The existential question of which countries are the oldest has long intrigued historians, and for good reason. However, defining what makes a country "old" is challenging, as it depends on historical continuity, evolving borders, and whether ancient legacies are considered part of modern states; nevertheless, we ranked 20 countries in which ancient roots still shape modern identity.
#1 #18 Bulgaria (681 AD)
Bulgaria is ranked as the 18th-oldest country in the world.
Located in southeastern Europe, it was officially founded in 681 AD when the Turkic-speaking Bulgars conquered the Slavs and formed the first Bulgarian Empire (per Family Search).
Today, it also stands as the 16th-largest country in Europe by land area (per World Atlas).
