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Kiribati - This sovereign country in the Micronesia region of the Pacific Ocean is made up of 32 atolls and one island.

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David Katoatau - Weightlifter David Katoatau is one of the country's biggest stars, competing in the Olympics and in the world championships.

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Independence and population - Kiribati became independent from the United Kingdom in 1979. It has a population of about 109,000, and almost all (98%) are Micronesian.

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Other factors - Like most island nations, Kiribati is under constant threat from rising tides and storms. Being situated in the Pacific, the small country also finds itself in the middle of geopolitical struggles, and was even a battle ground during WWII.

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Suriname - Suriname is a South American country bordering Guyana, French Guyana, and Brazil. Its flag is seen here being raised after Anthony Neste won Olympic gold in the 100 Meters Butterfly swimming event in 1988.

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Independence and size - Suriname gained full independence from the Netherlands in 1975. It has a population of just under 600,000, and is the smallest country in South America in area.

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Languages - There are nine officially recognized languages in Suriname, though Dutch, Sranan Tongo (English-based Creole), and Sarnami Hindustani are the most widely spoken. Suriname is the only country outside of Europe where Dutch is spoken by most people.

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Culture - Considered culturally Caribbean, Suriname is incredibly multicultural, comprised of Hindustani, Maroon, Creole, Javanese, and other ethnic groups.

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Palau - Found near the Philippines and being made up of six island groups comprising more than 300 islands, Palau is a country that's recently gained moderate independence after centuries of foreign empires coming and going.

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Independence - The road to independence from the US was a long one, but de jure independence came in 1994. Previous Spanish, German, and Japanese empires controlled Palau until the US conquered the islands in WWII.

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Population - There are only around 21,500 people who live in Palau. Most people are indigenous to the region, though there is a Filipino minority.

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Language - Palauan is an official language on most islands, with over 65% of the population speaking it. The other official language is English (19% speak it).

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Seychelles -

This 115-island archipelago country is found in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. Some figures say the Seychelles have as many as 155 islands, but many of these disappear when the tide rises.

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Wealth, and inequality -

The country became independent from the United Kingdom in 1976. Though it's the wealthiest African nation by nominal per capita GDP, the country also has one of the worst wealth inequality rates of the continent.

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Population and languages - The Seychelles have a population of about 94,600, and most are of Creole descent. The official languages are Seychellois Creole, English, and French.

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Economy -

Tourism, fishing and farming of sweet potatoes, vanilla, coconuts, and cinnamon account for most of the Seychelles' economy.

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Mauritius - South of the Seychelles and off the coast of Madagascar is another island country: Mauritius. English and French are considered the de facto national and common languages in this country with no official language.

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Population and religion - Mauritius has a population of just over 1.36 million, making it one of the most densely populated countries on the planet. Mauritius is also the only country outside of South Asia where Hinduism is the most commonly practiced religion.

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Independence - Mauritius gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1968, and has a democracy based on the Westminster system.

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Dodo - One of Mauritius' greatest claims to fame is being the only known home of the now-extinct dodo bird.

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Tuvalu - This Polynesian country, located halfway between Hawaii and Australia, is an island group made up of nine coral atolls.

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Flooding - Tuvalu is one of the most at risk countries for being wiped out by the rising tides of climate change.

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Population - There are just over 11,000 people living in Tuvalu, almost all of whom are of Polynesian ancestry.

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Independence - Tuvalu was a British colony and then a US-controlled region after WWII. It became independent in 1978.

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Comoros -

Comoros is an archipelago made up of four main volcanic islands: Mayotte, Anjouan, Moheli, and Grand Comore. The independent country is found between Madagascar and Mozambique.

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Population and religion - Comoros has a population of about 821,000. About 98% of the population are Sunni Muslims, with Sunni Islam being the state religion.

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Independence - Comoros gained independence from France in 1975, but has suffered more than 20 coups or attempted coups in the years since. The country also has an ongoing territorial dispute with France.

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Languages - Comoros' official languages are Arabic, French, and Shikomoro, which is a blend of Swahili and Arabic.

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Barbuda - You've likely heard of Antigua, but have you heard of Barbuda? The country's official name is Antigua and Barbuda, and it became independent from the United Kingdom in 1981.

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Population - Barbuda had a population of just over 1,600 in 2017, but now has as few as 100 people.

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Irma - Hurricane Irma destroyed most of the island in September 2017, and now it's barely inhabited. Antigua, however, is still very much standing, and has a population of over 95,000.

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