List of participating nations at the Winter Olympic Games

The Winter Olympic Games have brought together athletes from around the world since they began in 1924. These special sports events happen every four years, giving winter sports fans something to look forward to. However, two Winter Olympics were not held because of World War II in 1940 and 1944, and in 1994 the schedule changed so the Winter Games happened in the middle of the four-year cycle.

Flagbearers for each of the participating nations at the I Olympic Winter Games (1924) recite the athlete's oath.

Many countries have taken part in these games over the years. A total of 133 different National Olympic Committees — groups that represent their countries in the Olympics — have had athletes compete. Out of all the countries that exist today, 121 have sent athletes to at least one Winter Olympics.

Twelve nations have been part of every Winter Olympics held so far. These countries are Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. If we also think about Czechoslovakia before it split into two countries, then both the Czech Republic and Slovakia have also been part of every Winter Games too. This shows how many nations care about winter sports and want to compete against each other for the honor of winning an Olympic medal.

History

The Winter Olympic Games began in 1924 in Chamonix, France. Originally called International Winter Sports Week, they were later named the I Olympic Winter Games. Sixteen nations took part, mostly from Europe and North America. Over the years, more countries joined in, including teams from Asia, Africa, and the Southern Hemisphere.

After World War II, the number of participating nations kept growing. The Soviet Union first joined in 1956, and many more countries took part as time went on. The Winter Games have been held every four years, except for the years 1940 and 1944 when they were cancelled because of the war. Today, the Winter Olympics include athletes from around the world, with a record number of nations joining in recent years.

List of nations

Many countries, called National Olympic Committees (NOCs), have taken part in the Winter Olympic Games since they began in 1924. Over time, some countries have changed their names or joined together, making the list of participants interesting to follow.

Some countries no longer exist as they once did, but their teams still count toward the records. For example, Czechoslovakia used to compete, but now the Czech Republic and Slovakia compete separately. Similar changes happened with teams from Germany, the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia, among others. Today, twelve countries have been part of every Winter Olympics so far: Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.

Many current countries have never sent a team to the Winter Olympics. For instance, Vatican City cannot join because it is not part of the International Olympic Committee. There are 85 active NOCs that have not yet competed in the Winter Games. The Refugee Olympic Team has only competed in the Summer Olympics, not the Winter Olympics.

