Countries That Start With I: Complete List of 8 Nations

There are 8 countries that start with the letter I: Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, and Italy. These eight sovereign nations are spread across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and together they are home to roughly 1.9 billion people — close to a quarter of all humanity. This guide profiles each one in turn, then groups them by size, population, continent, and shared themes so you can see exactly how the "I" countries fit into the world map.

Why the I Countries Matter

Although only eight nations begin with the letter I, the group punches far above its weight. India and Indonesia together account for about 1.7 billion people — the first and fourth most populous countries on Earth. Iran and Iraq sit at the heart of the ancient Middle East, home to civilizations thousands of years old. Italy, Iceland, and Ireland anchor the European side of the list, while Israel occupies a small but pivotal corner of the eastern Mediterranean. Few single letters cover such a wide span of geography, history, and population.

Iceland

• Capital: Reykjavik
• Continent: Europe
• Population: ~380,000
• Area: 103,000 km²

Iceland is a volcanic island nation in the North Atlantic, sitting on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart. This geological setting gives the island its glaciers, hot springs, geysers, and frequent eruptions. It is also the most sparsely populated country in Europe, with most of its people clustered around the capital, Reykjavik. Iceland is home to the Althing, the oldest functioning parliament in the world, established in 930 AD.

Fun fact: Iceland has no mosquitoes — it is one of the very few habitable places on Earth where the insect has never established a population, likely because of its unusual freeze-thaw climate cycles.

India

• Capital: New Delhi
• Continent: Asia
• Population: ~1.44 billion
• Area: 3,287,263 km²

India is the world's most populous country, having overtaken China in 2023, and is the world's fifth-largest economy as well as a nuclear power. Its geography is staggeringly varied, running from the snow-capped Himalayan peaks in the north to tropical beaches in the south, with the Thar Desert, the Ganges plains, and dense jungle in between. India is also the world's largest democracy by number of voters.

Fun fact: India operates the largest postal system on Earth, with over 155,000 post offices — including a floating post office on Dal Lake in Kashmir.

Indonesia

• Capital: Jakarta (moving to Nusantara)
• Continent: Asia
• Population: ~279 million
• Area: 1,904,569 km²

Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago, made up of more than 17,000 islands stretching roughly 5,000 km along the equator across Southeast Asia. It is the fourth most populous country and the largest Muslim-majority nation in the world. The country sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," which makes it one of the most volcanically and seismically active places on the planet.

Fun fact: Indonesia's Krakatoa eruption in 1883 was so powerful that it was heard 4,800 km away in Alice Springs, Australia — the loudest sound in recorded history.

Iran

• Capital: Tehran
• Continent: Asia
• Population: ~89 million
• Area: 1,648,195 km²

Iran — known historically as Persia — is a large Middle Eastern country with one of the oldest continuous civilizations on Earth, with roots stretching back over 7,000 years. Its diverse landscape includes towering mountain ranges, vast deserts, Caspian forests, and coastlines on both the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea. Persian culture, language, poetry, and architecture have shaped much of the wider region.

Fun fact: Iran holds the world's second-largest natural gas reserves and fourth-largest oil reserves. The ancient ceremonial capital of Persepolis, founded in 515 BC, remains one of the most impressive archaeological sites anywhere.

Iraq

• Capital: Baghdad
• Continent: Asia
• Population: ~44 million
• Area: 438,317 km²

Iraq covers most of ancient Mesopotamia, often called the "Cradle of Civilization," where writing, mathematics, formal law codes, and the wheel first emerged. The land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers forms the fertile heartland that gave the region its name (Mesopotamia means "land between rivers" in Greek). Today these rivers still sustain Iraq's agriculture and major cities.

Fun fact: The ancient city of Babylon, about 85 km south of Baghdad, was one of the most magnificent cities of the ancient world and the legendary home of the Hanging Gardens.

Ireland

• Capital: Dublin
• Continent: Europe
• Population: ~5.1 million
• Area: 70,273 km²

Ireland is an island nation in the North Atlantic, nicknamed the "Emerald Isle" for its mild, rainy climate and lush green countryside. The Republic of Ireland occupies about five-sixths of the island, with Northern Ireland (part of the United Kingdom) to the northeast. In recent decades Ireland has become a major European technology and finance hub, hosting the regional headquarters of Apple, Google, Meta, and other multinationals.

Fun fact: Far more people of Irish descent live abroad than in Ireland itself — an estimated 70 million people worldwide claim Irish ancestry, compared with roughly 5 million living in the country.

Israel

• Capital: Jerusalem (disputed)
• Continent: Asia
• Population: ~9.8 million
• Area: 22,145 km²

Israel is a small country on the eastern Mediterranean coast. Despite its size, it packs in extraordinary geographic variety: Mediterranean shoreline, the Negev desert, mountains, and the Dead Sea, whose shore is the lowest dry land on Earth at about 430 meters below sea level. The country is a center of religious significance for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Fun fact: The Dead Sea, shared with Jordan, is the lowest body of water on Earth and so salty (around 34% salinity) that swimmers float effortlessly on its surface.

Italy

• Capital: Rome
• Continent: Europe
• Population: ~59 million
• Area: 301,340 km²

Italy is a southern European country whose distinctive boot-shaped peninsula reaches into the Mediterranean Sea, along with the large islands of Sicily and Sardinia. It is the birthplace of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, and it holds more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other nation. The Alps form its northern border while the Apennine mountains run down the spine of the peninsula.

Fun fact: Italy surrounds the world's smallest country, Vatican City, and is said to have more works of art per square mile than any other country on Earth.

Comparing the I Countries

Grouping the eight nations reveals some striking contrasts. By continent, three are in Europe (Iceland, Ireland, Italy) and five are in Asia or the Middle East (India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel). By population they range from giant India at 1.44 billion all the way down to Iceland at fewer than 400,000 residents — a difference of more than 3,000 times. By land area, Indonesia is the largest at about 1.9 million km², while Israel is the smallest at roughly 22,000 km².

• Most populous: India (~1.44 billion)
• Least populous: Iceland (~380,000)
• Largest by area: Indonesia (1.90 million km²)
• Smallest by area: Israel (22,145 km²)
• Oldest parliament: Iceland's Althing (930 AD)

Key Facts

• Number of countries: 8 (Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy)
• Combined population: roughly 1.9 billion, nearly a quarter of the world
• Continents covered: Europe and Asia (including the Middle East)
• Largest by population: India (~1.44 billion)
• Largest by area: Indonesia (1.90 million km²)
• Smallest by population: Iceland (~380,000)
• Most UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Italy (more than any other country)

Fun Facts

• The 8 I countries together are home to approximately 1.9 billion people — nearly a quarter of the world's population.
• Iceland generates virtually 100% of its electricity from renewable sources (geothermal and hydroelectric).
• Italy has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites of any country in the world.
• Indonesia is relocating its capital from Jakarta to a new planned city called Nusantara on the island of Borneo.
• Five of the eight I countries are island or peninsula nations with extensive coastlines.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many countries start with the letter I?

There are 8 sovereign countries that start with I: Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, and Italy. This count refers to widely recognized independent nations.

Which I country has the largest population?

India has the largest population of any I country with about 1.44 billion people, making it the most populous nation in the world as of 2023. Indonesia is second among the I countries at roughly 279 million.

Which I country is the smallest?

By land area, Israel is the smallest I country at about 22,145 km². By population, Iceland is the smallest with only around 380,000 people, making it the least populous nation on the list.

Are all the I countries on the same continent?

No. The eight I countries span two continents: Iceland, Ireland, and Italy are in Europe, while India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, and Israel are in Asia and the Middle East.