10 Countries You Never Knew Existed

There are a lot of Eastern European countries worthy of a visit from tourists. Moldova may not exactly come up in that conversation too often, and one of those reasons may be its status as a landlocked nation. This lack of access to international waters impacts Moldova’s tourism industry, and the country is among the poorest countries in Europe. However, this doesn’t hamper Moldova’s cultural richness or impact its glorious architecture. Gorgeous churches, monasteries and wine cellars are just a few of the sights awaiting those bold enough to venture off the beaten path into Moldovan territory.

Lesotho is another landlocked nation, this time existing as an enclave within the borders of South Africa. This is another country of various struggles, both financially and physically, since Lesotho possesses the second-highest percentage of HIV/AIDS prevalence in the world. The culture in Lesotho is also complicated, at least when it comes to sensibilities of the West, especially in its treatment of women. However, the literacy rate and primary education standards are among the highest in Africa, and Lesotho was even quoted by “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler as being an inspiration for his vision of Marvel’s Wakanda.

The Faroe Islands

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The Faroe Islands exist in two worlds. On one hand, they exist as a part of Denmark. However, The Faroes also operate as a self-governing nation, despite not being an official member of the EU. This doesn’t hamper Faroese identity or culture, however. This is a country for Vikings and warriors - hearty people who are able to deal with The Faroe Islands’ wet and often cool climate. There’s a fierce independence to the Faroese people, who balance their Danish fealty in terms of defense and foreign affairs with the monitoring of their own fishing industries and international trade. There’s even an active heavy metal scene there spearheaded by bands such as Týr, from the Faroese capital city of Tórshavn.

Bhutan is a mountainous country located in South Asia, another landlocked nation whose name probably isn’t the first one might think of when it comes to vacation destinations. It’s a neighbor to Tibet, and shares in that country’s history of Buddhism. It’s also a pretty good place to work and live, at least according to Bhutan’s standing in the Human Development Index. In fact, a 2020 study celebrated Bhutan’s culture of peace, freedom and general happiness for both locals, as well as those visiting the country on business. Not too shabby, right?

What’s in a name? Well, a lot actually…at least when it comes to the island country of Kiribati. That’s because its nonlinear pronunciation has a lot to do with this micronesian country’s Gilbertese language. Beyond this, the people of Kiribati celebrate music and traditional dancing within their culture, as well as athletics and a diet rich in fresh seafood. The government of Kiribati is also active on a global scale with regards to climate change, actively petitioning for legislation and action that would help minimize further damage and potential harm to Kiribati’s ecosystem.

We’re staying within the Oceanic region for our next country, the South Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu. The culture of Vanuatu dates back to the Melanesian people of New Guinea and the Fiji Islands, but was a victim of colonization efforts from Spain, France and the United Kingdom. Vanuatu eventually gained its independence in 1980, and enjoys a status today that balances culture and tradition with foreign tourism and international trade. There’s a lot of farming done on Vanuatu, both of crops as well as livestock, and these farms do a great job at both feeding Vanuatu’s people, as well as fostering her economic growth.

There’s a lot going on within the three Southeast African islands that make up the country of Comoros. These islands used to be a French colony until 1975, and have not one, not two, but three official languages: French, Arabic and Shikomori, which translates to “language of islands.” There is a wide divide between the “haves” and the “have-nots” in Comoros, with much of the country’s population sadly living below the poverty line. Political life is complicated in Comoros, with each of the three islands having its own president and government, and a rotating spot reserved for the union of Comoros as a whole. Then, there’s the Department of Mayotte, whose citizens chose to remain a French colony. It’s….a lot to take in.

Remote island destinations, by design, tend to be “if you know, you know” propositions, and that’s definitely the case when it comes to Nauru. It used to be called “Pleasant Island,” and it’s another country that’s located in the Oceania region, a Pacific Island country not too far from the aforementioned Kiribati. Nauru is actually one of the smallest countries in the entire world, with an estimated population of just over ten thousand people. The island has changed colonial hands a lot over the years, and Nauru was also occupied by Japan during the Second World War. Phosphorus mining has destroyed much of Nauru’s land, and its history of occupation has negative effects, both physical and mental, upon its population.

San Marino

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The small Republic of San Marino is located within Italy, and is the fifth smallest country in the world. About thirty-three thousand people reside within San Marino’s landlocked borders, but these citizens can actually lay claim to living within a country that was founded by an actual saint! Yup, Saint Marinus founded the country waaaay back in 301 A.D., while today people living in San Marino exist as some of the wealthiest in the world. The country enjoys a tourism profile comparable to that of Italy, and also possesses thriving banking, finance and electronic industries. Food, wine and athletics also occupy much of San Marino’s time, and the country enjoys the distinction of being the smallest country to ever win an Olympic Medal.

The nation of Cabo Verde possesses a long and complicated history, including benefitting from piracy and human trafficking in past ages. These African islands were colonized by the Portuguese, and today enjoy a culture that takes from both traditions to become something uniquely Cape Verdean. It’s a story similar to that of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Guinea islands, one of remarkable growth in the face of problematic rule. Cape Verde today continues to grow economically, inviting tourism from visitors, while at the same time seeing many of its citizens emigrate from the islands to thrive in American states like Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Are you a Mojoholic from a country that YOU feel deserves more international recognition? Shout out your homeland and say hello in the comments below!