Contents:		A B C D E F G H I J K L M N P R S T U V Z Total

A	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Albania	ALB																						•	•	•	•	•	•	6
Algeria	ALG	France						France											•				•	•					3
American Samoa	ASA																			•							•		2
Andorra	AND														•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	14
Argentina	ARG		•					•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	21
Armenia	ARM	Soviet Union						Soviet Union												•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	9
Australia	AUS				•				•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	21
Austria	AUT	•	•	•	•			•	•	•	•	H	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	25
Azerbaijan	AZE	Soviet Union						Soviet Union													•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	8
B	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Belarus	BLR	Soviet Union						Soviet Union											^EUN	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	^AIN	8
Belgium	BEL	•	•	•	•			•	•	•		•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	23
Benin	BEN																											•	1
Bermuda	BER																		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•			8
Bolivia	BOL									•						•	•	•	•							•	•	•	8
Bosnia and Herzegovina	BIH	Yugoslavia						Yugoslavia												•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	9
Brazil	BRA																		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	10
British Virgin Islands	IVB																•								•				2
Bulgaria	BUL				•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	22
C	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Cameroon	CMR																					•							1
Canada	CAN	•	•	•	•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	25
Cayman Islands	CAY																							•	•				2
Chile	CHI							•	•	•	•	•	•		•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	19
China	CHN															•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	13
Chinese Taipei^[TPE] ( Taiwan)	TPE	Japan												•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	14
Colombia	COL																							•		•	•	•	4
Costa Rica	CRC															•	•	•	•			•^[B]	•						6
Croatia	CRO	Yugoslavia						Yugoslavia											•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	10
Cyprus	CYP															•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	13
Czech Republic	CZE	Czechoslovakia						Czechoslovakia												•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	9
Czechoslovakia ^{[^]}	TCH	•	•	•	•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•										16
D	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Denmark	DEN							•	•		•	•	•					•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	16
Dominica	DMA																								•				1
E	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Ecuador	ECU																									•	•	•	3
Egypt	EGY																•												1
Eritrea	ERI	Ethiopia						Ethiopia																		•	•	•	3
Estonia	EST	^[A]	•		•			Soviet Union											•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	12
Ethiopia	ETH																						•	•					2
F	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Fiji	FIJ																	•		•		•							3
Finland	FIN	•	•	•	•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	25
France	FRA	H	•	•	•			•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	25
G	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Georgia	GEO	Soviet Union						Soviet Union												•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	9
Germany	GER		•	•	H				•	EUA			GDR, FRG						•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	14
United Team of Germany ^{[^]}	EUA									•	•	•																	3
East Germany ^{[^]}	GDR									EUA			•	•	•	•	•	•											6
West Germany ^{[^]}	FRG									EUA			•	•	•	•	•	•											6
Ghana	GHA																							•		•	•		3
Great Britain	GBR	•	•	•	•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	25
Greece	GRE				•			•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	21
Guam	GUM																	•											1
Guatemala	GUA																	•											1
Guinea-Bissau	GBS																											•	1
H	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Haiti	HAI																										•	•	2
Honduras	HON																		•										1
Hong Kong	HKG																					•	•	•	•	•	•	•	7
Hungary	HUN	•	•	•	•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	25
I	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Iceland	ISL							•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	20
India	IND											•	•					•	•		•	•	•	•	•^[D]	•	•	•	12
Iran	IRI									•		•	•	•	•						•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	13
Ireland	IRL																		•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	9
Israel	ISR																			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	9
Italy	ITA	•	•	•	•			•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	H	25
J	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Jamaica	JAM																	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	10
Japan	JPN		•	•	•				•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	23
K	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Kazakhstan	KAZ	Soviet Union						Soviet Union											^EUN	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	9
Kenya	KEN																				•	•	•			•		•	5
North Korea	PRK	Japan										•		•			•	•	•		•		•	•		•			9
South Korea	KOR	Japan						•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	20
Korea ^{[^]}	COR																									•			1
Kosovo	KOS	Yugoslavia						Yugoslavia												SCG				^SRB		•	•	•	3
Kyrgyzstan	KGZ	Soviet Union						Soviet Union												•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	9
L	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Latvia	LAT	•	•		•			Soviet Union											•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	13
Lebanon	LIB							•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	19
Liechtenstein	LIE				•			•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	21
Lithuania	LTU		•					Soviet Union											•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	11
Luxembourg	LUX		•		•													•	•	•	•		•		•	•	•	•	11
M	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Madagascar	MAD																						•			•	•	•	4
Malaysia	MAS																									•	•	•	3
Malta	MLT																								•	•	•	•	4
Mexico	MEX		•														•	•	•	•		•		•	•	•	•	•	11
Moldova	MDA	Romania						Soviet Union												•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	9
Monaco	MON																•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	12
Mongolia	MGL											•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	16
Montenegro	MNE	Yugoslavia						Yugoslavia												SCG				•	•	•	•	•	5
Morocco	MAR												•				•	•	•					•	•	•	•	•	9
N	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Nepal	NEP																					•	•	•	•				4
Netherlands	NED		•		•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	23
Netherlands Antilles ^{[^]}	AHO																	•	•										2
New Zealand	NZL								•		•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	18
Nigeria	NGR																									•	•	•	3
North Macedonia^[MKD]	MKD	Yugoslavia						Yugoslavia													•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	8
Norway	NOR	•	•	•	•			•	H	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	25
P	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Pakistan	PAK	India																						•	•	•	•	•	5
Paraguay	PAR																								•				1
Peru	PER																							•	•		•		3
Philippines	PHI													•				•	•						•	•	•	•	7
Poland	POL	•	•	•	•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	25
Portugal	POR								•									•		•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	10
Puerto Rico	PUR																•	•	•	•	•	•				•	•	•	9
R	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Romania	ROU		•	•	•			•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	23
Russia	RUS	Soviet Union						Soviet Union											^EUN	•	•	•	•	•	H	^OAR	^ROC	^AIN	6
Soviet Union ^{[^]}	URS									•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	^EUN										9
Unified Team ^{[^]}	EUN																		•										1
Olympic Athletes from Russia ^{[^]}	OAR																									•			1
ROC ^{[^]}	ROC																										•		1
Individual Neutral Athletes ^{[^]}	AIN																											•	1
S	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
San Marino	SMR														•		•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	12
Saudi Arabia	KSA																										•	•	2
Senegal	SEN																•		•	•			•	•					5
Serbia	SRB	Yugoslavia						Yugoslavia												SCG				•	•	•	•	•	5
Yugoslavia ^{[^]}	YUG	•	•		•			•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•										14
Serbia and Montenegro ^{[^]}	SCG																				•	•	•						3
Singapore	SGP																									•		•	2
Slovakia	SVK	Czechoslovakia						Czechoslovakia												•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	9
Czechoslovakia ^{[^]}	TCH	•	•	•	•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•										16
Slovenia	SLO	Yugoslavia						Yugoslavia											•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	10
South Africa	RSA										•									•	•	•	•	•		•		•	8
Spain	ESP				•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	22
Swaziland	SWZ																		•										1
Sweden	SWE	•	•	•	•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	25
Switzerland	SUI	•	H	•	•			H	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	25
T	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Tajikistan	TJK	Soviet Union						Soviet Union														•	•	•	•				4
Thailand	THA																					•	•		•	•	•	•	6
Timor-Leste	TLS																								•	•	•		3
Togo	TOG																								•	•			2
Tonga	TGA																								•	•			2
Trinidad and Tobago	TRI																			•	•	•					•	•	5
Turkey	TUR				•			•		•	•	•	•		•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	19
U	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Ukraine	UKR	Soviet Union						Soviet Union											^EUN	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	9
United Arab Emirates	UAE																											•	1
United States	USA	•	•	H	•			•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	•	25
Uruguay	URU																				•							•	2
Uzbekistan	UZB	Soviet Union						Soviet Union											^EUN	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	9
V	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Venezuela	VEN																				•	•	•		•			•	5
Virgin Islands	ISV																	•	•	•	•	•	•^[C]		•		•		8
Z	Code	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	94	98	02	06	10	14	18	22	26	Total
Zimbabwe	ZIM																								•				1
Total NOCs number		16	25	17	28	-	-	28	30	32	30	36	37	35	37	37	49	57	64	67	72	78	80	82	88	93	91	93	1240

