All Countries General Information

01. Afghanistan

Afghanistan,Country in South Asia.Afghanistan,officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located within South Asia and Central Asia. 

Capital: Kabul

Dialing code: +93

Currency: Afghan afghani

President: Mohammad Ashraf Ghani

Population: 30.55 million (2013) World Bank

Official languages: Pashto, Dari

02. Akrotiri

Akrotiri and Dhekelia, officially the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, is a British Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus.

Area: 254 km²

Founded: 1960

Capital: Episkopi Cantonment

Status: British Overseas Territories

03. Albania

Albania,Country in the Balkans.Albania, on Southeastern Europe’s Balkan Peninsula, is a small country with coastlines on the Adriatic and Ionian seas and an interior crossed by the Albanian Alps. Along its southern coast, the Albanian Riviera is known for its traditional Mediterranean villages, beach resorts and vibrant nightlife. 

Capital: Tirana

Currency: Albanian lek

Population: 2.774 million (2013) World Bank

Continent: Europe

Official language: Albanian

04. Algeria

Algeria,Country in North Africa.Algeria is a North African country with a Mediterranean coastline and a Saharan desert interior.

Capital: Algiers

Dialing code: +213

ISO code: DZA

Currency: Algerian dinar

Population: 39.21 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Arabic

05. American Samoa

American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Samoa. American Samoa consists of five main islands and two coral atolls.
Capital: Pago Pago
Dialing code: +1
ISO code: ASM
Population: 55,165 (2013) World Bank
Currency: United States Dollar
Continent: Oceania

06. Andorra

Andorra is a tiny independent principality situated between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains.
Capital: Andorra la Vella
Population: 79,218 (2013) World Bank
Currency: Euro
Continent: Europe
Official language: Catalan

07. Angola

Angola is a southern African nation whose varied terrain encompasses tropical Atlantic beaches, a labyrinthine system of rivers and Sub-Saharan desert that extends across the border into Namibia.

Capital: Luanda

Dialing code: +244

Currency: Angolan kwanza

President: José Eduardo dos Santos

Population: 21.47 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Portuguese

08. Anguilla

Anguilla, a British overseas territory in the Eastern Caribbean, comprises a small main island and several offshore islets. 

Capital: The Valley

Dialing code: +1

Currency: East Caribbean dollar

Population: 15,094 (2011)

Chief minister: Hubert Hughes

Government: Dependent territory, Constitutional monarchy, Parliamentary system

Official language: English

09. Antarctica

Antarctica, the southernmost continent and site of the South Pole, is a virtually uninhabited, ice-covered landmass. Most cruises to the continent visit the Antarctic Peninsula, which stretches toward South America. It’s known for the Lemaire Channel and Paradise Harbor, striking, iceberg-flanked passageways, and Port Lockroy, a former British research station turned museum. The peninsula’s isolated terrain also shelters rich wildlife, including many penguins.

Area: 14 million km²

Internet tld: .aq

10. Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is a country encompassing its 2 namesake islands and several smaller islands. Positioned where the Atlantic and Caribbean meet, it's known for reef-lined beaches, rainforests and resorts. 

Capital: St. John's

Dialing code: +1

Currency: East Caribbean dollar

Population: 89,985 (2013) World Bank

Official language: English

11. Argentina

Argentina,Country in South America.Argentina is a massive South American nation with terrain encompassing Andes mountains, glacial lakes and Pampas grassland, the traditional grazing ground of its famed beef cattle. The country is known for tango, steak and football. Its big, cosmopolitan capital, Buenos Aires, is centered on the 16th-century Plaza de Mayo, lined with stately buildings including Casa Rosada, the iconic, balconied presidential palace.

Capital: Buenos Aires

Dialing code: +54

President: Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

Population: 41.45 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Spanish

12. Armenia

Armenia is a nation, and former Soviet republic, in the mountainous Caucasus region straddling Asia and Europe. 

Capital: Yerevan

Dialing code: +374

Population: 2.977 million (2013) World Bank

Currencies: Noah's Ark silver coins, Armenian dram

Official language: Armenian

13. Aruba

Aruba is a Island Country, a tiny Dutch Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela, has dry, sunny weather, blond beaches and gentle surf. 

Capital: Oranjestad

Dialing code: +297

Currency: Aruban florin

Continent: North America

Official languages: Dutch, Papiamento

14. Ashmore and Cartier Islands

The Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands is an uninhabited external territory of Australia consisting of four low-lying tropical islands in two separate reefs, and the 12 nautical mile territorial sea generated by the islands.

Area: 5 km²

Population: 0 (2008)

15. Australia

Australia is a country, and continent, surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Capital: Canberra

Dialing code: +61

Prime minister: Malcolm Turnbull

Population: 23.13 million (2013) World Bank

Governor-general: Peter Cosgrove

Queen: Elizabeth II

16. Austria

Austria is a German-speaking country in Central Europe, characterized by its mountain villages, baroque city architecture, Imperial history and rugged alpine terrain.

Capital: Vienna

Dialing code: +43

ISO code: AUT

Currency: Euro

Official language: German

17. Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, the nation and former Soviet republic, is bounded by the Caspian Sea and Caucasus Mountains, which span Asia and Europe.

Capital: Baku

Currency: Azerbaijani manat

President: Ilham Aliyev

Prime minister: Artur Rasizade

Official language: Azerbaijani

18. Bahamas Island

19. Bahrain

Bahrain, a nation comprising more than 30 islands in the Persian Gulf, has been at the center of major trade routes since antiquity.

Capital: Manama

Dialing code: +973

ISO code: BHR

Currency: Bahraini dinar

Continent: Asia

20. Bangladesh

Bangladesh, east of India on the Bay of Bengal, is South Asian country of lush greenery and many waterways. 

Capital: Dhaka

Currency: Bangladeshi taka

Population: 156.6 million (2013) World Bank

Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina

President: Abdul Hamid

Official language: Bengali

21. Barbados

Barbados, in the eastern Caribbean, is an independent island nation within the British Commonwealth. 

Capital: Bridgetown

Currency: Barbadian dollar

Population: 284,644 (2013) World Bank

Continent: North America

Official language: English

22. Bassas da India

23. Belaurs

Belarus, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, is known for its Stalinist architecture, grand fortifications and primeval forests. 

Capital: Minsk

Dialing code: +375

Currency: Belarusian ruble

President: Alexander Lukashenko

Prime minister: Andrei Kobyakov

24. Belgium

Belgium, a country in Western Europe, is known for its medieval old towns, Flemish Renaissance architecture and international headquarters of the European Union and NATO. 

Capitals: City of Brussels, Brussels

Dialing code: +32

ISO code: BEL

Currency: Euro

Official languages: Dutch, French, German

25. Belize

Belize is a nation on the eastern coast of Central America, with Caribbean Sea shorelines to the east and dense jungle to the west. 

Capital: Belmopan

Currency: Belize dollar

Continent: North America

Population: 331,900 (2013) World Bank

Official language: English

26. Benin

Benin, a French-speaking West African nation, is a birthplace of vodun (aka voodoo) and home to the Dahomey Kingdom, reigning from 1600-1900.

Capital: Porto-Novo

Dialing code: +229

Currency: West African CFA franc

Population: 10.32 million (2013) World Bank

Continent: Africa

Official language: French

27. Bermuda

Bermuda is a British island territory in the North Atlantic, off the eastern U.S., known for its distinctive blend of British and American culture and pink-sand beaches such as Elbow Beach and Horseshoe Bay. 

Capital: Hamilton

Dialing code: +1

Area: 53.2 km²

Currency: Bermudian dollar

Continent: North America

28. Bhutan

Bhutan, a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge, is a land of monasteries, fortresses (or dzongs) and dramatic topography ranging from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys. 

Capital: Thimphu

King: Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

Prime minister: Tshering Tobgay

Population: 753,947 (2013) World Bank

Currencies: Bhutanese ngultrum, Indian rupee

29. Bolivia

Bolivia is a country in central South America, with a varied terrain spanning Andes mountains, the Atacama Desert and Amazon Basin rainforest.

Capital: Sucre

Dialing code: +591

Founded: August 6, 1825

President: Evo Morales

Population: 10.67 million (2013) World Bank

30. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe, encompasses mountainous terrain, medieval villages and Muslim and Christian landmarks.

Capital: Sarajevo

Dialing code: +387

ISO code: BIH

Currency: Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark

Population: 3.829 million (2013) World Bank

31. Botswana

Botswana, a landlocked country in southern Africa, has a landscape defined by the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, which becomes a lush animal habitat during the seasonal floods. 

Capital: Gaborone

Dialing code: +267

President: Ian Khama

Population: 2.021 million (2013) World Bank

GDP per capita: 7,315.02 USD (2013) World Bank

32. Bouvet Island

33. Brazil

Brazil, a vast South American country, stretches from the Amazon Basin in the north to vineyards and massive Iguaçu Falls in the south.

Capital: Brasília

Dialing code: +55

Currency: Brazilian real

Population: 200.4 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Portuguese

34. British Indian Ocean Territory

The British Indian Ocean Territory is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean halfway between Tanzania and Indonesia.

Dialing code: +246

Area: 60 km²

Continent: Asia

Status: British Overseas Territories

Internet tld: .io

35. British Virgin Islands

36. Brunei

Brunei is a tiny nation on the island of Borneo, in 2 distinct sections surrounded by Malaysia and the South China Sea. 

Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan

Dialing code: +673

Currency: Brunei dollar

King: Hassanal Bolkiah

Population: 417,784 (2013) World Bank

37. Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a Balkan nation with diverse terrain encompassing Black Sea coastline, rivers, including the Danube, and a mountainous interior.

Capital: Sofia

Dialing code: +359

Currency: Bulgarian lev

Population: 7.265 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Bulgarian

38. Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa around 274,200 square kilometres in size.

Capital: Ouagadougou

Dialing code: +226

Currency: West African CFA franc

Population: 16.93 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: French

39. Burma

Myanmar (formerly Burma), is a Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 ethnic groups, bordering India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand.

Capital: Naypyidaw

Dialing code: +95

Currency: Burmese kyat

President: Thein Sein

Population: 53.26 million (2013) World Bank

40. Burundi

Burundi, officially the Republic of Burundi, is a landlocked country in the African Great Lakes region of East Africa, bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.

Capital: Bujumbura

President: Pierre Nkurunziza

Currency: Burundian franc

Population: 10.16 million (2013) World Bank

Continent: Africa

GDP per capita: 267.11 USD (2013) World Bank

41. Cambodia

Cambodia is a Southeast Asian nation whose landscape spans low-lying plains, the Mekong Delta, mountains and Gulf of Thailand coastline. 

Capital: Phnom Penh

Dialing code: +855

ISO code: KHM

Currency: Cambodian riel

King: Norodom Sihamoni

42. Cameroon

Cameroon, on the Gulf of Guinea, is a Central African country of varied terrain and wildlife. 

Capital: Yaoundé

Dialing code: +237

Currency: Central African CFA franc

President: Paul Biya

Prime minister: Philémon Yang

Population: 22.25 million (2013) World Bank

43. Canada

Canada, stretching from the U.S. in the south to the Arctic Circle in the north, is filled with vibrant cities including massive, multicultural Toronto; predominantly French-speaking Montréal and Québec City; Vancouver and Halifax on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, respectively; and Ottawa, the capital. It’s also crossed by the Rocky Mountains and home to vast swaths of protected wilderness.

Capital: Ottawa

Dialing code: +1

ISO code: CAN

Population: 35.16 million (2013) World Bank

Governor-general: David Johnston

Queen: Elizabeth II

44. Cape Verde

Cape Verde, or Cabo Verde, is a nation on a volcanic archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa. 

Capital: Praia

Currency: Cape Verdean escudo

Continent: Africa

Population: 498,897 (2013) World Bank

Official language: Portuguese

45. Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory, encompasses 3 islands in the western Caribbean Sea. 

Capital: George Town, Cayman Islands

Dialing code: +1

ISO code: CYM

Currency: Cayman Islands dollar

Continent: North America

Population: 58,435 (2013) World Bank

46. Central African Republic

The Central African Republic is a landlocked country in Central Africa. 

