HungryPaths
What Everyone’s Saying About HungryPaths in Jul 2025.

What country has the longest name? What is the longest place name in the world?

What country has the longest name? What is the longest place name in the world?

Have you ever pondered how countries came up with their names? Some countries are called after a famous figure, a native tribe’s word, a physical feature or location, or a historical event.

There are 195 countries in the globe, and less than 10 of them, such as the Koreas, Congos, and Guineas, share parts of their names. Because the names of certain countries are fairly long, acronyms are frequently employed to save space and time.

Prior to 2013, the Arabic word for Libya was the longest in the world. “Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma” was its name. Dawlat Libya was used to shorten the name. But which countries have the world’s longest names?

The Countries with the Longest Names

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, also known as the UK, is the world’s longest nation name, with 56 characters. The United Kingdom is a sovereign country on Europe’s northwest coast. It consists of the island of Great Britain and the island of Ireland’s northernmost part. England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are all regarded countries within the United Kingdom. Great Britain is the combined name for Wales, England, and Scotland. The informal term “Britain” is frequently used to refer to the United Kingdom.

Kiribati is an independent and sovereign nation.

Kiribati, formerly known as the Gilbert Islands, contains 46 characters in its official name, Independent and Sovereign Republic of Kiribati. When Kiribati obtained independence from the United Kingdom in 1979, it changed its name from Gilbert Islands to Kiribati. In the Pacific Ocean, the country is made up of many atolls and coral islands that encompass an area of around 310 square miles. Kiribati is the name of the major island that makes up the nation, and it was chosen as the country’s new name by local consensus after independence.

Sao Tome and Principe Democratic Republic

With 45 characters, the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, also known as Sao Tome, is the third-longest name.

Another Country With a Long Name Other countries with long titles

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, are commonly Abbreviated as North Korea,Ethiopia, and Macedonia.

Character Count Country Name Rank

1 Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) 562 Kiribati is an independent and sovereign nation.463 Sao Tome and Principe Democratic Republic 454 Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic 415 Korean Democratic People’s Republic 416 Ethiopian Federal Democratic Republic 40

A native tribe, a geographical feature or place, or a historical event are commonly the sources of a country’s name.

Some names are difficult to pronounce, such as ‘Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapiki-maungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitnatahu, the name of a New Zealand hill. The names of several countries are rather lengthy. Acronyms are frequently used to save time and space.

The long names emphasize the governments’ and countries’ sovereignty. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, for example, is a monarchy ruled by a monarch. The Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, on the other hand, holds elections and has a president.

Libya had the longest name before this, but it was in Arabic.

‘Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma’ was its name. But which country has the English alphabet’s longest name?

With 56 characters,

The UK (short for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is the longest country name. It is a sovereign country on Europe’s northwest coast.

It consists of the British Isles and the island of Ireland’s northernmost part.

England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are all regarded countries within the United Kingdom. Great Britain is the combined name for Wales, England, and Scotland. The informal term “Britain” is frequently used to refer to the United Kingdom.

The Gilbert Islands, now Kiribati, have the second-longest official name, with 46 characters:

Independent and Sovereign Republic of Kiribati. The Gilbert Islands became Kiribati after the country obtained independence in 1979. The country is made up of many atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean, with a total area of 498 km2.

The Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe takes third place.

This is Africa’s most stable and democratic country. Sao Tome is the third-longest name in the world, with 45 characters. The island nation is located in the Gulf of Guinea and consists of two large islands, Sao Tome and Principe, which are about 140 kilometers apart. The two islands are located off Gabon’s northeastern coast.

Other countries with long titles, such as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, are commonly abbreviated as North Korea, Ethiopia, and Macedonia.

F.A.Q: What country has the longest name?

New Zealand.

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu,

Wales.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch,

United States.

Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg,

South Africa.

Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein,

Conclusion:

Despite the fact that most countries are known by their short names, the long names emphasize the countries’ governance and sovereignty. You can identify the type of government runs in the country and the expected government structure just by looking at the name. For example, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is unquestionably a monarchy, whereas the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe is a republic with elections and a president.