a map showing the locations of 15 smallest countries in the world

The Smallest Countries In The World

Some nations around the world are incredibly small. So small in fact, that some of them do not even show up on most maps. The Vatican is officially the world's smallest country with a compact 0.49 km2 (0.19 mi2) of total area. The following tiniest countries are Monaco 2.0 km2(0.77 mi2), Nauru 21 km2 (8.1 mi2), and Tuvalu 26 km2 (10 mi2). However, to break things down, the world's smallest countries are sorted here, in terms of total area.

The 15 Smallest Countries In The World

Rank Country Total in km2 (mi2)
1 Vatican City 0.49 (0.19)
2 Monaco 2.0 (0.77)
3 Nauru 21 (8.1)
4 Tuvalu 26 (10)
5 San Marino 61 (24)
6 Liechtenstein 160 (62)
7 Marshall Islands 181 (70)
8 Saint Kitts and Nevis 261 (101)
9 Maldives 300 (120)
10 Malta 316 (122)
11 Grenada 344 (133)
12 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 389 (150)
13 Barbados 431 (166)
14 Antigua and Barbuda 442 (171)
15 Seychelles 452 (175)

Map of the Smallest 15 Countries

The 15 smallest countries in the world, with their areas depicted according to scale
The locations of the 15 smallest countries in the world, with their areas depicted according to scale

1. Vatican City

Vatican City overlooking St. Peter's Square

Vatican City overlooking St. Peter's Square

Vatican City, with an area of 0.49 square kilometers (0.19 mi2), holds the title as the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world, not just Europe. A landlocked city-state within the confines of Rome, Italy, it boasts remarkable compactness.

Vatican City's boundaries encompass St. Peter's Square, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Gardens, contributing to its mesmerizing architectural layout.

The country exists because, in 1929, Pope Pius XI signed a treaty as compensation for the Vatican's loss of influence elsewhere in Italy.

2. Monaco

Main marina of Monte Carlo in Monaco at sunset
Main marina of Monte Carlo in Monaco at sunset

Monaco, situated on the French Riviera in Western Europe, encompasses an area of 1.994 square kilometers.(0.76 mi2

The densely populated principality thrives along the Mediterranean coastline, strategically hugging rugged, rising terrain.

Monaco's geographic hallmark, the Rock of Monaco, provides a vantage point that emphasizes its smallness, with the entirety of its urban expanse often visible from this point.

3. Nauru

Aerial view of Nauru
 Ariel view of Nauru 

Nauru occupies an area of 20.9 square kilometers (8.1 mi 2), earning it the distinction of being the smallest island nation not only in Oceania but also in the world.

The central plateau, known as Topside, dominates the geography with phosphate rock outcrops scattered across its surface. An encircling narrow coastal strip fringed with palm trees provides a sharp contrast to this rocky interior.

Although its size is small, Nauru's features, such as the Buada Lagoon situated inland, demonstrate its compact nature that still provides plenty for its residents.

4. Tuvalu

Aerial of the island of Tuvalu
Aerial of the island of Tuvalu

Spread across an area of just 25.8 square kilometers (10 mi2), Tuvalu is the second smallest country in Oceania.

It consists of a chain of nine coral atolls, with Funafuti, its largest atoll, serving as the nation's capital. The highest point in Tuvalu is only 4.572 meters (15 feet) above sea level, accentuating its small size.

Despite its compressed dimensions, Tuvalu manages the Funafuti Conservation Area along its coast, an extensive marine protected region that is about 32.8 square kilometers (12.6 mi2) of reef and land.

5. San Marino

San Marino cityscape
San Marino cityscape

San Marino, with its 62 square kilometers (24 mi2), is an enclaved microstate situated on the northeastern side of the Apennine Mountains in Italy.

This hilltop republic, the third smallest country in Europe, encompasses a region typified by a rugged, mountainous landscape.

Mount Titano, the highest peak in the country, stands as a testament to the country's size, as the three towers perched atop it overlook virtually all of San Marino's territory.

6. Liechtenstein

Landscape view of Balzers village with saint Nicholas church in Liechtenstein
Landscape view of Balzers village with Saint Nicholas church in Liechtenstein

The micro-state in Europe takes a leap in size comprising ​​160 square kilometers (61 mi2) principality with 39,475 residents and a population density of 243 people per sq. km.

