As we think about any “city” in our mind the images of a big, bustling industrial hub of a place, but some cities are small places, punching above their weight when it comes to status.
The lines regarding what constitutes a city can often be blur, some nations attribute city status according to size and population density, others according to historical importance, still others according to the presence or otherwise of notable buildings.
The indistinct definitions can make it difficult to rank the size of cities, and some places around the world are refer to as either a town, village, or city, depending on who you ask.
But while some might quibble over detail, these small-but-mighty settlements are all proud to declare themselves cities despite their less-than-large stature.
Lets find some of the smallest cities in the world.
Hum, Croatia
The settlement of Hum in Croatia is either the smallest city in the world or the smallest town in the world.
It’s a scenic place that’s home to around 30 people.
Adamstown, Pitcairn Islands (British Overseas Territory)
Adamstown is the largest and the only settlement in a crop of South Pacific Islands inhabit by around 50 people.
A British Overseas Territory, the islands are inhabit by the descendants of mutineers aboard the HMS Bounty, British ship that dock here in 1790.
Durbuy, Belgium
The medieval settlement of Durbuy in Belgium is another place that jostles for the title of world’s smallest city.
Awarded city status in 1331 by King John of Bohemia, its 400 permanent residents are outnumber by curious tourists for much of the year.
Vatican City
Vatican City can lay claim to the title of world’s smallest country as well as the world’s smallest city.
As the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, the 0.17-square mile (0.44 square km) city-state is famously home to the Pope, with around 800 other residents.
Valletta, Malta
The Maltese capital’s stunning Baroque architecture makes it a major tourist draw, and the entire city was declare a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.
Founded in the 1500s, the tiny capital has a population of around 6,000.
City of London, England
London may be home to millions, but the City of London is a small city within a huge city.
Its boundaries have remain the same since the medieval period, and the 1.12 square mile (2.9 square km) settlement still retains city status, with its own police force.
San Marino, San Marino
San Marino, the city of the same name is surround by the northern Italian regions of Emilia-Romagna and Marche.
With a population of just over 4,000, the scenic medieval settlement spans 2.74 square miles (7.09 square km).
Horta, Portugal
The Portuguese archipelago of Azores sits windswept and isolate in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and some of the scenic islands have more cows than people.
As capital of Faial Island, Horta has a population of around 7,000 (not counting cattle).
Castries, Saint Lucia
Castries is the bustling center of Saint Lucia in the Caribbean.
Its population of around 22,110 is considerably boost by tourists as well as visitors from outlying villages.
Belmopan, Belize
Belmopan is a fast-growing city with around 20,000 residents, but is still the smallest capital in the Americas in terms of population.
It’s a relatively new settlement, too, built after much of former capital Belize City was destroy by Hurricane Hattie in 1961.
Bronkhorst, The Netherlands
The tiny Dutch settlement might have a population of not much more than 150, but Bronkhorst is technically a city.
Thought to have been settle since around the 7th century, Bronkhurst was grant city status in the 1400s, although a walking tour of the ‘city’ would take just a few minutes.
Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos (British Overseas Territory)
Cockburn Town is capital of the Turks and Caicos archipelago, a British Overseas Territory that lies between the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.
The seat of government for the islands since 1766, Cockburn Town has a population of less than 3,750.
Fuvahmulah City, Maldives
Fuvahmulah gained city status in 2016.
But with a population of just over 11,000, there’s still a friendly small-town vibe, and plenty of elbow room on the beaches.
Fagernes, Norway
Fagernes in south-central Norway is rightly proud of the city status it gained in 2007 with a population of less than 2,000.
A popular starting point for outdoor types setting off to explore the region’s skiing and cycling opportunities, Fagernes was declare a city by the local authorities to coincide with its 150th anniversary.
Eisenstdadt, Austria
The capital of the Austrian state of Burgenland, scenic Eisenstadt has a population of less than 15,000.
