The world boasts nearly 200 nations, each with its own quirks. But what about the quirks they don’t have? In this roundup of 10 countries missing unexpected elements, we’ll travel the globe to uncover the surprising absences that many assume are universal.
10 Countries Missing: A Quick Tour of Unusual Absences
10 No Army
War seems to be a constant backdrop across the planet, with battles, invasions, and daily loss of life making military forces appear indispensable. Governments are traditionally expected to field armies, navies, or, in Japan’s case, a self‑defence force, to safeguard citizens.
Diverting vast sums of money toward weaponry often means fewer resources for schools, hospitals, and cultural projects. While some view it as a necessary evil, many wonder if the budget could be better spent elsewhere.
Costa Rica broke the mold back in 1948 when President José Figueres Ferrer amended the constitution to abolish the standing army. The funds formerly earmarked for troops were redirected to education, health, culture, and a stronger police service.
That doesn’t mean the nation is without challenges—border tensions with Nicaragua and a north‑south drug corridor persist. Still, the decision to go army‑free places Costa Rica among more than twenty countries that have chosen peace over a traditional military.
9 No Illegal Drugs
While Canada and many U.S. states are softening their stance on cannabis, and the Netherlands is famed for its coffee‑shop culture, the most daring drug policy belongs to Portugal.
In 2001 Portugal took the radical step of decriminalising *all* illicit substances—including heroin and cocaine—treating drug misuse as a health issue rather than a criminal offence.
The results have been striking: overdose deaths in Portugal hover around three per million, a stark contrast to the United Kingdom’s 44.6 and the broader EU average of 17.3. Though many factors contribute, the policy shift undeniably plays a major role.
8 No Government
One would assume a sovereign state must always have a functioning government. Yet Belgium set a world record in 2011 by going 589 days without an official cabinet.
The country’s highly devolved political system allowed daily affairs to continue smoothly—bureaucrats kept showing up, streets stayed calm, and public services carried on despite the absence of a central executive.
Meanwhile, Western Sahara, a territory south of Morocco bordering Algeria and Mauritania, remains stuck in a limbo of contested sovereignty. Colonised by Spain in 1884, it was later annexed by Morocco in 1957, and the Polisario Front still claims it.
Decades of UN‑mediated talks have produced no lasting agreement, meaning Western Sahara continues to lack a universally recognised, stable government.
7 No Names On Stamps
Britain enjoys a unique postal quirk: its stamps never carry the country’s name, even when mailed abroad. Philatelists often marvel at this oddity.
The story begins in 1840 when the United Kingdom launched the world’s first postage stamp, instantly solving the proof‑of‑payment problem. Every stamp featured the reigning monarch’s portrait, becoming a hallmark of British mail.
In 1874 the Universal Postal Union granted the UK a special exemption, allowing its stamps to omit the country identifier—a privilege that persists to this day.
6 No External Debt
Global external debt tops $76 trillion, with the United States alone owing roughly $17.9 trillion. Most nations carry sizable liabilities to foreign creditors.
Against this backdrop, the tiny Southeast Asian state of Brunei stands out: it reports zero external debt—nothing owed to any overseas lender.
The secret lies in its abundant oil and natural‑gas reserves. Since gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1984, Brunei has channeled hydrocarbon wealth into a generous welfare system, subsidised housing, and low domestic debt (about 3.1 %). Only Hong Kong edges it with an even lower ratio.
5 No Sphere To Call Home
London, Paris, Poland, and Banana—these seemingly unrelated names actually designate villages on Christmas Island, part of the Republic of Kiribati.
Kiritimati, a phonetic respelling of “Christmas,” sits in the central Pacific and carries a colonial legacy that includes British exploration, Japanese occupation, and Cold‑War nuclear testing.
The nation enjoys the distinction of being the first country to welcome the New Year, thanks to its position at UTC +14. Remarkably, it straddles all four hemispheres: the equator, the prime meridian’s antipode, and both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres intersect within its archipelago.
Rising sea levels pose an existential threat. In 2014, Kiribati’s president purchased land on Fiji’s Vanua Levu as a contingency for climate‑change refugees, underscoring the nation’s precarious future.
4 No National Anthem
International sporting events usually feature a rousing national anthem, but the Republic of Cyprus shares Greece’s “Hymn to Liberty” as its official song—a tradition dating back to 1966.
Greece’s anthem, also called “Hymn to Freedom,” boasts an impressive 158 verses, though only the first two are commonly performed. Its length makes it the longest anthem worldwide.
The shared anthem illustrates how cultural heritage can transcend borders, allowing Cyprus to adopt a melody that resonates deeply with its Greek‑Cypriot population.
3 No Words
While Cyprus uses Greece’s lyrical anthem, Spain takes a different route: its national anthem, “Marcha Real,” has no official lyrics at all—a rarity among nations.
Originally penned with words, the anthem’s lyrics were discarded in 1978 for being deemed too “fascist.” Since then, attempts to craft new verses have failed, leaving the royal march as a wordless, ceremonial piece.
2 No Grass
Growing a verdant football pitch is a tall order in many climates, especially arid deserts where irrigation is costly. Yet the challenge is amplified for Greenland.
Rumours suggest FIFA requires a natural grass field for international matches. Greenland’s icy terrain and extreme weather make maintaining any grass field virtually impossible.
Moreover, Greenland is not a sovereign nation but an autonomous region of Denmark, meaning its football team competes under a unique status, further complicating any FIFA aspirations.
1 No Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes claim the title of the deadliest animal on Earth, transmitting diseases that cause roughly 725 000 deaths annually—far outpacing sharks, hippos, and even humans.
These tiny pests are practically universal, but Iceland offers a rare refuge: the island nation’s climate and geography mean no mosquito populations exist there.
While neighboring Greenland endures a mosquito‑free reputation, it still hosts other insects. Iceland’s mosquito‑free status makes it a haven for those seeking relief from the hum and bite of these disease‑carrying insects.
The author is a traveler and part‑time experience collector, often found on long bus rides or rummaging through second‑hand shops.