Monaco

The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling GRIMALDI family first seized control in 1297 but was not able to permanently secure its holding until 1419. Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation center.

party to:

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

• second-smallest independent state in the world (after the Holy See);
• smallest country with a coastline;
• almost entirely urban

noun:

Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)

adjective:

Monegasque or Monacan

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

1.09 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.8 male(s)/female

total population:

0.94 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

conventional long form:

Principality of Monaco

conventional short form:

Monaco

local long form:

Principaute de Monaco

local short form:

Monaco

etymology:

founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name derives from two Greek words "monos" (single, alone) and "oikos" (house) to convey the sense of a people "living apart" or in a "single habitation"

name:

Monaco

geographic coordinates:

43 44 N, 7 25 E

time difference:

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time:

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

• none;
• there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 4 quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier);
• Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo;
• note - Moneghetti, a part of La Condamine, is sometimes called the 5th quarter of Monaco

history:

previous 1911 (suspended 1959); latest adopted 17 December 1962

amendments:

• proposed by joint agreement of the chief of state (the prince) and the National Council;
• passage requires two-thirds majority vote of National Council members;
• amended 2002

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

the father must be a citizen of Monaco; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen and father unknown

dual citizenship recognized:

no

residency requirement for naturalization:

10 years

chief of state:

Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)

head of government:

Minister of State Serge TELLE (since 1 February 2016)

cabinet:

Council of Government under the authority of the monarch

elections/appointments:

the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government

description:

unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 8 directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

elections:

last held on 11 February 2018 (next to be held in February 2023)

election results:

• percent of vote by party - Priorite Monaco 57.7%, Horizon Monaco 26.1%, Union Monegasque 16.2%;
• seats by party - Priorite Monaco 21, Horizon Monaco 2, Union Monegasque 1;
• composition - men 16, women 8, percent of women 33.3%

highest courts:

Supreme Court (consists of 5 permanent members and 2 substitutes)

judge selection and term of office:

Supreme Court members appointed by the monarch upon the proposals of the National Council, State Council, Crown Council, Court of Appeal, and Trial Court

subordinate courts:

Court of Appeal; Civil Court of First Instance

• Horizon Monaco [Laurent NOUVION]
• Priorite Monaco [Stephane VALERI]
• Renaissance [SBM (public corporation)]
• Union Monegasque [Jean-Francois ROBILLON]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Maguy MACCARIO-DOYLE (since 3 December 2013)

chancery:

3400 International Drive NW, Suite 2K-100, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

(202) 234-1530

FAX:

(202) 244-7656

consulate(s) general:

New York

• US does not have an embassy in Monaco;
• the US Ambassador to France is accredited to Monaco;
• the US Consul General in Marseille (France), under the authority of the US Ambassador to France, handles diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco;
• +(33)(1) 43-12-22-22, enter zero "0" after the automated greeting;
• US Embassy Paris, 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris, France

• two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white;
• the colors are those of the ruling House of Grimaldi and have been in use since 1339, making the flag one of the world's oldest national banners

note: similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red

name:

"A Marcia de Muneghu" (The March of Monaco)

lyrics/music:

Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT

note: music adopted 1867, lyrics adopted 1931; although French is commonly spoken, only the Monegasque lyrics are official; the French version is known as "Hymne Monegasque" (Monegasque Anthem); the words are generally only sung on official occasions

agriculture:

0%

industry:

16.1%

services:

83.9% (2012 est.)

lowest 10%:

NA

highest 10%:

NA

• TV Monte-Carlo operates a TV network;
• cable TV available;
• Radio Monte-Carlo has extensive radio networks in France and Italy with French-language broadcasts to France beginning in the 1960s and Italian-language broadcasts to Italy beginning in the 1970s;
• other radio stations include Riviera Radio and Radio Monaco