Island states of Europe, Asia, America. List of the island states of the world

A country whose territory is completely within the archipelago and is in no way connected with the mainland is called an "island state". Of the 194 officially recognized countries in the world, 47 are considered such. They are worth distinguishing from coastal areas and political actors, generally not landlocked. Most of the island countries of the world are located near the outskirts of the continents, but some, for example the archipelagoes of Oceania, can be located at a sufficient distance from the coastline. For the convenience of classification, countries are divided into groups. The main criterion for separation is belonging to one or another part of the world or the mainland. Let us dwell in more detail on each of them.

Europe

The island states of Europe are located in the Atlantic Ocean. Their shores are washed by the coastal and inland seas of the region (Northern, Irish, Mediterranean, etc.). Countries lie on such islands as Great Britain, Ireland, as well as Iceland, Malta and Cyprus.

1. England

The island state, located in the north-west of Europe in the North Sea. The country's territory includes the UK and northern Ireland, as well as a large number of small nearby archipelagoes of the Atlantic Ocean, such as Faroese, Orkney, Shetland, Hebrides and others. The two largest islands are separated by the Irish Sea, along which there is a large number of transit routes. The capital is the city of London on the legendary River Thames.

2. Ireland

The state that is in the north-western part of Europe. It is located in the southern and central part of the island of the same name. Has a single land border with England. The capital city is Dublin. It is believed that all the red and green-eyed people are from this country.

3. Iceland

This small country in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean belongs to Northern Europe. Despite the etymology of the name - "ice country", Iceland is by no means different in the arctic climate. The island is influenced by the warm North Atlantic Current, so the temperature in the capital of Reykjavik in the summer months can reach +20 degrees.

4. Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

These island states in the Mediterranean divided small areas of Cyprus and several nearby archipelagos. The main sector of the economy of these countries is tourism. Picturesque islands of the Mediterranean have always attracted lovers of antiquity and white beaches. An interesting feature is that the capital of both countries is the same city, located in the center of the island. In Cyprus, I call it Nicosia, and in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus it was called Lefkosa.

5. Malta

In Europe, the smallest island nation is Malta. It is conveniently located in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily on the archipelago of the same name. The largest islands are Malta, Gozo and the little-known Comino. This is the only state in Europe, on the territory of which there is not a single river and a lake with fresh water.

Asia

The island states of Asia are distinguished by their monsoon climate and the picturesque nature of the tropics. Most of them are in the Pacific Ocean. The countries are located on the Great and Small Sunda Islands, the Philippine, Moluccas, Maldives and Japan archipelagoes. They are quite far from the mainland. And the states on the islands of Taiwan, Sri Lanka and Bahrain are located near the coastline.

1. Indonesia

The largest island nation in the world. It occupies several separate geographical objects. A significant part of its territory lies on the Malay Archipelago, namely the Great and Small Sunda and Moluccas. This cluster is washed by a multitude of homonymous seas of the same name. Part of the country lies in the west of New Guinea. The capital of Jakarta is located on the island of Java.

2. Japan

The oldest East Asian state. It is located on the Japanese islands (the largest of which is Honshu, followed by Hokkaido, Shikoku and Kyushu) and the Ryukyu archipelagos (the largest object is Okinawa) and Nampo. A dangerous seismic zone passes through the country. The capital of Tokyo is in the center of Honshu Island.

3. The Philippines

Often, island states are located on the same archipelagos. The Republic of the Philippines is a vivid confirmation of this. The capital of this country in Southeast Asia is the city of Manila on the island of Luzon. This state is considered one of the poorest in Asia.

4. Sri Lanka

A small South Asian state. The territory is located directly on the island of the same name, south of Hindustan. The capital is the city of Sri Jayavardenepura Kotte. It is best known for its historical name - Ceylon, and since ancient times is famous for its unique varieties of mountain tea.

5. The Republic of China

Partially recognized state located in South-East Asia. It is located on the island of Taiwan and several adjacent archipelagos, the capital city is Taipei. A major trading and economic region of the Asian coast.

6. East Timor

The state in the southern part of the Malay Archipelago occupies the eastern part of Timor and the small islands of Atauro and Jacques. The capital and the largest city is Dili.

7. Brunei

The state belongs to Southeast Asia. It is located on the island of Kalimantan, which is part of the Great Sunda Archipelago. One of the smallest states in the Asian region and the whole world. The capital is a large and picturesque city with the exotic name Bandar Seri Begawan, which from the local language is translated as "The City of His Excellency".

8. Bahrain

A small island state, territorially located in South-West Asia, on the island of the same name in the Persian Gulf. Very rich in oil, is one of the active members of OPEC. The capital and the main economic center of the country is the city of Manama.

9. Singapore

This country belongs to the region of South-East Asia. It lies on the territory of 63 islands, the largest of which are Singapore, Ubin, Sentosa. It is a free trade and economic zone of Asia. The capital is the eponymous city on the main island with the same name.

10. The Maldives

The state, located on the group of the same atolls in South Asia. For many, it's no secret that this is the most picturesque and attractive country for tourism in the world. The only city of Male is the capital and a major tourist center. Approximately 97% of the territory is occupied by the water surface.

America

Almost all the island states of America are in the Atlantic Ocean and are washed by the waters of the warm Gulf of Mexico and the troubled Caribbean Sea. Sometimes this part of the world is called the West Indies. In the past, these territories were under the rule of large European colonizers, but now they have the status of independent countries.

The island states of this region are located on the territory of the Greater (the largest - Cuba, then go Haiti and Puerto Rico) and the Lesser (Leeward and Windward) of the Antilles, Bahamas and other small archipelagoes. Countries are distinguished by a special warm Caribbean climate and picturesque nature with lush reeds.

The island states of America: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bahamas, also Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, St. Lucia, along with Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and countries such as Grenada, Saint Kitts And Nevis.

Other island states

In addition to these countries, the island states of Africa and Oceania are a separate group. The independent African territories to the east include Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and the Seychelles, and in the west - Sao Tome and Principe, Cape Verde. Basically, the territories of these countries are located on the same archipelago.

The island states of Oceania are divided into Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia. But many of them are uninhabited or are dependent territories. Independent Pacific island countries: Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Nauru, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tonga, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and, of course, the Marshall Islands.