Lichtenstein neighbors Switzerland to the west and south and Austria to the east. Its capital city is Vaduz and German is the main language, while 34% of the inhabitants are foreigners.

The state is most known for its mountainous terrain with many winter sports resorts and tax haven attracting the active wealth. The country's economy depends on international companies that in turn benefit from Liechtenstein's low taxes.

7. Marshall Islands

Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands
Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands

Covering an area of 181.2 square kilometers (70 mi2), the Marshall Islands is an archipelago nation in the central Pacific Ocean. It comprises 29 atolls and five islands, a geographical spread that exemplifies its size.

The islands are characterized by flat terrains not exceeding 3.4 meters (10 ft) above sea level on average. The largest atoll, Kwajalein, includes a substantial lagoon measuring approximately 2913.7 square kilometers (1124.9 mi2), despite the island's thin, encircling 14.5 square kilometers (5.6 mi2).

Even with its seemingly diminutive landmass, the Marshall Islands' extensive aquatic territory is a resource in and of itself, helping the government to establish and maintain sovereignty.

8. Saint Kitts and Nevis

Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis, two island territories amassing a total area of 261.5 square kilometers (101 mi2), represent the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere.

Occupying a portion of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, the duo's geography consists primarily of volcanic landscapes.

The island's principal physical feature, Mount Liamuiga, reaches its maximum height at only 1,156 m (3,793 ft).

9. Maldives

Aerial view of Maldives
Aerial view of Maldives

The Maldives, an Asian country composed entirely of coral islands, covers an area of approximately 310.7 square kilometers ( 120 mi2).

It sprawls across the Indian Ocean, near the southwestern coast of India, in a chain of 26 atolls. The highest point in this flat, low-lying country does not exceed 2.4 meters (8 ft) above sea level, a feature that makes the Maldives one of the lowest countries on Earth.

Despite its small size, the Maldives harbors extreme importance in the realm of biodiversity, with over 2000 species of fish calling the island chain home.

10. Malta

Narrow street in Valletta - the capital of Malta.
A narrow street in Valletta - the capital of Malta.

Malta is an archipelago located in the Mediterranean Sea and composed of three main islands. Its landscape is characterized by high hills and terraced fields, as well as numerous bays, harbors, and beaches.

The small country of 216 square kilometers (83.3 mi2) in area is a popular cultural destination with rich history and prehistoric buildings, like the megalithic temples of Tarxien and the Mnajdra and Hagar Qim temples. 

Malta has always been a strategically important place, as well as a scene of battles among its conquerors. It was ruled by several nations over the years, with all leaving a cultural mark, before final independence from Britain.

11. Grenada

View of Saint George's town, capital of Grenada
View of Saint George's town, capital of Grenada

The island nation of Grenada, extending over an area of 344 square kilometers (133 mi2), ranks as the second smallest independent country in North America.

Also located in the Lesser Antilles, Grenada features a terrain defined by a central highland spine, where the island's highest point, Mount Saint Catherine, stands tall at 840 m (2,757 ft).

12. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
View of Barrouallie with Sea in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, an archipelago nation in the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, comprises an area of 388 square kilometers (150 mi 2).

It is an assemblage of the main island, Saint Vincent, and a chain of smaller islands, the Grenadines. The most significant geographic feature,

La Soufriere volcano is not only the highest peak in the country, but it has been active since 1995 with continuous eruptions. 

13. Barbados 

Coastline of Barbados Island, Caribbean Paradise
Coastline of Barbados Island, Caribbean Paradise

The Eastern Caribbean country is the 13th smallest independent state in the world spreading over an area of 430 square kilometers (166 mi2). Barbados is the easternmost island of the Lesser Antilles archipelago in the Atlantic, just off the coast of Venezuela and Guyana, and is visited by tourists in the Caribbean.

The sought-after destination encompasses a real paradise with beautiful weather under nearly constant sunshine. Thousands of tourists from around the world flock to Barbados each year. 

14. Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua Bay, view from Shirely Heights
Antigua Bay, view from Shirely Heights

Covering an area of only 440 square kilometers (169.8 mi2), the dual-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda is in the Caribbean Sea. Located where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Lesser Antilles, the terrain of both islands is generally hilly, covered in lush vegetation, and dotted with golden sand beaches.

15. Seychelles

Ariel view of Mahe Seychelles
Mahe Seychelles

Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, has a total land area of 453.2 kilometers square (175 mi2), making it Africa's smallest country. Composed of 115 islands, it displays a mix of coral atolls and granitic islands. For reference, the Morne Seychellois National Park occupies almost 20% of the main island of Mahé.

Final Thoughts

Despite their limited sizes, these independent nations persistently maintain their sovereignty, affirming the principle that a country's significance is not measured by its geographical expanse but by its capability to self-govern and sustain a distinctive culture. Small nations continually challenge our understanding of what defines a country, emphasizing that territorial dimension is just one attribute in the intricate character of nationhood.

Micronations Around The World

Besides the small states mentioned above, there exist many micronations around the globe that claim sovereignty or independence but are not internationally recognized as such. These nations include Macau, Hong Kong, The Principality of Sealand, and Liberland.

Macau, Hong Kong, And Taiwan

Macau is a special administrative region of China, and it spans 32 km2 making it just a little larger than the island nation of Tuvalu. A former Portuguese colony, Macau is the most densely populated place in the world, having a population of 686,607 and a density of 20,870 people/km2 Hong Kong is also a special administrative region of China; it covers 1,104 km2 of area and is almost twice the size of the Seychelles. At the end of the Opium Wars in 1841, Hong Kong was established as a British colony for some time, and was, in WW2, occupied by Japanese forces. In 1997, Hong Kong was transferred back to China, and now has a separate economic system from China, but stands as one of the most developed places in the world. It is also worth mentioning that Taiwan is a relatively small nation that claims independence from China, a claim that is of course heavily disputed by the PRC. 13 countries around the world recognize the sovereignty of Taiwan, but with the increasing pressure and assertiveness of the PRC regarding foreign policy, this number is not likely to increase any time soon.

The Principality Of Sealand

The Principality of Sealand is a micronation located on a former World War II platform in the North Sea off the coast of England and was declared an independent state by British pirate radio broadcaster, Paddy Roy Bates, in 1967. Despite not being officially recognized by the British government, Sealand has established itself with its government, symbols, and currency. It is only 0.004 km2 in area, making it about the size of a football field.

Liberland

Liberland is a self-proclaimed micronation founded in 2015, claiming a small piece of land on the western bank of the Danube River, an area that has been disputed by Croatia and Serbia. It bills itself as a free and sovereign state with a focus on individual freedom and limited government. However, it is not recognized as a sovereign state by any country. Its estimated total area is 7 km2, making it larger than Monaco. Despite this, it has a government, flag, national motto, and currency.

There are many other micronations around the world, with some not being recognized by any supernational authority, but still standing strong in their claim. These nations mentioned above are some of the most notable of them all.

All 195 Countries Ranked By Total Area (Smallest To Largest)

