If countries had birthdays, which one would blow out the most candles?
That’s what people are really asking when they search for the oldest country in the world. It sounds like a simple question, but once you start looking at maps, ancient empires, and old stories, things get complicated fast.
In this guide, we’ll walk through:
what we mean by “country” and “civilization,”
why different lists give different answers, and
a kid-friendly tour of ancient countries that still exist today.
What Do We Mean by “Country” vs “Civilization”?
Before we can pick an “oldest,” we need to know what we’re counting.
Country
Today, a country (or nation-state) usually means: a government, borders on a map, and people who mostly follow the same rules and often share language, money, and symbols like a flag. This way of thinking about countries is actually pretty new in history.
Civilization
A civilization is bigger and older than most modern countries. It’s:
groups of cities
shared culture, stories, language, and beliefs
some kind of government and laws
writing, art, and technology
Many historians talk about early “cradle of civilization” areas, like Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley, and ancient China.
“Continuous civilization”
You’ll also hear the phrase “continuous civilization.” That means the culture and people in a place have continued over thousands of years even if the rulers, borders, or country names changed
For example, Egypt, China, Iran (Persia), and parts of India are often called some of the oldest civilizations still around because their languages, stories, and traditions stretch back very far in time.
So when someone asks, “What is the oldest country in the world?” the real answer is It depends if you’re talking about civilization, government, or the modern country that still exists today.
Three Ways People Decide “Oldest Country in the World”
Historians and websites usually use one of these systems:
1. Oldest continuous civilization
Here, the focus is on culture and people that have kept going over thousands of years, even if the government changed:
Mesopotamia (in today’s Iraq and nearby areas) – often called one of the first urban civilizations.
Ancient Egypt – along the Nile River, famous for pyramids and hieroglyphs.
Indus Valley Civilization – in what is now parts of India and Pakistan.
Ancient China – early dynasties grew around the Yellow River.
Many parts of these cultures survived and shaped modern Egypt, China, India, and Iran, which is why they’re often called ancient civilizations that still exist in some form.
2. Oldest organized government that leads to a current country
Some lists try to pick the oldest country by asking:
“When did a government start here that eventually led to today’s country?”
One modern ranking says:
Iran (ancient Persia) is the oldest country with an established government, going back to around 3200 BCE.
Egypt and China are also listed as some of the world’s oldest countries because of their long histories of kings, pharaohs, and dynasties.
This doesn’t mean the borders were the same as today. It just means there’s a very long line of rules and culture in that area.
3. Oldest continuous republic or modern-style state
Another way is to look at countries that have kept their independence for a long time, and countries that have kept the same system, like a republic or monarch.
For example:
San Marino, a tiny country in Europe, claims to have been founded in 301 CE and calls itself the oldest continuous republic in the world.
Japan is often called the oldest continuous monarchy, with its imperial line tracing back, in legend, to 660 BCE.
💡 Helpful homework boost If your child gets stuck on these different definitions, they can open the DIY.org AI Homework Helper and ask it to explain “country vs civilization vs empire” in kid-friendly steps. It’s built just for families and keeps answers age-appropriate.
Meet the Contenders: Kid-Friendly Profiles of “Oldest Countries”
This isn’t a “who wins” contest. Instead, think of it as an “oldest countries list” with different champions in different categories.
Iran – Home of Ancient Persia
Often listed at or near the top when people talk about the oldest country in the world by government roots.
Ancient Persian empires like the Achaemenid Empire ruled huge areas of the Middle East.
Persian culture, poetry, and the Persian language (Farsi) are still important in modern Iran today.
Egypt – Land of Pharaohs and Pyramids
One of the most famous oldest civilizations in the world.
Known for pyramids, mummies, and writing called hieroglyphs.
The government and borders changed over time (pharaohs, Greek rulers, Roman rule, modern Egypt), but many traditions, art styles, and cultural ideas carried through.
China – Dynasties and a Long, Long Story
Early Chinese dynasties like Shang, Zhou, and Qin go back thousands of years.
China is often included in “oldest civilizations still around” lists because many ideas of Chinese writing, festivals, and philosophies survived through changing rulers and borders.
Today’s People’s Republic of China is a modern state, but it’s built on a very old cultural foundation.
India – From the Indus Valley to Modern India
The Indus Valley Civilization is one of the earliest known urban cultures, with planned cities and drainage systems.
Later empires (like the Maurya and Gupta) influenced religion, science, and mathematics across Asia.
Today’s Republic of India is new as a country (independent since 1947), but its cultural roots are very old.
Greece – From City-States to a Modern Country
Ancient city-states like Athens and Sparta helped shape ideas of democracy and philosophy.
Ancient Greece fell under other empires (Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman), but the Greek language and culture survived.
Modern Greece connects back to that ancient past, so some people include it among ancient countries that still exist.
San Marino – Tiny, Old, and Still Independent
A small republic inside Italy that says it has been independent since 301 CE.
Often called the oldest continuous sovereign state and oldest constitutional republic.
It’s proof that size doesn’t matter when it comes to history.
Japan – One of the Longest-Lasting Monarchies
The Japanese imperial family is often described as the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world.
Legends say the line goes back to Emperor Jimmu in 660 BCE.
Today’s Japan is very modern, but many traditions like festivals, shrines, and stories connect back to its long imperial past.
