There are 17 countries that start with the letter C: Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Congo Republic, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, and Czech Republic.
Introduction
The C countries include the world's most populous nation (China) and the second-largest country by area (Canada). They span all six inhabited continents and represent a remarkable range of economies, cultures, and landscapes.
This guide provides an overview of every C country, covering essential geographic facts that every geography enthusiast should know.
Cabo Verde
- Capital: Praia
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~600,000
- Area: 4,033 km²
Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) is a volcanic archipelago of 10 islands in the central Atlantic Ocean, about 570 km off the west coast of Africa. It has one of the most stable democracies in Africa.
Fun fact: Cabo Verde was uninhabited until Portuguese sailors discovered it in 1456, making it one of the few countries with no indigenous population.
Cambodia
- Capital: Phnom Penh
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~17 million
- Area: 181,035 km²
Cambodia is a Southeast Asian nation known for the magnificent Angkor Wat temple complex, the largest religious structure in the world. The country is dominated by the Mekong River and the Tonlé Sap, Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake.
Fun fact: Angkor Wat appears on Cambodia's national flag — the only building in the world to feature on a country's flag.
Cameroon
- Capital: Yaoundé
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~28 million
- Area: 475,442 km²
Cameroon is often called "Africa in miniature" because it contains nearly every type of African landscape: coastal beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannas.
Fun fact: Mount Cameroon (4,095 m) is the highest peak in West Africa and one of Africa's most active volcanoes.
Canada
- Capital: Ottawa
- Continent: North America
- Population: ~40 million
- Area: 9,984,670 km²
Canada is the second-largest country in the world by total area, stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific and north to the Arctic Ocean. Despite its vast size, most of its population lives within 200 km of the US border.
Fun fact: Canada has the longest coastline of any country at 202,080 km and contains more lakes than the rest of the world combined.
Central African Republic
- Capital: Bangui
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~5.6 million
- Area: 622,984 km²
The Central African Republic is a landlocked nation in the heart of Africa, covered largely by tropical savanna and dense rainforest. It is one of the poorest countries in the world despite significant mineral wealth.
Fun fact: The CAR is home to some of the last remaining forest elephants in the world, found in the Dzanga-Sangha Reserve.
Chad
- Capital: N'Djamena
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~18 million
- Area: 1,284,000 km²
Chad is a large landlocked country in north-central Africa, split between the Sahara Desert in the north and fertile savannas in the south. Lake Chad, once one of Africa's largest lakes, has shrunk by 90% since the 1960s.
Fun fact: The Ennedi Plateau in northeastern Chad contains stunning natural rock arches and ancient cave paintings dating back thousands of years.
Chile
- Capital: Santiago
- Continent: South America
- Population: ~19.5 million
- Area: 756,102 km²
Chile is the world's longest north-south country, stretching 4,300 km along South America's western edge. Its geography ranges from the Atacama Desert — the driest place on Earth — to Patagonian glaciers.
Fun fact: Chile's Atacama Desert has spots that have never recorded rainfall in human history, and NASA uses it as a Mars analog for testing rovers.
China
- Capital: Beijing
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~1.41 billion
- Area: 9,596,961 km²
China is the world's most populous country (recently overtaken by India) and the fourth-largest by area. It has the world's second-largest economy and a civilization spanning over 5,000 years.
Fun fact: China's Great Wall stretches over 21,000 km and took more than 2,000 years to build across multiple dynasties.
Colombia
- Capital: Bogotá
- Continent: South America
- Population: ~52 million
- Area: 1,141,748 km²
Colombia is the only South American country with coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It is the world's second most biodiverse country after Brazil.
Fun fact: Colombia's Caño Cristales, known as the "River of Five Colors," turns brilliant red, yellow, blue, green, and black during certain months due to aquatic plants.
