The question of what is the oldest country in the world is a bit tricky to answer definitively because it depends on how one defines a country and what criteria are used to determine its age. However, there are several countries that are often cited as being among the oldest in the world based on different criteria. Here are some of the oldest countries in the world according to various sources:

• Iran: Founded in 3200 BCE
• Egypt: Founded in 6000 BCE
• Japan: Founded in 660 BCE
• China: Founded in 2070 BCE
• San Marino: Founded in 301 CE
• France: Founded in 486 CE
• Ethiopia: Founded in 980 BCE

Its worth noting that there are many other ancient countries that could also make the list of oldest countries in the world, but these are some of the most commonly cited ones. Additionally, some countries may be considered older than others depending on the criteria used to define their age. For example, some sources may consider the date of earliest known organized government, while others may consider the date of self-sovereignty.