Capital: Bangui

Prime minister: Mahamat Kamoun

Population: 4.616 million (2013) World Bank

Life expectancy: 49.48 years (2012) World Bank

Official languages: French, Sango

47. Chad

Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. 

Capital: N'Djamena

President: Idriss Déby

Population: 12.83 million (2013) World Bank

Prime minister: Kalzeubet Pahimi Deubet

Currency: Central African CFA franc

Continent: Africa

48. Chile

Chile is a long, narrow country stretching along South America's western edge, with 4,300km of Pacific Ocean coastline. 

Capital: Santiago

Dialing code: +56

Currency: Chilean peso

President: Michelle Bachelet

Population: 17.62 million (2013) World Bank

49. China

China, a communist nation in East Asia, is the world’s most populous country. 

Capital: Beijing

Dialing code: +86

Population: 1.357 billion (2013) World Bank

Currency: Renminbi

President: Xi Jinping

GDP per capita: 6,807.43 USD (2013) World Bank

50. Chrismas Island

The Territory of Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean, composed of one island. 

Capital: Flying Fish Cove

Area: 135 km²

Dialing code: +61

Population: 2,072 (2011)

Continent: Asia

Currency: Australian dollar

Official language: English

51. Clipperton Island

52. Cocos (Keeling) Islands

The Territory of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, also called Cocos Islands and Keeling Islands, is a territory of Australia, located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Christmas Island and approximately midway between Australia and Sri Lanka. 

Capital: West Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Dialing code: +891

ISO code: CCK

Population: 596 (Jul 2014)

Continent: Asia

Official language: English

Government: Federal monarchy, Constitutional monarchy

53. Colombia

Colombia, at the northern tip of South America, is a country of lush rainforest, towering mountains and coffee plantations. 

Capital: Bogotá

Dialing code: +57

President: Juan Manuel Santos

Population: 48.32 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Spanish

54. Comoros

The Comoros, officially the Union of the Comoros, is a sovereign archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel off the eastern coast of Africa.

Capital: Moroni

Dialing code: +269

Currency: Comorian franc

Continent: Africa

Population: 734,917 (2013) World Bank

President: Ikililou Dhoinine

55. Congo (Democratic)

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as DR Congo, DRC, DROC, RDC, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply Congo is a country located in Central Africa. 

Capital: Kinshasa

President: Joseph Kabila

Currency: Congolese franc

Prime minister: Augustin Matata Ponyo

Population: 67.51 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: French

56. Congo(Republic)

The Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo Republic, West Congo, or Congo-Brazzaville, is a country located in Central Africa. 

Capital: Brazzaville

Dialing code: +242

Continent: Africa

President: Denis Sassou Nguesso

Currency: Central African CFA franc

Official language: French

57. Cook Islands

The Cook Islands, the South Pacific archipelago nation, lies southwest of Tahiti. 

Capital: Avarua

Dialing code: +682

Population: 10,900 (Jun 2011)

Continent: Oceania

Currencies: New Zealand dollar, Cook Islands dollar

Official languages: English, Rarotongan

58. Coral Sea Islands

59. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a rugged, rainforested Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific. 

Capital: San José

Dialing code: +506

Currency: Costa Rican colón

Continent: North America

Official language: Spanish

60. Cote d'Ivoire

Côte d'Ivoire is a West African country with beach resorts, rainforests and a French-colonial legacy. 

Capital: Yamoussoukro

Dialing code: +225

ISO code: CIV

Currency: West African CFA franc

Population: 20.32 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: French

61. Croatia

Croatia is an Eastern European country with long coastlines on the Adriatic Sea, encompassing more than a thousand islands, crossed by the Dinaric Alps and dotted with castles. 

Capital: Zagreb

Currency: Croatian kuna

President: Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović

Prime minister: Zoran Milanović

Official language: Croatian

62. Cuba

Cuba, a large Caribbean island nation under communist rule, is known for its white-sand beaches, rolling mountains, cigars and rum. 

Capital: Havana

President: Raúl Castro

Prime minister: Raúl Castro

Population: 11.27 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Spanish

63. Cyprus

Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean, has rich, turbulent history stretching back to antiquity. 

Capital: Nicosia

Dialing code: +357

Currency: Euro

Continent: Europe

Population: 1.141 million (2013) World Bank

64. Czech Republic

The Czech Republic, in Central Europe, is known for its ornate castles, native beers and long history – from the Celtic and Germanic tribes of its founding to the Protestant Reformation and Communism. 

Capital: Prague

Dialing code: +420

ISO code: CZE

Currency: Czech koruna

President: Miloš Zeman

65. Denmark

Denmark is a country comprising the Jutland peninsula and its offshore islands, linking Northern Europe and Scandinavia via the Öresund bridge. 

Capital: Copenhagen

Dialing code: +45

Currency: Danish krone

Population: 5.614 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Danish

66. Dhekelia

Akrotiri and Dhekelia, officially the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, is a British Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus.

Area: 254 km²

Founded: 1960

Capital: Episkopi Cantonment

Status: British Overseas Territories

67. Djibouti

Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, is a mostly French- and Arabic-speaking country of dry shrublands, volcanic formations and Red Sea beaches. 

Capital: Djibouti

Dialing code: +253

Currency: Djiboutian franc

Population: 872,932 (2013) World Bank

President: Ismaïl Omar Guelleh

Continent: Africa 

68. Dominica

Dominica is a mountainous Caribbean island nation distinguished by geothermal hot springs. 

Capital: Roseau

Currency: East Caribbean dollar

Population: 72,003 (2013) World Bank

President: Charles Savarin

Official language: English

69. Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean nation that shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti to the west. 

Capital: Santo Domingo

Dialing code: +1

Currency: Dominican peso

Population: 10.4 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Spanish

70. Ecuador

Ecuador is a country straddling the equator on South America’s west coast. Its diverse landscape encompasses Amazon jungle, Andean highlands and the wildlife-rich Galápagos Islands.

Capital: Quito

Dialing code: +593

Currency: United States Dollar

President: Rafael Correa

Population: 15.74 million (2013) World Bank

71. Egypt

Egypt, a country linking northeast Africa with the Middle East, dates to the time of the pharaohs. 

Capital: Cairo

Dialing code: +20

Currency: Egyptian pound

President: Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

Continent: Africa

72. El Salvador

El Salvador is a tiny Central American nation known for its Pacific Ocean beaches, surfing and mountainous landscape. 

Capital: San Salvador

Founded: September 15, 1821

Currency: United States Dollar

Population: 6.34 million (2013) World Bank

President: Salvador Sánchez Cerén

73. equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea is a Central African country comprising the Rio Muni mainland and 5 volcanic offshore islands.

Capital: Malabo

President: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

Currency: Central African CFA franc

Prime minister: Vicente Ehate Tomi

Continent: Africa

Population: 757,014 (2013) World Bank

Official languages: French, Spanish, Portuguese

74. Eritrea

Eritrea, officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. With its capital at Asmara, it is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast. 

Capital: Asmara

President: Isaias Afwerki

Population: 6.333 million (2013) World Bank

Currency: Eritrean nakfa

Official languages: Tigrigna, English, Arabic

75. Estonia

Estonia, a country in Northern Europe, faces the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland.

Capital: Tallinn

Dialing code: +372

Currency: Euro

President: Toomas Hendrik Ilves

Official language: Estonian

76. Ethiopia

Ethiopia, in the Horn of Africa, is a rugged, landlocked country split by the Great Rift Valley.

Capital: Addis Ababa

Currency: Ethiopian birr

Population: 94.1 million (2013) World Bank

President: Mulatu Teshome

Official language: Amharic

77. Europa Island

Europa Island is a 28 km² low-lying tropical atoll in the Mozambique Channel, about a third of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique. The island has been a possession of France since 1897, but is also claimed by Madagascar.

Area: 28 km²

78. Falkland Islands (Islas malvinas)

The Falkland Islands, a remote South Atlantic archipelago, is a British overseas territory. WIth rugged terrain and cliff-lined coasts, its 778 islands and islets are home to sheep farms and abundant birdlife. The capital, Stanley, sits on East Falkland, the largest island. 

Capital: Stanley

Area: 12,173 km²

Population: 2,932 (2012)

Currency: Falkland Islands pound

Continent: South America

Official language: English

79. Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands is a self-governing archipelago, part of the Kingdom of Denmark. 

Capital: Tórshavn

Population: 49,469 (2013) World Bank

Prime minister: Kaj Leo Johannesen

Currencies: Faroese króna, Danish krone

Official languages: Danish, Faroese

80. Fiji

Fiji, a country in the South Pacific, is an archipelago of more than 300 islands.

Capital: Suva

Currency: Fijian dollar

Population: 881,065 (2013) World Bank

Continent: Australasia, Oceania

Official languages: English, Fijian, Fiji Hindi

81. Findland

Finland is a Northern European nation bordering Sweden and Russia.

Capital: Helsinki

Dialing code: +358

Currency: Euro

Population: 5.439 million (2013) World Bank

Official languages: Swedish, Finnish

82. France

France, in Western Europe, encompasses medieval and port cities, tranquil villages, mountains and Mediterranean beaches. 

Capital: Paris

Dialing code: +33

ISO code: FRA

President: François Hollande

Prime minister: Manuel Valls

Population: 66.03 million (2013) World Bank

83. French Guiana

French Guiana is an overseas region of France on the northeast coast of South America, composed mainly of tropical rainforest. 

Dialing code: +594

Area: 83,534 km²

Capital: Cayenne

Population: 250,377 (Jan 1, 2014)

Continent: South America

University: University of French Guiana

84. French Polynesia

French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France, comprises 118 dispersed islands in the South Pacific, stretching for more than 2,000km.

Capital: Papeete

Dialing code: +689

ISO code: PYF

Currency: CFP franc

Continent: Oceania

Official language: French

85. French Southern and Antarctic Lands

The French Southern and Antarctic Lands, in full the Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands is an overseas territory of France. 

Area: 439,781 km²

Founded: 1955

Capital: Saint-Pierre, Réunion

Internet tld: .tf

86. Gabon

Gabon, a country along the Atlantic coast of Equatorial Africa, has protected parkland that makes up more than 10% of its area. 

Capital: Libreville

President: Ali Bongo Ondimba

Currency: Central African CFA franc

Prime minister: Daniel Ona Ondo

Population: 1.672 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: French

87. Gambia

The Gambia is a small West African country, bounded by Senegal, with a narrow Atlantic coastline. 

Capital: Banjul

President: Yahya Jammeh

Currency: Gambian dalasi

Population: 1.849 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: English

88. Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a pene-exclave region of the State of Palestine on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border. 

Area: 360 km²

Founded: 1949

Population: 1.816 million (2014)

GDP per capita: 6,100.00 USD (2014)

Gross domestic product: 6.641 billion USD (2008)

Largest city: Gaza City

89. Georgia

Georgia (Country)

Capital: Tbilisi

Currency: Georgian lari

Georgia (US State)

Capital: Atlanta

Secretary of State: Brian P. Kemp

90. Germany

Germany,Country in Europe,Germany is a Western European country with a terrain of vast forests, rivers and mountain ranges, and 2 millennia of history. 

Capital: Berlin

Dialing code: +49

Currency: Euro

Population: 80.62 million (2013) World Bank

Chancellor: Angela Merkel

91. Guinea

Guinea,Country in West Africa, Guinea /ˈɡɪni/, officially the Republic of Guinea, is a country in West Africa. 

Capital: Conakry

President: Alpha Condé

Prime minister: Mohamed Said Fofana

Population: 11.75 million (2013) World Bank

Currency: Guinean franc

Official language: French

92. Ghana

Ghana,Country in West Africa,Ghana, a nation on West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, is known for diverse wildlife, old forts and secluded beaches, such as at Busua. 

Capital: Accra

Dialing code: +233

Currency: Ghanaian cedi

President: John Dramani Mahama

Official language: English

93. Gibraltar

Gibraltar,British Overseas Territory, Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory on the south coast of Spain known for the Rock of Gibraltar, a 426m limestone ridge at its centre. Gibraltar occupies 7 sq. km of a peninsula bordered to the north by the region of Andalusia. First settled by Moors in the Middle Ages and later ruled by Spain, the outpost was joined to Britain in 1713.

Area: 6.8 km²

Dialing code: +350

Population: 30,001 (2012) UNdata

Continent: Europe

Currencies: Pound sterling, Gibraltar pound

Government: Constitutional monarchy, Parliamentary system

94. Glorioso Islands

Glorioso Islands,Group of islands in France,The Glorieuses or Glorioso Islands are a group of French islands and rocks totalling 5 square kilometres, at 11°33′S 47°20′E / 11.550°S 47.333°E, in the northern Mozambique channel, about 160 kilometres northwest of Madagascar. 

Islands: Grande Glorieuse, Île du Lys

95. Greece

Greece,Country in Europe.Greece is a country in southeastern Europe consisting of 2 mainland peninsulas and thousands of islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. 

Capital: Athens

Prime minister: Alexis Tsipras

Government debt: 175.1% of GDP (2013) Eurostat

Currency: Euro

Population: 11.03 million (2013) World Bank

96. Greenland

Greenland, a massive island and autonomous Danish territory between the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans, is about 80% covered in ice.

Capital: Nuuk

Area: 2.166 million km²

Population: 56,483 (2013) World Bank

Continent: North America

Currency: Danish krone

Queen: Margrethe II of Denmark

97. Grenada

Grenada,Country in the Caribbean.Grenada is a Caribbean country comprising a main island, also called Grenada, and 6 smaller surrounding islands. Dubbed the “Spice Isle,” the hilly main island is home to numerous nutmeg plantations. It’s also site of the capital, St. George’s, whose colourful homes, Georgian buildings and early-18th-century Fort George overlook narrow Carenage Harbour. To the south is Grand Anse Beach, with resorts and bars.

Capital: St. George's

Currency: East Caribbean dollar

Continent: North America

Population: 105,897 (2013) World Bank

University: St. George's University

98. Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe, French Department.Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory, is an island group in the southern Caribbean Sea. Resembling a butterfly, its 2 largest islands are separated by the Salée River. 

Capital: Basse-Terre

Dialing code: +590

Population: 403,750 (Jan 1, 2014)

Currency: Euro

Continent: North America

Official language: French

99. Guam

Guam is a U.S. island territory in Micronesia, in the Western Pacific. It's distinguished by its tropical beaches, Chamorro villages and ancient latte stones (stone pillars). 

Capital: Hagåtña

Area: 549 km²

Dialing code: +1

Continent: Oceania

Population: 165,124 (2013) World Bank

100. Guatemala

Guatemala Country in Central America.Guatemala, a Central American country south of Mexico, is distinguished by its steep volcanoes, vast rainforests and ancient Mayan sites. 

Capital: Guatemala City

Dialing code: +502

President: Alejandro Maldonado

Currency: Guatemalan quetzal

Population: 15.47 million (2013) World Bank

101. Guernsey

Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey, is a possession of the British Crown in right of Guernsey in the English Channel, off the coast of Normandy.

Capital: Saint Peter Port

Area: 78 km²

Dialing code: +44

ISO code: GGY

Population: 65,849 (2014)

Currencies: Guernsey pound, Pound sterling

102. Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau Country in West Africa.Guinea-Bissau is a tropical country on West Africa’s Atlantic coast that’s known for national parks and wildlife. The forested, sparsely populated Bijagós archipelago is a protected biosphere reserve. 

Capital: Bissau

President: José Mário Vaz

Currency: West African CFA franc

Prime minister: Carlos Correia

Official language: Portuguese

Points of interest: Orango Islands National Park, 

103. Guyana

Guyana Country in South America.Guyana, a country on South America’s North Atlantic coast, is defined by its dense rainforest. English-speaking, with strong traditions of cricket and calypso music, it's culturally connected to the Caribbean region. 

Capital: Georgetown

President: David A. Granger

Prime minister: Moses Nagamootoo

Currency: Guyanese dollar

Official language: English

104. Haiti

Haiti Country in the Caribbean.Haiti is a Caribbean country that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic to its east. Though it’s still recovering from a 2010 earthquake, many of Haiti's landmarks dating to the early 19th century remain intact. These include Citadelle la Ferrière, a mountaintop fortress, and the nearby ruins of Sans-Souci Palace, the baroque former royal home of King Henry I.

Capital: Port-au-Prince

Currency: Haitian gourde

President: Michel Martelly

Prime minister: Evans Paul

Population: 10.32 million (2013) World Bank

105. Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Heard Island and McDonald Islands Group of islands in Australia.The Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands are an Australian external territory and volcanic group of barren Antarctic islands, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica. 

Elevation: 2,745 m

Islands: Heard Island, MacDonald Island

106. Holy See(Vatican City)

Vatican City Country in Europe.Vatican City, a city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy, is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. It's home to the pope and a trove of iconic art and architecture. 

Area: 44 ha

Founded: February 11, 1929

Population: 451 (2012) UNdata

Currency: Euro

Continent: Europe

Getting there: 11 h 15 min flight. View flights

President: Giuseppe Bertello

107. Honduras

Honduras Country in Central America.Honduras is a Central American country with Caribbean Sea coastlines to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south (via the Gulf of Fonseca). In the jungle near Guatemala, the ancient Mayan ceremonial site Copán has stone-carved hieroglyphics and stelae, tall stone monuments. Offshore lie the Bay Islands, part of a massive barrier reef, which are popular for scuba diving.

Capital: Tegucigalpa

Founded: September 15, 1821

Currency: Honduran lempira

Population: 8.098 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Spanish

108. Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a city, and former British colony, in southeastern China. Vibrant and densely populated, it’s a major port and global financial center famed for its tower-studded skyline. 

Dialing code: +852

ISO code: HKG

Weather: 26°C, Wind SE at 21 km/h, 78% Humidity

Local time: Monday 3:19 PM

Getting there: 3 h 45 min flight. View flights

Population: 7.188 million (2013) World Bank

109. Hungary

Hungary Country in Europe.Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Its capital, Budapest, is bisected by the Danube River and famed for its dramatic cityscape studded with architectural landmarks from Buda’s medieval Castle Hill and the grand neoclassical buildings along Pest’s Andrássy Avenue to the 19th-century Chain Bridge. The country has a long, rich history, and its culture reflects Roman, Turkish, Slavic and Magyar influences.

Capital: Budapest

Currency: Hungarian forint

Prime minister: Viktor Orbán

President: János Áder

Official language: Hungarian

110. Iceland

Iceland Country in Europe.Iceland, a Nordic island nation, is defined by its dramatic volcanic landscape of geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, glaciers and black-sand beaches. 

Capital: Reykjavik

Currency: Icelandic króna

Population: 323,002 (2013) World Bank

Continent: Europe

Official language: Icelandic

111. India

India Country in South Asia.India is a vast South Asian country with diverse terrain – from Himalayan peaks to Indian Ocean coastline – and history reaching back 5 millennia. 

Capital: New Delhi

Founded: August 15, 1947

Prime minister: Narendra Modi

President: Pranab Mukherjee

Population: 1.252 billion (2013) World Bank

112. Indonesia

Indonesia, a Southeast Asian nation made up of thousands of volcanic islands, is home to hundreds of ethnic groups speaking many different languages. 

Capital: Jakarta

Dialing code: +62

Currency: Indonesian rupiah

Population: 249.9 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Indonesian

113. Iran

Iran, Country in the Middle East.Iran is an Islamic republic on the Persian Gulf with historical sites dating to the Persian Empire. 

Capital: Tehran

Supreme leader: Ali Khamenei

Currency: Iranian rial

President: Hassan Rouhani

Population: 77.45 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Persian

114. Iraq

Iraq, Country in the Middle East.Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in Western Asia. The country borders Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait to the southeast, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the southwest, and Syria to the west.

Capital: Baghdad

President: Fuad Masum

Prime minister: Haider al-Abadi

Population: 33.42 million (2013) World Bank

Currency: Iraqi dinar

Continent: Asia

115. Ireland

Ireland Island in Europe.Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. 

Area: 84,421 km²

Island group: British Isles

116. Isle Of Man

The Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown dependency in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland. It’s known for its rugged coastline, medieval castles and rural landscape, rising to a mountainous center. In the capital, Douglas, the Manx Museum traces the island’s Celtic and Viking heritage. The Isle of Man TT is a major annual cross-country motorcycle race around the island.

Capital: Douglas

Area: 572 km²

Dialing code: +44

Population: 85,888 (2013) World Bank

Currencies: Pound sterling, Manx pound

117. Israel

Israel, Country in the Middle East.Israel, a Middle Eastern country on the Mediterranean Sea, is regarded by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the biblical Holy Land. 

Capital: Jerusalem

Dialing code: +972

Currency: Israeli new shekel

Prime minister: Benjamin Netanyahu

President: Reuven Rivlin

Continent: Asia

118. Italy

Italy,Country in Europe.Italy, commanding a long Mediterranean coastline, has left a powerful mark on Western culture and cuisine. Its capital, Rome, is home to the Vatican as well as landmark art and ancient ruins.

Capital: Rome

Dialing code: +39

Currency: Euro

Population: 59.83 million (2013) World Bank

President: Sergio Mattarella

119. Jamaica

Jamaica,Country in the Caribbean.Jamaica, a Caribbean island nation, has a lush topography of mountains, rainforests and reef-lined beaches. Many of its all-inclusive resorts are clustered in vibrant Montego Bay, with its British colonial architecture, and Negril, renowned for diving and snorkelling. Jamaica is famed as the birthplace of reggae, and its capital Kingston is home to the Bob Marley Museum, dedicated to the city’s most famous son.

Capital: Kingston

Founded: August 6, 1962

Currency: Jamaican dollar

Population: 2.715 million (2013) World Bank

Continent: North America

120. Jan Mayen

Jan Mayen, Island in Svalbard and Jan Mayen.Jan Mayen is a volcanic island in the Arctic Ocean and a part of the Kingdom of Norway. It is 55 km long and 373 km² in area, partly covered by glaciers.

Elevation: 2,277 m

Area: 373 km²

121. Japan

Japan,Country in East Asia.Japan is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean with high-rise-filled cities, imperial palaces, mountainous national parks and thousands of shrines and temples. 

Capital: Tokyo

Population: 127.3 million (2013) World Bank

Emperor: Akihito

Currency: Japanese yen

Prime minister: Shinzō Abe

122. Jersey

Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands, between England and France. An independent, English-speaking territory with a mix of British and French cultures, it’s known for its beaches, walking trails along cliffs and inland valleys, as well as its defensive castles. 

Capital: Saint Helier

Area: 119.5 km²

Dialing code: +44

ISO code: JEY

Continent: Europe

Currencies: Pound sterling, Jersey pound

123. Jordan

Jordan,Country in the Middle East.Jordan, an Arab nation on the east bank of the Jordan River, is defined by ancient monuments, nature reserves and seaside resorts. 

Capital: Amman

Dialing code: +962

King: Abdullah II of Jordan

Currency: Jordanian dinar

Population: 6.459 million (2013) World Bank

124. Juan de Nova Island

125. Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan,Country in Asia.Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country and former Soviet republic, extends from the Caspian Sea in the west to the Altai Mountains at its eastern border with China and Russia. 

Capital: Astana

Dialing code: +7

Currency: Kazakhstani tenge

President: Nursultan Nazarbayev

Prime minister: Karim Massimov

126. Kenya

Kenya,Country in Africa.Kenya is a country in East Africa with coastline on the Indian Ocean. It encompasses savannah, lakelands, the dramatic Great Rift Valley, mountain highlands and abundant wildlife such as lions, elephants and rhinos. 

