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Large coastlines are beneficial for any nation’s growth. As the coastline connects the land with the sea, it supports the maritime trade, boosting the tourism opportunities, providing food resources, and regulating the climate. But when we think about coastal countries such as Canada, Australia, or Indonesia comes to mind because they have vast stretches of coastline, but here is the twist that not every nation has hundreds or thousands of kilometers of coastline. There is one tiny European country that has a short coastline, so you could walk its entire coastline length in just less than an hour.
Which Country Has the Shortest Coastline in the World?
In the world, Monaco has the shortest coastline of any sovereign country, and it measures approximately 4.1 kilometers along the Mediterranean Sea.
Monaco is located on the French Riviera in Western Europe, and it is bordered by France on three sides and the Mediterranean Sea on the fourth.
Despite its tiny size and coverage area of over two kilometers, it is one of the wealthiest nations in the world and it is the second smallest independent nation in the world.
The limited land availability has forced Monaco to undertake several land reclamation projects, creating artificial extensions into the sea to accommodate residential developments, parks, marinas and the public spaces.
Why Is Monaco’s Coastline So Small?
Monaco’s extremely short coastline is the consequence of its small geographical size.
The country occupies the narrow strip of land between the steep hills and the Mediterranean coast. Since there is virtually no room for outward expansion on land, Monaco has increasingly pursued seaward expansion through carefully planned land reclamation projects.
These developments have helped the country to create additional space for the,
- Residential neighborhoods
- Luxury hotels
- Yacht marinas
- Public parks
- Commercial infrastructure
Despite the its very limited shoreline, Monaco remains one of the world’s premier destinations for luxury tourism and international events.
Top 10 Countries with the Shortest Coastline
| Rank | Country | Coastline Length | Neibouring Countries |
| 1 | Monaco | France | |
| 2 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 20 km | Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro |
| 3 | Tuvalu | 24 km | None (Island nation) |
| 4 | Jordan | 26 km | Saudi Arabia, Israel, Syria, Iraq |
| 5 | Nauru | 30 km | None (Island nation) |
| 6 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 37 km | Angola, Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Tanzania |
| 7 | Slovenia | 47 km | Italy, Austria, Hungary, Croatia |
| 8 | Togo | 56 km | Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso |
| 9 | Iraq | 58 km | Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey |
| 10 | Niue | 64 km | None (Self-governing island in free association with New Zealand) |
Why Are Coastlines Important?
A coastline is far more than the point where land meets the sea. It plays a crucial role in the country’s economy, environment and security.
Coastal regions support the
- International trade through the ports.
- Commercial fishing industries.
- Tourism and beach destinations.
- Maritime transportation.
- Naval and strategic defence operations.
- Marine biodiversity and ecosystems.
How Monaco Thrived Despite Its Tiny Coastline
Monaco proves that economic success is not determined by just geographical size.
Although the coastline of Manaco is the shortest in the world, the country has built the thriving economy based on,
- Luxury Tourism
- International Finance
- Yacht Tourism
- Formula 1
