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{{Short description|Country that exists only in fiction and not in reality}}
A '''fictional country''' is a ] that is made up, and does not exist in real life. Fictional lands appear most commonly as settings or subjects of ] or of ]s.
{{For|unrecognised countries that do not claim to be fictional|Micronation|}}
], the fictional country in the book '']'']]
]'']]


A '''fictional country''' is a country that is made up for ], and does not exist in real life, or one that people believe in without proof.
Fictional countries appear commonly in stories of early ] (or ]). Such countries supposedly form part of the normal ] landscape although not located in a normal ]. Later similar tales often took place on ].
Sailors have always mistaken low clouds for land masses, and in later times this was given the name ].<ref>Schott's Quintessential Miscellany, p.119, {{ISBN|978-1-4088-1577-9}}</ref>
Other fictional lands appear most commonly as settings or subjects of ], ], ], or ]. They may also be used for technical reasons in actual reality for use in the development of specifications, such as the fictional country of '']'', which is used to allow ] "country" codes 978 and 979 to be used for ] assigned to books, and code 977 to be assigned for use for ] numbers on magazines and other periodicals. Also, the ] country code "ZZ" is reserved as a fictional country code.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}


Fictional countries appear commonly in stories of early ] (or ]). Such countries supposedly form part of the normal Earth landscape, although not located in a normal atlas. Later similar tales often took place on ].{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
]'s protagonist, ], visited various strange places. ] placed adventures of ] in areas in ] that, at the time, remained mostly unknown to the West and to the East. Isolated islands with strange creatures and/or customs enjoyed great popularity in these authors' times. When Western explorers had surveyed most of the Earth's surface, this option was lost to ]. Thereafter fictional ]n and ]n societies tended to spring up on other ]s or in space, whether in human colonies or in alien societies originating elsewhere.


In '']'' by ], the protagonist, ], visited various strange places. ] placed the adventures of ] in areas in Africa that, at the time, remained mostly unknown to the West and to the East. Isolated islands with strange creatures and/or customs enjoyed great popularity in these authors' times. By the 19th century, when Western explorers had surveyed most of the Earth's surface, this option was lost to Western culture. Thereafter, fictional ]n and ]n societies tended to spring up on other ]s or in space, whether in human colonies or in alien societies originating elsewhere. Fictional countries can also be used in stories set in a distant future, with other political borders than today.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
] and secret agent ]s and some ]s also use fictional countries as backdrops. Most of these countries exist only for a single story, a TV-series episode or an issue of a comic book.


] and secret agent ]s and some ]s also use fictional countries on Earth as backdrops. Most of these countries exist only for a single story, a TV-series episode or an issue of a comic book. There are notable exceptions where fictional countries appear as recurring plot elements, such as: ] ('']''); ] (]); and ] and Bialya (]).{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
===Purpose===
Fictional countries often deliberately resemble or even represent some real-world country or present a utopia or dystopia for commentary. Variants of the country's name sometimes make it clear what country they really have in mind. (Compare ] below.) By using a fictional country instead of a real one, authors can exercise greater freedom in creating characters, events, and settings, while at the same time presenting a vaguely familiar locale that readers can recognize. A fictional country leaves the author unburdened by the restraints of a real nation's actual history, politics, and culture, and can thus allow for greater scope in plot construction.


==Purposes==
Writers may create an ] fictional "Eastern European", "Middle Eastern", "Asian", or "Latin American" country for the purposes of their story. (Relatively few fictional countries outside of ] have locations in ] or in ], presumably because global audiences have better familiarity with these areas' actual circumstances.)
Fictional countries often deliberately resemble or even represent some real-world country or present a utopia or dystopia for commentary. Variants of the country's name sometimes make it clear what country they really have in mind. By using a fictional country instead of a real one, authors can exercise greater freedom in creating characters, events, and settings, while at the same time presenting a vaguely familiar locale that readers can recognize. A fictional country leaves the author unburdened by the restraints of a real nation's actual history, politics, and culture, and can thus allow for greater scope in plot construction and be exempt from criticism for vilifying an actual nation, political party, or people. The fictional Tomania (a ] of ] named after ]) serves as a setting for ]'s '']'' and skewers a régime infamous for religious bigotry, militarism, racism, diplomatic bullying, and violations of civil liberties.


] in a setting that ridicules Nazi Germany and its leadership, and uses ]es as mockery of the Nazi ].]]
Such countries often embody ]s about their regions. For example, inventors of a fictional Eastern European country will typically describe it as a former or current ] ], or with a suspense stories about a royal family; if pre-], it will likely resemble ] or feature copious ] and other ] phenomena. A fictional Middle Eastern state often lies somewhere on the ], has substantial ]-wealth, and either a ] or a ] ] as a ruler. A fictional Latin American country will typically project images of a ] beset by constant ]s, ]s, and ].


Fictional countries are also invented for the purpose of military training scenarios,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2001/0107/0001072701.asp|title=Navy News - News Desk - News - HMS Edinburgh works out in the Pacific|publisher=www.navynews.co.uk|access-date=December 14, 2008}}</ref> e.g. the group of islands around ] were assigned the names Blueland and Orangeland in the international maritime exercise, ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDQ/is_/ai_53001543|title=RIMPAC simulates conflict between divided countries - Asian Political News|publisher=findarticles.com|access-date=December 14, 2008 | date=August 3, 1998}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/rimpac.htm|title=Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC)|publisher=www.globalsecurity.org|access-date=December 14, 2008}}</ref>
Modern writers usually do not try to pass off their stories as facts. However, in the early ] ] passed himself off as a prince from the island of ] (present-day ]) and wrote a fictional description about it to convince his sponsors.


==In survey research==
]s have also invented fictional countries solely for the purpose of ] people. In the ], ] sold land in the invented country of Poyais. In modern times, the ] and the ] have been accused of this. Many varied financial scams can play out under the aegis of a fictional country, including selling passports and travel documents, and setting up fictional banks and companies with the seeming imprimatur of full government backing.
Fictional countries have been created for polling purposes. When polled in April 2004, 8% of British people believed that the country of Luvania would soon join the European Union.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/04/29/luvania_eu/|title= Brits welcome Luvania to EU|author= Haines, Lester|date= April 29, 2004|website= The Register}}</ref> In the 1989 ], U.S. respondents were asked to rate the social status of people of "Wisian" background, a fictional national heritage. While a majority of respondents said they could not place the Wisians in the U.S. social hierarchy, those who did ranked their status as quite low, giving an average of 4.12 on a 9-point scale, where 9 was the highest social standing.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEFDD123DF93BA35752C0A964958260|title= Bias Thrives In a Vacuum|date= January 8, 1992|newspaper=]}}</ref> "Once you let the Wisians in, the neighborhood goes to pot", quipped '']'' magazine.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,974679,00.html?promoid=googlep|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026144915/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,974679,00.html?promoid=googlep|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 26, 2012|title= American Notes: Ethnicity|date= January 20, 1992|magazine=]}}</ref>

== Incomplete list of fictional countries==
Fictional works describe all the countries in the following list as located somewhere on the surface of the Earth as we know it &mdash; as opposed to inside the planet, on another world, or during a different "age" of the planet (see below).

