Discover the top 10 oldest countries in the world, ranked by the earliest organised governments and self-sovereignty, featuring nations like Iran, Egypt, China, and India with histories spanning ... We’ve compiled a list of the world’s oldest countries, which range from ancient kingdoms in Ethiopia to the Persian Empire in Iran to thousand-year-old counties in Europe. Content Summary Egypt India Afghanistan China Georgia Ethiopia Greece Japan Iran San Marino 1. Egypt: Although the first dynasty of Egypt may be traced back to roughly 6000 BCE, when numerous tribes of hunter-gatherers settled in the Nile River Valley, Egypt’s first kingdom is dated with about 3100 BCE. King Menes ... List of the oldest countries in the world, highlighting the top ten oldest countries by date of self-sovereignty, and by date of earliest known organized government as well as the ten youngest countries in the world. Some of the oldest countries in the world are Egypt, Iran, and Vietnam. Their histories span thousands of years and multiple civilizations.