Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden

Nordic CountriesThe Nordic countries make up a region in

Northern Europe and the North Atlantic, consisting of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Svalbard and Åland Islands. In English, "Scandinavia" is sometimes used as a synonym for the Nordic countries (often excluding Greenland), but that term more properly refers only to Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Nordic CountriesThe region's

five nation-states and three autonomous regions share much common history as well as common traits in their respective societies, such as political systems and the Nordic model. Politically, Nordic countries do not form a separate entity, but they co-operate in the Nordic Council.

The Nordic countries have a combined population of approximately 25 million spread over a land area of 3.5 million km² (Greenland accounts for around 60% of the total area).

Nordic CountriesThe term "Nordic countries" is derived indirectly

from the local term Norden (used in the continental Scandinavian languages; Danish, Norwegian and Swedish), which literally means "The North(ern lands)".

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines "Nordic" as an adjective dated to 1898 with the meaning "of or relating to the Germanic peoples of northern Europe and especially of Scandinavia" or "of or relating to a group or physical type of the Caucasian race characterized by tall stature, long head, light skin and hair, and blue eyes".

Nordic CountriesIn English usage, the term "Scandinavia" is

sometimes used—though not consistently—as a synonym for the Nordic countries. From the 1850s, Scandinavia was considered to include, politically and culturally, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Geographically, the Scandinavian Peninsula includes mainland Sweden and mainland Norway.

Nordic CountriesThe Faroe Islands and Iceland are

"Scandinavian" in the sense that they were settled by Scandinavians and speak Scandinavian languages, but geographically they are not part of Scandinavia. Having once been a part of Sweden, Finland has been significantly influenced by Swedish culture and part of it is geographically within Scandinavia, whereas the Finnish language is not related to the Scandinavian languages. Greenland was settled by the Norse, and is currently under Danish sovereignty, while geographically it is part of North America.

Nordic CountriesThe "Nordic countries" is used unambiguously

for Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, including their associated territories (Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and the Åland Islands).

Scandinavia can thus be considered a subset of the Nordic countries. Furthermore, the term Fennoscandia refers to Scandinavia, Finland and Karelia, excluding Denmark and overseas territories; however, the usage of this term is restricted to geology, when speaking of the Fennoscandian Shield (Baltic Shield).

Nordic CountriesIn addition to the mainland Scandinavian

countries of: Denmark  (a constitutional monarchy with a

parliamentary system) Norway  (a constitutional monarchy with a

parliamentary system, independent since 1905)

 Sweden  (a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system)

Nordic Countries..the Nordic countries also include: Faroe Islands  (an autonomous country within

the Danish Realm, self-governed since 1948) Finland  (a parliamentary republic, independent

since 1917) Åland Islands  (an autonomous province of

Finland since 1920) Greenland  (an autonomous country within the

Danish Realm, self-governed since 1979) Iceland  (a parliamentary republic, independent

since 1918, )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_countries