Monaco

About the People

Cultural Attributes

Greetings, Gestures & Visiting

Diet

Family

Recreation

Holidays

• National Day

  11/19

  Independence

  (Prince of Monaco Holiday)

Dates of Interest

• November 19th

  Prince of Monaco Holiday

How do people greet each other in Monaco?

What are the eating customs and typical foods in Monaco?

How should I dress in Monaco?

What is family life like in Monaco?

What do people do for recreation in Monaco?

Historical Eras

Overview

Timeline of Key Events

1. 500

   A Ligurian tribe inhabited the area.

   In the sixth century B.C. a Ligurian tribe inhabited the area leaving behind their name to what would become Monaco. Following the Phoenician era, the Romans occupied this region from the second century B.C. to the fifth century A.D. They named the harbor Portus Herculis Monoeci. Beginning in the sixth century through the end of the tenth century, the area witnessed numerous invasions. It wasn’t until 975 that the Count of Provence succeeded in driving out the Sarrasins, marking the beginning of a new era.

2. 1162

   Genoa’s rule

   Emperor Frederic Barberousse 1st extended Genoa’s rule on the Ligurian coast, from Port Venere to Monaco. In 1191 Emperor Henry VI conceded Monaco’s Rocher, the port and neighboring land to Genoa. The Genovese set up their own colony on the Rocher and in 1215 build a fortress marking the western most border of their republic.

3. 1270

   Civil war broke out in Genoa between the Guelf families.

   Civil war broke out in Genoa between the Guelf families, supporters of the Pope, and the Ghibelines, supporters of the Roman-Germanic Emperor. When the Ghibelines claimed victory, the Guelfs, which included the Grimaldis, went into exile. By sheer perseverance, the powerful Guelfs were to later change the course of history by seizing the Rocher and putting down permanent roots.

4. 1297

   François Grimaldi overtook Monaco’s fortress.

   François Grimaldi, known as “Malizia”, overtook Monaco’s fortress in response to the exile imposed upon the Guelfs.

5. 1331

   Charles Grimaldi, head of the Guelfs, installed himself on the Rocher.

   Charles Grimaldi, head of the Guelfs, installed himself on the Rocher. In 1342 he took the title of "Lord of Monaco”.

6. 1346

   Grimaldis acquired the lordships and feifdoms from Menton to Roquebrune.

   In 1346 and 1355 the Grimaldis acquired the lordships and feifdoms from Menton to Roquebrune. The Principality was comprised of these lordships, together with Monaco, from 1633 to 1861.

7. 1494

   Rights of succession in the House of Monaco for the next five centuries

   Before dying in 1454, Jean 1st made provisions in his will which laid down the rights of succession in the House of Monaco for the next five centuries. He decreed that rule would pass to the first born male. In the case that no son was produced, title could pass to a daughter on condition that her heirs take the Grimaldi name.

Religion

Languages Spoken

• English
• French
• Italian

Population

Population

30,586

Nationality Noun

Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)

Ethnic Groups

French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%

Education

Literacy Definition

NA

Country Identity

Country Name

Monaco

Full Country Name

Principality of Monaco

Local - Long

Principaute de Monaco

Local - Short

Monaco

Government Structure

Government Type

constitutional monarchy

Legal System

based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive Branch

chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005) head of government: Minister of State Didier Guillaume (since 5 September 2024) cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; the Minister of State is appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government

Legislative Branch

unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16 members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional representation; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UNAM 21, UND 3

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council)

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Constitution

17-Dec-62

Independence

1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)

National Holiday

National Day (Prince of Monaco Holiday), 19 November

Capital City

Capital Name

Monaco

Capital - geographic coordinate

43 44 N, 7 25 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Military

Branches: no regular military forces; Directorate of Public Security

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code

Euro (EUR)

GDP Real Growth Rate

0.9%

Banknotes

Budget & Public Finance

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Annual Budget

$864,100,000 (USD)

External Debt

$18,000,000,000 (USD)

Labor, Industry & Trade

Industries

tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products

Agriculture Products

none

Energy

Oil Production

0 bbl/day

Oil Consumption

0 bbl/day

Oil Reserves

0 bbl/day

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m

Natural Gas Reserves

0 cu m

Communications

Telephone System

general assessment: modern automatic telephone system; the country's sole fixed line operator offers a full range of services to residential and business customers domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 200 per 100 persons international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system

Internet Country Code

.mc