Monaco

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Monaco

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name Principauté de Monaco/Principality of Monaco Area 1.95 sq km/0.75 sq mi Language French (official), Monégasgne (a mixture of the French Provençal and Italian Ligurian dialects), Italian Religion Roman Catholic about 90% Time difference GMT +1 Major holidays 1, 27 January, 1, 8 May, 14 July, 15 August, 3 September, 1, 11, 19 November, 8, 25 December; variable: Easter Monday, Whit Monday


GEOGRAPHY

Physical features steep and rugged; surrounded landwards by French territory; being expanded by filling in the sea Airports no international airports; helicopter services link the principality with the nearest international airport, Nice (Nice-Côte d'Azur); total passengers carried: 83,000 (2001 est) Railways total length: 1.7 km/1 mi (operated by French state railways) Roads total road network: 50 km/31 mi, of which 100% paved (1999 est); passenger cars: 695 per 1,000 people (1996)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state Prince Albert from 2005 Head of government Jean-Paul Proust from 2005 Political system liberal democracy Political executive parliamentary Administrative divisions four districts: Monaco-Ville, Monte Carlo, La Condamine, Fontvieille Political parties no formal parties, but lists of candidates: Liste Campora, moderate, centrist; Liste Medecin, moderate, centrist Death penalty abolished in 1962 Armed forces no standing defence forces; defence is the responsibility of France Education spend (% GDP) 5.3 (1997 est) Health spend (% GDP) 4.3 (2002)


ECONOMY

Currency euro GDP (US$) 890 million (2001) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 2.2 (2001) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 27,500 (2001) Consumer price inflation 4.6% (2003 est) Unemployment 3.2% (2000) Major trading partners full customs integration with France (for external trade figures, see France) Industries chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics, microelectronics, electrical goods, paper, textiles and clothing, gambling, banking and finance, real estate, tourism (which provides an estimated 25% of Monaco's annual revenue) Imports and exports largely dependent on imports from France; full customs integration with France Arable land 0% (2006 est) Agricultural products no agricultural land; some fish farming


POPULATION

Population 33,300 (2006 est) Population growth rate 0.4% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 17,077 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 100 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 15%, 15–59 62%, 60+ 23% (2002 est) Ethnic groups 47% French; 10% Monégasque; 20% Italian and other European Life expectancy 75 (men); 83 (women) (2000–05) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 5 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 10 Literacy rate 99% (men); 99% (women) (2004 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 58.6 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 19.6 (2002 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 100 (urban); 100 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Radios (per 1,000 people) 1,021 (1996) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 768 (1999)


CHRONOLOGY

1191 Genoese took control of Monaco, which had formerly been part of Holy Roman Empire. 1297 Came under rule of Grimaldi dynasty, the current ruling family, who initially allied themselves to the French. 1524–1641 Came under Spanish protection. 1793 Annexed by France during French Revolutionary Wars. 1815 Placed under protection of Sardinia. 1848 Towns of Menton and Roquebrune, which had formed greater part of principality, seceded and later became part of France. 1861 Franco-Monegasque treaty restored Monaco's independence under French protection; first casino built. 1865 Customs union established with France. 1918 France given veto over succession to throne and established that if a reigning prince died without a male heir, Monaco would be incorporated into France. 1941–45 Occupied successively by Italians and Germans during World War II. 1949 Prince Rainier III ascended throne. 1956 Prince Rainier married US actor Grace Kelly. 1958 Birth of male heir, Prince Albert. 1962 Liberal constitution adopted. 1982 Princess Grace died in car accident. 1993 Joined United Nations. 2000 France threatened punitive measures against Monaco unless it took action against money-laundering and tax-evasion. 2003 Union for Monaco (UPM) defeated previously dominant National and Democratic Union (UND) in parliamentary election. 2005 Prince Rainier died; Prince Albert sworn in as head of state.


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