San Marino (Republic of San Marino)

https://www.humantruth.info/san_marino.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

San Marino Republic of San Marino
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	36th best
Capital	San Marino
Land Area	60km²₁
Location	Europe
Population	33 785₂
Life Expectancy	80.88yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$52 654 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	SM, SMR, 674₅
Internet Domain	.sm₆
Currency	Euro (EUR)₇
Telephone	+378₈

1. Overview

“Geographically the third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marinus in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of the European Union, although it is not a member; social and political trends in the republic track closely with those of its larger neighbor, Italy.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“This landlocked micronation offers spectacular views from its location atop Mount Titano, a dozen kilometres from the Adriatic Coast. San Marino has been an independent republic since AD 301 when a Croatian stone-cutter built a church atop a windswept bluff here. Of the world´s 193 independent countries, San Marino is the fifth smallest and - arguably - the most curious. How it exists at all is something of an enigma. A sole survivor of Italy´s once powerful city-state network, the micronation clung on long after the more powerful kingdoms of Genoa and Venice folded. And still it clings, secure in its status as the world´s oldest surviving sovereign state and its oldest republic.
The country is made up of nine settlements. Città di San Marino, the medieval settlement on the slopes of 750m-high Mount Titano that was added to the Unesco World Heritage list in 2008, attracts two million annual visitors. Its highlights are its picturesque views, its atmospheric streets, and a stash of rather bizarre museums dedicated to vampires, torture, wax dummies and strange facts.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. San Marino National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
41=	Croatia	0.858
42=	Chile	0.855
42=	Qatar	0.855
44	San Marino	0.853
45	Slovakia	0.848
46	Hungary	0.846
47	Argentina	0.842
48	Turkey	0.838
	Europe Avg	0.87
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
16	Sweden	$54 489
17	Austria	$53 619
18	Kuwait	$52 920
19	San Marino	$52 654
20	Belgium	$52 293
21	Andorra	$51 167
22	Finland	$49 452
23	Australia	$49 238
	Europe Avg	$40 512
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	25.2
2	Norway	28.2
3	Netherlands	30.1
	...
33	Costa Rica	55.1
34	Malta	55.1
35	Slovakia	55.5
36	San Marino	55.5
37	Greece	56.8
38	Singapore	57.4
39	Croatia	61.3
40	Lithuania	61.7
	Europe Avg	55.7
	World Avg	88.4
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. San Marino's Demographics and Migration

#health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #population

Population Datasets:

San Marino's population is predicted to rise to 33 861 by 2030.

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
188	Marshall Islands	58 413
189	St Kitts & Nevis	52 441
190	Monaco	38 682
191	Liechtenstein	37 910
192	San Marino	33 785
193	Palau	17 907
194	Tuvalu	11 508
195	Nauru	10 670
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
25	Denmark	81.4
26	Cyprus	81.2
27	Portugal	81.0
28	San Marino	80.9
29	UK	80.7
30	Slovenia	80.7
31	Germany	80.6
32	Andorra	80.4
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₃
Pos.		2017 %₁₃
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
28	Ireland	16.9%
29	Cyprus	16.0%
30	Belize	16.0%
31	San Marino	15.7%
32	Bahamas	15.6%
33	Maldives	15.4%
34	USA	15.3%
35	Norway	15.1%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₄
Pos.		2010 %₁₄
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
68	Dominican Rep.	10.1%
69	Zimbabwe	9.9%
70	Haiti	9.9%
71	San Marino	9.9%
72	Burkina Faso	9.7%
73	Slovakia	9.6%
74	Morocco	9.3%
75	Sri Lanka	9.1%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. San Marino's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #freethought #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Europe (2025)₁₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₅
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
25	Lithuania	49.9
26	Andorra	50.2
27	Greece	51.3
28	San Marino	52.9
29	Latvia	54.0
30	Croatia	55.3
31	Liechtenstein	55.3
32	Hungary	58.2
33	Monaco	61.1
	Europe Avg	47.37
q=49.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₅
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
35	Andorra	50.2
36	Argentina	50.3
37	Greece	51.3
38	San Marino	52.9
39	Latvia	54.0
40	Brazil	54.1
41	Croatia	55.3
42	Liechtenstein	55.3
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₁₆. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₁₆.

31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₆, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₁₆.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets:

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
1=	Slovakia	1.0
1=	Chile	1.0
1=	San Marino	1.0
1=	Costa Rica	1.0
1=	St Vincent & Grenadines	1.0
1=	St Lucia	1.0
1=	Cyprus	1.0
1=	Denmark	1.0
1=	Dominica	1.0
	Europe Avg	2.2
	World Avg	3.7
q=205.

