REST Countries API

openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: REST Countries API
  description: >
    Free REST API providing comprehensive data about world countries including
    name, capital, currencies, languages, flags, population, and geographic
    information. Covers 250+ countries and dependencies with 80+ fields per
    country, updated from 35+ authoritative sources.
  version: 'v5'
  contact:
    url: https://restcountries.com
  license:
    name: Mozilla Public License 2.0
    url: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/MPL/2.0/
  termsOfService: https://restcountries.com/terms

servers:
  - url: https://api.restcountries.com/countries/v5
    description: Production API

security:
  - bearerAuth: []
  - apiKeyQuery: []

tags:
  - name: Countries
    description: Country lookup and search endpoints

paths:
  /:
    get:
      operationId: listCountries
      summary: List all countries
      description: >
        Returns a paginated list of all countries. Supports filtering by any
        searchable property via query parameters.
      tags:
        - Countries
      parameters:
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/limit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/offset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/pretty'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/response_fields'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/response_fields_omit'
        - name: q
          in: query
          description: Free-text search term across all searchable properties
          required: false
          schema:
            type: string
      responses:
        '200':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/CountriesListResponse'
        '400':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/BadRequest'
        '401':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
        '403':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Forbidden'
        '500':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/InternalServerError'

  /{aggregate}:
    get:
      operationId: searchByAggregate
      summary: Search within a named property aggregate
      description: >
        Search within a predefined bundle of related properties. Use aggregate
        `name` to search across common/official/alternate/native names, or
        `code` to search across all country code fields (alpha_2, alpha_3, etc.).
      tags:
        - Countries
      parameters:
        - name: aggregate
          in: path
          required: true
          description: Property bundle to search within (`name` or `code`)
          schema:
            type: string
            enum:
              - name
              - code
        - name: q
          in: query
          required: true
          description: Search term to match within the aggregate properties
          schema:
            type: string
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/limit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/offset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/pretty'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/response_fields'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/response_fields_omit'
      responses:
        '200':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/CountriesListResponse'
        '400':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/BadRequest'
        '401':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
        '403':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Forbidden'
        '404':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound'
        '500':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/InternalServerError'

  /{property}/{value}:
    get:
      operationId: lookupByProperty
      summary: Exact-match lookup by property value
      description: >
        Returns countries where the specified property exactly matches the
        given value. For example, `/alpha_2/US` returns the United States.
      tags:
        - Countries
      parameters:
        - name: property
          in: path
          required: true
          description: Country property name to match against
          schema:
            type: string
            example: alpha_2
        - name: value
          in: path
          required: true
          description: Exact value to match for the given property
          schema:
            type: string
            example: US
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/limit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/offset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/pretty'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/response_fields'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/response_fields_omit'
      responses:
        '200':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/CountriesListResponse'
        '400':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/BadRequest'
        '401':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
        '403':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Forbidden'
        '404':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound'
        '500':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/InternalServerError'

  /{property}:
    get:
      operationId: searchByProperty
      summary: Substring search within a single property
      description: >
        Performs a substring/partial match search within the specified
        property. Requires the `q` query parameter.
      tags:
        - Countries
      parameters:
        - name: property
          in: path
          required: true
          description: Country property name to search within
          schema:
            type: string
            example: names.common
        - name: q
          in: query
          required: true
          description: Search term for substring matching within the property
          schema:
            type: string
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/limit'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/offset'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/pretty'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/response_fields'
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/response_fields_omit'
      responses:
        '200':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/CountriesListResponse'
        '400':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/BadRequest'
        '401':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
        '403':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Forbidden'
        '404':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound'
        '500':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/InternalServerError'

components:
  securitySchemes:
    bearerAuth:
      type: http
      scheme: bearer
      description: >
        Bearer token authentication. Obtain your API key from
        https://restcountries.com. A demo key `rc_live_demo` is available
        for testing.
    apiKeyQuery:
      type: apiKey
      in: query
      name: api-key
      description: API key passed as a query parameter (less secure)

