Countries of the World
Updated: Sep 2
Countries are political and administrative units created and recognised by people. Their borders help organise law, statistics and public services, but ecosystems, catchments, species and cultural landscapes often cross them.
What This Index Covers
This index organises country and area records using traceable international names and codes, then connects them to ecological realms, biomes, bioregions, ecoregions, resources and environmental pressures. It distinguishes geographic description from political recognition and avoids implying a position on disputed status or boundaries.
Browse Resources
Browse the resource areas currently organised under this index. Links can be added as reviewed articles and records are published.
Country and area directory
Browse records alphabetically and by internationally used code.
Ecological context
Connect each record to relevant realms, biomes, bioregions, ecoregions and marine areas.
Resources and pressures
Review sourced information about natural resources, hazards and environmental issues.
Law and governance
Use current official sources for national protections, biosecurity and access requirements.
Cultural and Indigenous context
Recognise that Cultural Countries and custodianship do not necessarily follow state borders.
Evidence and updates
Track source dates, code changes, renamed areas and unresolved gaps.
Read First
Before using these resources for identification, growing, harvesting, conservation, community work or other practical decisions, read:
Political, Statistical and Ecological Boundaries Are Different
Country Names, Territories and Disputed Boundaries
How to Check Current Laws and Local Authorities
Coverage and Evidence
Country lists and codes are maintained for specific administrative or statistical purposes. They do not settle sovereignty, disputed boundaries or cultural authority. Environmental data can be incomplete, out of date or reported at different scales. A national summary cannot confirm a local species, hazard, permission or safe method. Use current government, community and ecological sources for the actual place.
The Earth Resource Map and Learn library are being built progressively. Indexed means that a topic or resource can be connected to its identity, source and broad context; it does not mean that every claim has been verified or localised. Evidence is assessed claim by claim. Where information is missing, uncertain, restricted or location-dependent, that limitation should remain visible.
Last Reviewed
20 August 2026
This date records review of this index-page copy and its resource structure. Individual articles, records, laws, project details and evidence may have different publication and review dates.
Continue Exploring
References
International Organization for Standardization. ISO 3166 country and subdivision codes. https://www.iso.org/iso-3166-country-codes.html
United Nations Statistics Division. Standard country or area codes for statistical use (M49). https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/
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