1 Australia:

The world's sixth-largest country in total area, it lies between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

2 New Zealand: Lying to the south-east of Australia it comprises North Island and South Island.

3 Madagascar: The fourth-largest island in the world, it lies off the south-east coast of Africa.

4 Jamaica: The Caribbean country was granted independence from the UK in 1962.

5 Cyprus: In the eastern Mediterranean, the island's control is split between Greece and Turkey.

6 Indonesia: The Asian nation contains more than 13,000 islands and has a population of 237 million.

7 Cuba: Caribbean country which has been ruled by the Communist regime of Fidel Castro since the 1960s.

8 Japan: It has more than 6000 islands, the main ones being Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku.

9 United Kingdom: Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland remain at the world's top table.

10 Bahrain: Small nation in the Persian Gulf, it became independent from Britain in 1971.