Not Vatican city, this claims to be smallest 'country' in the world, with a population of...

This small offshore platform located in the North Sea is trying to dethrone Vatican City as the smallest nation in the world.

Officially known as the 'Principality of Sealand,' this territory is about 10 kilometres from England and has a population of only 27 people. As the name suggests, Sealand is surrounded by the sea on all sides.

The platform covers an area of 550 square meters. Sealand claims to have its own army, flag, and even currency.

Sealand's website claims that it was built by the British during World War 2 and used as an army and navy fort. It was supposed to be demolished after the war, but somehow was not destroyed.

A man named Paddy Roy Bates became the owner of Sealand in 1967. He took the platform from pirate radio broadcasters and declared it a sovereign country. But, it has been operating in defiance of the United Kingdom Government for the last 54 years.

Officially, Vatican City is still the smallest country as it is internationally recognised, while Sealand is not.

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