Ever sat around a dinner table playing one of those frantic category games where you have to name a country for every letter of the alphabet? You hit A and B easily. C is a breeze. Then you get to D.
You’d think it would be simple. It isn't. People usually freeze up after the first two. Or they start shouting out names that aren't actually countries. Or worse, they start naming German cities because "Deutschland" starts with a D (it does, but we're talking English names here).
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So, let's settle the score. There are exactly 6 sovereign countries that start with the letter D.
Wait, did you think it was five? Most sources online—even some big-name geography sites—frequently leave one out because they get tripped up by official naming conventions. If you’re looking at the United Nations member list, you’ll find half a dozen.
The Big Six: A Quick Breakdown
When we talk about countries, we're usually talking about sovereign states recognized on the world stage. Here is the definitive list of the six countries that start with D:
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea (commonly known as North Korea)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
Now, honestly, most people miss the first one because they just say "North Korea." But if we’re being technical—and in a trivia night, you want to be technical—it starts with D.
Why the "Democratic" Tag Changes Everything
A lot of the confusion stems from the word "Democratic." There are two massive nations that use this as the first word of their formal name.
First, there’s the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). You’ve probably heard it called "Congo-Kinshasa" to tell it apart from its neighbor, the Republic of the Congo. It’s the second-largest country in Africa. It's huge. We're talking about a landmass larger than Western Europe.
Then you have the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Most of us just call it North Korea. If you're looking at an alphabetical list of UN member states, you won't find it under N. You’ll find it right there between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Denmark.
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Denmark: The European Heavyweight
Denmark is usually the first one people shout out. It’s the oldest kingdom in Europe, and honestly, it’s one of the most stable places on Earth.
But here’s a fun fact most people ignore: Denmark isn't just that little peninsula attached to Germany. The Kingdom of Denmark actually includes Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Greenland is technically part of a "D" country, even though it’s a massive island in the North Atlantic. If you’re ever asked for a country that starts with G, don't say Greenland—it's an autonomous territory of Denmark.
The Caribbean Confusion: Dominica vs. Dominican Republic
This is where people get really mixed up. They sound similar, but they couldn't be more different.
Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-EE-ka) is a small, rugged, volcanic island. They call it the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean." It’s known for boiling lakes and lush rainforests. It’s tiny. Only about 72,000 people live there.
The Dominican Republic, on the other hand, shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. It’s a tourism powerhouse. Think white sand beaches, Punta Cana, and a population of over 11 million.
Essentially, if you're looking for a quiet hike in the mountains, you go to Dominica. If you want a resort and a margarita, you’re probably heading to the Dominican Republic.
Djibouti: The One Nobody Can Spell
Djibouti is the wildcard. It sits in the Horn of Africa, right at the entrance to the Red Sea.
It’s one of the most strategic spots on the planet. Because it controls the entrance to the Suez Canal trade route, everyone wants a piece of it. The US, France, China, and Japan all have military bases there.
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It’s also a place of extreme landscapes. It has Lake Assal, which is the lowest point in Africa and one of the saltiest lakes in the world. Basically, it’s a geographical marvel hidden in a tiny package.
Common Mistakes and "Almost" D-Countries
I've seen people lose points in games for some classic errors. Let's clear those up.
- Deutschland: That’s just Germany in German. In English, it’s a G.
- Dubai: Not a country. It’s a city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- Dahomey: This was a real country, but it changed its name to Benin in 1975.
- Dominion of Canada: Some old-school history buffs might try this. Canada used to be called the Dominion of Canada, but today, the official name is just Canada.
Actionable Insights for Geography Nerds
If you're trying to memorize these for a quiz or just to impress someone, remember the "2-2-1-1" Rule:
- 2 "Democratic" republics (DRC and DPRK).
- 2 Caribbean nations (Dominica and Dominican Republic).
- 1 European kingdom (Denmark).
- 1 African coastal state (Djibouti).
Next time you're stuck, just visualize the globe. Start at the top with Denmark, swing down to the Caribbean for the two "Dominics," hit the center of Africa for the Congo, move over to the coast for Djibouti, and finish off in East Asia with North Korea.
To really nail your geography game, check out the official UN Member States list. It’s the gold standard for what "counts" as a country. You'll notice that while there are only six D's, the letter S has a staggering 28. But that's a story for another day.