Out of 195 countries in the world, only 11 have names starting with the letter ‘N’. Although the English “N” sound only begins in the names of three countries, this sound is used in approximately 78% of all languages.
Additionally, the “N” sound is used in approximately 6.95% of all words in English. This fact is according to researchers at Cornell University. But how these 11 countries got their names starting with ‘N’ is an interesting story. Read below for more information.
All Countries That Begin With N
| Country | Population | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | 2,604,172 | 318,260 mi2 |
| Nauru | 12,780 | 8 mi2 |
| Nepal | 30,896,590 | 56,826 mi2 |
| Netherlands | 17,618,299 | 16,039 mi2 |
| New Zealand | 5,228,100 | 103,798 mi2 |
| Nicaragua | 7,046,310 | 50,336 mi2 |
| Niger | 27,202,843 | 489,191 mi2 |
| Nigeria | 223,804,632 | 356,668 mi2 |
| North Korea | 26,160,821 | 46,539 mi2 |
| North Macedonia | 2,085,679 | 9,927 mi2 |
| Norway | 5,474,360 | 125,020 mi2 |
Namibia
The name Namibia comes from the Namibian desert which occupies most of the country. The word “Namib” comes from the local Nama language and literally means “vast place” or “large place” in English.
Namibia is located in the southwest coastal region of the African continent. Namibia borders South Africa, Zambia, Angola, Botswana and the Atlantic Ocean. The country’s largest capital is Windhoek and has a population of about 431,000.
Nauru
The origin of the name Nauru is not entirely clear. A leading theory suggests that it is derived from the native Nauruan word “anáoero”. This means “to go to the beach.” Some claim that the name was given by early European explorers, but there is still not enough evidence for this.
Nauru is located in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean in Oceania and is one of the smallest countries in the world. With a total area of 8.1 square miles, Nauru is the third smallest country in the world after the Vatican City and the Principality of Monaco. The population is approximately 11,347 people, and the official languages are Nauruan and English.
Nepal
According to Hindu mythology, the region now known as Nepal got its name from an ancient sage named Ne. Nepal is a Hindu-majority country known for its political and cultural isolation from the rest of the Indian subcontinent.
Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia. This country is located between China and India and is home to the highest mountain on Earth, Mount Everest. Nepal’s largest capital is Kathmandu.
Netherlands
The Netherlands, also known as the Netherlands, literally means “low-lying country” in Dutch. The Netherlands is indeed a very low-lying country, with most of its territory below sea level. Over the centuries, the Dutch have embarked on a remarkable project to carve their land out of the North Sea through a series of locks, canals, dikes and canals.
The Netherlands is located on the European continent. The Netherlands borders Germany and Belgium, and has a maritime border with the United Kingdom in the North Sea. Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands, although English, Frisian, and Papiamento are commonly spoken in the Netherlands and some overseas territories.
New Zealand
The name New Zealand comes from Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, the first European to discover the island in the mid-17th century. Originally called Statenland, it was named Zeelandia after the Dutch province of Zeeland. It was later translated into English in New Zealand.
New Zealand is located on the continent of Oceania, approximately 900 miles east of Australia. Due to its remote location, New Zealand was one of the last countries settled by humans. The official languages spoken in New Zealand include English, New Zealand Sign Language, and Maori.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua’s name comes from an indigenous chief called Nicarao. Nicarao and its people came into contact with Spanish colonists in her 1520s, and the Spaniards soon named the area after Nicarao.
This country is officially called the Republic of Nicaragua and is located in Central America. It borders Honduras to the north, Costa Rica to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
Niger
The name Niger comes from the Niger River. Niger has long been the region’s lifeblood, providing people with rapid transportation, water for irrigation, and easy travel and trade.
Niger is located in West Africa, with more than 80% of its territory in the Sahara Desert. The country is landlocked and shares borders with Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Algeria. The official language is French, but the country also has 10 national languages, with Hausa and Zarmasonrai widely spoken as second languages.
Nigeria
Like neighboring Niger, Nigeria’s name derives from its location on the mighty Niger River. The Niger River is important to Nigeria, giving the country’s interior access to the sea.
Nigeria, officially known as the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is Africa’s most populous country. It borders Niger to the north, Chad and Cameroon to the east, and Benin to the west. To the south it faces the Gulf of Guinea. The main languages in the country are Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, but English is the official language.
North Korea
The name North Korea comes from the earlier kingdoms and dynasties of Korea. South Korea’s culture is old and has a long history, but the country of North Korea was founded in the 1950s after World War II.
North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is located in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. It shares borders with Russia, China, and South Korea, as well as the Yellow Sea, the Gulf of Korea, and the Sea of Japan. Pyongyang is the country’s capital and also its largest city.
North Macedonia
The name Macedonia is of both Greek and Latin origin in the 13th century. The Greek word Macedonian is said to mean “people of the highlands” or “great people.” This word is related to a similar word in Greek, makedonos, meaning “long” or “tall.”
Macedonia took a big step in her 2019, changing the name of the country from the Republic of Macedonia to the Republic of North Macedonia, or North Macedonia for short. The name change ended a long-standing dispute between Greece and Macedonia over the name of the region.
Norway
The English name of Norway is derived from the Old English word Norþweg. This simply means “northern way” or “way leading north.” Norway is also home to the Norse people, some of whom invaded and settled in England during the Middle Ages.
The Kingdom of Norway is part of the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The country borders Sweden, Finland, Russia and Denmark and has an extensive coastline along the Barents Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Oslo is the capital and largest city of Norway. Norwegian and Sami are the country’s official languages.
Conclusion
There are countries starting with the letter N on every continent. Each of these countries has its own culture and way of life. There are only 10 of her countries starting with N, but each of her N countries has something unique to offer to those who choose to visit.