Countries That Start With S – 26 Nations Listed by Continent
The letter S introduces more countries than most people expect. From the microstate of San Marino to the vast expanse of Sudan, 26 sovereign nations officially recognised by the United Nations begin with the letter S. That makes S one of the more common starting letters for country names, behind only A, B, C, and M. Knowing exactly how many countries start with S and where they are located can be helpful for geography quizzes, travel planning, or data analysis.
The list spans every inhabited continent. Africa alone contributes eight S‑countries, including South Sudan, the youngest nation on Earth. Europe adds seven, Asia four, the Caribbean and Pacific five, and South America contributes one. Several of these countries are among the smallest and most unique in the world, which makes the group particularly interesting to explore.
How Many Countries Start With S?
A total of 26 sovereign states that are United Nations member states begin with the letter S. This count does not include dependent territories or partially recognised states. The number is sometimes cited as 25 or 27 depending on whether observers like the Holy See are included, but for standard reference lists the figure is 26.
- Total S countries: 26 sovereign UN member states
- African S countries: 8 (São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan)
- European S countries: 7 (San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland)
- Smallest S country by population: San Marino (33,642 inhabitants according to the World Bank)
A few key patterns stand out immediately. Saint Kitts and Nevis is the first S‑country alphabetically but also one of the smallest, both in population and area. The letter S has a high concentration of island nations: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, and the Solomon Islands. On the opposite end, Saudi Arabia is the largest S‑country by land area, and San Marino is a landlocked microstate entirely surrounded by Italy.
- Saint Kitts and Nevis opens the alphabetical list but ranks among the least populous.
- Island nations account for seven of the 26 S‑countries.
- Saudi Arabia has the largest population (roughly 35–37 million) and the second-largest area.
- Sudan is the largest S‑country by land area (1,886,068 km²).
- San Marino, with 24 mi², is the smallest by area.
- Singapore has the highest population density (8,387 people per km²).
- South Sudan is the newest sovereign state, having gained independence in 2011.
| Country | Capital | Continent | Population (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Basseterre | Caribbean | 47,755 |
| Saint Lucia | Castries | Caribbean | 180,000 |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Kingstown | Caribbean | 111,000 |
| Samoa | Apia | Pacific | 200,000 |
| San Marino | San Marino | Europe | 33,642 |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | São Tomé | Africa | 220,000 |
| Saudi Arabia | Riyadh | Asia | 35–37 million |
| Senegal | Dakar | Africa | 17 million |
| Serbia | Belgrade | Europe | 6.8 million |
| Seychelles | Victoria | Africa | 98,000 |
| Sierra Leone | Freetown | Africa | 8 million |
| Singapore | Singapore | Asia | 5.7 million |
| Slovakia | Bratislava | Europe | 5.4 million |
| Slovenia | Ljubljana | Europe | 2.1 million |
| Solomon Islands | Honiara | Pacific | 720,000 |
| Somalia | Mogadishu | Africa | 16 million |
| South Africa | Pretoria (administrative) | Africa | 65 million |
| South Sudan | Juba | Africa | 11 million |
| Spain | Madrid | Europe | 47 million |
| Sri Lanka | Colombo (commercial) | Asia | 23 million |
| Sudan | Khartoum | Africa | 46 million |
| Suriname | Paramaribo | South America | 623,000 |
| Sweden | Stockholm | Europe | 10.5 million |
| Switzerland | Bern | Europe | 8.8 million |
| Syria | Damascus | Asia | 22 million |
Which Countries Start With S? (Complete List)
The full list of 26 countries arranged alphabetically and grouped by continent makes it easier to see geographical patterns. Below is a breakdown with key facts for each region.
Africa (8 countries)
- São Tomé and Príncipe – island nation in the Gulf of Guinea.
- Senegal – named after the Senegal River.
- Seychelles – named by the French after a Portuguese finance minister.
- Sierra Leone – name given by Portuguese explorer Pedro da Cinta, meaning “lion mountains”.
- Somalia – East African nation.
- South Africa – most populous S‑country in Africa (~65 million).
- South Sudan – the world’s newest country (independence 2011).
- Sudan – largest S‑country in Africa by land area.
Two of the eight African S‑countries are entirely insular: São Tomé and Príncipe and Seychelles. Seychelles is the least populous sovereign state in Africa, with roughly 98,000 people.
Europe (7 countries)
- San Marino – landlocked microstate founded in 301 CE.
- Serbia – Southeast Europe.
- Slovakia – Central Europe.
- Slovenia – Southeast Europe.
- Spain – Southwestern Europe.
- Sweden – Northern Europe.
- Switzerland – Central Europe (Swiss Confederation).
San Marino is often cited as the smallest S‑country by both area and population, but it is not the only microstate. The Vatican City (which does not start with S) is smaller. Among S‑countries, San Marino holds both records.
Asia (4 countries)
- Saudi Arabia – largest population of any S‑country.
- Singapore – highest population density in the group.
- Sri Lanka – South Asian island nation.
- Syria – Western Asia.
Caribbean & Pacific (5 countries)
- Saint Kitts and Nevis – smallest S‑country by population after San Marino.
- Saint Lucia – roughly 180,000 people.
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – island chain.
- Samoa – Pacific island nation.
- Solomon Islands – Pacific island nation.
South America (1 country)
- Suriname – Dutch‑speaking nation in northern South America.
