Nations

Nations, often referred to as states or countries, are the central elements in Rise of Nations. Nations can be controlled either by players or AI, referred to as "player-controlled" and "AI-controlled (nation)," respectively. Players can manage nations internally by adjusting settings or components that directly impact crucial national elements, such as the economy, military, and government. Additionally, players can engage in various diplomatic actions to influence other nations, including declaring war, forming alliances, creating puppets, and more.

Nations are integral mechanics of the game, with their primary objective being to achieve dominance on the world stage. Additionally, they serve as the foundation for other features, including formables and releasables. Each nation has specific formables that can be united by acquiring all the required cities and territories. For instance, China can form the Qing Dynasty by acquiring all the necessary cities designated for the Qing Dynasty.

In the game, there are a total of 239 starting nations categorized into seven informal tiers, ranging from minor powers to superpowers, with the latter requiring a set amount of player experience to play. The three base superpowers are China, the United States, and India, with XP requirements in descending order.

Cities

Cities are the backbone of a nation, providing essential resources needed to sustain it, such as contributions to the economy, manpower growth, factories, resources, and military development. Losing a significant number of cities—especially the capital or other urbanized areas—can lead to increased war exhaustion, a weakened economy, and reduced stability, potentially resulting in releasables declaring independence.

Determining a Nation's Tier

NOTE: Nations being categorized by "tiers" is not official as they are not recognized by Hyperant, the sole developer of the game, or shown in game. Tiers were established by the wiki community to represent the power of a nation based on its XP modifier and overall strength.

One can determine a country's tier by evaluating its XP modifier. For instance, high-tier countries like the United States, China, Russia, and others possess a small XP modifier. Conversely, low-tier countries, such as Nepal, Afghanistan, and Grenada, possess a higher XP modifier.

List of Nations

• Tier VII
• Tier VI
• Tier V
• Tier IV
• Tier III
• Tier II
• Tier I

Tier VII

Tier VII countries represent the three primary superpowers globally, boasting unmatched strength in terms of their economy, population, territory, and military power. They possess the most powerful military capacities, with a manpower reserve exceeding 4,000,000 individuals, and their substantial population surpasses 200,000,000, as sprawling cities and vast metropolitan areas are dispersed throughout their lands. Additionally, these begin with a base income of over 15 million, built by high tax revenue and resource income. They have 0.11x XP Gain Modifier.

Due to the nations marked as the "big three" on the global stage, each of these nations require at least over 100,000 XP to play as: 144,338 XP for India, 176,777 XP for the United States, and 250,000 XP for China. Despite the XP limitations, the ranking system orders the nations from greatest to least during the beginning of 2019: United States (1st), China (2nd), and India (3rd).

Name	Region	Ranking
India	South Asia	3
China	East Asia	2
United States	North America & Polynesia	1

Tier VI

Tier VI countries are considered minor "superpowers," occupying prominent positions in the global rankings. These nations possess abundant populations, starting economies that exceed a 1 million income, and healthy reserves of valuable resources. Furthermore, their military capabilities are powerful, with manpower capacities surpassing 1 million. These countries below have a silver boundary bordering their flag, the same as those in the preceding tier. They have 0.33x XP Gain Modifier.

Name	Region	Ranking
Brazil	South America	4
Indonesia	Southeast Asia	8
Japan	East Asia	5
Mexico	North America	7
Russia	Eastern Europe & North Asia	6

Tier V

Tier V countries are positioned in the middle of the rankings, representing nations with greater levels of military strength, economic development, and resource production. These countries have experienced a significant growth compared to lower-tier regional powers. They have 0.75x XP Gain Modifier.

