This list covers 5 countries, ranging alphabetically from “Wales” to “Western Samoa”. These entries share a common thread: places whose names begin with the letter “W”, spanning constituent nations, island territories, and countries that have since changed their names. You’ll find a mix of well-known places and lesser-known ones, each with its own government, capital, and cultural identity.

Countries are political territories with defined borders, their own governments, and populations that share a common national identity. Some countries on this list, like Wales, still exist today with vibrant traditions and distinct languages, while others, like West Germany, are historical names that no longer appear on modern maps. One interesting example is Western Samoa, which simply dropped “Western” from its name in 1997 to become the country now known as Samoa.

Below you’ll find the table with each country’s capital, population, official language, and description.

Country: the name of the country as it’s commonly known, giving you a quick way to identify each entry on the list.

Capital: the city that serves as the seat of government, useful if you’re researching a country’s political or cultural center.

Population: the approximate number of people living in the country, giving you a sense of its size and scale.

Official Language: the language or languages recognized by the government, helpful if you’re planning to visit or communicate with locals.

Description: a short summary of what makes the country notable, so you can quickly understand its history and significance.

Countries

Descriptions