  parameters:
    limit:
      name: limit
      in: query
      description: Maximum number of records to return per page (1–100, default 25)
      required: false
      schema:
        type: integer
        minimum: 1
        maximum: 100
        default: 25
    offset:
      name: offset
      in: query
      description: Number of records to skip for pagination (default 0)
      required: false
      schema:
        type: integer
        minimum: 0
        default: 0
    pretty:
      name: pretty
      in: query
      description: Pretty-print JSON output
      required: false
      schema:
        type: boolean
        default: false
    response_fields:
      name: response_fields
      in: query
      description: Comma-separated allowlist of country fields to include in response
      required: false
      schema:
        type: string
        example: 'names.common,codes.alpha_2,flag.emoji'
    response_fields_omit:
      name: response_fields_omit
      in: query
      description: Comma-separated blocklist of country fields to exclude from response
      required: false
      schema:
        type: string
        example: 'leaders,economy'

  schemas:
    CountryNames:
      type: object
      description: Country name data in various forms and languages
      properties:
        common:
          type: string
          description: Common English name of the country
          example: United States
        official:
          type: string
          description: Official name of the country
          example: United States of America
        alternates:
          type: array
          description: Alternate names or spellings
          items:
            type: string
        native:
          type: object
          description: Native names keyed by ISO 639-3 language code
          additionalProperties:
            type: object
            properties:
              common:
                type: string
              official:
                type: string
        translations:
          type: object
          description: Translated names keyed by language code
          additionalProperties:
            type: object
            properties:
              common:
                type: string
              official:
                type: string

    CountryCodes:
      type: object
      description: Standardized country identifier codes
      properties:
        alpha_2:
          type: string
          description: ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 two-letter country code
          example: US
          minLength: 2
          maxLength: 2
        alpha_3:
          type: string
          description: ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 three-letter country code
          example: USA
          minLength: 3
          maxLength: 3
        ccn3:
          type: string
          description: ISO 3166-1 numeric three-digit country code
          example: '840'
        fips:
          type: string
          description: FIPS country code
        gec:
          type: string
          description: GEC Entities country code
        cioc:
          type: string
          description: International Olympic Committee country code
        fifa:
          type: string
          description: FIFA country code

    CountryArea:
      type: object
      description: Land area of the country
      properties:
        kilometers:
          type: number
          description: Land area in square kilometers
          example: 9372610
        miles:
          type: number
          description: Land area in square miles
          example: 3618783

    CountryCoordinates:
      type: object
      description: Geographic center coordinates
      properties:
        lat:
          type: number
          description: Latitude of geographic center
          example: 38.0
        lng:
          type: number
          description: Longitude of geographic center
          example: -97.0

    Capital:
      type: object
      description: Capital city information
      properties:
        name:
          type: string
          description: Name of the capital city
          example: Washington D.C.
        coordinates:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/CountryCoordinates'
        primary:
          type: boolean
          description: Is this the primary capital?
        constitutional:
          type: boolean
        administrative:
          type: boolean
        executive:
          type: boolean
        legislative:
          type: boolean
        judicial:
          type: boolean

    Currency:
      type: object
      description: Currency used in the country
      properties:
        name:
          type: string
          description: Full currency name
          example: United States dollar
        symbol:
          type: string
          description: Currency symbol
          example: $

    Language:
      type: object
      description: Language spoken in the country
      properties:
        name:
          type: string
          description: English name of the language
        native:
          type: string
          description: Native name of the language
        iso_code:
          type: string
          description: ISO 639 language code

    Flag:
      type: object
      description: Flag representation in various formats
      properties:
        emoji:
          type: string
          description: Flag emoji character
          example: "🇺🇸"
        unicode:
          type: string
          description: Unicode code points for flag emoji
          example: U+1F1FA U+1F1F8
        html_entity:
          type: string
          description: HTML numeric entity representation
          example: '🇺🇸'
        url_png:
          type: string
          format: uri
          description: URL to PNG flag image
          example: https://flagcdn.com/w320/us.png
        url_svg:
          type: string
          format: uri
          description: URL to SVG flag image
          example: https://flagcdn.com/us.svg
        description:
          type: string
          description: Accessibility text description of the flag

