From a ‘lawless’ city in California to a tiny strip of land between Serbia and Croatia, discover micronations across the globe
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Micronations – political entities that claim they are an independent nation but lack legal recognition internationally – can be found all across the globe. Some were founded hundreds of years ago, while others have been created only several decades ago.
Read on to find out more about seven of the most unusual micronations, where they are located and their origins…
1) Slab City
In the community of Slab City, locals are known as Slabbers. Their name – and that of the community – originates from the concrete slabs left from a former military base that they live on top of. Residents, who number from 200 to 2,000, live in the off-the-grid city located in the Sonoran Desert, California.
It is often dubbed as the ‘last free place’ or ‘lawless’ city in the world, as Slab City has no formal utilities, law enforcement, local government, sewage or garbage services. As such, residents must bring in water via truck and rely on solar setups for power.
In the summer, temperatures can reach a sweltering 49C while winters are mild, and consequently draw in more individuals.
2) Verdis
Founded in 2019, Verdis claims a small portion of land – known as Pocket 3 – on the western bank of the Danube River between Croatia and Serbia. This land has been left unclaimed due to unresolved border conflicts following the Croatian War of Independence. It has declared its official languages as English, Croatian and Serbian.
The pocket of land was proclaimed by Daniel Jackson, a British-Australian activist and digital designer. It only spans a land size of approximately 0.45 square kilometres, equivalent in size to the Vatican.
Although there is no permanent population on the territory, the micronation reportedly selected around 400 citizens from thousands of applicants, chosen for their skills in industries such as policing and medicine.
3) Atlantium
Atlantium, officially known as the Empire of Atlantium, is a micronation in Australia founded in 1981 by three Sydney teenagers. The area has three capitals, with the most recent one – the Province of Aurora – announced as such in 2008.
Within Altantium, a four-metre-high pyramid was constructed to house the micronation’s constitution.
Atlantium once declared war on another micronation, a spat which occurred after producing commemorative stamps featuring the older province of Bumbunga.
According to its president, Atlantium is both an example of a performance art project and an expression of Australian identity.
4) Principality of Seborga
Seborga, a small micronation in Northern Italy, was first granted its status in 954, where it was established as a principality. Today, Seborga functions as an elective monarchy, featuring a prince or princess and a crown council. The principality has its own flag, coat of arms, currency – known as the luigino – along with stamps, license plates and tourist passports.
With a population of around 300 inhabitants, Seborga’s economy thrives on agriculture – mainly flowers and olives – along with tourism.
Despite its status as a micronation, the principality is not recognised internationally and remains a part of Italian jurisdiction.
5) Principality of Sealand
Situated around 13 kilometres from the coast of Suffolk in England lies Sealand, a constitutional monarchy. The micronation features a flag, currency, stamps, passports and even a national anthem. It also has its own national football team, which competed in international non-FIFA events.
The micronation has been a hotspot for many ventures: back in 2000, it was briefly turned into HavenCo – the world’s first offshore data haven – for hosting data beyond standard legal reach. In order to fund its operation, the micronation also sells symbolic titles of nobility such as Lord and Baron, as well as memorabilia such as mugs and t-shirts.
As of August 2024, Sealand has just one permanent resident – a caretaker.
7) Hutt River Principality
The Principality of Hutt River was declared back in 1970 by farmer Leonard Casley in Australia, in response to unfavourable wheat production quotas imposed by the government. Casley styled himself ‘Prince Leonard I’, who ruled until 2017, after which point his son Graeme Casley suceeded him.
Its capital was Nain, and the micronation operated with its own currency (Hutt River dollars), flag, coat of arms, stamps, passports and national anthem.
The Australian government has never recognised Hutt River as a sovereign entity, and have consistently ruled that it remain subject to Australian law and tax obligations.
Due to mounting financial pressure combined with a lack of tourism, Prince Graeme officially dissolved the Principality back in 2020, reintergrating it with Australia.
