4 days ago · List of the oldest countries in the world, highlighting the top ten oldest countries by date of self-sovereignty, and by date of earliest known organized government as well as the ten youngest countries in the world. photo source: Wikimedia Commons San Marino is one of the smallest countries in the world and is part of the Italian Peninsula. The country is very prosperous and its economy mainly relies on finance, tourism, services, and industry. San Marino has one of the Europe’s lowest unemployment rates, no national debt, and a budget surplus. Beyond its anci...See full list on oldest.orgSan Marino is not only the oldest uninterrupted sovereign state, it also has the world’s oldest constitution, dating back to . However not all of its laws are codified, so the U.S. Constitution is often considered the oldest.See full list on oldest.orgphoto source: Wikimedia Commons Ancient Iran, which was known as Persia in the Western world until 1935, was founded around 550 BCE under the Achaemenid Empire. Prior to the rise of the Persian Empire, several groups of people lived in the area that would later become Iran – this included the Elamites, who were a pre-Iranian civilization that settl...See full list on oldest.orgphoto source: Wikimedia Commons Japan often cites 660 BCE as the date of the country’s founding as this was when the first Emperor of Japan, Emperor Jimmu ascended the throne and began Japan’s imperial dynasty. Emperor Jimmu’s is considered a mythic legendary emperor of Japan and is believed to be a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu – he is r...See full list on oldest.orgphoto source: Wikimedia Commons The Archaic period of Greeceis one of the country’s most prominent time periods as it laid the foundations for Greek’s Classical period, which is known for establishing the foundations of modern western civilization. This period in Greece’s history started sometime around 800 BCE after Greece began to emerge from the...See full list on oldest.orgphoto source: Wikimedia Commons Human life has been around in Ethiopia for millions of yearsas skeletal fragments belonging to Australopithecus afarensis, an apelike creature that may have been the ancestor of modern humans, that were found in the area are thought to be about 3.4 million – 2.9 million years old. As life flourished in Ethiopia, comp...See full list on oldest.orgphoto source: Wikimedia Commons Following a brief Roman conquest around 66 BCE, Rome and the Iranian states fought over Georgia for more than 700 years. Georgia also fell to early Muslim conquests in the 7thcentury CE. The country was subsequently ruled by the Persians and Russia. After a brief period of independence from the Russian Empire, Georgi...See full list on oldest.orgphoto source: Wikimedia Commons The first Chinese dynasty was the Xia Dynasty which lasted from c.2070 BCE – 1600 BCE. There are no first hand records from the Xia Dynasty as the written history of China dates back to the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BCE – 1046 BCE) – however, the Xia Dynasty is mentioned in historical chronicles such as the Bamboo Annal...See full list on oldest.orgphoto source: Wikimedia Commons The Indus Valley Civilization is believed to have had a colony in Afghanistan as early as 3000 BCE. They established one of the world’s first cities, Mundigak, near modern-day Kandahar. Archaeologists have also found evidence of smaller Indus Valley Civilization colonies in other parts of Afghanistan. Over time, wave...See full list on oldest.orgphoto source: Wikimedia Commons People have been living in the region in the Indian subcontinent since around 3300 BCE, starting with the Indus Valley Civilization. Although these early peoples formed one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations, the beginnings of Indiaas a nation started with the Vedic Period which lasted from c.1500 BCE – c. 6...See full list on oldest.orgNov 1, 2025 · The following table presents some of the world's oldest countries, ranked by the approximate date of their founding as a continuous civilization or political entity. · It's unlikely historians will ever agree on a single "oldest country," but each of the nations on this list is a strong contender. Here are the top 10 oldest countries in the world. · Iran is the oldest country in the world, dating back to 3200 BC, followed closely by Egypt, established in 3100 BC. Vietnam, founded in 2879 BC, Armenia in 2492 BC, and North Korea in 2333 BC, complete the list of the five oldest countries worldwide. This list ranks the world’s oldest countries by cultural continuity – how long a people have lived under their own culture, language, religion, and leadership. Which is the oldest country in the world?Iran is the oldest country in the world with its sovereignty coming back in 3200 BC. Egypt is a close second with its establishment happening in 3100 BC. The rest of the three countries in the top five are Vietnam (2879 BC), Armenia (2492 BC), and North Korea (2333 BC). Japan closes the list with its establishment happening back in 400.What is the oldest country in East Asia?San Marino, established in 301 BC, is Europe's oldest country, while Japan, dating back to 400 AD, is acknowledged as the oldest country in East Asia. Interestingly, over half of the top ten oldest countries, including Iran, Egypt, India, and Israel, are nestled in Asia - illustrating the continent's significant role in early human civilization.Why is Egypt the oldest country in the world?Around this time period, Upper and Lower Egypt were unified into a single kingdom by King Menes – Menes is actually the Egyptian word for founder and many historians believe that founder of Egypt was a ruler named Narmer. This makes Egypt the oldest country in the world. · Over time, mankind has seen countless nations and countries rise and disappear into the annals of history. It is impossible to say which the oldest country in the world is with complete certainty. Here are 20 of the longest surviving civilizations. · The following table presents some of the world's oldest countries, ranked by the approximate date of their founding as a continuous civilization or political entity. · It's unlikely historians will ever agree on a single "oldest country," but each of the nations on this list is a strong contender. Here are the top 10 oldest countries in the world. · Iran is the oldest country in the world, dating back to 3200 BC, followed closely by Egypt, established in 3100 BC. Vietnam, founded in 2879 BC, Armenia in 2492 BC, and North Korea in 2333 BC, complete the list of the five oldest countries worldwide. This list ranks the world’s oldest countries by cultural continuity – how long a people have lived under their own culture, language, religion, and leadership. Which is the oldest country in the world?Iran is the oldest country in the world with its sovereignty coming back in 3200 BC. Egypt is a close second with its establishment happening in 3100 BC. The rest of the three countries in the top five are Vietnam (2879 BC), Armenia (2492 BC), and North Korea (2333 BC). Japan closes the list with its establishment happening back in 400.What is the oldest country in East Asia?San Marino, established in 301 BC, is Europe's oldest country, while Japan, dating back to 400 AD, is acknowledged as the oldest country in East Asia. Interestingly, over half of the top ten oldest countries, including Iran, Egypt, India, and Israel, are nestled in Asia - illustrating the continent's significant role in early human civilization.Why is Egypt the oldest country in the world?Around this time period, Upper and Lower Egypt were unified into a single kingdom by King Menes – Menes is actually the Egyptian word for founder and many historians believe that founder of Egypt was a ruler named Narmer. This makes Egypt the oldest country in the world. · Over time, mankind has seen countless nations and countries rise and disappear into the annals of history. It is impossible to say which the oldest country in the world is with complete certainty. Here are 20 of the longest surviving civilizations. · Iran is the oldest country in the world, dating back to 3200 BC, followed closely by Egypt, established in 3100 BC. Vietnam, founded in 2879 BC, Armenia in 2492 BC, and North Korea in 2333 BC, complete the list of the five oldest countries worldwide. This list ranks the world’s oldest countries by cultural continuity – how long a people have lived under their own culture, language, religion, and leadership. · Over time, mankind has seen countless nations and countries rise and disappear into the annals of history. It is impossible to say which the oldest country in the world is with complete certainty. Here are 20 of the longest surviving civilizations.