Rank Country Total in km2 (mi2) Land in km2 (mi2)
1  Vatican City 0.49 (0.19) 0.49 (0.19)
2  Monaco 2.0 (0.77) 2.0 (0.77)
3  Nauru 21 (8.1) 21 (8.1)
4  Tuvalu 26 (10) 26 (10)
5  San Marino 61 (24) 61 (24)
6  Liechtenstein 160 (62) 160 (62)
7  Marshall Islands 181 (70) 181 (70)
8  Saint Kitts and Nevis 261 (101) 261 (101)
9  Maldives 300 (120) 298 (115)
10  Malta 316 (122) 316 (122)
11  Grenada 344 (133) 344 (133)
12  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 389 (150) 389 (150)
13  Barbados 431 (166) 431 (166)
14  Antigua and Barbuda 442 (171) 442 (171)
15  Seychelles 452 (175) 455 (176)
16  Palau 459 (177) 459 (177)
17  Andorra 468 (181) 468 (181)
18  Saint Lucia 616 (238) 606 (234)
19  Micronesia 702 (271) 702 (271)
20  Singapore 728 (281) 716 (276)
21  Tonga 747 (288) 717 (277)
22  Dominica 751 (290) 751 (290)
23  Bahrain 786 (303) 786 (303)
24  Kiribati 811 (313) 811 (313)
25  São Tomé and Príncipe 964 (372) 964 (372)
26  Comoros 1,862 (719) 1,862 (719)
27  Mauritius 2,040 (790) 2,030 (780)
28  Luxembourg 2,586 (998) 2,586 (998)
29  Samoa 2,842 (1,097) 2,821 (1,089)
30  Cape Verde 4,033 (1,557) 4,033 (1,557)
31  Trinidad and Tobago 5,130 (1,980) 5,128 (1,980)
32  Brunei 5,765 (2,226) 5,265 (2,033)
33  Palestine 6,220 (2,400) 6,000 (2,300)
34  Cyprus 9,251 (3,572) 9,241 (3,568)
35  Lebanon 10,452 (4,036) 10,230 (3,950)
36  Jamaica 10,991 (4,244) 10,831 (4,182)
37  Gambia 11,295 (4,361) 10,000 (3,900)
38  Qatar 11,586 (4,473) 11,586 (4,473)
39  Vanuatu 12,189 (4,706) 12,189 (4,706)
40  Montenegro 13,812 (5,333) 13,452 (5,194)
41  Bahamas 13,943 (5,383) 10,010 (3,860)
42  East Timor 14,919 (5,760) 14,919 (5,760)
43  Eswatini 17,364 (6,704) 17,204 (6,643)
44  Kuwait 17,818 (6,880) 17,818 (6,880)
45  Fiji 18,272 (7,055) 18,274 (7,056)
46  Slovenia 20,273 (7,827) 20,151 (7,780)
47  Israel 20,770 (8,020) 20,330 (7,850)
48  El Salvador 21,041 (8,124) 20,721 (8,000)
49  Belize 22,966 (8,867) 22,806 (8,805)
50  Djibouti 23,200 (9,000) 23,180 (8,950)
51  North Macedonia 25,713 (9,928) 25,433 (9,820)
52  Rwanda 26,338 (10,169) 24,668 (9,524)
53  Haiti 27,750 (10,710) 27,560 (10,640)
54  Burundi 27,834 (10,747) 25,680 (9,920)
55  Equatorial Guinea 28,051 (10,831) 28,051 (10,831)
56  Albania 28,748 (11,100) 27,398 (10,578)
57  Solomon Islands 28,896 (11,157) 27,986 (10,805)
58  Armenia 29,743 (11,484) 28,342 (10,943)
59  Lesotho 30,355 (11,720) 30,355 (11,720)
60  Belgium 30,528 (11,787) 30,278 (11,690)
61  Moldova 33,846 (13,068) 32,891 (12,699)
62  Guinea-Bissau 36,125 (13,948) 28,120 (10,860)
63  Bhutan 38,394 (14,824) 38,394 (14,824)
64  Switzerland 41,284 (15,940) 39,997 (15,443)
65  Netherlands 41,850 (16,160) 33,893 (13,086)
66  Denmark 43,094 (16,639) 42,434 (16,384)
67  Estonia 45,227 (17,462) 42,388 (16,366)
68  Dominican Republic 48,671 (18,792) 48,320 (18,660)
69  Slovakia 49,037 (18,933) 48,105 (18,573)
70  Costa Rica 51,100 (19,700) 51,060 (19,710)
71  Bosnia and Herzegovina 51,209 (19,772) 51,187 (19,763)
72  Croatia 56,594 (21,851) 55,974 (21,612)
73  Togo 56,785 (21,925) 54,385 (20,998)
