The Smallest "Country" In The World

Morning Sealandians!

Welcome to the country of Sealand!

A tiny island nation just off the coast of the UK.

Oh yeah… and it's an old sea fort lol.

But how did this tiny nation come to be?

Thats where this guy comes in:

A British dude by the name of Paddy Roy Bates.

Now, Bates was a Major in the British army and in the early 60s he tried to establish a radio station on a little naval fort just off the coast of the town of Felixstowe.

This was known as a “pirate” radio station.

Called pirate because it was technically illegal.

At the time the BBC had a stranglehold on all things radio broadcasting so setting up a radio station like this was considered no bueno.

Because of this Bates got in some legal trouble with the UK government and had to abandon the Radio station idea.

But then he came up with a better idea!

At the time the naval fort was technically outside of the Britains territorial waters.

(In international waters)

And thus owned by no country.

So Bates consulted with his lawyers and then… claimed it!

He then put up a flag.

Wrote a constitution.

And declared himself Sealand’s rightful ruler.

Sealand now has a population of about 50 people (most of which obviously live abroad).

It also has its own national anthem, website, passports, coins, stamps, and even sports teams.

But let's be real…

Is Sealand REALLY a country?

Well, to be a country there's 4 requirements:

Perfect, so Sealand is a country now?

Not so fast.

There's actually an secret and unofficial 5th requirement that a country that actually exists has to recognise you as a country for any of those to count.