The world is full of hidden gems and that includes countries so small or tucked away that most Americans don’t even know they exist.
Tuvalu
Tuvalu is a tiny island nation floating in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii & Australia. It has just over 11,000 residents! Tuvalu is also one of the world’s smallest countries by both land area and population. And since it’s so remote, mass tourism hasn’t reached it. Visiting Tuvalu allows you to experience authentic Polynesian culture without the crowds. Really, what could be better than that?
Nauru
Nauru is another petite Pacific island nation and it covers a mere 8.1 square miles. It has around 10,000 inhabitants. Back in the day, Nauru was wealthy thanks to phosphate mining but after the resources dwindled, the economy took a hit. These days, you can still see the remnants of the intensive mining. Fun fact—Nauru doesn’t have an official capital city. It’s so small that the whole island is the capital!
Comoros
Sitting off Africa’s eastern coast in the Indian Ocean, you’ll find the Comoros, an archipelago country with about 850,000 people. The islands are volcanic and include several incredible mountains and gorgeous beaches. It’s an incredible mix of African, Arab & French cultures, which you’ll see in the nation’s language and cuisine.
São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe is Africa’s second-smallest country, with around 220,000 residents. It’s a two-island nation that was once a major Portuguese colony for sugar & cocoa plantations—but today, its unspoiled beaches are what attracts people. Better yet, the islands are perfect for birdwatchers & nature lovers alike. There are so many animals that you’ll only find here!
Kiribati
Spread across the central Pacific Ocean, Kiribati is made of 33 atolls & reef islands. But that’s not what makes it so unique. The island straddles both the equator and the International Date Line—so it’s the only country situated in all four hemispheres! Unfortunately, the nation is dealing with some serious challenges at the moment including rising sea levels that threaten its low-lying islands.
Djibouti
Djibouti is a small country in the Horn of Africa that shares its borders with Eritrea, Ethiopia, & Somalia. Here, you’ll see some rather incredible landscapes, including salt lakes like Lake Assal. It’s one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world! And since it’s so close to the Red Sea & the Gulf of Aden, it’s strategically important—even though many people haven’t heard of it.
Palau
Palau is an archipelago of over 500 islands in the western Pacific Ocean and it has around 18,000 inhabitants. Anyone looking to find some astonishing marine life will love it here! Divers from around the globe come to explore its vibrant coral reefs & WWII shipwrecks, with one of Palau’s most famous attractions being Jellyfish Lake. Here, you can swim among millions of harmless jellyfish!
Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste is also known as East Timor and it gained independence from Indonesia in 2002. As such, it’s one of the world’s youngest countries. But don’t let that fool you because it has a lot of beautiful forests & stunning beaches to visit! Coffee is also a major export that local farmers grow in the highlands.
Equatorial Guinea
On Africa’s west coast, Equatorial Guinea is the continent’s only Spanish-speaking country and has a total population of around 1.4 million. However, the nation manages to survive on its significant oil reserves. It also has a rather diverse landscape that includes tropical rainforests, mountains like Pico Basilé & amazing coastal areas. You’ll be seriously impressed by the Spanish colonial architecture in the capital city, Malabo.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu is a Pacific island nation that’s made up of about 80 islands and several active volcanoes, like Mount Yasur on Tanna Island. But the most interesting thing has to be the indigenous cultures! They’re adventure seekers who do extreme sports like “land diving” which tourists can watch but not participate in. It’s exclusively for natives.
Bhutan
Tucked away in the Himalayas between India & China, you’ll find the small kingdom of Bhutan, which has a population of about 750,000. It’s probably most famous for measuring Gross National Happiness—instead of Gross Domestic Product. As it’s so small, the country carefully regulates tourism and fiercely preserves its Buddhist traditions.
