Published by Cyril — September 1, 2025
While most nations proudly sing their national anthems at official ceremonies, a handful of regions and countries stand out for not having one of their own, or for using an anthem without lyrics. This absence is often tied to politics, historical traditions, or cultural debates about identity.
Regions Without an Official Anthem
Scotland
Scotland, despite having its own parliament and distinct cultural identity, does not have an officially recognized national anthem. Instead, songs such as “Flower of Scotland” and “Scotland the Brave” are sung at rugby and football matches. Parliamentary debates have occurred multiple times on the issue, but divisions about which song best represents the nation have prevented a final decision.
England
England also lacks a legally distinct anthem of its own. The United Kingdom’s anthem, “God Save the King”, is used at official events. While campaigns have been launched to adopt “Jerusalem” or “Land of Hope and Glory” as an English anthem, none has been officially approved. Critics say this undermines England’s individuality within the UK.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland does not have a separate anthem either, relying on “God Save the King”. However, alternatives are used in sports. “Londonderry Air” is played at some events, while “Ireland’s Call” is sung when Northern Ireland teams join the Republic of Ireland.
Countries With Anthems but No Lyrics
Spain
Spain’s anthem, the “Marcha Real” (Royal March), is one of the few national anthems in the world without official lyrics. Attempts to add words have failed due to political disagreements about which language or message should be used.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Državna himna Bosne i Hercegovine” (National Anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina), is purely instrumental. It replaced the earlier anthem that carried ethnic associations, but no consensus has been reached on lyrics acceptable to all groups.
San Marino
San Marino’s anthem, the “Inno Nazionale della Repubblica”, is also purely instrumental. Written by Italian composer Federico Consolo in the 19th century, it remains unique in having no words.
Kosovo
Kosovo’s anthem, “Europe”, adopted in 2008, has no official lyrics. This choice was deliberate to avoid disputes among the country’s ethnic groups, ensuring neutrality and inclusiveness.
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Final Note
So, while every sovereign state today technically has a national anthem, a few stand out for having instrumental-only anthems without lyrics, while regions like Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland have no legally recognized anthems at all.
This rare distinction shows how music, identity, and politics remain deeply connected in shaping nations and their symbols.
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