There's no single "first country," as the definition varies, but Egypt (unified around 3100 BCE) is often cited as the first unified, large state, while San Marino (founded 301 CE) claims to be the world's oldest continuous republic, and Iran (Persia, 3200 BCE) is recognized as the oldest continuous nation-state by some measures. Other contenders with ancient origins include China, Japan, and India.
There's no single "first country," as the concept evolved, but Egypt (unified ~3150 BCE), Iran (Persia) (~3200 BCE), and San Marino (301 CE) are often cited for different reasons: Egypt for early unification, Iran for ancient statehood, and San Marino for being the oldest continuous republic with a constitution. Other contenders include China and Japan, depending on definitions of sovereignty and government establishment.
The 10 Oldest Countries in the World (By Cultural Continuity)
Most historians, archaeologists, and Egyptologists concur: Egypt's first unified kingdom stands a few centuries older than China's first historically attested dynasty. However, the Neolithic cultures of China are roughly contemporary with the very first agricultural settlements in Egypt.
Countries That Will Disappear by 2050
Kiribati, specifically its Line Islands (like Kiritimati), is the first country to celebrate the New Year, followed closely by Samoa, Tonga, and New Zealand's Chatham Islands, all thanks to their location just west of the International Date Line. These Pacific island nations usher in January 1st hours before most other countries, making them the first to welcome the new year.
Historians and linguists generally agree that Sumerian, Akkadian and Egyptian are the oldest languages with a clear written record. All three are extinct, meaning they are no longer used and do not have any living descendants that can carry the language to the next generation.
An old missionary student of China once remarked that Chinese history is “remote, monotonous, obscure, and-worst of all-there is too much of it.” China has the longest continuous history of any country in the world—3,500 years of written history. And even 3,500 years ago China's civilization was old!
Topping the list is Iran, boasting a history stretching back 5,233 years to 3200 BC. This places the origins of Iranian government in the era of the Elamite civilization, one of the earliest known urban societies. Following closely behind is Egypt, with a history of 5,123 years originating in 3100 BC.
Here are the 10 youngest nations reshaping modern history: 1️⃣ South Sudan – 2011 (Africa) The world's newest country, formed after a historic referendum to separate from Sudan.
Sumer (/ˈsuːmər/) is the earliest known civilization, located in the historical region of southern Mesopotamia (now south-central Iraq), emerging during the Chalcolithic and early Bronze Ages between the 5th and 4th millennium BC.
South Sudan is widely considered the poorest country in the world in 2025-2026, consistently ranking first due to extremely low GDP per capita and a high percentage (over 80%) of its population living in extreme poverty, driven by prolonged civil conflict, displacement, and disruption of its agricultural economy. Other nations frequently cited as among the poorest include Burundi, the Central African Republic, and Yemen, also suffering from conflict and instability.
The first country to enter 2026 is the Pacific island nation of Kiribati, specifically its Kiritimati (Christmas Island) atoll, due to its location in the earliest time zone (UTC+14), welcoming the New Year hours before other nations. Other parts of New Zealand, like the Chatham Islands, are usually next, followed by the main islands of New Zealand and then Australia.
1. Egypt. Egypt is the oldest country in the world if we accept its founding as 3150 B.C.E. That's the estimated beginning of the reign of Narmer, the first king of the first dynasty of Egypt, and the end of the period considered predynastic or ancient Egypt.
Top 10 Most Powerful Countries In The World 2025
According to the most recent archaeological evidence, Aboriginal peoples have been living on this land for at least 65,000 years, confirming what Aboriginal people have always known, that they are the world's oldest continuous living culture.
The empire was sometimes referred to as Great Qing but increasingly as Zhongguo. Dulimbai Gurun is the Manchu name for China, with "Dulimbai" meaning "central" or "middle" and "Gurun" meaning "nation" or "state".
Here is a list of the top 10 oldest languages in the world based on historical records and linguistic studies:
UNESCO is giving credit where credit is due: Chinese is officially the most difficult language in the world. To give you an idea of the complexity of this language: The written form gives no clues as to pronunciation… And pronunciation and intonation completely change the meaning of a word.
The Proto-Human language, also known as Proto-Sapiens, Proto-World, or the Urlanguage is the hypothetical direct genetic predecessor of all human languages.
The Argument: The G-Zero lack of international leadership, the report forecast, would create vacuums that allow for greater geopolitical conflict, disruption, instability, while emboldening rogue-state and non-state actors to create new risks in outer space, under the sea, and in international airspace.
Top 10 Countries That Will Shape the World by 2030
The islands of Niue and American Samoa, which are southwest of Kiribati in the South Pacific, are the last inhabited places to celebrate the New Year, according to National Geographic. By the time American Samoa says goodbye to 2025, a lot of the rest of the world will already be firmly in 2026.