Sources & borders policy

Data

• Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:10m and 1:110m Admin 0 countries (public domain).
• Capitals: Natural Earth populated places.
• Population and area: World Bank World Development Indicators (SP.POP.TOTL, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2), latest available year. Areas for Kosovo and Taiwan are calculated from Natural Earth boundaries; Vatican City uses the commonly cited 0.44 km².

Land neighbors

We count two countries as neighbors when their land boundaries touch in Natural Earth's 1:10m data. Overseas territories count for the country that governs them (French Guiana makes France a neighbor of Brazil and Suriname). Tiny shared boundaries and maritime borders may be missed.

Disputed borders

Natural Earth shows boundaries as they are administered on the ground ("de facto"). Showing a line is not a statement about who should control a territory. Where a capital or boundary is disputed we say so on the country's page.

Data compiled November 9, 2026.