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Microstate

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the specific configuration of particles of a material in statistical mechanics, see Microstate (statistical mechanics).
Not to be confused with Micronation.
The world's five smallest sovereign states by area, from largest to smallest: San Marino, Tuvalu, Nauru, Monaco, and Vatican City shown in the same scale for size comparison
Map of the smallest states in the world by population or land area

A microstate or ministate is a sovereign state having a very small population or land area, usually both. However, the meanings of "state" and "very small" are not well-defined in international law.[1] Some recent attempts to define microstates have focused on identifying qualitative features that are linked to their size and population, such as partial delegation of their sovereignty to larger states, such as for international defense.

Commonly accepted examples of microstates include five historic European microstates: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. Malta and Luxembourg are sometimes included in that list but are generally considered too populous to be genuine microstates. Other examples are small, isolated island states in the Pacific Ocean such as Nauru, Palau, Niue, Cook Islands and Tuvalu. Some small Caribbean countries such as Saint Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines may be considered microstates by some but are often not included due to them being grouped together as small island countries. Singapore and Bahrain are sometimes considered microstates but some argue are too populous, self reliant or powerful to be considered true microstates and their island status can play an important factor too.[2] The smallest political entity recognized as a sovereign state is Vatican City, with fewer than 1,000 residents and an area of only 49 hectares (120 acres). Some microstates – such as Singapore, Monaco and Vatican City – are city-states consisting of a single municipality.

Definitions

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Quantitative

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Most scholars identify microstates by using a quantitative threshold and applying it to either one variable (such as the size of its territory[3] or population[4]) or a composite of different variables.[5] While it is agreed that microstates are the smallest of all states, there is no consensus on what variable (or variables) or cut-off point should be used to determine which political units should be labelled as "microstates" (as opposed to small "normal" states).[1][6][7][8] According to some scholars the quantitative approach to defining microstates suffers from such problems as "inconsistency, arbitrariness, vagueness and inability to meaningfully isolate qualitatively distinct political units".[6]

Qualitative

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Vatican City, the smallest independent country in the world, with 0.49 km2 (120 acres)

Some academics have suggested defining microstates according to the unique features that are linked to their geographic or demographic smallness.[6][9][10] Newer approaches have proposed looking at the behaviour or capacity to operate in the international arena in order to determine which states should deserve the microstate label.[10][11] Yet, it has been argued[by whom?] that such approaches could lead to either confusing microstates with weak states[7][9] (or failed states) or relying too much on subjective perceptions.[6]

An alternative approach is to define microstates as "modern protected states".[6] According to the definition proposed by Dumienski (2014): "microstates are modern protected states, i.e. sovereign states that have been able to unilaterally depute certain attributes of sovereignty to larger powers in exchange for benign protection of their political and economic viability against their geographic or demographic constraints."[6] Adopting this approach permits limiting the number of microstates and separating them from both small states and autonomies or dependencies.[6]

The smallest political unit recognized as a sovereign state is the Vatican City, though its precise status is sometimes disputed, e.g., Maurice Mendelson argued in 1972 that "[i]n two respects it may be doubted whether the territorial entity, the Vatican City, meets the traditional criteria of statehood".[12]

St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean Sea, the smallest independent country in the Americas with 261 km2 (101 sq mi)

Politics

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Statistical research has shown that microstates are more likely to be democracies than larger states. In 2012, Freedom House classified 86% of the countries with fewer than 500,000 inhabitants as "free".[13] This shows that countries with small populations often had a high degree of political freedom and civil liberties, which is one of the hallmarks of democracies. Some scholars have taken the statistical correlation between small size and democracy as a sign that smallness is beneficial to the development of a democratic political system,[14] mentioning social cohesiveness, opportunities for direct communication and homogeneity of interests as possible explanations for why this is the case.[13][15]

San Marino, the 3rd smallest independent country in Europe and the oldest republic in the world with 61.2 km2 (23.6 sq mi)

Case study research, however, has led some researchers to believe that the statistical evidence belies the anti-democratic elements of microstate politics.[13][16] Due to small populations, family and personal relations are often decisive in microstate politics. In some cases, this impedes neutral and formal decision-making and instead leads to undemocratic political activity, such as clientelism, corruption, particularism and executive dominance.[13]

The high number of democracies amongst microstates could be explained by their colonial history.[13][14] Most microstates adopted the same political system as their colonial ruler.[17] Because of the high number of microstates that were British colonies in the past, microstates often have a majoritarian and parliamentary political system similar to the Westminster system.[14] Some microstates with a history as British colony have implemented some aspects of a consensus political system, to adapt to their geographic features or societal make-up.[17] While the colonial history often determines what political systems microstates have, they do implement changes to better accommodate their specific characteristics.

