Top 10 Countries with the Most Fascinating Cultures and Histories

The Top Ten
1 China China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of more than 1.4 billion. China spans five geographical time zones and borders 14 countries, the second most of any country in the world after Russia. Covering an area... read more

Despite the fact that most of them are communists, and the country itself is as well, it doesn't make the culture any less gorgeous and beautiful. The landscapes are amazing, and my favorite part has to be the kimonos. They are absolutely breathtaking to look at. The Chinese women look so beautiful in such golden-trimmed clothing.

The roofs, designed for shade, are just something that you'd want to stay under forever. The scenery in the photographs of the women in kimonos, the lakes, ponds, mountains, and of course, The Great Wall of China, are all mesmerizing. They've made this culture and country so amazingly outstanding, and I hope they know that. This deserves the number one spot.

2 Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey... read more

Greece is a classic civilization from which we all still learn to this day. From their beliefs and government system to their mathematicians and scientists, who've discovered some of the most important and basic concepts that we still build upon today. Their ancient history is absolutely fascinating!

Vibrant culture, fascinating history. Truly the most wonderful Western civilization.

In my opinion, Greece is one of the most artistic countries.

3 India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country (with over 1.2 billion people), and the most populous democracy in the world. Its capital is New Delhi. Some other major cities are Mumbai, Chennai, and Ahemdabad... read more

India and Indian people have contributed significantly to global civilization. Without ancient India, the world would probably not be what it is today. There is a plethora of unique architecture from various time periods and cultures, including the Taj Mahal and the palaces of Rajasthan. India also boasts a great cuisine, which is the most accommodating to vegetarians and all dietary preferences.

On that note, one admirable aspect of India is the love and respect its culture gives to animals, especially those that are important to human society, like cows (i.e., dairy and agriculture). India has also contributed a lot to the sciences, one example being the modern decimal numeral system that is first known to have been used here and then transmitted to Arab traders (hence the Hindu-Arabic numeral system). The importance and efficiency of this numeral system for modern science cannot be overstated.

4 Italy Italy (Italian: Repubblica Italiana) is a sovereign state and unitary parliamentary republic in south-central Europe.

Italy covers an area of 301,338 km². With almost 62 million inhabitants, it is the third most populous EU member state. Located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy shares... read more

Italy is a beautiful place, with a very unique culture. Not only is it important today, but it was also the center of the Roman Empire and Republic. Florence, Rome, and Venice - Italy boasts some of the greatest cities in the world!

I will not pretend to know much about Italy, but it's a place I've always wanted to go to, just to get a peek at Venice!

Italian is one of the most beautiful languages in the world! And Florence is the true City of Love.

5 Egypt Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip (Palestine) and Israel to the northeast,... read more

This culture has been alive for a long time, and there is so much interest that can be found in Egyptian culture. Plus, there are so many ancient relics that have been found. I personally find this culture incredibly interesting.

In social studies, I always yawn whenever we talk about America, India, and more. But when Egypt comes up, I'm in a whole new world. I fell in love with the actual interesting features such as pyramids, magic, pharaohs, and more. It's so ancient and cool at the same time.

Ancient Egypt is one of the most interesting subjects I've ever been taught in class. It has such a rich past that's full of mystery.

6 England England, previously the Kingdom of England, is a constituent country of the United Kingdom along with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

England can trace its history as far back as the 10th century, but modern England didn't start till the Norman Invasion of 1066. In 1535, England annexed... read more

England has such rich history. It's an amazing place! It's the best because of the people - their senses of humour are the best in the world.

England has the greatest European culture! The British gave us the biggest empire, lots of modern technology, fashion, science, laws, music, film, artists, and more. They have produced absolutely the greatest literature! The British have never capitulated. They buried four empires, and the greatest modern country, the USA, is also descended from the British.

P.S. How can this Russian person be ranked higher than England? Are Kremlin trolls now even on TopTens?

7 Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia in the Pacific Ocean. It lies off the eastern coast of the Asia Mainland (east of China, Korea, Russia) and stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and near Taiwan in the southwest... read more

The island nation of Japan has remained aloof from the world through centuries of separation and isolationist policies. With the rise of modern technology and international commerce, Japan has created a unique mix of tradition that you won't find anywhere else, combined with the cutting edge of the modern. No country is as unique, or has a history so steeped in legend that at certain points in history, they become inseparable.