Capital: Nairobi

Dialing code: +254

President: Uhuru Kenyatta

Currency: Kenyan shilling

Population: 44.35 million (2013) World Bank

127. Kiribari

Kiribati,Country in Oceania.Kiribati, an island republic in the Central Pacific, comprises 33 coral atolls stretching along the equator. With lagoons and white-sand beaches, many of its islands are uninhabited, offering a remote setting for fishing, diving and bird-watching. The crowded capital, South Tarawa, made up of small islets, retains remnants of WWII battles fought on its shores, and is known for folk dancing and handicrafts.

Capital: South Tarawa

Continent: Oceania

Population: 102,351 (2013) World Bank

President: Anote Tong

Points of interest: Ambo Lagoon Club, Te Umanibong, Fenua-ura, more

Currencies: Australian dollar, Kiribati dollar

Official languages: English, Kiribati

128. Korea (North)

North Korea,Country in East Asia.North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia, in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. The name Korea is derived from the Kingdom of Goguryeo, also spelled as Koryŏ. Wikipedia

Capital: Pyongyang

Supreme leader: Kim Jong-un

Premier: Pak Pong-ju

Population: 24.9 million (2013) World Bank

Currency: North Korean won

129. Korea (South)

South Korea,Country in East Asia.South Korea, an East Asian nation on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, shares one of the world’s most heavily militarized borders with North Korea. It’s equally known for its green, hilly countryside dotted with cherry trees and centuries-old Buddhist temples, plus its coastal fishing villages, tropical islands and high-tech cities such as Seoul, the capital.

Capital: Seoul

President: Park Geun-hye

Currency: South Korean won

Prime minister: Hwang Kyo-ahn

Population: 50.22 million (2013) World Bank

130. Kuwait

Kuwait,Country in the Middle East.Kuwait, an Arab country on the Persian Gulf, has cultural heritage dating back to antiquity. Ruins from the Mesopotamian era can be seen on its Failaka Island, a former outpost of Alexander the Great’s army. Failaka is just offshore from Kuwait City, the modern capital, home to the National Museum and Tareq Rajab Museum and their collections of ethnographic artifacts and Islamic art.

Capital: Kuwait City

Dialing code: +965

ISO code: KWT

Currency: Kuwaiti dinar

Population: 3.369 million (2013) World Bank

131. Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan,Country in Asia.Kyrgyzstan is a rugged Central Asian country along the Silk Road, the ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean. The Tian Shan mountains, which surround the old caravan route and dominate the country, are home to snow leopards, lynx and sheep. In the south, the millennia-old city of Osh has a huge, busy bazaar that was a stop on the Silk Road.

Capital: Bishkek

Currency: Kyrgyzstani som

President: Almazbek Atambayev

Prime minister: Temir Sariyev

Population: 5.72 million (2013) World Bank

132. Laos

Laos,Country in Asia.Laos is a Southeast Asian country traversed by the Mekong River and known for its mountainous terrain, French colonial architecture, hill tribe settlements and Buddhist monasteries. Capital: Vientiane

Dialing code: +856

Currency: Lao kip

Population: 6.77 million (2013) World Bank

Continent: Asia

133. Latvia

Laos,Country in Asia.Laos is a Southeast Asian country traversed by the Mekong River and known for its mountainous terrain, French colonial architecture, hill tribe settlements and Buddhist monasteries. Capital: Vientiane

Dialing code: +856

Currency: Lao kip

Population: 6.77 million (2013) World Bank

Continent: Asia

134. Lebanon

Lebanon,Country in the Middle East.Lebanon, officially the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south. 

Capital: Beirut

Dialing code: +961

Currency: Lebanese pound

Continent: Asia

Official language: Arabic

135. Lesotho

Lesotho,Country in Southern Africa.Lesotho, a high-altitude, landlocked kingdom encircled by South Africa, is crisscrossed by a network of rivers and mountain ranges including the 3,500m-high peaks of Thabana Ntlenyana. On the Thaba Bosiu plateau, near Lesotho's capital, Maseru, are ruins dating from the 19th-century reign of King Moshoeshoe. Thaba Bosiu overlooks iconic Mt. Qiloane, an enduring symbol of the nation’s Basotho people.

Capital: Maseru

Dialing code: +266

Currency: Lesotho loti

King: Letsie III of Lesotho

Prime minister: Pakalitha Mosisili

Population: 2.074 million (2013) World Bank

136. Liberia

Liberia,Country in West Africa.Liberia /laɪˈbɪəriə/, Cape Mesurado, Grain Coast, Pepper Coast, or, commonly and officially referred to as the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. Liberia means "Land of the Free." 

Capital: Monrovia

Founded: 1821

President: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Currency: Liberian dollar

Population: 4.294 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: English

137. Libya

Libya,Country in North Africa.Libya is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west. 

Capital: Tripoli

Dialing code: +218

Currency: Libyan dinar

Prime minister: Abdullah al-Thani

Population: 6.202 million (2013) World Bank

Continent: Africa

138. Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein,Country in Europe.Liechtenstein is a German-speaking, 25km-long principality between Austria and Switzerland. It’s known for its medieval castles, alpine chalets and villages linked by a network of trails. The capital, Vaduz, a cultural and economic center, is home to the Kunstmuseum, a sleek museum displaying modern and contemporary art. The Postal Museum displays a selection of Liechtenstein’s postage stamps, which are popular with collectors.

Capital: Vaduz

Area: 160 km²

Currency: Swiss franc

Population: 36,925 (2013) World Bank

Official language: German

139. Lithuania

Lithuania,Country in Europe.Lithuania is a country and the southernmost of Europe’s Baltic states, a former Soviet bloc nation that borders Poland, Latvia and Belarus. Its capital, Vilnius, near the Belarus border, is known for its medieval Old Town, subsequent Gothic, Renaissance and baroque architecture, and its 18th-century cathedral. Hilltop Gediminas' Tower, a symbol of the city and the nation, offers sweeping views.

Capital: Vilnius

Dialing code: +370

Currency: Euro

Population: 2.956 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Lithuanian

140. Luxembourg

Luxembourg,Country in Europe.Luxembourg is a tiny European country, bordered by Belgium, France and Germany. It’s mostly rural, with dense Ardennes forest and nature parks in the north, and the Moselle river valley in the southeast. The rocky gorges of the eastern Mullerthal region earned it the nickname “Little Switzerland.” Its capital, Luxembourg City, is famed for its fortified medieval old town perched on sheer cliffs.

Capital: Luxembourg City

Dialing code: +352

ISO code: LUX

Currency: Euro

Population: 543,202 (2013) World Bank

Official languages: German, French, Luxembourgish

141. Macau

Macau,City in China.Macau is a small peninsula in mainland China, across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong. A Portuguese overseas territory until 1999, it reflects a mix of Portuguese and Chinese influences. Its giant casinos and extravagant malls have earned it the nickname, the "Las Vegas of Asia." One of its more striking landmarks is 338m-high Macau Tower, with sweeping city views.

Dialing code: +853

ISO code: MAC

Weather: 22°C, Wind N at 32 km/h, 73% Humidity

Currency: Macanese pataca

Local time: Sunday 1:49 PM

Population: 566,375 (2013) World Bank

142. Macedonia

Macedonia (FYROM), Country in the Balkans.Macedonia is a landlocked Balkan nation of mountains, lakes and ancient towns with Ottoman and European architecture. The capital, Skopje, is known for its sprawling Old Bazaar quarter and historic buildings turned museums, including the National Gallery of Macedonia, housed in a 15th-century Turkish bath complex. The southern city Ohrid, on a lake of the same name, has a medieval townscape and hilltop castle.

Capital: Skopje

Dialing code: +389

Currency: Macedonian denar

Population: 2.107 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Macedonian

143. Madagascar

Madagascar,Country in Africa.Madagascar, a huge island nation off the southeast coast of Africa, is home to thousands of animal species – like lemurs – found nowhere else, plus rainforests, beaches and reefs. Near the busy capital, Antananarivo, is Ambohimanga, a hillside complex of royal palaces and burial grounds, as well as the “Avenue of the Baobabs,” a dirt road lined by massive centuries-old trees.

Capital: Antananarivo

Currency: Malagasy ariary

Population: 22.92 million (2013) World Bank

Continent: Africa

Official languages: Malagasy, French

144. Malawi

Malawi,Country in Africa.Malawi, a landlocked country in southeastern Africa, is defined by its topography of highlands split by the Great Rift Valley and enormous Lake Malawi. The lake’s southern end falls within Lake Malawi National Park – sheltering diverse wildlife from colorful fish to baboons – and its clear waters are popular for diving and boating. Peninsular Cape Maclear is known for its beach resorts.

Capital: Lilongwe

Currency: Malawian kwacha

President: Peter Mutharika

Population: 16.36 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: English

145. Malaysia

Malaysia,Country in Asia.Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country occupying the Malaysian Peninsula and part of the island of Borneo. It's known for its beaches, rainforests and mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European influences. The sprawling capital, Kuala Lumpur, is home to colonial buildings, busy shopping districts such as Bukit Bintang and skyscrapers including the iconic, 451m-tall Petronas Twin Towers.

Capital: Kuala Lumpur

Dialing code: +60

Currency: Malaysian ringgit

Prime minister: Najib Razak

King: Abdul Halim of Kedah

146. Maldives

Maldives,Country in South Asia.The Maldives is a tropical nation in the Indian Ocean composed of 26 coral atolls, which are made up of hundreds of islands. It’s known for its beaches, blue lagoons and extensive reefs. The capital, Malé, has a busy fish market, restaurants and shops on Majeedhee Magu and 17th-century Hukuru Miskiy (also known as Old Friday Mosque) made of coral stone.

Capital: Malé

Dialing code: +960

Continent: Asia

President: Abdulla Yameen

Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa

Official language: Dhivehi

147. Mali

Mali,Country in West Africa.Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa, with an area of just over 1,240,000 square kilometres. 

Capital: Bamako

Currency: West African CFA franc

Population: 15.3 million (2013) World Bank

Continent: Africa

President: Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta

Official language: French

148. Malta

Malta,Country in Europe.Malta, an archipelago in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast, is a nation known for historic sites related to a succession of rulers including the Romans, Moors, Knights of St. John, French and British. It has numerous fortresses, megalithic temples and the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, a subterranean complex of halls and burial chambers dating to 3600 B.C.E.

Capital: Valletta

Dialing code: +356

Currency: Euro

Population: 423,282 (2013) World Bank

Continent: Europe

149. Marshall islands

Marshall Islands,Country in Oceania.The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands, is an island country located near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, slightly west of the International Date Line.

Capital: Majuro

Population: 52,634 (2013) World Bank

Continent: Oceania

Currency: United States Dollar

President: Christopher Loeak

150. Martinique

Martinique, a rugged Caribbean island that’s part of the Lesser Antilles and an overseas region of France, reflects a distinctive blend of French and West Indian cultures. Its largest town, Fort-de-France, features steep hills, narrow streets and La Savane, a garden bordered by shops and cafes, with a statue of island native Joséphine de Beauharnais, first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, at its center.

Capital: Fort-de-France

Dialing code: +596

ISO code: MTQ

Currency: Euro

Population: 386,486 (Jan 1, 2013)

Official language: French

151. Mauritania

Mauritania,Country in Africa.Mauritania /mɔːrɪˈteɪniə/, officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country in the Maghreb region of western North Africa.

Capital: Nouakchott

Currency: Mauritanian ouguiya

Population: 3.89 million (2013) World Bank

Continent: Africa

President: Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz

Official language: Arabic

152. Mauritius

Mauritius,Country in East Africa.Mauritius, a volcanic island nation in the Indian Ocean, is known for its beaches, lagoons and reefs. The mountainous interior encompasses Black River Gorges National Park, with rainforests, waterfalls, hiking trails and native fauna like the flying fox. The capital, Port Louis, blends foreign influences and offers sites such as the Champs de Mars horse track, colonial Eureka plantation and 18th-century botanical garden.

Capital: Port Louis

Dialing code: +230

Currency: Mauritian rupee

Continent: Africa

Prime minister: Anerood Jugnauth

President: Ameenah Gurib

153. Mayotte

Mayotte is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and the coast of Mozambique. It’s a department and region of France, and its residents are French citizens, but traditional Mayotte culture is most closely related to that of the neighboring Comoros islands. The islands are surrounded by a coral barrier reef, which shelters a lagoon and marine reserve popular with divers.

