Many countries across the world are getting busy in warfare! Iraq and Iran are the latest to join this cruel business.
Furthermore, Yemen, a country that starts with y, and Sudan, a country that begins with S, are facing the worst humanitarian crisis.
So, it’s more important than ever to grow a sense of solidarity, and that’s only possible when we are willing to go beyond our geographical horizon and know about different countries.
And this time, it’s about exploring the countries that start with K.
What Are The Countries That Start With K In The World?
Do you know how many countries that start with K? Five countries in the world start with K at the beginning of their names.
These countries are Kenya, one of the five-letter countries in the world, Kiribati, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, and Kyrgyzstan. Kuwait, among them, is also one of the richest countries in Asia.
I will begin this section with an informative table that provides all the necessary details about the countries that start with K.
Then, I will move to detailed discussions.
Countries that Start with K | Continent | Currency | Official Language | Capital | Land Area (Square Km) | Population (2025) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kazakhstan | Asia | Kazakhstani Tenge | Kazakh | Astana | 2,699,700 | 20,843,754 |
Kenya | Africa | Kenyan Shilling | Swahili and English | Nairobi | 569,140 | 57,532,493 |
Kiribati | Oceania | The Kiribati Dollar | Gilbertese and English | Tarawa | 810 | 136,488 |
Kuwait | Asia | Kuwaiti Dinar | Arabic | Kuwait City | 17,820 | 5,026,078 |
Kyrgyzstan | Asia | Kyrgyzstan Som | Russian and Kyrgyz | Bishkek | 191,800 | 7,295,034 |
Now, let’s know about the countries that start with K in the world in detail.
1. Kazakhstan
- Best Time to Visit: April to May and September to October
- Main Airport: Almaty International Airport (ALA)
- Places to Visit: Charyn Canyon, Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, Turkistan, The Lost City of Sauran
- Fun Facts: The Largest Landlocked Country in the world and the 9th largest in the world
- Neighbors: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, China and Kyrgyzstan
Kazakhstan, or the land of Kazakhs or free spirits, is enjoying a massive tourism boom in 2025. The country already has an investment of over $570 million in 2025 to enhance domestic tourism.
Furthermore, it is emerging as an alternative global tourism destination in Central Asia, as disruptions have occurred in Asia, Europe, and even in Russia’s aviation sector.
The major achievements toward enhancing tourism in the country have been:
- New airport developments in Zaisan, Kokshetau, Burabai, and Kentau
- The development of Baikonur, the first spaceport in the world, and also the largest one
- The expansion of hotels and accommodation options is achieved by building partnerships with leading hotel chains from Türkiye. Thailand, Russia, and China in cities such as Mangystau, Astana, and Almaty.
- Projecting Kazakhstan as a major medical tourism destination.
Nevertheless, Kazakhstan has always been a popular destination, characterized by a distinct nomadic lifestyle and a free spirit.
2. Kenya
- Best Time to Visit: Late June to October
- Airport: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), Nairobi
- Places to Visit: Maasai Mara National Reserve, Nairobi National Park, Mount Kenya, Lake Victoria, Mombasa
- Fun Facts: Some of the oldest skeletons and human fossils were found in Kenya.
- Neighbors: Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia
This beautiful country gets its name from Mount Kenya, meaning the “Mountain of Whiteness.” With snow-capped peaks, Mount Kenya is the tallest in the country.
Kenya also has the shoreline of Victoria Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the world.
Nevertheless, Kenya wants to focus on three sectors of tourism in 2025. The primary focus will be on:
- Adventure tourism
- Sports tourism
- Eco tourism
Especially, regarding the boom of sports tourism in the country, Fatuma Hirsi Mohamed, the principal secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, has mentioned,
“Our sportspeople put the country on the global map. They have created top of mind awareness about destination Kenya among potential tourists.”
Furthermore, data from the World Travel & Tourism Council predicts that the travel and tourism sector in the country will contribute KSh1.2TN to the overall economy. Also, the international visitor spending will likely hit KSh300BN this year.
So, tourism in Kenya is growing beyond the wildlife safaris in the Maasai Mara and exploring the Big Five.
