Country

A country is a special area of land in the world with its own government. This government can be a sovereign state, an unrecognized state, a constituent country, or a dependent territory. Some countries have many different groups of people living in them, which we call a multinational state. We often describe countries as either developing countries or developed countries.

There is no exact number of countries in the world because some places are not recognized by everyone. These places might have disputed territories and only partial recognition. Even places without full recognition are sometimes called countries.

The word "country" can also describe places that are not political areas, like the West Country in England or cottage country. We also use the word for things like country music or country living.

The meaning of the word "country" has changed over time. As The Economist said in 2010, it can be hard to find a clear definition because there are many exceptions.

Definition

In English, the word "country" often means a political area, like a state or a place that used to be a state. It can also mean a nation. For example, Canada, Sri Lanka, and Yugoslavia show how the idea of a country can change.

Sometimes, smaller areas are also called countries, like the West Country in England or places known for their landscapes, such as "big sky country" in the American West. The word "country" can also mean a rural area or the countryside. A Welsh scholar, Raymond Williams, noted that "country" and "city" are important words because they connect to how people live and their relationship with the land.

Statehood

Main article: Sovereign state

See also: Nation state

When we talk about a "country," we might mean a sovereign state, a state with limited recognition, a constituent country, or a dependent territory. A sovereign state is a place that controls its own land and makes its own rules.

Some places, like Taiwan, Sahrawi Republic, and Kosovo, are not recognized by all other countries. Others, like Transnistria, are not recognized by any. Some large countries have smaller parts that are also called countries, such as the Danish Realm, which includes Denmark proper, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland.

Some smaller areas that belong to larger countries are sometimes called "countries" because they have some control over their own matters. These include places like the overseas territories of New Zealand, British Overseas Territories, and territories of the United States. A few of these areas, like Hong Kong, Greenland, and Macau, are treated like separate countries in trade.

Identification

Symbols of a country may include cultural, religious or political symbols. You can see many of these symbols in flags, coats of arms, or seals.

Most countries have a long name and a short name. The long name is used in formal settings and often describes the government's type. The short name is what people usually call the country. Country names can be important. For example, Upper Volta changed its name to Burkina Faso after leaving French control. The name of North Macedonia was disputed for years with the Macedonia region in Greece. Other countries like Southern Rhodesia changed to Zimbabwe, and Northern Rhodesia to Zambia have also changed their names.

A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition that represents a country. While official national anthems became popular in the 19th century, some existed earlier as patriotic songs. Some countries do not have an official national anthem and use established de facto anthems for events.

Other symbols of a country can include:

• Coats of arms or national emblems
• Seals or stamps
• National mottos
• National colors

Patriotism

Main article: Patriotism

See also: Cultural nationalism

Patriotism is a warm feeling people have for the country they belong to. It means loving and feeling connected to your homeland. This feeling can come from things like shared culture, history, or ideas about the country. Patriotism is often linked to pride in what makes a nation special.

Economy

Countries can be grouped by how strong their economies are. They are often called either developing countries or developed countries.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs makes a report each year to help understand these groups. It looks at how much money people in a country earn. Most developing countries are in Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Western Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Developed countries are mainly in Northern America, Europe, and parts of Asia and the Pacific.

The World Bank also groups countries by how much money people earn. It has special groups for countries it works with in different ways, including International Development Association countries, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development countries, and Blend countries.