Key Difference – Republic vs Country
A country is an area of land that is controlled by its own government. The term republic refers to a governing system where there is no monarchy and no aristocracy. In a republic, the supreme power is held by the people, and the leader of the country, i.e., the president, is elected by an election. Thus, the key difference between republic and country is that term republic refers to a governing system whereas the term country refers a geographical and political entity. Some countries in the world are republics, but some are not.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Republic
3. What is a Country
4. Relationship Between Republic and Country
5. Side by Side Comparison – Republic vs Country in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is a Republic?
Republic is a form of government where the supreme authority or power of the state is held by the people and their elected representatives. The public has the right to vote and elect representatives to exercise power on behalf of them. The government of the state is thus created by these elected representatives and the public.
There is no monarchy or hereditary aristocracy in a republic. The head of the state, who is also elected by the people, is usually the president. However, this might vary with each state’s political system. The United States of America, India, China and North Korea are some countries that are considered as republics.
Figure 01: Republic of India
Countries that have kings and queens, but still have free elections are called constitutional monarchies. These are similar to republics since the constitution has been amended to remove power from the monarchy. The United Kingdom is an example of a constitutional monarchy.
What is a Country?
The country is an area of land that is controlled by its own government. The term country refers a geographical and political entity. A country may be an independent sovereign state or a territory occupied by another state as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division. Most of the countries in the world are sovereign states. India, Russia, China, France, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom are some examples of countries. It is typically considered that there are 195 in the world.
Figure 02: Countries in the World
Various countries in the world are governed by various governing systems. Some countries are republic while some are constitutional monarchies. There are also absolute monarchies. For example,
Constitutional monarchy – Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark
Republic – India, China, France, Greece, Iraq, Iran
Absolute monarchy – Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia
What is the Relationship Between Republic and Country?
- Some countries in the world are republics. But not all countries in the world are a republic. For example, India is a country as well as a republic. Although Denmark is a country, it is not a republic.
What is the Difference Between Republic and Country?
Republic vs Country |
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| Republic is a form of government where the supreme power of the state is held by the people and their elected representatives. | A country is an area of land that is controlled by its own government. |
| Type | |
| Republic is a form of government. | Country is a geographical territory with its own government. |
Summary – Republic vs Country
Country is an area of land that is controlled by its own government. Republic is a form of government. Republic is a governing system whereas country is a geographical and political concept. This is the difference between republic and country.
Image Courtesy:
1.’Republic of India map’By Shaan Lollywood – Own work, (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2.’1-12 Political Color Map World’By Colomet, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia