It’s the world’s largest chain with around 40,000 locations in more than 100 countries and territories across the globe, so you can usually rely on the fact there’s bound to be a McDonald’s close by. Unless, that is, you're in one of these places. There are a surprising number of countries and territories without the fast food chain – almost as many, in fact – due to reasons such as local wealth, tastes and politics. From Iceland and Barbados to North Korea and Nigeria, here are just some of the countries without the golden arches. 

Until 2009 Iceland had three McDonald’s branches. Then the financial crisis and collapse of the currency that year caused the company to pull out of the land of fire and ice. Big bosses also cited the difficulty of working in an isolated nation with a small population, and have no plans to return.

This North Atlantic paradise has a ban on fast food joints, but that hasn’t stopped McDonald’s trying to open over here a few times. It found a loophole in the form of the US Naval Air Station for military people and their families, but when that closed in 1995 it, too, had to go. After that the chain tried again a few years later, but was outlawed once and for all to preserve the country’s old world image.

There are only four African countries that have a McDonald's in Africa (Morocco, Egypt, South Africa and Mauritius), which leaves the majority of them without, including Kenya. Although, in 2017, there were false claims the chain would be following in the footsteps of other brands such as Subway, Domino’s and KFC and opening a branch in the country’s capital Nairobi.

Southeast Asia’s Cambodia is another country McDonald's hasn’t moved into yet. Although the popularity of other global chains including KFC, Burger King, Dairy Queen and Carl’s Jr. suggests it could do well here.

In landlocked Mongolia, nearly half the population is nomadic, and local delicacies include mutton dumplings and boiled sheep with potatoes. You definitely won't see anyone picking up a Big Mac from the drive-thru here (in fact, you won't see a drive-thru or a golden arch at all).

Despite being home to Africa's biggest city, Lagos, home to 15 million people, you won't find a McDonald's anywhere in Nigeria. One suggested reason is a lack of adequate suppy chains. 

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many western companies withdrew business from the country, including McDonald's, who said that continuing to operate there was "no longer tenable, nor is it consistent with McDonald's values". When the fast food chain first opened in Moscow's Pushkin Square in 1990, around 30,000 people queued up to get a taste, but in 2022 McDonald's sold 850 restaurants. Many have reopened under a different, Russian brand-name, with very similar menus. 

Located in The Balkans in southeastern Europe, Macedonia has a lot to to offer in terms of food. Locals love kebabs, cabbage rolls and moussaka, and the capital Skopje did have McDonald’s franchises until 2013. The company running them unexpectedly lost its licence, and they were all forced to close without explanation.

While Laos' economy is developing, poverty and malnutrition have been challenges, which has meant McDonald's hasn't expanded into the country just yet. Neighbouring Vietnam got its first branch in 2013, while Thailand has had outposts of the global chain since the 1980s.

With relations rocky between Iran and the West, no McDonald’s has opened in the Middle Eastern country’s capital Tehran as of yet. That hasn’t stopped a number of rather similar fast food brands opening, including Mash Donald, an unauthorised Chipotle and a fake KFC.

Despite KFC’s popularity in this coastal West African country, McDonald’s hasn’t opened up shop yet. However, the economy is booming, with more people moving into its capital Accra and shopping malls opening, so maybe it won’t be too long until residents can expect one.

People in Brazil, Mexico and Peru are all partial to McDonald’s, but in this Latin American country the burger and fries franchise failed to build a fanbase. It entered in 1997, but by 2002 it was struggling – so shuttered its eight stores. Bolivia's former president Evo Morales was vocal on his stance against global fast food, having once said: “[big companies] are not interested in the health of human beings, only in their earnings and corporate profits."

McDonald's has thought about entering this southern African country a few times but plans have never gotten off the ground. Talks were underway in 1999, but were halted due to Zimbabwe's economic crisis. In 2010 there was news the chain might be moving in again. However, for now, fans will have to travel to neighbouring South Africa to get their McNuggets fix.

This beautiful Balkan country is largely free from global fast food brands thanks to the government’s stand on big international chains crowding out smaller companies. That didn't stop a mobile McDonald’s restaurant finding its way into the capital Podgorica in 2003, but business there was short-lived.

