Need a comprehensive list of countries right within Excel? Here’s how to populate a list of countries within Microsoft Excel.
Method 1: Using Power Query
Power Query offers a dynamic and easily updatable method for importing a country list directly into your Excel sheet.
Step 1: Open Excel and navigate to the Data tab.
Step 2: Click on Get Data > From Other Sources > From Web.
Step 3: In the From Web dialog box, enter the URL of a reliable website containing a list of countries in a table format. A good option could be a Wikipedia page, for example, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_United_Nations_membership.
Step 4: Excel will display a Navigator window. Select the table containing the country list.
Step 5: Click Load to import the data directly into your worksheet, or click Transform Data to clean or modify the data before loading.
Step 6: If you chose Transform Data, the Power Query Editor will open. Here, you can remove unnecessary columns, filter data, or perform other transformations. Once you’re satisfied, click Close & Load to import the data.
Method 2: Manually Entering the List
The most straightforward approach involves manually typing the list of countries into your Excel sheet. This method is best suited for situations where you only need the list once and don’t anticipate frequent updates.
Step 1: Open a new Excel sheet.
Step 2: In the first column (Column A), start typing the names of the countries, one country per cell, beginning with cell A1.
Step 3: Continue typing until you have entered all the countries you need.
Method 3: Copying and Pasting from a Website
If you can find a country list on a website, copying and pasting it into Excel can be a quick solution. Be aware that the formatting might require adjustments afterward.
Step 1: Locate a website containing a list of countries.
Step 2: Select the list of countries on the webpage and copy it (Ctrl + C or Cmd + C).
Step 3: In Excel, select the cell where you want the list to begin (e.g., A1).
Step 4: Paste the copied list (Ctrl + V or Cmd + V).
Step 5: If the data is pasted into a single column with comma or other delimiters separating the countries, use Data > Text to Columns to split the data into separate columns.
Choosing the right method depends on your needs; Power Query provides a dynamic list, manual entry is simple for small lists, and copy-pasting offers a quick, albeit less clean, solution. No matter which method you choose, you’ll have a list of countries available in Excel.