74  Latvia 64,559 (24,926) 62,249 (24,034)
75  Lithuania 65,300 (25,200) 62,680 (24,200)
76  Sri Lanka 65,610 (25,330) 62,732 (24,221)
77  Georgia 69,700 (26,900) 69,700 (26,900)
78  Ireland 70,273 (27,133) 68,883 (26,596)
79  Sierra Leone 71,740 (27,700) 71,620 (27,650)
80  Panama 75,417 (29,119) 74,340 (28,700)
81  Czech Republic 78,871 (30,452) 77,171 (29,796)
82  United Arab Emirates 83,600 (32,300) 83,600 (32,300)
83  Austria 83,871 (32,383) 82,445 (31,832)
84  Azerbaijan 86,600 (33,400) 86,100 (33,200)
85  Serbia 88,361 (34,116) 88,246 (34,072)
86  Jordan 89,342 (34,495) 88,802 (34,287)
87  Portugal 92,226 (35,609) 91,119 (35,181)
88  Hungary 93,028 (35,918) 89,608 (34,598)
89  South Korea 100,210 (38,690) 99,909 (38,575)
90  Iceland 103,000 (40,000) 100,250 (38,710)
91  Guatemala 108,889 (42,042) 107,159 (41,374)
92  Cuba 109,884 (42,426) 109,884 (42,426)
93  Bulgaria 111,002 (42,858) 108,612 (41,935)
94  Liberia 111,369 (43,000) 96,320 (37,190)
95  Honduras 112,492 (43,433) 111,890 (43,200)
96  Benin 114,763 (44,310) 114,305 (44,133)
97  Malawi 118,484 (45,747) 94,080 (36,320)
98  North Korea 120,540 (46,540) 120,538 (46,540)
99  Eritrea 125,000 (48,000) 125,000 (48,000)
100  Nicaragua 130,373 (50,337) 119,990 (46,330)
101  Greece 131,957 (50,949) 130,647 (50,443)
102  Tajikistan 143,100 (55,300) 141,510 (54,640)
103  Nepal 147,516 (56,956) 143,686 (55,477)
104  Bangladesh 148,460 (57,320) 134,208 (51,818)
105  Tunisia 163,610 (63,170) 155,360 (59,980)
106  Suriname 163,820 (63,250) 156,000 (60,000)
107  Uruguay 176,215 (68,037) 175,015 (67,574)
108  Cambodia 181,035 (69,898) 176,515 (68,153)
109  Syria 185,180 (71,500) 183,630 (70,900)
110  Senegal 196,722 (75,955) 192,530 (74,340)
111  Kyrgyzstan 199,951 (77,202) 191,801 (74,055)
112  Belarus 207,600 (80,200) 202,900 (78,300)
113  Guyana 214,969 (83,000) 196,849 (76,004)
114  Laos 236,800 (91,400) 230,800 (89,100)
115  Romania 238,397 (92,046) 231,291 (89,302)
116  Ghana 238,533 (92,098) 227,533 (87,851)
117  Uganda 241,550 (93,260) 197,100 (76,100)
118  United Kingdom 242,495 (93,628) 241,930 (93,410)
119  Guinea 245,857 (94,926) 245,717 (94,872)
120  Gabon 267,668 (103,347) 257,667 (99,486)
121  New Zealand 270,467 (104,428) 262,443 (101,330)
122  Burkina Faso 274,222 (105,878) 273,602 (105,638)
123  Ecuador 276,841 (106,889) 256,369 (98,985)
124  Philippines 300,000 (120,000) 298,170 (115,120)
125  Italy 301,339 (116,348) 294,140 (113,570)
126  Oman 309,500 (119,500) 309,500 (119,500)
127  Poland 312,696 (120,733) 311,888 (120,421)
128  Ivory Coast 322,463 (124,504) 318,003 (122,782)
129  Malaysia 330,803 (127,724) 329,613 (127,264)
130  Vietnam 331,212 (127,882) 310,070 (119,720)
131  Finland 338,425 (130,667) 303,816 (117,304)
132  Congo 342,000 (132,000) 341,500 (131,900)
133  Germany 357,114 (137,882) 348,672 (134,623)
134  Japan 377,976 (145,937) 364,546 (140,752)
135  Norway 385,207 (148,729) 365,957 (141,297)
136  Zimbabwe 390,757 (150,872) 386,847 (149,362)
137  Paraguay 406,752 (157,048) 397,302 (153,399)
138  Iraq 438,317 (169,235) 437,367 (168,868)