*Abari: fictional British (and ex-British) territory in South America in novels written by ] and ]
*]: ] visited the land of the ], the mythical island of ] (home of ]), and the palace of ]
*Afromacoland: African country in the novel ''Chief the Honourable Minister'' by ]
*Agraria: Eastern country in the movie '']''
*Al-Alemand: Islamic state consisting of the former ] and the ]. From the ] book '']'', by ]
*]: Mediterranean island state in the '']'' ]
*Albenistan: Central Asian country in the d20 adventures ''Raid on Ashkashem'', ''the Qalashar Device'', and ''the Khorforhan Gambit'' written by Fraser Ronald and published by Sword's Edge Publishing
* Aldestan: Central Asian country, adjacent to ], in the '']'' video game
* Alpine Emirates: Islamic states in the ]. From the ] book '']'', by ]
* Angria: imaginary country from the poems of the ] sisters
* Aquilea: South American country in the movie ''Les Trottoirs de Saturne''
* ]: kingdom of the ] character ]
* Arcacia: mythical kingdom in the movie '']''
* Ardistan: in the novel ''Ardistan and Dschinnistan'' by ]
* ]: ] '']''. Sometimes also transliterated "Asran".
* ]: neighbor of ]
* Azaran: Middle Eastern country in '']'' TV series
* BabaKiueria: a fictional country in Australia in the movie '']''
* Babalstan: Middle Eastern country in the movie '']''
* ]
* Bacteria: thinly-disguised version of ] ] from the movie '']''
* Baki: homeland of Omio in ]'s writing, a small Pacific island nation once dominated by British
* Balinderry: strategically-placed quasi-Irish nation that is crucial to a defence radar system, but has an IRA-type insurgency, in an episode of '']''
* Bangalla: '']'' comic strip. The Phantom's base lies in the deep woods of this central African nation.
* ]: ]'s '']''
* Betonia: European kingdom in the movie '']'' (1932)
* ]: Imaginary ''de facto'' independent island community in the ] series.
* Bonande: imaginary West African country in the movie '']''
* Bongo Congo: African kingdom in cartoon '']''
* Booty Island: a pirate island in the ] in the second '']'' game, part of the Tri-Island area (governed by Elaine Marley)
* Brainania: '']''
* Braslavia: Slavic dictatorial country in '']'' comics
* Bregna: '']''
* ]: country appearing in several ] stories, possibly referring to the ]
* Bumdumborge: ]
* Buranda: African country in the BBC comedy series '']''
* ]: '']'' episode "The Jericho Caper"
* Canusia: country located off the coast of South Africa
* ]: fictional country mentioned in the '']'' series
* Carpania: European kingdom in '']'' movie
* ]: Balkan kingdom in the movie '']''
* Cascara: a tiny Caribbean island in the movie '']''
* Cayuna: an imaginary Caribbean island modelled on Jamaica in the novels of ].
* Chekia: mythical kingdom in the movie '']''
* Chimerica: Central American country from the '']'' ]
* Chiroubistan: a fictional Balkan/Islamic country perpetually at war, in the French comic strip "Henriette"
* ]: homeland of the ] character ]
* Costaguana: ]'s '']''
* '']'': ]
* Crab Island: poor Caribbean island shaped like a ], under the domination of Crocodile Island, in the '']'' comics
* Crocodile Island: Caribbean island shaped like a ], with a dictatorial government which seems to be heavily influenced by ], in the '']'' comics
* Danu: setting of ]'s ] novel '']'', based on ]
* ]: neighbor of ]
* ]: ]'s illustrated books
* Dortugal: one of the countries that neighbors Free Country USA in ]
* Dschinnistan (Djinnistan): in the novel ''Ardistan and Dschinnistan'' by ]
* ]: '']''
* ]: in the novels ''Ecotopia'' and '']'' by ]. See also ], which is a country slowly emerging based in part on Callenbach's Ecotopia.
* Ecuarico: homeland of an exiled dictator in an episode of '']''
* ]: from the comic strip '']''
* Electopia: country in the Megaman Battle Network series, analogous to Japan. Central to the development of network infrastructure.
* ]: a fictional island nation in the Southwest ] from the role playing game.
* Eretz: home of a visiting prime minister, Salka Palmir, in an episode of '']'' ('Eretz' is ] for 'land')
* Erewhon (anagram of ''nowhere''): in the novel '']'' by ]
* Estrovia: European kingdom in the movie '']''
* Esturia: Slavic country in '']'' comics
* Euphrania: tiny kingdom in the movie '']''
* ]: '']''
* Evallonia: Central European country in the novels of ]
* Filemonia: One of the countries resulting of the ] collapse of ] as told in ]
* Findas: country sunk under the waves in the ]
* ]: ]'s '']''
* Flyspeck Island: Home of Gunk in the comic strip ''Curtis''
* Forest Kingdom: ]'s ''Blue Moon Rising''. Ruled by King John.
* Franistan: Lucy pretends to be a "Maharincess" (cross between the daughter of a Maharaja and a Princess) from here, in the first season of '']''.
* ]: nation from the ] movie '']''
* ]: ]
* Frobnia: ] nation from ]'s interactive fiction game '']''
* Gavel: the republic in the animated picture '']''
* ]: European country from the movie '']'' and its sequel
* ]: fictional republic in the novel '']'' by ]
* Gnubia: from television series ]
* Gondal: imaginary country from the poems of ]
* ] Castle: ]
* ]: a duchy in '']'' and sequels by ]
* ]: Eastern European country in several novels by ]
* ]: French television channel Canal+ "presipality"
* ]: ]'s '']''
* ]: in the novel ''Herland'' by ]
* Hidalgo: South American country in the movie '']''
* Hillsdown: duchy in ]'s ''Blue Moon Rising''. Ruled by Duke Alaric.
