An island is a landmass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water. Many island countries are spread over an archipelago, as is the case with Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines—these countries consist of thousands of islands. Others consist of a single island, such as Barbados, Dominica, and Nauru; a main island and some smaller islands, such as Cuba, Iceland, and Sri Lanka; a part of an island, such as Brunei, the Dominican Republic, Timor-Leste, and the Republic of Ireland; or one main island but also sharing borders in other islands, such as the United Kingdom (Great Britain and a part of Ireland).

The list also includes two states in free association with New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Niue, as well as two states with limited diplomatic recognition which have de facto control over territories entirely on the islands, Northern Cyprus and Taiwan.The Republic of China (commonly known as "Taiwan") only controls the islands of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu etc. after the Chinese Civil War, but has not renounced claim on areas currently under control of the People's Republic of China, Mongolia, Tuva (a Russian republic) etc. If those territories are taken into account, the Republic of China is not an island country or a country centered with a major island. The area under ROC control is also claimed by the People's Republic of China. See: One China and Political status of Taiwan. In total, 50 island countries have been included in the lists.

Australia is not included as it is considered a continental country, although it was historically referred to as an island country because of its lack of land borders. Greenland is generally considered as the largest island on Earth and listed among the island territories. Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea is officially an unincorporated territory of the United States. Neither Greenland nor Puerto Rico are sovereign countries.

Indonesia is the world's largest island country by area (1,904,569 km2), and by total number of islands (17,504 islands).Which Countries Have The Most Islands? It is also the world's most populous island country, with a population of over 270 million (the fourth most populous country in the world, after India, China, and the United States).

South America has only one independent sovereign island nation with Trinidad and Tobago; though considered a Caribbean island country, it is located on the northern portion of the South American continental shelf just off Venezuela, but from Grenada, the nearest of the Antilles.The Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are disputed island territories administered by the United Kingdom and claimed by Argentina.Island Countries