Japanese culture, along with many other Asian cultures, is among the oldest and most well-developed on the planet. Everything, from their weapons to their clothes, and even their language, is extremely refined, graceful, and amazing.

8 Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation (RF), is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world by area, covering over 17,125,191 square kilometres (6,612,073 sq mi), and encompassing one-eighth of Earth's inhabitable landmass. Russia extends across... read more

I am Chinese and I love Russian literature. They have very talented writers. I also love their beautiful Eastern Orthodox cathedrals.

Their history in dance and other forms of art has always captivated my attention!

Soviet history is particularly interesting, in my opinion. But the more obscure regions of Russia, like Kaliningrad or Tannu-Tuva, are the most interesting.

9 Ireland Formed in 1916 after the Easter uprising, Ireland is a small country with a population of roughly 5 million.

Incredible culture! Even 800 years of British domination didn't destroy it all!

10 France France, officially the French Republic, is a sovereign state comprising territory in western Europe and several overseas regions and territories. The European part of France, called metropolitan France, extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to... read more

Europe is definitely the most culturally diverse place on the planet. Cultures from Europe have had more influence in the world than cultures from any other continent by far, and France has probably had the most influential and beautiful culture in Europe.

France is a very cool place. I've always wanted to go. My best friend, Emma, got to visit there when the Make-A-Wish Foundation helped her. I won't give you her whole life story, but it was pretty cool and helps me remember her.

Sure, France is well known and so famous that many people engage in French bashing out of jealousy. The more they play this game, the stronger France becomes.

The Contenders
11 Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea, and shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest; it is also... read more

Israel is considered God's chosen people. According to belief, God created the world and gave the Hebrew people the land that everyone is still fighting over. To me and many others, this makes Israel number one. The Jewish people have escaped and been unnaturally persecuted by this world.

I love Israel! They have great fragrant oils, symbolic traditions, martial arts, and food. Israel is truly blessed.

Israel is the home of Jerusalem, and even for people who are not religious, it's still amazing to learn about the birthplace of the three major religions of the world.

12 Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and covers the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland is the most mountainous, and least densely populated country in the United Kingdom.

I'll admit, this is mostly because I am in love with the Scottish accent, but since seeing Brave, I have been super fascinated by the stories and mystical places the movie was based on.

Scotland used to be a monarchy, which is interesting. It also has interesting food, and the scenery is beautiful. The accent is also awesome.

I voted for this one. To make history, I hope Scotland becomes independent in the future!

13 Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a federal republic located in North America. The country is located between the U.S. and Central America, and is known for its Pacific and Gulf of Mexico beaches and its diverse landscape of mountains, deserts, and jungles.

Mexico, home of the tomato, corn, chile peppers, avocado, cacao, and vanilla, is native to the region and has given these foods to the world. It has some of the best-selling beer brands (Corona, Dos Equis, etc.), tequila, tacos, Dia de los Muertos, and had the first university in the Americas. It was home to some of the most advanced ancient civilizations and a powerful city-state as the Viceroyalty of New Spain, overseeing vast global territories from Asia-Pacific to North America and the Caribbean.

Today, Mexico is the largest media and content producer in the Spanish-speaking world, one of the largest producers of Spanish language pop/contemporary musicians and international artists, and the largest Spanish book publisher. It is the second largest economy in Latin America and the most populous Spanish-speaking country.

14 Germany Germany was formally united in 1871 under the initiative of Bismarck with King Wilhelm of Prussia as emperor. The previous 'Holy Roman Empire', basically a continuation of the empire of Charlemagne/Karl der Grosse was dissolved in 1806... read more

As a German, I usually speak negatively about my country, but when it comes to history, I must admit that Germany has one of the most interesting ones. Our history begins with the Holy Roman Empire (Of German Nation), moves through the German Confederation to the Weimar Republic, and then to the Third Reich.

However, in terms of culture, Germany isn't that interesting in my opinion. Most things people consider as "German Culture" are actually Bavarian. So, there is that.

15 Iran Iran, also known as Persia, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a sovereign state in Western Asia. The capital city is Teheran and the major city is also Tehran. The country's official language is Persian... read more

A country with thousands of years of continuous history, Iran boasts glorious architectural and musical traditions, and has much to offer to foreigners. It is a country that has survived dozens of invaders and continues to exist as a single state today, from the first Elamite empire all the way to the modern Shahdom, and then the Republic.

