Top 10 world`s least populated countries

There are not only large and most populated countries in the world. Some of world`s states are too tiny; their population is even less than the population of a Russian village.

Pitcairn Islands

Pitcairn Islands are the first least populated country in the world located in the Pacific Ocean. The state consists of four islands Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno, latter three are uninhabited. The total area of all islands is 47 square km. Pitcairn is the last British of the UK in the Pacific Ocean. According to the data of CIA The World Factbook of 2009 only 48 people live on the island. By the way, these people are offsprings of the Bounty ship`s muteeners and Tahitians.

Cocos Islands

Cocos islands are the second least populated country. It is a group of 27 coral islands located in the Indian Ocean. The total area of this tiny country is 14 square km; its population is 596 people. Cocos Islands are governed by Australia.

The Vatican

Vatican is not only the smallest country in the world (its area is 0,44 square km) but also one of the least populated states. This city-state is a residence of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church, and bishops. According to the data of 2009 the population of the Vatican is 826 people.

Niue

Niue is located on an island state in the South Pacific Ocean. Its total area is 260 square km., its population is 1398 people. Niue is self-governing in free association with New Zealand and is fully responsible for internal affairs. New Zealand retains some responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with Niue. Thus, Niue has an intermediate stance between a colony and fully independent country.

Christmas Island

Christmas Island is the fifth least populated country located on the island of Java in the Indian Ocean. The total area of Christmas Island is 135 square km.; its population is 1402 people. Though Christmas Island belongs to Australia the Chinese make up the most part of its population.

Tokelau

Tokelau is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean governed by New Zealand. It has three coral atolls in its composition: Atafu, Nukunonu, Fakaof. The total area is 10 square km. According to the data of 2009 1416 people live there.

Svalbard

This popular archipelago is the seventh least populated country. West Spitsbergen, Bear Island, Nordaustlandet, Edgeøya, Barentsøya, Wilhelmøya are the largest islands of the archipelago. The total area of Svalbard is 61 000 square km.; its population is 2116 people. Svalbard is governed by the Norwegian government and since 1925 it is an official part of Norway.

Norfolk

Norfolk Island is located in the Pacific Ocean between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. Its total area is 34,6 square km; its population is 2141 people, half of them is offsprings of settlers who came to Norfolk from Pitcairn in 1856. It and two neighbour islands form one of Australia’s external territories.

The Falkland Islands

The Falklands Islands or Malvinas are located in the southwest of the Atlantic Ocean. The Falkland Islands comprise two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland (in Spanish Isla Gran Malvina and Isla Soledad respectively), and about 776 small islands. The total area of the archipelago is 12,173 square km; its population is 3140 people. The Falkland Islands belong to the UK but Argentina asserts its right to its territory.

Montserrat

Montserrat, a British overseas territory, is the tenth world`s least populated country. It is located on the island of Montserrat in the Caribbean sea and comprises the Lesser Antilles. The total area is 102 square km. Till 1995 about 12 000 people lived on the island but because of the volcanic activity most part of them left the island and few people came back. According to the data of 2009 the population of Montserrat is 5097 people.