139  Morocco 446,550 (172,410) 446,300 (172,300)
140  Uzbekistan 447,400 (172,700) 425,400 (164,200)
141  Sweden 447,425 (172,752) 407,284 (157,253)
142  Papua New Guinea 462,840 (178,700) 452,860 (174,850)
143  Cameroon 475,442 (183,569) 472,710 (182,510)
144  Turkmenistan 488,100 (188,500) 469,930 (181,440)
145  Spain 505,992 (195,365) 498,980 (192,660)
146  Thailand 513,120 (198,120) 510,890 (197,260)
147  Yemen 555,000 (214,000) 555,000 (214,000)
148  Kenya 580,367 (224,081) 569,140 (219,750)
149  Botswana 581,730 (224,610) 566,730 (218,820)
150  Madagascar 587,041 (226,658) 581,540 (224,530)
151  Ukraine 603,550 (233,030) 579,300 (223,700)
152  Central African Republic 622,984 (240,535) 622,984 (240,535)
153  Somalia 637,657 (246,201) 627,337 (242,216)
154  France 640,679 (247,368) 640,427 (247,270)
155  South Sudan 644,329 (248,777) 644,329 (248,777)
156  Afghanistan 652,867 (252,073) 652,867 (252,073)
157  Myanmar 676,578 (261,228) 653,508 (252,321)
158  Zambia 752,612 (290,585) 743,398 (287,028)
159  Chile 756,102 (291,933) 743,812 (287,187)
160  Turkey 783,562 (302,535) 769,632 (297,157)
161  Mozambique 801,590 (309,500) 786,380 (303,620)
162  Namibia 825,615 (318,772) 823,290 (317,870)
163  Pakistan 881,913 (340,509) 856,690 (330,770)
164  Venezuela 916,445 (353,841) 882,050 (340,560)
165  Nigeria 923,768 (356,669) 910,768 (351,649)
166  Tanzania 945,087 (364,900) 885,800 (342,000)
167  Egypt 1,002,450 (387,050) 995,450 (384,350)
168  Mauritania 1,030,700 (398,000) 1,025,520 (395,960)
169  Bolivia 1,098,581 (424,164) 1,083,301 (418,265)
170  Ethiopia 1,104,300 (426,400) 1,096,630 (423,410)
171  Colombia 1,141,748 (440,831) 1,038,700 (401,000)
172  South Africa 1,221,037 (471,445) 1,214,470 (468,910)
173  Mali 1,240,192 (478,841) 1,220,190 (471,120)
174  Angola 1,246,700 (481,400) 1,246,700 (481,400)
175  Niger 1,267,000 (489,000) 1,266,700 (489,100)
176  Chad 1,284,000 (496,000) 1,259,200 (486,200)
177  Peru 1,285,216 (496,225) 1,279,996 (494,209)
178  Mongolia 1,564,110 (603,910) 1,553,556 (599,831)
179  Iran 1,648,195 (636,372) 1,531,595 (591,352)
180  Libya 1,759,540 (679,360) 1,759,540 (679,360)
181  Sudan 1,861,484 (718,723) 1,731,671 (668,602)
182  Indonesia 1,904,569 (735,358) 1,811,569 (699,451)
183  Mexico 1,964,375 (758,449) 1,943,945 (750,561)
184  Saudi Arabia 2,149,690 (830,000) 2,149,690 (830,000)
185  DR Congo 2,344,858 (905,355) 2,267,048 (875,312)
186  Algeria 2,381,741 (919,595) 2,381,741 (919,595)
187  Kazakhstan 2,724,900 (1,052,100) 2,699,700 (1,042,400)
188  Argentina 2,780,400 (1,073,500) 2,736,690 (1,056,640)
189  India 3,287,263 (1,269,219) 2,973,190 (1,147,960)
190  Australia 7,692,024 (2,969,907) 7,633,565 (2,947,336)
191  Brazil 8,515,767 (3,287,956) 8,460,415 (3,266,584)
192  United States 9,833,517 (3,796,742) 9,147,593 (3,531,905)
193  China 9,596,961 (3,705,407) 9,326,410 (3,600,950)
194  Canada 9,984,670 (3,855,100) 9,093,507 (3,511,023)
195  Russia 17,098,246 (6,601,670) 16,378,410 (6,323,740)
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