Over time, mankind has seen countless nations and countries rise and disappear into the annals of history, but some have stuck around. When delving into the depths of history, one could make a case for the dates the oldest countries in the world began. In addition, some old nations may be determined by the period of their earliest organized government or the date of self-sovereignty. Regardless, looking into the earliest signs of human civilizations, there are countries that have endured through the ages, and some are home to the oldest ruins in the world that shed more light.
Here are the top 20 oldest countries in the world.
| Rank | Country | First civilization |
| 1. | Australia | 31000 BCE |
| 2. | India | 7500 BCE |
| 3. | Jordan | 7250 BCE |
| 4. | Japan | 5000 BCE |
| 5. | China | 4000 BCE |
| 6. | Iraq | 4000 BCE |
| 7. | Iran | 3680 BCE |
| 8. | Peru | 3500 BCE |
| 9. | Guatemala | 3500 BCE |
| 10. | Pakistan | 3300 BCE |
| 11. | Egypt | 3100 BCE |
| 12. | Greece | 3000 BCE |
| 13. | Turkey | 2500 BCE |
| 14. | Sudan | 2450 BCE |
| 15. | Israel | 2100 BCE |
| 16. | Germany | 2000 BCE |
| 17. | Indonesia | 2000 BCE |
| 18. | Belize | 2000 BCE |
| 19. | Mexico | 1200 BCE |
| 20. | Italy | 700 BCE |
