This page lists every country in the world, with key information about each country's Scouting program(s).
Apparently, only six of the world's 196 independent countries do not have Scouting: Andorra, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), and Vatican City. A seventh country, China (People's Republic), has no Scouting except in the former colonies of Hong Kong and Macau. Another 24 countries have the beginnings of Scouting, in an organizing or building stage.
This information comes from many sources, and is as up-to-date as I can find. I have found well over 500 Scouting organizations, and undoubtedly there are more that I have not yet found. Please e-mail me with any corrections or additions. Thanks!
Scouting Terminology—These terms are used in different ways by different Scouting organizations, so for clarity I will try to use them consistently as follows:
Organization—international Scouting organizations
Federation—national (sometimes international) "umbrella" organizations that generally have no youth members of their own, only other Scouting associations
Common Scouting terms that may be confusing if your country doesn't use them:
Group/Section—The Scouting "group" is the basic unit of Scouting in many countries. Each group consists of one or more "sections". Sections typically include pre-Cubs (typically around age 6), Wolf Cubs/Cubs/Cub Scouts (typically around ages 7-11), Scouts (typically around ages 11-14), Senior Scouts/Venturers/Explorers (typically around ages 14-20), and Rovers (typically around ages 18-26 or older). Exact division of sections, the age ranges, and the names vary considerably from association to association, and are listed below if known.
Unit—In countries that don't use the "group" method of organizing (such as the US), the basic unit of Scouting is the individual "pack" (Cubs), "troop" (Scouts), or "post" / "crew" / "team" (senior Scouts, Explorers, Rovers, etc). The terms "pack" and "troop" are fairly common around the world, but the terms for units of older Scouts vary considerably from country to country.
International Organizations (for more information about international Scouting organizations, see our International Scouting page)—While some national Scout associations are independent of any international body, most belong to WOSM or WAGGGS, and others belong to WFIS, FSE, OWS, or CES:
WOSM = World Organization of the Scout Movement / Organisation Mondiale du Mouvement Scout (OMMS)
WAGGGS = World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts / Association Mondiale des Guides et Eclaireuses (AMGE)
WFIS = World Federation of Independent Scouts
FSE = Fédération du Scoutisme Européen / Federation of European Scouting (also called UIGSE or GSE for Union internationale des Guides et Scouts d'Europe)
OWS = Order of World Scouts
CES = Confédération Européenne de Scoutisme / Confederation of European Scouts
NON = Non-aligned (independent) associations
National Associations are listed by country as follows:
Country (ratio of population involved in Scouting; world ratio is 1:184 [one person out of every 184 in the world is directly involved in Scouting])
Name of Association
International Affiliation,
Total Membership
Word for 'Scout'
Scout Motto
Program Sections (if known) Highest Award (for youth under 18, if known)
1. Afghanistan
Da Afganistan Sarandoy Tolanah (Afghanistan Scout Association)
working toward WOSM recognition
Tayar Osay ('Be Prepared' in Pashto)
Cubs (ages 8 to 12)
Scouts (ages 12 to 18)
Rovers (ages 19 to 25)
2. Albania (1:2995)
Beslidhja Skaut Albania
WOSM, 1000
Skaut
Ji Gati ('Always Prepared' in Albanian)
3. Algeria (1:3147)
Scouts Musulmans Algériens (Algerian Muslim Scouts)
WOSM, 11 120
'Scout' is Kashaf or el-Kechaf in Arabic, Askuti in Berber, Scout in French
Kun Musta'idan ('Be Prepared' in Arabic) Sois Prêt ('Be Prepared' in French)
4. Andorra
no Scouting
(Scouting is not outlawed, just not successfully organized)
5. Angola (1:1273)
Associação de Escuteros de Angola (Angola Scout Association)
WOSM, 13 777
Explorador
Sempre Alerta ('Always Alert' in Portuguese)
Lobitos/Lobitas (Cub Scouts; ages 7 to 10)
Exploradores/Júniores (Explorers/Juniors; ages 10 to 14)
Pioneiros/Séniores (Pioneers/Seniors; ages 15 to 18)
Caminheiros (Rovers; ages 18 to 22)
6. Antigua and Barbuda (1:145)
branch of UK Scouting (The Scout Association)
WOSM
Scout
Be Prepared
Girl Guides Association of Antigua and Barbuda
WAGGGS, 608
Guide
Be Prepared
Tweenies (ages 3 to 6)