Name	Region	Ranking
Argentina	South America	19
Colombia	South America	23
Egypt	North Africa and Middle East	17
Germany	Central Europe	10
Iran	Middle East	14
Nigeria	West Africa	12
Pakistan	South Asia	9
Philippines	Southeast Asia	18
South Korea	East Asia	16
Turkey	Southern Europe and Middle East	13
United Kingdom	Western/Northern Europe	11
Vietnam	Southeast Asia	26

Tier IV

Tier IV countries represent a crucial stepping stone towards becoming prominent regional powers on the global stage. Their military strength, territory, economy, and resource production have expanded significantly, operating on a larger scale compared to lower-tier nations. In the diplomacy interface, few of these countries below have earned a special grey boundary that outlines their flag, signifying they are a regional power. They have 1x XP Gain Modifier.

Name	Region	Ranking
Australia	Australasia	31
Bangladesh	South Asia	25
Canada	North America	28
Chile	South America	36
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Central Africa	29
France	Western and Southern Europe	15
Iraq	Middle East	34
Italy	Southern Europe	22
Malaysia	Southeast Asia	38
Morocco	North Africa	35
Peru	South America	32
Poland	Central Europe	39
Saudi Arabia	Middle East	24
South Africa	Southern Africa	21
Spain	Southern Europe and North Africa	20
Sudan	North Africa	41
Taiwan	East Asia	27
Thailand	Southeast Asia	37
Ukraine	Eastern Europe	30
Venezuela	South America	33

Tier III

Tier III countries, although not noticeably feeble, find themselves slightly falling behind regional powers. These nations have obtained greater access to precious resources and witnessed substantial advancements in their economies and military manufacturing, being the first to surpass the 60,000 manpower limit with their initial manpower levels. They have 1.25x XP Gain Modifier.

Name	Region	Ranking
Afghanistan	South Asia	48
Algeria	North Africa	40
Angola	Central Africa	47
Austria	Central Europe	77
Azerbaijan	Eastern Europe and Middle East	87
Belarus	Eastern Europe	71
Belgium	Western Europe	75
Bolivia	South America	53
Bulgaria	Southern Europe	80
Burkina Faso	West Africa	105
Burma	Southeast Asia	42
Cameroon	West Africa	55
Cote d'Ivoire	West Africa	58
Cuba	Caribbean	66
Czech Republic	Central Europe	90
Dominican Republic	Caribbean	65
Ecuador	South America	57
El Salvador	Central America	100
Ethiopia	East Africa	52
Finland	North Europe	98
Ghana	West Africa	56
Greece	Southern Europe and Middle East	60
Guatemala	Central America	95
Guinea	West Africa	82
Haiti	Caribbean	94
Hong Kong	East Asia	49
Hungary	Central Europe	84
Israel	Middle East	73
Jordan	Middle East	89
Kazakhstan	Central Asia and Eastern Europe	45
Kenya	East Africa	59
Lebanon	Middle East	91
Libya	North Africa	63
Madagascar	Southern Africa	88
Mali	West Africa	93
Mozambique	Southern Africa	72
Nepal	South Asia	107
Netherlands	Western Europe	54
New Zealand	Australasia	81
North Korea	East Asia	46
Paraguay	South America	86
Portugal	Southern Europe and North Africa	61
Republic of Congo	West Africa	99
Chad	North Africa	50
Senegal	West Africa	67
Singapore	Southeast Asia	64
Sweden	Northern Europe	76
Somalia	East Africa	85
Switzerland	Central Europe	70
Syria	Middle East	43
Tajikistan	Central Asia	74
Tanzania	East Africa	51
Tunisia	North Africa	68
Uganda	Central Africa	83
United Arab Emirates	Middle East	79
Uruguay	South America	97
Uzbekistan	Central Asia	44
Yemen	Middle East	62
Zambia	Southern Africa	78
Zimbabwe	Southern Africa	69

Tier II

Tier II represents countries that are slightly more powerful than those in the Tier I category, however, they are only stronger in the way that their economy and population is larger, while the maximum manpower is still 60,000. They have 1.5x XP Gain Modifier.

Name	Region	Ranking
Albania	Southern Europe	118
Armenia	Eastern Europe and Middle East	134
Bahamas	Caribbean	168
Bahrain	Middle East	149
Barbados	Caribbean	172
Benin	West Africa	124
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Southern Europe	132
Botswana	Southern Africa	146
Brunei	Southeast Asia	160
Burundi	Central and East Africa	151
Cabo Verde	West Africa	174
Cambodia	Southeast Asia	104
Central African Republic	Central Africa	133
Romania	Southern and Eastern Europe	114
Costa Rica	Central America	109
Croatia	Southern Europe	128
Curacao	Caribbean	175
Cyprus	Southern Europe and Middle East	153
Denmark	Northern Europe	119
Djibouti	East Africa	141
Equatorial Guinea	West Africa	163
Eritrea	East Africa	131
Estonia	Northern Europe	150
Fiji	Melanesia	165
Gabon	West Africa	142
Gambia	West Africa	166
Georgia	Eastern Europe and Middle East	113
Gibraltar	Southern Europe	173
Guadeloupe	Caribbean	176
Guinea-Bissau	West Africa	156
Guyana	South America	155
Honduras	Central America	110
Iceland	Northern Europe	171
Ireland	Western and Northern Europe	125
Jamaica	Caribbean	115
Kuwait	Middle East	92
Kyrgyzstan	Central Asia	112
Laos	Southeast Asia	138
Latvia	Northern Europe	139
Lesotho	Southern Africa	130
Liberia	West Africa	129
Lithuania	Northern Europe	135
Macau	East Asia	152
Macedonia	Southern Europe	143
Malawi	Southern Africa	121
Malta	Southern Europe	162
Martinique	Caribbean	167
Mauritania	West Africa	136
Mauritius	Southern Europe	145
Moldova	Eastern and Southern Europe	140
Mongolia	East Asia	103
Montenegro	Southern Europe	164
Namibia	Southern Africa	144
Nicaragua	Central America	116
Niger	Central Africa	101
Norway	Northern Europe	108
Oman	Middle East	123
Panama	Central America	120
Eswatini	Southern Africa	169
Palestine	Middle East	122
Papua New Guinea	Melanesia	147
Qatar	Middle East	117
Reunion	Southern Africa	170
Rwanda	Central and East Africa	126
Serbia	Southern Europe	96
Sierra Leone	West Africa	111
Slovakia	Central Europe	137
Slovenia	Southern Europe	157
South Sudan	North and East Africa	148
Sri Lanka	South Asia	127
Suriname	South America	158
Timor-Leste	Southeast Asia	159
Togo	West Africa	102
Trinidad and Tobago	Caribbean	154
Turkmenistan	Central Asia	106

Tier I

Tier I nations are the weakest countries in the game. The maximum manpower capacity is 60,000, tax collection is minimal, and base population is small. These countries are mostly islands or landlocked nations located in isolated areas across the world, but despite this, it is still possible to conquer quickly and emerge to world domination, though it is rare and difficult to do so. They have 2.5x XP Gain Modifier.

