Land Reclamation in Monaco (1861 – 2024)

Back in 1861, Monaco had just 2.02 km² of land. For a country squeezed between mountains and the Mediterranean, that tiny area quickly felt limiting. And with property prices already sky-high, the only realistic way to grow was by pushing out into the sea.

The biggest step came in the 1970s with the creation of Fontvieille. Engineers filled in the water at the western end of the coast and built a new district on top of it. Today the area has homes, offices, a sports stadium, and its own marina — none of which existed fifty years ago

The latest addition is Le Portier, also called Portier Cove, which started in the 2010s. It extends the shoreline by another 0.60 km² (0.23 sq mi) and is designed for luxury housing, green areas, and a long waterfront promenade.

Together, Fontvieille and Le Portier increased Monaco’s size by about 0.82 km² (0.32 sq mi). That’s nearly 40% more land compared with 1861 — a huge gain for such a small country, where every square meter counts.

With the inauguration of Le Portier in 2024, Monaco’s total area grew to 2.08 km² (0.80 sq mi), or 208 hectares (510 acres).