Understanding Nationality: Differences Between Nationality, Ethnicity, and Citizenship

What is nationality? Nationality is ascribed to individuals based on their connection with a particular nation, often established by birth within the country’s territory, descent from its citizens, or naturalization. It is a legal relationship between an individual and a state that bestows certain rights and obligations on both parties. Nationality typically entitles a person to the state’s protection, the right to vote or stand for public office, and the right to work and live in the country.

However, nationality extends beyond legal rights and responsibilities—it also often encompasses a shared cultural identity, including elements such as language, religion, traditions, and societal norms. It can significantly influence a person’s worldview, behaviors, and sense of belonging.

Nevertheless, nationality shouldn’t be confused with ethnicity or citizenship. While nationality can be a part of one’s ethnic identity, ethnicity primarily refers to a group sharing common cultural, linguistic, or ancestral traits. On the other hand, citizenship refers to the legal status of a person recognized under the custom or law of a sovereign state or local jurisdiction—though it often aligns with nationality, this is not always the case.

In our increasingly globalized world, the concept of nationality continues to evolve, highlighting the diverse and interconnected nature of modern societies.

Below, I’ve listed the nationality for several countries

1. Afghanistan – Afghan
2. Albania – Albanian
3. Algeria – Algerian
4. Andorra – Andorran
5. Angola – Angolan
6. Antigua and Barbuda – Antiguan, Barbudan
7. Argentina – Argentine
8. Armenia – Armenian
9. Australia – Australian
10. Austria – Austrian
11. Azerbaijan – Azerbaijani
12. Bahamas – Bahamian
13. Bahrain – Bahraini
14. Bangladesh – Bangladeshi
15. Barbados – Barbadian
16. Belarus – Belarusian
17. Belgium – Belgian
18. Belize – Belizean
19. Benin – Beninese
20. Bhutan – Bhutanese
21. Bolivia – Bolivian
22. Bosnia and Herzegovina – Bosnian, Herzegovinian
23. Botswana – Motswana (pl. Batswana)
24. Brazil – Brazilian
25. Brunei – Bruneian
26. Bulgaria – Bulgarian
27. Burkina Faso – Burkinabe
28. Burundi – Burundian
29. Cabo Verde – Cape Verdean
30. Cambodia – Cambodian
31. Cameroon – Cameroonian
32. Canada – Canadian
33. Central African Republic – Central African
34. Chad – Chadian
35. Chile – Chilean
36. China – Chinese
37. Colombia – Colombian
38. Comoros – Comorian
39. Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) – Congolese
40. Costa Rica – Costa Rican
41. Croatia – Croatian
42. Cuba – Cuban
43. Cyprus – Cypriot
44. Czechia (Czech Republic) – Czech
45. Denmark – Danish
46. Djibouti – Djiboutian
47. Dominica – Dominican (Note: Different from Dominican Republic)
48. Dominican Republic – Dominican
49. East Timor (Timor-Leste) – East Timorese
50. Ecuador – Ecuadorian
51. Egypt – Egyptian
52. El Salvador – Salvadoran
53. Equatorial Guinea – Equatorial Guinean, Equatoguinean
54. Eritrea – Eritrean
55. Estonia – Estonian
56. Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) – Swazi
57. Ethiopia – Ethiopian
58. Fiji – Fijian
59. Finland – Finnish
60. France – French
61. Gabon – Gabonese
62. Gambia – Gambian
63. Georgia – Georgian
64. Germany – German
65. Ghana – Ghanaian
66. Greece – Greek
67. Grenada – Grenadian
68. Guatemala – Guatemalan
69. Guinea – Guinean
70. Guinea-Bissau – Bissau-Guinean
71. Guyana – Guyanese
72. Haiti – Haitian
73. Honduras – Honduran
74. Hungary – Hungarian
75. Iceland – Icelandic
76. India – Indian
77. Indonesia – Indonesian
78. Iran – Iranian, Persian
79. Iraq – Iraqi
80. Ireland – Irish
81. Israel – Israeli
82. Italy – Italian
83. Jamaica – Jamaican
84. Japan – Japanese
85. Jordan – Jordanian
86. Kazakhstan – Kazakhstani
87. Kenya – Kenyan
88. Kiribati – I-Kiribati
89. Korea (North Korea) – North Korean
90. Korea (South Korea) – South Korean
91. Kuwait – Kuwaiti
92. Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyz, Kyrgyzstani
93. Laos – Lao, Laotian
94. Latvia – Latvian
95. Lebanon – Lebanese
96. Lesotho – Mosotho (pl. Basotho)
97. Liberia – Liberian
98. Libya – Libyan
99. Liechtenstein – Liechtensteiner
100. Lithuania – Lithuanian
101. Luxembourg – Luxembourger
102. Madagascar – Malagasy
103. Malawi – Malawian
104. Malaysia – Malaysian
105. Maldives – Maldivian
106. Mali – Malian
107. Malta – Maltese
108. Marshall Islands – Marshallese
109. Mauritania – Mauritanian
110. Mauritius – Mauritian
111. Mexico – Mexican
112. Micronesia – Micronesian
113. Moldova – Moldovan
114. Monaco – Monacan, Monegasque
115. Mongolia – Mongolian
116. Montenegro – Montenegrin
117. Morocco – Moroccan
118. Mozambique – Mozambican
119. Myanmar (formerly Burma) – Burmese
120. Namibia – Namibian
121. Nauru – Nauruan
122. Nepal – Nepali
123. Netherlands – Dutch
124. New Zealand – New Zealander, Kiwi (informal)
125. Nicaragua – Nicaraguan
126. Niger – Nigerien
127. Nigeria – Nigerian
128. North Macedonia (formerly Macedonia) – Macedonian
129. Norway – Norwegian
130. Oman – Omani
131. Pakistan – Pakistani
132. Palau – Palauan
133. Palestine – Palestinian
134. Panama – Panamanian
135. Papua New Guinea – Papua New Guinean, PNG
136. Paraguay – Paraguayan
137. Peru – Peruvian
138. Philippines – Filipino (male or gender-neutral), Filipina (female)
139. Poland – Polish
140. Portugal – Portuguese
141. Qatar – Qatari
142. Romania – Romanian
143. Russia – Russian
144. Rwanda – Rwandan
145. Saint Kitts and Nevis – Kittitian or Nevisian
146. Saint Lucia – Saint Lucian
147. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Vincentian, Vincy
148. Samoa – Samoan
149. San Marino – Sammarinese
150. Sao Tome and Principe – Sao Tomean
151. Saudi Arabia – Saudi, Saudi Arabian
152. Senegal – Senegalese
153. Serbia – Serbian
154. Seychelles – Seychellois
155. Sierra Leone – Sierra Leonean
156. Singapore – Singaporean
157. Slovakia – Slovak
158. Slovenia – Slovene or Slovenian
159. Solomon Islands – Solomon Islander
160. Somalia – Somali
161. South Africa – South African
162. South Sudan – South Sudanese
163. Spain – Spanish
164. Sri Lanka – Sri Lankan
165. Sudan – Sudanese
166. Suriname – Surinamese
167. Sweden – Swedish
168. Switzerland – Swiss
169. Syria – Syrian
170. Tajikistan – Tajikistani
171. Tanzania – Tanzanian
172. Thailand – Thai
173. Togo – Togolese
174. Tonga – Tongan
175. Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidadian, Tobagonian
176. Tunisia – Tunisian
177. Turkey – Turkish
178. Turkmenistan – Turkmen
179. Tuvalu – Tuvaluan
180. Uganda – Ugandan
181. Ukraine – Ukrainian
182. United Arab Emirates (UAE) – Emirati
183. United Kingdom (UK) – British
184. United States of America (USA) – American
185. Uruguay – Uruguayan
186. Uzbekistan – Uzbekistani, Uzbek
187. Vanuatu – Ni-Vanuatu
188. Vatican City (Holy See) – none; as an independent city-state enclaved within Rome, Italy, it has no ordinary citizens, only officials of the church
189. Venezuela – Venezuelan
190. Vietnam – Vietnamese
191. Yemen – Yemeni
192. Zambia – Zambian
193. Zimbabwe – Zimbabwean

How to become a nationality of a particular country

To become a national of a particular country, there are usually several general paths, although the specific requirements and processes can vary greatly from one country to another. Here are four common routes:

1. Birthright Citizenship: Some countries, such as the United States and Canada, offer birthright citizenship. This means that any child born within the country’s territories automatically becomes a citizen, regardless of the parents’ citizenship.
2. Descent or Jus Sanguinis: This is when nationality is given to a person because they have a parent (or sometimes a grandparent) who is a national of that country. This is common in most countries around the world.
3. Naturalization: This is the process by which a foreign citizen becomes a citizen of another country after fulfilling certain requirements. These typically include residing in the country for a certain number of years, proving good character, demonstrating knowledge of the language and culture, and pledging allegiance to the new country.
4. Marriage: Many countries offer a path to citizenship for people who marry a citizen of that country. The specifics of this process can vary widely, and it typically includes a waiting period of several years.

