Balkan Countries: Complete List of All Balkan Nations

The Balkans, or the Balkan Peninsula, is a region in southeastern Europe home to 11 countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia. The region is defined by its mountainous terrain, diverse cultures, and complex political history.

What Are the Balkans?

The name "Balkans" comes from the Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina) that run through Bulgaria. Geographically, the Balkan Peninsula is bounded by the Adriatic Sea to the west, the Mediterranean and Aegean seas to the south, and the Black Sea to the east. The northern boundary is debated, but is often drawn along the Danube, Sava, and Kupa rivers. Politically, the term "Balkans" typically includes all 11 countries listed below, even though parts of some (like Romania and Slovenia) are not strictly on the peninsula.

Complete List of Balkan Countries

Geographic Overview

The Balkans are overwhelmingly mountainous. The Dinaric Alps run along the western coast from Slovenia to Albania, with peaks reaching 2,694 m (Maja Jezerca in Albania). The Balkan Mountains cross Bulgaria from west to east. The Rhodope and Pindus mountains add further elevation. Between these ranges lie fertile river valleys -- the Danube forms much of the region's northern boundary, while the Morava, Vardar, and Maritsa rivers are vital waterways. The Adriatic and Aegean coastlines offer thousands of islands, bays, and beaches that drive tourism in Croatia and Greece.

Historical Context

The Balkans have been a crossroads of empires for millennia. The Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, and Ottoman Empire each controlled large portions of the region for centuries. Ottoman rule, which lasted roughly 500 years in some areas, left deep cultural imprints including the presence of Islam in Bosnia, Albania, and Kosovo. The 19th and 20th centuries saw waves of independence movements, the Balkan Wars (1912-1913), and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo (1914), which triggered World War I.

After World War II, Yugoslavia united six republics (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia) under communist rule. Yugoslavia's breakup in the 1990s led to devastating wars, particularly in Bosnia (1992-1995) and Kosovo (1998-1999). Since then, the region has been on a path toward European integration, with Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece already EU members.

The Western Balkans

The term "Western Balkans" is used by the EU to refer to the six countries that are not yet EU members: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. All are at various stages of the EU accession process. Montenegro and Serbia have opened accession negotiations, while North Macedonia and Albania received candidate status. Kosovo's path is complicated by the fact that five EU members (Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia) do not recognize its independence.

Cultural Diversity

The Balkans are extraordinary in their cultural and religious diversity. Christianity (both Orthodox and Catholic) and Islam are the three major faiths. Orthodox Christianity predominates in Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, North Macedonia, and Montenegro. Catholicism is the majority religion in Croatia and Slovenia. Islam is the majority in Albania, Kosovo, and Bosnia. This religious mosaic, combined with dozens of ethnic groups and languages, makes the Balkans one of Europe's most culturally complex regions.

Is Kosovo a Country?

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and is recognized by over 100 UN member states, including the United States, the UK, France, and Germany. However, Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's independence, and neither do Russia, China, or five EU members. Kosovo is not a UN member state but participates in some international organizations. Its status remains one of Europe's most sensitive geopolitical issues.

Key Facts

• There are 11 countries commonly considered part of the Balkans.
• Romania is the largest Balkan country by area (238,397 km2); Montenegro is the smallest (13,812 km2).
• Greece has the largest economy in the Balkans, followed by Romania.
• Four Balkan countries are EU members: Greece (1981), Slovenia (2004), Bulgaria (2007), Romania (2007), Croatia (2013).
• The Balkans span three seas: Adriatic, Aegean, and Black Sea.
• Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics, just eight years before the Bosnian War.

Fun Facts

• Croatia's Adriatic coast has over 1,200 islands, of which only about 50 are permanently inhabited.
• Greece has more archaeological museums than any other country in the world.
• Romania is home to the Danube Delta, Europe's largest and best-preserved delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• North Macedonia changed its name from "Macedonia" in 2019 to resolve a decades-long dispute with Greece.
• Slovenia's Lake Bled, with its fairy-tale island church, is one of the most photographed spots in Europe.