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better₁₇
Pos.		2009 Treaties₁₇
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
96=	Nigeria	16
96=	Benin	16
96=	Gabon	16
96=	San Marino	16
96=	Cambodia	16
101=	Sierra Leone	15
101=	Chad	15
101=	Tanzania	15
	Europe Avg	19.5
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better₁₈
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty₁₈
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
161	Uzbekistan	13.53
162	Mauritania	13.56
163	Liberia	13.61
164	San Marino	13.63
165	Saudi Arabia	13.73
166	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	13.73
167	Grenada	13.86
168	Bahamas	13.93
	Europe Avg	9.09
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality Datasets:

See:

"Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Total Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
159	Switzerland	1971
160	Bangladesh	1972
161=	Bahrain	1973
161=	San Marino	1973
161=	Andorra	1973
164=	Jordan	1974
164=	Solomon Islands	1974
166=	Sao Tome & Principe	1975
	Europe Avg	1895
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Prejudice Datasets:

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better₁₉
Pos.		Total Score₁₉
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
60	Falkland Islands	1.33
61	S. Korea	1.26
62	Nepal	1.25
63	San Marino	1.19
64=	Poland	1.09
64=	Ukraine	1.09
66	Bermuda	1.08
67	Kosovo	1.03
	Europe Avg	1.77
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215.

Same�€`sex sexual activity was decriminalized in 1823, making San Marino one of the earliest states to legalize homosexuality. A 1974 reform set the age of consent for homosexual acts at 20, while heterosexual acts remained at 14; this was made equal in 2004. ILGA researchers in 2017 found that San Marino had legal protections against anti-LGBT employment discrimination, hate crime, incitement .

Actions taken at the United Nations:

⇡ Supported the 2008 Declaration at the UN General Assemly affirming LGBTQ rights, tabled by Argentina.
⇡ In 2025, signed the UN Human Rights Council Joint statement on ending acts of violence and human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better₂₀
Pos.		2021₂₀
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
41=	Antigua & Barbuda	2.3
41=	Uruguay	2.3
43	Seychelles	2.3
44=	San Marino	2.5
44=	Liechtenstein	2.5
44=	Fiji	2.5
44=	Niger	2.5
44=	Senegal	2.5
	Europe Avg	2.6
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. San Marino's Health

#health #italy #japan #life_expectancy #longevity #parenting #population #vaccines

Compared to Europe (2025)₂₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₁
1	Monaco	12.4
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	San Marino	30.6
4	Norway	42.0
5	Iceland	43.0
6	Denmark	44.2
7	Sweden	45.5
8	Switzerland	45.8
9	Netherlands	47.5
10	France	47.6
11	Finland	50.7
12	Luxembourg	52.0
13	Belgium	53.8
	Europe Avg	86.87
q=48.

Health (2025)₂₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₁
1	Monaco	12.4
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	San Marino	30.6
4	Japan	34.5
5	Singapore	40.8
6	Norway	42.0
7	Iceland	43.0
8	Denmark	44.2
9	Sweden	45.5
10	Switzerland	45.8
11	Hong Kong	47.0
12	Netherlands	47.5
	World Avg	96.86
q=204.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and San Marino₂₂. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₂₂.

36 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, its immunizations take-up and childhood mortality (so far). The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₂₂, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₂₂.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Health Datasets:

Public health in San Marino is very good. San Marino does the best in terms of childhood mortality in the 2020s (so far)₂₃. It comes in the best 20 for its adolescent birth rate₂₄. It does better than average when it comes to its average life expectancy₁₁. But, there's bad news too. San Marino does worse than average in its immunizations take-up₂₅ (one of the lowest in Europe). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. Life expectancy in San Marino in 1990-1 and 1995 was the second highest in the world (after Japan), at 78.7yrs. It improved this by +4.3yrs in the 30 years from 1990, although less than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
25	Denmark	81.4
26	Cyprus	81.2
27	Portugal	81.0
28	San Marino	80.9
29	UK	80.7
30	Slovenia	80.7
31	Germany	80.6
32	Andorra	80.4
	Europe Avg	78.36
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Children's Health Datasets:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₂₄
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₂₄
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
10	UAE	2.8
11	Liechtenstein	3.0
12	Sweden	3.3
13	San Marino	3.7
14	Italy	3.9
15	Finland	4.1
16	Luxembourg	4.2
17	Slovenia	4.4
	Europe Avg	11.4
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better₂₅
Pos.		2015 Avg %₂₅
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
158	Tonga	80.0
159	Mauritania	79.9
160	Lebanon	79.4
161	San Marino	79.3
162	Gabon	78.7
163	Micronesia	78.2
164	Philippines	77.9
165	Sweden	77.8
	Europe Avg	92.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₂₃
Pos.		Total Per 1000₂₃
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
4	Iceland	2.64
5	Singapore	2.68
6	Slovenia	2.72
7	Norway	2.78
8=	Sweden	2.87
8=	Japan	2.87
10	Cyprus	3.03
11	Czechia	3.18
12	Estonia	3.39
	Europe Avg	6.30
	World Avg	32.19
q=195.