Remember that immigration laws and citizenship requirements can be complex and often change, so it’s crucial to consult with a legal professional or visit the official immigration website of the specific country to get the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Is it possible to change your nationality to another country’s nationality?

Yes, it is possible to change your nationality to another country’s nationality. This is typically done through a process called naturalization. However, the specific requirements and procedures can vary significantly depending on the country.

In general, to apply for citizenship through naturalization, you would need to:

• Reside in the country for a certain period: Most countries require that you live there for a certain number of years before you can apply for citizenship. The length of time varies by country.
• Demonstrate proficiency in the language: Many countries require you to show that you can speak, read, and write in the country’s official language(s).
• Pass a citizenship test: This usually involves demonstrating knowledge of the country’s history, culture, legal system, and other key aspects of life in the country.
• Show good character: You may need to provide criminal background checks, character references, or other evidence to show that you are of good character.
• Take an oath of allegiance: If your application is successful, you’ll usually need to take an oath of allegiance to your new country.

However, there are some key things to be aware of:

Not all countries allow dual citizenship. This means you may have to renounce your previous citizenship in order to become a citizen of another country.

The process can be expensive and time-consuming. It can take several years and involve a significant amount of paperwork.

Citizenship laws can change, so it’s important to seek legal advice and check the current laws of the country you wish to become a citizen of.

Finally, it’s worth noting that gaining citizenship in a new country is a serious decision that can have significant legal and personal implications. It’s not a process to be undertaken lightly, and it’s always recommended to consult with a legal professional to fully understand the implications.

Once you have acquired the nationality of a country, can it be terminated?

Yes, nationality can potentially be terminated or lost in certain circumstances, often referred to as loss of nationality or denaturalization. The specifics can vary depending on the country, but generally, there are several common ways this can occur:

1. Voluntary renunciation: This is when a person intentionally gives up their nationality. This process often involves formal paperwork and possibly a fee. For example, in the United States, a person can voluntarily renounce their citizenship at a U.S. embassy or consulate in a foreign country.
2. Naturalization in a foreign state: In some countries, voluntarily acquiring citizenship in another country can lead to the loss of the original citizenship, particularly in countries that do not allow dual citizenship.
3. Fraud or misrepresentation in the naturalization process: If a person lied or omitted crucial information during the naturalization process, and this is later discovered, their citizenship can be revoked, often through a legal process.
4. Service in foreign military or government: In some cases, serving in a foreign military or government can lead to loss of citizenship, especially if that service is associated with a country that the home country considers hostile.
5. Criminal acts: Some very serious criminal acts, such as treason, might lead to loss of citizenship in certain jurisdictions.

The exact conditions under which nationality can be lost vary by country, so for the most accurate information, it’s necessary to consult the nationality laws of the specific country or seek advice from a legal expert in immigration law.

Please note that international law generally seeks to prevent statelessness, so the loss of nationality that leaves a person without citizenship of any country is a complex area with many legal restrictions and is not typically done without the person acquiring another nationality.

Synonyms of nationality

Here are some synonyms for the term “nationality”:

1. Citizenship
2. Country of Origin
3. Homeland
4. Native Land
5. Birthplace
6. Motherland
7. Fatherland
8. Home Country
9. National Identity
10. Nation

Please note, while these terms are similar, their use may differ depending on context. For example, ‘citizenship’ often refers specifically to the legal status of a person in relation to a country, while ‘nationality’ might be used more broadly to describe a person’s cultural or ethnic identity as well.

20 common sentences of nationality

1. My nationality is Canadian, but I currently live in the United States.
2. The company hires employees regardless of nationality.
3. I’m proud of my Indian nationality.
4. She holds dual nationality, both Italian and American.
5. The diversity of nationalities in our school provides a rich cultural experience.
6. He decided to change his nationality after living in France for many years.
7. The census collects data on the different nationalities residing in the country.
8. Despite our different nationalities, we share many common values.
9. Nationality is just one aspect of a person’s identity.
10. Her nationality is Greek, but she was born and raised in Australia.
11. The team consists of players of various nationalities.
12. It’s fascinating to learn about different nationalities and their cultures.
13. I have two nationalities because my parents come from different countries.
14. Sometimes nationality can influence our perspective on global events.
15. His nationality is Russian, but he writes his novels in English.
16. The film festival features directors of many different nationalities.
17. She used her Italian nationality to apply for a job in Rome.
18. Nationality does not define a person’s abilities or character.
19. Your nationality can offer you certain rights and responsibilities in your country.
20. He is applying for a change in nationality after marrying his German wife.

Source: Scopenew.com – Guide