Sovereign states UN member states and states with limited recognition

Name ISO code Geographic configuration Geologic location Area Population Populationdensity Geographical location Establishment/ Independencesq miper per sq mi UN member states AGATG Two main islands: Antigua Island Barbuda Island Oceanic 97,120 Caribbean Sea, Lesser Antilles 1981 November 1 BSBHS Archipelago Various 389,480 Atlantic Ocean, Lucayan Archipelago 1973 July 10 BHBHR Archipelago with one main island Continental shelf 1,641,170 Persian Gulf 1971 December 10 BBBRB One main island Oceanic 287,020 Caribbean Sea, Lesser Antilles 1966 November 30 BNBRN Part of a larger island (Borneo) Continental shelf 433,290 Maritime Southeast Asia 1984 January 1 CVCPV Archipelago Oceanic 549,930 Atlantic Ocean, Macaronesia 1975 July 5 KMCOM Archipelago Oceanic 850,890 Indian Ocean, Africa, Comoros Islands 1975 July 6 CUCUB One main island, and several smaller islands (Isla de la Juventud, etc.) Various 11,346,346 Caribbean Sea, Greater Antilles 1868 October 10 1902 May 20 The northern part of the island of Cyprus is the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey. In the south of the island are the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, controlled by the United Kingdom. CYCYP Part of a larger island Continental shelf 888,005 Mediterranean Sea 1960 August 16 DMDMA One main island Oceanic 71,810 Caribbean Sea, Lesser Antilles 1978 November 3 DODOM Part of a larger island (Hispaniola), and several smaller islands (Alto Velo, Catalina, Saona, Beata, etc.) Oceanic 10,738,960 Caribbean Sea, Greater Antilles 1821 December 1 1844 February 27 TLTLS Part of a larger island (Timor) Oceanic 1,293,120 Maritime Southeast Asia, Lesser Sunda Islands 2002 May 20 FJFJI Archipelago with two main islands: Viti Levu Vanua Levu Oceanic 889,950 Pacific Ocean, Melanesia 1970 October 10 GDGRD One main island with two island dependencies (Carriacou and Petite Martinique) Oceanic 112,000 Caribbean Sea, Lesser Antilles 1974 February 7 HTHTI Part of a larger island (Hispaniola), and several smaller islands (Gonâve, Tortuga, Les Cayemites, etc.) Oceanic 11,743,017 Caribbean Sea, Greater Antilles 1804 January 1 ISISL One main island VariousThe largest oceanic island in the world. 361,310 Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Circle 1918 December 1 1944 June 17 IDIDN Archipelago, including parts of larger islands (Borneo, New Guinea, Sebatik, and Timor) VariousThe western portion of the country is on the continental shelf of Asia while the eastern portion of the country is on the continental shelf of Australia. The central portion of the country consists of oceanic islands in Wallacea. 270,625,570 Maritime Southeast Asia, Indian and Pacific oceans 1945 August 17 IEIRL Part of a larger island (Ireland), and several smaller islands Continental shelf 4,977,400 Atlantic Ocean, British Isles 1922 December 6 JMJAM One main island with an archipelago of islets (inc. Morant Cays, Pedro Cays, and Port Royal Cays) Various 2,734,092 Caribbean Sea, Greater Antilles 1962 August 6 JPJPN Four main islands and thousands of surrounding islands Continental shelf 126,264,930 Pacific Ocean, East Asia 660 BC February 11In Japanese tradition, 11 February 660 BC is regarded as the accession date of the first Emperor of Japan in legendary, Emperor Jimmu, marking the establishment of the imperial dynasty. However, no historical evidence that Jimmu actually existed and his story was largely narrated by Japanese mythology. February 11 was also the day when the Constitution of the Empire of Japan was proclaimed in 1889. See: National Foundation Day KIKIR Several separated archipelagos Oceanic 117,610 Pacific Ocean, Micronesia 1979 July 12 MGMDG One main island Continental shelfThe largest microcontinent in the world. 26,969,310 Indian Ocean, Africa 1960 June 26 MVMDV Archipelago Oceanic 383,976 Indian Ocean, Laccadive Sea 1965 July 26 MTMLT Two main islands (Malta Island and Gozo) plus other smaller islands Continental shelf 502,650 Mediterranean Sea 1964 September 21 The Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau are states in free association with the United States, under the Compact of Free Association. MHMHL Two archipelagos Oceanic 58,790 Pacific Ocean, Micronesia 1979 May 1 MUMUS Archipelago with one main island Oceanic 1,265,710 Indian Ocean, Africa, Mascarene Islands 1968 March 12 FMFSM Archipelago Oceanic 113,810 Pacific Ocean, Micronesia 1979 May 10 NRNRO One main island Oceanic 12,580 Pacific Ocean, Micronesia 1968 January 31 NZNZL An archipelago around two main islands: Te Ika-a-Māui (the North Island) Te Waipounamu (the South Island) Continental shelfA part of the submerged continent of Zealandia. 5,125,451 Pacific Ocean, Polynesia 1907 September 26 PWPLW Archipelago Oceanic 18,010 Pacific Ocean, Micronesia 1981 January 1 PGPNG Part of a larger island (New Guinea), and surrounding archipelago Continental shelf 8,776,110 Pacific Ocean, Melanesia 1975 September 16 PHPHL Archipelago Various 108,116,620 Maritime Southeast Asia 1898 June 12 1946 July 4 KNKNA Two main islands: Saint Christopher Island Nevis Island Oceanic 52,830 Caribbean Sea, Lesser Antilles 1983 September 19 LCLCA One main island Oceanic 182,790 Caribbean Sea, Lesser Antilles 1979 February 22 VCVCT An archipelago with one main island Oceanic 110,590 Caribbean Sea, Lesser Antilles 1979 October 27 WSWSM Archipelago Oceanic 197,100 Pacific Ocean, Polynesia 1962 January 1 STSTP Two main islands: São Tomé Island Príncipe Island) Oceanic 215,060 Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Guinea, Africa 1975 July 12 SCSYC Archipelago VariousThe Granitic Seychelles is a part of the Seychelles microcontinent. The Coralline Seychelles consists of oceanic islands. 97,630 Indian Ocean, Africa 1976 June 29 SGSGP An archipelago with one main island Continental shelf 5,703,570 Maritime Southeast Asia 1965 August 9 SBSLB Archipelago Oceanic 669,820 Pacific Ocean, Melanesia 1978 July 7 LKLKA One main island, plus other small islands Continental shelf 21,803,000 Indian Ocean, South Asia 1948 February 4 TOTON Archipelago Oceanic 104,490 Pacific Ocean, Polynesia 1970 June 4 TTTTO An archipelago with two main islands: Trinidad Island