The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in 1215.

The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control in the late 13th century, and a principality was established in 1338.

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.

Monaco is the world's most densely populated country and second-smallest independent nation; with a population of just 32,410 and an area of 1.96 square kilometers (485 acres), Monaco is the world's smallest French-speaking polity.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 32,671 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 15% (male 2,514/female 2,394) 15-64 years: 62.3% (male 10,047/female 10,312) 65 years and over: 22.7% (male 3,019/female 4,385) (2007 est.)

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Median age: total: 45.5 years male: 43.4 years female: 47.4 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 0.386% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 9.12 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 12.92 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: 7.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.974 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.688 male(s)/female total population: 0.912 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 5.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.82 years male: 75.99 years female: 83.85 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 1.75 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

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Nationality: noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan

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Ethnic groups: French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%

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Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%

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Languages: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. In 2001, a major construction project extended the pier used by cruise ships in the main harbor. The principality has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas. GDP (purchasing power parity): $976.3 million note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates are extremely rough (2006 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): NA

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GDP - real growth rate: 0.9% (2000 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $30,000 (2006 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0% industry: 4.9% services: 95.1% (2005)

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Labor force: 44,000 note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2005 est.)

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Unemployment rate: 0% (2005)

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Population below poverty line: NA%

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.9% (2000)

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Budget: revenues: $863 million expenditures: $920.6 million; including capital expenditures of $305 million (2005 est.)

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Agriculture - products: none

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Industries: tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products

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Industrial production growth rate: NA%

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Electricity - consumption: NA kWh

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Electricity - imports: NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France

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Exports: $716.3 million note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France (2005)

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Imports: $916.1 million note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France (2005)

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Debt - external: $18 billion (2000 est.)

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Economic aid - recipient: $NA

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Currency (code): euro (EUR)

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Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

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Fiscal year: calendar year