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1.
Earlier independence
Solomon Islands - 1978; Marshall Islands - 1986
2.
Higher per capita GDP
Democratic Republic of Congo
✓
Rep. of the Congo - $2,290; DR Congo - $577
3.
Earlier independence from the UK
Barbados - 1966; Bahamas - 1973
4.
Earlier independence from the UK
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
✓
St. Lucia - February 1979; St. Vincent - October 1979
5.
Larger land area
Malta - 122 sq. mi; Maldives 116 sq. mi
6.
Higher population density
Iraq - 271 people/sq. mi; Iran - 142 people / sq. mi
7.
Higher per capita GDP
South Sudan - $1,072; Sudan - $752
8.
Larger land area
Zambia - 290,585 sq mi.; Zimbabwe - 150,872 sq. mi
9.
Higher per capita GDP
Dominican Republic - $8,477; Dominica - $7,653
10.
Earlier date of independence
Guinea - 1958; Guinea-Bissau - 1973 or 1974
11.
Larger land area
Niger - 489,191 sq. mi; Nigeria - 356,669 sq. mi
12.
Larger land area
Iceland - 39,769 sq. mi; Ireland- 27,133 sq. mi
13.
Greater population density
Uruguay - 51 people/sq. mi; Paraguay - 45 people/sq. mi
14.
Highest elevation
Kyrgzstan - 7,439m (Jengish Chokusu); Kazakhstan -7,010m (Khan Tengri)
15.
Larger land area
Armenia - 11,484 sq. mi; Albania - 11,100 sq. mi
16.
Larger land area
North Korea - 46,540 sq.mi; South Korea - 38,691 sq. mi
17.
Land further from the equator
Australia - ~55˚S (Bishop and Clerks Islets); Austria ~49˚N
18.
Land further from the equator
Mauritania - ~27˚N; Mauritius - ~20.5˚S