Comoros
- Capital: Moroni
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~900,000
- Area: 2,235 km²
Comoros is a volcanic archipelago in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mozambique. It is one of the smallest and poorest countries in Africa but has a rich blend of African, Arab, and French cultures.
Fun fact: Comoros is the world's largest producer of ylang-ylang, the fragrant flower essential oil used in Chanel No. 5 perfume.
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Capital: Kinshasa
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~105 million
- Area: 2,344,858 km²
The DR Congo is the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa and home to the Congo rainforest, the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world. It has enormous mineral wealth, including cobalt vital for electric vehicle batteries.
Fun fact: Kinshasa and Brazzaville, the capitals of the two Congos, face each other across the Congo River — the closest pair of capital cities in the world.
Congo, Republic of the
- Capital: Brazzaville
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~6 million
- Area: 342,000 km²
The Republic of the Congo is a Central African nation covered largely by tropical rainforest. Oil production dominates its economy. It shares the Congo River with its much larger neighbor, the DR Congo.
Fun fact: The Congo River is the deepest river in the world, reaching depths of over 220 meters in some sections.
Costa Rica
- Capital: San José
- Continent: North America (Central America)
- Population: ~5.2 million
- Area: 51,100 km²
Costa Rica is a Central American country famous for its biodiversity, national parks, and eco-tourism. It has no military, having abolished its army in 1948, and directs those funds toward education and healthcare.
Fun fact: Costa Rica generates over 98% of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily hydroelectric, geothermal, and wind power.
Croatia
- Capital: Zagreb
- Continent: Europe
- Population: ~3.9 million
- Area: 56,594 km²
Croatia is an Eastern European country with a stunning Adriatic coastline dotted with over 1,200 islands. The medieval walled city of Dubrovnik served as a filming location for King's Landing in Game of Thrones.
Fun fact: The necktie (cravat) originated in Croatia — Croatian mercenaries wore distinctive knotted neckerchiefs in the 17th century, which the French adopted and named "cravate."
Cuba
- Capital: Havana
- Continent: North America (Caribbean)
- Population: ~11 million
- Area: 109,884 km²
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, known for its vintage cars, cigars, and revolutionary history. It has one of the highest literacy rates in the world at 99.8% and a renowned healthcare system.
Fun fact: Cuba has a higher doctor-to-patient ratio than most developed countries and has sent medical teams to over 60 nations worldwide.
Cyprus
- Capital: Nicosia
- Continent: Europe/Asia
- Population: ~1.3 million
- Area: 9,251 km²
Cyprus is an island nation in the eastern Mediterranean, geographically in Asia but politically and culturally aligned with Europe. It has been divided since 1974, with the northern third controlled by Turkey.
Fun fact: Nicosia is the last divided capital in the world, split between the Republic of Cyprus and the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Czech Republic (Czechia)
- Capital: Prague
- Continent: Europe
- Population: ~10.8 million
- Area: 78,871 km²
The Czech Republic, officially Czechia, is a landlocked Central European country known for its medieval architecture, world-class beer, and rich cultural heritage. Prague's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Fun fact: The Czech Republic has the highest per capita beer consumption in the world — about 140 liters per person annually — and Pilsner beer originated in the Czech city of Plzeň.
Key Facts
- There are 17 countries that start with the letter C.
- China is the largest C country by population (1.41 billion).
- Canada is the largest C country by area (9.98 million km²).
- Comoros is the smallest C country by area (2,235 km²).
- The two Congos have capitals facing each other across the Congo River.
Fun Facts
- C is one of the most common starting letters for country names, tied with S for frequency.
- Chile is so narrow that its average width is only 177 km despite being 4,300 km long.
- Canada and China are both among the top 5 largest countries by area.
- Cambodia's flag is the only national flag featuring a building (Angkor Wat).
Final Thoughts
The 17 C countries span every continent and include some of the world's most important nations by population, area, and economic power. From China's ancient civilization to Costa Rica's environmental leadership, each C country offers unique contributions to global geography.
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