Anyone who understands English should know the difference between a state and a country (state vs country).
A country is a district or a region of land with a particular human occupation belonging to the same race and speaking the same language. A state is a political division of a federation that has the power to retain a degree of autonomy.
A country is sometimes referred to as a “State” (sovereign state), a state which has sovereignty over a defined geographical area and is independent of any other nation.
The term “state” has two different meanings in this context. The term “State” refers to any sovereign polity, a government or a sovereign state, while “state” refers to a political division of a federation.
What Is a State?
A state is a political division of a federation retaining a degree of autonomy. It’s a centralized political organization with a degree of autonomy to impose and enforce rules over a population in a territory.
States are the constituents of a country. While many countries around the world have several states, there are countries that are made up of provinces.
Take the United States and Canada for example- these are two countries in North America with states and provinces larger than some countries around the world.
The United States just as the name suggest comprises 50 states, while Canada has 10 large provinces.
Weber describes a state as a compulsory political organization with a centralized government maintaining a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence within a specific territory.
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What Is a Country?
A country is a district or a region of land with a particular human occupation belonging to the same race and speaking the same language.
It’s a distinct region of the world- such as a nation, state or other political entity or may be a sovereign state.
According to Worldometers.info, there are 195 countries across the six inhabited continents in the world. The Asian country of Japan is what you call an independent, whereas a country like Wales is a constituent of a multi-part sovereign state, as it is part of the United Kingdom.
A country is a sovereign territory with the power to make laws and control resources without the coercion of other nations.
Additionally, a country may be a historically sovereign region like Korea or a non-sovereign geographical area associated with specific political or ethnic characteristics like the Basque Country.
States are the constituents of a country, with countries like the United States having up to 50 states. Some countries are made up of provinces- for example, Canada has 10 large provinces, while the Philippines has 82 provinces.
Countries are generally in large and small sizes. Based on land mass, Russia is the largest country in the world covering a total area of 17,098,242 sq kilometre (6,601,665 sq miles).
The smallest country in terms of mass is Vatican City, with a total area of 42 hectares (100 acres: 0.16 sq miles).
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State vs Country: Difference between a State and a Country
A state is a political division of a federation retaining a degree of autonomy. It’s a centralized political organization with a degree of autonomy to impose and enforce rules over a population in a territory.
A country is a district or a region of land with a particular human occupation belonging to the same race and speaking the same language.
Here are a few points showing the difference between a state and a country:
- A state is a constituent of a country- the entire area of a state is within a country’s borders.
- Both states and countries have governments. The federal government is at a higher level compared to the state government.
- A country is a sovereign state with the authority to issue currency and financial support to its citizens and businesses, but a state lacks such authority.
- Unlike state governments, the federal government has the authority to make new laws for the entire nation.
- Federal agencies are not restricted to operating in any region of a country.
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State vs Country: Comparison Chart
| State | Country | |
| Description | A state is a political division of a federation retaining a degree of autonomy. | A country is a district or a region of land with a particular human occupation belonging to the same race and speaking the same language. |
| Explanation | A state is a constituent of a country. | A sovereign state, nation or other political entity that has a single government rule. |
| Government | Likely to have an independent or dependent government. For example, the state government may be subordinate to the central government. | the government and the court system can enforce norms and laws, as well as regulate individuals. A country has an autonomy government and a sovereign power. |
| Boundaries | Although some states in the United States are larger than some countries, states generally are in smaller land areas within a country. | Generally bigger than states or provinces within the sovereign territory. |
| Control | A state is a constituent unit of a country with a federal government. | Countries are governed by the central authority. |
| Examples | California, Idaho, New York, Washington, New Jersey, Rhode Island (US), Amazonas, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Para (Brazil), and Lagos, Delta, and Rivers State (Nigeria). | The United States, Canada, Russia, Brazil, Nigeria, Austria Germany, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, China, South Korea, Nepal, New Zealand, the Netherlands, etc. |
| Residents | State residents are fewer and live in smaller areas. | Everyone who lives within the borders of the country. |
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State vs Country: Characteristics of a State and a Country
State
These are the characteristics possessed by a state;
- A government recognised by the state provides government service police power and also maintains law and order.
- The state needs four aspects which include demographics, fixed boundaries, government, and independence.
- The state also requires a defined territory
- The state owns a transportation service to transport people and goods
- It’s also officially recognized by other sovereign government
- Provides an educational system
Country
Here are a few characteristics of a country;
- A country is recognized by other sovereign governments for owning a transportation system to transport people and goods.
- While there may be a border dispute, a country’s territory and borders are recognised worldwide.
- Countries can own nuclear warheads for warfare
- The military is recognized and often identified as servicemen and women of a country.
- A country is governed by a central authority, the federal government is at a higher level compared to the state government.
- Sovereign countries have the authority to control their resources
- As a sovereign state, other countries cannot encroach on a country’s territory
Conclusion
A state is a political division of a federation retaining a degree of autonomy. It’s a centralized political organization with a degree of autonomy to impose and enforce rules over a population in a territory.
A country is a district or a region of land with a particular human occupation belonging to the same race and speaking the same language.
It is a sovereign territory with the power to make laws and control resources without the coercion of other nations, while a state is a constituent of a country.
We hope this article on the difference between state vs country was helpful.
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References
- Wikipedia: Country
- Wikipedia: State (polity)
- Differencebetween.info: Difference between Country and State
