The seemingly straightforward question “How many countries are there in the world?” opens the door to a fascinating exploration of sovereignty, international relations, contested territories, and how we define nationhood itself. This comprehensive guide examines the various ways to count countries, explores the organizations that recognize them, and delves into the complex cases that make a definitive count challenging.
The Short Answer: It Depends
The number of countries in the world varies depending on the definition and recognizing authority:
Common Counts
- United Nations member states: 193 countries
- UN members + Vatican City (Holy See) + Palestine: 195 countries
- UN members + Vatican City + Palestine + Kosovo: 196 countries
- US State Department recognized: 195 countries
These numbers represent the most widely accepted counts, but as we’ll explore, the definition of “country” is more complex than it might initially appear.
What Makes a Country a Country?
The criteria for what constitutes a country vary, but typically include:
The Montevideo Convention Criteria (1933)
This treaty established four basic criteria for statehood:
- Permanent population
- Defined territory
- Government
- Capacity to enter into relations with other states
Additional Factors Considered in Practice
Beyond the basic criteria, these factors influence whether an entity is considered a country:
- Recognition by other states: How many existing countries acknowledge the entity
- Effective control: Whether the government actually controls its claimed territory
- Independence: Freedom from external control in domestic and foreign affairs
- International organization membership: Particularly United Nations membership
- Diplomatic relations: Ability to maintain embassies and consulates abroad
Major Lists of Countries
Several organizations maintain authoritative lists of countries, each with slightly different criteria:
United Nations Member States (193)
- Most widely accepted list of countries
- Membership requires approval by both the Security Council and General Assembly
- Newest member: South Sudan (joined July 9, 2011)
- Notable non-members with partial recognition: Vatican City, Palestine, Kosovo, Taiwan
International Olympic Committee (206)
- Includes territories and dependencies beyond sovereign states
- Examples: Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, Bermuda compete separately from their governing countries
- Focuses on sporting rather than political recognition
- Some entities recognized by IOC are not sovereign states
FIFA (211)
- World football (soccer) governing body recognizes even more entities
- Includes members like the Faroe Islands and Gibraltar
- Sports recognition often precedes or exists without political recognition
- Represents one of the largest lists of “countries” for international competition
ISO Standard 3166-1 (249)
- International Organization for Standardization list
- Includes sovereign states and dependent territories
- Used for country codes in computing, internet domains, etc.
- Technical rather than political in purpose
- Not meant to be a definitive list of “countries” but rather geographical entities
Special Cases and Partially Recognized States
Several entities have some characteristics of countries but lack universal recognition:
Vatican City (Holy See)
- Globally recognized independent state
- World’s smallest sovereign state (49 hectares/121 acres)
- UN permanent observer status rather than member state
- Maintains diplomatic relations with most countries
- Governed by the Pope
Palestine
- Declared independence in 1988
- Recognized by 138 UN member states (as of 2025)
- UN permanent observer status
- Control over claimed territories is limited and fragmented
- Statehood remains controversial and unresolved
Kosovo
- Declared independence from Serbia in 2008
- Recognized by approximately 100 countries
- Not a UN member due to opposition from Russia, China, and others
- De facto independent with its own government and institutions
- Membership in some international organizations
Taiwan (Republic of China)
- Functions as an independent country in practice
- Recognized by only 13 UN member states
- China considers Taiwan a province, not a separate country
- Maintains unofficial relations with many countries
- Significant economic and democratic development
Somaliland
- Declared independence from Somalia in 1991
- Not officially recognized by any UN member state
- Has maintained relative stability and democratic governance
- Issues its own currency and passports
- Controls its claimed territory effectively
Western Sahara
- Partially controlled by Morocco
- Partially controlled by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)
- SADR recognized by 84 UN member states at its peak
- UN designates as a “non-self-governing territory”
- Ongoing dispute over self-determination
Dependent Territories and Autonomous Regions
While not sovereign countries, these entities have varying degrees of self-governance:
Overseas Territories and Dependencies
- British Overseas Territories: 14 territories including Bermuda, Gibraltar, and the Falkland Islands