Throughout the 1990s to the 2010s, San Marino was amongst the 10 countries with the lowest adolescent birth rate; predictably starting with almost the exact same rate as Italy, but making greater improvements each decade.

6. San Marino's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #internationalism #over-exploitation #the_environment

Compared to Europe (2025)₂₆
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₆
1	Switzerland	45.0
2	Denmark	50.4
3	Liechtenstein	56.8
	...
40	Montenegro	97.3
41	Azerbaijan	101.2
42	Bosnia & Herzegovina	103.5
43	Serbia	104.8
44	Armenia	108.2
45	Belarus	116.0
46	San Marino	134.9
47	Andorra	136.3
48	Vatican City	138.3
	Europe Avg	86.45
q=48.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₂₆
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₆
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
192	N. Korea	132.3
193	Turkmenistan	134.1
194	Nauru	134.4
195	San Marino	134.9
196	Andorra	136.3
197	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	137.5
198	Vatican City	138.3
199	Eritrea	146.2
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₂₇. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

San Marino is 5th-worst in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This is calculated from 21 data sets. San Marino does better than average in its forested percent change 2000-2020₂₈. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 when it comes to its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₂₈
Pos.		Total₂₈
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
94=	Barbados	0.0%
94=	Turkmenistan	0.0%
94=	Bahamas	0.0%
94=	San Marino	0.0%
94=	Afghanistan	0.0%
94=	Vatican City	0.0%
94=	Vanuatu	0.0%
94=	Tuvalu	0.0%
	Europe Avg	8.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
190	Palau	34%
191	Angola	33%
192	Iraq	28%
193	San Marino	26%
194	Haiti	25%
195	Andorra	22%
196	Palestine	19%
197	Vatican City	10%
	Europe Avg	62.7%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

7. San Marino's Modernity and Learning

#education #metric #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Europe (2025)₂₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₉
1	Vatican City	1.0
2	Finland	4.8
3	Belgium	8.5
	...
27	Greece	32.7
28	Kosovo	33.2
29	Romania	33.5
30	San Marino	38.4
31	Bulgaria	39.9
32	Croatia	39.9
33	Ukraine	40.3
34	Malta	41.3
35	Belarus	42.7
	Europe Avg	31.28
q=49.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₂₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₉
1	Vatican City	1.0
2	Finland	4.8
3	Belgium	8.5
	...
38	Argentina	34.3
39	Singapore	36.1
40	Russia	38.3
41	San Marino	38.4
42	Bulgaria	39.9
43	Croatia	39.9
44	Ukraine	40.3
45	Chile	41.0
	World Avg	80.33
q=194.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium₃₀. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₃₀. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₃₁.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₃₂

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₃₀, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₃₀.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity Datasets:

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₃₃
Pos.		2025 %₃₃
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
1=	Romania	100
1=	Finland	100
1=	San Marino	100
1=	Iceland	100
1=	Belgium	100
1=	Liechtenstein	100
1=	Austria	100
1=	France	100
1=	Australia	100
	Europe Avg	97
	World Avg	92
q=187.

San Marino officially adopted metric in 1915₃₄. Progression:

1960 (100%): Fully metric aligned with Italy.
1970 (100%).
1980 (100%).
2000 (100%).
2025 (100%).

Education Datasets:

Length of Schooling Higher is better₃₅
Pos.		2021 Years₃₅
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
129	Bangladesh	12.4
130	Samoa	12.4
131	Congo, (Brazzaville)	12.3
132	San Marino	12.3
133	Botswana	12.3
134	Angola	12.2
135	Zimbabwe	12.1
136	Iraq	12.1
	Europe Avg	16.1
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Technology and Information Datasets:

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Ratio₃₆
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
150=	Monaco	0.0
150=	Bermuda	0.0
150=	Isle of Man	0.0
150=	San Marino	0.0
150=	Cayman Islands	0.0
150=	Andorra	0.0
150=	Greenland	0.0
150=	Brunei	0.0
	Europe Avg	8.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. San Marino's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#internationalism

National Culture Datasets:

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₃₇
Pos.		Total Q₃₇
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
43	Hong Kong	170.7
44	Argentina	170.5
45	Brazil	170.2
46	San Marino	169.5
47	Andorra	169.0
48	Brunei	166.0
49	Israel	162.7
50	Barbados	162.3
	Europe Avg	160.7
	World Avg	108.8
q=195.

9. Religion and Beliefs

The CIA World Factbook states simply: Roman Catholic₃₈.

Links:

A List of All Religions and Belief Systems