Micronations: What Are They and Why Do They Exist?
The main difference between a country and a micronation is that the former is regarded as a sovereign state by the international community while the latter is not. This indicates that, in comparison to micronations, countries have the right to self-determination and to sign international treaties.
Here are some other key differences between countries and micronations:
- Size: Compared to micronations, countries are often far greater. Vatican City, the tiniest nation in the world, is about 0.44 square kilometres (0.17 square miles) in size. The Principality of Hutt River, the largest micronation, has a land area of 75 square kilometres (29 square miles).
- Population: Compared to micronations, countries often have substantially bigger populations. Tuvalu, which has a population of just over 11,000, is the smallest nation in the world. The Principality of Hutt River, which has about 20 residents, is the most population micronation.
- Government: Compared to micronations, countries often have more formal and elegant governments. Typically, a country has three tiers of governance: the federal government, the state governments, and the local governments. On the other hand, micronations frequently have a more straightforward form of administration, like a monarchy or a republic.
- Recognition: The international community recognises states as sovereign nations. They so have the right to decide for themselves and to sign international agreements. On the other hand, the international community does not recognise micronations as sovereign entities. They consequently do not share the same privileges as nations.
Here are some examples of micronations:
- Sealand
- Principality of Hutt River
- Republic of Molossia
- Grand Duchy of Flandrensi
Here are some examples of Smallest country:
- Vatican City
- Monaco
- Nauru
- Tuvalu
- San Marino
It is important to remember that there is no universal definition of what a micronation is. While some individuals think of micronations as only being small nations, others think they are more. In the end, it’s up to the individual to decide whether or not a certain entity qualifies as a micronation.