While most people adopt a sense of identity from the country in which they reside, most countries do not stand the test of time. However, some regions have consistently hosted cultural evolution that has resulted in the country that exists today. With that in mind, what are the 5 oldest countries in the world?
The 5 Oldest Countries in the World
These are 5 of the oldest countries in the world:
5. China: 2244 Years Old
221 BCE is the year that China definitively became a country with the establishment of imperialism. However, cultures and civilizations existed for thousands of years in the region before that. An ancestor of modern humans, Homo erectus, was in China over a million years ago and it’s safe to theorize that there has been a continual hominid presence ever since.
China is the country with the longest written history stretching back over 3500 years. Invaluable contributions to worldwide advancement from China include gunpowder, porcelain, tea, paper, silk, and the compass.
The existing People’s Republic of China was established in 1949 by the Chinese Communist Party. It is currently led by Xi Jinping. This party has driven the rapid growth of industry and infrastructure.
The current Chinese government modernized the military and it began to violently repress minorities. The Chinese Communist Party is based on Leninism and Marxism like the extant government in North Korea. Recently, protests by citizens that focused on income inequality, lack of protection for consumers, food safety, and the environment have occurred.
©Joshua Davenport/Shutterstock.com
4. Iran: 2573 Years Old
By 550 BCE, the Persian Empire was established by Cyrus the Great. He created the first codified human rights which were found on a cuneiform clay cylinder. A period of Ancient Greek and subsequent occupations happened but around 211 CE, Iran regained independence.
Iran thwarted Byzantine and Roman invasion attempts but was conquered by the Arabs in 641 CE. This is when Islam became a prominent cultural fixture in the region. The Turks and Mongols had their turns ruling Iran, but sovereignty was again attained in 1597 by King Abbas the Great.
Abbas the Great was able to banish Portuguese colonists that had taken root in Iran. His kingdom ended and turmoil defines the rest of the political history of Iran. Control passed through various hands via numerous conflicts.
Today, Iran is known as the Islamic Republic of Iran and it’s existed in its current iteration since 1979. Current law is based on Islamic teachings so things like homosexuality, adultery, and promiscuity are illegal.
Before the establishment of this government, western thought and secularism had been introduced to Iranian citizens. However, since the republic has been established, human rights violations regarding freedom of expression and activism have been documented against protesting citizens.
©iStock.com/Radiokukka
3. Japan: 2683 Years Old
Japan became a country for the first time in 660 BCE. This year comes from texts crafted by the Yamato Clan in the 700s CE. This written history shows more than 20 generations connecting the current leaders with people from the ancient past. The lineage created by the Yamato Clan was made a part of the imperial canon in the late 1800s.
Japan’s closest island to the Asian mainland was crossable by ancient man but the journey was dangerous. As a result, only limited interactions took place. This allowed Japan to assert independence early in history while also absorbing some aspects of ancient Chinese culture.
Despite sharing an isolated geographical unity, Japan wasn’t an encompassing society in the modern sense until around the 1600s. However, there were important shared figures throughout time over the entire island chain like traveling priests and samurai. Between 1000 CE and the early 1800s CE, the Japanese population grew from 5 million people to 30 million people.
Japan is the only country outside of Western influence that underwent an independent industrial revolution. It was also the only Asian country to establish a constitution by the twentieth century.
©Luciano Mortula – LGM/Shutterstock.com
2. Ethiopia: 3003 Years Old
Humanoids have lived in Ethiopia for over 4 million years as evidenced by the fossil of Ardi (Ardipithecus ramidus) found in the country. It was known widely as Abyssinia before the term Ethiopia became popularized.
A mostly unknown civilization called Punt existed throughout Ancient Egyptian history as a trade partner. A subsequent culture created the first unifying kingdom that existed by 980 BCE with the establishment of D’mt. This moment in history is widely agreed to be the official start of what evolved into today’s broader Ethiopian identity.
Ethiopia was the only African country that successfully fought off colonialism. However, it was occupied by Italy from 1936 to 1941. Following independence, Ethiopia opened its first college named Addis Ababa University which is still open today.
Ethiopia was seized by communist powers from 1974 to 1991. In 1977, Somalia attacked Ethiopia to try and reclaim disputed land. Ethiopia, backed by the USSR and Cuba, successfully quelled the invasion in 1978.
The country then spiraled into political turmoil and it remains conflicted today. Regional, tribal, and cultural disputes have driven a rotating change of regimes. It’s believed that on November 9, 2020, ethnic cleansing took place which resulted in the death of around 500 civilians.
©iStock.com/undefined undefined
1. India: 4023 Years Old
While the modern country of India achieved independence in 1947, the Indian culture began around 2000 BCE. The Indus Valley civilization was the first large organized culture on the Asian subcontinent. This culture, and the region as a whole throughout the rest of recorded history, traded extensively with Europe and Africa.
Historically, the boundaries of India have changed over the millennia and its history with Pakistan involves times of unity and separation. Due to the influences of various conquering cultures since agrarian life began, India has a deep history and complicated social nuances. Because of thousands of years of diversity, India now has its own unique identity rooted in established traditions.
British Colonialism was the prevailing governmental body when World War I winded down. After the war, a nonviolent independence movement was led by Mahatma Gandhi. This resulted in India and Pakistan gaining their independence in August of 1947.
©Prabhakarans/Shutterstock.com
Summary of the Five Oldest Countries in the World
| Rank | Country | Age |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 4023 Years Old |
| 2 | Ethiopia | 3003 Years Old |
| 3 | Japan | 2683 Years Old |
| 4 | Iran | 2573 Years Old |
| 5 | China | 2244 Years Old |
Up Next:
More from A-Z Animals
The Featured Image
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is considered the oldest country in the world?
While the modern country of India achieved independence in 1947, the Indian culture began around 2000 BCE. The Indus Valley civilization was the first large organized culture on the Asian subcontinent. This culture, and the region as a whole throughout the rest of recorded history, traded extensively with Europe and Africa.
Which country has the oldest written history?
China is the country with the longest written history stretching back over 3500 years. Invaluable contributions to worldwide advancement from China include gunpowder, porcelain, tea, paper, silk, and the compass.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.
