The countries with the most islands in the world

"From glacier-fringed archipelagos to palm-lined atolls, islands come in every imaginable shape and size. But when it comes to sheer numbers of islands, not every country is created equal. The nations that top this list aren't just tropical destinations or volcanic chains, they're often places where inland lakes, fjord-laced coastlines, and geological fragmentation have produced thousands of discrete landmasses. That raises a deceptively simple question: which countries have the most islands?"

"The answer depends not just on geography, but on how you define an island in the first place. Some nations count even the tiniest landmasses that stay above water at high tide; others apply stricter thresholds for minimum size or coastline length. Advances in satellite mapping have also caused numbers to jump in recent years, as previously unrecorded islets are added to official tallies. In short, no two countries count islands the same way, but that doesn't mean we can't compare the best available data."

"Each country uses its own criteria to define and count islands, some include any landmass surrounded by water at high tide, regardless of size; others impose thresholds based on area or coastline length. For instance, Sweden counts any landmass larger than 25 square metres, while Japan's 2023 recount considered only those with a coastline of at least 100 metres. Modern mapping tools have also changed the picture: higher-resolution satellite data has led to significant revisions in some countries' official totals."

Island counts differ widely because countries apply different criteria for what constitutes an island, with some including tiny landmasses above high tide and others imposing minimum area or coastline thresholds. Advances in satellite and higher-resolution mapping have increased recorded totals by detecting previously unrecorded islets. Figures draw from WorldAtlas, which aggregates national mapping authorities, statistical bureaus, and geospatial surveys. Examples of differing criteria include Sweden counting landmasses larger than 25 square metres and Japan's 2023 recount requiring coastlines of at least 100 metres. Totals include natural islands only; artificial islands and tidal sandbanks are generally excluded.

Read at CN Traveller