Oldest Countries

GlobalGlobal
1,635.89Date Sovereignty Was AcquiredGlobal Average
Date Sovereignty Was AcquiredQuestion Mark
Map visualization
-2,6002,011
1
South SudanSouth Sudan
2,011.071
2
MontenegroMontenegro
2,006.06
3
Timor LesteTimor Leste
2,002.052
4
PalauPalau
1,994.1
5
EritreaEritrea
1,993.043
6
Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina
1,992.03
7
KazakhstanKazakhstan
1,991.122
8
TurkmenistanTurkmenistan
1,991.103
9
TajikistanTajikistan
1,991.091
10
North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia
1,991.091
11
UzbekistanUzbekistan
1,991.083
11
KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan
1,991.083
13
MoldovaMoldova
1,991.083
14
EstoniaEstonia
1,991.082
15
SloveniaSlovenia
1,991.063
16
LatviaLatvia
1,990.05
17
NamibiaNamibia
1,990.032
18
PalestinePalestine
1,988.112
19
MicronesiaMicronesia
1,986.11
20
Marshall IslandsMarshall Islands
1,986.102
21
BruneiBrunei
1,984.01
22
Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda
1,981.11
23
VanuatuVanuatu
1,980.073
24
KiribatiKiribati
1,979.071
25
TuvaluTuvalu
1,978.1
26
DjiboutiDjibouti
1,977.063
27
SeychellesSeychelles
1,976.063
28
Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands
1,976.01
29
AngolaAngola
1,975.111
30
Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe
1,975.071
31
ComorosComoros
1,975.071
32
Cape VerdeCape Verde
1,975.071
33
MozambiqueMozambique
1,975.063
34
Ivory CoastIvory Coast
1,973.12
35
Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
1,973.12
36
Guinea BissauGuinea Bissau
1,973.092
37
United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
1,971.12
38
BahrainBahrain
1,971.082
39
BangladeshBangladesh
1,971.033
40
FijiFiji
1,970.101
41
TongaTonga
1,970.07
42
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent and the Grenadines
1,969.103
43
Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea
1,968.101
44
EswatiniEswatini
1,968.091
45
MauritiusMauritius
1,968.031
46
NauruNauru
1,968.01
47
Saint Kitts and NevisSaint Kitts and Nevis
1,967.023
47
Saint LuciaSaint Lucia
1,967.023
47
GrenadaGrenada
1,967.023
47
DominicaDominica
1,967.023
51
BarbadosBarbados
1,966.113
52
LesothoLesotho
1,966.1
53
BotswanaBotswana
1,966.093
54
GuyanaGuyana
1,966.053
55
ZimbabweZimbabwe
1,965.111
56
Cook IslandsCook Islands
1,965.08
57
MaldivesMaldives
1,965.073
58
SingaporeSingapore
1,965.06
59
GambiaGambia
1,965.022
60
ZambiaZambia
1,964.102
61
MaltaMalta
1,964.092
62
MalawiMalawi
1,964.071
63
BahamasBahamas
1,964.011
64
BelizeBelize
1,964.01
65
KenyaKenya
1,963.121
66
MalaysiaMalaysia
1,963.092
67
Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago
1,962.083
68
JamaicaJamaica
1,962.081
69
RwandaRwanda
1,962.07
69
BurundiBurundi
1,962.07
71
SamoaSamoa
1,962.06
72
UgandaUganda
1,962.03
73
TanzaniaTanzania
1,961.121
74
SyriaSyria
1,961.093
75
Sierra LeoneSierra Leone
1,961.043
76
MauritaniaMauritania
1,960.113
77
NigeriaNigeria
1,960.1
78
SenegalSenegal
1,960.082
79
GabonGabon
1,960.082
80
CyprusCyprus
1,960.082
81
Republic of the CongoRepublic of the Congo
1,960.082
82
Central African RepublicCentral African Republic
1,960.081
83
ChadChad
1,960.081
84
Burkina FasoBurkina Faso
1,960.081
85
BeninBenin
1,960.08
86
SomaliaSomalia
1,960.07
87
DR CongoDR Congo
1,960.063
88
CameroonCameroon
1,960.01
89
NigerNiger
1,958.12
89
NigerNiger
1,958.12
91
MaliMali
1,958.113
92
MadagascarMadagascar
1,958.101
93
GuineaGuinea
