Countries and Cultures

Countries of the World#

Our world is made up of almost 200 countries! A country is a land area that has its own government, its own rules, and often its own language and culture. Some countries are very big, and some are very small.

Large and Small Countries#

Russia is the largest country in the world — it is so big that it spans two continents, Europe and Asia! It is so wide that when the sun is rising on one side, people on the other side are going to sleep.

Vatican City, on the other hand, is the smallest country in the world. It is entirely inside the city of Rome, Italy, and is home to only a few hundred people.

China and India are the most populated countries — each with over a billion people!

Borders and Flags#

Countries are separated from each other by borders — imaginary lines agreed upon by governments. Sometimes borders follow natural features like rivers or mountains. When you travel from one country to another, you often pass through a border checkpoint.

Every country has its own flag — a colourful symbol that represents the country and its people. The flag of Japan has a red circle on white. The flag of Brazil is green with a yellow diamond and blue circle. The flag of Kenya has red, black, and green stripes.

Capitals and Countries#

Each country has a capital city — the main city where the government is located. For example:

• United Kingdom → London
• France → Paris
• Japan → Tokyo
• Brazil → Brasilia
• Kenya → Nairobi

Why Are There Different Countries?#

Over thousands of years, groups of people settled in different parts of the world. They developed their own ways of living, their own languages, and their own customs. Over time, these groups formed nations and countries.

Today, countries work together through organisations like the United Nations (UN) to solve global problems and promote peace. Even though we have different flags and languages, we are all part of one human family!