empty_list = [value_1,value_2,value_3...]

df = pd.DataFrame({'country':['a','b','c','d'],
      'gdp':[1,2,3,4],
      'iso':['x','y','z','w']})
a_list = []

a_list.append(df['iso'])
a_list.append(df['iso'].values)
a_list.append(df['iso'].tolist())