The Principality of Monaco is an independent microstate on France’s Mediterranean coastline known for its glitzy casinos, yacht-lined harbour and prestigious Grand Prix motor race, which runs through Monaco’s streets once a year. Every 19 November, it celebrates its National Day, also known as the Sovereign Prince’s Day. The date is traditionally determined by the day of the Patron Saint which the reigning Prince is named after. For instance, the late Prince Rainier III chose the 19 November, as this is the day which celebrates St. Rainier. This tradition ended when Prince Albert II, the reigning Prince of Monaco, chose the same day as his father instead of the 15 November, day of St. Albert. To celebrate Monaco’s National Day, here are ten facts you might not know about this tiny State!

1 – Monaco is a constitutional principality ruled by a descendant of the Grimaldi family. It is the oldest ruling house in Europe, leading the tiny city-state almost uninterruptedly from 1297 to this day. Up until 2002, it was understood that if there were no heirs of the Grimaldi to rule to country, France would take control of the country. A treaty between France and Monaco in 2002 meant that should the Grimaldi family leave no heirs, Monaco would still retain its status as an independent nation.

2 – Monaco laws forbid locals from setting foot inside the luxurious casinos in the microstate such as Casino de Monte Carlo and Monte Carlo Bay Casino, although the popular gambling destinations of Monaco attract thousands of tourists every year.

3 – As of 2018, no athlete from the Principality of Monaco has ever won an Olympic medal, meaning Monaco has the most appearances at the Olympics (29) without having won a medal.

4 – Monaco stopped collecting income tax from its residence in 1869, after the creation of the Grand Casino de Monte Carlo. It was an indulgence the princely Grimaldi family could afford to entertain solely thanks to the extraordinary success of the casino..

5 – It has the highest life expectancy in the entire world: 85.6 years for men and 93.5 for women, for an average life expectancy at birth of 89.4 years.

6 – Monaco has the greatest police presence in the world a per-capita and per-area basis, with 515 police officers for 38,000 people in a country with an area of 2.02 sq. km. It also has the lowest crime rates in the world: on average, there is one murder every ten years.

7 – People native to Monaco are called Monégasque. A person born in a foreign country but resident in Monaco is a Monacoian. The country is unusual because the native Monégasque people are actually in the minority in the country: only a fifth of its 38,000-strong population is native. The remaining population are wealthy outsiders. The largest group are French nationals at 28.4%, followed by Monégasque (21.6%), Italian (18.7%), British (7.5%), Belgian (2.8%), German (2.5%), Swiss (2.5%) and U.S. nationals (1.2%).

8 – Monaco and Indonesia share a nearly identical flag. They look exactly the same apart from the dimensions: Indonesia’s flag’s height to width ratio is 2:3, while Monaco’s flag is 4:5.

9 – Both the current Prince and the current Princess have participated in several Olympics. Albert competed in the bobsleigh at five consecutive Winter Olympics, taking part in both the two-man and four-man events. Princess Charlene, on the other hand, has won three gold medals and a silver medal in various swimming competitions. Unfortunately for Monaco’s standing in the Olympic tables, she competed for South Africa, where she grew up.

10 – The official language in the country is French. Despite this, the traditional native language of the country, Monégasque, is still taught in schools and signage in the old part of the country presents a double translation in both French and Monégasque. The Monégasque dialect is a variety of Ligurian, a Gallo-Italian dialect spoken in Liguria, Northern Italy.

Did you enjoy learning more about Monaco? Do you want to find out more curious facts about other European countries? Try our Top 10 Curious Facts about Lithuania, Kosovo, or Estonia!