3. Kiribati
- Best Time to Visit: May to October
- Airport: Bonriki International Airport
- Places to Visit: Tarawa Atoll with the World War II History, Butaritari Atoll, Kiritimati Atoll, Butaritari Island (A Model for Sustainable Tourism)
- Fun Facts: Many of the 33 Islands in Kiribati are Uninhabited
- Neighbors: Japan, Australia, New Zealand
Mauri!
The history of Kiribati’s name goes back to the 19th century when the British Empire named it the Gilbert Islands. Thanks to the pronunciation of the local people, the name became Ki-ri-bas.
Furthermore, this island nation gained independence in 1970, and since then, it has been known as Kiribati.
Kiribati has the Kiritimati Atoll. Also known as Christmas Island, it is the largest coral atoll in the world.
Kiritimati Atoll is also a popular destination for fishing, and it is a favorite spot for birdwatchers and divers.
Also, the tourism industry in Kiribati is a major contributor to the country’s GDP, as the country does not have many natural resources.
Recently, the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) implemented several transformative initiatives from February 24th to June 6th, 2025, in response to the government’s commitment to balance tourism and sustainability on this island.
Moreover, the Kiribati Vision 20 helps to highlight the unique identity of Kiribati as a tourism destination. Also, the Butaritari Island is going to be the focus for promoting sustainable tourism practices as norms while exploring the country.
In addition, Kiribati has launched “Community-Based Tourism (CBT)” in Fanning Island. And it is working to strengthen the compliance of tourist operators with more stringent measures on licensing and registration.
It is a great move to ensure the safety of the local and global tourists.
4. Kuwait
- Best Time To Visit: November to March
- Airport: Kuwait International Airport
- Places To Visit: Kuwait Towers, Liberation Towers, Grand Mosque, National Museum, Souk Al-Mubarakiya
- Fun Facts: No Natural Lake or River is Present in the Country.
- Neighbors: Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Shares Maritime Border with Iran
Home to Kuwait City, one of the most important trade nodes in the Middle East, Kuwait is one of the wealthiest countries in the region in terms of per capita income.
It has massive natural oil reserves, and it has survived the invasion of Saddam Hussein in 1990.
Furthermore, Kuwait today is one of the leading countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) tourism market, along with Qatar and Oman. Qatar and Oman are the top countries that promote slow travel and relaxation in the Middle East.
The GCC tourism market is expected to reach USD 139.53 billion by 2032.
Moreover, as a gesture of the country’s commitment toward digital innovation, Kuwait has launched a new e-visa program for business travelers, family visits, and all tourists. The business and family visas are valid for 30 days, while the tourist visas are valid for 90 days.
Also, in the near future, Kuwait will be a part of the GCC Grand Tours Visa. This visa will function as a short-term entry permit to all six countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council.
5. Kyrgyzstan
- Best Time to Visit: June to August
- Airport: Manas International Airport
- Places to Visit: Osh, Tash Rabat, Ala Archa National Park, Issyk-Kul Lake
- Fun Facts: Kyrgyzstan Celebrates an Eclectic Culture with Middle Eastern, Russian, and East Asian Influences.
- Neighbors: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China, and Tajikistan
Kyrgyzstan is the land of the forty clans of the great Manas. In its name, it still celebrates its tribal legends and a unique nomadic lifestyle. Its name comes from a Turkic word, which means forty.
In the early 1990s, Kyrgyzstan ceased to be a part of the Soviet Union with the collapse of the USSR.
Today, known as the “Switzerland of Central Asia,” Kyrgyzstan enjoys a tourism boom and economic transformation.
The country has more than 140,000 tourism businesses catering to the needs of domestic and international visitors. Furthermore, it welcomed more than 8.9 million visitors in 2024, causing a tourism revenue of $45 million in the first half of the year.
Nature-based tourism, adventure tourism, and community-based tourism are the three major elements in Kyrgyzstan’s tourism landscape. Cultural tourism and ecotourism will also play a vital role in the tourism boom of the country going forward.
Overall, tourism in Kyrgyzstan will continue to be a major driver for the sustainable economic development of the country.