Roughly a quarter of the world’s sovereign states are island nations — countries whose entire territory consists of one or more islands with no land connection to a larger continent.
Major Island Nations by Region
- Asia-Pacific: Japan, Indonesia (the largest archipelagic state in the world by number of islands), the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan
- Caribbean: Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic (sharing one island), Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas
- Pacific: New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Nauru, the Federated States of Micronesia
- Indian Ocean: Madagascar, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros
- Europe: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Malta, Cyprus
See area and population for any of these nations on our Rankings page.
Archipelagic States vs. Single-Island Nations
Not all island nations look the same. Indonesia and the Philippines are archipelagic states made up of thousands of islands each, while countries like Nauru, Malta, and Cyprus consist of essentially a single small island. Indonesia alone spans more than 17,000 islands, making it geographically one of the most fragmented countries on Earth despite being one of the most populous countries in the world.
Climate Vulnerability
Low-lying island nations, particularly in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, face some of the most acute risk from rising sea levels anywhere in the world. Tuvalu and Kiribati, both consisting of low coral atolls only a few meters above sea level, have become leading voices in international climate negotiations because of the existential nature of the threat to their territory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest island nation in the world?
Indonesia is the largest island nation in the world both by population and by number of islands, with more than 17,000 islands in total.
Is Australia considered an island nation?
Australia is technically surrounded entirely by water, but because of its continental size it is usually classified as a continent rather than a conventional island nation.
Which island nations are most at risk from sea level rise?
Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands are among the island nations most at risk, as most of their land sits only a few meters above current sea level.
Compare any island nations using our Compare Countries tool.
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