* ]: islands off the coast of Cayenne, mentioned in the ] books. They are ruled by dictator Juan Posada and their "spy chief" is named Bedoya. The adjective is ''Huellan''.
* ]
* Hyetsu: archipelago of islands, regrouping three nations, off the coast of South America
* Interzone: a fictionalized version of ] from ]' '']''
*]: a Middle Eastern emirate in the movie '']''
*]: self-isolated country in ]'s novel ''Islandia''
*Isthmus: a fictionalized version of ] in the ] movie '']''
*]: a small ] country of little global importance in ]'s '']''
*Jambalaya Island: an ex-pirate island in the Caribbean, turned to a tourist attraction center, in '']''
*Javasu: an island in the Indian Ocean, the alleged country of "]"
*Jesusland: from the '']'' ]
*Kampong: '']''
*Karathia: Slavic monarchy in the '']'' series
*Keltic Sultanate: Islamic sultanate comprising the British Isles. From the ] book '']'', by ]
*] (Queenah-Kootah): island state from ]'s novels '']'' and '']''
*Kinjanja: African country in the movie '']'' (1994) starring ]
*]: from the ] movie '']''
*]: from the movie '']''
*]: African country from the television series '']''
*Kuristan: from the movie '']'', central Asian nation that is home to the famous jewel ''The Star of Kuristan''
*Kurland: mythical kingdom in the movie '']'' (but see ])
* - fictional, non-boundary country based in
*]: from ]'s ''Ruined City''
* Laurania: the republic in ''Savrola (A Tale of the Revolution in Laurania)'' by ]
* Lavernia: Eastern European country in the movie ''Another Meltdown'' (''Bi xie lan tian'')
* Leutonia: Eastern European home of the ] (Yosh & Stan Shmenge) from '']''
*Libria: a totalitarian state in the movie '']''
*Litzenburg: neutral country in the '']'' ]
*Lividia: mythical kingdom in the movie '']''
*Loompaland: a "terrible" country from ]'s ] children's book, '']''. It is inhabited by dwarves called ]s and is full of extremely dangerous creatures called ''Snozzwangers'', ''Hornswogglers'', ''Verminous Knids'', and wicked ''Whangdoodles''.
*Low countries: ]'s '']''. Capital city: Haven.
*Lower Slobbovia: ice-covered wasteland from the comic strip '']''
*Lucre Island: a pirate island in the fourth '']'' game, ''Escape from Monkey Island''
*Lugash: Mideast nation from the '']'' series of movies
*Luly: island of the bards in ]'s '']''
*]: land sunk under the waves in Welsh legend
*Maguadora: tiny Central American country in the movie '']''
*Magyaristan - Islamic state in the former ]. From the ] book '']'' by ]
*Makovnia: small European kingdom in the operetta '']''
*]: land of ]'s '']''
*]: ]'s ''Mardi and a Voyage Thither''
*Matobo: a state in the sub-Saharan region of ], from the 2005 film '']''
*Mêlée Island: a ] island in the ], from the '']'' games, part of the Tri-Island area (governed by ])
*Melnibone: from '']'' by ]
*Mervo: an island principality in the Mediterranean in the novel '']'' by ]
*Mesa de Oro: unstable Latin American island in the '']'' series. (The name means "golden table" in ].)
*]: Eastern European country from a parody travel guidebook; from the same author as ].
*Monica: '']''
*Moominland: home of the ]s in the books of ]
*Moribundia: in ]'s ''Impromptu in Moribundia''
*Moronica: parody of ] from the ] short ''You Natzy Spy''
*Mortadelonia: One of the countries resulting of the ] collapse of ] as told in ]
*Munma Holy Republic: ]ic republic, formed out of the southern quarter of ] and ], '']'' manga.
*Mypos: home of Balki from '']''
*Isle of Naboombu: kingdom of anthropomorphic animals in the Disney film '']''
*]: fictional African country in ]'s ] ''TASS is authorized to announce...'' (ТАСС уполномочен заявить...), and in the Soviet movie of the same title
*Nayak: imaginary West African country in the movie '']''
*NetFrica: country in the Megaman Battle Network series analogous to Africa
*Netopia: country in the Megaman Battle Network series analogous to North America
*Nibia: African country in '']''
*Nihilon: A country somewhere in central Europe, run by nihilists, in ]'s comic novel "Travels in Nihilon"
*Nivia: from the '']'' TV series
*Novistrana: from the computer game ''''
*]: John Lennon's conceptual country
*]: '']''
*Olympus: an ] nation, run by genetic modified humans and advanced technology, '']'' manga
*]: ]'s '']'' and '']''
*Osterland: ]'s '']''. Ruled by Har from Yrye. There is an ] in ], ], but there is probably no connection.
*Osterlich: nation invaded by Bacteria and ] in the movie '']''; obviously supposed to be ].
*Ostnitz: country from the '']'' ]
*The Land of ]: ]'s ''World of Oz'' novels
*]: fictional island utopia in ]'s '']''
*]: '']'' comics
*Panquita: ]an ] mentioned in second season of '']'' ]. A member of that nation's royal family, ] Anne, was a guest judge at the baking exhibition.
*Parador: Latin American nation from '']''
*Paragonia: Latin American country in the movie '']'' (1916)
*Pathos: neighbor of Mypos, part of a different Tri-Island Area in '']''
*Petoria: from the "E. Peterbus Unum" episode of '']''
*]: South East Asian country from a parody travel guidebook; from the same author as ].
*Phatt Island: an island in the Caribbean in the second '']'' game
*Pimlico: self-proclaimed country in the area of London in the movie '']''
*Plunder Island: a pirate island in the Caribbean in the third '']'' game, part of the Tri-Island area (governed by Elaine Marley)
