All countries that start with R: Area, Population & GDP

Explore countries that start with R and delve into their geographical area, population statistics, and GDP figures. Uncover unique insights into these nations, from Russia to Rwanda, in this comprehensive overview with Emily E. Garrison!

Which country starts with R?

There are 6 all countries that start with R:

Country	Continent	Area	Population	GDP (nominal)
Republic of Genoa*	Europe	N/A	650,000	N/A
Republic of Korea (South Korea)	East Asia	100,410 km2	51,966,948	$33,147
Republic of the Congo	Central Africa	342,000 km2	5,677,493	$2,857
Romania	Southeast Europe	238,397 km2	19,051,562	$18,413
Russia	Northern Asia	17,098,246 km2	147,182,123	$13,006
Rwanda	Central Africa	26,338 km2	13,400,541	$1,031

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Detailed information about all countries that start with R

Explore comprehensive details on countries that start with R. From cultural richness to geographical landscapes, find in-depth information on each nation. Discover historical insights, travel tips, and more to enrich your understanding of the diverse countries in this category.

Republic of Genoa*

• Continent: Europe
• Capital: Genoa
• National language: Genoese
• Religion: Roman
• Area: N/A
• Population: 650,000
• Currency: Genoese lira
• GDP (nominal): N/A

The Republic of Genoa was a medieval and early modern maritime republic from the 11th century to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast. During the Late Middle Ages, it was a major commercial power in both the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, it was one of the major financial centers in Europe.

Throughout its history, the Genoese Republic established numerous colonies throughout the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, including Corsica from 1347 to 1768, Monaco, Southern Crimea from 1266 to 1475, and the islands of Lesbos and Chios from the 14th century to 1462 and 1566, respectively. With the arrival of the early modern period, the Republic had lost many of its colonies, and had to shift its interests and focus on banking. This decision would prove successful for Genoa, which remained as one of the hubs of capitalism, with highly developed banks and trading companies.

Genoa was known as “la Superba” (“the Superb one”), “la Dominante” (“The Dominant one”), “la Dominante dei mari” (“the Dominant of the Seas”), and “la Repubblica dei magnifici” (“the Republic of the Magnificents”). From the 11th century to 1528 it was officially known as the “Compagna Communis Ianuensis” and from 1580 as the “Serenìscima Repùbrica de Zêna” (Most Serene Republic of Genoa).

From 1339 until the state’s extinction in 1797, the ruler of the republic was the Doge, originally elected for life, after 1528 was elected for terms of two years. However, in actuality, the Republic was an oligarchy ruled by a small group of merchant families, from whom the doges were selected.

The Genoese navy played a fundamental role in the wealth and power of the Republic over the centuries and its importance was recognized throughout Europe.[4][5] To this day, its legacy, as a key factor in the triumph of the Genoese Republic, is still recognized and its coat of arms is depicted in the flag of the Italian Navy. In 1284, Genoa fought victoriously against the Republic of Pisa in the Battle of Meloria for the dominance over the Tyrrhenian Sea, and it was an eternal rival of Venice for dominance in the Mediterranean Sea.

The republic began when Genoa became a self-governing commune in the 11th century and ended when it was conquered by the French First Republic under Napoleon and replaced with the Ligurian Republic. The Ligurian Republic was annexed by the First French Empire in 1805; its restoration was briefly proclaimed in 1814 following the defeat of Napoleon, but it was ultimately annexed by the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1815.

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Republic of Korea (South Korea)

• Continent: East Asia
• Capital: Seoul
• National language: Korean
• Religion: 56.1% no religion, 27.6% Christianity, 15.5% Buddhism, 0.8% other
• Area: 100,410 km2
• Population: 51,966,948
• Currency: Korean Republic won (₩) (KRW)
• GDP (nominal): $33,147 Per capita

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone. The country’s western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eastern border is defined by the Sea of Japan. 

