What is the smallest country in the world by land area?

Vatican City holds the title as the smallest country in the world by land area. It is an independent city-state enclaved within Rome, Italy, and covers an area of about 44 hectares (110 acres) or 0.17 square miles. This diminutive size is a result of its status as the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church, housing significant religious sites such as St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums.

In contrast, the other options, which are also small countries, have larger land areas. Monaco, for example, is renowned for its wealth and luxury, but it covers approximately 2.02 square kilometers (0.78 square miles), making it significantly larger than Vatican City. Malta, an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, spans around 316 square kilometers (122 square miles), offering a rich history and vibrant culture. San Marino, one of the oldest republics in the world, has an area of about 61 square kilometers (24 square miles). Hence, Vatican City’s unique political and geographical status is what distinguishes it as the smallest country.