ASP.NET: Get and bind all countries to Dropdownlist using Globalization

In this article I am going to explain how to get all countries list using system.globalization and bind to dropdownlist in asp.net using C# and vb.net.

In the previous article I have explained how to print a web form (webpage) inasp.net using C# and VB.net , how to generate and display QR code image usingQR Code library in asp.net  and how tofilter the record using Alphabets pager in asp.net.

Description:

System.Globalization namespace contains classes that define culture-related information, including language, country/region, calendars in use, and format patterns for dates, currency, and numbers, and sort order for strings.

 Implementation:

HTML Markup:

  <fieldset style="width:50%">

    <legend>Bind Dropdownlist using System.Globalization</legend>

    Select Country:<asp:DropDownList ID="ddlcountry" runat="server"> </asp:DropDownList>

    </fieldset>

First of all import the namespace

C# code:

using System.Globalization;

VB.net Code:

Imports System.Globalization

Get countries list

Create method to get countries list and call the method page load.

C# code:

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)

    {

        if (!IsPostBack)

        {

            GetAllCountry();

        }

    }

public void GetAllCountry()

    {

        try

        {

            List<string> listcountry = new List<string>();

            CultureInfo[] cultures = CultureInfo.GetCultures(CultureTypes.SpecificCultures);

            foreach (CultureInfo cinfo in cultures)

            {

                RegionInfo Rinfo = new RegionInfo(cinfo.LCID);

                if (!listcountry.Contains(Rinfo.EnglishName))

                {

                    listcountry.Add(Rinfo.EnglishName);

                }

            }

            listcountry.Sort();

            ddlcountry.DataSource = listcountry;

            ddlcountry.DataBind();

            ddlcountry.Items.Insert(0, new ListItem("--Select Country--", "0"));

        }

        catch (Exception ex)

        {

        }

    }

VB.net Code:

  Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load

        If Not IsPostBack Then

            GetAllCountry()

        End If

    End Sub

Public Sub GetAllCountry()

        Try

            Dim listcountry As New List(Of String)()

            Dim cultures As CultureInfo() = CultureInfo.GetCultures(CultureTypes.SpecificCultures)

            For Each cinfo As CultureInfo In cultures

                Dim Rinfo As New RegionInfo(cinfo.LCID)

                If Not listcountry.Contains(Rinfo.EnglishName) Then

                    listcountry.Add(Rinfo.EnglishName)

                End If

            Next

            listcountry.Sort()

            ddlcountry.DataSource = listcountry

            ddlcountry.DataBind()

            ddlcountry.Items.Insert(0, New ListItem("--Select Country--", "0"))

        Catch ex As Exception

        End Try

    End Sub