South Korea claims to be the sole legitimate government of the entire peninsula and adjacent islands. It has a population of 51.96 million, of which roughly half live in the Seoul Capital Area, the fourth most populous metropolitan area in the world. Other major cities include Incheon, Busan, and Daegu.

The Korean Peninsula was inhabited as early as the Lower Paleolithic period. Its first kingdom was noted in Chinese records in the early 7th century BCE. Following the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea into Silla and Balhae in the late 7th century, Korea was ruled by the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) and the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897). 

The succeeding Korean Empire (1897–1910) was annexed in 1910 into the Empire of Japan. Japanese rule ended following Japan’s surrender in World War II, after which Korea was divided into two zones: a northern zone occupied by the Soviet Union, and a southern zone occupied by the United States. After negotiations on reunification failed, the southern zone became the Republic of Korea in August 1948, while the northern zone became the communist Democratic People’s Republic of Korea the following month.

In 1950, a North Korean invasion began the Korean War, which ended in 1953 after extensive fighting involving the American-led United Nations Command and the People’s Volunteer Army from China with Soviet assistance. The war left 3 million Koreans dead and the economy in ruins. The authoritarian First Republic of Korea led by Syngman Rhee was overthrown in the April Revolution of 1960. However, the Second Republic was incompetent as it couldn’t control the revolutionary fervor. 

The May 16 coup of 1961 led by Park Chung Hee put an end to the Second Republic, signaling the start of the Third Republic in 1963. South Korea’s devastated economy began to soar under Park’s leadership, recording the fastest rise in average GDP per capita. Despite lacking natural resources, the nation rapidly developed to become one of the Four Asian Tigers based on international trade and economic globalization, integrating itself within the world economy with export-oriented industrialization. 

The Fourth Republic was established after the October Restoration of 1972, in which Park wielded absolute power. The Yushin Constitution declared that the president could suspend basic human rights and appoint a third of the parliament. Suppression of the opposition and human rights abuse by the government became more severe in this period. 

Even after Park’s assassination in 1979, the authoritarian rule continued in the Fifth Republic led by Chun Doo-hwan, which violently seized power by two coups and brutally suppressing the Gwangju Uprising. The June Democratic Struggle of 1987 ended authoritarian rule, forming the current Sixth Republic. The country is now considered among the most advanced democracies in Asia.

South Korea maintains a unitary presidential republic under the 1987 constitution with a unicameral legislature, the National Assembly. It is considered a regional power and a developed country, with its economy ranked as the world’s thirteenth-largest by nominal GDP and the fourteenth-largest by GDP (PPP). In recent years, the country has been facing an aging population and the lowest fertility rate in the world. 

Its citizens enjoy one of the world’s fastest Internet connection speeds and densest high-speed railway networks. The country is the world’s ninth-largest exporter and ninth-largest importer. Its armed forces are ranked as one of the world’s strongest militaries, with the world’s second-largest standing army by military and paramilitary personnel. In the 21st century, South Korea has been renowned for its globally influential pop culture, particularly in music, TV dramas, and cinema, a phenomenon referred to as the Korean Wave. It is a member of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee, the G20, the IPEF, and the Paris Club.

Republic of the Congo

• Continent: Central Africa
• Capital: Brazzaville
• National language: French
• Religion: 87.1% Christianity, 8.0% no religion, 2.7% traditional faiths, 1.2% Islam, 1.0% others
• Area: 342,000 km2
• Population: 5,677,493
• Currency: Central African CFA franc (XAF)
• GDP (nominal): $2,857 Per capita

The Republic of the Congo (French: République du Congo, Lingala: Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply either Congo or the Congo, is a country located on the western coast of Central Africa to the west of the Congo River. It is bordered to the west by Gabon, to its northwest by Cameroon and its northeast by the Central African Republic, to the southeast by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to its south by the Angolan exclave of Cabinda and to its southwest by the Atlantic Ocean.

