An island country, island state, or island nation is a country whose primary territory consists of one or more or parts of islands.
There are great variations between island country economies: they may rely mainly on extractive industries, such as mining, fishing and agriculture, and/or on services such as transit hubs, tourism, and financial services. Many islands have low-lying geographies and their economies and population centers develop along coast plains and ; such states may be vulnerable to the effects of climate change, especially sea level rise.
Remote or significant islands and that are not themselves sovereign are often known as dependencies or overseas territories.
History
Prehistory
Early settlements and indigenous populations
Many island countries were first inhabited by indigenous peoples who mastered long-distance ocean navigation and maritime skills. The Polynesians are one of the most notable groups; they used advanced wayfinding techniques to colonize vast areas of the
Pacific Ocean, including islands such as
Samoa,
Tonga,
New Zealand, and
Hawaii. These migrations occurred over centuries, showcasing remarkable seafaring capabilities in pre-modern times.
Similarly, Madagascar’s population is the result of early maritime migrations from both Southeast Asia and East Africa, resulting in a unique cultural and genetic blend that reflects the island's strategic location in the Indian Ocean trade routes.
Modern times
Colonial era and European exploration
The Age of Discovery in the 15th century brought European explorers to many island regions, including the Caribbean, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. European powers, primarily Spain, Portugal, Britain, France, and the Netherlands, established colonies to exploit resources and secure strategic naval positions. Islands in the
Caribbean became key centers for sugar plantations, which relied heavily on enslaved labor, significantly altering local demographics and economies.
Colonization also introduced new crops, animals, and cultural influences, but frequently led to displacement and decline of indigenous populations.
Independence movements and modern nationhood
In the 20th century, many island territories began asserting their sovereignty amid the global wave of decolonization. Countries such as
Jamaica (independence in 1962) and
Mauritius (1968) transitioned from colonial rule to independent states. These nations often faced unique challenges due to their geographic isolation, limited landmass, and economies dependent on a narrow range of exports like sugar, tourism, or minerals.
Meanwhile,
Singapore evolved from a British colonial trading post into a major global financial and technological hub, demonstrating how strategic policy and geographic position can transform an island economy despite scarce natural resources.
20th century
Geopolitical and environmental challenges
Many island countries, especially Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as the
Maldives and
Tuvalu, face acute environmental challenges, notably rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. These factors threaten their very existence, impacting freshwater supplies, infrastructure, and
biodiversity.
Consequently, island nations have become vocal advocates for ambitious global climate action, emphasizing the urgency of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions and supporting climate resilience efforts.
In addition to environmental pressures, many island states navigate complex geopolitical dynamics due to their strategic maritime locations. They often maintain critical partnerships with regional powers and international organizations to enhance security, economic development, and disaster preparedness.
Politics
Historically, island countries have tended to be less prone to political instability than their continental counterparts. The percentage of island countries that are
democracy is higher than that of countries.
Island territories
While island countries by definition are
, there are also several islands and
around the world that operate semi-autonomously from their official sovereign states. These are often known as dependencies or overseas territories and can be similar in nature to proper island countries.
War
Island countries have often been the basis of maritime conquest and historical rivalry between other countries.
Island countries are more susceptible to attack by large, continental countries due to their size and dependence on sea and air lines of communication.
Many island countries are also vulnerable to predation by mercenaries and other foreign invaders,
although their isolation also makes them a difficult target.
Natural resources
Many developing small island countries rely heavily on fish for their main supply of food.
Some are turning to
renewable energy—such as
wind power,
solar power,
hydropower,
geothermal power, and biomass.
Geography
Some island countries are more affected than other countries by
climate change, which produces problems such as reduced
land use,
water scarcity, and sometimes even resettlement issues. Some low-lying island countries are slowly being submerged by the rising water levels of the
Pacific Ocean.
Climate change also impacts island countries by causing natural disasters such as
, hurricanes,
and
.
Climate change
Economics
Many island countries rely heavily on
imports and are greatly affected by changes in the
global economy.
Due to the nature of island countries their economies are often characterised by being smaller, relatively isolated from world trade and economy, more vulnerable to shipping costs, and more likely to suffer environmental damage to infrastructure; exceptions include Japan, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
The dominant industry for many island countries is
tourism.
Composition
Island countries are typically small with low populations, although some, like
Indonesia,
Japan, and the
Philippines are notable exceptions.
Some island countries are centred on one or two major islands, such as Bahrain, Cuba, Iceland, Malta, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom. Others are spread out over hundreds or thousands of smaller islands, such as The Bahamas, Indonesia, Japan, the Maldives, the Philippines, and Seychelles. Some island countries share one or more of their islands with other countries, such as Ireland and the United Kingdom; the Dominican Republic and Haiti; and Indonesia, which shares islands with Brunei, Timor-Leste, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea. Bahrain, Singapore, and the United Kingdom have fixed links such as bridges and tunnels to the continental landmass: Bahrain is linked to Saudi Arabia by the King Fahd Causeway, Singapore to Malaysia by the Johor–Singapore Causeway and Second Link, and the United Kingdom has a railway connection to France through the Channel Tunnel.
Geographically, the country of Australia is considered a landmass rather than an island, covering the largest landmass of the Australian continent. In the past, however, it was considered an island country for tourism purposes
See also
-
Archipelagic state
-
Effects of climate change on island nations
-
Landlocked country
-
List of Caribbean island countries by population
-
List of island countries
-
List of islands by area
-
List of islands by country
-
List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Oceania
-
List of sovereign states and dependent territories in the Indian Ocean
-
Microstate
-
City state
-
Pacific Islands Forum
-
Small Island Developing States
-
Thalassocracy
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