Capital: Mamoudzou

Dialing code: +262

ISO code: MYT

Population: 212,645 (Aug 2012)

Currency: Euro

Official language: French

154. Mexico

Mexico,Country in North America.Mexico is a country between the U.S. and Central America beaches on its Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coastlines and a diverse landscape of mountains, deserts and jungles. Ancient ruins such as Teotihuacan (Aztec) and Chichen Itza (Mayan) are scattered throughout the country, as are Spanish colonial-era towns. In capital Mexico City, upscale shops, renowned museums and gourmet restaurants cater to modern life.

Capital: Mexico City

Founded: September 27, 1821

Currency: Mexican peso

President: Enrique Peña Nieto

Population: 122.3 million (2013) World Bank

155. Micronesia

Micronesia,Archipelago in Oceania.Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It has a shared cultural history with two other island regions, Polynesia to the east and Melanesia to the south. 

Islands: Eot, Ta (island)

156. Moldova

Moldova,Country in Europe.Moldova, an Eastern European country and former Soviet republic, has terrain encompassing forests, rocky hills and vineyards. It shares linguistic and cultural roots with its neighbor, Romania. Its wine regions include Nistreana, known for its reds, and Codru, home to some of the world’s largest cellars. 

Capital: Chișinău

Dialing code: +373

Currency: Moldovan leu

Population: 3.559 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Romanian

157. Monaco

Monaco,Country in Europe.Monaco is an independent microstate on France’s Mediterranean coastline known for its glitzy casinos, yacht-lined harbor and prestigious Grand Prix motor race, which runs through Monaco’s streets once a year. Monte Carlo, its major district, has an elegant belle epoque casino complex, ornate opera house and luxe hotels, boutiques, nightclubs and French and Italian restaurants.

Area: 202 ha

King: Albert II, Prince of Monaco

Population: 37,831 (2013) World Bank

Currency: Euro

GDP per capita: 163,025.86 USD (2011) World Bank

Official language: French

158. Mongolia

Mongolia,Country in East Asia.Mongolia, a nation bordered by China and Russia, is known for its vast, rugged expanses and its nomadic people. Its capital, Ulaanbaatar, centers around Chinggis Khaan (Genghis Khan) Square, named for the notorious founder of the 13th- and 14th-century Mongol Empire. Also in Ulaanbaatar are the National Museum, displaying historic and ethnographic artifacts, and the restored 1830 Gandantegchinlen Monastery.

Capital: Ulaanbaatar

Population: 2.839 million (2013) World Bank

President: Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj

Prime minister: Chimed Saikhanbileg

Continent: Asia

159. Montserrat

Montserrat,British Overseas Territory.Montserrat is a mountainous Caribbean island, part of the Lesser Antilles chain and a British Overseas Territory. Its Soufrière Hills volcano erupted in the 1990s, causing significant damage to the south of the island and leading to the creation of an exclusion zone. The north of the island is largely unaffected, and has black-sand beaches, coral reefs, cliffs and shoreline caves.

Capitals: Brades, Plymouth

Dialing code: +1

Population: 4,900 (2012)

Continent: North America

Currency: East Caribbean dollar

Premier: Donaldson Romeo

Official language: English

160. Morocco

Morocco,Country in Africa.Morocco, a North African country bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, is distinguished by its Berber, Arabian and European cultural influences. Marrakesh’s walled medina, a mazelike medieval quarter, offers entertainment in its Djemaa el-Fna square and souks (marketplaces) selling traditional ceramics, jewelry and metal lanterns. The capital Rabat’s Kasbah of the Udayas is a 12th-century royal fort overlooking the water.

Capital: Rabat

Dialing code: +212

Currency: Moroccan dirham

Continent: Africa

Official language: Arabic

161. Mozambique

Mozambique,Country in Africa.Mozambique is a southern African nation whose long Indian Ocean coastline is dotted with popular beaches like Tofo, as well as offshore marine parks. In the Quirimbas Archipelago, a 250km stretch of coral islands, mangrove-covered Ibo Island has colonial-era ruins. It's also a diving and snorkeling destination, as is Bazaruto Archipelago farther south, with reefs protecting rare marine life including dugongs.  

Capital: Maputo

Dialing code: +258

Currency: Mozambican metical

President: Filipe Nyusi

Prime minister: Carlos Agostinho do Rosário

162. Namibia

Namibia,Country in Southern Africa.Namibia, a country in southwest Africa, is distinguished by the Namib desert along the Atlantic Ocean coast. The country is home to diverse wildlife, including a significant cheetah population. The capital, Windhoek, and coastal town Swakopmund contain German colonial-era buildings such as Windhoek's Christuskirche, built in 1907. In the north, Etosha National Park’s sprawling salt pan draws game including rhinos and giraffes.

Capital: Windhoek

Dialing code: +264

Currency: Namibian dollar

President: Hage Geingob

Prime minister: Saara Kuugongelwa

163. Nauru

Nauru,Country in Oceania.Nauru, officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the Central Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, 300 kilometres to the east.

Capital: Yaren District

Area: 21 km²

Population: 10,084 (Oct 2011)

President: Baron Waqa

Currency: Australian dollar

Continent: Oceania

164. Navassa Island

Navassa Island is a small, uninhabited island in the Caribbean Sea. It is administered as unorganized unincorporated territory of the United States, which administers it through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Area: 5.4 km²

165. Nepal

Nepal,Country in South Asia.Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country located in South Asia. 

Capital: Kathmandu

Currency: Nepalese rupee

Population: 27.8 million (2013) World Bank

Prime minister: Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli

Official language: Nepali

166. Netherlands

Netherlands,Country in Europe.The Netherlands, a country in northwestern Europe, is known for its flat landscape, canals, tulip fields, windmills and cycling routes. Amsterdam, the capital, is home to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, the house where Jewish diarist Anne Frank hid during WWII and a red light district. Canalside mansions and a trove of works from artists including Rembrandt and Vermeer remain from the 17th-century "Golden Age."

Capital: Amsterdam

Dialing code: +31

Currency: Euro

Population: 16.8 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Dutch

167. Netherlands Antilles

Netherlands Antilles,Country.The Netherlands Antilles were a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands consisting of several island territories located in the Caribbean. They were also informally known as the Dutch Antilles.

Capital: Willemstad

Dialing code: +599

National anthem: Anthem without a title

GDP per capita: 16,000.00 USD (2004)

Government: Constitutional monarchy

Population: 227,049 (2009)

Currencies: Dutch guilder, Netherlands Antillean guilder

168. New Calesonia

New Caledonia,Territory.New Caledonia, a French territory comprising dozens of islands in the South Pacific, is known for its palm-lined beaches and marine-life-rich lagoon, which, at 24,000-sq.-km, is among the world's largest. A massive barrier reef surrounds the archipelago’s main island, Grand Terre, a major scuba-diving destination. Also on Grand Terre is the capital, Nouméa, with French-influenced cuisine and luxury boutiques selling Parisian fashions.

Capital: Nouméa

Dialing code: +687

Currency: CFP franc

Population: 262,000 (2013) World Bank

Official language: French

169. New Zealand

New Zealand,Country in Oceania.New Zealand is a country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean consisting of 2 main islands, both marked by volcanoes and glaciation. Capital Wellington, on the North Island, is home to Te Papa Tongarewa, the expansive national museum. Wellington’s dramatic Mt. Victoria and the South Island’s Fiordland and Southern Lakes stood in for mythical Middle Earth in Peter Jackson’s "Lord of the Rings" films.

Capital: Wellington

Dialing code: +64

Population: 4.471 million (2013) World Bank

Currency: New Zealand dollar

Continent: Oceania

170. Nicaragua

Nicaragua,Country in Central America.Nicaragua, set between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, is a Central American nation known for its dramatic terrain of lakes, volcanoes and beaches. Vast Lake Managua and the iconic stratovolcano Momotombo sit north of the capital Managua. To its south is Granada, noted for its Spanish colonial architecture and archipelago of islets, popular for sailing and bird-watching.

Capital: Managua

Founded: September 15, 1821

Currency: Nicaraguan córdoba

President: Daniel Ortega

Continent: North America

171. Niger

Niger,Country in Africa.Niger, officially the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River.

Capital: Niamey

Population: 17.83 million (2013) World Bank

Currency: West African CFA franc

President: Mahamadou Issoufou

Life expectancy: 57.97 years (2012) World Bank

Official language: French

172. Nigeria

Nigeria,Country in West Africa.Nigeria, an African country on the Gulf of Guinea, is known for its natural landmarks and wildlife reserves. Safari destinations such as Cross River National Park and Yankari National Park showcase waterfalls, dense rainforest, savanna and rare primate habitats. One of its most recognizable sites is Zuma Rock, a 725m-tall monolith outside the capital of Abuja that’s pictured on the national currency.

Capital: Abuja

Dialing code: +234

President: Muhammadu Buhari

Currency: Nigerian naira

Population: 173.6 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: English

173. Nire

174. Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island,Territory.Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia, 1,412 kilometres directly east of mainland Australia's Evans Head, and about 900 kilometres from Lord Howe Island. 

Capital: Kingston

Area: 34.6 km²

Dialing code: +672

Population: 2,210 (Jul 2014)

Currency: Australian dollar

Continent: Oceania

Official languages: English, Norfuk

175. Northern Mariana Islands

Northern Mariana Islands,Territory.The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, is one of five inhabited American insular areas. It is one of two territories with "commonwealth" status; the other is Puerto Rico.

Capital: Saipan

Dialing code: +1

ISO code: MNP

Population: 53,855 (2013) World Bank

Continent: Oceania

University: Northern Marianas College

176. Norway

Norway,Country in Europe.Norway is a Scandinavian country encompassing mountains, glaciers and deep coastal fjords. Oslo, the capital, is a city of green spaces and museums, including the Edvard Munch Museum and the Norsk Folkemuseum, a collection of open-air historic buildings. Preserved 10th-century Viking ships are displayed at the Vikingskipshuset. Norway is also known for fishing, hiking and skiing – notably at Lillehammer’s Olympic resort.

Capital: Oslo

Dialing code: +47

Currency: Norwegian krone

Population: 5.084 million (2013) World Bank

Colleges and Universities: University of Oslo, more

178. Oman

Oman,Country in the Middle East.Oman, a nation on the Arabian Peninsula, has terrain encompassing desert, riverbed oases and long coastlines on the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. Wahiba Sands is a region of dunes inhabited by Bedouins. The port capital, Muscat, is home to the massive, contemporary Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, and the old waterfront Muttrah quarter, with its labyrinthine souk and busy fish market.

Capital: Muscat

Dialing code: +968

ISO code: OMN

Currency: Omani rial

Sultan: Qaboos bin Said al Said

179. Pakistan

Pakistan,Country in Asia.Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a sovereign country in South Asia. 

Capital: Islamabad

Founded: August 14, 1947

Currency: Pakistani rupee

Prime minister: Nawaz Sharif

President: Mamnoon Hussain

Population: 182.1 million (2013) World Bank

180. Palau

Palau,Country in Oceania.Palau is an archipelago of more than 500 islands, part of the Micronesia region in the western Pacific Ocean, well known for its scuba-diving and snorkeling sites. Northerly island Koror is home to the former capital, the majority of the population and the islands’ main commercial center. Neighboring Babeldaob has the modern capital, Ngerulmud, mountains and sandy beaches on its east coast.

Capital: Ngerulmud

Dialing code: +680

Continent: Oceania

Currency: United States Dollar

Population: 20,918 (2013) World Bank

181. Panama

Panama,Country in Central America.Panama is a country on the isthmus linking Central and South America. The man-made Panama Canal cuts through its center, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to create an essential shipping route. In the capital, Panama City, modern skyscrapers, casinos and nightclubs contrast with colonial buildings in the Casco Viejo district and the rainforest of Natural Metropolitan Park.

Capital: Panama City

Dialing code: +507

President: Juan Carlos Varela

Currencies: United States Dollar, Panamanian balboa

Official language: Spanish

182. Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea,Country in Oceania.Papua New Guinea, in the southwestern Pacific, encompasses the eastern half of New Guinea and its offshore islands. A country of immense cultural and biological diversity, it’s known for its beaches, coral reefs and scuba diving. Inland are active volcanoes, granite Mt. Wilhelm and dense rainforest, which hikers traverse via the Kokoda Trail. There are also agricultural villages, many with their own languages.

Capital: Port Moresby

Currency: Papua New Guinean kina

Population: 7.321 million (2013) World Bank

Official languages: English, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu

Continent: Australasia, Oceania

183. Paracel Islands

Paracel Islands,The Paracel Islands, also known as Xisha in Chinese and Hoàng Sa in Vietnamese, is a group of islands, reefs, banks and other maritime features in the South China Sea.

Islands: Rocky Island, South China Sea, Bombay Reef, Money Island, Paracel Islands, Passu Keah

184. Paraguay

Paraguay,Country in South America.Paraguay is a landlocked country between Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia, home to large swaths of swampland, subtropical forest and chaco, wildernesses comprising savanna and scrubland. The capital, Asunción, on the banks of the Paraguay River, is home to the grand Government Palace and the Museo del Barro, displaying pre-Columbian ceramics and ñandutí lacework, the latter available in many shops.

Capital: Asunción

Dialing code: +595

Currency: Paraguayan guaraní

President: Horacio Cartes

Population: 6.802 million (2013) World Bank

185. Peru

Peru,Country in South America.Peru is a country in South America that's home to a section of Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city set high in the Andes mountains. The area surrounding Machu Picchu, including the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail and the lively city of Cusco, is also rich in Incan sites as well as hiking, rafting and mountain-biking opportunities.

Capital: Lima

Dialing code: +51

ISO code: PER

Currency: Peruvian nuevo sol

Population: 30.38 million (2013) World Bank

186. Philippines

Philippines,Country in Asia.The Philippines is a Southeast Asian country in the Western Pacific, comprising more than 7,000 islands. Its sprawling capital, Manila, is famous for its waterfront promenade and centuries-old Chinatown. Intramuros, a walled city in colonial times, is the heart of Old Manila. It’s home to the baroque 16th-century San Agustin Church as well as Fort Santiago, a storied citadel and military prison.

Capital: Manila

Dialing code: +63

ISO code: PHL

Population: 98.39 million (2013) World Bank

Currency: Philippine peso

187. Pitcairn Islands

Pitcairn Islands,British Overseas Territory.The Pitcairn Islands, officially Pitcairn, are a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean that form the last British Overseas Territory in the Pacific.

Capital: Adamstown

Population: 56 (2013)

National anthem: Come ye Blessed

Currency: New Zealand dollar

Continent: Oceania

Status: British Overseas Territories

Official language: English

188. Poland

Poland,Country in Europe.Poland is an eastern European country on the Baltic Sea known for its medieval architecture, Jewish heritage and hearty cuisine. In the city of Krakow, 14th-century Wawel Castle rises above the medieval Old Town, home to Cloth Hall, a Renaissance trading post in Rynek Glówny (market square). Nearby is the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp memorial, and Wieliczka Salt Mine, with tunnels to explore.

Capital: Warsaw

Dialing code: +48

Currency: Polish złoty

Population: 38.53 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Polish

189. Portugal

Portugal,Country in Europe.Portugal is a southern European country on the Iberian Peninsula, bordering Spain and the Atlantic Ocean. Its oceanside location influences many aspects of its culture – salt cod and grilled sardines are national dishes, the Algarve's beaches are a major tourist destination and much of the nation’s architecture dates to the 1500s-1800s, when Portugal had a maritime empire.

Capital: Lisbon

Dialing code: +351

Currency: Euro

Population: 10.46 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Portuguese

190. Puerto Rico 

Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and unincorporated U.S. territory with a landscape of green mountains, waterfalls and the tropical rainforest of El Yunque National Forest. It's known for its white-sand beaches and coral reefs, popular for snorkeling, diving, surfing and sailing. In San Juan, the capital and largest city, the Isla Verde area is known for its beach bars, nightclubs and casinos.

Capital: San Juan

Dialing code: +1

Area: 9,104 km²

Currency: United States Dollar

Population: 3.548 million (2014)

191. Qatar

Qatar,Country in the Middle East.Qatar is a peninsular Arab country whose terrain comprises arid desert and a long Persian Gulf shoreline of beaches and dunes. Also on the coast is the capital, Doha, known for its futuristic skyscrapers and other ultramodern architecture inspired by ancient Islamic design, such as the limestone Museum of Islamic Art. The museum sits on the city’s Corniche waterfront promenade.

Capital: Doha

Dialing code: +974

ISO code: QAT

Currency: Qatari riyal

Population: 2.169 million (2013) World Bank

192. Reunion

Réunion Island, a French department in the Indian Ocean, is known for its volcanic, rainforested interior, offshore reefs, beaches and Creole culture. The active Piton de la Fournaise volcano, its most iconic landmark, rewards climbers with sweeping views from its rim. Piton des Neiges, a massive extinct volcano, and Réunion’s 3 cirques (calderas), natural amphitheaters formed by collapsed volcanoes, are also climbing destinations.

Area: 2,512 km²

Capital: Saint-Denis

Continent: Africa

Population: 843,617 (2015)

Currency: Réunion franc

University: University of La Réunion

193. Romania

Romania,Country in Europe.Romania is a central European country known for the forested region of Transylvania, preserved medieval towns such as Sighişoara and many fortified churches and castles, notably clifftop Bran Castle, long associated with the Dracula legend. The area is ringed by the Carpathian Mountains, which are popular for trekking, climbing, skiing and bathing in natural thermal spas.

Capital: Bucharest

Dialing code: +40

ISO code: ROU

Currency: Romanian leu

Official language: Romanian

194. Russia

Russia, the world’s largest nation, borders European and Asian countries as well as the Pacific and Arctic oceans. Its landscape ranges from tundra and forests to subtropical beaches. It’s famous for novelists Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, plus the Bolshoi and Mariinsky ballet companies. St. Petersburg, founded by legendary Russian leader Peter the Great, features the baroque Winter Palace, now housing part of the Hermitage Museum’s art collection.

Capital: Moscow

Dialing code: +7

Population: 143.5 million (2013) World Bank

President: Vladimir Putin

Currency: Russian ruble

Prime minister: Dmitry Medvedev

195. Rwanda

Rwanda,Country in Africa.Rwanda is a landlocked East African country whose green, mountainous landscape has earned it the nickname “Land of a Thousand Hills.” Its renowned Volcanoes National Park is home to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Bordering Congo and Uganda, the park encompasses 4,507m-tall Mt. Karisimbi and 4 other forested volcanoes. Kigali, the nation's sprawling capital, has a vibrant restaurant and nightlife scene.

Capital: Kigali

President: Paul Kagame

Currency: Rwandan franc

Prime minister: Anastase Murekezi

Population: 11.78 million (2013) World Bank

196. Saint Helena

Saint Helena,Island in the Atlantic Ocean.Saint Helena is a tropical island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean, 4,000 kilometres east of Rio de Janeiro and 1,950 kilometres west of the southern coast of Africa.

Area: 420 km²

Founded: 1659

Population: 4,255 (2008)

GDP per capita: 2,500.00 USD (1998)

197. Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis,Country in the Caribbean.The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis /seɪnt ˌkɪts ænd ˈniːvɪs/, also known as the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, is a two-island country in the West Indies.

Capital: Basseterre

Currency: East Caribbean dollar

Governor-general: Samuel Weymouth Tapley Seaton

Prime minister: Timothy Harris

Queen: Elizabeth II

198. Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia,Country in the Caribbean.Saint Lucia is an island nation in the eastern Caribbean with 2 distinctive mountains, the Pitons, on its west coast. It's known for its beaches and reef-diving sites, as well as its rainforested interior with waterfalls such as at Toraille. It's home to quiet volcanic beaches and fishing villages as well as luxurious resorts, and the capital, Castries, is a regular cruise ship stop.

Capital: Castries

Currency: East Caribbean dollar

Population: 182,273 (2013) World Bank

Official language: English

Government: Constitutional monarchy, Parliamentary system

199. Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France, situated in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean near Canada. 

Capital: Saint-Pierre

Dialing code: +508

Area: 242 km²

ISO code: SPM

Population: 6,080 (Jan 2011)

Currency: Euro

Official language: French

200. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,Country in the Caribbean.St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a southern Caribbean nation comprising a main island, St. Vincent, and a chain of smaller ones. With yacht-filled harbors, chic private isles and volcanic landscapes, it’s known for its major sailing destinations such as reef-lined Bequia island off Admiralty Bay, bordered by white-sand beaches like Princess Margaret. The main island is home to the capital, Kingstown.

Capital: Kingstown

Currency: East Caribbean dollar

Population: 109,373 (2013) World Bank

Governor-general: Frederick Ballantyne

Prime minister: Ralph Gonsalves

201. Samoa

Samoa,Country in Oceania.Samoa is an independent nation comprising the westernmost group of the Samoan Islands, in Polynesia. Many of its islands have reef-bordered beaches and rugged, rainforested interiors with gorges and waterfalls. The islands include Upolu, home to most of Samoa's population, and Savai'i, one of the largest islands in the South Pacific. The others range from islets with small villages to uninhabited wildlife sanctuaries.

Capital: Apia

Dialing code: +685

Currency: Samoan tālā

Population: 190,372 (2013) World Bank

Continent: Oceania

Prime minister: Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi

202. San Marino

San Marino,Country in Europe.San Marino is a mountainous microstate surrounded by Italy. Among the world’s oldest republics, it retains much of its historic architecture. On the slopes of Monte Titano sits the capital, also called San Marino, known for its medieval walled old town and narrow cobblestone streets. The Three Towers, castlelike citadels dating to the 11th century, sit atop 3 of Titano’s neighboring peaks.

Capital: San Marino

Area: 61.2 km²

Population: 31,448 (2013) World Bank

Currency: Euro

Official language: Italian

203. Sao Tome and Principe

São Tomé and Príncipe,Country in Africa.São Tomé and Príncipe, an African island country near the equator, is part of a volcano chain featuring striking rock and coral formations, rainforests and beaches. The larger island, São Tomé, is popular for snorkeling in Lagoa Azul lagoon. Ôbo Natural Park, a biodiverse jungle preserve, covers much of São Tomé and is distinguished by Pico Cão Grande, a skyscraperlike volcanic rock.

Capital: São Tomé

Currency: São Tomé and Príncipe dobra

Population: 192,993 (2013) World Bank

President: Manuel Pinto da Costa

Prime minister: Patrice Trovoada

Official language: Portuguese

204. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia,Country in the Middle East.Saudi Arabia is a desert country encompassing most of the Arabian Peninsula, with Red Sea and Persian Gulf coastlines. Known as the birthplace of Islam, it’s home to the religion’s 2 most sacred mosques: Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca, destination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, and Medina’s Masjid an-Nabawi, burial site of the prophet Muhammad. Riyadh, the capital, is a skyscraper-filled metropolis.

Capital: Riyadh

Dialing code: +966

ISO code: SAU

Currency: Saudi riyal

Population: 28.83 million (2013) World Bank

Continent: Asia

205. Senegal

Senegal,Country in West Africa.Senegal is a country on Africa’s west coast known for its French colonial heritage and natural attractions. Dakar, the capital, features the ancient Médina district and esteemed Musée Théodore Monod, displaying African art. Dakar is also known for its nightlife and native mbalax music. Saint-Louis, formerly the capital of French West Africa, is known for the colonial architecture in its old town.

Capital: Dakar

Dialing code: +221

Currency: West African CFA franc

President: Macky Sall

Official language: French

206. Serbia and Montenegro

Serbia and Montenegro,Country.Serbia and Montenegro was a country in Southeast Europe, created from the two remaining republics of Yugoslavia after its breakup in 1991. 

Capital: Belgrade

Dialing code: +381

Founded: 1992

Area: 102,350 km²

Population: 10.83 million (2006)

Date dissolved: June 5, 2006

Government: Confederation, Federation, Republic

207. Seychelles

Seychelles,Country in East Africa.The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean off East Africa, known for its beaches, coral reefs, diving, nature reserves and rare wildlife such as giant Aldabra tortoises. Mahé island, with an international airport, is a key transport hub, home to capital Victoria, the mountain rainforests of Morne Seychellois National Park and white-sand beaches including Beau Vallon and Anse Takamaka.

Capital: Victoria

Dialing code: +248

Currency: Seychellois rupee

Continent: Africa

President: James Michel

Population: 89,173 (2013) World Bank

208. Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone,Country in West Africa.Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea in the north-east, Liberia in the south-east, and the Atlantic Ocean in the south-west.

Capital: Freetown

Population: 6.092 million (2013) World Bank

President: Ernest Bai Koroma

Life expectancy: 45.33 years (2012) World Bank

Official language: English

209. Singapore

Singapore,Country in Asia.Singapore, an island city-state off southern Malaysia, is a global financial centre with a tropical climate and multicultural population. In circa-1820 Chinatown stands the red-and-gold Buddha’s Tooth Relic Temple, Little India offers colorful souvenirs and Arab Street is lined with fabric shops. Singapore is also known for eclectic street fare, served in hawker centres such as Tiong Bahru and Maxwell Road.

Dialing code: +65

Area: 718.3 km²

ISO code: SGP

Population: 5.399 million (2013) World Bank

President: Tony Tan

Prime minister: Lee Hsien Loong

210. Slovakia

Slovakia,Country in Europe.Slovakia is a central European country known for its dramatic natural landscape and many castles. Near the Austrian border, capital city Bratislava features a pedestrian-only Old Town with a lively cafe scene. Rising on a hill above the Danube River, Bratislava Castle houses a branch of the Slovak National Museum, with displays from Roman artifacts to 20th-century arts and crafts.

Capital: Bratislava

Dialing code: +421

ISO code: SVK

Currency: Euro

Population: 5.414 million (2013) World Bank

211. Slovenia

Slovenia,Country in Europe.Slovenia, a country in Central Europe, is known for its mountains, outdoor recreation and ski resorts. Set on a glacial lake fed by thermal springs, the town of Bled contains a church-topped islet and a cliffside medieval castle. Nearby Triglav National Park in the Julian Alps offers skiing and hiking, plus rafting along the Soča River, renowned for aquamarine water.

Capital: Ljubljana

Dialing code: +386

ISO code: SVN

Currency: Euro

Official language: Slovenian

212. Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands,Country in Oceania.The Solomon Islands, a nation of hundreds of islands in the South Pacific, is known for its scuba diving and WWII-era relics. Among its acclaimed diving destinations are enormous Marovo Lagoon and Iron Bottom Sound, which is littered with dozens of sunken warships. Guadalcanal, a province and one of the archipelago’s largest islands, honors fallen Allied soldiers at its U.S. War Memorial.

Capital: Honiara

Continent: Oceania

Currency: Solomon Islands dollar

Population: 561,231 (2013) World Bank

Official language: English

213. Somalia

Somalia,Country in Africa

Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north.

Capital: Mogadishu

President: Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud

Population: 10.5 million (2013) World Bank

Prime minister: Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke

Currency: Somali shilling

Official languages: Somali, Arabic

214. South Africa

South Africa,Country in Africa.South Africa is a country on the southernmost tip of the African continent, marked by several distinct ecosystems. Inland safari destination Kruger National Park covers vast shrublands populated by big game; the Western Cape encompasses lush winelands around Stellenbosch and Paarl, wild beaches, craggy cliffs at the Cape of Good Hope, forest and lagoons along the Garden Route, and the city of Cape Town, beneath flat-topped Table Mountain.

Capitals: Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein

Dialing code: +27

ISO code: ZAF

President: Jacob Zuma

Colleges and Universities: University of Johannesburg, more

215. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,British Overseas Territory.South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

Capital: King Edward Point

Dialing code: +500

ISO code: SGS

Population: 30 (2006)

Currency: Pound sterling

Government: Monarchy

Official language: English

216. Spain

Spain,Country in Europe.Spain, on Europe’s Iberian Peninsula, is really 17 autonomous regions, each with its own geography and culture. The capital, Madrid, is home to the Royal Palace and singular Prado museum, housing works by European masters, and Segovia to the north has a fairy-tale medieval castle and Roman aqueduct. Catalonia’s capital, Barcelona, is defined by Antoni Gaudí’s quirky modernist architecture, including the Sagrada Família basilica.

Capital: Madrid

Dialing code: +34

Currency: Euro

Population: 46.77 million (2014) Instituto Nacional de Estadística

Official language: Spanish

217. Spratly Islands

Spratly Islands,Atoll in Asia.The Spratly Islands are a disputed group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines, Malaysia, and southern Vietnam.

Elevation: 4 m

Islands: Thitu Island, Amboyna Cay

218. Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka,Country in South Asia.Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), a tiny island nation south of India in the Indian Ocean, is a rugged land of rainforest, diverse wildlife and endless beaches. It’s famed for its ancient Buddhist ruins, including the 5th-century citadel Sigiriya, with its palace and frescoes, and the sacred city of Anuradhapura. Its flavorful cuisine reflects its history as a maritime hub and cultural melting pot.

Capitals: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Colombo

Dialing code: +94

Currency: Sri Lankan rupee

President: Maithripala Sirisena

Prime minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe

219. Sudan

Sudan,Country in North Africa,Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in the Nile Valley of North Africa, bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, to the east, South Sudan to the south.

Capital: Khartoum

Dialing code: +249

President: Omar al-Bashir

Currency: Sudanese pound

Population: 37.96 million (2013) World Bank

Official languages: Arabic, English

220. Suriname

Suriname,Country in South America.Suriname is a small country on the northeastern coast of South America. It's defined by vast swaths of tropical rainforest, Dutch colonial-era architecture and a melting-pot culture. On its Atlantic coast is the capital, Paramaribo, where palm gardens grow near Fort Zeelandia, a 17th-century trading post. Paramaribo is also home to Saint Peter and Paul Basilica, a towering wood cathedral consecrated in 1885.

Capital: Paramaribo

Dialing code: +597

Currency: Surinamese dollar

Population: 539,276 (2013) World Bank

Official language: Dutch

221. Svalbard

Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. One of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas, it's known for its rugged, remote terrain of glaciers and frozen tundra sheltering polar bears, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes. The Northern Lights are visible during winter, and summer brings the “midnight sun” – sunlight 24 hours a day.

Area: 61,022 km²

Population: 2,642 (2012)

Status: Svalbard and Jan Mayen

University: University Centre in Svalbard

222. Swaziland

Swaziland,Country in Africa,Swaziland, a small, landlocked monarchy in southern Africa, is known for its wilderness reserves and festivals showcasing traditional Swazi culture. Marking its northeastern border with Mozambique and stretching down to South Africa, the Lebombo Mountains serve as a dramatic backdrop for Mlawula Nature Reserve’s many hiking trails. Nearby Hlane Royal National Park is home to diverse wildlife including lions, hippos and elephants.

Capitals: Lobamba, Mbabane

Dialing code: +268

King: Mswati III

Population: 1.25 million (2013) World Bank

Currencies: Swazi lilangeni, South African rand

223. Sweden

Sweden,Country in Europe.Sweden is a Scandinavian nation of thousands of coastal islands, inland lakes, forests and mountains. Its principal cities, eastern capital Stockholm and southwestern Gothenburg and Malmö, are all on the sea. Stockholm is home to royal palaces, parkland and museums such as open-air Skansen. Its 13th-century old town, Gamla Stan, is set on islands joined by bridges and ferries.

Capital: Stockholm

Dialing code: +46

Currency: Swedish krona

Population: 9.593 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Swedish

224. Swizerland

Switzerland,Country in Europe.Switzerland is a mountainous Central European country, home to numerous lakes, villages and the high peaks of the Alps. Old Towns within its cities contain medieval landmarks like capital Bern’s Zytglogge clock tower and Cathedral of Bern. The country is also a destination for its ski resorts and hiking trails. Banking and finance are key industries, and Swiss watches and chocolate are renowned.

Dialing code: +41

ISO code: CHE

Currency: Swiss franc

Population: 8.081 million (2013) World Bank

Official languages: German, French, Italian, Romansh

225. Syria

Syria,Country in the Middle East.Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia. De jure Syrian territory borders Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east Jordan.

Capital: Damascus

Population: 22.85 million (2013) World Bank

President: Bashar al-Assad

Prime minister: Wael Nader al-Halqi

Continent: Asia

Official language: Arabic

226. Taiwan

Taiwan is a small island nation 180km east of China with contemporary cities, hot springs resorts and dramatic mountainous terrain. Taipei, the country’s capital in the north, is known for its busy night markets and street-food vendors, Chinese Imperial art at the National Palace Museum and Taipei 101, a 509m-tall, bamboo-shaped skyscraper with an observation deck.

Capital: Taipei

Dialing code: +886

Currency: New Taiwan dollar

Population: 23.46 million (Jul 2015)

Official language: Standard Mandarin

227. Tajikistan

Tajikistan,Country in Asia.Tajikistan is a Central Asian country bordering Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. It’s known for its rugged mountains, which are popular for hiking and climbing. The Fann Mountains, near the national capital of Dushanbe, encompass snow-capped peaks that rise above 5,000 meters. Within the range is Iskanderkulsky Nature Refuge, a noted bird habitat whose namesake, Iskanderkul, is a turquoise lake formed by glaciers.

Capital: Dushanbe

Currency: Tajikistani somoni

President: Emomali Rahmon

Prime minister: Kokhir Rasulzoda

Population: 8.208 million (2013) World Bank

228. Tanzania

Tanzania,Country in Africa.Tanzania is an East African country known for its vast wilderness areas. They include the plains of Serengeti National Park, a safari mecca populated by the “big five” game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino), and Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain. Offshore lie the tropical islands of Zanzibar and Mafia Marine Park, where whale sharks swim through reefs.

Capital: Dodoma

Dialing code: +255

Currency: Tanzanian shilling

President: Jakaya Kikwete

Prime minister: Mizengo Pinda

229. Thailand

Thailand,Country in Asia.Thailand is a country on Southeast Asia’s Indochina peninsula known for tropical beaches, opulent royal palaces, ancient ruins and ornate temples displaying figures of Buddha, a revered symbol. In Bangkok, the capital, an ultramodern cityscape rises next to quiet canal and riverside communities. Commercial hubs such as Chinatown consist of labyrinthine alleys crammed with shophouses, markets and diners.

Capital: Bangkok

Dialing code: +66

ISO code: THA

Currency: Thai baht

Official language: Thai

230. Timor Leste

Timor-Leste,Country,East Timor, or Timor-Leste, a Southeast Asian nation occupying half the island of Timor, is ringed by coral reefs teeming with marine life. Landmarks in the capital, Dili, speak to the country's struggles for independence from Portugal and then Indonesia. The iconic 27m-tall Cristo Rei de Dili statue sits on a hilltop high over the city, with sweeping views of the surrounding bay.

Capital: Dili

Currency: United States Dollar

Population: 1.178 million (2013) World Bank

President: Taur Matan Ruak

Prime minister: Rui Maria de Araújo

Official languages: Portuguese, Tetun

231. Togo

Togo,Country in West Africa.Togo, a nation on West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, is known for its palm-lined beaches and hilltop villages. Koutammakou, inhabited by the Batammariba people, is a traditional settlement of fortresslike clay huts dating to the 17th century. In the capital Lomé are the multistory Grand Marché bazaar and the Fetish Market, offering traditional talismans and remedies relating to the vodun religion (aka voodoo).

Capital: Lomé

Dialing code: +228

President: Faure Gnassingbé

Prime minister: Komi Sélom Klassou

Population: 6.817 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: French

232. Tokelau

Tokelau/Territory/Tokelau /ˈtoʊkəlaʊ/ is a territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean that consists of three tropical coral atolls with a combined land area of 10 km² and a population of approximately 1,400.

