Country Lookup

Overview

Country Lookup works by retrieving country data from various reliable sources and providing it in a structured format. The country database is updated regularly to ensure accurate and up-to-date information.

Endpoint

One host, one path per API. The block below shows this call in four languages; every one of them is the same HTTP request. Making requests covers the timeouts, retries and parameter rules that apply to all of them. The SDKs wrap the same call in a typed client.

curl "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/countrylookup?country=USA&majorcities=true" \
  -H "x-api-key: your_api_key_here"

const res = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/countrylookup?country=USA&majorcities=true', {
  headers: { 'x-api-key': 'your_api_key_here' },
});

if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${res.status} ${await res.text()}`);

const { data } = await res.json();
console.log(data);

import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/countrylookup?country=USA&majorcities=true",
    headers={"x-api-key": "your_api_key_here"},
    timeout=15,
)
res.raise_for_status()

print(res.json()["data"])

package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"io"
	"net/http"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/countrylookup?country=USA&majorcities=true", nil)
	req.Header.Set("x-api-key", "your_api_key_here")

	res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	defer res.Body.Close()

	out, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
	fmt.Println(string(out))
}

Replace your_api_key_here with the key from your dashboard. When the inputs arrive as a list rather than one at a time, batch requests run up to 200 of them through this same API in a single call.

Authentication

Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — there is no token exchange and no per-endpoint scope to configure. Authentication covers creating, rotating and revoking keys.

Parameters

Sent in the query string. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

Response

Every API returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape. Response format covers the envelope, the other output formats and how premium fields are withheld.

{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "search": "USA",
    "countries": [
      {
        "name": {
          "common": "United States",
          "official": "United States of America",
          "native": {
            "eng": {
              "official": "United States of America",
              "common": "United States"
            }
          }
        },
        "tld": [
          ".us"
        ],
        "cca2": "US",
        "ccn3": "840",
        "cca3": "USA",
        "cioc": "USA",
        "independent": true,
        "status": "officially-assigned",
        "capital": [
          "Washington D.C."
        ],
        "altSpellings": [
          "US",
          "USA",
          "United States of America"
        ],
        "region": "Americas",
        "subregion": "North America",
        "languages": {
          "eng": "English"
        },
        "latlng": [
          38,
          -97
        ],
        "landlocked": false,
        "flag": "🇺🇸"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.

Errors

Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change. Error handling covers the full status list and which of them are worth retrying.

Use cases

Travel Planning

Plan travel itineraries by using the Country Lookup API to get country data. Use the data to find information about countries, capitals, and more

Geography Studies

Study geography by using the Country Lookup API to get country data. Use the data to learn about countries, populations, and more

International Business

Conduct international business by using the Country Lookup API to get country data. Use the data to research markets and economic indicators

Educational Purposes

Use the Country Lookup API for educational purposes to teach students about countries and cultures. Provide students with information about countries and capitals

Other ways to use Country Lookup

Set up Country Lookup on APIVerve, or reach the same source a different way. Your APIVerve account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Related

More in Geography: