My Science School

               The state of Qatar is an independent emirate, an Arabic Islamic monarchy, in the Gulf region. It occupies the small Qatar Peninsula on the north-eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.

               Before World War II, Qatar was one of the world’s poorest nations. Its main source of revenue came from pearling and fishing. But as oil reserves were discovered and developed in the 1940s, the country attained a high income. Today, Qatar has one of the world’s largest reserves of oil and natural gas. Qatar is classified by the UN as a country of very high human development.

               Arabic is the official language of Qatar. The capital of the country is Doha, and the currency is the Riyal.

 

               The Gambia is the smallest country in mainland Africa, with an extent of about 330 km east to west, and less than 50 km north to south.

               It is a former British colony, forming an enclave within Senegal, a former French colony. The Gambia is one of the most densely populated countries in West Africa.

               The Gambia River, the nation’s namesake, flows through the centre of Gambia, and empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

               The Gambia achieved independence on 18th February 1965, as a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth, with Elizabeth II as Queen of the Gambia. But, the country is now not in the Commonwealth, as they left the organization in 2013. The Gambia’s economy is dominated by agriculture, fishing, and tourism. About two-thirds of the population is engaged in raising livestock or growing crops like rice. English is the official language of the Gambia. The capital of the country is Banjul, and the currency of the Gambia is the Dalasi.

               Jamaica, the third largest island in the Caribbean Sea, is situated west of Hispaniola, and south of Cuba, about 870 km south east of Miami. The national capital is Kingston.

               Jamaica’s landscape is mostly mountainous. Christopher Columbus, was first sighted the island in 1494.

               Jamaica became an independent state in 1962, after gaining its sovereignty from the United Kingdom. Jamaica is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.

               Kingston is the capital city of Jamaica. The official language is Standard Jamaican English. Jamaica is known for reggae, a type of popular music created in the 1960s. The national currency is the Jamaican dollar.

               Jamaica is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of American States, United Nations and World Trade Organization.

               Lebanon is in the Middle East, where it borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, and Syria to the north. Lebanon shares a border with Israel.

               Lebanon consists of a narrow strip of territory, and is one of the world’s smaller sovereign states. The capital is Beirut. Lebanon has a heterogeneous society composed of numerous ethnic, religious, and kinship groups.

               Lebanon became an independent state in 1943, after gaining its sovereignty from France. Lebanon was the site of some of the oldest human settlements in the world. Lebanon has been a member of the UN since its founding.

               The currency of Lebanon is the Lebanese pound. Lebanon has a moderate Mediterranean climate. With its high literacy rate and traditional mercantile culture, Lebanon has traditionally been an important commercial hub for the Middle East. It was the first Arab country to permit private radio and TV.

               Located in the continent of Asia, Cyprus has a total area of 9,251 square kilo-metres. Cyprus is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean, and is the third largest and third most populous island in the Mediterranean. It is located south of Turkey.

               In 1960 Cyprus became Independent of Britain as the Republic of Cyprus. Nicosia is the capital city of Cyprus. Nicosia is also the political centre of Cyprus.

               The country has been renowned since ancient times for its mineral wealth, and natural beauty. Cyprus is a major tourist destination in the Mediterranean. The currency of the country is the Euro. The official languages are Greek and Turkish.

            Brunei, situated on the northern shore of the island of Borneo in the South China Sea, is one of the smallest yet richest states in the world.

            The country is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It has a population of less than 500,000.

            A British protectorate since 1888, Brunei was the only Malay state in 1963 which chose to remain so rather than join the federation that became Malaysia.

            Brunei achieved independence in 1984. Brunei’s political system is governed by the constitution and the national tradition of the Malay Islamic monarchy.

            The nation has been ruled by the same family for hundreds of years. Its ruling royals possess a huge private fortune and its largely ethnic-Malay population enjoys generous state handouts and pays no taxes.

            Brunei is a member of the Commonwealth and ASEAN. The capital of Brunei is Bandar Seri Begawan. The official language of Brunei is Standard Malay. The currency is the Brunei dollar.

               Vatican City is the world’s smallest fully independent nation-state. It is also the smallest by population. Situated on the western bank of the Tiber River, the Vatican City’s 3.2 kilometre border is landlocked by Italy.

               The Vatican City has served as the official home of the pope of the Catholic Church since 1377. However, Vatican City was not declared an independent state until the Lateran Treaty of 1929, which created the independent state of Vatican City for the Catholic Church. Today, nearly 75 per cent of the Vatican’s citizens are members of the clergy.

               Along with the centuries-old buildings and gardens, the Vatican maintains its own banking and telephone systems, post office, pharmacy, newspaper, and radio and television stations. Its 600 citizens include the members of the Swiss Guard, a security detail charged with protecting the pope since 1506.

               The most significant building in Vatican City is St. Peter’s Basilica. The church is built on Vatican Hill, across the Tiber River from the historic centre of Rome. This was the site where Saint Peter, the chief apostle, died a martyr, and where he was buried in AD 64.

