In political science, a "nation" refers to a group of people who feel bound into a single body by

shared culture, values, folkways, religion and/or language. A "state" just refers to a patch of
land with a sovereign government. States often coincide with nations (and are called "nation-
states," but not always.

Main Difference State vs Nation

A state is an independent political entity with clear geographic boundaries. Nation is a
large body of people united by common origin, history, culture, ethnicity, or language.
The main difference between state and nation is that state is a political and legal
entity whereas nation is a socio-cultural entity.
What is a State
A state is a territory considered as an organized political community under one
government. A state has four main elements: territory, population, government, and
sovereignty. A state also has fixed geographical boundaries. It is also not dependent or
subordinate to any other state; it has an independent governance system.

The population of the state may be made up of more than one nation. A state which is
only populated by one nation is known as a nation state. But the population of many
sovereign states in the world is made up of more than one nation.

A state can be created with a conscious effort. For example, after 1947, Pakistan was
created as an independent state. A state has both political and legal power. Therefore, it
can also create and impose laws.

Nation state is a form of political entity in which a group of people who share the same
history, traditions, or language live in a particular area under one government.

What is a Nation
Nation is a large body of people united by common origin, history, culture, ethnicity, or
language. Nation is a cultural-political community.
A nation is formed by factors like common race, common language, common culture,
common history, common territory, etc. But none of these are absolute essentials. For
example, a nation can survive without a territory, but love for a common territory may
unite the nation. The elements that result in a nation are not always constant. Nation is
always the result of evolution. It is also possible for two or more nations to exist within
a single State.

Nation is not a legal entity. It is the strong bond between people and common elements
like ethnicity, language, and descent that keeps the nation together.

Difference Between State and Nation

Definition
State is an independent political entity with fixed geographic boundaries.
Nation is a large body of people united by common origin, history, culture, ethnicity, or
language.

Reference
State refers to a territory.
Nation refers to a group of people.

Territory
State has a fixed territory.
Nation doesnt have a fixed territory.

Type
State is a political and legal entity.
Nation is a socio-cultural entity.

Origins
State can be created consciously.
Nation cannot be created consciously.

Stability
State is not as stable as a nation since it is a created concept.
Nation is more stable than a state.

Home
State can be home to more than one nation.
People belonging to different nations can live in different states.

Sovereignty
State cannot exist without sovereignty.
Nation can exist without sovereignty.

Unity
State is united by laws and regulations.
Nation is united by bonds and shared histories.

9 Major Differences between

State and Nation
Some of the major differences between state and nation are as follows:

In common usage, the terms State and Nation are often used as
synonyms. For example, when we say Western nations or Asian
nations or African nations, we do not mean nations but States.
Similarly, the United Nations is in reality an organization of nation-
states. Each modern state is a Nation State; nevertheless, there exist
some important distinctions between the State and the Nation.

Points of Difference between State and Nation:

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1. The elements of State and Nation are different:

The State has four elementspopulation, territory, government, and
sovereignty. In the absence of even one element, a State cannot be
really a State. A state is always characterized by all these four
elements. On the contrary, a nation is a group of people who have a
strong sense of unity and common consciousness.

Common territory, common race, common religion, common

language, common history, common culture and common political
aspirations are the elements which help the formation of a nation, and
yet none of these is an absolutely essential element. The elements
which go to build a nation keep on changing.

2. State is a Political Organization while Nation is a social,

cultural, psychological, emotional and political unity:
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The State is a political organisation which fulfills the security and

welfare needs of its people. It is concerned with external human
actions. It is a legal entity. On the other hand, a Nation is a united unit
of population which is full of emotional, spiritual and psychological
bonds. A nation has little to do with the physical needs of the people.

3. Possession of a Definite Territory is essential for the State

but not for a Nation:
It is essential for each State to possess a fixed territory. It is the
physical element of the State. State is a territorial entity. But for a
nation territory is not an essential requirement. A nation can survive
even without a fixed territory. Love of a common motherland acts as a
source of unity. For example, before 1948 the Jews were a nation even
though they had no fixed territory of their own. When, in 1948, they
secured a definite and defined territory, they established the State of
Israel.

4. Sovereignty is essential for State but not for Nation:

Sovereignty is an essential element of the State. It is the soul of the
State. In the absence of sovereignty, the State loses its existence. It is
the element of sovereignty which makes the state different from all
other associations of the people. It is not essential for a nation to
possess sovereignty.

The basic requirement of a nation is the strong bonds of emotional

unity among its people which develop due to several common social
cultural elements. Before 1947, India was a nation but not a State
because it did not have sovereignty. (State = Nation + Sovereignty).

After her independence in 1947, India became a State because after the
end of British imperial rule it became a sovereign entity. However,
each nation always aspires to be sovereign and independent of the
control of every other nation.

5. Nation can be wider than the State:

The State is limited to a fixed territory. Its boundaries can increase or
decrease but the process of change is always very complex. However a
nation may or may not remain within the bounds of a fixed territory.
Nation is a community based on common ethnicity, history and
traditions and aspirations.

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Obviously its boundaries can easily extend beyond the boundaries of

the State. For example in a way the French nation extends even to
Belgium, Switzerland and Italy because people in these countries
belong to the same race to which the French claim to belong.

6. There can be two or more Nationalities living in one State:

There can be two or more than two nations within a single State.
Before the First World War, Austria and Hungary were one State, but
two different nations. Most of the modern states are multinational
states.

7. Nation is more stable than State:

A nation is more stable than the State. When sovereignty ends, the
State dies, but not the nation. A nation can survive even without
sovereignty. For example, after their defeat in the World War II, both
Germany and Japan lost their sovereign statuses and outside powers
began to control them. They ceased to exist as States. But as nations
they continued to live as nations, which after some months regained
their sovereign statuses and became sovereign independent states.

