- List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest
-
Map showing debuts in the Contest by decade:
1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s
1: Participated as part of Yugoslavia between 1961 and 1991
2: Participated as part of Yugoslavia and later Serbia & Montenegro until 2005Fifty-one countries have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since it started in 1956. Of these, twenty-five have won the Contest. The Contest, organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), is held annually between members of the Union. Broadcasters from different countries submit songs to the event, and cast votes to determine the most popular in the competition.
Participation in the Contest is open to all active member broadcasters of the EBU. To be an active member, broadcasters must be in the European Broadcasting Area, or be in a Council of Europe member country.[1] Eligibility to participate is not determined by geographic inclusion within the continent of Europe, despite the "Euro" in "Eurovision" — nor does it have a direct connection with the European Union. Several countries geographically outside the boundaries of Europe have competed: Israel, Cyprus and Armenia, in Western Asia, since 1973, 1981 and 2006 respectively; and Morocco, in North Africa, in the 1980 competition alone. In addition, several transcontinental countries with only part of their territory in Europe have competed: Turkey, since 1975; Russia, since 1994; Georgia, since 2007; and Azerbaijan, which made its first appearance in the 2008 edition. Two of the countries that have previously sought to enter the competition, Lebanon and Tunisia, in Western Asia and North Africa respectively, are also outside of Europe. The Gulf state of Qatar, in Western Asia, announced in 2009 its interest in joining the Contest in time for the 2011 edition.[2] However, this did not materialise, and there are no known plans for a future Qatari entry the Eurovision Song Contest.
The number of countries participating each year has grown steadily, from seven in 1956 to over twenty in the late 1980s. As the number of contestants has risen, preliminary competitions and relegation have been introduced, to ensure that as many countries as possible get the chance to compete. In 1993, a preliminary show, Kvalifikacija za Millstreet ("Qualification for Millstreet"), was held to select three Eastern European countries to compete for the first time at the main Contest.[3] After the 1993 Contest, a relegation rule was introduced; the six lowest-placed countries in the Contest would not compete the following year.[4] In 1996, a new system was introduced. Audio tapes of all twenty-nine entrants were submitted to national juries. The twenty-two highest-placed songs after the juries voted reached the Contest itself. Norway, as host country, was given a bye to the final.[5] From 1997 to 2001 a system was used whereby the countries with the lowest average scores over the previous five years were relegated. Countries could not be relegated for more than one year.[6]
Between 2001 and 2003, the relegation system used in 1994 and 1995 was used. In 2004, a semi-final was introduced. The ten highest-placed countries in the previous year's Contest qualified for the final, along with the "Big Four": the largest financial contributors to the EBU. All other countries entered the semi-final. Ten countries qualified from the semi, leaving a final of twenty-four.[7] In 2008, two semi-finals were held with all countries, except the host country and the Big Four, participating in one of the semi-finals.[8]
Some countries, such as Germany and the United Kingdom, have entered on all but a handful of occasions; Morocco, on the other hand, has only entered once. Two countries, Tunisia and Lebanon, have attempted to enter the Contest but withdrew before making a debut. Liechtenstein, a country without an eligible television service, tried unsuccessfully to enter in 1976.[9]
Contents
Participants
Jari Sillanpää represented Finland in the first Eurovision semi-final in 2004, failing to qualify.
Lys Assia, the first Eurovision winner, was a special guest in 2008.The following table lists the countries that have participated in the Contest at least once. Shading indicates countries that have withdrawn from the Contest. Morocco participated in the Contest once, in 1980. Luxembourg, one of the original seven participants, has not been seen at the Contest since 1993. Italy withdrew from the Contest in 1997 and returned in 2011. Slovakia previously competed three times between 1994 and 1998, failing to break into the top ten, but returned in 2009.[11] Monaco returned to the Contest in 2004, after over two decades out of the Contest. However, the country failed to advance from the semi-final with each of its first three entries post-return, and withdrew after the 2006 Contest.[12] Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro were both dissolved, in 1991 and 2006 respectively. Serbia and Montenegro in the attempt to mask as Yugoslavia, participated in the 1992 Contest under its name but representing the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia which consisted of only the two republics. Both Montenegro and Serbia have competed as separate countries since 2007.[13] Austria, having returned from a one-year absence, withdrew from the 2008 Contest; Edgar Bohm of ORF said "We've already seen in 2007 that it's not the quality of the song, but the country of origin that determines the result."[14] Austria returned in 2011.
Participating countries in the decades
The table lists the participating countries in each decade since the first ESC was held in 1956.
