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An island country, also called a borderless country, is a country that is wholly confined to an island or island groups, and has no land borders. Forty-seven of the world's countries are island countries, including most of the smallest ones.
Island countries can be divided in two approximate groups. A group of large, relatively populous nations which are usually close to a continent including: Japan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Cuba and Madagascar. These countries typically share cultural and political similarities with their continental neighbours. Island locations have frequently been advantageous, providing isolation from invasion and the the maritime abilities of the population gave advantage in regional and international trade.
The other group comprises smaller island countries such as Malta, the Comoros, the Bahamas, Tonga, and the Maldives. These countries tend to be very different from continental countries. Their small size usually means there is little agricultural land and rarely many natural resources. However, in modern times, smaller island countries around the world have become centres for tourism, which in many is the dominant industry. Some island countries are centered on one or two major islands, such as Japan. Others are spread out over hundreds or thousands of smaller islands, such as the Philippines or the Maldives.
The definition of an island country may sometimes extend to include those with no territory on the mainland of a continent, even if they may have land borders on divided islands. These may include Indonesia, which has land borders with three countries, the United Kingdom which shares a land border with Ireland.