What is the oldest country in the world? Here's why historians debate which came first.

Jacob Livesay, USA TODAY
Updated ·2 min read

Nationalism is a construct, but people, culture and history are much more tangible identifiers of who we are, where we're from and what we're about. Many countries as we know them today have popped up in the last couple hundred years, while others have been around for centuries.

One country without a clear birthday is Egypt. The U.K. recognized Egypt as a country in 1922, but the Fatimid Caliphate conquered Egypt back in 969. One could even argue that Egypt was born when the First Dynasty of Egypt formed around 3100 BCE.

The founding dates for nations can vary depending on your criteria for what constitutes a country.

What is the oldest country in the world?

Here are the countries World Population Review lists as the oldest in the world by date of earliest known organized government:

  • Iran - 3200 BCE

  • Egypt - 3100 BCE

  • Vietnam - 2879 BCE

  • Armenia - 2492 BCE

  • North Korea - 2333 BCE

  • China - 2070 BCE

  • India - 2000 BCE

  • Georgia - 1300 BCE

  • Israel - 1300 BCE

  • Sudan - 1070 BCE

  • Afghanistan - 678 BCE

Using a different criterion, here are the nations World Population Review lists as the oldest in the world according to their respective dates of self-sovereignty:

  • Japan - 660 BCE

  • China - 221 BCE

  • San Marino - 301 CE

  • France - 843 CE

  • Austria - 976 CE

  • Denmark - sometime in the 10th century CE

  • Hungary - 1001 CE

  • Portugal - 1143 CE

  • Mongolia - 1206 CE

  • Thailand - 1238 CE

Oldest city in the U.S.: This spot was established in the 16th century

What is the oldest written constitution in the world?

According to Statista, the Magna Carta, which was written in the year 1215, is debatably the oldest constitution still in place. According to the U.K. Parliament, though, only four of the Magna Carta’s 63 clauses are still in place. With that fact in mind, it is easy to see why some think the Magna Carta should be disqualified.

Here are the other countries with the oldest constitutions still in place today, according to Statista:

  • San Marino - 1600

  • United States - 1789

  • Norway - 1814

  • Netherlands - 1815

  • Belgium - 1831

  • New Zealand - 1852

  • Argentina - 1853

  • Canada - 1867

  • Luxembourg - 1868

  • Tonga - 1875

  • Australia - 1901

Safest place to live?: This country across the ocean ranks most peaceful

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is the oldest country in the world? Top countries listed in order.