Monaco, officially known as the Principality of Monaco, is a sovereign city-state and microstate located in Western Europe on the French Riviera. It functions as a semi-enclave bordered by France to the north, east, and west, while its southern border meets the Mediterranean Sea. The Italian region of Liguria lies approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) to the east.
With an area of only 2.08 km2 (0.80 sq mi), Monaco is the second smallest sovereign state in the world, surpassed only by Vatican City. It holds the distinction of being the most densely populated country globally, housing a population of 38,423 residents. Additionally, it possesses the shortest national coastline of any non-landlocked nation at 3.83 km (2.38 mi).
While French is the official language of the principality, Italian and Monégasque are also widely spoken and understood by the population. Of the total residents living in the city-state, fewer than 10,000 are Monégasque nationals.