INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
TEHRAN - In a newly revisited global ranking published by the World Population Review, Iran has been officially recognized as the oldest
country in the world in terms of its earliest known organized government and sovereign identity, dating back to 3200 BC.This distinction
places Iran ahead of other ancient civilizations such as Egypt (3100 BC), Vietnam (2879 BC), Armenia (2492 BC), and North Korea (2333 BC),
which round out the top five in the global list
The ranking is based on historical analysis of early state formation and evidence of organized governance.A cradle of civilizationPreviously
known as Persia, Iran boasts a rich cultural and political history that stretches back to the Lower Paleolithic period
laying the foundations of early Iranian governance during the Proto-Elamite era, also known as Susa III
but also the earliest known state to form a recognizable government.The concept of sovereignty in Iran has deep historical roots that
persisted through a succession of dynasties and empires, including the Achaemenids, Parthians, and Sassanids, laying the groundwork for a
continuous national identity unmatched in duration.How the ranking was determinedAccording to the World Population Review, establishing the
precise age of a nation is a complex process
"State formation is often gradual and layered with myths, legends, and archaeological evidence," the report notes
"However, it is possible to identify a reasonable estimate for the beginning of organized governance through historical and archaeological
analysis."Some nations use the date of constitutional adoption as a benchmark for state age, but this method is less effective when
oldest country by sovereignty is not only a historical marker but also a testament to its enduring cultural and political influence
Despite the many invasions and dynastic shifts over the centuries, the country has maintained a continuous thread of national identity and
governance stretching over five millennia.AM
