The small nation of Nauru is the smallest island country in the world. The Marshall Islands comprises 29 coral atolls with more than 1,000 islands and islets just north of the equator. So unexplored is this Pacific paradise, the Marshall Islands page of Lonely Planet is empty. Kiribati is the third Pacific island nation on this list.
Composed of 33 islands, the country has a total land area of 800 km2 (310 square miles) but, amazingly, it extends over 3.5 million km2 (1,350,000 square miles) of ocean. Guinea-Bissau, on the west coast of Africa, borders Senegal to the north, Guinea to the east and south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It became independent in 1974, after years of guerrilla warfare against the Portuguese colonialists. Solomon Islands comprises six major islands and more than 900 smaller islands spread across the Pacific Ocean.
The country has a tremendously turbulent history ranging from fierce fighting during World War II to intense ethnic violence in the late 90s and early 2000s, but now it is calmer and more open to tourism. After more than 20 coups or coup attempts, this island nation is finally gaining some stability and establishing tourist infrastructure. As it stands, it remains one of the least visited countries in the world. Comoros, a collection of four main islands and several smaller ones, is located in the Indian Ocean, off the east coast of Africa.
The country has a complex ethnic mix that includes native Africans, Malay immigrants and descendants of Arab merchants. Interestingly, Comoros is the only state with membership in the African Union, La Francophonie, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and the Indian Ocean Commission. Its majority religion is Islam and the official languages are Comorian, Arabic and. The two main islands and their smaller islets remained uninhabited until Portuguese explorers discovered them in the 15th century.
The islands were gradually colonized by Portugal throughout the 16th century and served as a commercial center for the slave trade in the Atlantic. From Niue to Sao Tome and Principe, we bring you the most recent list of the least visited countries in the world (and why you should visit them). Having been closed to the outside world for decades, Turkmenistan is the least explored and yet one of the most intriguing of the Central Asian “Stan” countries. The land is more than 80% desert, and traditional Turkmen life (a citizen of Turkmenistan) is nomadic.
What to see? The city of Sao Tome has attractive Portuguese architecture, but most people come here to dive, fish and watch world-class whales between July and October. Another main attraction is Obo National Park, where you can climb the 2,024-meter Pico de Sao Tome, hike to a secluded waterfall, or try to see as many of the island's 109 species of orchids as you can. The small and rocky island nation is situated in the middle of the South Pacific. With only 260 square kilometers and around 1000 inhabitants, Niue may be one of the largest coral atoll islands, but it is also one of the smallest countries in the world.
Despite being the seventeenth largest nation in the world, Libya has had more than its fair share of problems. Civil war has ravaged the nation, and clashes are frequent throughout the country, with attacks by armed groups taking place almost anywhere and affecting even hotels that receive tourists. Recently, Daesh has also arrived. Libya's climate can be as imposing as violent threats, as 90% of the earth is covered by an extremely dry desert.
Only the northern regions, in the Mediterranean Sea, enjoy a milder climate. For those tourists who dare to challenge environmental and political conditions, they will be rewarded with an incredible historical heritage. What to see? Leptis Magna, east of Tripoli, was an important city of the Roman Empire, and to this day it houses some of the most outstanding and preserved Roman ruins. Similarly, Cyrene was founded by the Greeks in 630 BC.
C., and it is still an archaeological site near the Libyan city of Shahhat. With over 1000 individual islands and islets, the Marshall Islands is full of expert fishermen and boaters. Doing a lot to protect the ocean, the Marshall Islands has even established the largest shark sanctuary in the world. The country is especially friendly to Americans, since the US dollar is the national currency.
An extremely geographically isolated nation, Kiribati's landmass is 800 square kilometers, but the islands are scattered over 3.5 million square kilometers. The nation is extremely intact, thanks to how remote and inaccessible the islands are. Described as a “culture without commodities,” the locals are extremely friendly and welcoming, and offer interesting cultural practices for tourists to observe and participate in. One of the most iconic aspects of culture is the Kiribati dance, which is characterized by small movements, and especially by sudden movements of the head, similar to birds.