1,958.1
94
TogoTogo
1,958.083
95
GhanaGhana
1,957.031
96
TunisiaTunisia
1,956.032
97
SudanSudan
1,956.01
98
SurinameSuriname
1,954.122
99
CambodiaCambodia
1,953.111
100
LaosLaos
1,953.102
101
IsraelIsrael
1,948.051
102
Sri LankaSri Lanka
1,948.02
103
MyanmarMyanmar
1,948.01
104
PakistanPakistan
1,947.081
105
JordanJordan
1,946.053
106
VietnamVietnam
1,945.09
107
IndonesiaIndonesia
1,945.082
108
LuxembourgLuxembourg
1,945.01
109
LebanonLebanon
1,941.113
110
CanadaCanada
1,931.121
111
Vatican CityVatican City
1,929.061
112
EgyptEgypt
1,922.023
113
IcelandIceland
1,918.12
114
YemenYemen
1,918.11
115
SlovakiaSlovakia
1,918.1
115
SlovakiaSlovakia
1,918.1
115
Czech RepublicCzech Republic
1,918.1
118
AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
1,918.053
118
ArmeniaArmenia
1,918.053
120
LithuaniaLithuania
1,918.022
120
LithuaniaLithuania
1,918.022
122
FinlandFinland
1,917.121
123
South AfricaSouth Africa
1,910.053
124
PanamaPanama
1,903.11
125
Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
1,902.011
126
AustraliaAustralia
1,901.01
127
CubaCuba
1,898.101
128
PhilippinesPhilippines
1,896.061
129
BhutanBhutan
1,885.01
130
QatarQatar
1,878.122
131
RomaniaRomania
1,859.012
132
New ZealandNew Zealand
1,853.012
133
LiberiaLiberia
1,847.073
134
Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
1,844.023
135
BelgiumBelgium
1,830.1
136
UruguayUruguay
1,825.083
137
BoliviaBolivia
1,825.081
138
BrazilBrazil
1,822.091
139
NicaraguaNicaragua
1,821.092
139
Costa RicaCosta Rica
1,821.092
139
El SalvadorEl Salvador
1,821.092
139
HondurasHonduras
1,821.092
139
GuatemalaGuatemala
1,821.092
144
PeruPeru
1,821.073
145
GreeceGreece
1,821.01
146
LiechtensteinLiechtenstein
1,813.102
147
ParaguayParaguay
1,811.051
148
ChileChile
1,810.092
149
MexicoMexico
1,810.092
150
ColombiaColombia
1,810.072
151
ArgentinaArgentina
1,810.053
152
VenezuelaVenezuela
1,810.042
153
EcuadorEcuador
1,809.081
154
HaitiHaiti
1,804.01
155
United StatesUnited States
1,776.07
156
NepalNepal
1,768.093
157
ThailandThailand
1,767.111
158
KuwaitKuwait
1,752.01
159
AfghanistanAfghanistan
1,747.01
160
ItalyItaly
1,720.01
161
OmanOman
1,650.013
162
NetherlandsNetherlands
1,581.073
163
IrelandIreland
1,542
164
SpainSpain
1,479
165
TurkeyTurkey
1,299
166
MonacoMonaco
1,297
167
SwitzerlandSwitzerland
1,291
168
AndorraAndorra
1,278
169
MongoliaMongolia
1,206
170
AlbaniaAlbania
1,190.01
171
AustriaAustria
1,156.092
172
PortugalPortugal
1,143.101
173
GeorgiaGeorgia
1,008.01
174
SwedenSweden
970.01
175
PolandPoland
966.01
175
PolandPoland
966.01
177
DenmarkDenmark
965.01
178
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
927.01
179
South KoreaSouth Korea
918.01
179
North KoreaNorth Korea
918.01
181
EthiopiaEthiopia
900.01
182
HungaryHungary
895.01
183
RussiaRussia
882.01
183
BelarusBelarus
882.01
183
BelarusBelarus
882.01
183
UkraineUkraine
882.01
183
UkraineUkraine
882.01
188
ArmeniaArmenia
880.01
189
CroatiaCroatia
879.01
189
CroatiaCroatia
879.01
191
NorwayNorway
872.01
192
GermanyGermany
843.01
193
MoroccoMorocco
788.01
194
SerbiaSerbia
780.01
195
IraqIraq
762.01
196
BulgariaBulgaria
681.01
197
FranceFrance
481
198
San MarinoSan Marino
301
199
AlgeriaAlgeria
-202.01
200
JapanJapan
-660
201
ChinaChina
-1,600
201
TaiwanTaiwan
-1,600
203
IndiaIndia
-2,500
204
IranIran
-2,600
205
IranIran
-2,600.01
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Last updated May 24, 2025

