San Marino
Flag Coat of Arms Map National Anthem
San Marino National Anthem
General Information
Introduction San Marino
Background:
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 Marino in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of Italy; social and political trends in the republic also track closely with those of its larger neighbor.
Geography San Marino
Location:
Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Geographic coordinates:
43 46 N, 12 25 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 61.2 sq km
land: 61.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 39 km
border countries: Italy 39 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain:
rugged mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m
highest point: Monte Titano 755 m
Natural resources:
building stone
Land use:
arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 83.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution
Geography - note:
landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
People San Marino
Population:
29,615 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.8% (male 2,573/female 2,404)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 9,388/female 10,178)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 2,190/female 2,882) (2007 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.9 years
male: 40.6 years
female: 41.3 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.219% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
9.89 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
8.27 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
10.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.922 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.915 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.8 years
male: 78.33 years
female: 85.57 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.34 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sammarinese
Ethnic groups:
Sammarinese, Italian
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Italian
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95%
Government San Marino
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
conventional short form: San Marino
local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
local short form: San Marino
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: San Marino
geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle
Independence:
3 September AD 301
National holiday:
Founding of the Republic, 3 September (AD 301)
Constitution:
8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions of a constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Co-chiefs of State Captain Regent Mirko TOMASSONI and Captain Regent Alberto SELVA (for the period 1 October 2007-31 March 2008)
head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Fiorenzo STOLFI (since 27 July 2006)
cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term
elections: co-chiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term; election last held in September 2007 (next to be held in March 2008); secretary of state for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term; election last held 27 July 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
election results: Mirko TOMASSONI and Alberto SELVA elected captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA; Fiorenzo STOLFI elected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of legislative vote - NA
note: the popularly elected parliament (Grand and General Council) selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (co-chiefs of state) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State), which has 10 other members, all selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the captains regent are 10 secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has assumed some prime ministerial roles
Legislative branch:
unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 4 June 2006 (next to be held by June 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDCS 32.9%, Party of Socialists and Democrats 31.9%, AP 11.9%, United Left 8.7%, New Socialist Party 5.4%, other parties 9.2%; seats by party - PDCS 21, Party of Socialists and Democrats 20, AP 7, United Left 5, New Socialist Party 3, others 4; note - following a government reshuffle on 28 NOvember 2007, a splinter party of the PDCS joined the center-left coalition formed by the Party of Socialists and Democrats, the APDS, and the United Left strengthening the government's parliamentary majority to 36 seats out of 60
Judicial branch:
Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII
Political parties and leaders:
Communist Refoundation or RC [Ivan FOSHI]; Ideas in Movement or IM [Alessandro ROSSI]; National Alliance or AN [Glauco SANSOVINI]; New Socialist Party [Augusto CASALI]; Party of Socialists and Democrats [Claudio FELICI]; San Marino Christian Democratic Party or PDCS [Pier Marino MENICUCCI]; San Marino Popular Alliance of Democrats or AP [Roberto GIORGETTI]; San Marino Socialist Party or PSS [Alberto CECCHETTI]; Socialists for Reform or SR [Renzo GIARDI]; United Left
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
San Marino does not have an embassy in the US
honorary consulate(s) general: New York, Washington, DC
honorary consulate(s): Detroit, Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the ambassador to Italy is accredited to San Marino
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)
Economy San Marino
Economy - overview:
The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP. In 2006 more than 2.1 million tourists visited San Marino. The key industries are banking, clothing and apparel, electronics, and ceramics. Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of the most prosperous regions of Italy, which supplies much of its food.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$850 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.048 billion (2004)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$34,100 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
20,470 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.2%
industry: 40.1%
services: 59.7% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.8% (2004)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-1.5% (2006)
Budget:
revenues: $709.6 million
expenditures: $672.3 million (2004)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides
Industries:
tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate:
5.6% (2005 est.)
Exports:
$1.291 billion (2004)
Exports - commodities:
building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, ceramics
Imports:
$2.035 billion (2004)
Imports - commodities:
wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Debt - external:
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications San Marino
Telephones - main lines in use:
21,000 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,390 (2006)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate connections
domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 130 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 378; connected to Italian international network
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
16,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)
Televisions:
9,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sm
Internet hosts:
3,344 (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
15,400 (2006)
Transportation San Marino
Roadways:
total: 104 km
paved: 104 km (2003)
Military San Marino
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Voluntary Military Force (Corpi Militari Voluntar) performs ceremonial duties and limited police functions (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,331 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 5,107 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 135 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Italy
Transnational Issues San Marino
Disputes - international:
none
History
History of San Marino

Origins
San Marino, the world's fifth-smallest state, also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, San Marino was founded in AD 301 (alternative version about A.D. 350 ) when a Christian stonemason named Marinus the Dalmatian, the later St. Marinus, after whom is is supposedly named, who fled from the Dalmatian island of Arbe to escape the Roman Emperor Diocletian, a fierce persecutor of Christians to the mountain to ply his stonecutting and spread Christianity. Marinus hid on the peak of Mount Titano (the highest of San Marino's seven hills) and founded a small community following Christian beliefs. The owner of the land, Felicissima, a sympathetic lady of Rimini bequeathed it to the little Christian community of mountaineers, recommending them to remain always united.

