Have you ever wondered how many countries in the world start with the letter L? You might be surprised to learn that there are only nine such countries, and they are all very different from each other. In this article, we will take you on a journey to discover these countries and learn some fascinating facts about them. We will rank them according to their population size in 2023 and explore their geography, culture, history, and economy. Whether you are looking for travel inspiration, trivia knowledge, or just curious about the world, this article is for you.
Top 10 Countries Starting With L
There are 195 countries in the world, but only nine of them start with the letter L. These countries are diverse in their geography, culture, history, and economy. In this article, we will explore some interesting facts about these countries and rank them according to their population size in 2023.
10. Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a small landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland and Austria. It is one of the smallest countries in the world, with an area of only 160 square kilometers and a population of about 39,584 people. Despite its size, Liechtenstein is one of the richest countries in the world, with a high standard of living and a strong financial sector. It is also known for its beautiful alpine scenery, medieval castles, and royal family.
9. Luxembourg
Luxembourg is another small landlocked country in Western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has an area of 2,590 square kilometers and a population of about 654,768 people. Luxembourg is also one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with a high GDP per capita and a prominent role in the European Union. It is a multilingual country, with three official languages: Luxembourgish, French, and German. It is also famous for its historic fortifications, cultural heritage, and wine production.
8. Latvia
Latvia is a Baltic country in Northern Europe, bordered by Estonia, Russia, Belarus, and Lithuania. It has an area of 62,200 square kilometers and a population of about 1,830,211 people. Latvia regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and joined the European Union and NATO in 2004. It is a parliamentary republic with a diverse culture and a rich history. It is also known for its natural beauty, folk traditions, amber jewelry, and Riga, its capital and largest city.
7. Lesotho
Lesotho is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, surrounded by South Africa. It has an area of 30,360 square kilometers and a population of about 2,330,318 people. Lesotho is one of the few countries in the world that has all its land above 1,000 meters in elevation. It is also one of the poorest countries in the world, with a low life expectancy and a high HIV/AIDS prevalence. However, it has a unique culture and a constitutional monarchy that traces its roots to the 19th century.
6. Lithuania
Lithuania is another Baltic country in Northern Europe, bordered by Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and Russia. It has an area of 62,674 square kilometers and a population of about 2,718,352 people. Lithuania was one of the first countries to declare its independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 and joined the European Union and NATO in 2004. It is a parliamentary republic with a vibrant culture and a long history. It is also known for its basketball passion, amber coast, baroque architecture, and Vilnius, its capital and largest city.
5. Lebanon
Lebanon is a Mediterranean country in Western Asia, bordered by Syria and Israel. It has an area of 10,230 square kilometers and a population of about 5,353,930 people. Lebanon is one of the oldest countries in the world, with a civilization dating back to ancient times. It is also one of the most diverse countries in the world, with a mosaic of religions, ethnicities, languages, and cultures. It is famous for its cuisine, music, art, literature, and Beirut, its capital and largest city.
4. Liberia
Liberia is a coastal country in West Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire. It has an area of 96, 320 square kilometers and a population of about 5, 418, 377 people. Liberia is the only country in Africa that never came under colonial rule, as it was founded by freed American slaves in the 19th century. It is also one of the poorest countries in the world, with a low human development index and a history of civil wars and political instability. However, it has a resilient culture and a democratic system that elected Africa’s first female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in 2005.
3. Libya
Libya is a North African country, bordered by Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Algeria, and Tunisia. It has an area of 1, 759, 540 square kilometers and a population of about 6, 888, 388 people. Libya is the fourth-largest country in Africa and has the largest proven oil reserves in the continent. It is also home to ancient civilizations, such as the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, and the Berbers. It is famous for its desert landscapes, archaeological sites, and Tripoli, its capital and largest city.
2. Laos
Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. It has an area of 230, 800 square kilometers and a population of about 7, 633, 779 people. Laos is one of the few communist countries in the world, as it is ruled by the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party since 1975. It is also one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world, with over 49 ethnic groups and four official languages. It is known for its mountainous terrain, Buddhist temples, and Vientiane, its capital and largest city.
1. Latvia
Latvia is the most populous country that starts with the letter L, with an estimated population of about 15,353,930 people in 2023. It is located in Western Asia, along the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Syria and Israel and has a rich and turbulent history that spans thousands of years. It is one of the oldest countries in the world, with a civilization dating back to ancient times. It is also one of the most diverse countries in the world, with a mosaic of religions, ethnicities, languages, and cultures. It is famous for its cuisine, music, art, literature, and Beirut, its capital and largest city.
Conclusion
We have reached the end of our journey to the countries that start with the letter L. We hope you enjoyed learning about these nine countries and their unique characteristics, challenges, and opportunities. They are all worth exploring and learning more about. Which one of them would you like to visit or know more about? Let us know in the comments below. Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more articles like this one.
Most Asked Questions and Answers
Q: Which country that starts with L has the highest GDP per capita?
A: According to the World Bank data for 2020, Luxembourg has the highest GDP per capita among these countries, with $115,915. Liechtenstein is not included in the World Bank data, but it is estimated to have a higher GDP per capita than Luxembourg, with $181,100.
Q: Which country that starts with L has the lowest GDP per capita?
A: According to the World Bank data for 2020, Liberia has the lowest GDP per capita among these countries, with $621.
Q: Which country that starts with L has the largest area?
A: Libya has the largest area among these countries, with 1,759,540 square kilometers. It is also the fourth-largest country in Africa.
Q: Which country that starts with L has the smallest area?
A: Liechtenstein has the smallest area among these countries, with only 160 square kilometers. It is also one of the smallest countries in the world.
Q: Which country that starts with L has the most official languages?
A: Laos has the most official languages among these countries, with four: Lao, French, English, and Hmong. However, there are over 80 languages spoken in Laos.
Q: Which country that starts with L has the least official languages?
A: Libya has the least official languages among these countries, with only one: Arabic. However, there are other languages spoken in Libya, such as Berber, Italian, and English.
Q: Which country that starts with L has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
A: Lebanon has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites among these countries, with five: Anjar, Baalbek, Byblos, Tyre, and Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab).
Q: Which country that starts with L has no UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
A: Lesotho has no UNESCO World Heritage Sites among these countries. However, it has two sites on the tentative list: Thaba-Bosiu Cultural Landscape and Sehlabathebe National Park.
Q: Which country that starts with L has never been colonized by a foreign power?
A: Liberia has never been colonized by a foreign power among these countries. It was founded by freed American