Country

A country is a distinct area of land in the world with a government that functions as a sovereign state, an unrecognized state, a constituent country, or a dependent territory. Countries can sometimes include many different groups of people, which is called a multinational state. We often talk about countries as either developing countries or developed countries.

There is no universal agreement on exactly how many "countries" exist in the world. Some places are not recognized by everyone, leading to confusion. 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 areas that are not political entities, like the West Country in England or cottage country. We even use the word to describe things like country music or country living.

The meaning and use of the word "country" has changed over time. As The Economist noted in 2010, finding a clear definition can be very tricky because there are so many exceptions.

Definition

In English, the word "country" often refers to 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 from place to place.

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 powerful 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 group that controls a part of the world and makes its own rules. However, there is no agreement on exactly how many countries exist because some places have disputed control or are not fully recognized by others.

Some places, like Taiwan, Sahrawi Republic, and Kosovo, are not fully recognized by all countries. Others, like Transnistria, are not recognized at all. Some big countries are made up of smaller parts that can also be called countries, such as the Danish Realm, which includes Denmark proper, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland.

Some smaller areas that belong to bigger countries are sometimes called "countries" because they have some control over their own affairs. 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 of any nation that the country includes. Many categories of symbols can be seen in flags, coats of arms, or seals.

Most countries have a long name and a short name. The long name is typically used in formal contexts and often describes the country's form of government. The short name is the country's common name by which it is typically identified. The name of a country can hold cultural and diplomatic significance. Upper Volta changed its name to Burkina Faso to reflect the end of French colonization, and the name of North Macedonia was disputed for years due to a conflict with the similarly named Macedonia region in Greece. Southern Rhodesia changed its name to Zimbabwe, Northern Rhodesia to Zambia, and many other countries have also changed their names over time.

A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition that represents a country or nation. Though the custom of an officially adopted national anthem became popular only in the 19th century, some national anthems predate this period, often existing as patriotic songs long before designation as national anthem. Several countries remain without an official national anthem. In these cases, there are established de facto anthems played at sporting events or diplomatic receptions.

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 toward the country they belong to. It means loving and feeling connected to your homeland. This connection can come from many places, like shared culture, history, or politics. Patriotism is often linked to ideas about what makes a nation, such as civic pride or cultural traditions.

Economy

Countries can be grouped based on 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 to decide if a country is developing, developed, or changing its economy. Most developing countries are in Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Western Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Countries that are changing their economies are mostly in parts of Europe and areas that were once part of the Soviet Union. 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 uses different levels to describe this, from low-income to high-income economies. The World Bank also looks at trends in different parts of the world, such as East Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, South Asia, and Africa. It also 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.