Brownies (ages 6 to 10)
Guides (ages 10 to 15)
Rangers (ages 15 to 25)
Young Leaders (ages 18 to 30)
7. Argentina (1:844)
Scouts de Argentina
WOSM, 46 264
Scout
Siempre Listo ('Always Ready' in Spanish)
Lobatos/Lobeznas (Cubs; ages 7 to 11)
Scouts (ages 11 to 14)
Caminantes (Explorers; ages 14 to 17)
Rovers (ages 17 to 21)
Asociación Guías Argentinas
WAGGGS, 3251
Guía
Siempre Lista ('Always Ready' in Spanish)
Pimpollitos (ages 5 to 6)
Alitas (Little Wings; ages 7 to 9)
Guías en Caravana (Caravan Guides; ages 10 to 12)
Guías del Sol (Sun Guides; ages 13 to 15)
Guías Mayores (Senior Guides; ages 15 to 18)
USTA Argentina (Unión de Scouts Tradicionales de Argentina)
OWS
Scout
Exploradores Argentinos de Don Bosco
NON
Coordinación de Asociaciones Diocesanas de Scouts Católicos (CADISCA)
NON (observer status with FSE)
[federation of several small Catholic Scout associations, including Asociaciones Diocesanas de Scouts Católicos (ADiSCa)]
Guías Argentinas Católicas
NON
Caravana
Siempre Lista ('Always Ready' in Spanish)
Alitas (ages 6 to 10)
Caravanas (ages 10 to 12)
Solar (ages 13 to 15)
Fuego (ages 15 to 18)
8. Armenia (1:761)
Hayastani Azgayin Scautakan Sharjum Kazmakerputiun (HASK) (National Scout Movement of Armenia)
WOSM, 2385
Scaut
Mish Badrast ('Always Ready' in Armenian)
National Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts of Armenia (ASTGIK)
WAGGGS, 1514
Artswikner (ages 6 to 10)
Arenushner (ages 11 to 15)
Parmanuhiner (ages 16 to 20)
9. Australia (1:210)
Scouts Australia
WOSM, 73 955
Scout
Be Prepared
Joey Scouts (ages 6 to 8)
Cub Scouts (ages 7.5 to 11)
Scouts (ages 10.5 to 15)
Venturer Scouts (ages 14.5 to 18)
Rovers (ages 17.5 to 25)
Louveteaux/Louvettes (Cubs; ages 6 to 12)
Eclaireurs/Eclaireuses (Scouts; ages 11 to 16)
Compagnons/Compagnes (Companions; ages 15 to 19)
Routiers/Guides (Rovers/Guides; ages 18 to 35)
Scoutisme Béninois (Guides du Bénin)
WAGGGS, 2000
Guide
Jeanettes (Brownies; ages 8 to 11)
Guides (ages 11 to 16)
Guides Aînées (Senior Guides; age 16+)
20. Bhutan (1:42)
Bhutan Scout Tshogpa
WOSM, 16 738
Scout
Dra drig Bay ('Be Prepared' in Dzongkha)
Cub Scouts (ages 7 to 11)
Scouts (ages 12 to 15)
Rovers (ages 16 to 20)
21. Bolivia (1:1231)
Asociación de Scouts de Bolivia
WOSM, 7829
Explorador
Siempre Listo ('Always Ready' in Spanish)
Lobatos (Cubs; ages 6 to 10)
Exploradores (ages 11 to 13)
Pioneros (ages 14 to 17)
Rovers (ages 18 to 20)
Asociación de Guías Scouts de Bolivia
WAGGGS, 390
Siempre Lista ('Always Ready' in Spanish)
Alitas (Little Wings; ages 6 to 7+)
Pre-Intermedia (Pre-Intermediate; ages 10 to 12)
Intermedia (Intermediate; ages 13 to 14)
Mayor (Ranger; ages 15 to 18)
USTA Bolivia (Unión de Scouts Tradicionales de America)
OWS
22. Bosnia and Herzegovina (1:2431)
Savjet izvidackih organizacija u Bosni i Hercegovini (The Council of Scout Associations in Bosnia and Herzegovina)
WOSM umbrella federation, 1901
Izvidac
Budi Spreman ('Be Ready' in Bosnian)
Poletarac (Cub Scouts; ages 7 to 10)
Izvidaci (Scouts; ages 11 to 20)
The Scout Association of the Federation of Bosnia and Hezergovina
WOSM sub-association
The Scout Association of Republica Srpska
WOSM sub-association
23. Botswana (1:143)
The Botswana Scouts Association
WOSM, 4660
Scout
Nna oi Pokoulse ('Be Prepared' in Tswana)
Cub Scouts
Boy Scouts
Rovers
Botswana Girl Guides Association
WAGGGS, 9825
Guide
Be Prepared
Sunbeams (ages 7 to 10)
Girl Guides (ages 11 to 15)
Seniors (ages 16 to 21)
24. Brazil (1:3203)
União dos Escoteiros do Brasil
WOSM, 59 057
Escoteiro/Escoteira
Sempre Alerta ('Always Alert' in Portuguese)
Mascotes (Mascots; age under 7)
Lobinhos/Lobinhas (Cubs; ages 7 to 10)
Escoteiros/Escoteiras (Scouts/Guides; ages 11 to 14)
Seniores/Guias (Seniors/Guides; ages 15 to 17)
Pioneiros/Pioneiras (Pioneers; ages 18 to 21)
Boys:
Castors (Beavers; ages 7 to 8)
Louveteaux (Cubs; ages 9 to 11)
Eclaireurs (Scouts; ages 11 to 14) Girls:
Hirondelles (Swallows; ages 7 to 8)
Exploratrices (Explorers; ages 9 to 11)
Intrépides (Intrepids; ages 11 to 14) Mixed:
Pionniers (Pioneers; ages 14 to 17)
Scouts-Aîné(e)s (Senior Scouts; ages 18 to 21)
[ASC has much in common with Scouts de France; Canada is the sole exception to WOSM's one federation per country rule—they avoid having to create an umbrella federation by calling the ASC an "affiliated organization"]
Girl Guides of Canada/Guides du Canada
WAGGGS, 116 206
Pathfinder
Sparks (ages 5 and 6)
Brownies (ages 7 and 8)
Guides (ages 9 to 11)
Pathfinders (ages 12 to 15)
Rangers (ages 15 to 17)
