Discover the 11 Countries That Start With N in 2024

Countries that start with the letter N include Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, The Netherlands, New Zealand, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, and Norway. Read on to learn more about these amazing countries!

Are you searching for countries that begin with the letter N? Look no further! Check out this comprehensive list of the 10 countries that start with N, including the most populated, the largest by land area, and the oldest. 

1. Namibia

Located in Southwest Africa, Namibia shares a border with the Atlantic Ocean, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa. Windhoek is the capital city and Namibia’s total population is 2.6 million.

The country features three major geographic regions: the Namib Desert, the Kalahari Desert, and the Central Plateau. Namibia is one of the driest countries in Africa, featuring a hot, arid climate with sparse and erratic rainfall.

Wildlife in Namibia: cheetahs, leopards, lions, African wild dogs, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, zebras, springbok antelopes, wildebeests, African buffalo    

2. Nauru

This tiny island country is in Micronesia, northeast of Australia, and about 2,800 miles from Hawaii. Yaren is the capital of Nauru, and the country is one of the most densely populated in the world, featuring a population of 12,780. 

Nauru is a phosphate rock island surrounded by coral reefs and sandy beaches. And it features a tropical climate with variable rainfall. There are also no streams or rivers on the island.

Wildlife in Nauru: Nauru reed warblers, Pygmy killer whales, Fraser’s dolphins, Micronesian imperial pigeons, porpoises, wild hogs, land snails, terns, frigate birds  

3. Nepal

The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal sits in the Himalayan Mountains in South Asia. It is a landlocked country that borders China and India. Kathmandu is Nepal’s capital city and most populous area. And the country contains a total of 30.89 million people.

This country has a diverse landscape, containing the tallest mountains on Earth, plains, caves, hills, and wetlands. And the climate can vary wildly, from cool summers and severe winters in the north to hot summers and mild winters in the south. 

Wildlife in Nepal: Bengal tigers, clouded leopards, Indian rhinos, Asiatic elephants, Himalayan monals, snow leopards, red pandas, and corsac foxes 

4. The Netherlands

This country is in Northwest Europe where it’s bordered by Germany, Belgium, and the North Sea. The Netherlands consists of 12 provinces and its capital city is Amsterdam. This European country has a population of 17.6 million.

 The Netherlands features a flat terrain with coastal lowlands, beaches, farmland, and grassy dunes. The country has a temperate climate consisting of mild winters and cool summers. 

Wildlife in The Netherlands: Eurasian otters, red deer, wolves, wild boars, foxes, roe deer, mouflons, badgers, and European pine martens

5. New Zealand

The island country of New Zealand is in the Southwest Pacific Ocean and consists of two main landmasses and 700 other small islands. New Zealand is the sixth-largest island country by land size and features a population of 5.2 million. The capital of New Zealand is Wellington. 

This scenic country features rugged mountains, glaciers, fjords, rolling hills, plains, beaches, and subtropical forests. Its climate varies wildly from subtropical in the north to temperate in the south.

Wildlife in New Zealand: kiwis, penguins, kakapos, New Zealand fur seals, dolphins, tuataras, keas, chevron skinks, Hamilton’s frogs, bats

6. Nicaragua

Nicaragua is a Central American country that sits between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. This country is bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south and Managua is its capital city. Nicaragua has a population of seven million.

Nicaragua has a dramatic landscape featuring coastal lagoons, coral reefs, islands, cays, volcanoes, mountains, and beaches. It has a tropical climate with dry and wet seasons and hot temperatures year-round.

Wildlife in Nicaragua: Howler monkeys, jaguars, iguanas, ocelots, bats, sloths, anteaters, deer, jaguarundis, trogons, harpy eagles, macaws   

7. Niger

The Republic of Niger is a landlocked West African country bordered by Algeria, Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Mali. This country is home to 27.2 million people and its capital is Niamey.

Niger is primarily within a desert region, so its geographic features consist of desert plains, sand dunes, hills, and the Niger River Basin. Its climate is hot and dry, except near the basin where it experiences subtropical weather. 

Wildlife in Niger: African wild dogs, cheetahs, aardvarks, caracals, addax, leopards, Egyptian vultures, barn owls, lions, elephants, African buffaloes  

8. Nigeria

Located on the Gulf of Guinea in Western Africa, Nigeria is a multinational country bordered by Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Nigeria has a population of 223.8 million, containing 2.78% of the total world population. It is one of the most populated countries on Earth. Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria.

 This country features wide-ranging topography, from deserts and plains to mountains, jungles, and swamps. It also features multiple climatic zones, including semi-arid in the north, tropical savannah in the central regions, and tropical monsoon in the south.

Wildlife in Nigeria: black rhinos, wild dogs, leopards, lions, baboons, hippos, giraffes, pangolins, African buffaloes, cuckoos, puff adders, and hoopoes   

9. North Macedonia

The Republic of North Macedonia is a country in Southeast Europe bordered by Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Albania. As of 2023, North Macedonia has a population of two million. Its capital and largest city is Skopje.

This country features geographic features, like lakes, mountains, and valleys. Its climate is temperate Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and relatively cold winters.

Wildlife in North Macedonia: wild boars, chamois, bearded vultures, brown bears, roe deer, Eurasian otters, Balkan lynx, and European hares 

10. Norway

This Nordic country is in Northern Europe, where it borders Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the Norwegian Sea. Norway has a population of 5.47 million and its capital city is Oslo.

Norway features dramatic landscapes, like mountains, deep coastal fjords, and glaciers. It features a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters.   

Wildlife in Norway: Arctic foxes, polar bears, reindeer, whales, musk ox, moose, walruses, wolves, ringed seals, elk

11. North Korea

Korea is located in East Asia on the Korean Peninsula. It’s bordered by the countries of Russia, China, and South Korea. It’s believed to have a total population of 26 million. The capital of North Korea is Pyongyang.

North Korea has diverse topography such as hills, deep valleys, and mountain ranges like the Taebaek Mountain. It has four seasons, including frigid winters because of its proximity to Siberia, but also hot, humid summers.

Among the diverse wildlife in North Korea are animals like the black bear, red-crowned crane, Japanese tree frog, Siberian chipmunk, red fox, Ussuri brown bear, Eurasian lynx, and Amur leopard.

A Recap of the 11 Countries That Start With N in 2024

The Most Populated Country That Starts with N

Nigeria is the most populated country that starts with N. This African country features a population of 223.8 million as of 2023. It is one of the most populated countries in the world. Currently, it is the sixth most populous.

The Largest Country That Starts with N By Land Area

Niger features a land area of 489,200 square miles and is the largest country that starts with N by land area. It is also the largest landlocked country in West Africa.

The Oldest Country That Starts with N

The Netherlands is the oldest country that starts with N. While it has a long history, it didn’t become the modern kingdom of The Netherlands until 1815.

The Youngest Country That Starts with N

While the Kingdom of Nepal was established in 1768, it didn’t become a federal democratic republic until 2008, after abolishing its monarchy.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Andrew Mayovskyy/Shutterstock.com