Overview
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. San Marino is negotiating an Association Agreement that is expected to allow participation in the EU s internal market and cooperation in other policy areas by late 2024. Social and political trends in the republic track closely with those of its larger neighbor, Italy.
Geography
- Location
- Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
- Total Area
- 61 sq km
- Climate
- Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
- Terrain
- rugged mountains
- Natural Resources
- building stone
- Coastline
- 0 km (landlocked)
- Land Borders
- 37 km
People & Society
- Population
- 35,291 (2025 est.)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic
- Ethnic Groups
- Sammarinese, Italian
- Life Expectancy
- 84.2 years (2024 est.)
- Literacy Rate
- 99.9% (2022 est.)
- Urbanization
- 97.8% of total population (2023)
Government
- Government Type
- parliamentary republic
- Capital
- San Marino (city)
- Independence
- 3 September 301 (traditional founding date)
- Constitution
- San Marino’s principal legislative instruments consist of old customs (antiche consuetudini), the Statutory Laws of San Marino (Leges Statutae Sancti Marini), old statutes (antichi statute) from the1600s, Brief Notes on the Constitutional Order and Institutional Organs of the Republic of San Marino (Brevi Cenni sull’Ordinamento Costituzionale e gli Organi Istituzionali della Repubblica di San Marino) and successive legislation, chief among them is the Declaration of the Rights of Citizens and Fundamental Principles of the San Marino Legal Order (Dichiarazione dei Diritti dei Cittadini e dei Principi Fondamentali dell’Ordinamento Sammarinese), approved 8 July 1974
- Legal System
- civil law system with Italian civil law influences
- Executive Branch
- co-chiefs of state Captains Regent Matteo ROSSI and Lorenzo BUGLI (for the period 1 October 2025 - 31 March 2026)
Economy
- Economic Overview
- high-income, non-EU European economy; surrounded by Italy, which is the dominant importer and exporter; open border to EU and a euro user; strong financial sector; high foreign investments; low taxation; increasingly high and risky debt
- GDP (Official Rate)
- $1.832 billion (2022 est.)
- Major Industries
- tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine