All 5 Kingdoms & Nations in The World of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ranked

Avatar: Seven Havens expands on the Avatar: The Last Airbender series after the four nations and the United Republic have been wiped out following a mysterious catastrophe, replaced by seven cities called the «Seven Havens.» These cities are the last bastions of humanity, but they also mean that the nations are entirely gone. With the old Avatar world erased, fans are left pondering: which of Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s five great nations will be remembered as the best?

The world of Avatar: The Last Airbender is divided into four nations: the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation and the Air Nomads. Avatar: The Legend of Korra introduces the United Republic of Nations, raised under Avatar Aang’s rule. Each of the four nations is associated with one of the fundamental bending elements and is believed to be what keeps the balance of the world. Each bending nation maintains its own culture, values and military power despite the efforts of the Fire Nation and greater evils to divide the Avatar world.

5 The Fire Nation is a Force of Dominance in the Avatar World

Cruelty is the Fire Nation's Biggest Weakness

The Fire Nation is the second-largest nation and strongest economy in the Avatar world. The Fire Nation’s people have strong wills, which empower a stronger military. Historically, the Fire Nation experienced a lot of internal strife and violence before falling under the rule of a warlord — the Fire Lord. The Fire Lord ushered in a period of religious government with the Fire Lord on top. Constant struggles in the royal family consistently plunged the Fire Nation into civil war. The Fire Nation became immensely powerful at one point, leading to the Hundred Year War, the effort of the Fire Nation to take over the entire world. Avatar Aang stopped this historic attack, and the Fire Nation steered away from its imperialistic policy.

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In the wake of the Fire Nation’s failed conquest, they reformed their government and transformed their older colonies into the United Republic. By 174 AG, the Fire Nation was following a policy of non-interventionism to right the wrongs of its past. The Fire Nation is similar to China and Japan, with its architecture and uniforms styled after China and its militaristic and industrialized country influenced by Japanese history. Fire Lord Sozin’s ambition to share the prosperity of the Fire Nation through expansion and colonization is similar to the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere concept. There was gender equality in the Fire Nation, dominated primarily by nuclear families. The education and aesthetics were highly advanced in the Fire Nation, and they had many cultural festivals for the seasons and theater performances across the country. The Fire Nation, suffers as a highly propaganda-based society, as even the theater was constantly used to paint oppressive rulers in a positive light. Still, the nation was known for having its art, a fact that many people forget about the Fire Nation.

4 The Air Nomads Once Enjoyed a Rich Culture Before Their Tragic End

The Fire Nation Ruthlessly Wiped Out the Ancient Air Nomad Culture

The Air Nomads were the collective term for the monastic airbenders. Despite being known for their wandering personality, the Air Nomads had four air temples at each corner of the globe on top of mountain ranges. Due to their high spirituality, the Air Nomads were all seen as airbenders. The Air Nomads were extremely peaceful people who lived in harmony with nature. They valued altruism and detachment from wealth and worldly affairs, and were known for their fun-loving and strong humor. Unfortunately, this is the Air Nomads of the past; in 0 AG, the Avatar timeline goes by BG (Before Genocide) and AG (After Genocide), the Air Nomads were victims of a genocide at the hands of the Fire Nation. All but one airbender, Avatar Aang, was suspended in a glob of ice for one hundred years. A new Air Nation was formed after the Fire Lord Ozai was defeated, and in 171 AG, after the Harmonic Convergence, non-bending individuals began manifesting newly acquired airbending abilities. In 174 AG, the Air Nation began prospering again on Air Temple Island.

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Because the Air Nomads and Air Nation are starting fresh, it’s hard to ascertain their new culture and status. They likely still resemble the Tibetan monks, but they could change radically by the time of Avatar: Seven Havens. Because of the genocide, the entire Air Nomad culture was wiped out, and they had to go through numerous restarts to find their place. The Air Acolytes, a group of non-benders who preserve the culture, assisted the Air Nation in finding their culture again.. They are far more active in the world now, as their previous generation’s detachment led to their demise. Now they are driven to act and be part of the world while acting as caretakers of the spirit portals.