The region was dominated by Bantu-speaking tribes at least 3,000 years ago, who built trade links leading into the Congo River basin. Congo was formerly part of the French colony of Equatorial Africa. The Republic of the Congo was established on 28 November 1958 and gained independence from France in 1960. 

It was a Marxist–Leninist state from 1969 to 1992, under the name People’s Republic of the Congo. The country has had multi-party elections since 1992, but a democratically elected government was ousted in the 1997 Republic of the Congo Civil War. President Denis Sassou Nguesso who first came to power in 1979 ruled until 1992 and then again, after his reinstatement.

It is a member of the African Union, the United Nations, La Francophonie, the Economic Community of Central African States, and the Non-Aligned Movement. It has become the 4th-largest oil producer in the Gulf of Guinea, providing the country with a degree of prosperity, with political and economic instability in some areas and unequal distribution of oil revenue nationwide. Its economy is dependent on the oil sector, and economic growth has slowed since the post-2015 drop in oil prices. Christianity is the most widely professed faith in the country.

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Romania

• Continent: Southeast Europe
• Capital: Bucharest
• National language: Romanian
• Religion: 84.8% Christianity, 9.0% refused to declare, 5% unavailable data
• Area: 238,397 km2
• Population: 19,051,562
• Currency: Romanian leu (RON)
• GDP (nominal): $18,413 Per capita

Romania (/roʊˈmeɪniə/ ⓘ roh-MAY-nee-ə; Romanian: România [romɨˈni.a] ⓘ) is a country at the crossroads of Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to the east, and the Black Sea to the southeast. 

It has a predominantly continental climate, and an area of 238,397 km2 (92,046 sq mi), with a population of 19 million people (2023). Romania is the twelfth-largest country in Europe and the sixth-most populous member state of the European Union. Its capital and largest city is Bucharest, followed by Iași, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Constanța, Craiova, Brașov, and Galați.

Europe’s second-longest river, the Danube, rises in Germany’s Black Forest and flows southeast for 2,857 km (1,775 mi), before emptying into Romania’s Danube Delta. The Carpathian Mountains cross Romania from the north to the southwest and include Moldoveanu Peak, at an altitude of 2,544 m (8,346 ft).

Settlement in what is now Romania began in the Lower Paleolithic followed by written records attesting the kingdom of Dacia, its conquest, and subsequent Romanisation by the Roman Empire during late antiquity. The modern Romanian state was formed in 1859 through a personal union of the Danubian Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. The new state, officially named Romania since 1866, gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877. 

During World War I, after declaring its neutrality in 1914, Romania fought together with the Allied Powers from 1916. In the aftermath of the war, Bukovina, Bessarabia, Transylvania, and parts of Banat, Crișana, and Maramureș became part of the Kingdom of Romania. In June–August 1940, as a consequence of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and Second Vienna Award, Romania was compelled to cede Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina to the Soviet Union and Northern Transylvania to Hungary. 

In November 1940, Romania signed the Tripartite Pact and, consequently, in June 1941 entered World War II on the Axis side, fighting against the Soviet Union until August 1944, when it joined the Allies and recovered Northern Transylvania. Following the war and occupation by the Red Army, Romania became a socialist republic and a member of the Warsaw Pact. After the 1989 Revolution, Romania began a transition towards democracy and a market economy.

Romania is a developed country, and an emerging middle power in international affairs. Its economy ranks among the fastest growing in the European Union, being the world’s 44th largest by nominal GDP, and the 36th largest by PPP. Romania experienced rapid economic growth in the early 2000s; its economy is now based predominantly on services. It is a producer and net exporter of cars and electric energy through companies like Automobile Dacia and OMV Petrom. 

The majority of Romania’s population are ethnic Romanians and religiously identify themselves as Eastern Orthodox Christians, speaking Romanian, a Romance language (more specifically Eastern Romance/Balkan Romance). Romania is a member of the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, the Council of Europe, BSEC and WTO.