8. A State can be created while a Nation is always the result

of evolution:
A State can be created with the conscious endeavors of the people.
Physical elements play an important role in the birth of a State. For
example, after the Second World War, Germany got divided into two
separate states West Germany and East Germany. But Germans
remained emotionally as one nation.

Ultimately in Oct., 1990 the Germans again got united into a single
state. In 1947 Pakistan was created out of India as a separate State. A
nation is a unity of the people which emerges slowly and steadily. No
special efforts go into the making of a nation.

9. The State uses police power (force) for preserving its

unity and integrity, the Nation is bound by strong cultural
and historical links:
State has police power. Those who dare to disobey it are punished by
the state. A nation does not have police power or force or coercive
power. It is backed by moral, emotional and spiritual power. A nation
survives on the power of sense of unity of the people. A nation appeals,
the State orders; a nation persuades, a States coerces; and a nation
boycotts, the State punishes. State is a political organisation, while the
nation is a unity.
State and nation do not have the same boundaries, and yet there is a
tendency for a nation and state to be one. Most of the nations today
stand organised into different states. Most of the modern States are
multinational States. The modern state is called a nation-state because
all the (nationalities) living in one state stand integrated into one
nation.

A state continuously pursues the objective of national- integration.

The State tries to secure this objective by securing a willing blending of
the majority nationality and all the minority nationalities, through
collective living, sharing of all the ups and the downs in common and
development of strong emotional, spiritual and psychological bonds.
Unity in diversity or more really, unity in plurality stands accepted as
the guiding principle by all the modern civilised multinational states
like India, USA, Russia, China, Britain and others.

The nationality is an ethnic or racial concept. On the other hand, citizenship is a legal or
juristic concept. The nationality of a person indicates his/her place or country of birth while
the citizenship of a person shows that the individual is registered as a citizen by the
government of the respective country.
Difference Between Nationality and
Citizenship
Nationality and citizenship are one of the most misconstrued terms, in the world.
For a layman, the term nationality works as a substitute for citizenship and vice
versa. But in reality, the difference between nationality and citizenship is quite
evident, that we cannot ignore it. The nationality of a person, reveals his/her
place of birth, i.e. from where he/she belongs. It defines the belongingness of a
person to a particular nation.

On the contrary, citizenship is granted to an individual by the government of

the country, when he/she complies with the legal formalities. It is the status of
being a citizen of a country. So, have a glance at this article if you want to know
more about these terms thoroughly.

Content: Nationality Vs Citizenship

Comparison Chart
BASIS FOR COMPARISON NATIONALITY

Meaning Nationality is the individual membership that shows a

with the state.

Concept Ethnic or racial.

Represents The place or country where the individual has taken bi

Ways Birth and Inheritance

Can it be changed? No

Can it be reversed? It is innate.

Can it be possible to have nationality/citizenship of multiple No, a person can be national of only one country.
countries?
Definition of Nationality

Nationality is the legal status, which represents the country from which an
individual belongs. An individuals nationality denotes, the country where he/she
is born and are the legal citizen. The status is acquired by birth, inheritance or
naturalization. On the basis of constitutional provisions, every state sets the
criteria which determine who can be the nationals of the country. It provides the
country, rights over the person. Further, it provides the person, protection of the
nation from other nations.

Based on international conventions, every sovereign state is entitled to determine

its nationals, as per nationality law. One has the right enter or return to the
country; they came from.

Definition of Citizenship

Citizenship is a status acquired by becoming a registered member of the state by

law. Any person can become a member of the state by satisfying the legal
requirements of the respective country. In simple terms, the virtue of being the
citizen of the country is called citizenship.

By inheritance, marriage, birth, naturalization are the ways to become a

recognized citizen of the country. Every state grants some legal rights and
privileges to its citizens, and they are also bound to follow the rules and
regulations framed by the government of the respective country.

Once the person becomes a citizen of the state, he has the right to vote, work,
reside, pay taxes and take an active part in the country. Every person is a citizen
of the country where he/she is born, but to become a citizen of some other
country, one needs to apply for it.

Key Differences Between Nationality and Citizenship

The differences between nationality and citizenship can be drawn clearly on the
following grounds:

1. The status arising out of the fact that a person is the origin of a particular
nation is called Nationality. Citizenship is the political status that can be
obtained by meeting the legal requirements set by the government of the
state.
 2. The nationality is an ethnic or racial concept. On the other hand,
citizenship is a legal or juristic concept.
3. The nationality of a person indicates his/her place or country of birth while
the citizenship of a person shows that the individual is registered as a
citizen by the government of the respective country.
4. A person can become a national of a country by birth or by inheritance. As
against this, there are a variety of ways through which an individual can
become the citizen of a country, i.e. by birth, inheritance, marriage,
naturalization or registration.
5. The nationality of a person cannot be changed. However, his citizenship
can be changed.
6. The nationality of a person cannot be taken back, once acquired while the
citizenship of a person can be taken back.
7. A person cannot be a national of more than one country. In contrast, a
person can possess citizenship of more than one country at a time.
Conclusion

Nationality, as the name suggests, is something in connection with the nation,

which a person obtains by birth and is innate. On the other hand, citizenship is a
bit different, which requires a person to fulfill the legal formalities to become a
recognized member of the state. Further, nationality is a subject of international
dealings while citizenship is a matter of countrys internal political life.

To acquire full citizenship, nationality is an essential condition but not the only
condition to be fulfilled. It allows a person full civil and social rights along with
political rights. The person who are national but they are not granted full rights of
the country are known as a second-class citizen.

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