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.
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
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
Cochiefs of State Captain Regent Alessandro MANCINI and Captain Regent Alessandro ROSSI (for the period 1 April-30 September 2007)
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
cochiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term; election last held in March 2007 (next to be held in September 2007); 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
Alessandro MANCINI and Alessandro ROSSI 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%, APDS 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, APDS 7, United Left 5, New Socialist Party 3, others 4
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 APDS [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 - 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, wearing 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; including capital expenditures of $23.7 million (2004)
