The World’s Only Three Completely Enclaved Nations
Across the globe, there are nearly 200 countries. Only three of these countries are fully enclaved nations, in other words, they are completely surrounded by another country. Two of these nations are tiny states located within Italy, and the third is a mountain kingdom inside South Africa. These enclaved nations are rare and often overlooked compared to their larger, more well-known neighbors. So, how have these unusual countries managed to survive throughout history while being completely surrounded by other nations? By looking at their unique situations, we can see how each enclaved nation has maintained its own culture and independence despite being in such an unusual geographical position.
The City-States Within Italy
Italian territory encompasses these two small independent nations near the Adriatic Sea. The first is Vatican City, which is only 110 acres in size and serves as the headquarters for the Catholic Church and the Pope. The second is San Marino, a small city-state that covers just 24 square miles and has a population of around 35,000 people. San Marino has been independent since the year 301 AD.
Both Vatican City and San Marino are centered around their capital cities. These cities have the same names as the countries. Italy surrounds these small nations, which helps keep them secure. Their leadership and government buildings are protected within their own borders. Vatican City and San Marino are much smaller than Italy in size and influence. However, they have managed to preserve their own unique cultures. They also maintain diplomatic independence. Italy essentially allows these special regions to exist within its own territory.
The Mountain Kingdom Inside South Africa
Eastern South Africa completely surrounds the small Kingdom of Lesotho. Unlike the small city-states in Italy, Lesotho is a much larger country, covering around 25,000 square miles of mountainous terrain. However, Lesotho still relies on its difficult history and the protection of its tall, rugged mountains to maintain its fragile independence within South Africa, which has long resisted any attempts to annex or take away Lesotho’s autonomy.
Lesotho doesn’t have the same kind of long-standing partnerships or shared cultural connections with South Africa that the Italian enclaves have with their host nation. In fact, there have been ethnic tensions between Lesotho and South Africa for many decades. It’s really just the country’s imposing mountain ranges that have prevented South Africa from trying to take over or absorb the Basotho people who live in Lesotho’s remote mountain villages. In this case, Lesotho’s geographical luck has played a key role in its survival as an independent nation, much like how geography and friendly diplomacy have helped secure the continued existence of the enclaved nations within Italy. Despite facing challenges that could have easily wiped them off the map, all three of these unique countries have managed to hold onto their independence and stand strong against the forces that could have swallowed them up over time.