The World's Oldest Countries

One of the most captivating aspects of our world's history is the origin and evolution of nations. The etchings of human civilization date back millennia, and the deep historical roots of the world's oldest countries serve as a telling reminder of our collective past. History intertwines with culture, tradition, conflict, triumph, and knowledge passed down through generations to form the story of a country. As such, these ancient nations and their stories offer valuable insights into human civilization's progression and development. Using historical data, we can discern some key findings regarding the world's oldest nations:

  • Iran is the oldest country in the world, dating back to 3200 BC, followed closely by Egypt, established in 3100 BC.
  • Vietnam, founded in 2879 BC, Armenia in 2492 BC, and North Korea in 2333 BC, complete the list of the five oldest countries worldwide.
  • San Marino, established in 301 BC, is Europe's oldest country, while Japan, dating back to 400 AD, is acknowledged as the oldest country in East Asia.
  • Interestingly, over half of the top ten oldest countries, including Iran, Egypt, India, and Israel, are nestled in Asia - illustrating the continent's significant role in early human civilization.
  • The United States, by comparison, is a relatively young country, with its independence declared in 1776 AD. Understanding our global history and the origin of nations allows us to appreciate the diverse and complex tapestry of human civilization. As we turn the pages of history, we are privy to the rich, nuanced narratives of these ancient nations that continue to influence our world today.

10 Oldest Countries

Leading the list is Iran, its inception dating back to an incredible 3200 BC, making it the oldest known country in the world. It is followed closely by Egypt, which established its sovereignty in 3100 BC. Hieroglyphs, pyramids, and ancient artefacts bear witness to the rich history of these countries, which are the cradles of early human civilization. Claiming the third spot is Vietnam, tracing its origins back to 2879 BC. Armenia is the fourth oldest country, established in 2492 BC, and North Korea ranks fifth, having been founded in 2333 BC. India, another ancient civilization known for its contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and art, stands at sixth place, with its establishment traced back to 2000 BC. Georgia and Israel share the seventh spot, both having been founded in 1300 BC. Finally, Sudan, known for the ancient Nubian civilization, and Afghanistan, home to the Indus Valley Civilization, complete the list with their sovereignty established in 1070 BC and 678 BC, respectively.

10 Oldest Countries:

  1. Iran - 3200 BC
  2. Egypt - 3100 BC
  3. Vietnam - 2879 BC
  4. Armenia - 2492 BC
  5. North Korea - 2333 BC
  6. India - 2000 BC
  7. Georgia - 1300 BC
  8. Israel - 1300 BC
  9. Sudan - 1070 BC
  10. Afghanistan - 678 BC
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