World Country Monaco

About the world country Monaco, its location, size, population, and who is in power.

NATIONS OF THE WORLD

MONACO

Location: Enclave on France's Riviera (Mediterranean) coast, near the Italian border. Size: .4 sq. mi. (1 sq. km.). Population: 28,000 (15% native Monegasque).

Who Really Rules: A principality for most of the last 1,000 years, Monaco is now a constitutional monarchy with an elected National Council. France, however, controls Monaco's foreign policy and reviews the appointment of the minister of state. Should the reigning prince--currently Rainier III--die without leaving a male heir, Monaco would be annexed to France. Fortunately, Rainier's wife, former actress Grace Kelly, has already provided the prince with a son named Albert.

The principality took control of the Monte Carlo Casino and associated real estate in 1967, when it bought out Aristotle Onassis's holding in the Societe des Bains de Mer.