In these countries you won’t find McDonald’s
THE HORROR. Yes, this is truly nightmare material for me. So there are countries where you don’t have a McDonald’s—not one, I repeat, not one. How do they deal with their hangovers? Sometimes a Big Mac is the only thing you feel like eating, right? And those limp fries? You need those in your life, surely?
So consider this list a list of countries that don’t need to be high on your bucket list.
In these countries you won’t find McDonald’s
1. North Korea
Okay, you may have seen this one coming. And, bad as it is, I would genuinely love to visit here one day. I have a strange fascination with North Korea. What a shame. Missed opportunity.
2. Bolivia and Guyana
Not because McDonald’s isn’t allowed here—it just, as strange as this sounds, didn’t work out. So in 2014, the very last burger was sold, and after that it was schluss in these South American countries.
3. Macedonia
There were never many locations here—just seven—and they were only around for 16 years. Due to a disagreement (a full-blown row) between the head of McDonald’s Europe and the owner of the Macedonian franchise locations, all seven unfortunately had to close their doors.
4. Africa
Of the 54 countries in Africa, only Morocco, Egypt, South Africa and Mauritania have a McDonald’s. The chain is allowed in some countries, such as Ghana, and perhaps people are waiting for it, but the economic situation simply doesn’t allow it.
5. Zimbabwe
This African country also does without the Golden Arches. Maccie used to be there, but the restaurants closed due to the economic situation. But there is hope: since 2010, people have been talking about a comeback, although nothing concrete is known about it yet.
6. Iceland
This surprised me: until 2009, Mac had only three locations here. So it was never very big there, but when the economic crisis hit, those three also closed their doors. And the government is quite happy about that, as it advocates a healthy lifestyle.
7. Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Yemen
The economic situation is also one of the reasons for the absence here, but it is also because McDonald’s is American—which isn’t exactly well received.
8. Bermuda
McDonald’s was too common and cheap for Bermuda: “It is not Bermudian. McDonald’s cheapens wherever it goes.” Well, take that.
9. Montenegro
McDonald’s isn’t banned here, but it’s not exactly welcome either. The government would not encourage it because it is unhealthy, and so the small mobile McDonald’s that could be found in the capital in the early 2000s was hardly welcomed with open arms.
10. Kazakhstan
The largest country by area to say a resounding ‘NO’ to restaurant the Golden Arches. Buuut they seem to have changed their minds: a gigantic shopping centre was to be built in the capital, Astana, where Maccie would be found. PARTY.
11. Russia
Due to the war in Ukraine, McDonald’s closed the doors of its locations in Russia in 2022 and sold all 850 restaurants. Since then, there has been no McDonald’s in the country.
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