San Marino
General InformationGeographyGovernmentEconomyPopulationHealthCommunications and mediaChronology
GENERAL INFORMATION
National name Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino/Most Serene Republic of San Marino Area 61 sq km/24 sq mi
Capital San Marino
Language Italian (official)
Religion Roman Catholic 95%
Time difference GMT +1
Major holidays 1, 6 January, 5 February, 25 March, 1 May, 28 July, 1 August, 3 September, 1 October, 1–2 November, 8, 25–26 December; variable: Corpus Christi, Easter Monday
GEOGRAPHY
Major towns/cities Serravalle, Faetano, Fiorentino, Borgo Maggiore, Domagnano
Physical features the slope of Mount Titano
Airports no international airports (the closest are at Rimini and Bologna, in Italy; a bus service connects San Marino with Rimini)
Railways none; funicular service (1.5 km/1.0 mi) from the city of San Marino to Borgo Maggiore, Italy
Roads total road network: 220 km/137 mi (2000)
GOVERNMENT
Heads of state and government Alessandro Mancini and Alessandro Rossi from 2007
Political system liberal democracy
Political executive parliamentary
Administrative divisions 12 districts
Political parties San Marino Christian Democrat Party (PDCS), Christian centrist; Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) (formerly the Communist Party: PCS), moderate left wing; Socialist Party (PS), left of centre
Death penalty abolished in 1865
Armed forces voluntary military forces and a paramilitary gendarmerie
Conscription military service is not compulsory, but all citizens between the ages of 15 and 55 may be enlisted in certain circumstances to defend the state
Health spend (% GDP) 5.9 (2004)
ECONOMY
Currency euro
GDP (US$) 863 million (2001)
Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 2.2 (2002)
GNI (US$) 653 million (2004 est)
GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 26,960 (2001)
Consumer price inflation 3% (2002)
Unemployment 3% (2004 est)
Labour force 0.4% agriculture, 40.9% industry, 58.7% services (2004)
Major trading partners maintains customs union with Italy (for trade data see Italy)
Resources limestone and other building stone
Industries cement, synthetic rubber, leather, textiles, ceramics, tiles, wine, chemicals, olive oil, tourism, postage stamps
Exports wood machinery, chemicals, wine, olive oil, textiles, tiles, ceramics, varnishes, building stone, lime, chestnuts, hides. Principal market: Italy
Imports consumer goods, raw materials, energy supply. Principal source: Italy 87% (2003)
Arable land 16.7% (2006 est)
Agricultural products wheat, barley, maize, grapes, olives, fruit, vegetables; viticulture; dairy farming
POPULATION
Population 29,300 (2006 est)
Population growth rate -0.2% (2005–10)
Population density (per sq km) 480 (2006 est)
Urban population (% of total) 89 (2005 est)
Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 16%, 15–59 63%, 60+ 21% (2001 est)
Ethnic groups predominantly Italian, Sanmarinese; about 11% are foreign citizens
Life expectancy 78 (men); 85 (women) (2001 est)
Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 4 (2004)
Education (compulsory years) 9
Literacy rate 99% (men); 98% (women) (2004 est)
HEALTH
Physicians (per 10,000 people) 25.1 (2004 est)
Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 7.2 (2002 est)
Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 100 (urban); 100 (rural) (2002)
COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA
Radios (per 1,000 people) 1,346 (1998 est)
TV sets (per 1,000 people) 904 (2004 est)
CHRONOLOGY
c. AD 301 Founded as republic (the world's oldest surviving) by St Marinus and group of Christians who settled there to escape persecution.
12th century Self-governing commune.
1600 Statutes (constitution) provided for parliamentary form of government, based around the Great and General Council.
1815 Independent status of republic recognized by Congress of Vienna.
1862 Treaty with Italy signed; independence recognized under Italy's protection.
1945–57 Communist–Socialist administration in power, eventually ousted in bloodless ‘revolution’.
1957–86 Governed by series of left-wing and centre-left coalitions.
1971 Treaty with Italy renewed.
1992 Joined United Nations (UN).
2006 Christian Democratic Party (PDCS) remained largest parliamentary party in elections.
2007 Alessandro Mancini and Alessandro Rossi replaced Gian Franco Terenzi and Enzo Colombini as captains regent.
© RM 2009. Helicon Publishing is division of RM.