Microstates and international relations

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Microstates often rely on other countries in order to survive, as they have a small military capacity and a lack of resources. This had led some to believe that microstates are forced to subordinate themselves to larger states which reduces their sovereignty.[18] However, research has shown that microstates strategically engage in patron-client relationships with other countries.[19] This allows them to trade some privileges to countries that can advance their interests the most. Examples of this are microstates that establish a tax haven or sell their support in international committees in exchange for military and economic support.[18]

Historical anomalies and aspirant states

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A small number of tiny sovereign political units have been founded on historic anomalies or eccentric interpretations of law. Those types of states, often labelled as "microstates," are usually located on small (usually disputed) territorial enclaves, generate limited economic activity founded on tourism and philatelic and numismatic sales, and are tolerated or ignored by the nations from which they claim to have seceded.

The Republic of Indian Stream, now the town of Pittsburg, New Hampshire, was a geographic anomaly that had been left unresolved by the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolutionary War, and was claimed by both the United States and Canada. Between 1832 and 1835, the area's residents refused to acknowledge either claimant.[20]

The Cospaia Republic became independent by a treaty error and survived from 1440 to 1826.[21] Its independence made it important in the introduction of tobacco cultivation to Italy.

Couto Misto, a former independent microstate in Europe, located between Spain and Portugal

Couto Misto was disputed by Spain and Portugal and operated as a sovereign state until the 1864 Treaty of Lisbon partitioned the territory, with the larger part becoming part of Spain.[22]

Jaxa was a small state that existed during the 17th century at the border between Tsardom of Russia and Qing China. Despite its location in East Asia, the state's primary language was Polish.[23]

Smallest by population

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Maldives in the Indian Ocean, the smallest independent country in Asia with an area of 298 km2 (115 sq mi)

Here is examples of some of the smallest states by population, with dependencies excluded such semi-autonomous regions or associated states. Countries up to about the size of Malta are included, which is one of the most populous countries that has been called a microstate. Microstate, as discussed in this article is not a precisely defined term, but involves limited land and/or population compared to others, and as it becomes larger its more likely to be called a small state.

List of countries and territories by total population
Location Population % of
world 		Date Source (official or from
the United Nations) 		Notes
Vatican City 764 0% 26 Jun 2023 Official figure[24] Enclosed by Italy
Tuvalu 10,679 0.0001% 1 Jul 2021 National annual projection[25] Pacific
Nauru 11,680 0.0001% 30 Oct 2021 2021 Census[26] Pacific
Cook Islands 15,040 0.0002% 1 Jul 2021 2021 Census[27] Pacific
San Marino 33,950 0.0004% May 2024 Monthly national estimate[28] Enclosed by Italy
Monaco 38,367 0.0005% 31 Dec 2023 Census[29]
Liechtenstein 40,023 0.0005% 31 Dec 2023 National estimate[30] Enclosed by Switzerland and Austria
Saint Kitts and Nevis 51,320 0.0006% 2022 2022 census result[31] Caribbean
Dominica 67,408 0.0008% 31 Dec 2017 Official estimate[32] Caribbean
Andorra 86,398 0.001% 31 Jul 2024 Official estimate[33] Enclosed by Spain and France
Tonga 100,179 0.001% 1 Jan 2022 National annual estimate[34]
Antigua and Barbuda 103,603 0.001% 1 Jan 2024 National annual estimate[35] Caribbean
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 110,872 0.001% 1 Jul 2022 Official estimate[36] Caribbean
Grenada 112,579 0.001% 1 Jul 2019 Official estimate[37] Caribbean
Seychelles 120,581 0.001% 31 Dec 2023 Official estimate[38] Indian Ocean
Kiribati 120,740 0.001% 1 Jul 2021 National annual projection[25] Pacific
Saint Lucia 184,100 0.002% 1 Jul 2023 Official estimate[39] Caribbean
Samoa 205,557 0.002% 6 Nov 2021 Census 2021[40] Pacific
São Tomé and Príncipe 228,319 0.003% 1 Jul 2024 National annual projection[41] Atlantic
Barbados 267,800 0.003% 31 Dec 2022 [42] Caribbean
Vanuatu 321,409 0.004% 1 Jul 2024 National annual projection[25]
Iceland 383,726 0.005% 1 Jan 2024 National quarterly estimate[43] Atlantic
Bahamas 397,360 0.005% 1 Jul 2022 [44]
Belize 410,919 0.005% 1 Jul 2024 Official estimate[45]
Brunei 445,400 0.005% 1 Jul 2022 Official estimate[46]
Cape Verde 491,233 0.006% 16 Jun 2021 2021 census result[47]
Maldives 515,132 0.006% 13 Sep 2022 2022 census result[48]
Malta 542,051 0.007% 31 Dec 2022 Official estimate[49]
Suriname 616,500 0.007% 1 Jul 2021 Official estimate[50]
Montenegro 616,695 0.007% 1 Jan 2023 National annual estimate[51]
Luxembourg 672,020 0.008% 1 Jan 2024 Official estimate[52]
Solomon Islands 750,325 0.009% 1 Jul 2024 National annual projection[53]
Comoros 758,316 0.009% 15 Dec 2017 2017 census result[54]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 764 residents regardless of citizenship, 618 citizens regardless of residence, 246 resident citizens.[24]

