Countries With Unusual Missing Things
Most countries share the same basics: flags, armies, anthems, and airports. A few skip some of those entirely, either by choice or because history and geography pushed them in a different direction.
Those gaps tell surprising stories about how nations define identity and independence, from places without militaries or prisons to countries that never even deal with mosquitoes.
Costa Rica Has No Military
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Costa Rica abolished its military in 1948 after a civil war. The decision was embedded into the country’s constitution by then-president José Figueres Ferrer. Funds that would have gone to defense were redirected toward health, education, and policing. Costa Rica is one of over 20 countries without a standing army.
Portugal Decriminalized All Drugs
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In 2001, Portugal decriminalized the use and possession of all drugs, including heroin and cocaine. The move reframed addiction as a public health issue. Since then, fatal overdose rates have remained among the lowest in Europe, with just 3 deaths per million, compared to 44.6 in the UK and an EU average of 17.3.
Iceland Has No Mosquitoes
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Though it has standing water and summer warmth, Iceland has zero mosquitoes. The key seems to lie in its sharp temperature shifts: constant freeze-thaw cycles disrupt the insect’s reproductive process. Scientists continue to study the anomaly, while residents and tourists alike enjoy a rare bug-free environment without chemical deterrents.
Spain’s Anthem Has No Words
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Spain’s national anthem, “Marcha Real,” is unusual for its silence. It has no official lyrics, a choice that became permanent in 1978. Earlier versions were set aside because of their ties to the Franco era. Over the years, there have been attempts to add new words, but none ever stuck. What remains is a formal melody that stands on its own, without anything being sung.
Brunei Has Zero External Debt
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Brunei’s public finances operate without international debt. Its small population and oil and gas revenue allow the country to pay its bills without taking on outside loans. Government debt hovers near zero. That economic independence makes Brunei one of the few nations with no outstanding external obligations to other countries.
Belgium Functioned Without A Government For 589 Days
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From 2010 to 2011, Belgium set a world record: 589 days without a national government. Coalition talks broke down, but the country didn’t collapse. Public services ran, trains operated, and schools stayed open. Belgium’s decentralized system, with strong local and regional powers, filled the void in national leadership.
Kiribati Spans All Four Hemispheres
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Kiribati is one of the rare countries whose territory crosses all four hemispheres. Its islands sit on both sides of the equator and stretch across the International Date Line. To keep the country on the same calendar day, Kiribati even adjusted the global time system, creating UTC+14 so its eastern islands would welcome the New Year first.
Great Britain’s Stamps Show No Country Name
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British stamps are the only ones in the world that don’t name the issuing country. This tradition began in 1840 when the UK issued the first postage stamp, the Penny Black. Later, the Universal Postal Union let Britain keep the name-free format as a mark of postal history priority.
Cyprus Uses Greece’s National Anthem
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Since 1966, Cyprus has officially used Greece’s national anthem, “Hymn to Liberty.” It is the only fully sovereign country that adopts another nation’s anthem in full. The two countries share strong cultural and historical ties, which contributed to this decision.