Capitals: Nukunonu, Atafu,Tokelau

Dialing code: +690

ISO code: TKL

Population: 1,411 (Oct 2011)

Currency: New Zealand dollar

Continent: Oceania

GDP per capita: 1,000.00 USD (1993)

233. Tonga

Tonga,Country in Oceania.Tonga is a Polynesian kingdom of more than 170 islands, many uninhabited, most lined in white beaches and coral reefs and covered with tropical rainforest. The main island, Tongatapu, is protected by lagoons and limestone cliffs. It’s home to the laid-back, rural capital of Nuku'alofa, as well as beach resorts, plantations and the Ha'amonga trilithon, a Stonehenge-like coral gate from the 1200s.

Capital: Nuku'alofa

King: Tupou VI

Population: 105,323 (2013) World Bank

Currency: Tongan paʻanga

Continent: Oceania

234. Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago,Country in the Caribbean.Trinidad and Tobago /ˌtrɪnɨdæd ənd tɵˈbeɪɡoʊ/, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is a twin island country situated off the northern edge of South America mainland, lying 11 Kilometres just off the coast of

Capital: Port of Spain

Prime minister: Keith Rowley

President: Anthony Carmona

Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar

Official language: English

Destinations

235.Tromelin Islands

Tromelin Island is a low, flat, island in the Indian Ocean, about 450 kilometres east of Madagascar. It is administered as a French overseas territory. 

236. Tunisia

Tunisia,Country in North Africa.On the Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia is a North African country whose culture dates to antiquity. In the capital, Tunis, the palatial Bardo Museum presents archaeological exhibits from Roman mosaics to Islamic art. The city’s medina quarter encompasses the massive Al-Zaytuna Mosque and a thriving ancient souk. To the east, the ancient Carthage site features the Antonine baths and other ruins, plus artifacts at the Carthage National Museum.

Capital: Tunis

Dialing code: +216

Currency: Tunisian dinar

Continent: Africa

President: Beji Caid Essebsi

237. Turkey

Turkey is a nation straddling eastern Europe and western Asia with cultural connections to ancient Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Cosmopolitan Istanbul, on the Bosphorus Strait, is home to the iconic Hagia Sophia, with its soaring dome and Christian mosaics, the massive 17th-century Blue Mosque and the circa-1460 Topkapı Palace, former home of sultans. Ankara is Turkey’s modern capital.

Capital: Ankara

Dialing code: +90

Currency: Turkish lira

President: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Official language: Turkish

238. Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan,Country in Asia.Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia bordered by the Caspian Sea and largely covered by the Karakum Desert. It’s known for archaeological ruins including those at Nisa and Merv, major stops along the ancient trade route the Silk Road. Ashgabat, the capital, was rebuilt in Soviet style in the mid-20th century and is filled with grand monuments honoring former president Saparmurat Niyazov.

Capital: Ashgabat

Currency: Turkmenistan manat

President: Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow

Population: 5.24 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Turkmen

239. Turks and Caicos Islands

Turks and Caicos Islands,British Overseas Territory.Turks and Caicos is an archipelago of 40 low-lying coral islands in the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of the Bahamas. The island of Providenciales, known as Provo, is home to expansive Grace Bay Beach, with luxury resorts, shops and restaurants. Scuba-diving sites include a 14-mile barrier reef on Provo’s north shore and a dramatic 2,134m underwater wall off Grand Turk island.

Capital: Cockburn Town

Dialing code: +1

Currency: United States Dollar

Continent: North America

Population: 33,098 (2013) World Bank

Official language: English

240. Tuvalu

Tuvalu,Country in Oceania.Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia.

Capital: Funafuti

Prime minister: Enele Sopoaga

Population: 9,876 (2013) World Bank

Governor-general: Iakoba Italeli

Queen: Elizabeth II

Continent: Oceania

Currencies: Australian dollar, Tuvaluan dollar

241. Uganda

Uganda,Country in Africa.Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa whose diverse landscape encompasses the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains and immense Lake Victoria. Its abundant wildlife includes endangered gorillas and chimpanzees as well as rare birds. Remote Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a famous mountain gorilla sanctuary, while Murchison Falls National Park in the northwest is known for its 43m-tall waterfall and wildlife such as hippos.

Capital: Kampala

Dialing code: +256

Currency: Ugandan shilling

President: Yoweri Museveni

Prime minister: Ruhakana Rugunda

Population: 37.58 million (2013) World Bank

242. Ukraine

Ukraine,Country in Europe.Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Belarus to the northwest, Poland and Slovakia to the west, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova to the southwest.

Capital: Kiev

Dialing code: +380

Currency: Ukrainian hryvnia

President: Petro Poroshenko

Population: 45.49 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Ukrainian

243. United Arab Erimrates

United Arab Emirates,Country in the Middle East.The United Arab Emirates is an Arabian Peninsula nation settled mainly along the Persian Gulf that was formed from 7 sheikhdoms. Dubai is the site of ultramodern Burj Khalifa tower, enormous shopping centers and extravagant attractions, such as the indoor Ski Dubai. Abu Dhabi, the island capital, is home to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, with crystal chandeliers and room for 41,000 worshipers.

Capital: Abu Dhabi

Dialing code: +971

Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham

Population: 9.346 million (2013) World Bank

President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Prime minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

244. United Kingdom

United Kingdom,Country in Europe.The U.K., made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is an island nation in northwestern Europe. England – birthplace of Shakespeare and The Beatles – is home to the capital, London, a globally influential centre of finance and culture. England is also site of neolithic Stonehenge, Bath’s Roman spa and centuries-old universities at Oxford and Cambridge.

Capital: London

Dialing code: +44

Population: 64.1 million (2013) World Bank

Minimum wage: 1,378.87 EUR per month (Jan 2015) Eurostat

Queen: Elizabeth II

245. United State of America

United States of America,Country.The U.S. is a country of 50 states covering a vast swath of North America, with Alaska in the extreme Northwest and Hawaii extending the nation’s presence into the Pacific Ocean. Major cities include New York, a global finance and culture center, and Washington, DC, the capital, both on the Atlantic Coast; Los Angeles, famed for filmmaking, on the Pacific Coast; and the Midwestern metropolis Chicago.

Capital: Washington, D.C.

Founded: July 4, 1776

Dialing code: +1

ISO code: USA

Population: 318.9 million (2014)

States: California, Hawaii, Florida, Texas, Alaska, Massachusetts, more

246. Uruguay

Uruguay,Country in South America.Uruguay is a South American country known for its verdant interior and beach-lined coast. The capital, Montevideo, revolves around Plaza Independencia, once home to a Spanish citadel. It leads to Ciudad Vieja (Old City), with art deco buildings, colonial homes and Mercado del Puerto, an old port market with many steakhouses. La Rambla, a waterfront promenade, passes fish stalls, piers and parks.

Capital: Montevideo

Dialing code: +598

President: Tabaré Vázquez

Population: 3.407 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Spanish

247. Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan,Country in Asia.Uzbekistan is a Central Asian nation and former Soviet republic. It's known for its mosques, mausoleums and other sites linked to the Silk Road, the ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean. Samarkand, a major city on the route, contains a landmark of Islamic architecture: the Registan, a plaza bordered by 3 ornate, majolica-covered madrassas dating to the 15th and 17th centuries.

Capital: Tashkent

President: Islam Karimov

Prime minister: Shavkat Mirziyoyev

Population: 30.24 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Uzbek

248. Vanuatu

Vanuatu,Country in Oceania.Vanuatu is a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of roughly 80 islands that stretch 1,300 kilometers. The islands offer scuba diving at coral reefs, underwater caverns and wrecks such as the WWII-era troopship SS President Coolidge. Hiking trails ascend active volcanoes such as Mt. Yasur. Other popular activities include rainforest ecotours, kayaking and deep-sea fishing, plus relaxing at resorts and spas.

Capital: Port Vila

Currency: Vanuatu vatu

Population: 252,763 (2013) World Bank

Continent: Oceania

Prime minister: Sato Kilman

249. Venezuela

Venezuela,Country in South America.Venezuela is a country on the northern coast of South America with diverse natural attractions. Along its Caribbean coast are tropical resort islands including Isla de Margarita and the Los Roques archipelago. To the northwest are the Andes Mountains and the colonial town of Mérida, a base for hiking Sierra Nevada National Park. Caracas, the capital, is to the north.

Capital: Caracas

Dialing code: +58

President: Nicolás Maduro

Population: 30.41 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Spanish

250. Vietnam

Vietnam,Country in Asia.Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country on the South China Sea known for its beaches, rivers, Buddhist pagodas and bustling cities. Hanoi, the capital, pays homage to the nation’s iconic Communist-era leader, Ho Chi Minh, via a huge marble mausoleum. Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) has French colonial landmarks, plus Vietnamese War history museums and the Củ Chi tunnels, used by Viet Cong soldiers.

Capital: Hanoi

Dialing code: +84

Currency: Vietnamese dong

Population: 89.71 million (2013) World Bank

Official language: Vietnamese

251. Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands,Island group in North America.

The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, and form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. 

Population: 134,714 (2010)

GDP per capita: 14,500.00 USD (2004)

252. Wake Island

Wake Island,US Territory.Wake Island is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the western Pacific Ocean in the northeastern area of the Micronesia subregion, 2,416 km east of Guam, 3,698 km.

Area: 7.4 km²

Government body: United States Air Force

253. Wallis and Futuna 

Wallis and Futuna,Territory.Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands, is a French island collectivity in the South Pacific between Tuvalu to the northwest, Fiji to the southwest.

Capital: Mata-Utu

Dialing code: +681

ISO code: WLF

Currency: CFP franc

Population: 15,500 (Mar 2014)

Continent: Oceania

Official language: French

254. West Bank

West Bank,The West Bank or Cisjordan is a landlocked territory near the Mediterranean coast of Western Asia, forming the bulk of the Palestinian territories. 

Area: 5,655 km²

Population: 1.715 million (Jun 2010)

GDP per capita: 2,900.00 USD (2008)

Gross domestic product: 6.641 billion USD (2008)

Colleges and Universities: An-Najah National University, more

255. Western Sahara

Western Sahara,Territory.The Western Sahara is a disputed territory in the Maghreb region of North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Capital: Laayoune

ISO code: ESH

Dialing code: +212

Founded: November 14, 1975

Population: 513,000 (2009)

Continent: Africa

Currencies: Algerian dinar, Sahrawi peseta, Moroccan dirham, Mauritanian ouguiya

256. Yamen

Yemen,Country in the Middle East.Yemen, officially known as the Republic of Yemen, is an Arab country in Southwest Asia, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. Yemen is the second largest country in the peninsula, occupying 527,970 km². 

Capital: Sana'a

Dialing code: +967

Currency: Yemeni rial

Continent: Asia

Official language: Arabic

257. Zambia

Zambia,Country in Africa.Zambia, in southern Africa, is a landlocked country of rugged terrain and diverse wildlife, with many parks and safari areas. On its border with Zimbabwe is famed Victoria Falls – indigenously called Mosi-oa-Tunya, or "Smoke that Thunders” – plunging a misty 108m into narrow Batoka Gorge. Spanning the Zambezi River just below the falls is Victoria Falls Bridge, a spectacular viewpoint.

Capital: Lusaka

Dialing code: +260

Currency: Zambian kwacha

President: Edgar Lungu

Official language: English

258. Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe,Country in Africa.Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa known for its dramatic landscape and diverse wildlife, much of it within parks, reserves and safari areas. On the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls make a thundering 108m drop into narrow Batoka Gorge, where there’s white-water rafting and bungee-jumping. Downstream are Matusadona and Mana Pools national parks, home to hippos, rhinos and birdlife.

Capital: Harare

Dialing code: +263

President: Robert Mugabe

Currencies: United States Dollar, Euro, Botswana pula, Pound sterling, South African rand

Official languages: Shona, English, Ndebele