3 The Water Tribe's Influence is Powerful & Widespread

Civil War Divides the Northern Water Tribe & the Southern Water Tribe

The Water Tribes are split into three primary locations. The North and South Poles harbor the northern and southern tribes and the Foggy Swamp. The people of the Water Tribe can adapt to many things and are generally peaceful, people who want to live in harmony with nature. They willingly live in harsh conditions of the poles and the swamp to make themselves resilient to hardship and respectful of the world around them. Despite this peaceful nature, they were responsible for two major fights during the Hundred Year War, including killing Admiral Zhao. In Avatar: The Legend of Korra, the series explored how the North and the South lived in harmony before it was disrupted, and tensions began. The tension worsened after the villain Unalaq attempted to reimpose North control over the autonomous South, resulting in a brief civil war. After the Harmonic Convergence and Unalaq’s defeat by Avatar Korra, the Southern Water Tribe gained complete independence from the North.

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In terms of economy, population, and power, the Water Tribe is less powerful than the Earth and Fire Nations. The series highlights their culture by showing how important family is to the Tribes and showcasing their very patriarchal standards, as women are allowed to get married at the age of sixteen. The names of the Water Tribe citizens include one or two «K’s.» The Tribes bear a resemblance to Arctic and Siberian cultures, with the Southern Water Tribe’s lands bearing a resemblance to the continent of Anatica. Their clothing was all blue to reflect their season and their elemental color, blue.

2 The United Republic of Nations Benefits From its Newness

Aang & Zuko Ushered in Republic City's Birth Together

Formed by Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko, the United Republic is a sovereign state formed from the liberated Five Nations colonies. The land was created to serve as a society where benders and non-benders could live harmoniously. The land was shaped by immigration and a technological revolution. While the United Republic of Nations was initially led by a United Republic Council, the Anti-bending Revolution had the council disbanded in favor of a new government system that gave non-benders greater influence in the country. The culture and wear of this society isn’t anything super specific, as it was a mishmash of cultures.

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In 174 AG, the legitimacy of the United Republic of Nations was contested by Kuvira and her army, who believed the territory belonged to the Earth Kingdom. Kuvira was stopped thanks to Avatar Korra’s work, the United Republic’s continued aid in the Evacuee Crisis, and the turf wars between the bending triads. Despite being an attempt at peaceful coexistence, the United Nations was unbalanced and constantly in danger of political and criminal threats. But the dream for the future of Avatar could be, and that dream could still be alive in Avatar: Seven Havens.

1 The Earth Kingdom is the Strongest of the Original Four Nations

Diversity & Creativity Make the Earth Kingdom the Avatar World's Best

The Earth Kingdom is the largest of the four nations in the Avatar world. Operating under a monarchy, the nation is home to the earthbenders, who are proudly diverse and intense, constantly persistent and enduring. The Earth Kingdom is rich with history, as it was once one of the most powerful empires in the world before experiencing a series of crises, civil wars, and political unrest that eventually halted during the time of the legendary Avatar Kyoshi. But her constitution was ultimately undermined by the next king, Earth King Jialun, resulting in an increasingly corrupt and uncaring government. What makes the Earth Kingdom so fascinating is the rich history that belongs to it. It’s so powerful that it could be a show without involving other nations. Though there were times of pain and suffering, the Earth Kingdom has begun to abolish the monarchy in Avatar: The Legend of Korra.

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The Earth Kingdom is also home to some of the series’ most interesting benders. The Earth Kingdom benders constantly evolved their bending style and elements, from metal bending to lava bending. Earthbenders pride themselves on being immovable like the Earth and are interested in maintaining a person’s good reputation and standing in the eyes of others. Respect for one’s family is a common aspect of the kingdom’s culture. The green of the Earth Kingdom fits nicely with the architecture and clothing of the people. They can also grow a wide variety of foods to support their diets. The Earth Kingdom resembles China’s Ming and Qing dynasties, with the buildings in Ba Sing Se looking like the Forbidden City. As the most focused nation in the series, the Earth Kingdom has the most information to be explored in the entire franchise.