One in a billion, that’s the only way to describe Indian shooting gold medallist Abhinav Bindra. On Monday, he broke the 108 year jinx and became his country’s first ever Olympic champion in an individual event. India have previously won eight gold medals but every one has come from the men’s field hockey team who won every title from 1928 to 1956 and added further titles in 1964 and 1980. But if the Olympic record of India, with a population of 1.1 billion, is not exactly awe-inspiring they have at least attained a measure of success. Other countries are still waiting for the great leap onto the podium.

These are the most populous countries who have never won an Olympic medal (with population in millions):

1. Bangladesh (158)
2. Congo (Kinshasa) (62)
3. Myanmar  (48)
4. Sudan (38)
5. Nepal (28)
6. Afghanistan (27)
7. Yemen (22)
8. Madagascar (19)
9. Angola (17)
10. Burkina Faso (14)

Source: United Nations estimates 2006-07

Of course some of the countries listed above have provided very few Olympians. To approach things from a different angle, this is a list of the countries that have produced the most Summer Olympic competitors without ever seeing their flag at a victory ceremony.

1. Guatemala (200)
2. Angola (107)
3. El Salvador (103)
4. Afghanistan (95)
5. Cyprus (83)
6. Monaco (82)
7. Fiji (70)
8. Malta (69)
9. Myanmar (69)
10. San Marino (67)

Correct to start of 2008 Olympic Games.

Note: Cyprus and Monaco have had some medal successes but not in this strict definition. Monaco has seen success in the Olympic art competitions whilst Cypriots have won as members of the Greek team.

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