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Island country

An island country, island state, or island nation is a country whose primary territory consists of one or more islands or parts of islands. Approximately 25% of all independent countries are island countries.[1] Island countries are historically more stable[1] than many continental states but are vulnerable to conquest by naval superpowers. Indonesia is the largest and most populated island country in the world.[2][3]

"Island nation" redirects here. For the Taiwanese TV series, see Island Nation.

There are great variations between island country economies: they may rely mainly on extractive industries, such as mining, fishing and agriculture, and/or on services such as transit hubs, tourism, and financial services. Many islands have low-lying geographies and their economies and population centers develop along coast plains and ports; such states may be vulnerable to the effects of climate change, especially sea level rise.


Remote or significant islands and archipelagos that are not themselves sovereign are often known as dependencies or overseas territories.

War[edit]

Island countries have often been the basis of maritime conquest and historical rivalry between other countries.[4] Island countries are more susceptible to attack by large, continental countries due to their size and dependence on sea and air lines of communication.[5] Many island countries are also vulnerable to predation by mercenaries and other foreign invaders,[6] although their isolation also makes them a difficult target.

Natural resources[edit]

Many developing small island countries rely heavily on fish for their main supply of food.[7] Some are turning to renewable energy—such as wind power, hydropower, geothermal power and biodiesel from copra oil—to defend against potential rises in oil prices.[8]

Composition[edit]

Island countries are typically small with low populations, although some, like Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines are notable exceptions.[19]


Some island countries are centred on one or two major islands, such as the United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, New Zealand, Cuba, Bahrain, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Iceland, Malta, and Taiwan. Others are spread out over hundreds or thousands of smaller islands, such as Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, The Bahamas, Seychelles, and the Maldives. Some island countries share one or more of their islands with other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Ireland; Haiti and the Dominican Republic; and Indonesia, which shares islands with Papua New Guinea, Brunei, East Timor, and Malaysia. Bahrain, Singapore, and the United Kingdom have fixed links such as bridges and tunnels to the continental landmass: Bahrain is linked to Saudi Arabia by the King Fahd Causeway, Singapore to Malaysia by the Johor–Singapore Causeway and Second Link, and the United Kingdom has a railway connection to France through the Channel Tunnel.


Geographically, the country of Australia is considered a continental landmass rather than an island, covering the largest landmass of the Australian continent. In the past, however, it was considered an island country for tourism purposes[20] (among others) and is sometimes referred to as such.[21]

– NationsOnline.org

Island countris