Have you ever wanted to live in a small town? While some people love the hustle and bustle of a big city and others prefer the rural quiet, there are some who like it right in the middle. And if you are one of those people, you probably have searched for the smallest town in the world at least once in your life.
It is a common misconception that the Vatican City population, due to its incredibly small size, gives it the status of the smallest city in the world. The fact is that there are towns with a much smaller population, and the Vatican is not the smallest city on the planet, though it is undoubtedly one of the runner-ups.
If you are considering relocating to a small city, there is something you should bear in mind. While life in a metropolis has become somewhat similar across the world, the experience of living in the smallest town in America may greatly vary from that in Europe or Asia. The idea of a small town population can also be very different from country to country.
If the question “What is the smallest city in the world?” tickles your curiosity, scroll down to take a look at some of the smallest cities around the globe. Vote for the ones you’d like to spend some time in, and if you have any experience living in a small city, tell us all about it in the comments.
#1 Adamstown, Pitcairn Islands (British Overseas Territory)
Population: 47
Not only is the population of Adamstown really small, but it’s also the entire population of the islands. While having all the tools of modern communication, such as satellite internet and phones, Adamstown is the second smallest capital in the world. Back in the day, the population was started by the British mutineers from the HMS Bounty.
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35points
#2 Hum, Croatia
Population: 30 people
This little Croatian settlement in the region of Istria was first mentioned in documents in 1102. Despite its small size, it has a defensive wall on the western side, while on all other sides, houses are built into the wall. You can still find some writings in Glagolitic (the earliest Slavic script) in the only church in town.
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30points
#3 Bronkhorst, The Netherlands
Population: 157
Though technically Bronkhorst has city status, which it received on March 13, 1482, no one who has been to this settlement would describe it as such. Yet, it doesn’t only qualify as one of the smallest cities in the Netherlands and the world, but it also used to have a Charles Dickens museum.
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30points
#4 Manarola, Italy
Population: 353
Manarola is believed to be the oldest of the famous Cinque Terre towns. Traditionally engaged in winemaking and fishing, in modern times the city became a large tourist attraction. A big role in this belongs to Via dell'Amore (Love's Trail), a walking trail between Manarola and neighboring Riomaggiore.
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28points
#5 Hallstatt, Austria
Population: 778
The production of salt in Hallstatt goes as far back as prehistoric times. In 1997, UNESCO declared the Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape a World Heritage Site. It also gave its name to an archeological culture linked to Proto-Celtic and early Celtic people.
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25points
#6 Vernazza, Italy
Population: 1,001
One of the Cinque Terre cities, Vernazza remains as true to the “fishing village” image as possible. There is no car traffic in the city, but colorful houses fully make up for that. The local wine, vernaccia, which translates as “local” or “ours,” played a role in the naming of the place.
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24points
#7 Vatican City, Vatican
Population: 453
Being a city and a country at the same time, the Vatican is located in the territory of Rome, Italy, but is fully independent. It is famous for being the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. While undoubtedly small, it may not be the smallest city in the world; however, it definitely is the smallest country, both by area and population.
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22points
#8 Fagernes, Norway
Population: 1,951
Fagernes received its status as a city on September 8, 2007, as a 150th anniversary celebration since its establishment. Located in one of the most picturesque regions of Norway and having good transportation connections, it plays an important part in Norwegian tourism.
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22points
#9 Hamilton, Bermuda (British Overseas Territory)
Population: 854
Named after Governor Henry Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda was founded in 1793 and was granted capital status in 1815. Despite its modest size, Hamilton has a well-developed international business economy.
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20points
#10 Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Population: 5,696
Even with such a small population, 42% of Vaduz residents are of foreign nationality. The ancient castle of the House of Liechtenstein has remained a prominent landmark since the 12th century. Even though Vaduz has no airport, it maintains a lively tourism industry.
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19points
#11 Valletta, Malta
Population: 5,827
Valletta has two records to its name: it is the southernmost and also the smallest EU capital. Thanks to its rich Baroque architecture, Valletta attracts large numbers of tourists every year. In 1980 it was officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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18points
#12 San Marino, San Marino
Population: 4,061
Located on the slopes of Monte Titano, San Marino is the third biggest city in its microstate. Founded in the early days of Christianity, it served as a refuge for those escaping the Roman Empire because of religious persecution. Despite being so small, it welcomes over three million tourists every year.
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18points
#13 Fürstenau, Switzerland
Population: 353
Fürstenau received its city rights in 1354, approximately a century after its first mention. Back then it might have been considered large enough for a city, but it continues to enjoy its status in modern times due to the fact that the bishop’s summer residence happens to be within its territory.
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17points
#14 Cockburn Town, Turks And Caicos (British Overseas Territory)
Population: 3,700
Cockburn Town takes up most of the Great Turk island on which it is situated. As the capital of the Turks and Caicos archipelago, it is known for its long narrow streets and street lamps. The city still retains a lot of its colonial-era architecture, and its national museum was built from shipwrecks.
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15points
#15 Pai, Thailand
Population: 2,284
Starting off as a quiet market village, today Pai is a full-fledged tourist city, despite its small population. Backpackers love it for its relaxed atmosphere, hot springs, and cheap restaurants. There are numerous spas and elephant camps around the place.
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15points
#16 Saint David's, Wales, UK
Population: 1,841
This Welsh city qualifies as the smallest in the UK. Named after the patron saint of Wales, who is rested here, Saint David’s has quite a tumultuous history regarding its city status. First granted in the 12th century on the grounds of there being a cathedral on its territory, it lost the city rights in 1886, when this rule was abolished. However, in 1994 Queen Elizabeth the Second restored its status.
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13points
#17 Monaco, Monaco
Population: 975
The official name Monaco City may be a little misleading, since it is not a city but a district within the city-state of Monaco. It houses most of the political and law institutions. Despite being the second smallest sovereign state, Monaco has a lot of attractions and historical sights to offer.
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13points
#18 City Of London, England, UK
Population: 8,583
To avoid any confusion, let’s clarify that the City of London and London are not the same. While the latter is a huge metropolitan area, the former is a small, 1.12 sq mi (2.90 sq km), district within the greater city. The City of London (also often referred to as the City), roughly encompasses the first Roman settlement, Londinium. Over the centuries it retained its status as a city.
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12points
#19 Nuuk, Greenland (Danish Realm)
Population: 19,604
Nuuk is the capital and biggest city of Greenland. Translated from Greenlandic, it means “cape” and points to the geographical position of the city. The history of settlements in this area goes as far back as 2200 BC, while the city was founded as a fort in 1728.
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12points
#20 Taormina, Italy
Population: 11,075
The history of Taormina predates the first ancient Greek colony which appeared in Sicily in 734 BCE. The city has been directly or indirectly referenced in the arts and popular culture quite a number of times.
12points