Ever tried to name every single nation? It’s a nightmare. Honestly, most people tap out after about fifty. When you look at world countries in alphabetical order, you aren't just looking at a list; you're looking at a messy, beautiful, and often controversial map of human history. It starts with Afghanistan and ends with Zimbabwe, but the stuff in between is where it gets weird.
Borders change. Names change. Just ask the people in Eswatini, who used to be Swazis living in Swaziland until the King decided a name change was overdue in 2018. Or look at North Macedonia. They had to add the "North" just to get Greece to stop blocking their geopolitical progress. This isn't just data. It’s a moving target.
Why the A to Z of Nations is Messier Than You Think
If you grab a list of world countries in alphabetical order from the United Nations, you’ll get 193 names. But wait. If you ask a FIFA official, they’ll give you 211. Ask the Olympic Committee, and you’re looking at 206. Why? Because "country" is a vibe as much as it is a legal status.
Take the "A" section. Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Simple, right? Not really. What about Abkhazia? It claims it's a country. Russia agrees. Most of the world doesn't. When we organize the world alphabetically, we are making a political statement whether we mean to or not. We’re deciding who counts.
The Heavy Hitters and the Tiny Spots
Let’s talk about the "B"s and "C"s. You’ve got Brazil and China, obviously. These are the giants. But then you hit the Cook Islands. They aren’t usually on the UN list because they are in "free association" with New Zealand. Basically, they run their own show but New Zealand handles the heavy lifting like defense.
Then there’s the Vatican City. It’s the smallest sovereign state in the world. It’s technically an absolute monarchy. It’s also the only country on the planet that is a UNESCO World Heritage site in its entirety. It’s tiny. Like, you can walk across it in twenty minutes tiny.
The "S" Section is a Crowd
If you’re scrolling through a list of world countries in alphabetical order, you’ll notice the letter "S" is absolutely packed. Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
South Sudan is the baby of the group. It only showed up in 2011. Before that, it was just the southern part of Sudan. The transition was—and remains—incredibly difficult. It’s a reminder that alphabetical lists are snapshots in time. In ten years, the "S" section might look totally different. Maybe Bougainville joins the "B"s. Maybe New Caledonia leaves the "N" section of France and stands on its own.
The Names Most People Get Wrong
People screw up the "C"s all the time. It’s not "The Congo." It’s the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the big one) and the Republic of the Congo (the smaller neighbor). They sit right next to each other, separated by a river and a whole lot of history.
And Cabo Verde? Most Americans still call it Cape Verde. The government actually requested that everyone use the Portuguese name, Cabo Verde, for all official business. It’s a matter of respect and national identity. Same with Côte d'Ivoire. They’ve been very clear: stop translating it to "Ivory Coast."
Geography vs. Alphabet
Alphabetical order is great for finding a name, but it’s terrible for understanding the world. Australia and Austria are neighbors in a list. In reality? They are roughly 14,000 kilometers apart. One has kangaroos; the other has the Alps and some very famous classical composers.
This disconnect is why many travelers find alphabetical lists frustrating. You can’t plan a trip using the alphabet. If you tried to visit world countries in alphabetical order, you’d be flying from Albania to Algeria to Andorra. Your carbon footprint would be massive, and you’d spend 90% of your life in an airport lounge eating stale pretzels.
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The Power of the Passport
We can’t talk about countries without talking about access. According to the Henley Passport Index, not all "A to Z" spots are created equal. A Singaporean passport (the "S" section again) gets you into almost everywhere without a visa. If you’re from Afghanistan (the very first "A"), your travel options are incredibly limited.
This inequality is baked into the names. We list them alphabetically to be fair, to give everyone an equal line on the page, but the reality on the ground is anything but equal.
Missing Pieces: Taiwan and Kosovo
Here is where the comments section usually explodes. Taiwan. It has its own government, its own military, its own currency, and its own high-tech economy (TSMC basically runs the world’s chips). But if you look at a UN-based list of world countries in alphabetical order, Taiwan is often missing.
Why? Because China claims it. Most of the world plays a delicate game of "strategic ambiguity." We trade with them, we visit them, but we don’t always put them on the official list.
Kosovo is another one. It declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Over 100 countries recognize it. Many others—including Spain and China—don't. If you’re making a list, do you put Kosovo under "K"? It depends on who you’re asking and what map they’re holding.
How Names Actually Change
Zaire became the DRC. Upper Volta became Burkina Faso. Ceylon became Sri Lanka. These aren't just cosmetic tweaks. They are often acts of decolonization. When a country throws off a colonial name, it’s reclaiming its story.
When you see Myanmar on a list instead of Burma, you’re seeing the result of a military junta’s decision in 1989. Many democracy activists still prefer "Burma." Even the name of a country can be a protest.
Essential Insights for the Modern Traveler
If you’re trying to memorize or navigate the world’s nations, stop looking at them as static entries. They are dynamic.
- Check the ISO Codes: If you’re confused about a name, look for the two-letter ISO code (like JP for Japan or BR for Brazil). It’s the gold standard for shipping and digital data.
- Respect Local Naming: If a country asks to be called Türkiye instead of Turkey, just do it. It’s their house, their rules.
- The "The" Rule: Only two countries officially have "The" in their name: The Gambia and The Bahamas. People add it to others (The Netherlands, The Philippines), but those are the only two where it’s capitalized and official.
- Visa Realities: Always check entry requirements based on your specific passport. Just because two countries are next to each other in the alphabet doesn't mean they have the same entry rules.
- Monitor Geopolitical Shifts: Keep an eye on places like New Caledonia or even Scotland. The list of world countries in alphabetical order is never truly finished. It’s a rough draft of history.
Start by exploring one country from each letter of the alphabet. You’ll find that the "Q" (Qatar) and "Z" (Zambia, Zimbabwe) are just as fascinating as the "U" (USA, UK, Uzbekistan). The world is bigger than the labels we give it, and the best way to understand it is to look past the list and into the culture.
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Download an updated map from a reputable source like National Geographic or the CIA World Factbook. These organizations update their data annually to reflect diplomatic shifts and new border agreements. Use these as your primary reference points rather than relying on outdated textbooks or static lists from five years ago.
Verify the current visa requirements for your specific nationality before booking any travel. Many countries have transitioned to E-visas, which has changed the logistical landscape significantly since 2024.
Audit your own knowledge by looking up a "microstate" like San Marino or Nauru. Understanding how these tiny nations survive and thrive alongside giants like India or Russia provides a much deeper perspective on global politics than a simple A-Z list ever could.