If you were to list all the countries in the United Nations in alphabetical order, which country would be first on the list, and which would be last?

When the 193 member states of the United Nations are arranged alphabetically, the list begins with Afghanistan. The nation has been a member since November 19, 1946, joining during the organization's infancy. Its early entry and the "Af-" prefix in its name firmly secure its position at the top of the roll call, placing it ahead of other "A" countries like Albania and Algeria.

At the very end of that same roster, you will find Zimbabwe. A much more recent addition to the global body, Zimbabwe joined the UN on August 25, 1980, shortly after gaining its internationally recognized independence. This makes for an interesting contrast, with the list being bookended by one of the UN's earlier members and a nation that joined over three decades later.

While the exact number of member states can change, these two countries currently serve as the alphabetical bookends for the world's foremost international organization. The only other country that comes close to the final spot is Zimbabwe's neighbor, Zambia, which holds the second-to-last position on the list.