The flag of Kiribati even features a frigate bird, referring to the bird-like dance. What to see? Most people skip Tawara, the capital of Kiribati, as it is not the prettiest city. Head to the sandy beaches and dive. Kiribati is known as the largest coral atoll in the world and is a dream destination for divers.
Bird watching is also popular, especially on Christmas Island, as millions of birds come here every year. With a great diversity of marine life, Tuvalu is the best diving and snorkeling vacation. There are 9 different coral atolls, numerous coral reefs, lagoons and small islands to spend days or even weeks exploring. Once a tourist is ready for the mainland, they can enjoy a distinct, friendly and protected Polynesian culture with unique arts, crafts, music, dance and stories.
Numerous travel warnings are in effect for Somalia due to armed conflicts between the government and violent factions (including al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab). But before the civil wars began in the early 1990s, Somalia was extremely welcoming to tourists. Immersed in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, this small island nation covers less than 21 square kilometers and is home to less than 10,000 inhabitants. Only one airline serves the country (with a former Boeing 73) and the tourist infrastructure, such as hotels and restaurants, is pathetically minimal.
Freight deliveries are rare and employment is even scarcer. Health care is basic, at best. According to Far & Wide, Tuvalu is the least visited country in the world. This small island nation of just 12,000 people only receives about 2,000 visitors a year.
Like off the beaten path? Discovering things that few have done before? Well, visiting Nauru, the least visited country in the world, might suit you. Nauru is the least visited country on the planet. Let's take a closer look at Nauru. Nauru is located in Micronesia and has a land area of only 21 km2 (8.1 square miles), near Australia in the Pacific Ocean.
It gained its independence only in 1968 and began to raise money a few years after this. How? Nauru had a large population of seagulls that used the island as a nesting place. Their faces help the production of phosphate resources, which are desired by companies that use phosphates to produce fertilizers, etc. The economy skyrocketed and this small island nation went a little crazy with greed, even founding its own country's airline, Nauru Air.
Nauru made a name for itself, as it became known as a large detention camp area for refugees arriving in Australia. Once word got out about this, as well as the poor conditions they were in, Nauru made it very difficult for journalists to enter the country. Why go anywhere Most people who visit Nauru are probably the ones who want to visit every country, those who travel in the Pacific, or those who want something different. Forgetting the current pandemic, otherwise it is quite difficult to get to Nauru.
There is only one airline serving the country; Nauru Air. You can catch a plane to Nauru from Fiji or Australia, and flights are expensive and irregular. This also means that, once there, you have no choice but to wait for the next flight to depart a week later. You will most likely need a visa to visit Nauru and, due to restrictions imposed on journalists, applications can take a lot of time and money.
Last year, the islands worked tirelessly to rebuild and visitors are returning, with the summer months a particularly popular time. Visit Pago Pago, a rustic fishing village that sits in a beautiful natural harbor, or venture to smaller villages where ancient traditions are waiting to be discovered. Unfortunately, the report lacks data from war-torn countries such as Yemen, so I have added an additional list at the bottom with my own ideas of places that few visit. Despite this reality, around 100,000 people visit North Korea every year (although it must be admitted that the vast majority of these tourists come from China).
The least visited nation in Asia, according to UNWTO statistics, Timor-Leste is also one of the newest countries in the world. While you've most likely heard of (and perhaps even visited) islands like Puerto Rico, Aruba, and Jamaica, there's a lot more to take advantage of. The nation has suffered about 20 coups d'état since it gained independence from France in the 1970s, and it is one of the poorest countries in the world, with inadequate transportation and a growing population. Although few roads and limited public transport make it difficult to travel to its jungle covered interior and, since it uses the euro, it means that it can be an expensive place to visit.
Nauru has held the title of the least visited country in the world for many years, but there is also information indicating that Tuvalu is the least visited country in the world. But while the islands stretch across an infinite blue and require considerable effort to reach (visitors fly from Auckland, Sydney, Fiji or Los Angeles), there is a modern atmosphere ever-present in them. It is a great privilege to have been able to visit these places, and I hope I have inspired you to perhaps consider visiting some of these as well. That said, it's probably best to stay in other African countries if safaris are your thing.
Timor-Leste is relatively new, as far as countries are concerned, having gained independence from Indonesia in 2002. .
