Category Smallest Countries of the World

               Saint Kitts and Nevis is the eighth smallest country in the world by area. This island country in the West Indies is located in the Leeward Islands chain of the Lesser Antilles.

               Saint Kitts and Nevis were among the first islands in the Caribbean to be settled by Europeans. The country has also been titled ‘The Mother Colony of the West Indies’. The official language of the country is English, and the currency is the East Caribbean dollar.

               The country has been a major sugar exporter for centuries. Since independence in 1983, the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis has been an independent member of the Commonwealth, with the British monarch as its head of state. An appointed governor-general represents the crown.

               The islands have a combined land area of 261 square kilometres, making it the smallest sovereign country in the Americas. The country has a population of 52,000 inhabitants. Capital city is Basseterre.

               The smallest country in Asia, the Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean, and is home to approximately 427,000 people. Known for its luxurious resorts, stunning white sandy beaches, and amazing crystal-clear turquoise waters, the Maldives is a tourist haven. It consists of a chain of about 26 atolls and sandbanks, grouped in clusters, or atolls.

               The country was once the colony of many empires, the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British, but became an independent country in 1965. Comprising a territory spanning roughly 298 square kilometres, the Maldives is one of the world’s most geographically dispersed countries.

               Male is the capital city, is also the most populated city. Maldives was a member of commonwealth until October 2016 when they withdrew in protest of international criticism of its records in relation to corruption and human rights. The Maldivian rufiyaa is the currency of the Maldives. The official language is Dhivehi (or Maldivian).

            Malta is a Southern European island country consisting of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea.

            The Republic of Malta is actually made up of three islands: Gozo, Comino, and Malta, which is the largest of the three. This small country has a population of over 410,000 inhabitants, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Another popular tourist destination, foreigners from all over the world come to Malta for its sunny weather, attractive beaches, rich history, and vibrant nightlife.

            The British ruled Malta until 1964, when it became independent. The capital of Malta is Valletta, is the smallest national capital in the European Union by area. Valletta is one of the most concentrated historical areas in the world. Malta has one national language, which is Maltese, and English is used as an official language.

            Malta’s location in the middle of the Mediterranean has historically given it great strategic importance as a naval base. There are more than a few sunken World War II ships along the coastline. It was heavily bombarded by German and Italian aircraft, and by the end of the World War, Malta was devastated.

               The tiny Caribbean island of Grenada is one of the smallest independent countries in the western hemisphere. It consists of the island of Grenada, and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines island chain. Its size is 348.5 square kilometres. Its capital is St. George’s. Known as the Spice Island, the island of Carriacou is the largest island in the Grenadines. It remains within the British Commonwealth as an independent nation, and the Governor General represents the Queen.

               The East Caribbean dollar is the currency used locally. It is linked to the US dollar. Tourism is Grenada’s main economic force. Conventional beach and water-sports tourism is largely focused in the southwest region around St. George’s. Beautiful scenery with fertile valleys, rainforests, mountain lakes and excellent beaches are a big draw for tourists.

               St Vincent and the Grenadines, one of the Windward Island countries of the Eastern Caribbean, lies near the southern end of the Caribbean chain, about 97 km north of Grenada. Most of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lies within the Hurricane Belt. Kingstown is the capital and main port.

               Some 69 per cent of the country’s land area is forested. The country been colonized by both the French and the British. The country comprises six parishes, one of these being Grenadines.

               St Vincent and the Grenadines is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state, bearing the title Queen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The official language of the country is English, and the currency is the East Caribbean dollar.

            Barbados is an island country in the Caribbean region of North America.

            Barbados is one of the more populous and prosperous Caribbean islands. Political, economic and social stability have given it a relatively high standard of living. Its capital and largest city is Bridgetown, which is also the main seaport.

            It has a population of 284,996 people, predominantly of African descent. Barbadians are crazy about afternoon tea, cricket, golfing and scuba diving. The island was a British possession without interruption from the 17th century to 1966, when it attained independence.

            The tropical climate is tempered by an almost constant sea breeze from the northeast in the winter.

            Barbados is host to four species of nesting turtles, and has the second-largest hawksbill turtle breeding population in the Caribbean. The currency of Barbados is the Barbadian dollar.