San Marino

THE THIRD SMALLEST nation in Europe, the Republic of San Marino is completely surrounded by Italy with which it maintains close political and economic ties. The Sammarinese believe that their country is the oldest republic in the world. This nation of 61.2 square miles is considered one of the most peaceful places in the world because it has remained intact through repeated attacks by other Italian states, including during the Napoleonic wars, unification of Italy, World War I, and World War II. After joining the United Nations in 1992, San Marino began taking an active role in international diplomacy. The government of San Marino maintains poverty alleviation should be a major priority in the international community.

San Marino is the eighth richest nation in the world, with an annual per capita income of $34,600 and an unemployment rate of only 2.6 percent. Over half of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is generated through the tourist industry. Some three million people travel to San Marino each year. Approximately 57 percent of the Sammarinese labor force are engaged in services, and banking is a key industry. Approximately 42 percent of the workforce are employed in industries that include wearing apparel, electronics, and ceramics. Only one percent of the labor force are engaged in agriculture, mostly producing wines and cheeses. Because of the small agricultural sector, San Marino imports most of its food supply from Italy.

Little data are available for San Marino on major social indicators. This makes it difficult to access poverty or the quality of life. However, San Marino does have an extensive social net to help those in need. Government aid is given to those Sammarinese whose incomes fail to provide a basic standard of living.

The life expectancy of the Sammarinese people is 81.62 years. With a projected life span of 85.43 years, women generally outlive men (78.13 years) by more than seven years. The median age is high at 40.29 years among San Marino's population of 28,880. Almost 17 percent of Sammarinese are under the age of 14, and approximately 17 percent have reached the age of 65. Fertility is low in San Marino at a rate of 1.33 children per woman. There are 252 physicians in San Marino, and all residents have easy access to healthcare.

In 2005, infant mortality in San Marino was estimated at 5.73 deaths per 1,000 live births. At 6.16 deaths per 1,000 live births, male infants were less likely to survive than female infants at 5.26 deaths per 1,000 live births. The mortality rate of all children under the age of 5 declined from 10 deaths per 1,000 to five deaths per 1,000 in 2003. About 10 percent of all infants in San Marino are underweight at birth.

Overall, childhood immunizations are high in San Marino. Around 96 percent of all infants have been immunized against polio and DPT. However, measles vaccinations have been more of a problem. In 2002, only [Page 951]84 percent of all infants had received measles vaccinations. By the following year, however, that number had increased to 91 percent. Among children between the ages of 12 and 23 months, 91 percent have been immunized against measles, and 96 percent have been immunized against DPT3.

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