A country whose territory is entirely within an archipelago and is in no way connected to the mainland is called an “island state.” Of the 194 officially recognized countries in the world, 47 are considered such. They should be distinguished from coastal territories and political entities that generally do not have access to the sea. Most often, the island states of the world are located near the edges of continents, but some, such as the archipelagos of Oceania, may be located quite a distance from the coastline. For ease of classification, countries are divided into groups. The main criterion for division is belonging to one or another part of the world or continent. Let's take a closer look at each of them.
Europe
2. Japan
The oldest East Asian state. Located on (the largest of them is Honshu, followed by Hokkaido, Shikoku and Kyushu) and the Ryukyu archipelagos (the largest object is Okinawa) and Nampo. A dangerous seismic zone passes through the country. The capital Tokyo is located in the center of the island of Honshu.
3. Philippines
Often island states are located on archipelagos of the same name. The Republic of the Philippines is a clear confirmation of this. The capital of this country in Southeast Asia is the city of Manila on the island of Luzon. This state is considered one of the poorest in Asia.
4. Sri Lanka
Small South Asian state. The territory is located directly on the island of the same name, south of Hindustan. The capital is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. It is best known for its historical name - Ceylon, and has also been famous since ancient times for its unique varieties of mountain tea.
5. Republic of China
A partially recognized state located in Southeast Asia. Located on the island of Taiwan and several adjacent archipelagos, the capital is Taipei. A major commercial and economic area on the Asian coast.
6. East Timor
The state in the southern part of the Malay Archipelago occupies the eastern part of Timor and the small islands of Atauru and Jacu. The capital and largest city is Dili.
7. Brunei
The state belongs to Southeast Asia. Located on which is part of the Greater Sunda Archipelago. One of the smallest states in the Asian region and the whole world. The capital is a large and picturesque city with the exotic name Bandar Seri Begawan, which is translated from the local language as “The City of His Lordship.”
8. Bahrain
A small island state, geographically located in South-West Asia, on the island of the same name in the Persian Gulf. It is very rich in oil and is one of the active members of OPEC. The capital and main economic center of the country is the city of Manama.
9. Singapore
This country belongs to the Southeast Asia region. It lies on the territory of 63 islands, the largest of which are Singapore, Ubin, and Sentosa. It is a free trade and economic zone in Asia. The capital is the city of the same name on the main island with an identical name.
10. Maldives
A state located on a group of atolls of the same name in South Asia. It is no secret to many that this is the most picturesque and attractive country for tourism in the world. The only city of Male is the capital and a major tourist center. Approximately 97% of the territory is occupied by water surface.
America
Almost all of the island states of America are located in the Atlantic Ocean and are washed by the waters of the warm Gulf of Mexico and the turbulent Caribbean Sea. This part of the world is sometimes called the West Indies. In the past, these territories were under the rule of large European colonialists, but currently they have the status of independent countries.
The island states of this region are located on the territory of the Large (the largest is Cuba, followed by Haiti and Puerto Rico) and Small (Leeward and Windward) Antilles, Bahamas and other small archipelagos. The countries are distinguished by a special warm Caribbean climate and picturesque nature with lush reed thickets.
Island states of America: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bahamas, also Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, St. Lucia, along with Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and countries such as Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis.
Other island states
In addition to the listed countries, it is worth highlighting the islands and Oceania as a separate group. Independent African territories in the east include Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles, and in the west - Sao Tome and Principe, Cape Verde. Basically, the territories of these countries are located on the archipelagos of the same name.
The islands are divided into Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia. But many of them are uninhabited or dependent territories. Independent Pacific Island Countries: Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Nauru, also New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tonga, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and, of course, the Marshall Islands.
The concept of an island state, descriptions of island states
Information about the concept of an island state, descriptions of island states
1.List of island states by area
2. Brief descriptions of some island states
The island state is- a state located on one or several islands and not connected by any of its regions with the mainland. In this way, island states are distinguished from coastal or landlocked states. Currently, among the 194 independent states of the world, 47 are island states.
List of island states by area
No. State Area in km²
1 Indonesia 1,912,988
2 Madagascar 587.041
3 Papua New Guinea 462.840
4 Japan 377.837
5 Philippines 300,000
6 New Zealand 270.534
7 UK 242.910
8 Cuba 110.860
9 Iceland 103,000
10 Ireland 70.273
11 Sri Lanka 65,610
12 Dominican Republic 48,422
13 Taiwan 36.006
14 Haiti 27.750
15 Solomon Islands 27,556
16 Fiji 18.367
17 East Timor 14.409
18 Bahamas 13,939
19 Vanuatu 12.190
21 Cyprus 9.251
22 Brunei 5.765
23 Trinidad and Tobago 5.128
24 Cape Verde 4,033
25 Samoa 2.831
26 Mauritius 2,040
27 Comoros 1,862
28 Sao Tome and Principe 1.001
29 Kiribati 811
30 Tonga 748
31 Dominica 746
32 Bahrain 711
33 Micronesia 702
34 Singapore 683
36 Palau 508
37 Seychelles 454
38 Antigua and Barbuda 442
39 Barbados 430
41 Grenada 345
42 Malta 316
43 Maldives 298
45 Marshall Islands 181
46 Tuvalu 26
47 Nauru 21
Brief descriptions of some island states
Indonesia, the official name is the Republic of Indonesia (Indian: Republik Indonesia) is the largest state in Southeast Asia and the 16th largest country in the world. Located on the islands of the Sunda archipelago and is the largest island nation in the world. With a population of about 230.5 million people, it ranks fourth in the world in terms of this indicator. It has a rich and controversial history.
