Geographically the third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named MARINUS in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of the EU, although it is not a member; social and political trends in the republic track closely with those of its larger neighbor, Italy.

Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy

43 46 N, 12 25 E

Europe

about one-third the size of Washington, DC

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers

rugged mountains

highest point: Monte Titano 755 m

building stone

arable land 16.7%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%

0 sq km (2012)

NA

air pollution; urbanization decreasing rural farmlands

landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennine Mountains

33,285 (July 2016 est.)

Sammarinese, Italian

Italian

Roman Catholic

0.78% (2016 est.)

8.6 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

7.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

SAN MARINO 4,000 (2014)

1.5 children born/woman (2016 est.)

6.1% of GDP (2014)

5.1 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

3.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)

NA

NA

NA

2.4% of GDP (2011)

parliamentary republic

9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle

3 September 301 (traditional founding date)

Founding of the Republic, 3 September (A.D. 301)

civil law system with Italian civil law influences

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

San Marino Common Good (includes Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party or PDCS [Marco GATTI], We Sammarinese or NS [Marco ARZILLI], Party of Socialists and Democrats or PSD [Paride ANDREOLI], Popular Alliance or AP [Gabriele GATTI])

Entente for the Country (Intesa per il Paese; includes Socialist Party or PS [Alessandro BEVITORI], Union for the Republic or UPR [Marco PODESCHI)

Active Citizenship (includes Civic 10 [Mateo CIACCI], United Left or SU [Gastone PASOLINI])

NA

CE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the US Ambassador to Italy is accredited to San Marino

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the main colors derive from the shield of the coat of arms, which features three white towers on three peaks on a blue field; the towers represent three castles built on San Marino's highest feature, Mount Titano: Guaita, Cesta, and Montale; the coat of arms is flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty); the white and blue colors are also said to stand for peace and liberty respectively

three peaks each displaying a tower; national colors: white, blue

San Marino's economy relies heavily on tourism, banking, and the manufacture and export of ceramics, clothing, fabrics, furniture, paints, spirits, tiles, and wine. The manufacturing and financial sectors account for more than half of San Marino's GDP. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of the most prosperous regions of Italy.

San Marino's economy has been contracting since 2008, largely due to weakened demand from Italy - which accounts for nearly 90% of its export market - and financial sector consolidation. Difficulties in the banking sector, the recent global economic downturn, and the sizable decline in tax revenues have contributed to negative real GDP growth. The government has adopted measures to counter the downturn, including subsidized credit to businesses and is seeking to shift its growth model away from a reliance on bank and tax secrecy. San Marino does not issue public debt securities; when necessary, it finances deficits by drawing down central bank deposits.

The economy benefits from foreign investment due to its relatively low corporate taxes and low taxes on interest earnings. The income tax rate is also very low, about one-third the average EU level. San Marino continues to work towards harmonizing its fiscal laws with EU and international standards. In September 2009, the OECD removed San Marino from its list of tax havens that have yet to fully adopt global tax standards, and in 2010 San Marino signed Tax Information Exchange Agreements with most major countries. In 2013, the San Marino Government signed a Double Taxation Agreement with Italy, but a referendum on EU membership failed to reach the quorum needed to bring it to a vote.

$1.982 billion (2015 est.)

$1.963 billion (2014 est.)

$1.982 billion (2013 est.)

$1.566 billion (2015 est.)

1% (2015 est.)

-1% (2014 est.)

-3% (2013 est.)

$63,900 (2015 est.)

$63,300 (2014 est.)

$63,900 (2013 est.)

wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides

tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine

-1.1% (2012 est.)

21,960 (September 2013 es)

8.7% (2014 est.)

8.1% (2013 est.)

NA%

42.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

-2.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

25.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

20.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

calendar year

0.4% (2015 est.)

1.1% (2014 est.)

5.92% (31 December 2011 est.)

5.38% (31 December 2010 est.)

$NA

$1.326 billion (31 December 2007)

$NA

$4.584 billion (31 December 2007)

$8.822 billion (30 September 2010)

$8.008 billion (31 December 2009)

$NA

$3.827 billion (2011 est.)

$2.576 billion (2010 est.)

building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, ceramics

Italy 82.3% (2012 est.)

$2.551 billion (2011 est.)

$2.132 billion (2010 est.)

wide variety of consumer manufactures, food, energy

Italy 81.8% (2012 est.)

$392 million (2014 est.)

$539.3 million (2013 est.)

$NA

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.885 (2015 est.)

0.7525 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

0.7752 2012 est.)

0.7185 (2011 est.)

state-owned public broadcaster operates 1 TV station and 3 radio stations; receives radio and TV broadcasts from Italy (2012)

.sm

T7 (2016)

no regular military forces; voluntary Military Corps (Corpi Militari) performs ceremonial duties and limited police support functions (2010)

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; government has the authority to call up all San Marino citizens from 16-60 years of age to service in the military (2012)

defense is the responsibility of Italy