Country Details
San Marino
Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
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Government
Detailed information and insights
Country name
Conventional long form
Republic of San Marino
Conventional short form
San Marino
Local long form
Repubblica di San Marino
Local short form
San Marino
Etymology
named after Saint MARINUS, who founded a monastic settlement on Monte Titano in the early 4th century
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
Name
San Marino (city)
Geographic coordinates
43 56 N, 12 25 E
Time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Etymology
named after Saint MARINUS, who founded a monastic settlement on Monte Titano in the early 4th century
Administrative divisions
9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle
Legal system
civil law system with Italian civil law influences
Constitution
History
San Marino’s principal legislative instruments consist of old customs (antiche consuetudini), the Statutory Laws of San Marino (Leges Statutae Sancti Marini), old statutes (antichi statute) from the1600s, Brief Notes on the Constitutional Order and Institutional Organs of the Republic of San Marino (Brevi Cenni sull’Ordinamento Costituzionale e gli Organi Istituzionali della Repubblica di San Marino) and successive legislation, chief among them is the Declaration of the Rights of Citizens and Fundamental Principles of the San Marino Legal Order (Dichiarazione dei Diritti dei Cittadini e dei Principi Fondamentali dell’Ordinamento Sammarinese), approved 8 July 1974
Amendment process
proposed by the Great and General Council; passage requires two-thirds majority Council vote; Council passage by absolute majority vote also requires passage in a referendum
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth
no
Citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of San Marino
Dual citizenship recognized
no
Residency requirement for naturalization
30 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state
co-chiefs of state Captains Regent Matteo ROSSI and Lorenzo BUGLI (for the period 1 October 2025 - 31 March 2026)
Head of government
Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Luca BECCARI (since 8 January 2020)
Cabinet
Congress of State elected by the Grand and General Council
Election/appointment process
co-chiefs of state (captains regent) indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 6-month term; Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 5-year term
Most recent election date
co-chiefs of state: 1 April 2025
secretary of state: 28 December 2019
secretary of state: 28 December 2019
Election results
2025: Denise BRONZETTI (Reformist Alliance) and Italo RIGHI (Christian Democrat) elected captains regent: percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA
2024: Francesca CIVERCHIA (PDCS) and Dalibor RICCARDI (Free San Marino) elected captains regent; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA
2019: Luca BECCARI (PDCS) elected Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA
Expected date of next election
co-chiefs of state: September 2025
Legislative branch
Legislature name
Great and General Council (Consiglio grande e generale)
Legislative structure
unicameral
Number of seats
60 (all directly elected)
Electoral system
proportional representation
Scope of elections
full renewal
Term in office
5 years
Most recent election date
6/9/2024
Parties elected and seats per party
Christian Democratic Party of San Marino (PDCS) (22); Free (Libera) – Socialist Party (PS) (10); Future Republic (RF) (8); Party of Socialists and Democrats (PSD) (8); Tomorrow - Motus Liberi (5); Reformist Alliance (AR) (4); R.E.T.E. Citizens' Movement (3)
Percentage of women in chamber
35%
Expected date of next election
June 2029
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)
Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII (consists of 12 members)
Judge selection and term of office
judges elected by the Grand and General Council from among its own to serve 5-year terms
Subordinate courts
first instance and first appeal criminal, administrative, and civil courts; Court for the Trust and Trustee Relations; justices of the peace or conciliatory judges
Political parties
Domani - Modus Liberi or DML
Free San Marino (Libera San Marino) or Libera
Future Republic or RF
Party of Socialists and Democrats or PSD
Reformist Alliance or AR
RETE Movement
Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party or PDCS
Socialist Party or PS
Tomorrow in Movement coalition (includes RETE Movement, DML)
Free San Marino (Libera San Marino) or Libera
Future Republic or RF
Party of Socialists and Democrats or PSD
Reformist Alliance or AR
RETE Movement
Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party or PDCS
Socialist Party or PS
Tomorrow in Movement coalition (includes RETE Movement, DML)
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission
Ambassador Damiano BELEFFI (since 21 July 2017); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Chancery
327 E 50th Street, New York, NY 10022
Telephone
[1] (212) 751-1234
FAX
[1] (212) 751-1436
Email address and website
sanmarinoun@gmail.com
Republic of San Marino Permanent Mission to the United Nations
Diplomatic representation from the US
Embassy
the United States does not have an Embassy in San Marino; the US Ambassador to Italy is accredited to San Marino, and the US Consulate General in Florence maintains day-to-day ties
International organization participation
CE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Independence
3 September 301 (traditional founding date)
National holiday
Founding of the Republic (or Feast of Saint Marinus), 3 September (A.D. 301)
Flag
description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue, with the national coat of arms in the center; the main colors come from the shield on the coat of arms, which features three white towers on mountain peaks on a blue field; a wreath and a crown are around the shield, above a scroll with the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)
meaning: the towers represent the Guaita, Cesta, and Montale castles on Mount Titano; white and blue are said to stand for peace and liberty
meaning: the towers represent the Guaita, Cesta, and Montale castles on Mount Titano; white and blue are said to stand for peace and liberty
National symbol(s)
three peaks, each displaying a tower
National color(s)
white, blue
National anthem(s)
Title
"Inno Nazionale della Repubblica" (National Anthem of the Republic)
Lyrics/music
no lyrics/Federico CONSOLO
History
adopted 1894; the music for the anthem, which has no lyrics, is based on a 10th-century chorale piece
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales
San Marino Historic Center and Mount Titano