The oldest country in the world is San Marino if you are looking for a state still existing in its original form: the small republic was founded in 301 and has never ceased to exist since. But Egypt is the oldest state entity (around 3100 BC), and Japan the oldest continuous monarchy. As with many geographic records, the answer depends on the criterion. Here are all three, followed by the other serious contenders.
The three possible answers
| Criterion | Country | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Oldest state existing in its original form | San Marino | 301 |
| Oldest state entity | Egypt | ~3100 BC |
| Oldest continuous monarchy | Japan | ~660 BC (traditional) |
San Marino, the dean of republics
According to tradition, the stonemason Marinus founded the community on September 3, 301, fleeing Roman persecution. The republic has never been durably conquered or absorbed since: its statutes of 1600 are among the oldest constitutional texts still in force. Even Napoleon preferred to leave it alone. It is the oldest continuously sovereign state in the world, and it also appears among the smallest countries in the world.
Egypt, the oldest state in history
Around 3100 BC, King Narmer unified Upper and Lower Egypt: the oldest documented state construction, with an administration, taxes and borders. Modern Egypt is obviously not that kingdom, after Persian, Greek, Roman, Arab, Ottoman and British conquests. But no other territory can claim five millennia of near-continuous statehood on the same riverbanks.
Japan, the oldest monarchy
Tradition dates the founding of the empire to 660 BC under Emperor Jimmu. Historians place the first attested sovereigns around the 5th century AD, which is enough to make the Japanese imperial line the oldest continuous reigning dynasty in the world: the current emperor is, by the traditional count, the 126th.
The other contenders
China. The first archaeologically attested dynasty, the Shang, ruled around 1600 BC. Chinese civilization offers the longest cultural and written continuity in the world, but the state changed nature dozens of times, up to the People’s Republic of 1949.
Iran. Elam existed by the 3rd millennium BC, and Cyrus founded the Persian Empire in 550 BC. The country never lost its identity despite conquest after conquest, an almost unique case.
Ethiopia. The kingdom of D’mt appeared around 980 BC, followed by the empire of Aksum. It is also the only African country never durably colonized, apart from the Italian occupation of 1936-1941.
Armenia. The first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, in 301, the very year San Marino was founded. A convenient coincidence for quiz players.
Portugal. Independent since 1139, it has kept roughly the same borders since 1249: the oldest nearly unchanged borders in Europe.
Denmark. The Danish monarchy goes back to Gorm the Old, who died around 958, making it Europe’s oldest. Its flag, the Dannebrog, has been in use since 1219, a world record.
The trap in the question
Today’s “ancient” countries are often recent modern states. Greece, the cradle of democracy, has only existed as an independent state since 1830, after four Ottoman centuries. Italy dates from 1861, Germany from 1871, independent India from 1947. Conversely, history is full of centuries-old states that eventually died out: the Republic of Venice lasted 1,100 years before Napoleon ended it in 1797. They have their own ranking in our article on countries that no longer exist, and their successors in the list of the newest countries in the world. To place all of them on a timeline, see the key dates of world history and the largest empires in history.
Frequently asked questions
What is the oldest country in the world?
San Marino, founded in 301, is the oldest sovereign state still existing in its original form. If you mean the oldest state construction, it is Egypt, unified around 3100 BC.
What is the oldest republic in the world?
San Marino, a republic since its founding in 301. Its statutes of 1600 are among the oldest constitutional texts still in force.
What is the oldest monarchy in the world?
The Japanese monarchy. Its traditional founding dates to 660 BC, and its sovereigns are attested since the 5th century AD, with no change of dynasty.
Why isn’t Greece the oldest country in the world?
Greek civilization is ancient, but the modern Greek state only dates from 1830, after independence from the Ottoman Empire. The age of a civilization and the age of a state are two different things.
Which country has the oldest borders?
Portugal: its continental borders have remained roughly unchanged since 1249, a European record.