    Memberships:
      type: object
      description: International organization memberships
      properties:
        un:
          type: boolean
          description: United Nations member
        eu:
          type: boolean
          description: European Union member
        eurozone:
          type: boolean
          description: Euro currency user
        schengen:
          type: boolean
          description: Schengen Area member
        nato:
          type: boolean
          description: NATO member
        commonwealth:
          type: boolean
          description: Commonwealth of Nations member
        oecd:
          type: boolean
          description: OECD member
        g7:
          type: boolean
          description: G7 member
        g20:
          type: boolean
          description: G20 member
        brics:
          type: boolean
          description: BRICS member
        opec:
          type: boolean
          description: OPEC member
        african_union:
          type: boolean
          description: African Union member
        asean:
          type: boolean
          description: ASEAN member
        arab_league:
          type: boolean
          description: Arab League member

    Classification:
      type: object
      description: Political and international classification of the country
      properties:
        sovereign:
          type: boolean
          description: Self-governing state
        un_member:
          type: boolean
          description: United Nations member state
        un_observer:
          type: boolean
          description: UN permanent observer
        disputed:
          type: boolean
          description: Contested recognition
        dependency:
          type: boolean
          description: Dependent territory
        dependency_type:
          type: string
          description: Type of dependency
          example: overseas_territory
        iso_status:
          type: string
          description: ISO 3166 status
          enum:
            - official
            - user_assigned

    DateInfo:
      type: object
      description: Country-specific date and calendar conventions
      properties:
        start_of_week:
          type: string
          description: Conventional first day of the week
          example: sunday
        academic_year_start:
          type: object
          properties:
            month:
              type: integer
              minimum: 1
              maximum: 12
            day:
              type: integer
              minimum: 1
              maximum: 31
        fiscal_year_start:
          type: object
          properties:
            government:
              type: object
              properties:
                month:
                  type: integer
                  minimum: 1
                  maximum: 12
                day:
                  type: integer
                  minimum: 1
                  maximum: 31
            corporate:
              type: object
              properties:
                month:
                  type: integer
                  minimum: 1
                  maximum: 12
                day:
                  type: integer
                  minimum: 1
                  maximum: 31
                basis:
                  type: string
                  description: Basis for fiscal year (mandated, default, convention)
            personal:
              type: object
              properties:
                month:
                  type: integer
                  minimum: 1
                  maximum: 12
                day:
                  type: integer
                  minimum: 1
                  maximum: 31

    NumberFormat:
      type: object
      description: Country-specific number formatting conventions
      properties:
        decimal_separator:
          type: string
          description: Character used as decimal separator
          example: '.'
        thousands_separator:
          type: string
          description: Character used as thousands grouping separator
          example: ','

    Cars:
      type: object
      description: Automobile-related country information
      properties:
        driving_side:
          type: string
          description: Side of the road vehicles drive on
          enum:
            - left
            - right
        signs:
          type: array
          description: International vehicle registration codes
          items:
            type: string
          example:
            - USA

    PostalCode:
      type: object
      description: Postal code format information
      properties:
        format:
          type: string
          description: Postal code format mask (# = digit)
          example: '#####-####'
        regex:
          type: string
          description: Regular expression pattern for postal code validation
          example: '^\d{5}(-\d{4})?$'

    Links:
      type: object
      description: External reference links for the country
      properties:
        official:
          type: string
          format: uri
          description: Official government website URL
        wikipedia:
          type: string
          format: uri
          description: Wikipedia article URL
        open_street_maps:
          type: string
          format: uri
          description: OpenStreetMap URL
        google_maps:
          type: string
          format: uri
          description: Google Maps URL

    Economy:
      type: object
      description: Economic data for the country
      properties:
        gini_coefficient:
          type: object
          description: Gini coefficient measurements keyed by year
          additionalProperties:
            type: number

    Parent:
      type: object
      description: Sovereign parent country for dependencies
      properties:
        alpha_2:
          type: string
          description: ISO alpha-2 code of parent country
        alpha_3:
          type: string
          description: ISO alpha-3 code of parent country

