Discover the 5 Countries That Start With F

Written by Justin Zipprich
Updated: July 27, 2023
© iStock.com/Olivier DJIANN
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Key Points

    As of the time of this writing, there are 195 countries in the world. They all have creative names that speak to the area where they originated and the people that live there. There’s a country for almost every letter in the alphabet, and today, we’re going to talk about the countries that start with F. There are five of them. Today, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about their populations, ages, land area, and more.

    The Faroe Islands are a self-governing nation under the external sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark.

    What are the Five Countries That Start With F?

    The answer you get to this question will depend on the source you find. According to the technical definition of a country, which is a body of land with one government, there are three countries that start with F. They are Finland, France, and Fiji.

    However, if you expand that definition a bit, you’ll discover that there are five of them. The other countries that start with F are the Faroe Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.

    More About the Five Countries That Start With F

    To familiarize yourself with these locations, we’ll lay the groundwork by telling you the basics of each of these countries in case you plan to visit them in the future.

    1. Fiji

    flag of Fiji
    Fiji is a gorgeous country made up of more than 300 islands.

    ©Tatohra/Shutterstock.com

    You can call Fiji a country or an archipelago, but in either case, it’s composed of more than 300 islands. The largest islands of Vanua Levu and Viti Levu contain most of the population. The capital of Fiji is Suva, which is located on Viti Levu. The area is famous for its beauty. 

    During a visit, you can see coral reefs, palm-filled beaches, and gorgeous landscapes. There are also rainforests in Fiji where you can discover insects and animals that you never imagined. There are many groups living in Fiji, including Indo-Fijians and indigenous Fijians. This is a democratic country with an emerging economy. 

    2. Finland

    This country is the place to see the Northern Lights.

    ©iStock.com/wmaster890

    Finland is a country in Northern Europe that borders Russia, Sweden, and Norway. The capital of Finland is Helsinki, which is located near the Baltic Sea. The people of Finland have been credited with many amazing discoveries, including those in design, literature, and music. The country is also on the cutting edge of renewable energy and mobile technology. Like the other amazing countries on this list, Finland is also very beautiful, with great lakes and forests. Plus, this is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in all their glory.

    3. France

    The Eiffel Tower, France
    France is an amazing country that’s famous for the Eiffel Tower.

    ©iStock.com/Sean3810

    Perhaps the most well-known of the countries that start with F, France is a country in Western Europe that is famous for many noteworthy cities, including its capital city of Paris. France is considered to be a unitary semi-presidential republic. It’s bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. France is very famous for its culture and beauty. 

    There’s a ton of great architecture to see, including the incredible Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versailles, and the Louvre Museum. This country is also famous for its art scene and cuisine. Visit here and try the cheeses, literature, and fashion.

    4. Faroe Islands

    Although there are 18 islands, the Faroe Islands is the smallest country by land area.

    ©Dmitry Pistrov/Shutterstock.com

    Technically, the Faroe Islands is a territory or a self-governing archipelago that is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Many might not consider this to be a traditional country because it’s technically a collection of islands.

    These are 18 volcanic islands that lie in the North Atlantic Ocean between Norway and Iceland. They’re connected by bridges, causeways, and road tunnels. This is a gorgeous place with many coastal cliffs and mountains that you won’t soon forget. The place has a rich Viking heritage and a rich fishing industry.

    5. Federated States of Micronesia

    The pretty villages of Micronesia
    Micronesia is home to a whopping 600 islands.

    ©Iurii Kazakov/Shutterstock.com

    The Federated States of Micronesia is another collection of islands. In this case, there are 600 islands that are spread across the western Pacific Ocean. There are four island states in the mix: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. This is another gorgeous place that is full of basalt temples, burial vaults, and shipwrecks from the World War II era. Most people refer to this place as simply Micronesia, which is why you may not often see it listed under the letter F.

    The Most Populated Country That Starts With F

    Of the countries that start with F, France is the most populated country by a long shot. As of the recent numbers reported in 2021, France has a population of approximately 68.5 million people. That’s over 60 million more than the next closest country, which is Finland. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Germany.

    France’s population makes up about .84% of the total world population, and it has the ranking of 22nd as far as most populated countries in the world. There are 107 people per square mile in the country, and on average, every woman has had 2.0 children. 

    CountryPopulation
    FranceApprox. 67.75 million
    FinlandApprox. 5.541 million
    FijiApprox. 924,610 
    Federated States of MicronesiaApprox. 113,131
    Faroe IslandsApprox. 52,889
    Per 2021 Data

    The Largest Country that Starts with F By Area

    When it comes to the overall land area, once again, France is the winner. France has almost twice the land area of the second-largest country Finland. Of that 213+ squared miles, 2,129.4 miles of it is coastline. 

    When compared to the rest of Europe, France is in third place as far as land area. Only Russia and Ukraine are larger. Even with that said, France is still smaller than the state of Texas

    France has an average elevation of 375 meters above sea level, and the highest mountain is 4,810 meters tall. Part of that land area comprises 70 islands. Eight countries border that large land area, and they are Spain, Monaco, Switzerland, Andorra, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, and Germany.

    CountryLand Area in Square Miles
    France213,011 mi²
    Finland130,672 mi²
    Fiji7,056 mi²
    Federated States of Micronesia271 mi²
    Faroe Islands539 mi²

    The Oldest Country that Starts with F

    Once again, France wins the battle of the oldest of the countries that start with F. Technically, France became a country in 1792. Before the country resembled anything close to France, it was an area known as Gaul or Gallia. Then after a series of events, including the French Revolution, the Thirty Years‘ War, and the French Empire under Napoleon, it eventually became its own country.

    Finland became a country on December 6, 1917, after declaring independence from the Russian Empire.

    Fiji became a country on October 10, 1970, after gaining independence from British rule.

    The Federated States of Micronesia adopted its own constitution and became an independent country on November 3, 1986.

    The Faroe Islands were granted independence on April 1, 1948, after an unrecognized referendum took place with Denmark. On this date, the islands were granted self-governance. The official deal was part of the Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands. 

    CountryWhen It Became A Country
    France1792
    Finland1917
    Fiji1970
    Federated States of Micronesia1986
    Faroe Islands1948

    The Youngest Country that Starts with F

    Of the countries that start with F, the Federated States of Micronesia is the youngest of the group. This became a country recently in 1986. 

    After World War II, what would become the Federated States of Micronesia joined the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands? The deal became official in 1986 because Micronesia entered into a Compact of Free Association with America.

    Conclusion

    This is a general overview of the countries that start with F. All five of these countries have a lot of great history, and there’s a ton to learn, so consider learning more about them or planning a trip so you can enjoy their amazing beauty. 


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    About the Author

    Justin Zipprich is an animal lover who has enjoyed having birds, cats, and dogs as pets. He is thrilled to share his knowledge of the animal kingdom and the natural world with you!

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