Did You Know… St. Maarten Is The 5th Smallest Autonomous Nation In The World?

Fun fact: Dutch side St. Maarten is not just the smallest country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it is also the fifth smallest autonomous nation in the world. Only the Vatican (.49 km2) and Monaco (2.02km2) are smaller countries located on continents, whereas Nauru (21 sq km) and Tuvalu (26km2) outrank St. Maarten if you consider the country an island state (though, clearly, its landmass is shared with the French side).

If St. Maarten was to overcome its 350 years of division and was to merge with French side St. Martin as a sovereign island state, it would drop a spot in the global micronation list. With 87 square kilometers it would be larger than current #6 San Marino (61km2), but still Liechtenstein (160km2) would outrank it.

Until further notice, St. Maarten remains an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, together with fellow nations Aruba, Curacao and the European Netherlands. The country has its own flag, parliament and prime minister. The king is represented on island by a governor.