Name	Region	Ranking
American Samoa	Polynesia	221
Andorra	Southern Europe	193
Anguilla	Caribbean	219
Antarctica	Antarctica	237
Antigua and Barbuda	Caribbean	202
Aruba	Caribbean	188
Belize	Central America	177
Bermuda	West Atlantic Ocean	195
Bhutan	South Asia	179
Bonaire	Caribbean	217
British Virgin Islands	Caribbean	215
Cayman Islands	Caribbean	189
Christmas Island	Southeast Asia	235
Comoros	Southern Africa	161
Cook Islands	Polynesia	229
Dominica	Caribbean	216
Falkland Islands	South America	233
Faroe Islands	Northern Europe	220
French Guiana	South America	183
French Polynesia	Polynesia	178
Greenland	North America	199
Grenada	Caribbean	207
Guam	Micronesia	180
Guernsey	Western Europe	190
Isle of Man	Western and Northern Europe	205
Jersey	Western Europe	184
Kiribati	Micronesia	213
Liechtenstein	Central Europe	204
Luxembourg	Western/Central Europe	181
Maldives	South Asia	182
Marshall Islands	Micronesia	214
Mayotte	Southern Africa	210
Micronesia	Micronesia	212
Monaco	Western/Southern Europe	203
Montserrat	Caribbean	231
Nauru	Micronesia	223
New Caledonia	Melanesia	185
Niue	Polynesia	238
Norfolk Island	Australasia	236
Northern Mariana Islands	Micronesia	194
Palau	Micronesia	218
Rapa Nui	Polynesia	226
Saba	Caribbean	234
Saint Barthelemy	Caribbean	224
Saint Helena	South Atlantic	230
Saint Martin	Caribbean	206
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Caribbean	209
Saint Lucia	Caribbean	201
Saint Pierre and Miquelon	North America	227
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Caribbean	198
Samoa	Polynesia	191
San Marino	Southern Europe	211
Sao Tome and Principe	Central Africa	186
Seychelles	East Africa	208
Sint Eustatius	Caribbean	232
Sint Maarten	Caribbean	200
Solomon Islands	Melanesia	187
Tokelau	Polynesia	239 (Last)
Tonga	Polynesia	197
Turks and Caicos Islands	Caribbean	228
Tuvalu	Polynesia	222
United States Virgin Islands	Caribbean	196
Vanuatu	Melanesia	192
Wallis and Futuna	Polynesia	225

Border Controversy

WARNING: This section is subject to offend some users, mainly due to ongoing geopolitical relations, tensions, rivalries, and wars, between the nations and parties mentioned below. Click '[Expand]' to view this section.

There are numerous controversies within the Rise of Nations community concerning the depiction of in-game international borders. Many of these disputes are addressed by noting that the game begins in 2019 and, as such, the map arranges geopolitical boundaries from years prior to 2019. However, certain counterclaims persist and remain unresolved despite this explanation.

• Crimea: In the game, the nation of Ukraine owns the releasable of Crimea, sparking some suggestions that Crimea should instead be given to Russia, as Russia annexed the region during the 2014 Russian takeover of Crimea.

• Israel and Palestine: For decades, these two nations have been in near-constant conflict, with only minor peace agreements in recent years. Both sides have politicians and nationalists who claim that the other nation is rightfully part of theirs. This tension is worsened by the fact that originally, Israel owned both nations in-game, before Palestine was made a starting nation in the 11/21/2022 Update. As such, debates have arisen over whether one side should fully control the other as a starting nation.

• Kosovo: In-game, Kosovo is a starting nation. Some people want it so start as a releasable. This controversy stems from the complex historical, political, ethnic, and territorial disputes between the two. Kosovo, a region in the Balkans with a significant ethnic Albanian population, declared independence from Serbia in 2008—a move recognized by a majority of countries, including the United States and many European nations, but not by Serbia, Russia, and a few others. Serbia considers Kosovo part of its territory due to historical and religious ties, as it is home to many Serbian Orthodox Christian monasteries and churches.

• Overseas Dependencies: The overseas territories of nations, namely, the Australia, China, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, are all independent. This has led some to question whether these nations should have these colonies at the start of the game. However, Hyperant ultimately rejected this request due to the general inconvenience it would cause if implemented.

• Partially Recognized/Unrecognized countries: Related to Western Sahara, in-game, all such countries except Taiwan start out owned by the countries that claim sovereignty over them, leading to some people requesting that they start out as independent instead.

• Vatican City: Vatican City is not included as a starting nation in the game, instead, as a local modifier to the city of Rome. People have wanted it as a starting nation, however, Hyperant has conclusively denied converting the Vatican City into a nation.

• Western Sahara: In real life, Morocco controls over 80% of the territory claimed by the Western Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. In-game, the releasable has cores on all the lands it claims. Originally, it was also a starting nation, further heightening the dispute. The debate is currently dormant, with suggestions for changes to Western Sahara's nationhood fading into irrelevance.

See Also

• Releasable
• Formable
• Rankings
• Cities
• Dynamic Flags
• Missions