Celtic nations
![The six Celtic nations, as recognised by the Celtic League:
Scotland
Ireland
Isle of Man
Wales
Cornwall
Brittany](/Images/godic/202501/03/Map_of_Celtic_Nations-flag_shades.svg1826.png")
![Pipers at theFestival Interceltique de Lorient](/Images/godic/202501/03/Anoriant31826.jpg")
![Diachronic distribution of Celtic peoples:
core Hallstatt territory, by the 6th century BC
maximal Celtic expansion, by 275 BC
Lusitanian area of Iberia where Celtic presence is uncertain
the six Celtic nations which retained significant numbers of Celtic speakers into the Early Modern period
areas where Celtic languages remain widely spoken today](/Images/godic/202501/03/Celts_in_Europe1827.png")
![Iberian Peninsula at about 200 BC.[56]](/Images/godic/202501/03/Ethnographic_Iberia_200_BCE1827.PNG")
The Celtic nations are territories in Northern and Western Europe where Celtic languages or cultural traits have survived. The term "nation" is used in its original sense to mean a people who share a common identity and culture and are identified with a traditional territory. It is not synonymous with "sovereign state".