Monaco's population is estimated to be over 34,000, of which nearly half (47 percent) are ethnic French. Ethnic Monacans (called Monégasques) and ethnic Italians each comprise 16 percent of the total population. The remainder of the population consists mainly of other Europeans.

French is the official language; English, Italian and Monégasque (a blend of the Italian Ligurian and French Provençal dialects) are also spoken.


Religion

Although Roman Catholicism is the official religion, Monaco's constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Approximately 90 percent of Monacans are Roman Catholics.


Human Development

Monacans have an average life expectancy at birth of 78.84 years (74.88 years for males, 83.0 years for females). The infant mortality rate is 5.92 deaths per 1,000 live births.

About  4.7 percent of GDP is spent on health expenditures in this country; about 1.2 percent of GDP is spent on educational expenditures.  Access to education, sanitation, water, and health is regarded to be very good.

Literacy

An estimated 99 percent of the population can read and write.



Written by Dr. Denise Youngblood Coleman, Editor in Chief, www.countrywatch.com; see Bibliography for research sources.