*Pokoponesia: island nation from the animated version of '']''
*Poldévie: Eastern European country in a famous petition in the 1930s and in many novels by ]
*]: ]'s '']''
*Poyais: 1820's fraudulent creation of ]
*Prance: ]
*]: Middle Eastern state from the television series '']''
*Qumran: Arab country in the BBC comedy series '']''
*]: a country off the northwestern coast of Britain in ]'s fictions '']'' and '']''
*Ragaan: Southeast Asian country located between ] and ] featured in the ]'s TV series '']''
*]: Germanic country in ]'s ''The Tin Princess''
*Realia: fictional republic in the ''Boiling Point'' video game
*La Republica de las Bananas (literally, "]"): from the board game ''Junta''
*]: ]'s ''Riallaro, the Archipelago of Exiles''
*Robonia: from ] television series. Country made up by Bender so he could compete in the Olympics.
*]: ]'s '']'' and associated works
*Sachenia: a tiny state close to the Alps in the movie '']''
*]: a ] from ]'s novel, '']'' (''The Ambassador'')
*Salouf: Arabic oil-rich monarchy in the movie '']''
*San Cristobel: tropical island country in '']'' TV series
*San Glucos: '']'' episode "Sweets and Sour Marge"
*]: ]'s '']''
*]: Latin American republic in ]'s comedy '']''
*]: Caribbean nation run by a drug lord in the ] movie '']''
*]: ] story "Wisteria Lodge"
*]: ] joke
*Santa Cristal: Central American country in the movie '']''
*]: Southeast Asian country from the novel '']'' by ] and ] and the subsequent movie
*Scabb Island: an ] pirate island in the Caribbean in the second '']'' game
*The Triple Monarchy of ]: the ] stories by ]
*Sercia: fictional republic in '']'' video game
*]: Southeast Asian state in the 1994 film '']'', based on the ] computer game (in which the same word was used to describe various other things, including a criminal organisation). In the television series ], a similar name, ], refered to a master organization controlled by Bison which several lesser ]s operated under.
*]: from ]'s novel '']''
*Sharo: country in '']'' series analogous to Russia
*Skandistan: Islamic state comprising what was formerly Scandanavia. From the ] book '']'' by ]
*Skeptos: neighbor of Mypos, part of a different Tri-Island Area in '']''
*]: '']'' movie(s)
*Skull Island (2): a small pirate island in the Caribbean in the third '']'' game
*Skypiea: an island in the sky ruled by a false god in the anime/manga series '']''
*Slovetzia: a tiny country in Eastern Europe in the movie '']''
*]: between ] and the ], the setting for the ]'s '']'' railway network managed by "The Fat Controller"
*]: fictional African republic mentioned in the novels of ].
*Strackenz: European country in the novel '']'' by ]
*]: '']''
*]: belligerent neighbor to ] in the movie '']''
*]: ]'s '']''
*Taronia: from the movie '']''
*Tawaki: from the movie '']''
*Tecala: from the movie '']''
*Terresta: European country in the movie '']'' (1918)
*Tijata: Central American dictatorship from the movie '']''
*]: "Land of the Youth," the Celtic paradise
*Tirania (also Republic of Tirania): Country governed by dictator Bruteztrausen; Spanish secret agents ] helped depose Bruteztrausen and president Rompetechen was then elected.
*]: ] ]&ndash;like country from the movie '']'', ruled by Adenoid Hynkel
*Tontecarlo: A gambler's paradise in ] comic-books until Superlópez's turistic visit. Clearly based on ]; "Tonte" refers to Spanish word ''tonto'' (=fool).
*Totalslava: "]"
*Tropico: island nation in the Caribbean in the '']'' ]
*Tsalal: an island in the novel '']'' by ] and its sequel ''An Antarctic Mystery'' by ]
*Unistat: analogue of the ] in the '']'' of ]
*Uqbar: ]'s '']''
*Utopia: ]'s '']''
*Val Verde: Spanish-speaking country resembling ], '']'' and '']''
*Valeska: a tropical country from the ] short ''Saved by the Belle''
*Vandreka: European country in the movie '']''
*Vespugia: South American nation located in ], site of ancient step pyramids and a history of some Welsh settlement; in books by ]. In an ] it was ruled by a dictator who threatened nuclear warfare.
*Virtú: virtual reality in ]'s novel ''Donnerjack''
*Volsinia: the country with unknown location in ''Dr Trifulgas: A Fantastic Tale'' by ]
*]: the far-off, make-believe land in the children's story '']'' by ]
*Wallarya: a small country in the Balkans in the movie '']'' (1918)
*]: a country used in ] to dupe an intoxicated person.
*Yakastonia: mountainous eastern European nation, where yodeling is prominent in local culture, but so is surfing on its coast. Important landmark is Mount Bubneboba, and its fresh mountain air is celebrated worldwide. A traditional greeting is doing an armpit fart while repeating the word "zwooba!". Home of exchange student Fentruck on the animated series '']''.
*]: ]'s novel '']''
*] a country in the novel ] by ]
*Yumland: a country in the Megaman Battle Network series analogous to Southeast Asia, mostly Thailand.
* - fulfils the letters ''W'' and ''X'' in ]' ''''
*Zamunda: fictional African monarchy from the ] movie '']''
*Zangaro: West African country in the movie '']''
*]: sole nuclear power in the ] series of video games
*Zekistan: a Middle Eastern country between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China in the '']'' ]; its history and setting closely resemble Afghanistan's
*]: a fictional Northern European country in ]'s novel '']''
*Zinariya: an African country famous for its copper mines, ruled by a dictator, General Bindiga, in ]'s '']''

