A country whose territory is completely within the archipelago and is not connected in any way with the mainland is called an "island state." Of the 194 officially recognized countries of the world, 47 are considered as such. They should be distinguished from coastal territories and political entities that have no access to the sea at all. Most often, the island states of the world are located near the outskirts of the continents, but some, such as the archipelagos of Oceania, can be located at a sufficient distance from the coastline. For convenience, country classifications are divided into groups. The main criterion for separation is membership in a particular part of the world or the mainland. Let us dwell 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 islands such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, as well as Iceland, Malta and Cyprus.
1. England
An island nation located in northwestern Europe in the North Sea. The territory of the country includes Great Britain and the northern part of Ireland, as well as a large number of small nearby archipelagos of the Atlantic Ocean, such as Faroe, Orkney, Shetland, Hebrides and others. The two largest islands are divided among themselves by the Irish Sea, which passes through a large number of transit routes. The capital is the city of London on the legendary River Thames.
2. Ireland
A state that is located in the northwestern part of Europe. Located in the southern and central parts of the island of the same name. It has the only land border with England. The capital is the city of Dublin. It is believed that all red and green-eyed people come 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 distinguished by an arctic climate. The island is influenced by the warm North Atlantic Current, so the temperature in the capital 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 the small territories of Cyprus and several nearby archipelagos among themselves. The main sector of the economy of these countries is tourism. The picturesque islands of the Mediterranean have always attracted lovers of antiquity and snow-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 him Nicosia, and in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, he received the name 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 uninhabited Comino. This is the only state in Europe on whose territory there is not a single river and 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. Countries are located on the Big and Small Sunda Islands, the Philippine, Moluccan, Maldives and Japanese archipelagos. They are quite far removed 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 state in the world in terms of area. It occupies several separate geographical objects at once. A significant part of its territories lies on the Malay archipelago, namely on the Big and Small Sunda and Moluccas. This cluster is washed by many inland 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 them 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 located in the center of Honshu Island.
3. Philippines
Often island states are located on the archipelagoes of the same name. 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 Jayewardenepura Kotte. It is best known for its historical name - Ceylon, and is also famous since ancient times for its unique varieties of mountain tea.
5. Republic of China
A partially recognized state located in Southeast Asia. Located on the island of Taiwan and several adjacent archipelagos, the capital is the city of Taipei. Large commercial and economic area 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 Atauru and Zhaku. The capital and 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 an exotic name Bandar Seri Begawan, which is translated from the local language as “The City of His Grace”.
8. Bahrain
A small island state, geographically 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 main economic center of the country is the city of Manama.
9. Singapore
This country belongs to the region of Southeast Asia. It lies on the territory of 63 islands, the largest of which are Singapore, Ubin, Sentosa. This is a free trade and economic zone of Asia. The capital is the city of the same name on the main island with the same name.
10. Maldives
The state, located on a group of atolls of the same name in South Asia. It’s not a secret for many that this is the most picturesque and attractive country for tourism in the world. Male's only city is the capital and major tourist center. About 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 turbulent Caribbean Sea. Sometimes this part of the world is called the West Indies. In the past, these territories were ruled by large European colonialists, but now they have the status of independent countries.
The island states of this region are located on the territory of the Big (the largest - Cuba, followed by Haiti and Puerto Rico) and the Small (Leeward and Windward) Antilles, Bahamas and other small archipelagos. 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, Saint 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 should be singled out as a separate group. Independent African territories in the east include Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles, and in the west - Sao Tome and Principe, Cape Verde. Basically, the territories of these countries are located on the archipelagoes of the same name.
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, also New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tonga, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and, of course, the Marshall Islands.