The idea of an independent state with a population of a major village - 25000 - is, well ... interesting.
There are actually four countries in the world with less than 25,000 people: Vatican/The Holy See 1,000 Nauru 8,100 Tuvalu 8,200 San Marino 23,000
These two come close, too: Liechtenstein 29,000 Monaco 30,000
You could argue if all of them count, though.
Still keeping under the 100,000 mark there is seven more, all of them islands except for Andorra (59,000).
anders ------------------------- http://anders.hultman.nu/