If you are memorising S‑countries for a geography test, note that South America has only one (Suriname), while Africa has the most (8). The Caribbean alone has three “Saint” countries.
Which European Countries Start With S?
Europe is home to seven S‑countries, ranging from the microstate San Marino to major economies like Spain and Sweden. All are full UN member states. Notably, four of them (San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia) are landlocked, while Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland have coastal access or are landlocked (Switzerland is landlocked). The group includes two countries that were part of former Yugoslavia (Serbia and Slovenia) and two that emerged from Czechoslovakia (Slovakia).
For travellers, the European S‑countries offer a mix of Alpine landscapes, Mediterranean coastlines, and historic cities. San Marino, though entirely surrounded by Italy, retains its own government and is one of the oldest republics in the world, founded in 301 CE.
What Countries Start With Sc?
A common question from pattern‑based searches is whether any sovereign country begins with “Sc”. At present, no UN member state starts with those two letters. Scotland is a constituent country of the United Kingdom but is not a sovereign UN member state. The only territory beginning with “Sc” that appears on some lists is the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean, which is a French district, not a country.
Two recognised countries starting with S are followed by a consonant other than “c”: Scy (Seychelles), Sk (Slovakia), Sl (Slovenia), Sm (San Marino), Sn (Senegal), Sp (Spain), Sr (Sri Lanka), St (Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & Grenadines), Su (Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria). The pattern “Sc” remains absent from the list of sovereign states.
Several S‑countries end with the letter N: San Marino, Singapore, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, and Syria. That gives seven S‑countries with the “‑n” suffix, making it a moderately common pattern for this starting letter.
Which S Countries Are the Newest?
- South Sudan – gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011.
- East Timor (not an S‑country) – included for context; among S‑countries, South Sudan is the youngest.
- Serbia and Montenegro – dissolved in 2006; Serbia became an independent state.
- Slovakia – independent since 1 January 1993 (dissolution of Czechoslovakia).
- Slovenia – independent since 25 June 1991.
- Singapore – independent since 9 August 1965 (separation from Malaysia).
- Somalia – independence from Italy and the UK in 1960.
- Sudan – independence from the UK and Egypt in 1956.
- Sierra Leone – independence from the UK in 1961.
- Senegal – independence from France in 1960.
Are All S Countries Universally Recognised?
The 26 countries listed in this article are all United Nations member states, which means they are universally recognised as sovereign by the international community. There is no sovereign state starting with S that remains heavily contested. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara) does not begin with S, and no other disputed territory starting with S has widespread recognition.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| 26 UN member states start with S | The exact number can vary if observer states (e.g., Holy See) are counted, but the Holy See begins with H, not S. |
| Partial recognition: Western Sahara (SADR) does not start with S | No S‑starting entity is currently a UN observer state with uncertain status. |
| All 26 are listed in the UN member states roster | Some older lists may include historical names (e.g., Siam for Thailand) that no longer apply. |
Why Does the Letter S Have So Many Island Nations?
Seven of the 26 S‑countries are island nations. This is partly because the letter S appears at the start of many colonial names for small islands (e.g., Saint‑named territories in the Caribbean). The concentration of “Saint” names in the Caribbean accounts for three sovereign states. Additionally, the Pacific islands of Samoa and Solomon Islands, along with the Indian Ocean’s Seychelles and the Atlantic’s São Tomé and Príncipe, all happen to begin with S. The letter S also appears in several African and European coastal countries, but the island group is disproportionately large.
Where Do the Population Figures Come From?
Population estimates for the S‑countries in this article are sourced from the World Bank and the CIA World Factbook. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs provides the official count of UN member states. These institutions update their data annually, so figures for countries like South Sudan and Syria may fluctuate due to migration and conflict. For the most current numbers, refer directly to the World Bank country profiles or the CIA World Factbook.
“The United Nations member states are the benchmark for sovereign recognition. All 26 S‑countries are listed in the official UN roster.” For more details S-Market Sakylän aukioloajat.
— UN Member States list
A useful resource for quick reference is the Worldometers page for countries starting with S, which also includes population and area data.
What Other Letter‑Based Country Lists Can You Explore?
This guide is part of a series covering country names by starting letter. If you found the S‑country list useful, you might also enjoy exploring nations beginning with T or U. For reference, the South Africa Women vs England Women – Semi-Final 2025 Result offers a recent sports event featuring one of the S‑countries. And for a broader perspective, see the Biggest City in the World – 2025 Rankings by Population and Area to understand urban concentrations linked to these nations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does any country start with Sc?
No UN member state begins with Sc. Scotland is part of the UK, not a sovereign state.
What country starts with S and ends with N?
Seven S‑countries end with N: San Marino, Singapore, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, and Syria.
How many countries are there in the world?
The United Nations recognises 193 member states. Including observer states, the total is 195.
Is Saint Kitts and Nevis a country?
Yes, it is a sovereign UN member state in the Caribbean, independent since 1983.
What is the smallest country starting with S?
San Marino is the smallest by both area (24 mi²) and population (33,642).
Are there any countries that start with S in South America?
Yes, one: Suriname, located in northern South America.
Which African country starting with S has the largest population?
South Africa, with roughly 65 million inhabitants, is the most populous S‑country in Africa.
Which S‑country has the highest population density?
Singapore, with 8,387 people per km², is the densest among S‑countries.
What is the newest country starting with S?
South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011.
How many S‑countries are island nations?
Seven: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, and Solomon Islands.