References

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  2. ^ Kubát, Michal; Sokol, Petr (2000-09-01). "Big Systems in Small Countries (A Comparative Analysis)". Czech Journal of Political Science (3). ISSN 1805-9503. Archived from the original on 2025-05-22. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  3. ^ Mehmet, Ozay; Tahiroglu, M. (1 January 2002). "Growth and equity in microstates: Does size matter in development?". International Journal of Social Economics. 29 (1/2): 152–162. doi:10.1108/03068290210413047.
  4. ^ Boyce, Peter J.; Herr, Richard A. (April 1974). "Microstate diplomacy in the south pacific". Australian Outlook. 28 (1): 24–35. doi:10.1080/10357717408444489.
  5. ^ Reid, George L. (1974). The impact of very small size on the international behavior of microstates. Beverly Hills, Calif: Sage Publications. ISBN 9780803904064.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Dumienski, Zbigniew (2014). Microstates as Modern Protected States: Towards a New Definition of Micro-Statehood (PDF) (Report). Occasional Paper. Centre for Small State Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
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  10. ^ a b Ingebritsen, Christine; Neumann, Iver; Gstöhl, Sieglinde; Beyer, Jessica, eds. (May 2006). Small States in International Relations: Lilliputians in Gulliver's World?. New directions in Scandinavian studies. Seattle : Reykjavik: University of Washington Press; University of Iceland Press. ISBN 978-0-295-98524-4. OCLC 63171147.
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  14. ^ a b c Anckar, Dag (July 2004). "Regime choices in microstates: the cultural constraint". Commonwealth & Comparative Politics. 42 (2): 206–223. doi:10.1080/1466204042000299263. ISSN 1466-2043.
  15. ^ Corbett, Jack (January 2015). ""Everybody knows everybody": practising politics in the Pacific Islands". Democratization. 22 (1): 51–72. doi:10.1080/13510347.2013.811233. hdl:10072/60226. ISSN 1351-0347.
  16. ^ Erk, Jan; Veenendaal, Wouter (July 2014). "Is Small Really Beautiful?: The Microstate Mistake". Journal of Democracy. 25 (3): 135–148. doi:10.1353/jod.2014.0054. ISSN 1086-3214.
  17. ^ a b Anckar, Dag (February 2008). "Microstate Democracy: Majority or Consensus; Diffusion or Problem-Solving?". Democratization. 15 (1): 67–85. doi:10.1080/13510340701768158. ISSN 1351-0347.
  18. ^ a b Sharman, J.C. (October 2017). "Sovereignty at the Extremes: Micro-States in World Politics". Political Studies. 65 (3): 559–575. doi:10.1177/0032321716665392. hdl:10072/353417. ISSN 0032-3217.
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  20. ^ Doan, Daniel; Daniell, Jere R.; MacDougall, Ruth Doan (1997). Indian Stream Republic: settling a New England frontier, 1785-1842. Library of New England. Jere R. Daniell, Ruth Doan MacDougall. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England. ISBN 978-0-87451-767-5. OCLC 35651345.
  21. ^ Jepson, Tim (2009). The rough guide to Tuscany & Umbria. Jonathan Buckley, Mark Ellingham, Rough Guides (7th ed.). New York: Rough Guides. ISBN 978-1-4053-8529-9. OCLC 743223039.
  22. ^ United Nations (2001-02-14). "Treaties and international agreements registered from 22 September 1995 to 29 September 1995 Nos. 32135 to 32181". Treaty Series 1889. United Nations Treaty Series. UN. doi:10.18356/a43b73bc-en-fr. ISBN 978-92-1-045419-3. ISSN 2412-1495.
  23. ^ Sulewski, Wojciech (1973). Konterfekty dziwnych Polaków. Iskry. OCLC 69483582.
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Further reading

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