Iran stands as unmatched today as it did in 510 BC, 10 AD, 300 AD, 1000 AD, 1750, and many other time periods where it dominated the Near East with a highly refined and trained military. It is one of the few countries to never be colonized and is one of the most authentic and most understudied countries that Asia has to offer.

16 Ethiopia Ethiopia, officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a sovereign state located in the Horn of Africa.

Ethiopia is where it all began! It is the most fascinating and beautiful country in the world. Religion, civilization, farming, etc., all have their origins in this ancient and wonderful country!

Ethiopia is the only African country that has never been colonized. It beat Italy in the Battle of Adwa. It has more than 85 languages and cultures. The people of Ethiopia are so warm and welcoming. Ethiopia is a very diverse and beautiful country.

It is the origin of human beings and civilization. Ethiopia is the only country that was never colonized. The warrior people and Christianity, especially the Orthodox tradition, originated from Ethiopia.

17 Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in southwestern Europe with parts of territory in the Atlantic Ocean and across the Mediterranean Sea. The largest part of Spain is situated on the Iberian Peninsula; its territory also includes the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, the Balearic Islands... read more

Spain was another large European global empire besides Britain, spanning the globe from Italy and the Netherlands in Europe to Latin America, which includes both North and South America, as well as Asia (the Philippines, Formosa/Taiwan, etc.), and Africa (Morocco, etc.). Spain gave the world terms like "quixotic" and was the first European country to have a truly global reserve currency: the "piece of 8," using the $$ sign for its denomination. This symbol was later adopted by Americans for the dollar.

Trade words like "cargo" (from "carga") and "embargo" also originate from the Spanish Empire. Today, Spanish is the second most used, spoken, and read language in the world, thanks to the global spread of Spanish culture.

18 United States The United States of America, or the U.S.A. for short, is a federal republic composed of 50 states, 48 of them are contiguous states. There are two other states, Alaska and Hawaii, which are north and south of the contiguous states, respectively. The United States declared its independence from the... read more

Although it is young, the USA has lots of history and has a mix of different cultures from around the world.

America has done a lot in the short history it has been through.

We're a nice country... Hopefully Trump doesn't screw that up.

19 Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of 7,617,930 square kilometres (2,941,300 sq mi), Australia is the largest country by area in Oceania and... read more

Australia is a country where saying "mate" is hip, and it's not only that but also has a neat Aboriginal culture. This place has it all! Not to mention a great art scene!

I strongly believe Australia is the most fascinating and interesting country and continent in the universe.

Rich culture in the indigenous community that can rival many other older civilizations with its unique ways. It may not be as old or have as much recorded history, but it is truly a beautiful culture.

20 United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly shortened to United Kingdom, UK or Britain is a Sovereign State located of the Northwestern coast of Europe. It is a Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy currently lead by Monarch Queen Elizabeth II and its current prime minister is... read more
21 Morocco Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the northwesternmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to the east, and the disputed territory of Western Sahara to the south... read more
22 Wales Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Located on the island of Great Britain, it is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, and the Bristol Channel to the south.

Wales is a lovely country. When I visited Swansea in Wales and went into town, everybody was so caring and helpful.

Wales is beautiful and underrated.

Wales is rich in culture, language, Eisteddfod, and history. It's a beautiful place.

23 Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country in Eastern Africa. At 580,367 square kilometres (224,081 sq mi), Kenya is the world's 48th largest country by area. With a population of more than 47.6 million in the 2019 census, Kenya is the 29th most populous country in the world. Kenya's capital... read more

Great people, great climate... Did you know it was one of the few countries in Africa to have gained independence from colonialists? And yes, using homemade guns, bombs, arrows, and so on, they won! Wonderful history!

The 42 tribes, the different cultures, different languages, and they still manage to run their country using two national languages: English and Kiswahili. The natural resources, the people, everything about Kenya is just fascinating.

African cultures, in general, are always so awesome to learn about, but Kenya, in particular, is the country I have the most knowledge about, so it's the one I'm picking.

24 Sweden Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe.

It borders Norway to the west and Finland to the east, and is connected to Denmark in the southwest by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund. At 450,295 square kilometers (173,860 sq mi), Sweden is the third-largest... read more
25 Denmark Denmark is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the most populous and politically central constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland in the North Atlantic Ocean. European Denmark is the southernmost... read more
8Load More
PSearch List