Background of San Marino

Population: 29,615 (July 2007 est.)
Area: 61.2 sq km
Density: 481 /km&sup2; (20th)
GDP (total): $904 million (195th)
GDP (per capita): $34,600 (12th)
Literacy: 96%

San Marino Background Information

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.