The Nordic Countries Map Quiz at a Glance
The Nordic countries are Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, with three self-governing territories: Greenland and the Faroe Islands, both part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Åland, part of Finland. This page has all eight on a map, with their flags and capitals, and a free quiz: find each one, then find it from its capital.
- Countries
- 5
- Self-governing territories
- 3: Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Åland
- Most people
- Sweden, about 10.6 million
- Largest country
- Sweden, 450,295 km²
- Largest of all
- Greenland, 2,166,086 km²
- People in all
- about 28.4 million
How to Play the quiz
- Click any country or territory on the map to see its name before you start.
- Pick a round. In Countries, a place is named and you click it; the five countries come first, then the three territories. In Capitals, a capital is named and you click its country.
- Greenland is in the box at the top left, as on most maps of the region. The Faroe Islands and Åland are tiny at this scale, so they have a ring you can tap on a phone.
- Eight questions a round, each place once, with no time limit. The right place turns green after every answer.
The five Nordic countries sit in the far north of Europe and the North Atlantic, from Denmark, joined to the European mainland at Germany, to Iceland, halfway to Greenland. They have worked together in the Nordic Council since 1952, and the three self-governing territories have seats of their own in it.
Nordic or Scandinavian: What Is the Difference?
Scandinavia in the strict sense is three countries: Denmark, Norway and Sweden, whose languages grew from the same Old Norse and are still close enough to be understood across the borders. The Scandinavian Peninsula itself is Norway, Sweden and the north of Finland.
The Nordic countries add Finland and Iceland, with Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland. Finnish is not a Scandinavian language at all: it is related to Estonian and Hungarian, though Swedish is an official language in Finland too. Icelandic is the language closest to Old Norse. In English, people often say "Scandinavia" for all five.
The Nordic Cross Flags
All five countries fly a Nordic cross: a cross with its upright set towards the flagpole. Denmark's red and white Dannebrog is the oldest of them and is said to be the oldest national flag in continuous use. The Faroe Islands and Åland have Nordic crosses too. Greenland is the exception: a red and white flag with a half red, half white circle. Sweden and Finland, Denmark and Norway, and Norway and Iceland are the pairs people mix up most; the Nordic cross flags page puts them side by side.
Places People Think Are Nordic
Estonia is close to Finland in language and history but counts as one of the Baltic states, with Latvia and Lithuania. Svalbard and Jan Mayen in the Arctic Ocean belong to Norway, so they are Nordic as part of it, not on their own. Greenland is Nordic by its ties to Denmark but sits on the North American plate, so geographers count it as part of North America.
The Nordic Countries and Their Capitals
The five countries, then the three self-governing territories.
| # | Country or territory | Capital | Status | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denmark | Copenhagen | Country | 6 million |
| 2 | Finland | Helsinki | Country | 5.6 million |
| 3 | Iceland | Reykjavik | Country | 392,404 |
| 4 | Norway | Oslo | Country | 5.6 million |
| 5 | Sweden | Stockholm | Country | 10.6 million |
| 6 | Åland Islands | Mariehamn | Self-governing, Finland | about 0 |
| 7 | Faroe Islands | Tórshavn | Self-governing, Denmark | 54,900 |
| 8 | Greenland | Nuuk | Self-governing, Denmark | 56,831 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Nordic countries?
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, with three self-governing territories: Greenland and the Faroe Islands, which belong to Denmark, and Åland, which belongs to Finland.
What is the difference between Nordic and Scandinavian?
Scandinavia is Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The Nordic countries add Finland and Iceland, and the three territories. In everyday English the two words are often used for the same five countries.
Is Finland a Scandinavian country?
Strictly, no: Finland is Nordic but not Scandinavian, and Finnish is not related to the Scandinavian languages. Part of Finland lies on the Scandinavian Peninsula, though, and Swedish is one of its official languages.
Which is the largest Nordic country?
Sweden, at 450,295 km². Greenland is far bigger, 2,166,086 km², but it is a self-governing territory of Denmark, not a country of its own.
Which Nordic country has the most people?
Sweden, with about 10.6 million. Denmark is second.
Which Nordic countries are in the European Union?
Denmark, Finland and Sweden. Norway and Iceland are not, though both are in the single market through the European Economic Area. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are outside the EU; Åland is in it, with special rules.
What is the smallest Nordic place?
Faroe Islands, at 1,393 km². Of the five countries, Denmark is the smallest.
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 29, 2026.