It is certain that the area had been inhabited since prehistoric times, although evidence of existence on Mount Titano dates back only to the Middle Ages. In memory of the stonecutter, the land was renamed "Land of San Marino," and was finally changed to its present-day name, "Republic of San Marino."

In the Lombard age, San Marino was a fief of the dukes of Spoleto, but the free commune dates to the tenth century. In the tenth century the abbots of the monastery were under the civil government, but they soon freed themselves and formed a free commune.

The original government structure was composed of a self-governed assembly known as the Arengo, which consisted of the heads of each family (as the original Roman Senate, the Patres). In 1243, the positions of Captains Regent (Capitani Reggenti) were established to be the joint heads of state. The state's earliest statutes date back to 1263. The Holy See confirmed the ancient independence of San Marino in 1291.

During the feudal era
In quick succession the lords of Montefeltro, the Malatesta of Rimini, and the lords of Urbino attempted to conquer the little town, but without success. The land area of San Marino consisted only of Mount Titano until 1463, at which time the republic entered into an alliance against Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, who was later defeated. As a result, Pope Pius II gave San Marino some castles and the towns of Fiorentino, Montegiardino and Serravalle. Later that year, the town of Faetano joined the republic on its own accord. Since then, the size of San Marino has remained unchanged.

San Marino adopted its written constitution on October 8, 1600.

San Marino has been occupied by foreign militaries three times in its history, for only short periods of time. In 1503, Cesare Borgia, known as Valentino, occupied the republic until his death several months later. In 1739, Cardinal Giulio Alberoni, legate (papal governor) of Ravenna, who in 1739, aiding certain rebels, possibly contrary to the orders of Pope Clement XII, used military force to occupy the country, imposed a new constitution, and endeavored to force the Sanmarinese to submit to the Government of the Pontifical States, but civil disobedience was used to protest this, and clandestine notes sent to the Pope to obtain justice were answered by papal recognition of San Marino's rights that restored them to independence.

Modern independence
The state was recognized by Napoleon in 1797 and by the Congress of Vienna in 1815. San Marino never became a part of the Kingdom of Naples. In 1825 and 1853 new attempts to submit it to the Papal States failed, and its wish to be left out in Garibaldi's Italian nation building in the mid 19th century was granted, since it had offered a safe refuge to numerous supporters of unification before.

After the unification of the kingdom of Italy a treaty of 1862 confirmed San Marino's independence. It was revised in 1939 and 1971.

The last occupation of the country was during 1944. San Marino was officially neutral in World War II. However, German forces used the country to retreat through, and they were followed by Allied forces. The Allied armies only remained in occupation for as long as militarily necessary, which turned out to be only a few weeks.

San Marino is the only surviving Italian city-state. Like Andorra, Liechtenstein and Monaco, it appears an anachronism, a reminder of the times when Europe – particularly Germany, Italy and the Pyrenees – was made up of tiny political units, often extending no further than a cannon could fire from a city’s walls. Apart from the Vatican City (whose development followed a different course), it is the only one which is completely surrounded by one other country. Various treaties of friendship have been signed with Italy since the latter’s unification, but San Marino proudly asserts its independence where possible.

Having joined the Council of Europe as a full member in 1988, San Marino held the rotating chair of the organisation during the first half of 1990.

San Marino became a member of the United Nations in 1992. In 2002 it signed a treaty with the OECD, agreeing to greater transparency in banking and taxation matters to help to combat tax evasion.

Culture
Culture of San Marino

The country and its culture are now tourist attractions, though its musical heritage is long and varied. In the 17th century, composers like Francesco Maria Marini di Pesaro wrote some of the finest pieces of the era.

Since 1894, a wordless composition by Federico Consolo has been the national anthem of San Marino. The piece is based off a 10th century chorale composition. The previous anthem was by Aur. Muccioli and U. Balsimelli, and is similar to the Italian national anthem.

The modern military forces of San Marino parade through the streets in full uniform several times a day, accompanied by the sounds of a military brass band.

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Last update on 14 March 2008
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