When Afghanistan was home to British and US army bases Camp Bastion and Kandahar, it had Pizza Hut, Tim Hortons and Burger King for troops, but there was never a McDonald’s. Now fans of fast food make do with bootleg versions of favourites such as Kabul Fried Chicken in the country’s capital.

It isn't strictly true that there's no McDonald's in Cuba. There is, in fact, one branch on the island – but Cubans aren't allowed to eat there as isn't actually on Cuban territory. The restaurant is on Guantanamo Bay, and serves members of the US military. Open since 1986, it's owned and operated by the US Navy. 

The Arabian Peninsula is not short of McDonald’s, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman all big fans of the chain. However, it has not opened up shop in poorer neighbour Yemen, which has been the site of conflict for many years.

Jamaica is one of the few places where McDonald’s has simply failed to take off. The land of wood and water had eight McDonald's restaurants until 2005 when they were closed down. The reason was never fully explained, but it’s speculated the menu didn't fit with what Jamaicans usually like to eat.

This tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean is known for its luxurious resorts and sandy beaches, but definitely not for its fast food. The Maldives islands are free from McDonald’s franchises, and cuisine instead tends to feature coconut, fish, rice and spices. Strangely, though, the tourism board recently launched a marketing initiative with McDonald's to promote the Maldives in German-speaking areas. 

Back in the 1990s, a McDonald’s branch opened in Barbados' capital Bridgetown. However, the Bajans, who were already used to their own fast food chains such as Chefette (which serves fried chicken, burgers, pizza and fries), didn’t fall under the golden arches' charms, and it closed six months later. It hasn’t been back since.

Armenia, located between Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran, has pretty much zero chance of getting a McDonald’s, according to a company spokesperson in 2017. Before entering any country, the chain carefully considers economic and business factors – and has apparently decided to focus its efforts in countries where it already has a presence. 

This Polynesian archipelago relies on agriculture, fishing and tourism, and isn’t a wealthy country. So you won’t find Tongans grabbing a burger from McDonald’s, Burger King or KFC for lunch. Traditional cuisine includes spit-roasted pig and dishes with sweet potato, taro (a purple root veg) and coconut milk.

Despite the popularity of global chains KFC and Pizza Hut in this South Asian country, it has no McDonald’s at the moment. The company’s website says it has no plans to open restaurants in Bangladesh in the foreseeable future.

Six months after ISIS was forced to leave in 2017, a McDonald’s opened in Mosul. However, it has no official association with McDonald's Corp, and is actually a kebab house using the brand’s name. During the occupation, western brands such as Nike and Adidas were banned and now they're becoming more popular. It may be a few more years until the real deal arrives, though.

One of the main reasons why Nepal doesn’t have a McDonald’s is that beef isn't widely eaten here due to the cow being the national animal and sacred to Hindus. However, if you’re craving fast food, a trip to its capital Kathmandu will provide your fix, as KFC has really taken off here.

In this north African country there is no McDonald’s. However, there’s certainly a market for fast food in the metropolitan capital Tunis. Here, you’ll be able to find Los Angeles chain Fatburger, global favourite KFC and pizza chain Papa John’s.

There are no global fast food outlets in this communist state, although in 2011 there were reports that former leader Kim Jong II had McDonald's flown in every day. When Donald Trump and current leader Kim Jong-Un met for a summit in 2018, there were suggestions that the Supreme Leader was open to the idea of a western hamburger franchise in the country as a gesture of goodwill – but nothing came of it. 

All 24 McDonald's restaurants in Kazakhstan were shuttered in late 2022, with an announcement in January 2023 that they wouldn't be reopening. The blame was placed on supply shortages caused by the war in Ukraine, which prevents McDonald's franchises from using Russian meat products. Outlets have since reopened with no branding. 

You won't find big fast food chains like KFC, Burger King or, yes, McDonald's, on this tropical island paradise. Burger lovers can still get their fix at local chain The Butcher's Grill.

As in they did in Russia, McDonald's closed all their restaurants in Belarus – a close ally of the neighbouring country – following the invasion of Ukraine. President Lukashenko condemned those who bemoaned the departure of the fast food chain, saying Belarusians know how to "cut a bun in half and cram a piece of meat in between".

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