Nation	Code
Afghanistan	AFG
Angola	ANG
Antigua and Barbuda	ANT
Aruba	ARU
Bahamas	BAH
Bahrain	BRN
Bangladesh	BAN
Barbados	BAR
Belize	BIZ
Bhutan	BHU
Botswana	BOT
Brunei	BRU
Burkina Faso	BUR
Burundi	BDI
Cambodia	CAM
Cape Verde	CPV
Central African Republic	CAF
Chad	CHA
Comoros	COM
Republic of the Congo	CGO
Cook Islands	COK
Cuba	CUB
Djibouti	DJI
Dominican Republic	DOM
Democratic Republic of the Congo	COD
El Salvador	ESA
Equatorial Guinea	GEQ
Federated States of Micronesia	FSM
Gabon	GAB
The Gambia	GAM
Grenada	GRN
Guinea	GUI
Guyana	GUY
Indonesia	INA
Iraq	IRQ
Ivory Coast	CIV
Jordan	JOR
Kiribati	KIR
Kuwait	KUW
Laos	LAO
Lesotho	LES
Liberia	LBR
Libya	LBA
Malawi	MAW
Maldives	MDV
Mali	MLI
Marshall Islands	MHL
Mauritania	MTN
Mauritius	MRI
Mozambique	MOZ
Myanmar	MYA
Namibia	NAM
Nauru	NRU
Nicaragua	NCA
Niger	NIG
Oman	OMA
Palau	PLW
Palestine	PLE
Panama	PAN
Papua New Guinea	PNG
Qatar	QAT
Rwanda	RWA
Saint Kitts and Nevis	SKN
Saint Lucia	LCA
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	VIN
Samoa	SAM
São Tomé and Príncipe	STP
Seychelles	SEY
Sierra Leone	SLE
Solomon Islands	SOL
Somalia	SOM
South Sudan	SSD
Sri Lanka	SRI
Sudan	SUD
Suriname	SUR
Syria	SYR
Tanzania	TAN
Tunisia	TUN
Turkmenistan	TKM
Tuvalu	TUV
Uganda	UGA
Vanuatu	VAN
Vietnam	VIE
Yemen	YEM
Zambia	ZAM
Refugee Olympic Team*	EOR*

List of participating nations at the Winter Olympic Games

History

List of nations

Related articles