The world's second flattest country that could be swallowed by the sea within decades

The world has a few flat countries that are struggling with . From nations like the in to more remote spots like , rising sea levels are already causing problems. That's also the case for the second flattest country on Earth that is also believed to be the world's least visited.

According to the , Tuvalu is the second flattest country in the world. Its highest point is just five metres (15 feet) above sea level, with an average elevation of only two metres. It is only beaten by , where most of the land lies just 1.5 metres above sea level. Tuvalu is a tiny island nation in the made up of nine coral islands and home to around 11,000 people.

It is the world's smallest sovereign state by population that is a member of the United Nations, and the third smallest country by land area, after Monaco and Nauru.

The reports that Tuvalu is now facing an existential threat. Sea levels are rising so quickly that parts of the country may become uninhabitable within decades.

According to Nasa scientists, much of Tuvalu's land, including its critical infrastructure, will sit below the level of the current high tide by 2050.

By the end of the century, the islands are expected to flood more than 100 days per year. To prepare for this uncertain future, the Tuvaluan government launched its "Digital Nation" project.

The aim is to create a virtual version of the country, mapping everything from homes to trees and even digitising cultural traditions.

Tuvalu's foreign minister Simon Kofe presented the idea at COP27, saying: "Our land, our ocean, our culture are the most precious assets of our people, and to keep them safe from harm, no matter what happens in the physical world, we'll move them to the cloud."

The idea is not just symbolic. The government is also digitising passports and public services in the hope of preserving Tuvalu's legal statehood if the islands become uninhabitable.

Place, a non-profit organisation, has already used drones and high-tech cameras to scan parts of the islands, helping to create detailed virtual models.

Despite its beauty, Tuvalu is also the world's least visited country, according to Tuvalu's Central Statistics Division.

Only around 3,136 tourists visit annually. Travel is difficult due to its remote location, and the island lacks many modern conveniences such as cash machines. Tourists must bring enough Australian dollars in cash to cover their entire stay.

Tuvalu's economy is one of the smallest in the world, with a GDP of just $42million (£34.6million).

Much of its income comes from fishing licences and leasing its internet domain ".tv" to companies such as Twitch.

A deal struck in 2000 for $50 (£37million) million helped the country afford infrastructure like electricity and maintain its UN membership.

Tuvalu became independent from Britain in 1978 and its name means "eight standing together" - a reference to its originally inhabited islands.

With no standing army, it remains one of just 22 countries in the world that maintains a defence-free stance.