Island Nation

An island nation is a country whose territory is entirely or predominantly composed of islands. Japan, the United Kingdom, Philippines, Indonesia, and Madagascar are prominent examples. Most island nations have no land borders, which historically tended to foster unique cultural development.

Indonesia, made up of a great many islands, is the largest island nation by area, while Nauru is the smallest (about 21 km²). Published island counts vary with how islands are defined, so pay attention to the criteria when comparing size by island count. The area comparison reflects the situation as of September 2026. The Pacific Ocean contains many small island nations.