Countries with the most islands 

Research reveals that Sweden is the country with the most islands — and Indonesia comes sixth 

A study by data experts World Meters has found that Sweden is the country with the most islands in the world and 15 times more than “island holiday destination” Indonesia. 

According to the study, the top ten countries with the most islands are: 

1. Sweden

Sweden has the most islands in the world by far. The Scandinavian country has 267,570 islands in total — which is 28,513 more than second-place Norway. 

Sweden may have the most islands, but you may be surprised to learn that only 1,000 of them are inhabited. 

Tourists are able to explore about nine percent of Sweden’s islands, with 24,000 of them being open to the public. This means that as long as you respect the natural environment and private property, you don’t have to ask for the landowner’s permission. 

Sweden’s most famous islands are the Stockholm Archipelago, the Gothenburg Archipelago and the Bohuslän Archipelago.  

2. Norway

As mentioned, Norway comes second in the study. This Scandinavian country has 239,057 islands in total, the most famous of which are the Lofoten Islands.  

The Lofoten Islands are popular with tourists for their milder Arctic Circle climate, vast fish population, aurora borealis during winter and midnight sun during summer. The islands are certified as sustainable holiday destinations, which means tourism has more benefits than negative impacts. 

Norway also attracts tourists to its countless islands in the Western Fjords. This region is known for its rugged landscapes, deep valleys, steep hills, waterfalls and rivers. 

3. Finland

Coming third in the study is another Scandinavian country: Finland. Finland has 178,947 islands, most of which are in the Archipelago Finland region.  

Finland also owns the Aland Islands, which Sweden tried to lay claim to after the First World War. However, in 1921, the League of Nations declared them part of Finland due to the fact they are more physically linked to Finland during winter by frozen seawater. 

549 of the country’s islands are permanently inhabited, and many others are used for recreational purposes. 

4. Canada

After Russia, Canada is the second-largest country by land mass, but while Russia has no islands, Canada has 52,455. This puts it fourth in the countries with the most islands list.  

Three of Canada’s most famous islands are Baffin Island, Ellesmere Island and Victoria Island, all of which are part of the Arctic Archipelago and are in the top ten largest islands in the world. 

5. United States

Taking fifth place in the study is the United States, with its 18,617 islands. 

With more than 2,600 named islands, Alaska is the state that has the most, while Hawaii is the only entirely island state. Consisting of eight large islands and 129 smaller islands, Hawaii spans 4,028 square miles, which is why it has the nickname “Big Island”. 

Some of the United States’ other notable islands include the US Virgin Islands, Martha’s Vineyard, Santa Catalina Island and Amelia Island. 

6. Indonesia

Surprisingly, Indonesia — which is the largest single archipelago in the world — only comes sixth in the study, with its 17,504 islands.  

Indonesia does come first, however, for having the most inhabited islands, with 6,000 of them home to people. Sumatra may be the country’s largest island, but Java is the most populous, as 60 percent of the Indonesian population lives there. 

Borneo, Bali and the Gili Islands are some of Indonesia’s most notable tourist destinations. 

7. Australia

With 8,222 Islands in the Pacific, Indian and Southern oceans and the Coral and Timor seas, Australia takes seventh place.  

The country’s islands vary greatly in size, ranging from small rocks to more than 380 square miles. The largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island, can be found in Australia, and tourists flock there to explore the dunes. Christmas Island is another tourist hotspot. 

8. Philippines

In eighth place is the Philippines, which has 7,641 islands covering an area of 115,830 square miles. 

This renowned archipelago is split into three sections: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Luzon is in the north and is where the capital city, Manila, can be found. Visayas, with its beaches and crystal clear waters, is in the centre, and Mindanao, in the south, is covered in forest. 

9. Japan

Japan comes ninth in the study, with its number of islands totalling 6,852. 

The country’s four main islands are Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kyushu and Honshu. Like the rest of Japan, these islands are largely volcanic and mountainous, with the active volcano Mount Fuji situated on Honshu. 

10. China

According to the research, China has 5,000 islands, which puts it in tenth place.  

Over 90 percent of the country’s islands measure less than a third of a square mile. Sixty percent of them are located in the East China Sea, with 30 percent in the South China Sea and ten percent in the Bohai and Huanghai seas. 

Which countries have the most islands? 

If you’re wondering where the other countries rank, the full results of World Meters’ study are as follows: