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Countries of the World in 1938 Quiz

Name the countries of the world that existed in the year 1938.
Some countries became sovereign mid-1938
Two countries featured are partially recognized states.
Data According to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_in_1938
Use the common English name in use at the time
Quiz by
Jiaozira
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Last updated: June 19, 2020
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First submittedJuly 30, 2016
Times taken91,083
Average score88.2%
Rating4.95
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Show Missing Countries
Asia
Afghanistan
China
Hatay
Iran
Iraq
Japan
Mongolia
Nepal
Saudi Arabia
Siam
Tibet
Turkey
Tuva
Yemen
Europe
Albania
Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
Danzig
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Soviet Union
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Vatican City
Yugoslavia
South America
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
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Ecuador
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela
Oceania
Australia
New Zealand
North America
Canada
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
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Honduras
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United States
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South Africa
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102 Recent Comments
Jiaozira
+20
Level 72
Jun 19, 2020
Edited to add the "Show Missing Countries" feature, fix Finland's borders and grey some European possessions in the Americas and Oceania. Thanks for playing!
Hamburgler
+4
Level 50
Jan 28, 2018
All of them except Danzig, Tuva, and Hatay. I had no idea that those were a thing.
GeoNat
+2
Level 55
Dec 20, 2023
I only knew Tannu Tuva from some HOI4 videos
YLNeptunium
+2
Level 27
Jul 21, 2024
Danzig = Modern Day Gdansk

Tuva = Part of russia i guess

Hatay = Gaven to turkey in WW2

fbhou
+2
Level 63
Sep 16, 2025
Tuva has long been part of China, but occupied by russians/soviets in 1910s. It's now part of Russia, though no official file confirms its separation from China.
Dabossishere
+2
Level 47
Jan 28, 2018
Dang, I should have remembered the name from Indiana Jones The Last Crusade, for Hatay...
TheLastFish
+2
Level 71
Jan 28, 2018
I never saw the "greyness" of South-East Asia that obvious. I am somehow shocked. Although Japan was itself quite imperialistic, from an other (this!) point of view the asian part of WW2 looks more like an anti-imperialistic war for independence.
Corrode
+3
Level 60
Feb 1, 2018
In what way? Asia in WW2 was Japanese imperialism clashing with European imperialism, plus China. It was after the war that the Asian independence movements kicked off.
ChowPizz
+2
Level 39
Jan 28, 2018
Wasn't Iceland still under Danish control at this point?
RedactedChicken
+2
Level 34
Nov 4, 2023
No, it gained sovereign status (Despite being controlled by Denmark) in 1918 with the Danish-Icelandic Act of Union. It pledged neutrality and loyalty to the Danish Throne whilst relying on Denmark for foreign affairs and whatnot, but gained independence after a referendum in the 40's in which the country voted overwhelmingly to form a republic after Nazi occupation of Denmark. See here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish%E2%80%93Icelandic_Act_of_Union
Anzi
+3
Level 68
Jan 28, 2018
I didn’t know Vatican City had been independent for that long. Great quiz, thanks!
IsleAuHaulte
+4
Level 92
Jun 23, 2018
One of Mussolini's social changes was to separate the 1,600 year old grip of the Vatican on Italian politics. He also made the trains run on time. Other than bringing him back to run Amtrak he'd be pretty useless today.
kirbykart
+1
Level 58
Jun 5, 2025
In 1938 it only would have been independent for nine years.
djeedubbeljoe
+1
Level 67
Jan 29, 2018
I don't know how easy it is to get this, but: a "show missings"-button would be useful, like in the "normal" countries of the world quiz. I almost missed the microstates.
lestimian
+4
Level 47
Jan 29, 2018
I feel that Algeria should be colored green when typing in France. Unlike its other colonies, Algeria was in fact an incorporated part of France, with departments like in metropolitan France.

Although I acknowledge we might be getting ourselves on slippery ground once colonies get involved...

CaoMaru
+2
Level 49
May 29, 2018
Yes. I agree. Similar to the way that French Guiana is part of France today.
lucd13
+1
Level 70
Jan 29, 2018
Liechtenstein and Monaco not being on the map threw me off - no excuse, but sadly true. Also, I kept trying NORTH YEMEN, which should have worked. Can you please update? The official names were the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen).
lucd13
+1
Level 70
Jan 29, 2018
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemen#/media/File:Divided_Yemen.svg
Jiaozira
+4
Level 72
Jan 30, 2018
If I could I would put a "show missing countries" button like on the original quiz! Also, North/South Yemen did not exist then, because the division was a part of the Cold War.
Notthat
+7
Level 24
Jan 30, 2018
HOI4 Anyone?
Cosmeas
+1
Level 69
Oct 10, 2022
yes
FelixFromPoland
+1
Level 30
Jul 11, 2025
Tannu what?
yorksguy1865
+2
Level 34
Jan 31, 2018
Great idea for a quiz, got all of them but two!
Lemondance
+1
Level 68
Feb 4, 2018
Missed all the ones after the drop-off in percentages and also Andorra because I'm a big dumb-dumb who can't count properly when keeping track of the small countries.
CaoMaru
+2
Level 49
May 29, 2018
Great quiz. I'd love to see more for other years as well.
CaoMaru
+2
Level 49
May 29, 2018
I'd also love to see the grey bits turn green, when the country is guessed. That way you'd be able to see how much each country controlled, while not having to actually type the territory.
IsleAuHaulte
+1
Level 92
Jun 23, 2018
Anyone else get Tuva because of Richard Feynman?
Kontio100
+3
Level 55
Nov 12, 2018
This has been said before, but map of Finland is not correct. We had Karelia and Petsamo (access to Arctic sea) before Stalin stole those in WWII.
Penguin
+5
Level 49
Dec 24, 2018
got tuva when I type Tuvalu
scambigol
+4
Level 80
Mar 22, 2019
Should the Peru-Ecuador be changed to the one before the war in the 1940s?
Arii78
+2
Level 45
Mar 26, 2019
Love this type of quizz. Also, I'd almost never heard about Tuva, Hatay and Danzig... Glad I do now !
NV1
+1
Level 55
Jul 7, 2020
Danzig was a city in Poland.
Sifhraven
+2
Level 76
Jul 1, 2019
Handnt hear of hatay and tuva before !

Good that a map was included. For present day countries I Dont really need it, but when it goes back in time I am not fully aware what was around at what year. So a map is very helpfull then.

Nerd0921
+3
Level 75
Oct 15, 2019
Enjoyed the quiz. But I found some errors in the map given:

1. Ecuadorian-Peruvian border did not take the shape of modern day until the war of '41 and settlements afterwards. //

2. Commonwealth nations of Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand were de facto independent by this point but had their rights partially held by Westminster until certain bureaucratic processes were made (such as British right to amend kiwi and Canadian constitution) //

+) The Kingdom of Egypt was established in 1922, but it was under permanent British occupation with technically being and client state until 1956 //

+) Iceland did not have diplomatic liberty until Denmark was occupied by the nazis and until their independence was granted in post-war treaties //

3. Danzig was an international territory like Tangiers and LoN Mandates, and was practically controlled by Poland - not really independent

Nerd0921
+1
Level 75
Oct 15, 2019
4. Finno-Soviet border regions of Karjala, Salla, and Petsamo was Finnish before WWII //

5. Colonial Oman and Trucial States division not shown //

6. Colonial border of French Pondicherry and British Raj not shown //

7. Inaccurate shape of Northern German-Polish border

Sorry, I cannot use paragraph breaks in jetpunk apparently...

Jiaozira
+2
Level 72
Oct 15, 2019
All of my data is based on the Wikipedia article in the description. The borders are in line with the map included in said article, although I do agree the Finnish border is a little inaccurate. I tried adding French Pondicherry but it was so small on the map that I left it. Canada was not fully independent, technically, until 1982 when we made our constitution but I think everyone can agree we were a country before then.
Vajmar
+3
Level 64
Mar 19, 2021
Also Yugo borders are wrong, Istria and Zara were a part of Italian Kingdom, and also sakhalin was not fully controlled by the Soviets.

The aforementioned article does not include a map. Or has since removed it because of inaccuracies.

littleman
+2
Level 56
Dec 15, 2019
I surprisingly got Hatay but not Tuva rip
regalragabash
+3
Level 37
Jan 4, 2020
Got Tuva but not Hatay...
Marvel072506
+3
Level 45
Jan 22, 2020
South Africa. I was literally thinking, "What's a southern African country?" It was South Africa. smh.
bigbird54
+2
Level 49
Mar 2, 2020
a black dot to show the super small ones such as Vatican City, San Marino, Andorra, etc. would make it easier, they are the ones I missed
JackintheBox
+4
Level 82
Apr 1, 2020
Great quiz, but why is French Guiana in yellow but British and Dutch Guianas in grey? French Guiana, like British Guiana and Dutch Suriname, was a colony in 1938 and not yet an overseas department.
JackintheBox
+4
Level 82
Jul 27, 2020
Thanks for the update!
Jiaozira
+3
Level 72
Jul 27, 2020
You are very welcome!
ooftownroad
+1
Level 70
Apr 22, 2020
great quiz, but can you use the gray?
markasol
+4
Level 79
Apr 22, 2020
hmmm wasn't Newfoundland a separate dominion like Canada? Tuva was not recognised as independent by anyone but its neighbours.... and by the time Hatay was 'independent' under that name the Anschluss had happened so Austria should not be listed....
Jiaozira
+5
Level 72
Apr 22, 2020
Newfoundland's dominion status was revoked by 1938 due to poor governance. As for Hatay and Tannu Tuva, I'm going off of what my source, Wikipedia, has listed.
markasol
+4
Level 79
Apr 22, 2020
hehe I was looking at Wikipedia too! Tuva was like South Ossetia (or 5 or 6 others) today - self-governing but with no widespread recognition and effectively under Russian control. Both Hatay and Austria were technically independent in 1938 yes, but not simultaneously! Hatay's independence dated from September, 6 months after Austria was swallowed up by Germany. Also, as far as I was aware, Iceland was part of the Danish crown, albeit with autonomy, until WW2 - so like Greenland is today.
Jiaozira
+3
Level 72
Apr 22, 2020
I guess that is a flaw then, where I cannot make a map that properly shows all of the countries that were independent in 1938 haha (too much happened that year and all). For sure some of these countries are debatable, whether or not they should be included. Tibet also was unrecognised, for example. No problem, I think it's important to reply to as many comments as I can, although I do miss a few. Thanks for your insight :)
markasol
+4
Level 79
Apr 22, 2020
Thanks for answering by the way so few quizmasters ever do!
NV1
+2
Level 55
Jun 12, 2020
All of them except Tuva and Hatay.
JesseFromThe6
+2
Level 70
Aug 2, 2020
I like the idea of this quiz and appreciate the amount of work it took, but the criteria confuse me. There appear, to me, to be inconsistencies.

Why is the puppet state of Tuva included but not the puppet state of Manchukuo?

Jiaozira
+3
Level 72
Aug 5, 2020
It is completely due to the level of sovereignty. States such as Tibet and Tannu Tuva had little recognition, but they still effectively existed as sovereign nations. I did not come up with the list myself, my source is in the caveat atop the page, but I agree with what was included/excluded.
TomatosRaafatos
+2
Level 76
Aug 11, 2020
Maybe be generous and accept "Alexandretta" for Hatay? The same territory was known as the Sanjak of Alexendretta for a while.
EvanAviator
+2
Level 61
Feb 5, 2021
Alaska and Hawaii were U.S. territories so shouldn't they be in white like the British ones?
LuigiDood227
+1
Level 71
Feb 16, 2021
Is it just me or does Finland look a little bit too fat
Jiaozira
+2
Level 72
Feb 16, 2021
These are pre-WWII Finnish borders.
driehoek25
+2
Level 69
May 21, 2021
Tanna what?
Rockett7
+1
Level 71
May 21, 2021
The only way I was able to get Hatay was Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Splodgylodgyy
+2
Level 65
May 29, 2021
The only reason i got tuva was because i guessed tuvalu lol
CanadaMonarchist
+1
Level 86
Oct 27, 2021
Good quiz, but you need to fix the Peru-Ecuador border in regard that it only was ceded in 1941, and Newfoundland enjoyed dominion status same as Canada. Also, Iceland was not independent and if Egypt is listed as independent Oman should be as well.

Will rate higher after these fixes

Jiaozira
+2
Level 72
Oct 27, 2021
According to Wikipedia, the border as of 1936 was "was very similar to that established by the Rio de Janeiro Protocol 5 years later" (which is the same as the modern border). Ecuador claimed much more territory prior to that, but it didn't control the claimed territory.

Newfoundland lost its status as a dominion in 1934, after going bankrupt during the Depression. While Iceland was associated with Denmark and shared a monarch, Iceland was widely recognised as a sovereign state. There was British influence in Egypt, but from 1936 they only had a military presence and Egypt was its own kingdom, unlike Oman which remained a British Protectorate straight through until 1970. Therefore I will not change these countries.

TonyxX
+4
Level 59
Jan 20, 2022
the italian-yugoslavian border is wrong
bishu
+1
Level 29
Feb 10, 2022
maybe czechloslovakia should be accepted? some people say it that way
LuigiDood227
+2
Level 71
Mar 29, 2022
There shouldn't be a border between Eritrea/Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia, as it was still in Italy's colonial empire.
Saftra
+1
Level 51
Apr 25, 2022
China was in cliques
Kingsfisher
+1
Level 69
May 30, 2022
what about the borders of Tuva? They are absolutely wrong
vasilismastro
+1
Level 70
Aug 22, 2022
Hearts of Iron players:
dogmeat
+1
Level 69
Oct 13, 2022
Tonga should be included. It was never colonised. It did enter into a protection treaty with the UK in 1900 but it continued to set all domestic and foreign policy and retained its monarchy.

It is the only south pacific nation to have always retained its independence.

It was far more independent than Tuva or Hatay and no less so than e.g. Mongolia which also had a protection agreement (with USSR) and in reality did exactly what the Soviets told them to.

Rosik1939
+1
Level 55
Oct 16, 2022
1. Bhutan was independent in 1938

2. Iceland got independence in 1940

3. Hatay wasn't independent

RussiaIsChunk
+2
Level 45
Dec 8, 2022
Shouldn't Italy have Istria?
heyvischan
+1
Level 53
Dec 12, 2022
I would like to thank my HOI4 addiction for this 100%.
Chad
+1
Level 65
Dec 14, 2022
Why is the Japanese occupation of Tianjin greyed out, unlike the rest of the occupied territories in 1938?

Was Tianjin formally annexed to Japan?

Chad
+1
Level 65
Dec 20, 2022
Wouldn’t Alaska and Hawaii both be greyed out like the Philippines, having not yet been incorporated as states?
SirPhilippines
+1
Level 73
Mar 22, 2023
Again, HOI4 player, but wasn't China split into different cliques until after WW2 when the communists and Kuomintang battled it out?
CambodianQuizzer
+2
Level 77
Sep 26, 2024
Yes, but they weren't officially recognized. (Thank goodness! Every time I play HOI4, China is always messed up!)
australian195
+1
Level 35
Jun 5, 2023
got all but Danzig, Tuva and Hatay
australian195
+1
Level 35
Jun 5, 2023
2nd try 4:30 minutes it took to put in all of them. i think you should shorten the time limit to 5 minutes to make it a bit harder
RedactedChicken
+1
Level 34
Nov 4, 2023
Iceland is on this map, yet it only gained independence in 1944. Am I missing something?

Nevermind, read your earlier comment on someone else's post.

Wistful
+1
Level 72
Jan 5, 2024
At the time, the Southern Cameroons was a British Mandate. It's a minor thing since all the colonies are greyed out anyway, but it'd be nice to have accurate borders.
ZachBeth
+1
Level 73
Mar 17, 2024
I found that PRC Israel accepted for China. Butthat's not the case in history. PRC was founded in 1949, and in 1938 the official name of China was Republic of China (ROC, whose government fled to Taiwan in 1949 and now we call PRC as China and ROC as "Taiwan"). So please stop accepting PRC as a proper answer for China. Use ROC instead.
Jiaozira
+1
Level 72
Mar 18, 2024
It wasn't a concious decision, PRC is a default type-in when you use China as an answer.
SARVEII
+1
Level 62
Mar 29, 2024
In 1938 Ethiopia was part of the Italian East Africa (AOI) colony, the map is wrong in that part
SonyVondern
+1
Level 75
Oct 9, 2024
Tuva mentioned! It's a great day for me!
Thomiqq
+1
Level 46
May 17, 2025
Thanks hoi4
OskarekIRudi
+1
Level 17
May 27, 2025
Czemu nie zalicza Gdańsk. Jestem Polakiem
Stickmanz
+1
Level 38
May 27, 2025
74 out of 76. The only two I missed were the ones that practically nobody got.
AntimatterYT
+1
Level 55
Jul 2, 2025
i don't know hatay was independent in 1938,but still i know the name of that place
Redghost999
+2
Level 21
Jul 7, 2025
"Tannu-what..?"

"Turkiye wants Hatay back!"

"Why die for Danzig?"

Polen
+1
Level 67
Oct 16, 2025
Weren't Newfoundland, Manchukuo, and Mengjiang independent in 1938?
Jiaozira
+1
Level 72
Oct 16, 2025
Manchukuo is considered under Japanese control for this quiz. Newfoundland was an independent dominion for a short time, but it lost much of its autonomy after going bankrupt during the Great Depression.
EnlightWolif
+1
Level 51
Oct 25, 2025
Thought SanMar and Vati were taken by Mussolini
cahcd
+1
Level 20
Dec 24, 2025
mussolini actually founded the vatican
FatherHolstein
+1
Level 49
Oct 31, 2025
I know all of this because of HOI4
eurotec
+1
Level 56
Dec 2, 2025
I only missed Tuva. I was able to guess Hatay though! (but I don't know if that counts since I'm from Turkey...) Great quiz.
cahcd
+1
Level 20
Dec 24, 2025
iceland was NOT independent. it roughly had the same status as greenland does today.
cahcd
+1
Level 20
Dec 24, 2025
the map is also wrong for south america
Jiaozira
+1
Level 72
Dec 24, 2025
How exactly?
omersimsek
+1
Level 33
Feb 3, 2026
did saudi family even existed in that days
Jiaozira
+1
Level 72
Feb 3, 2026
Yes. Saudi Arabia was led by Ibn Saud.
mjthedinarwhal
+1
Level 63
Feb 26, 2026
smaller countries are not highlighted at all; shouldn't really need to use the "show missing countries" feature for this at all if that were fixed.
Jiaozira
+1
Level 72
Feb 26, 2026
I intended to make this quiz in a similar style to the official countries of the world quiz.
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