==Lands in ] series by ]==
] had adventures in:
*]
*]
*] & ]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]

==Lands in the Tintin stories by ]==
] traveled to:
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]

==Lands in '']'' by ]==
] stumbled upon:
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*the land of the ]s and ]
*the Kingdom of ], called by the natives ] (anagrams of Britain and England)
*] although real had a semi-mythical aura about it in Swift's day

== Lands inside the Earth ==
See also ].

* ] - mysterious empire inside the earth
* ] - ]
* ]
* Zion - '']''

==Lands of ]==
While the map of Earth in the "]" differs markedly from today's, some of Howard's fictional, ancient countries are obviously serve as ancestors of historical ones.

* ], kingdom of ].
* ], home of ].
* ], kingdom of ] ruled by ]

...and others.

==Lands of ] and ]==
Though ] indicated that he intended Arda to represent our Earth in a previous age, sometimes ] exist between modern landmasses and countries and those of Arda. The following countries, areas or regions feature on the continent Middle-earth:

* ], country of the ]
* ], the northern kingdom of men.
* ] Hill of Black Magic, stronghold of the Necromancer (Sauron). From the description, probably based on ], ].
* ], the country of the Dunlendings
* ]
* ], the Lonley Mountain
* ], the Northern Waste
* ]
* ], a Southron land, home to the ]
* ], trans-Anduinian Gondor
* ], greenwood land of ] (also ] and Laurelindórenan.
* ] an elven forest invaded by the evil of ]
* ], mountain-girt land of evil
* ] (also Khazad-dûm), a country or city-state beneath the Misty Mountains
* ], home to the horse-lords
* ], land of the ]s

See also the category ].

==Lands of the ] ]==
* Austanburg
* Badhnisia
* Bialya
* Corto Maltese - Small South American nation
* Dinosaur Island
* Feithera
* Gorilla City - ]n ] and home of ] ]
* Hasaragua - South American nation
* Kaznia
* Khandaq - Conquered by Black Adam and associates. Presumably near Egypt.
* Kooey Kooey Kooey
* Markovia
* Modora
* Posidonis (Atlantis)
* Qurac
* Rheelasia - ]n nation
* Santa Prisca - ] republic, birthplace of supervillain ] in the ].
* ] (Paradise Island) - Country of the Amazons (Hippolyta, ]), believed to be in the ], specifically in the ].
* Transbelva - Eastern European nation
* Tritonis
* Vlatava - Balkan nation once ruled by ancestors of ], destroyed by ]
* Zandia

