References

1. "Island Countries Of The World". WorldAtlas.com. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-are-the-island-countries-of-the-world.html. 
2. "Total Population Estimates 2015-2019". The World Bank. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?end=2019&name_desc=false&start=2015&view=chart. 
3. A microcontinent on continental crust.
4. The northern part of the island of Cyprus is the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey. In the south of the island are the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, controlled by the United Kingdom.
5. The largest oceanic island in the world.
6. The western portion of the country is on the continental shelf of Asia while the eastern portion of the country is on the continental shelf of Australia. The central portion of the country consists of oceanic islands in Wallacea.
7. "令和元年全国都道府県市区町村別面積調（１０月１日時点）2020年" (in ja). 国土地理院. 25 December 2020. https://www.gsi.go.jp/KOKUJYOHO/MENCHO-title.htm. 
8. In Japanese tradition, 11st of February in 660 B.C. is regarded as the accession date of the first Emperor of Japan in legendary, Emperor Jimmu, marking the establishment of Yamato Dynasty. However, no historical evidence that Jimmu actually existed and his story was largely narrated by Japanese mythology. February 11 was also the day when the Constitution of the Empire of Japan was proclaimed in 1889. See: National Foundation Day
9. The largest microcontinent in the world.
10. The Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau are in free association with the United States, under the Compact of Free Association.
11. A part of the submerged continent of Zealandia.
12. In 1983, Northern Cyprus declared independence from Cyprus. Northern Cyprus' sovereignty has been recognized by only one United Nations member state (Turkey). It is not a member state of the United Nations. Most states recognize Cyprus' claim to sovereignty over Northern Cyprus.
13. TRNC SPO, Economic and Social Indicators 2014, pages=2–3 https://web.archive.org/web/20160108225108/http://www.devplan.org/Ecosos/BOOK/SEG-2014.pdf
14. The Granitic Seychelles is a part of the Seychelles microcontinent. The Coralline Seychelles consists of oceanic islands.
15. Since the conclusion of the Chinese Civil War, the Republic of China (ROC) retains actual rule over the islands of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, the Matsu, and other minor islands, all of which are collectively known as "Free Area" or Taiwan Area in contrast to Mainland China being under communist rule, thus making it a de facto island nation, and has become known colloquially as simply "Taiwan" due to the island of Taiwan forming the majority of the ROC-controlled territories; nonetheless, the ROC has not officially renounced its constitutional-defined territories which include areas effectively controlled by the China , Mongolia, Tuva (a Russia n republic) etc. If claimed territories were taken into account, the ROC would not be a borderless country, nor a country centred around a major island. The ROC-controlled territories are also claimed by the People's Republic of China. See: Political status of Taiwan, Two Chinas, One-China policy, and Cross-strait relations. https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/China
16. The Republic of China (ROC) was formally established on 1 January 1912 following the Xinhai Revolution, which succeeded the former Qing dynasty's territories on mainland China, while the islands of Taiwan and Penghu were under Japanese rule at the time. The ROC gained control over the latter after the surrender of Japan in 1945, but soon lost its control of mainland to the communists due to the Chinese Civil War. The ROC government was relocated to Taipei in 7th December 1949 as its provisional capital. Constitutionally, the ROC on Taiwan still views itself as the continuation of former Chinese republic, with legitimate sovereignty over mainland China despite no actual control. 7th December 1949 is listed as the date of formation of its governing authority fully established on the islands. See: Political status of Taiwan, Retreat of the Republic of China to Taiwan and Four-Stage Theory of the Republic of China.
17. The British overseas territory of Gibraltar is a peninsular exclave which shares a land border with Spain and can thus be regarded as a part of continental Europe, with the UK retaining the full authority for its defence and foreign relations. However, Gibraltar as well as other BOTs are considered as dependent territories of the British Crown with varying degrees of self-governance, not parts of the United Kingdom itself nor of any of its four constituent countries. https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain
18. "The Overseas Territories". Foreign and Commonwealth Office. June 2012. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/32952/ot-wp-0612.pdf. 
19. Finland and Sweden share a border over the small island of Märket; however, the property including the lighthouse is owned by the Finnish rather than Åland government.
20. An insular area of the US. See Territories of the United States.
21. The Cook Islands and Niue are in free association with New Zealand. See Niue Constitution Act. Tokelau is a dependent territory of New Zealand.
22. The Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are also claimed by Argentina . https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina
23. The Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey, and the Isle of Man are peculiars of the British Crown and not part of the United Kingdom; foreign relations and defence are provided by the UK.
24. "Channel Islands". http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/QueenandCrowndependencies/ChannelIslands.aspx. 
25. Administered by Norway under the Svalbard Treaty.
26. The Crown Colony of Hong Kong covered only Hong Kong Island from 1841 to 1860. Kowloon, south of Boundary Street on the continent, was added in 1860, and extended to include the New Territories in 1898.
27. The colony covered the island of Newfoundland before 1809. In 1809, part of the Labrador Peninsula was transferred to Newfoundland from Lower Canada. In other words, before 1809, Newfoundland was an island colony. From 1809 onwards, the Colony of Newfoundland and, since 1907, the Dominion of Newfoundland had been an island plus Labrador (an area on the continent of North America).