diff --git a/sqlalchemy_utils/types/country.py b/sqlalchemy_utils/types/country.py
index 434cb49..b4c1efd 100644
--- a/sqlalchemy_utils/types/country.py
+++ b/sqlalchemy_utils/types/country.py
@@ -5,8 +5,11 @@ from sqlalchemy_utils import i18n
 
 
 class Country(object):
-    def __init__(self, code):
-        self.code = code
+    def __init__(self, code_or_country):
+        if isinstance(code_or_country, Country):
+            self.code = code_or_country.code
+        else:
+            self.code = code_or_country
 
     @property
     def name(self):
@@ -15,6 +18,8 @@ class Country(object):
     def __eq__(self, other):
         if isinstance(other, Country):
             return self.code == other.code
+        elif isinstance(other, six.string_types):
+            return self.code == other
         else:
             return NotImplemented
 
diff --git a/tests/types/test_country.py b/tests/types/test_country.py
index 58802a6..45ed25b 100644
--- a/tests/types/test_country.py
+++ b/tests/types/test_country.py
@@ -13,6 +13,16 @@ def get_locale():
 i18n.get_locale = get_locale
 
 
+class TestCountry(object):
+    def test_init(self):
+        assert Country(u'fi') == Country(Country(u'fi'))
+
+    def test_equality_operator(self):
+        assert Country(u'fi') == u'fi'
+        assert u'fi' == Country(u'fi')
+        assert Country(u'fi') == Country(u'fi')
+
+
 class TestCountryType(TestCase):
     def create_models(self):
         class User(self.Base):