Some countries in the world have very long official names, which are often much longer than the short names we usually hear. These long names often include words that describe the country’s type of government, its history or the areas it includes. In this article, we will look at the top-5 countries with the longest official names and learn what those names really mean.
Countries with the Longest Names
Some countries in the world have very long official names. These names often tell us about the country’s history, government system or importance places. For example, they may include words like ”Democratic Republic” or ”United Kingdom.” Long names are usually used in official records, while people often use short names in daily life. These names help explain how the country was formed or what it stands for.
Top-5 Countries with the Longest Names
Some countries have very long official names that show their history, government or geography. These names are often used in formal documents.
Here are the top-5 countries with the longest names in the world, each with a unique story behind this name:
Rank | Country | Letter Counts |
1. | The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 56 |
2. | Independent and Sovereign Republic of Kiribati | 46 |
3. | The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | 41 |
4. | Democratic Republic of São Tomé and PrÃncipe | 40 |
5. | Democratic People’s Republic of Korea | 32 |
Country with the Longest Name – The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Letter count: 56
- Continent: Europe
- Capital: London
- Population: 69.5 million
- Currency: Pound Sterling
- Language: English
This is the longest country name in the world. The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Its name explains the union of these parts. ”Great Britain” includes England, Scotland and Wales, while ”Northern Ireland” refers to the northeastern part of the island of Ireland.
Independent and Sovereign Republic of Kiribati
- Letter Count: 46
- Continent: Oceania
- Capital: South Tarawa
- Population: 130,000
- Currency: Australian Dollar
- Language: English, Gilbertese
Kiribati is made up of many small islands in the central Pacific Ocean. Its name is pronounced ”Kee-ree-bahs”, which comes from ”Gilberts” – the name given by a British explorer. The long official name shows that it is free and governs itself after becoming independent from British rule.
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- Letter count: 41
- Continent: Europe
- Capital: Skopje
- Population: 1.83 million
- Currency: Macedonian Denar
- Languages: Macedonian, Albanian
This long name was a result of a name dispute with Greece. After separating from Yugoslavia in 1991, the country wanted to call itself the ”Republic of Macedonia.” However, Greece also has a region named Macedonia, so to avoid conflict, the longer name was used. In 2019, it officially changed its name to North Macedonia.
Democratic Republic of São Tomé and PrÃncipe
- Letter count: 40
- Continent: Africa
- Capital: São Tomé
- Population: 240,000
- Currency: Dobra
- Language: Portuguese
This country is an island nation in Central Africa, located in the Gulf of Guinea. Portuguese explorers named it after Saint Thomas and a Portuguese prince. The ”Democratic Republic” part of the name represents its political system after gaining independence from Portugal in 1975.
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Letter Count: 32
- Continent: Asia
- Capital: Pyongyang
- Population: 26.5 million
- Currency: North Korean Won
- Language: Korean
This country is commonly known as North Korea. It lies in East Asia and covers the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. Its long name shows its claimed identity as a democratic country that represents the people, although it actually follows a strict dictatorship. The name ”Korea” comes from the ancient Goryeo Dynasty.