What are the Countries of Eastern Europe?

The term Eastern Europe in itself is an ambiguous one and is defined differently in different contexts. Geographically speaking, Eastern Europe consists of all the countries that are located on the eastern side of the continent. In this article, we will learn about what are the countries of Eastern Europe, facts about each eastern European country, and more.

Eastern Europe Countries – 2024

Following are the countries that lie in the eastern Europe:

1. Poland

   Poland is situated in the middle of Europe. Its main city, Warsaw, is also its capital. Poland has a strong culture and a tough economy. It has had a big influence on the history of the area.

   Interesting Facts

   • Poland was part of the powerful Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth for centuries, a vast realm stretching across Eastern Europe.
   • Polish is a West Slavic language, closely related to other Eastern European languages like Czech, Slovak, and Ukrainian.
   • Poland is a member of the Visegrád Group, a cultural and political alliance of four Central European countries: Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

2. Ukraine

   It is the second-largest country in Europe by land area. It has a lot of farmland and some really old cities like Kyiv, the capital. Even though Ukraine has some problems with politics and money, it’s still an important part of Eastern Europe and has a say in what happens in the region.

   Interesting Facts

   • Ukraine played a key role in Soviet space exploration. The Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world’s heaviest airplane ever built, was a Ukrainian design.
   • Ukraine is also known as the “Breadbasket of Europe” for a long time because it produces a lot of food.

3. Romania

   Romania is situated in the Balkans. It is known for its beautiful views of mountains and rivers. Its capital city is Bucharest. It covers an area of approximately 238,397 square kilometers, making it the 12th largest country in Europe by land area.

   Interesting Facts

   • The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest is one of the world’s largest parliament buildings by volume.
   • Romania is home to Europe’s largest population of brown bears.

4. Hungary

   Hungary is located in Central Europe, sharing borders with several countries including Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Budapest is the capital and largest city in Hungary. Hungary covers an area of approximately 93,030 square kilometers, ranking it as one of the smaller countries in Europe by land area.

   Interesting Facts

   • Budapest is known as the “Spa Capital of Europe” which has more than 100 medicinal hot springs.
   • Hungary is known for its spicy food. Goulash is a national dish, a rich stew with meat, vegetables, and paprika.

5. Czech Republic

   Situated in Central Europe, the Czech Republic shares borders with Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Poland. Prague, its capital and largest city, anchors the nation. Covering an area of approximately 78,866 square kilometers, the Czech Republic ranks as one of the smaller countries in Europe by land area.

   Interesting Facts

   • The Czech Republic is home to Hranicka Procast (abyss), the deepest underwater cave, reaching depths of 473 meters.
   • The Prague Astronomical Clock, the third oldest, is still operating and was installed in 1410.

6. Belarus

   Belarus is situated in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. The capital of Belarus is Minsk. Belarus covers an area of approximately 207,595 square kilometers, making it one of the larger countries in Europe by land area.

   Interesting Facts

   • A giant footprint measuring 1.8 meters (6 ft) long can be found near the village of Vysokaye in Belarus.  The origin and purpose of this imprint remain a mystery.
   • Belarus is known as the “Land of White Storks” due to the large population of these birds that migrate to the country during summer.

7. Moldova

   Moldova is a small country in Eastern Europe about 33,846 sq km. Romania and Ukraine border it. Its capital city is Chisinau. Moldova is famous for its wine production, with many vineyards offering tours and tastings.

   Interesting Facts

   • Moldova is home to the world’s largest wine cellar, the Milestii Mici. It stretches for about 250 kilometers (155 miles) underground and holds an impressive collection of over 1.5 million bottles of wine.
   • The official language of Moldova is Romanian.

8. Slovakia

   Slovakia, known for its beautiful mountainous landscapes and medieval appealing towns, is a landlocked country with a land area of 49,035 sq km. Its capital city is Bratislava.

   Interesting Facts

   • Slovakia has contributed several inventions to the world, including the parachute (invented by Štefan Banič), the first helicopter with a tail rotor (designed by Ján Bahýľ), and the first ever electrically powered and directed flight of an airship (developed by Jozef Maximilián Petzval).
   • Slovakia has the highest density of castles, with over 180 castles and ruins scattered across the country. Spis Castle is one of the largest castle complexes in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
   • Slovakia is the largest car producer per capita in the world.

9. Bulgaria

   Bulgaria is a country in Southeast Europe with an area of 110,994 sq km. It shares borders with Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, and Turkey. The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia. Bulgaria ranks among the mid-sized countries in Europe by land area.

   Interesting Facts

   • Bulgaria developed the first-ever air-dropped bomb during the First Balkan War in 1912.
   • Bulgaria is one of the largest producers of honey in Europe.

10. Russia

    Russia has a land area of 17,098,242 sq km, and is the largest country in the world. It spans two continents – Asia and Europe. Moscow is the capital city and it is known for its iconic Red Square, the Kremlin, and St. Basil’s Cathedral.

    Interesting Facts

    • Russia is home to the world’s deepest lake, Lake Baikal, and the longest river in Europe, the Volga River.
    • Russia launched the world’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957, and sent the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space in 1961.

Other European Countries

The other European Countries are:

• Albania

• Andorra

• Armenia

• Austria

• Azerbaijan

• Belarus

• Belgium

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Bulgaria

• Croatia

• Cyprus

• Czech Republic

• Denmark

• Estonia

• Finland

• France

• Georgia

• Germany

• Greece

• Hungary

• Iceland

• Ireland

• Italy

• Kazakhstan

• Kosovo

• Latvia

• Liechtenstein

• Lithuania

• Luxembourg

• Malta

• Moldova

• Monaco

• Montenegro

• Netherlands

• North Macedonia (formerly Macedonia)

• Norway

• Poland

• Portugal

• Romania

• Russia

• San Marino

• Serbia

• Slovakia

• Slovenia

• Spain

• Sweden

• Switzerland

• Turkey

• Ukraine

• United Kingdom
• Vatican City (Holy See)

If you are interested in exploring more about the European countries, check out our: Europe Map. You can see all the European countries and click on any country to see its own map.

Related Links

• What are the Western Europe Countries?
• Is Europe a Continent?
• Is Turkey in Asia or Europe?
• What is Eurasia?