San Marino

San Marino is a landlocked microstate surrounded entirely by Italy. It is one of the smallest and oldest republics in the world, and its official name is the Most Serene Republic of San Marino. The stable classification facts below let you start a country research profile, while the verification guide explains where to check changing figures and how to compare San Marino with other countries without mixing incompatible datasets.

Classification facts

These identifiers come from the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). They are stable and do not change frequently.

Field	Value
UN M49 code	674
ISO alpha-2	SM
ISO alpha-3	SMR
UN region	Europe
UN subregion	Southern Europe
UN member state	Yes
World Bank capital field	San Marino

These groupings are administrative and for data purposes, not political statements. The UN M49 standard assigns codes for convenience. The World Bank’s “capital” field is a data label, not a political assertion. For territorial or sovereignty questions, consult the relevant foreign ministry and the UN’s membership records.

How to verify changing figures

Population

The most recent census figure for San Marino comes from the Ufficio Informatica, Tecnologia, Dati e Statistica (the national statistical office). Because censuses run only periodically, the UN Population Division publishes annual estimates between censuses. Check the UN World Population Prospects for the latest revision year, and the San Marino statistical office for national updates. The UN M49 overview lists San Marino’s grouping, not its population count. Do not use the M49 page for demographic data; use it only for codes and regional groupings.

Population figures for San Marino are small and change slowly. Census counts and mid-year estimates can differ by several percent because of cross-border workers, commuters, and citizenship rules. Always cite the reference year and the source.

Capital

The capital is San Marino (city), often called Città di San Marino. The World Bank country profile lists the capital as San Marino. The World Bank does not list a separate capital for San Marino because the country is a city-state; its capital is the City of San Marino. The capital is not a separate unit in the World Bank API; it appears in the country metadata as the capital city.

Currency

San Marino uses the euro (EUR) as its currency. The euro is shared by euro-area members of the European Union; San Marino is not an EU member but has a monetary agreement with the EU that allows it to use the euro and issue its own euro coins. For current exchange rates, check the European Central Bank (ECB) reference rates. San Marino’s euro coins are legal tender, but they are minted in very small quantities and are mostly collector items.

Language

The language of administration is Italian. Sammarinese, a Romagnol dialect, is also spoken locally. English is not a language of administration, though it is used in tourism and business. For current linguistic data, consult the Ethnologue entry for San Marino or the national statistical office; figures change with migration and census cycles.

Government and economy

San Marino is a parliamentary republic with a multi-party system. Its economy is closely tied to Italy. For current government structure, economic indicators, and income grouping, use the World Bank country API and the UN Statistics Division’s M49 overview. The World Bank API returns country metadata and economic indicators. For GDP, use World Bank national accounts data, and for GDP per capita (PPP), use World Bank’s International Comparison Program data. Always note the reference year for each indicator, because values change annually and are revised retroactively.

For political rights and civil liberties, consult Freedom House’s most recent report. For corruption perceptions, consult Transparency International’s latest index. For human development, consult UNDP’s latest Human Development Report. Each of these sources defines its own methodology and should be cited separately.

Travel requirements

For travel advice, your own government is authoritative. Check your foreign ministry’s travel advisory for San Marino before planning a visit. Entry requirements for San Marino are tied to Italy’s visa and border policies, because San Marino is surrounded entirely by Italian territory and has no airport. Confirm current passport and visa rules with both your government and the Italian authorities.