An enclave country is entirely surrounded by the territory of another country. There are only three sovereign enclave countries in the world.
The three enclave countries
- Lesotho, surrounded entirely by South Africa
- San Marino, surrounded entirely by Italy
- Vatican City, surrounded entirely by Italy
Lesotho is the largest among the three. Vatican City is the smallest.
1. Lesotho
Lesotho is a small, mountainous country in southern Africa, completely surrounded by South Africa. It is known for its high elevation, earning the nickname “Kingdom in the Sky”. Lesotho is the only independent country in the world located entirely above 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in elevation, with its lowest point at approximately 1,400 m (4,593 ft).
2. San Marino
San Marino is an enclave country completely surrounded by Italy. It is among the smallest countries in the world by both area and population. The country is known for its historic hilltop capital, the City of San Marino, its well-preserved medieval architecture, and its scenic views of the surrounding countryside.
3. Vatican City
Vatican City is the smallest independent country in the world, both in terms of area and population. It is located within the city of Rome in Italy. Despite its small size, Vatican City holds immense religious, cultural, and historical significance worldwide.
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