Scandinavia vs. the Nordic countries

Which countries are in each group?

“Scandinavia” can have different meanings depending on the language and context. This guide uses the three-country grouping: Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The five Nordic countries are those three plus Finland and Iceland. The table below also shows how the wider Nordic Region differs.

Learn the locations, then the groups

Find Norway west of Sweden, then Finland to Sweden’s northeast. Denmark is south of Norway and southwest of Sweden. Iceland lies farther west in the North Atlantic. These positions give you something to picture when you recall the names.

Hide the labels and try to identify each country. Then check its group: Finland and Iceland are Nordic countries, while Denmark, Norway and Sweden belong to both groups used here. The smaller group sits within the larger one.

Try it

• 1. Sort Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden into “Scandinavia and Nordic” or “Nordic only,” using this lesson’s convention.
• 2. Is Greenland a sixth independent country in the five-country Nordic set?
• 3. A learner says, “Finland cannot be Nordic because it is not in my three-country Scandinavia list.” What is the error?
• 4. Which country is west of Sweden on the regional locator?

Check your answers

• 1. Scandinavia and Nordic: Denmark, Norway, Sweden. Nordic only: Finland, Iceland.
• 2. No. Greenland is included when discussing the wider Nordic Region. That does not change the five-country list used here.
• 3. The three Scandinavian countries are only part of the wider Nordic group. Finland belongs to the Nordic group.
• 4. Norway. Use the two long neighboring country shapes as an anchor before adding Denmark and Finland.

Ready to try the map? The Europe quiz includes a wider list of countries. Use this five-country group as a starting point, then work outward to its neighbors.

• Locate countries in Europe
• Practice Europe’s flag selection
• Compare the three Baltic countries