Seven countries participated in the first Contest, in 1956. Since then, the number of entries has increased steadily. In 1970, a Nordic-led boycott of the Contest reduced the number of countries entering to twelve.[16] By the late 1980s, over twenty countries had become standard. In 1993, the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe gave many new countries the opportunity to compete. Three countries—Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, all of them former Yugoslav republics, won through from a pre-qualifier to compete. After the 1993 event, a relegation system was introduced, allowing even more Eastern European countries to compete: seven more made their debut in 1994. In 2003, three countries applied to make their debut: Albania, Belarus and Ukraine. In addition, Serbia and Montenegro, who had not competed since 1992, applied to return. The EBU, having originally accepted the four countries' applications, later rejected all but Ukraine; allowing four extra countries to compete would have meant relegating too many countries.[17][18] The semi-final was introduced in 2004 in an attempt to prevent situations like this. The Union set a limit of forty countries,[19] but by 2005 thirty-nine were competing. In 2007, the EBU lifted the limit, allowing forty-two countries to compete. Two semi-finals were held for the first time in 2008.[8]Table key
- Winner - The country won the ESC that year.
- Second place - The country was ranked second that year.
- Third place - The country was ranked third that year.
- Remaining places - The country placed from fourth to second last this year.
- Last - The country was ranked last that year.
- Non-qualified - The country did not qualify to the final (1996, 2004-).
- Undecided - The country has confirmed participation for the next ESC, however, the competition has not yet taken place.
- Debutant - The country made its debut during the decade.
- Did not participate - The country did not participate in the ESC that year.
- A cross (X) mean that the country participated in the contest that year.
1950s
Country 1956 1957 1958 1959 
AustriaX X X 
BelgiumX X X X 
DenmarkX X X 
FranceX X X X 
ItalyX X X X 
LuxembourgX X X 
MonacoX 
NetherlandsX X X X 
SwitzerlandX X X X 
SwedenX X 
United KingdomX X 
West GermanyX X X X 1960s
Country 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 AustriaX X X X X X X X X BelgiumX X X X X X X X X X DenmarkX X X X X X X 
FinlandX X X X X X X X X FranceX X X X X X X X X X 
IrelandX X X X X ItalyX X X X X X X X X X LuxembourgX X X X X X X X X X MonacoX X X X X X X X X X NetherlandsX X X X X X X X X X 
NorwayX X X X X X X X X X 
PortugalX X X X X X 
SpainX X X X X X X X X SwitzerlandX X X X X X X X X X SwedenX X X X X X X X X United KingdomX X X X X X X X X X West GermanyX X X X X X X X X X 
YugoslaviaX X X X X X X X X 1970s
Country 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 AustriaX X X X X X BelgiumX X X X X X X X X X DenmarkX X FinlandX X X X X X X X X FranceX X X X X X X X X 
GreeceX X X X X IrelandX X X X X X X X X X 
IsraelX X X X X X X ItalyX X X X X X X X X X LuxembourgX X X X X X X X X X 
MaltaX X X MonacoX X X X X X X X X X NetherlandsX X X X X X X X X X NorwayX X X X X X X X X PortugalX X X X X X X X X SpainX X X X X X X X X X SwitzerlandX X X X X X X X X X SwedenX X X X X X X X 
TurkeyX X X United KingdomX X X X X X X X X X West GermanyX X X X X X X X X X YugoslaviaX X X X X X X 1980s
Country 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 AustriaX X X X X X X X X X BelgiumX X X X X X X X X X 
CyprusX X X X X X X X DenmarkX X X X X X X X X X FinlandX X X X X X X X X X FranceX X X X X X X X X GreeceX X X X X X X 
IcelandX X X X IrelandX X X X X X X X X IsraelX X X X X X X X ItalyX X X X X X X LuxembourgX X X X X X X X X X 
MoroccoX NetherlandsX X X X X X X X X NorwayX X X X X X X X X X PortugalX X X X X X X X X X SpainX X X X X X X X X X SwitzerlandX X X X X X X X X X SwedenX X X X X X X X X X TurkeyX X X X X X X X X X United KingdomX X X X X X X X X X West GermanyX X X X X X X X X X YugoslaviaX X X X X X X X 1990s
Country 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 AustriaX X X X X X X X X BelgiumX X X X X X X X 
Bosnia and HerzegovinaX X X X X X 
CroatiaX X X X X X X CyprusX X X X X X X X X X DenmarkX X X X X X X X 
EstoniaX X X X X FinlandX X X X X X X FranceX X X X X X X X X X GermanyX X X X X X X GreeceX X X X X X X X X 
HungaryX X X X X IcelandX X X X X X X X X IrelandX X X X X X X X X X IsraelX X X X X X X X ItalyX X X X X 
LithuaniaX X LuxembourgX X X X X 
MacedoniaX X MaltaX X X X X X X X X NetherlandsX X X X X X X X NorwayX X X X X X X X X X 
PolandX X X X X X PortugalX X X X X X X X X X 
RomaniaX X X 
RussiaX X X X 
SlovakiaX X X 
SloveniaX X X X X X SpainX X X X X X X X X X SwedenX X X X X X X X X X SwitzerlandX X X X X X X X TurkeyX X X X X X X X X United KingdomX X X X X X X X X X West GermanyX X X YugoslaviaX X X 2000s
Country 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
AlbaniaX X X X X X 
AndorraX X X X X X 
ArmeniaX X X X AustriaX X X X X X 
AzerbaijanX X 
BelarusX X X X X X BelgiumX X X X X X X X X Bosnia and HerzegovinaX X X X X X X X X 
BulgariaX X X X X CroatiaX X X X X X X X X X CyprusX X X X X X X X X 
Czech RepublicX X DenmarkX X X X X X X X X EstoniaX X X X X X X X X X FinlandX X X X X X X X FranceX X X X X X X X X X 
GeorgiaX X GermanyX X X X X X X X X X GreeceX X X X X X X X X HungaryX X X X IcelandX X X X X X X X X IrelandX X X X X X X X X IsraelX X X X X X X X X X 
LatviaX X X X X X X X X X LithuaniaX X X X X X X X X MacedoniaX X X X X X X X MaltaX X X X X X X X X X 
MoldovaX X X X X MonacoX X X 
MontenegroX X X NetherlandsX X X X X X X X X NorwayX X X X X X X X X PolandX X X X X X X X PortugalX X X X X X X X RomaniaX X X X X X X X X X RussiaX X X X X X X X X X 
San MarinoX 
SerbiaX X X 
Serbia and MontenegroX X SlovakiaX SloveniaX X X X X X X X SpainX X X X X X X X X X SwedenX X X X X X X X X X SwitzerlandX X X X X X X X TurkeyX X X X X X X X X X 
UkraineX X X X X X X United KingdomX X X X X X X X X X 2010s
Country 2010 2011 2012 AlbaniaX X X ArmeniaX X AustriaX X AzerbaijanX X X BelarusX X X BelgiumX X X Bosnia and HerzegovinaX X X BulgariaX X X CroatiaX X CyprusX X X DenmarkX X X EstoniaX X X FinlandX X X FranceX X X GeorgiaX X X GermanyX X X GreeceX X X HungaryX X IcelandX X X IrelandX X X IsraelX X X ItalyX X LatviaX X X LithuaniaX X X MacedoniaX X MaltaX X X MoldovaX X X NetherlandsX X X NorwayX X X PolandX X PortugalX X RomaniaX X X RussiaX X San MarinoX X SerbiaX X SlovakiaX X SloveniaX X X SpainX X X SwedenX X X SwitzerlandX X X TurkeyX X X UkraineX X X United KingdomX X X Unsuccessful attempts to participate
Main article: Unsuccessful attempts to participate in the Eurovision Song ContestTo participate in the Contest, a broadcaster must register their intention to compete before the deadline specified in the rules of that year's event. Each participating broadcaster pays a fee towards the organisation of the Contest. Should a country withdraw from the Contest after the deadline, they will still need to pay these fees, and may also incur a fine or temporary ban.[20]
Country Year Broadcaster Notes Ref 
Kosovo2009 RTK (pending) After declaring independence, Kosovo sought to enter the 2009 contest, but as Radio Television of Kosovo was not a member of the EBU, it could not participate. [21][22] 
Lebanon2005 Télé Liban Lebanon withdrew from the 2005 Contest because Télé Liban could not guarantee that they would broadcast the Israeli entry, after the EBU had sought assurances that they would show the Contest in full. This would have violated the Contest's rules. [23][24][25] 
Liechtenstein1976 1FLTV (pending) Liechtenstein did not have an EBU-member broadcaster and was therefore ineligible to enter the Contest. However, Liechtenstein now has a broadcaster, which would allow it become an EBU member should it so wish. [9][26] 
Scotland2009 BBC Scotland or STV The Scottish National Party (SNP) has campaigned for a place in Eurovision for Scotland but had been rejected numerous times owing to the fact that Scotland is represented as a part of the British entry and is represented by the BBC. On 11 February 2008 the EBU stated that a Scottish broadcaster could apply for EBU membership, but under the current rules could not enter the Eurovision Song Contest as the BBC currently has exclusive rights to represent the entire United Kingdom. [27] 
Tunisia1977 ERTT Tunisia was to perform fourth in the 1977 Contest's running order. The reason for the country's withdrawal was never officially established; rumours suggest ERTT did not want to compete with Israel. [9][28] Notes
- ^ VRT and RTBF alternate responsibilities for the Contest.
- ^ The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia competed as "Yugoslavia" in 1992.[29]
References
- ^ European Broadcasting Union (22 February 2006). Membership conditions. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.
- ^ Repo, Juha (2009-05-12). "Gulf nation wants to join Eurovision". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/14007. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
- ^ ESCtoday.com. Eurovision Song Contest 1993. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.
- ^ O'Connor, John Kennedy (2005). The Eurovision Song Contest 50 Years The Official History. London: Carlton Books Limited. ISBN 1-84442-586-X.
- ^ ESCtoday.com. Eurovision Song Contest 1996. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.
- ^ Eurovision.tv. Eurovision Song Contest 1997. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.
- ^ BBC News (12 May 2004). Eurovision finalists chosen. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.
- ^ a b European Broadcasting Union (1 October 2007). Two semi-finals Eurovision Song Contest 2008. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.
- ^ a b c BBC (26 April 2007). The Eurovision Song Contest 1956 - present. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.
- ^ ESCtoday.com (26 February 2007). Rúsza wins by just 18 votes. Retrieved on 9 February 2008.
- ^ Victor Hondal (24 September 2008. Slovakia returns to Eurovision in 2009. ESCtoday.com. Retrieved on 24 September 2008.
- ^ Gylleneskor.se (13 December 2006). Monaco drag sig ur Eurovision Song Contest (Swedish). Retrieved on 9 February 2008.
- ^ Ian Taylor (14 May 2007). From pariah state to kitsch victory: how a Balkan ballad showed Europe a new Serbia. The Guardian. Retrieved on 9 February 2008.
- ^ ESCtoday.com (20 November 2007). Austria will not go to Belgrade. Retrieved on 9 February 2008.
- ^ Eurovision.tv. History by country. Retrieved on 10 February 2008.
- ^ Eurovision.tv. Eurovision Song Contest 1970. Retrieved on 9 February 2008.
- ^ ESCtoday.com (27 November 2002). No new countries at next Eurovision Song Contest. Retrieved on 11 February 2008.
- ^ ESCtoday.com (27 November 2002). EBU released list of participants for 2003. Retrieved on 11 February 2008.
- ^ Eurovision.tv (27 October 2006). Georgia set on 2007. Retrieved on 11 February 2008.
- ^ BBC News (20 March 2006). Row prompts Eurovision withdrawal. Retrieved on 14 February 2008.
- ^ "Kosovo: RTK wants to enter Eurovision in 2009". Oikotimes. http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3110. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
- ^ "NDR on the Kosovo potential participation in Eurovision" Oikotimes 22 May 2008 Link accessed 27/05/08
- ^ BBC News (18 March 2005). Lebanon withdraws from Eurovision. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.
- ^ Guardian Unlimited (19 May 2005). European unison. Retrieved on 13 February 2008.
- ^ Al Bawaba (29 March 2005). Lebanon officially withdraws from Eurovision. Retrieved on 13 February 2008.
- ^ Kuipers, Michael (24 August 2008). Liechtenstein gets its own TV station. Retrieved on 24 August 2008.
- ^ "Scotland heading for 2009 bid?". eurovision.tv. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news/gossip?id=462. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ Eurovision.tv. Eurovision Song Contest 1977. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.
- ^ Doteurovision.com (22 February 2004). Željko Joksimovic wins Evropesma. Retrieved on 10 February 2008.
Bibliography
- O'Connor, John Kennedy (2005). The Eurovision Song Contest 50 Years The Official History. London: Carlton Books Limited. ISBN 1-84442-586-X.
Eurovision Song Contest History · Rules · Host cities · Winners · Presenters · Voting · Participation · Languages · OGAE · Marcel Bezençon Awards · Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest1956 · 1957 · 1958 · 1959 · 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979 · 1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012
PortalCountries participating in the Eurovision Song Contest Active Albania · Armenia · Austria · Azerbaijan · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Israel · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey · Ukraine · United Kingdom
Inactive Andorra · Czech Republic · Luxembourg · Monaco · Montenegro · Morocco
Former Unsuccessful
attemptsCategories:- Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