Madagascar is a state in the western Indian Ocean, on the island of Madagascar and adjacent small islands off the east coast of Africa. Area - 587 thousand km², population - 18.4 million people. (2005, UN assessment). The capital is Antananarivo.
Japan is an island state in East Asia. Part of the territories, according to the official Japanese position, that are part of Japan (the southern Kuril Islands) are de facto part of Russia and are the subject of a territorial dispute. Japan is a member of the UN, G8 and APEC. In terms of GDP, Japan in 2008 ranked second in the world (first - the USA). Japan remains the only country in the world against which nuclear weapons have been used.
Great Britain is an island state in Western Europe, the form of government is a parliamentary monarchy. The capital is the city of London. The name of the country comes from the English Great Britain. Britain - according to the ethnonym of the Briton tribe.
A state in the British Isles (the island of Great Britain and the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, a large number of small islands and archipelagos, the Channel Islands), washed by the Atlantic Ocean and its seas. Area: total - 244,820 km², land - 240,590 km², inland waters - 3,230 km². The highest peak - Ben Nevis English Ben Nevis Gaelic Beinn Neibhis / (1343 m) - is located in the north of Scotland (Grampian Mountains), the lowest point is Fenland (−4 m).
In the north and west, mountainous terrain predominates - the North Scottish Highlands (up to 1343 m), the Pennine and Cambrian mountains; in the south and southeast there are hilly plains. The climate is temperate oceanic, humid. Average temperatures in January are from 3 to 7 °C, in July 11-17 °C; precipitation up to 3000 mm per year in the west and 600-750 mm in the southeast. Main rivers: Thames - 334 km, Severn - 310 km, Trent - 298 km, Mersey - 109 km, Clyde - 170 km. The largest lakes: Loch Ness (area 56 km²), Loch Neagh (area 396 km²). Forests (beech, oak, birch) occupy about 9% of the UK's territory.
New Zealand is a country in the southwest Pacific Ocean, located on two large islands (North Island and South Island) and a large number (approximately 700) adjacent smaller islands. The capital of the country is Wellington. New Zealand's population is approximately 4,284,000 (as of November 2008). The country is built on the principles of a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy and is one of the developed countries of the world.
Island states and territories of the Caribbean
Cuba is one of the few socialist countries in the world. Cuba has deposits of non-ferrous metals (nickel, cobalt); sugar cane and tobacco leaves are grown. The climate in Cuba is tropical. Havana, the capital of Cuba, and its surroundings have magnificent beaches. Cuba has historical landmarks from the time of Spanish rule: an old fortress, the castle of the three kings, the monastery of San Francisco, etc. There are many caves on the island, the most interesting of which is near the city of Matan Das. The largest international resort in Cuba is Varadeiro. Tourists are eager to visit the house-museum of the writer Ernest Hemingway near Havana.
The island of Jamaica is located in the very center of the Caribbean Sea, 145 km south of Cuba. It is one of the largest Caribbean islands. There are deposits of bauxite here, which are supplied mainly to the USA. Jamaica was once a famous pirate island and has become a famous holiday destination these days. The capital of Jamaica is Kingston. For a long time, the island was owned by the Spaniards, British, French, and Portuguese, who brought slaves from different countries. Over the centuries, these nations intermingled. As a result, Jamaicans combine the traditions of all nations in their mentality.
The island has many beautiful beaches, the recreation area near Montego Bay is especially popular. This resort area has a huge selection of hotels, restaurants, and shops. The underwater park attracts deep-sea diving enthusiasts. Golf courses are available. In the neighborhood of Montego Bay there are ancient plantation houses. Here you can see how tropical crops are cultivated. Famous resorts in Jamaica also include Negril, Ocho Rios, and Port Antonio. The climate on the island is tropical, trade wind.
To the north of Cuba, not far from the US coast, is an important tourist area - the Bahamas. The capital of the archipelago is Nassau, a resort center located 16 km from the international airport. One of the largest casinos operates here. The Coral World underwater observatory has recently opened. The Bahamas has national parks and historical museums where monuments of ancient Indian culture are exhibited.
The Dominican Republic is a country with a stable political and economic system, respected by the international community, attracting foreign investors, i.e. fortunately pleasant for tourism. The capital of the republic is Santa Domingo. This is a predominantly mountainous country. The mountains are covered with dense evergreen forests. The abundance of tropical fruits (coconuts, papayas, mangoes), fabulous sandy beaches, and the clear turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea attract more than 2 million tourists every year. It was from this island that Columbus began his discovery of America. Therefore, a grandiose memorial was built here in honor of Columbus - a monument and museum in the form of a truncated pyramid.
