The Mediterranean Countries Quiz at a Glance
21 countries have a coast on the Mediterranean Sea, or 22 if you count Palestine, whose Gaza Strip lies on it. They are spread over three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. This page has them on a map, with their flags and capitals, and a free quiz: find each country, then find each country from its capital.
- Countries on the coast
- 21 (22 with Palestine)
- Continents
- Europe, Asia and Africa
- Most people
- Egypt, about 118.4 million
- Largest by area
- Algeria
- Smallest
- Monaco, 2.02 km²
- Island countries
- Malta and Cyprus
How to Play the quiz
- Click any country on the map to see its name before you start.
- Pick a round. In Countries, a country is named and you click it. In Capitals, a capital is named and you click its country.
- Monaco and Malta are tiny at this scale, so they have a ring around them that you can tap on a phone.
- Ten questions a round, with no time limit. The right country turns green after every answer.
The Mediterranean is almost closed in by land: its only natural openings are the Strait of Gibraltar to the Atlantic and the Dardanelles, which lead through the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea. The Suez Canal was cut through to the Red Sea. 12 of the countries on its shores are in Europe, 5 in Asia and 5 in Africa.
Which Countries Border the Mediterranean?
Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Slovenia and Spain.
Asia: Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Turkey.
Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.
Most lists say 21, the UN member states with a Mediterranean coast. Palestine makes 22: the Gaza Strip lies on the sea. A few other places touch it too without being countries: Gibraltar (a British territory), Spain's two cities on the African coast, Ceuta and Melilla, the British bases on Cyprus, and Northern Cyprus, which only Turkey recognises.
Countries People Think Are Mediterranean
Portugal has a Mediterranean climate and food, but its whole coast is on the Atlantic. Jordan reaches the Red Sea, not the Mediterranean. San Marino and Vatican City sit inside Italy with no coast at all, and Andorra, North Macedonia and Serbia are landlocked. Bulgaria and Romania are on the Black Sea, which joins the Mediterranean only through the Bosporus and the Dardanelles.
The Biggest Mediterranean Islands
From the largest: Sicily (Italy), Sardinia (Italy), Cyprus, Corsica (France) and Crete (Greece). Cyprus is the only one of the five that is a country of its own; the other island country, Malta, is far smaller. The Balearic Islands, with Mallorca, belong to Spain.
Mediterranean Countries and Their Capitals
In alphabetical order. Palestine is a UN observer state.
| # | Country | Capital | Continent | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albania | Tirana | Europe | 2.3 million |
| 2 | Algeria | Algiers | Africa | 47.4 million |
| 3 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Sarajevo | Europe | 3.1 million |
| 4 | Croatia | Zagreb | Europe | 3.9 million |
| 5 | Cyprus | Nicosia | Europe | 1.4 million |
| 6 | Egypt | Cairo | Africa | 118.4 million |
| 7 | France | Paris | Europe | 68.7 million |
| 8 | Greece | Athens | Europe | 10.4 million |
| 9 | Israel | Jerusalem (disputed) | Asia | 10.1 million |
| 10 | Italy | Rome | Europe | 58.9 million |
| 11 | Lebanon | Beirut | Asia | 5.8 million |
| 12 | Libya | Tripoli | Africa | 7.5 million |
| 13 | Malta | Valletta | Europe | 579,704 |
| 14 | Monaco | Monaco | Europe | 38,341 |
| 15 | Montenegro | Podgorica | Europe | 623,129 |
| 16 | Morocco | Rabat | Africa | 38.4 million |
| 17 | Palestine | Ramallah (seat of government) | Asia | 5.4 million |
| 18 | Slovenia | Ljubljana | Europe | 2.1 million |
| 19 | Spain | Madrid | Europe | 49.4 million |
| 20 | Syria | Damascus | Asia | 25.6 million |
| 21 | Tunisia | Tunis | Africa | 12.3 million |
| 22 | Turkey | Ankara | Asia | 85.9 million |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries border the Mediterranean Sea?
21 UN member states have a Mediterranean coast. Counting Palestine, whose Gaza Strip lies on the sea, there are 22.
What is a Mediterranean country?
A country with a coast on the Mediterranean Sea. People also use the word for the climate of hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, which places like Portugal share without being on the sea.
Is Portugal a Mediterranean country?
Not by coastline: Portugal faces the Atlantic. It is often called Mediterranean for its climate, food and culture.
Which is the smallest Mediterranean country?
Monaco, at 2.02 km². It is the second smallest country in the world, after Vatican City.
Which Mediterranean country has the most people?
Egypt, with about 118.4 million. Turkey is second and France third.
What are the largest islands in the Mediterranean?
Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, Corsica and Crete, in that order. Cyprus is the only one that is a country of its own.
Is the quiz free?
Yes. It runs in your browser, on a phone or a computer, with no download and no account.
Made by Kashif Sulehria in Lahore, Pakistan. Updated October 21, 2026.