You’ll Never Officially Find Coca-Cola In These Countries

Aside from McDonald’s, there’s perhaps no greater symbol of American food culture, and American culture in general, than Coca-Cola. The drink is irrefutably one of the biggest brands in the world and is found virtually everywhere around the globe.

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I say “virtually” because, despite its dominance, there are three countries where you’ll never find Coca-Cola through state-sanctioned channels. It might not surprise you to learn that these three countries have experienced fractious political relations with the US over the years – and the names on the list might not surprise you that much, either. 

North Korea

In North Korea, Coca-Cola joins one of many products produced in the United States that can’t, or won’t, be sold anywhere. This is all down to a longstanding trade embargo imposed on the country, which has been in place since 1950, says the BBC. 

Sanctions against the country have eased and tightened over the years, but as of 2026, trade restrictions are still in place. On the Office of Foreign Assets Control website, Executive Order 13722, passed by Barack Obama, “prohibits the exportation and reexportation of goods” to the country. 

Russia

In recent years, Coca-Cola’s presence in Russia has been hotly disputed – and you can still find it there, even if you perhaps shouldn’t be able to. Coca-Cola withdrew from Russia as part of a wider business response to its invasion of Ukraine, officially taking the drink out of the country. A 2023 report from The Bell, however, points out that Coca-Cola is still imported via different countries and can be purchased in stores. It’s just not officially sanctioned by The Coca-Cola Company itself. 

Coca-Cola was previously banned in Soviet Union-era Russia – but it turns out that banning a drink doesn’t stop people from craving it. As The Takeout reports, high-ranking Soviet Union officer Georgy Zhukov was a huge fan of the drink. Having built a relationship with President Eisenhower, he subsequently asked US General Mark D. Clark if a way could be found for Coke to be made as a clear liquid, instead of a brown one, so he could drink it without fear of punishment. That way was found, and Zhukov was able to enjoy his beverage fix, despite it being officially banned. 

Cuba

Like North Korea, Cuba is still under a lengthy trade embargo from the United States, which has been in place since 1962. The embargo blocks American companies from doing business in the country, including Coca-Cola.

Interestingly, though, Coca-Cola has a long history in the island nation. In 1906, it became one of the first countries to bottle the drink outside the US. It did so until the early 60s, when the brand left Cuba, not to return since.