When we hear the word 'island,' we think of azure waters and shallow, sandy beaches. But by no means is every island is really inviting for a swim. The northernmost countries, Norway, Sweden, Canada and Finland, captivate with a uniquely rugged landscape and have the most islands worldwide — by far. The dreamy island worlds of Southeast Asia come only in the second line. Following is the list of countries with most number of islands with figures given for the numbers of islands within their territories.
12. South Korea - 4400
11. China - 5,000
10. Chile - 5,120
9. Japan - 6,852
8. Philippines - 7,641
7. Australia - 8,222
6. Indonesia - 18,307
5. United States - 18,617
4. Finland - 40,000
3. Canada - 52,455
2. Sweden - 2,21,831
1. Norway - 2,39,057