Area	Population	Religion	Language	Literacy	Life Exp.
	24  mi2	26,000	Roman Catholic	Italian	96%	81 years
Originally a medieval city-state, the world's oldest republic perches atop a mountain in north-central Italy. San Marino takes pride in its finely minted coins, ceremonial guard, and postage stamps. Well-preserved castles and sweeping vistas of the Adriatic coast enchant 3.5 million visitors a year