    Country:
      type: object
      description: Comprehensive country data record
      properties:
        names:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/CountryNames'
        codes:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/CountryCodes'
        region:
          type: string
          description: Continent or major region
          example: Americas
          enum:
            - Africa
            - Americas
            - Asia
            - Europe
            - Oceania
            - Antarctic
        subregion:
          type: string
          description: Geographic sub-region
          example: Northern America
        continents:
          type: array
          description: Continent(s) the country belongs to
          items:
            type: string
          example:
            - North America
        landlocked:
          type: boolean
          description: True if the country has no coastline
        borders:
          type: array
          description: ISO alpha-3 codes of bordering countries
          items:
            type: string
          example:
            - CAN
            - MEX
        area:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/CountryArea'
        coordinates:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/CountryCoordinates'
        timezones:
          type: array
          description: UTC timezone offsets
          items:
            type: string
          example:
            - UTC-12:00
            - UTC-05:00
        population:
          type: integer
          description: Current population estimate
          example: 331000000
        languages:
          type: array
          description: Languages spoken in the country
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Language'
        currencies:
          type: object
          description: Currencies used, keyed by ISO currency code
          additionalProperties:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Currency'
        calling_codes:
          type: array
          description: International telephone dialing codes
          items:
            type: string
          example:
            - '+1'
        tlds:
          type: array
          description: Country-code top-level domain(s)
          items:
            type: string
          example:
            - .us
        capitals:
          type: array
          description: Capital city or cities
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Capital'
        demonyms:
          type: object
          description: Demonym forms by language code
          additionalProperties:
            type: object
            properties:
              m:
                type: string
                description: Masculine demonym form
              f:
                type: string
                description: Feminine demonym form
        flag:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/Flag'
        memberships:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/Memberships'
        classification:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/Classification'
        government_type:
          type: string
          description: Form of government
          example: Federal presidential constitutional republic
        leaders:
          type: array
          description: Current political leaders (premium field)
          items:
            type: object
            properties:
              name:
                type: string
              title:
                type: string
              links:
                type: object
        date:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/DateInfo'
        number_format:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/NumberFormat'
        cars:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/Cars'
        postal_code:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/PostalCode'
        links:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/Links'
        economy:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/Economy'
        parent:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/Parent'

    Meta:
      type: object
      description: Pagination metadata
      properties:
        total:
          type: integer
          description: Total number of matched records
          example: 249
        count:
          type: integer
          description: Number of records returned in this response
          example: 25
        limit:
          type: integer
          description: Records per page limit used for this request
          example: 25
        offset:
          type: integer
          description: Number of records skipped
          example: 0
        more:
          type: boolean
          description: True if additional records exist beyond this page
          example: true
        request_id:
          type: string
          description: Unique identifier for this request
          example: req_01abc123def456

    CountriesListData:
      type: object
      properties:
        objects:
          type: array
          description: Array of country records
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Country'
        meta:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/Meta'

    CountriesListEnvelope:
      type: object
      properties:
        data:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/CountriesListData'

    Error:
      type: object
      description: API error response
      properties:
        errors:
          type: array
          items:
            type: object
            properties:
              message:
                type: string
                description: Human-readable error description
                example: Authorization key required.

  responses:
    CountriesListResponse:
      description: Successful country list or search response
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/CountriesListEnvelope'
          example:
            data:
              objects:
                - names:
                    common: United States
                    official: United States of America
                  codes:
                    alpha_2: US
                    alpha_3: USA
                    ccn3: '840'
                  region: Americas
                  subregion: Northern America
                  population: 331000000
                  flag:
                    emoji: "🇺🇸"
                    url_png: https://flagcdn.com/w320/us.png
              meta:
                total: 249
                count: 1
                limit: 25
                offset: 0
                more: false
                request_id: req_01abc123def456

    BadRequest:
      description: Malformed request (e.g., empty search term, invalid parameters)
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            errors:
              - message: 'q parameter is required and cannot be empty'

    Unauthorized:
      description: Missing, invalid, revoked, or expired API key
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            errors:
              - message: Authorization key required.

    Forbidden:
      description: Account frozen due to quota exceeded, or premium field accessed on free plan
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            errors:
              - message: Access to premium fields requires a paid plan.

    NotFound:
      description: Unknown path, property, or aggregate
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            errors:
              - message: Unknown property or aggregate.

    InternalServerError:
      description: Server-side error
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            errors:
              - message: Internal server error.