== Lands of the ] ]==
* Al-Mazahmiya
* Alberia
* Althea Island
* Aquiria
* Azania
* Bagmom
* Bartovia
* Bastrona
* Belgriun - European kingdom
* Boca Caliente
* Bodavia
* Bolamoira
* Bora-Buru
* Bosqueverde
* Burunda
* Canaan
* Carnelia
* Carpassia
* Celsia
* Central Saharan Republic
* Costa Brava
* Costa Diablo
* Costa Dinora
* Costa Salvador
* Costa Verde
* Delvadia
* Draburg
* El Dorado (Marvel Comics)
* Europa, birthplace of Henrietta Hunter in the ]
* ]
* Ghudaza
* Ghulistan
* Grand Nixon Island
* Halwan
* Hidalgo
* Imaya
* Isla Suerto
* Khamiskhan
* Kiber's Island
* Koslavia
* Ksavia
* ]
* Lichtenbad
* Llhasa
* Madripoor
* Maura
* Moldavia (Marvel Comics)
* Monster Isle
* Morvania
* Muir Island
* Murtakesh
* Narobia
* Puerto Dulcer
* Rhapastan
* Rudyarda
* Rumekistan
* Ruritania (Marvel Comics)
* The ] (hidden under Antarctica)
* San Diablo
* San Gusto
* San Lorenzo (Marvel Comics)
* San Revilla
* Santo Angelo
* Santo Marco
* Santo Rico
* Sarawak
* Sifand
* Sin-Cong
* Slorenia
* Symkaria - European kingdom, birthplace of Silver Sable in the ].
* Temasika
* Terra Nuevo
* Terra Verde
* Tierra del Maiz
* Tierra Verde
* Trans-Sabal
* Trafia
* Transia (location of Wundagore Mountain)
* Trebekistan
* Triji
* Tropica
* Ujanka
* Vulcan Domuyo
* ]
* Yashonka
* Zukistan

== Not on Earth ==
These countries do not exist on our Earth, but on another planet (or in another universe). Some are planets unto themselves.

* ] from the ] '']''
* ] a kingdom featured in '']'' by ].
*The ] and the Reconciled Dominions ruled over by the Autarch in '']'' by ]
* ] an empire featured in '']'' by ].
* Aveh from the Playstation Game '']''
* ] - from the ] '']'' is a kingdom on the planet gaia, from whom ] is visible as a moon.
* ], a kingdom that is the chief setting of ]'s '']'' games.
* ] - Planet and interstellar empire from the anime '']''.
* ] empire on the Circle Sea in ]'s '']''
* Kislev from the Playstation Game '']''
* ], mountain kingdom of ]'s '']''
* Lost Hope, ] kingdom ruled by the man with thistle-down hair in '']''
* ] and other lands appear in works by ]
* The ], setting for Nintendo's ] video game series.
* ] a kingdom that is the chief setting for many of '']'' by ].
* ], a continent in the book series ''The Riftwar'' by ]
* Tlön (actually an entire world), of ]'s '']''

== Semi-fictional countries ==
Some lands exist uneasily on the borderlands of fiction and fact, of imagination and reality. There follows a list of places with a real counterpart, but which in ]/poetic imagination or ] fervour or historical dimmed memory can become "other". Note that a ]ate name may conjure up visions of (questionable) past grandeur.

* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ] (distinct from ]'s ])
* ]
** ] (based on ''The Man Without Qualities'' by ])
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
** ]
** Pomgolia or Outer Pomgolia
* ]
** ] (putative identification)
* ]
** ]
** The ]
* ]
** ] (a comedy movie ''U nás v Kocourkov&#283;'', 1934, starring ] and others)
* Eastern ]
** ]
** ]
** ]
** ]
* ]
** Blighty
** ]
** ]
** ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ] (not an exact match...)
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
** ] or Hindoostan
* ]
** ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ] (in the metaphorical sense)
** ]
* ]
** ]
** ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** Maoriland
** Zelandia
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
** ] (aka Tahuantinsuyu, Inca empire)
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** New ]
* ]
** ]
** ]
*** ]
** ]
* ]
** ] (as in "Columbia, the gem of the ocean...")
* ]
** ]
** ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ] (approximately)
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
** ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]

In the ] film ], ] (which is a republic) is portrayed as a Kingdom with a Royal Family.

== Questionable cases ==
Countries from stories, myths, legends, that some people have believed to actually exist


==Legendary countries==
Countries from stories, myths, legends, that some believe to exist, or to have existed at some point:
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ] (continent)
* ] (continent) * ]
* ] (continent)
* ] or ]
* ]
* ]
* ] (See '']'')
* ]


== Books == ==See also==
* ]
* '''Alberto Manguel & Gianni Guadalupi''': ''The Dictionary of Imaginary Places'' ISBN 0-15-626054-9
* ]
:: Excellent book; includes details of inhabitants, government structure, and sightseeing tips. Does not cover off-planet locations.
* ]
* '''Brian Stableford''': ''The Dictionary of Science Fiction Places''
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
* '']''
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ], includes several lists of proposed countries
* ]


==Books==
== Related articles ==
* Alberto Manguel & Gianni Guadalupi: '']''. {{ISBN|0-15-626054-9}}
* ]
* Brian Stableford: ''The Dictionary of Science Fiction Places''. Simon & Schuster, 1999. {{ISBN|978-0684849584}}
* ]

* ]
== References ==
* ]
{{reflist}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]


