form its northern and eastern borders, while Bulgaria and Greece form its southern and western boundaries. Skopje serves as the country’s capital.

25,710 km2 (9,927 mi2) is how much land there is in total. Nearly 102 percent of Maryland’s land area is represented by this area. North Macedonia is the 150^th-ranked nation in the world and the 17^th-smallest in Europe as a result. City dwellers make up more than half of the population (59%)

Albania, (28,748km²)

Albania is located in Southeastern Europe.

It covers an area of 28,748 km² (11,100 sq mi), and its morphological, geological, and climatic aspects are diverse. The country’s capital and largest city is Tirana. Durrs, Vlor, and Shkodr are the next major cities.

Albania has a wide range of topography, with mountains and hills that cut across the terrain in different directions. The Albanian Alps in the north and the Korab Mountains in the east are only two examples of the numerous mountain ranges found in the nation.

Belgium, (30,510km²)

The Kingdom of Belgium, sometimes known as Belgium, is a nation in Northwestern Europe.

With a population of over 11.5 million, it is the sixth most populous nation in Europe and the 22^nd most densely populated country in the world, with a density of 376/km2 (970/sq mi).

Belgium is a small European country with a total area of 30,528 km2 (11,787 sq mi).

Conclusion

With a surface area of only 0.44 square kilometres (0.17 square miles), Vatican City is the tiniest nation in Europe.

Other small nations are Liechtenstein (160 sq km), San Marino (61 sq km), and Monaco (1.95 sq km) respectively.