               It is the Italian language that is used by most of those located within the state; however the official documents are written in Latin.

               Located on the French Riviera, Monaco is home to the largest number of millionaires and billionaires in the world.

               It is also the world’s second smallest country, with only two square kilometres in total land area.

               Known for its gambling and luxury goods and services industry, Monaco is a favourite playground of the rich and famous, the former drawn by its climate and the beauty of its setting and the latter by its advantageous tax regime.

               In 2014, it was noted that about 30 per cent of the population was made up of millionaires, more than in Zurich or Geneva. The country is a major banking centre that closely guards the privacy of its clients.

               Bordered by France on three sides and on one side by the Mediterranean Sea, the residents of Monaco are mostly French-speaking.

               With a population of over 38,000, Monaco is the world’s most densely populated sovereign state. The most popular annual event is the Formula 1 race, with tracks passing through the city streets.

 

               Nauru is an island country situated in Micronesia in the Central Pacific. It has 11,347 residents in a 21 square kilometre area.

               Nauru is the third smallest state by area in the world. Nauru is also the world’s smallest island nation, the smallest independent republic, and the only republic in the world without an official capital. Nauruan is the official language, and the Australian dollar is the currency.

               Nauru only has one significant source of income: phosphates from thousands of years’ worth of guano or bird droppings. This proved to be both a boon and a bane for Nauruans - for a long time, its residents enjoyed a high level of income as the country exported its phosphate like there was no tomorrow.

               Nauru is also known as the country with the most obese people in the world. In the early 21st century Nauru agreed to temporarily house hundreds of Australia-bound asylum seekers while they waited for the processing of their applications. In exchange, Australia provided millions of dollars in aid to Nauru.

 

               Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is the fourth smallest country in the world. It is located in the Pacific Ocean, about midway between Hawaii and Australia. Tuvalu is a group of nine tiny islands in the South Pacific which won independence from the United Kingdom in 1978.

               Five of the islands are coral atolls; the other four consists of land rising from the sea bed. The closest neighbours are Solomon Islands in the west, Kiribati in north, Samoa in the east, and Fiji in the south.

               The total land area of the islands of Tuvalu is 26 square kilometres. Life on the islands is simple, and often harsh. There are no streams or rivers, so the collection of rain is essential. Copra - dried coconut kernel - is practically the only export commodity.

               The currencies widely used are the Tuvaluan dollar and the Australian dollar. The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesians. On 5th September 2000, Tuvalu became the 189th member of the United Nations.

               Landlocked San Marino is world’s fifth smallest country. It is a small republic situated on the slopes of Mount Titano, and surrounded on all sides by the Republic of Italy. It is the smallest independent state in Europe after the Vatican City and Monaco and, until the independence of Nauru (1968), the smallest republic in the world.

               San Marino claims to be the oldest surviving sovereign state in the world, and is also one of the wealthiest in terms of GDP per capita. It has a population of only 30,000. The country boasts of one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world.

               Tourism dominates the economy of the 61 square kilometres republic, which plays host to more than three million visitors every year. The official language of the country is Italian. Its capital is the City of San Marino and its largest city is Serravalle.

               The currency of the country is the Euro. The country’s economy mainly relies on finance, industry, services and tourism. It is among the wealthiest countries in the world in terms of GDP (per capita). It is the only country with more vehicles than people!

            A German-speaking country, this is the only nation in the world to be completely located in the Alps.

            Liechtenstein is located between Switzerland and Austria. It is a constitutional monarchy ruled by the hereditary princes of the house of Liechtenstein. The country’s capital is Vaduz. The country has only about 37,000 people in roughly 160.5 square kilometres. There is no airport within its borders. Visitors must go through Switzerland’s Zurich Airport to reach this Alpine country. Liechtenstein has one of the world’s lowest crime rates.

            Liechtenstein has no natural resources of commercial value, and virtually all raw materials, including wood, have to be imported.

            Despite its small size and limited national resources, Liechtenstein is one of the richest countries in the world, on a per capita GDP basis.

            It has developed since the 1940s from a mainly agricultural, to an industrialized country and a prosperous centre of trade and tourism. In 1921, Liechtenstein adopted the Swiss franc as its currency. Tourism is a leading sector of Liechtenstein’s economy.

               Comprising over a thousand flat coral islands of white sand beaches and turquoise lagoons, The Marshall Islands, are immensely luring to tourists as a tropical paradise. The Marshall Islands are located near the equator in the Pacific Ocean. Geographically, the country is part of the larger island group of Micronesia. Majuro is the political and economic centre of the Marshall Islands.

               The Marshall Islands were claimed by Spain in 1592, but were left undisturbed by the Spanish Empire for 300 years. In 1885, Germany took over the administration of the Marshall Islands, and located trading stations.

               At the beginning of World War I, Japan assumed control of the Marshall Islands. During World War II, the United States conquered the islands in 1944.

               The government is the largest employer in the country, employing about one quarter of the workforce. The gross domestic product is derived mainly from US-funded expenditures. The country uses the US dollar as its currency.

               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).