Ancient Civilizations That Are Still Around Today
Some civilizations changed shape, got new rulers, or merged with others, but their cultures never really disappeared. Here are some oldest civilizations still around in some form:
Egyptian civilization → modern Egypt
Chinese civilization → modern China
Persian civilization → modern Iran
Indus Valley region → parts of modern India and Pakistan
Even when empires collapsed, people kept using their languages, telling old stories, and passing down traditions to their kids. That’s why it can be more helpful to talk about “ancient civilizations for kids” instead of just one “oldest country.”
How Do Historians Know Which Countries Are Oldest?
Figuring out which countries or civilizations are oldest is like solving a giant puzzle.
History as a Puzzle
Historians and archaeologists use:
Artifacts – pottery, tools, jewelry
Ruins – old temples, tombs, city walls
Writing – stone carvings, clay tablets, scrolls
Old maps and records – chronicles written by people who lived long ago
They study these clues, compare dates, and argue (a lot!) about what they mean.
Why Lists Don’t Match
You might see one website say San Marino is the oldest country, another say Iran, and another say Egypt or China.
They’re not necessarily wrong they’re just using different rules, such as:
oldest continuous republic
oldest continuous monarchy
oldest organized government
oldest civilization that connects to a modern state
That’s why it’s more honest (and more fun!) to show kids the different answers and let them compare.
🧠 Turn curiosity into questions Kids can open the DIY.org AI Homework Helper and ask things like:
“Explain why some people say Iran is the oldest country.”
“Is San Marino really older than Italy?”
“Give me three facts about ancient China for a 5th grader.”
The tool breaks answers into simple steps and keeps everything kid-safe.
Simple Timeline of Very Old Civilizations & Countries
Here’s a rough, kid-friendly timeline (dates are approximate):
c. 4000–3000 BCE – Early cities in Mesopotamia (Sumer)
c. 3100 BCE – Ancient Egypt becomes a unified kingdom along the Nile
c. 2600–1900 BCE – Indus Valley Civilization in South Asia
c. 1600–1046 BCE – Shang Dynasty in ancient China
c. 800–300 BCE – Classical Greek city-states like Athens and Sparta
1st millennium BCE – Powerful Persian empires in what is now Iran
301 CE – San Marino founded (later seen as the world’s oldest continuous republic)
Traditional date 660 BCE, historic line by 6th century CE – Japan’s imperial line, often called the world’s oldest continuous monarchy
This timeline mixes civilizations and modern-style countries, which is exactly why the question “Which one is oldest?” doesn’t have a single, perfect answer.
Quick Q&A: Kids’ Biggest Questions About the Oldest Countries
Is there one true “oldest country in the world”?
Not really.
Depending on the rule you choose, different places can claim the title:
Iran (Persia) – oldest established government leading to a modern country
San Marino – oldest continuous republic
Japan – oldest continuous monarchy
Egypt, China, India – parts of some of the oldest civilizations in the world
Is Egypt older than China?
Both go back thousands of years, and both are among the world’s oldest civilizations. Some Egyptian kingdoms started earlier than some Chinese dynasties, but China’s imperial line lasted in a different way. Historians don’t treat it like a race; they focus on how each civilization grew and changed.
What is the oldest civilization we know about?
Many scholars point to Mesopotamia (Sumer) as one of the earliest urban civilizations with cities, writing, and laws. But there were also other early complex societies at similar times, like in Egypt and the Indus Valley.
What is the oldest city in the world?
There isn’t total agreement, but ancient cities like Jericho, Byblos, and Damascus often appear on “oldest city in the world” lists because people have lived there for thousands of years.
Why do different websites give different answers?
Because they don’t agree on: whether to count empires, kingdoms, or only modern-style states, whether to focus on culture or government, and whether a break in independence “resets” the clock
That’s actually a great critical-thinking lesson for kids: always check how a list was made, not just who is #1.
Try This at Home: Ancient History Activities for Kids
You can turn this topic into some fun projects:
1. Country Trading Cards
Have your child design cards for: Iran, Egypt, China, India, Greece, San Marino, and Japan
Each card can include: “Approximate Birthday” (earliest major date), Government type (kingdom, empire, republic, monarchy), 3 fun facts, and Why some people say it’s one of the oldest countries in the world.
2. Continuous Civilization Comic
Kids draw a comic strip showing: the same region over time (for example, Egypt or China), different rulers and borders, everyday life changing slowly but the language, holidays, or stories continuing.
3. Oldest Civilizations Map
Print or draw a world map and have kids: color in ancient areas (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus Valley, China), add simple symbols (pyramids, river, wall, temples), write one “Did you know…?” fact in each area.
✍️ Project partner in your pocket While kids make their trading cards or comics, they can use the DIY.org AI Homework Helper to:
look up kid-safe dates,
get simple definitions of words like dynasty or republic,
and turn their notes into neat bullet points or mini-speeches.
Why Old Countries Still Matter Today
Even though some of these civilizations are thousands of years old, they still shape the world your child lives in:
We still use numbers, languages, and ideas invented long ago.
Modern countries, flags, and holidays often come from old stories and empires.
Learning about the oldest nations in history helps kids understand news, maps, and even video games with historical themes.
The next time your child sees a country on a map, they can ask:
“How old is this place and what stories is it still telling?”
That’s how curiosity turns into real historical thinking.
