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Monaco |
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| Introduction | Monaco |
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Background:
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Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation center. |
| Geography | Monaco |
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Location:
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Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy |
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Geographic coordinates:
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43 44 N, 7 24 E |
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total: 1.95 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 1.95 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 4.4 km
border countries: France 4.4 km |
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Coastline:
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4.1 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers |
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Terrain:
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hilly, rugged, rocky |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Agel 140 m |
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Natural resources:
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none |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol |
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Geography - note:
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second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban |
| People | Monaco |
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Population:
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32,130 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 15.5% (male 2,551; female 2,445)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,814; female 10,130) 65 years and over: 22.4% (male 2,937; female 4,253) (2003 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 45 years
male: 43 years female: 47 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.44% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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9.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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12.82 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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7.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 6.52 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.27 years
male: 75.37 years female: 83.37 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.76 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan |
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Ethnic groups:
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French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 90% |
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Languages:
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French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque |
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Literacy:
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definition: NA
total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% |
| Government | Monaco |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco local short form: Monaco local long form: Principaute de Monaco |
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy |
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Capital:
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Monaco |
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Administrative divisions:
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none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo |
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Independence:
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1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi) |
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National holiday:
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National Day (Prince of Monaco Holiday), 19 November |
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Constitution:
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17 December 1962 |
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Legal system:
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based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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21 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since 9 May 1949); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre, son of the monarch (born 14 March 1958)
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch head of government: Minister of State Patrick LECLERCQ (since 5 January 2000) |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16 members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional representation; to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UNAM 21, UND 3 elections: last held 9 February 2003 (next to be held NA February 2008) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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National and Democratic Union or UND [Jean-Louis CAMPORA]; Union for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco or UNAM [leader NA] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ECE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNITAR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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Monaco does not have an embassy in the US
consulate(s) general: New York |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France) is accredited to Monaco |
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Flag description:
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two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red |
| Economy | Monaco |
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Economy - overview:
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Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. In 2001, a major new construction project will extend the pier used by cruise ships in the main harbor. The principality has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas. Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates below are extremely rough. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $870 million (1999 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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NA% |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $27,000 (1999 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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NA% |
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Labor force:
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30,540 (January 1994) |
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Unemployment rate:
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3.1% (1998) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $518 million
expenditures: $531 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995) |
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Industries:
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tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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NA kWh |
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Electricity - imports:
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NA kWh
note: electricity supplied by France |
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Agriculture - products:
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none |
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Exports:
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$NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France |
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Imports:
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$NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France |
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Debt - external:
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$NA |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$NA |
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Currency:
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euro (EUR) |
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Currency code:
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EUR |
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Exchange rates:
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euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
| Communications | Monaco |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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31,027 (1995) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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NA |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: modern automatic telephone system
domestic: NA international: no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998) |
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Radios:
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34,000 (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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5 (1998) |
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Televisions:
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25,000 (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.mc |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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2 (2000) |
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Internet users:
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NA |
| Transportation | Monaco |
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Railways:
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total: 1.7 km
standard gauge: 1.7 km 1.435-m gauge (2002) |
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Highways:
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total: 50 km
paved: 50 km unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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Monaco |
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Merchant marine:
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none (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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none; linked to airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service (2002) |
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Heliports:
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1 (shuttle service between the international airport at Nice, France, and Monaco's heliport at Fontvieille) (2002) |
| Military | Monaco |
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Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of France |
| Transnational Issues | Monaco |
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Disputes - international:
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none |