The small-but-perfectly-form city attracts hordes of music-loving tourists, owing to the fact that composer Joseph Haydn lived here in the 18th century, and is buried in the ornate hillside church.
Montpelier, USA
The smallest state capital in the United States, Montpelier in Vermont has a population of around 8,000.
It’s a picturesque spot fill with handsome 1800s architecture, and earn its capital status in 1805 on account of its central location and good road and rail potential.
Miranda do Douro, Portugal
Overlooking the Douro River in the heart of Portuguese wine country, Miranda do Douro is a fortified city whose population barely passes 2,000 people.
The Catholic authorities establish a diocese here in 1545, and the 17th-century cathedral remains an attraction.
Kuressaare, Estonia
Kurassaare was known as Kingissepa during the Soviet era, and became a city under Danish rule in 1563.
Today, it’s known for its spas and mineral water, the World Health Organization actually name it a Healthy City in 1998.
Kastoria, Greece
The beautiful city of Kastoria in northern Greece thrive as a center of the fur trade during the Byzantine era.
Although demand for fur has diminish, the city, which has a population of around 13,400, retains a sense of its early grandeur.
Hamilton, Bermuda (British Overseas Territory)
Founded in 1793 and made capital of Bermuda in 1815, small Hamilton has a population of less than 1,000.
Despite its small stature, it has officially held city status since 1897.
Victoria, Seychelles
Victoria might be the largest and most populous settlement in the picturesque Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean, but Victoria is still one of the smallest capital cities in the world.
It’s situated on the north-eastern side of Mahé, the archipelago’s main island, and, with around 26,500 inhabitants, is home to roughly a third of the Seychelles’ population.
Fürstenau, Switzerland
The small Swiss settlement of Fürstenau still holds the city rights it was given in 1354 with a population of around 350, on account of the fact that a bishop had a summer residence here.
Saint Peter Port, Guernsey (Channel Islands)
British Crown Dependencies off the coast of France, the islands of Jersey and Guernsey are scenic, sedate places to call home.
Guernsey’s capital, Saint Peter Port, has a population of around 17,000, and is the closest the islands get to a bustling metropolis.
Nuuk, Greenland (Danish Realm)
The capital of Greenland, Nuuk is also its largest city and seat of government.
With a population of only 18,800, Nuuk actually accounts for almost a third of Greenland’s entire population.
Nakhon Nayok, Thailand
The only major settlement in the province that shares its name, the city of Nakhon Nayok has a population of around 16,000.
It’s the capital of the region, and attracts out-of-towners with its beautiful waterfalls, parks, and temples.
Jericho, Palestine
The West Bank municipality of Jericho can also claim to be the world’s lowest.
Its roughly 20,000 inhabitants live at 258 meters (846 ft) below sea level.
Kilkenny, Ireland
The medieval city of Kilkenny in southeast Ireland is a small city that packs a punch in terms of grand buildings of religious and historical importance.
The population of around 27,000 is boosted each year by tourists visiting the city’s castle, cathedral, and well-preserved churches and monasteries.
Vaduz, Lichtenstein
Many people would have trouble pinpointing Lichtenstein on a map.
The small Alpine principality lies between Austria and Switzerland, and is only 15.5 miles (25 km) long.
The capital, Vaduz, has a population of under 6,000.
Tórshavn, Faroe Islands (Danish Realm)
Sitting in the North Sea between Iceland, Scotland, and Norway, the self-governing Faroe Islands are under Danish rule.
The waterside capital is a buzzing place full of shops and highly-regarded restaurants, even though the population was under 14,000 at last count.
Saint David’s, Wales
Saint David’s is the smallest city in the UK with a population of less than 1,500.
Name for the Welsh patron saint, who was born nearby and was buried at a monastery he founded on the site that later became Saint David’s, the settlement was deemed a city due to the fact that it had a cathedral.
But it lost its city status in 1888, with the abolition of a 16th-century rule stating that any settlement with a cathedral was automatically a city.
Queen Elizabeth II restore the title in 1994, and today Saint David’s wears its city status with pride.
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