World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012)

This article ranks the world's smallest countries by population size: it lists each country's estimated population, land area, and population density.

Holy See (Vatican City), Tuvalu, and Nauru are the world's smallest countries by population. Holy See, Monaco, and Nauru are the smallest countries by land area. Palau, Samoa, and Dominica are the least densely populated countries.

Among the world's twenty smallest countries, eight are located in the Pacific Ocean, six in the Caribbean Sea, five in Europe, and one in the Indian Ocean.

For purposes of this list, a country is an "independent state" as defined by the U.S. Department of State; that is, "people politically organized into a sovereign state with a definite territory recognized as independent by the United States."

After reading "World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012)," return to the following link to read "World's Largest Countries - Population Size (2012)."

1. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Holy See (Vatican City)

Located in Southern Europe, Holy See is the world's smallest country with an estimated population of 832.

The land area of the country is .44 km² /.17 square miles.

The country's population density is 1,890.91 km²/4,894.12 square miles.

2. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Nauru

An island in the South Pacific Ocean, Nauru is the world's second smallest country with an estimated population of 9,322.

The land area of the country is 21 km² /8.1 square miles.

The country's population density is 443.90 km²/1,150.86 square miles.

3. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Tuvalu

An island group in the South Pacific Ocean, Tuvalu is the world's third smallest country with an estimated population of 10,544.

The land area of the country is 26 km² /10.04 square miles.

The country's population density is 405.54 km²/1,050.20 square miles.

4. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Palau

An island group in the North Pacific Ocean, Palau is the world's fourth smallest country with an estimated population of 20,956.

The land area of the country is 459 km² /177.22 square miles.

The country's population density is 45.66 km²/118.25 square miles.

5. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Monaco

Located in Western Europe, Monaco is the world's fifth smallest country with an estimated population of 30,539.

The land area of the country is 2 km² /.77 square miles.

The country's population density is 15,269.50 km²/39,661.04 square miles.

6. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): San Marino

Situated in Southern Europe, San Marino is the world's sixth smallest country with an estimated population of 31,817.

The land area of the country is 61 km² /23.55 square miles.

The country's population density is 521.59 km²/1,351.04 square miles.

7. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Liechtenstein

Located in Central Europe, Liechtenstein is the world's seventh smallest country with an estimated population of 35,236.

The land area of the country is 160 km² /61.78 square miles.

The country's population density is 220.23 km²/570.35 square miles.

8. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Saint Kitts and Nevis

Comprised of two islands in the Caribbean Sea, Saint Kitts and Nevis is the world's eighth smallest country with an estimated population of 50,314.

The land area of the country is 261 km² /100.77 square miles.

The country's population density is 192.77 km²/499.30 square miles.

9. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Marshall Islands

A nation of atolls in the North Pacific Ocean, Marshall Islands is the world's ninth smallest country with an estimated population of 67,182.

The land area of the country is 181 km² /69.88 square miles.

The country's population density is 371.17 km²/961.39 square miles.

10. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Dominica

An island nation in the Caribbean Sea, Dominica is the world's tenth smallest country with an estimated population of 72,969.

The land area of the country is 751 km² /289.96 square miles.

The country's population density is 97.16 km²/251.65 square miles.

11. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Andorra

Located in Southwestern Europe, Andorra is the world's eleventh smallest country with an estimated population of 84,825.

The land area of the country is 468 km² /180.7 square miles.

The country's population density is 181.25 km²/469.42 square miles.

12. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Antigua and Barbuda

A twin island nation in the Caribbean Sea, Antigua and Barbuda is the world's twelfth smallest country with an estimated population of 87,884.

The land area of the country is 442.6 km² /170.89 square miles.

The country's population density is 198.56 km²/514.27 square miles.

13. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Seychelles

An archipelago in the Indian Ocean, Seychelles is the world's thirteenth smallest country with an estimated population of 89,188.

The land area of the country is 455 km² /175.63 square miles.

The country's population density is 196.02 km²/507.82 square miles.

14. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Kiribati

A group of coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, Kiribati is the world's fourteenth smallest country with an estimated population of 100,743.

The land area of the country is 811 km² /313.13 square miles.

The country's population density is 124.22 km²/321.73 square miles.

15. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

An island group in the Caribbean Sea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the world's fifteenth smallest country with an estimated population of 104,217.

The land area of the country is 389 km² /150.19 square miles.

The country's population density is 267.91 km²/693.9 square miles.

16. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Federated States of Micronesia

An island group in the North Pacific Ocean, Federated States of Micronesia is the world's sixteenth smallest country with an estimated population of 107,154.

The land area of the country is 702 km² /271.04 square miles.

The country's population density is 152.64 km²/395.34 square miles.

17. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Grenada

An island nation in the Caribbean Sea, Grenada is the world's seventeenth smallest country with an estimated population of 107,818.

The land area of the country is 344 km² /132.82 square miles.

The country's population density is 313.42 km²/811.76 square miles.

18. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Tonga

An archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, Tonga is the world's eighteenth smallest country with an estimated population of 122,580.

The land area of the country is 717 km² /276.83 square miles.

The country's population density is 170.96 km²/442.8 square miles.

19. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Saint Lucia

An island in the Caribbean Sea, Saint Lucia is the world's nineteenth smallest country with an estimated population of 160,922.

The land area of the country is 606 km² /233.98 square miles.

The country's population density is 265.55 km²/687.76 square miles.

20. World's Smallest Countries - Population Size (2012): Samoa

A group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, Samoa is the world's twentieth smallest country with an estimated population of 192,001.

The land area of the country is 2,821 km² /1,089.19 square miles.

The country's population density is 68.06 km²/176.28 square miles.

Source(s):

"Independent States," U.S. State Department
"Population," THE WORLD FACTBOOK, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)