==External links==
{{Commonscat-inline|Fictional countries}}


] {{Fictional countries}}
{{Fiction writing}}
]
{{Fiction navbox}}


]
]
]
]
]
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Latest revision as of 20:32, 2 December 2024

Country that exists only in fiction and not in reality For unrecognised countries that do not claim to be fictional, see Micronation.
Map of the Land of Oz, the fictional country in the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Fictitious countries from the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four

A fictional country is a country that is made up for fictional stories, and does not exist in real life, or one that people believe in without proof. Sailors have always mistaken low clouds for land masses, and in later times this was given the name Dutch capes. Other fictional lands appear most commonly as settings or subjects of myth, literature, film, or video games. They may also be used for technical reasons in actual reality for use in the development of specifications, such as the fictional country of Bookland, which is used to allow European Article Number "country" codes 978 and 979 to be used for ISBNs assigned to books, and code 977 to be assigned for use for ISSN numbers on magazines and other periodicals. Also, the ISO 3166 country code "ZZ" is reserved as a fictional country code.

Fictional countries appear commonly in stories of early science fiction (or scientific romance). Such countries supposedly form part of the normal Earth landscape, although not located in a normal atlas. Later similar tales often took place on fictional planets.

In Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, the protagonist, Lemuel Gulliver, visited various strange places. Edgar Rice Burroughs placed the adventures of Tarzan in areas in Africa that, at the time, remained mostly unknown to the West and to the East. Isolated islands with strange creatures and/or customs enjoyed great popularity in these authors' times. By the 19th century, when Western explorers had surveyed most of the Earth's surface, this option was lost to Western culture. Thereafter, fictional utopian and dystopian societies tended to spring up on other planets or in space, whether in human colonies or in alien societies originating elsewhere. Fictional countries can also be used in stories set in a distant future, with other political borders than today.

Superhero and secret agent comics and some thrillers also use fictional countries on Earth as backdrops. Most of these countries exist only for a single story, a TV-series episode or an issue of a comic book. There are notable exceptions where fictional countries appear as recurring plot elements, such as: Qumar and Equatorial Kundu (The West Wing); Latveria (Marvel Comics); and Qurac and Bialya (DC Comics).

Purposes

Fictional countries often deliberately resemble or even represent some real-world country or present a utopia or dystopia for commentary. Variants of the country's name sometimes make it clear what country they really have in mind. By using a fictional country instead of a real one, authors can exercise greater freedom in creating characters, events, and settings, while at the same time presenting a vaguely familiar locale that readers can recognize. A fictional country leaves the author unburdened by the restraints of a real nation's actual history, politics, and culture, and can thus allow for greater scope in plot construction and be exempt from criticism for vilifying an actual nation, political party, or people. The fictional Tomania (a parody of Nazi Germany named after ptomaine) serves as a setting for Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator and skewers a régime infamous for religious bigotry, militarism, racism, diplomatic bullying, and violations of civil liberties.

Charlie Chaplin mocks Adolf Hitler in a setting that ridicules Nazi Germany and its leadership, and uses double-crosses as mockery of the Nazi swastika.

Fictional countries are also invented for the purpose of military training scenarios, e.g. the group of islands around Hawaii were assigned the names Blueland and Orangeland in the international maritime exercise, RIMPAC 98.

In survey research

Fictional countries have been created for polling purposes. When polled in April 2004, 8% of British people believed that the country of Luvania would soon join the European Union. In the 1989 General Social Survey, U.S. respondents were asked to rate the social status of people of "Wisian" background, a fictional national heritage. While a majority of respondents said they could not place the Wisians in the U.S. social hierarchy, those who did ranked their status as quite low, giving an average of 4.12 on a 9-point scale, where 9 was the highest social standing. "Once you let the Wisians in, the neighborhood goes to pot", quipped Time magazine.

Legendary countries

Countries from stories, myths, legends, that some believe to exist, or to have existed at some point:

See also

Books

References

  1. Schott's Quintessential Miscellany, p.119, ISBN 978-1-4088-1577-9
  2. "Navy News - News Desk - News - HMS Edinburgh works out in the Pacific". www.navynews.co.uk. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
  3. "RIMPAC simulates conflict between divided countries - Asian Political News". findarticles.com. August 3, 1998. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
  4. "Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC)". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
  5. Haines, Lester (April 29, 2004). "Brits welcome Luvania to EU". The Register.
  6. "Bias Thrives In a Vacuum". The New York Times. January 8, 1992.
  7. "American Notes: Ethnicity". Time. January 20, 1992. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012.

External links

Media related to Fictional countries at Wikimedia Commons

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