Russia

• Continent: Northern Asia
• Capital: Moscow
• National language: Russian
• Religion: 61% Christianity, 24% no religion, 9% Islam, 2% other
• Area: 17,098,246 km2
• Population: 147,182,123
• Currency: Ruble (₽) (RUB)
• GDP (nominal): $13,006 Per capita

Russia (Russian: Россия, romanized: Rossiya, [rɐˈsʲijə]), or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world by area, extends across eleven time zones, and shares land boundaries with fourteen countries. It is the world’s ninth-most populous country and Europe’s most populous country. The country’s capital and largest city is Moscow. Saint Petersburg is Russia’s second-largest city and “cultural capital”. Other major urban areas in the country include Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Chelyabinsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Kazan.

The East Slavs emerged as a recognised group in Europe between the 3rd and 8th centuries CE. The first East Slavic state, Kievan Rus’, arose in the 9th century, and in 988, it adopted Orthodox Christianity from the Byzantine Empire. Rus’ ultimately disintegrated, with the Grand Duchy of Moscow growing to become the Tsardom of Russia. By the early 18th century, Russia had vastly expanded through conquest, annexation, and the efforts of Russian explorers, developing into the Russian Empire, which remains the third-largest empire in history. 

However, with the Russian Revolution in 1917, Russia’s monarchic rule was abolished and eventually replaced by the Russian SFSR—the world’s first constitutionally socialist state. Following the Russian Civil War, the Russian SFSR established the Soviet Union with three other Soviet republics, within which it was the largest and principal constituent. 

At the expense of millions of lives, the Soviet Union underwent rapid industrialisation in the 1930s and later played a decisive role for the Allies in World War II by leading large-scale efforts on the Eastern Front. With the onset of the Cold War, it competed with the United States for global ideological influence. The Soviet era of the 20th century saw some of the most significant Russian technological achievements, including the first human-made satellite and the first human expedition into outer space.

In 1991, the Russian SFSR emerged from the dissolution of the Soviet Union as the independent Russian Federation. A new constitution was adopted, which established a federal semi-presidential system. Since the turn of the century, Russia’s political system has been dominated by Vladimir Putin, under whom the country has experienced democratic backsliding and a shift towards authoritarianism. 

Russia has been militarily involved in a number of conflicts in neighbouring states, which have included the internationally unrecognised annexations of Crimea in 2014 from neighbouring Ukraine, followed by the further annexation of four other regions in 2022 during an ongoing invasion.

Internationally, Russia ranks among the lowest in measurements of democracy, human rights and freedom of the press; the country also has high levels of perceived corruption. The Russian economy ranks 11th by nominal GDP, relying heavily on its abundant natural resources. Its mineral and energy sources are the world’s largest, and its figures for oil production and natural gas production rank highly globally. 

The Russian GDP ranks 65th by per capita; Russia possesses the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons and has the third-highest military expenditure. The country is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council; a member state of the G20, SCO, BRICS, APEC, OSCE, and WTO; and the leading member state of post-Soviet organisations such as CIS, CSTO, and EAEU/EEU. Russia is home to 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Rwanda

• Continent: Central Africa
• Capital: Kigali
• National language: Kinyarwanda
• Religion: 93.8% Christianity, 3.0% no religion, 2.2% Islam, 1.0% other
• Area: 26,338 km2
• Population: 13,400,541
• Currency: Rwandan franc (RWF)
• GDP (nominal): $1,031 Per capita

Rwanda (/ruˈɑːndə/ ⓘ roo-AHN-də or /ruːˈændə/ roo-AN-də; Kinyarwanda: u Rwanda [u.ɾɡwaː.nda] ⓘ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

It is highly elevated, giving it the soubriquet “land of a thousand hills”, with its geography dominated by mountains in the west and savanna to the southeast, with numerous lakes throughout the country. The climate is temperate to subtropical, with two rainy seasons and two dry seasons each year. It is the most densely populated mainland African country; among countries larger than 10,000 km2, it is the fifth most densely populated country in the world. Its capital and largest city is Kigali.

Hunter-gatherers settled the territory in the Stone and Iron Ages, followed later by Bantu peoples. The population coalesced first into clans, and then, into kingdoms. In the 15th century, one kingdom, under King Gihanga, managed to incorporate several of its close neighbor territories establishing the Kingdom of Rwanda. 

The Kingdom of Rwanda dominated from the mid-eighteenth century, with the Tutsi kings conquering others militarily, centralising power, and enacting unifying policies. In 1897, Germany colonized Rwanda as part of German East Africa, followed by Belgium, which took control in 1916 during World War I. Both European nations ruled through the Rwandan king and perpetuated a pro-Tutsi policy. The Hutu population revolted in 1959. 

They massacred numerous Tutsi and ultimately established an independent, Hutu-dominated republic in 1962 led by President Grégoire Kayibanda. A 1973 military coup overthrew Kayibanda and brought Juvénal Habyarimana to power, who retained the pro-Hutu policy. The Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) launched a civil war in 1990. Habyarimana was assassinated in April 1994. Social tensions erupted in the Rwandan genocide that spanned one hundred days. The RPF ended the genocide with a military victory in July 1994.

Rwanda has been governed as de facto one-party state by the RPF since 1994 with former commander Paul Kagame as President since 2000. The country has been governed by a series of centralized authoritarian governments since precolonial times. Although Rwanda has low levels of corruption compared with neighbouring countries, it ranks among the lowest in international measurements of government transparency, civil liberties and quality of life. 

The population is young and predominantly rural; Rwanda has one of the youngest populations in the world. Rwandans are drawn from just one cultural and linguistic group, the Banyarwanda. However, within this group there are three subgroups: the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa. The Twa are a forest-dwelling pygmy people and are often considered descendants of Rwanda’s earliest inhabitants. Christianity is the largest religion in the country; the principal and national language is Kinyarwanda, spoken by native Rwandans, with English, French and Swahili serving as additional official foreign languages.

Rwanda’s economy is based mostly on subsistence agriculture. Coffee and tea are the major cash crops in Rwanda to export. Tourism is a fast-growing sector and is now the country’s leading foreign exchange earner. The country is a member of the African Union, the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, COMESA, OIF and the East African Community.

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FAQs about countries that start with R

Have questions about countries that start with R? Our FAQs provide quick answers on diverse topics, including culture, travel essentials, and interesting facts. Navigate through concise and informative responses to satisfy your curiosity about the nations falling under the category of countries that start with R.

Which country starts with the letter R has the largest area?

Out of all the nations whose names commence with the letter ‘R’, Russia stands out as the indisputable giant in terms of geographical expanse, boasting an awe-inspiring land area of 17,098,246 square kilometers. This colossal territory encompasses a vast and diverse landscape, spanning from the frigid Arctic tundra in the north to the temperate forests, sprawling plains, and mountainous regions in the south. 

Which country starts with the letter R has the largest population?

Among the nations whose names commence with the letter ‘R,’ Russia stands out as the most populous, boasting a staggering population of 147,182,123 people. This vast demographic encompasses the diverse and expansive landscapes of the Russian Federation, stretching across Eurasia and encompassing a multitude of ethnicities, cultures, and traditions.

Which country starts with the letter R has the largest GDP (nominal)?

Out of all the nations whose names commence with the letter ‘R,’ the Republic of Genoa stands out as the economic powerhouse, boasting the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in nominal terms. The robust economic performance of the Republic of Genoa is underscored by a noteworthy per capita income of $33,147, reflecting the average income earned by each individual within its borders. 

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Discover the diverse landscapes and economic profiles of countries that start with R. From the vast expanses of Russia to the vibrant cultures of Romania and beyond, this insightful exploration provides a snapshot of the area, population, and GDP of each nation, painting a vivid picture of the R-lettered world.