List of countries by number of islands

This is a list of countries by number of islands, with figures given for the numbers of islands within their territories. In some cases, this figure is approximate and may vary slightly between sources depending on which islands are counted. The criteria for inclusion appear to differ considerably between the countries so they are not necessarily directly comparable. Different languages use different words for islands depending on size and or shape and elevation. For example, in English, a smaller island can be referred to as an islet, skerry, cay, or eyot, leading to confusion over classification as an island in some circumstances. This can influence which islands are counted or not. Some islands are fully submerged by the tides at times, and those may also not be counted by some countries while others do. Where counts vary, this article uses the highest reliably sourced figure.

For the purposes of this article, the top 50 countries will have their islands determined by the following definition: “An island is a land mass permanently above sea level either in an inland waterway or in the open sea. It is completely surrounded by water, but must not be a continent.”

List

See also

• List of archipelagos by number of islands
• List of countries by largest island
• Lists of islands

References

External links

• Global Island Network – Island Links Directory

1. List of island countries
2. List of archipelagos by number of islands
3. List of countries by number of millionaires
4. Lists of islands
5. List of countries by largest island
6. List of European countries by area
7. List of countries by incarceration rate
8. List of countries by birth rate
9. Lists of sovereign states and dependent territories
10. List of countries by number of births
11. List of countries and dependencies by population density
12. List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita
13. List of countries by number of deaths
14. List of countries and territories by number of land borders
15. List of countries by income equality
16. List of countries by traffic-related death rate
17. List of countries by number of Internet users
18. List of European countries by population
19. List of countries by life expectancy
20. List of country calling codes