Barbados is an amazing combination of natural beauty and romance, relaxation and adventure. Tourism is one of the leading sectors of the economy. The country is known for its beaches of stunning pink sand. In the coastal strip there are huge accumulations of coral* reefs. The famous rum has been produced at Barba Dosa for over 300 years. Bridgetown, the capital of the country, has many architectural monuments, including the monument to Admiral Nelson. The island has national parks where unique species of tropical plants and animals have been preserved in wild conditions. Barbados has a well-developed hotel and tourism infrastructure. Fashionable resorts are located in the Lesser Antilles: Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Saint Lucia, Curosao, etc.
Sources
http://ru.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia
http://lrcei.lviv.ua/ Ersey
Many countries, for example, Spain, are not only the mainland, but also islands - in this case, the famous Ibiza, Tenerife, Mallorca, etc. However, there are countries that are entirely located exclusively on islands. Currently, among the 194 independent states of the world, 47 are island states. In principle, Australia can also be counted among them. Although this country is located on a continent, it has no land borders, and this is typical for island states. Many of these countries can offer luxurious holiday conditions and magnificent views. 13 of the most beautiful island states in the world are presented to you.
Singapore
Singapore is one of the richest island countries in the world. The city-state is located on an island near the southern end of the Malay Peninsula, which is only about 720 square kilometers in area, making Singapore one of the smallest countries in Southeast Asia. The beauty of this country lies not so much in the natural formations, but in the amazing buildings, unusual designs and Asian charm.
Jamaica
The name of this country and island comes from a corruption of the Indian word “haimaka”, which literally means “island of springs”. Indeed, the island has many small but very picturesque rivers and streams. And the island in the Caribbean Sea has wonderful hills, coral sand beaches, high mountains and dense forests, occupying a fifth of the island. 
Seychelles
Seychelles is a beautiful archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean with the most beautiful beaches and gorgeous exotic nature. It's no wonder that the Seychelles is so popular among tourists all over the world! 
Mauritius
The state of Mauritius is located in the Indian Ocean, in East Africa. The republic includes two large islands, Mauritius and Rodrigues, as well as the Cargados-Carajos archipelago, the Agalega Islands and many small islands. The nature of Mauritius is good: the shores are fringed with coral reefs, sugar cane plantations sway in picturesque valleys, plateaus and mountains are cut by hundreds of small rivers, waterfalls thunder in the jungle, and the craters of extinct volcanoes emit a thin smoke. 
Iceland
We are transported from the warm islands to the northern Atlantic islands. Iceland is an intriguing and fascinating country, and it is located on a large island of the same name and small islands around it. By the way, Iceland is the largest island of volcanic origin, and some volcanoes periodically erupt lava, breaking through ice crusts. 
Japan
The fourth largest island state by area is one of the most distinctive countries in the world. Here the West meets the East, giving birth to an amazing culture. Japanese cities are entire multi-layered anthills, and Japanese nature, especially cherry blossoms, has inspired many poets and writers. Japan is covered with a dense network of short, deep rivers, there are many quiet lakes, and probably everyone has heard about Mount Fuji. 
Fiji
This amazing country in the South Pacific is very popular with surfers all over the world for its gorgeous waves and luxurious beaches. Fiji is made up of 332 volcanic and coral islets covered with mangroves, tropical rainforests and savannas. 
Saint Lucia
This state is one of the smallest among the islands: its area is only 620 km². The island in the Caribbean was discovered by Columbus in 1502 on St. Lucia's Day - hence the name. True, the picturesque island was inhabited by warlike Carib Indians, so at first it was not possible to resettle Europeans there. Today, the official language of the state is English, although Patois is spoken among a significant part of the population. 
Palau
Palau is even smaller than Saint Lucia. This state is located in the east of the Philippines, in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, on a scattering of small atolls formed on the tops of underwater volcanoes. The underwater world off the coast of Palau is so good that it has even been declared an underwater wonder of the world; the gardens and forests of the islands are thickets of orchids and exotic flowers, and the lakes are home to millions of jellyfish. 
Madagascar
Let's jump from one of the smallest island states to the second largest - Madagascar. The island in the Indian Ocean, south of the African continent, is home to 5% of all animal and plant species on this planet, of which more than 80% are endemic. 
Cuba
A charming island with a storied history, it boasts white sandy beaches, blue waters and the best coral reefs in the world, and Cuban culture is amazingly interesting and colorful. Viva la Cuba! 
Kiribati
Most likely, you have never heard of this state. But in vain, because this is one of the most beautiful island countries in the world. The state located in the Pacific Ocean is located on 33 atolls, twenty of which are uninhabited. There are only 100 thousand people living in the entire country - Tungar and Banaba aborigines who speak their own language, Kiribati. 
Maldives
The area of this state is only 298 sq.m., but it is known throughout the world for its expensive exclusive resorts with a high level of service. Islands in the heart of the Indian Ocean are often chosen by newlyweds for their honeymoon - it’s so romantic there! 
