What is a Country?

Definition

• A country is a nation with its own government, population, and defined territory.
• Also known as a nation-state or sovereign state.

Characteristics

• Has a defined territory with established borders.
• Has a permanent population.
• Has a government that exercises sovereignty over its territory.
• Has the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

Types of Countries

• Sovereign state: A country with its own government and international recognition.
• Dependent territory: A territory that is not fully sovereign, but is under the jurisdiction of another country (e.g. Puerto Rico is a dependent territory of the United States).
• Microstate: A very small, independent country (e.g. Vatican City, Monaco).

Country Classification

• Developed country: A country with a high standard of living, economic stability, and good infrastructure (e.g. United States, Germany).
• Developing country: A country with a lower standard of living, economic instability, and poor infrastructure (e.g. many countries in Africa and Asia).
• Least developed country: A country with a very low standard of living, economic instability, and poor infrastructure (e.g. Somalia, Afghanistan).

Country Boundaries

• Land border: A border between two countries that share a common land boundary.
• Maritime border: A border between two countries that share a common coastline or maritime boundary.
• Boundary dispute: A disagreement between two countries over their common border.

Definition of a Country

• A country is a nation with its own government, population, and defined territory, also known as a nation-state or sovereign state.

Characteristics of a Country

• A country has a defined territory with established borders, which are recognized by other countries and international organizations.
• A country has a permanent population, which is a group of people living within its territory.
• A country has a government that exercises sovereignty over its territory, meaning it has the power to make and enforce laws.
• A country has the capacity to enter into relations with other states, which means it can engage in diplomatic relations, trade, and other forms of international cooperation.

Types of Countries

• A sovereign state is a country that has its own government and is recognized as independent by the international community.
• A dependent territory is a territory that is not fully sovereign, but is under the jurisdiction of another country, such as Puerto Rico, which is a dependent territory of the United States.
• A microstate is a very small, independent country, such as Vatican City or Monaco, which have limited territory and population.

Country Classification

• A developed country is a country with a high standard of living, characterized by economic stability, good infrastructure, and a high level of human development, such as the United States or Germany.
• A developing country is a country with a lower standard of living, characterized by economic instability, poor infrastructure, and a lower level of human development, such as many countries in Africa and Asia.
• A least developed country is a country with a very low standard of living, characterized by extreme poverty, economic instability, and poor infrastructure, such as Somalia or Afghanistan.

Country Boundaries

• A land border is a border between two countries that share a common land boundary, which can be a source of conflict or cooperation.
• A maritime border is a border between two countries that share a common coastline or maritime boundary, which can be a source of conflict or cooperation over resources such as fishing or oil.
• A boundary dispute is a disagreement between two countries over their common border, which can be a source of conflict or tension.