- French Overseas Territories: Including French Polynesia and New Caledonia
- United States Territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands
- Dutch Constituent Countries: Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten
- These have varying levels of autonomy but remain under the sovereignty of another state
Autonomous Regions Within Countries
- Hong Kong and Macau: Special Administrative Regions of China with high autonomy
- Greenland: Self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark
- Iraqi Kurdistan: Autonomous region in northern Iraq
- Zanzibar: Semi-autonomous region of Tanzania
- These regions have significant self-governance but are not considered separate countries
Historical Evolution of Countries
The number of countries has changed dramatically over time:
Colonial Era to Independence Movements
- In 1900, there were approximately 50 recognized independent states
- Decolonization after World War II created dozens of new countries
- 1960 alone saw 17 newly independent states in Africa (“Year of Africa”)
Post-Soviet Changes
- Dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 created 15 new independent states
- Czechoslovakia peacefully split into Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993
- Yugoslavia’s breakup resulted in seven new countries over several years
Recent Changes
- Newest UN member: South Sudan (2011)
- Other 21st century additions: East Timor/Timor-Leste (2002), Montenegro (2006)
- Potential future changes: Various independence movements worldwide
Historical Disappearances
- Countries that no longer exist include Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, the Soviet Union
- Some historical states were absorbed into others (e.g., Tibet, Sikkim, Zanzibar)
- Other historical entities merged voluntarily (e.g., Tanganyika and Zanzibar forming Tanzania)
Regional Distribution of Countries
Countries are unevenly distributed across continents:
By Continental Region
- Africa: 54 UN member states
- Asia: 49 UN member states
- Europe: 44 UN member states
- North America (including Central America and Caribbean): 23 UN member states
- South America: 12 UN member states
- Oceania: 14 UN member states
- Some countries span multiple continents (e.g., Russia, Turkey, Egypt)
By Size
- Geographic extremes: From Russia (largest by area) to Vatican City (smallest)
- Population extremes: From China and India (over 1 billion each) to several countries with fewer than 100,000 people
- More than 50% of UN member states have populations under 10 million
Geopolitical Unions and Supranational Organizations
Some countries have formed deep political and economic unions:
European Union
- 27 member countries (as of 2025)
- Shared economic policies, customs union, and growing political integration
- Common currency (euro) for 20 members
- Free movement of people across internal borders
- Aspects of shared sovereignty while members remain independent countries
Other Regional Organizations
- African Union: 55 member states focusing on African integration and cooperation
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): 10 Southeast Asian nations
- Caribbean Community (CARICOM): 15 Caribbean nations and dependencies
- These organizations promote regional cooperation but with less integration than the EU
The Complexity of Recognition
Country recognition is often political rather than purely objective:
Patterns of Recognition
- Former colonial powers typically recognize former colonies
- Ideological alliances influence recognition decisions
- Regional neighbors’ recognition particularly important
- Great power politics plays a significant role
- Recognition can be withdrawn or changed
Diplomatic Recognition vs. Practical Relations
- Countries may maintain unofficial relations without formal recognition
- Economic and cultural ties often exist despite diplomatic differences
- Representative offices may function similarly to embassies without formal designation
- Technical and humanitarian cooperation often transcends recognition issues
The Impact of Non-Recognition
- Difficulties joining international organizations
- Limited access to international finance and aid
- Travel restrictions for citizens
- Challenges conducting international trade
- Legal complications in international courts
Different Counting Methods and Their Rationales
Different entities count countries differently for specific purposes:
Political Recognition
- UN membership: Focus on states recognized by the international community
- Individual country recognition: Each nation decides which other states it recognizes
- Diplomatic missions: Countries where a nation maintains embassies or consulates
Practical Considerations
- Travel destinations: Passport stamps and entry requirements define “countries” for travelers
- Postal systems: Universal Postal Union recognizes 192 postal entities
- Telephone codes: 193 international calling codes assigned to distinct territories
- Internet domains: Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) assigned to 316 entities
Cultural and Sporting Divisions
- Olympic teams: Based on sporting tradition and organization rather than strict sovereignty
- FIFA membership: Football associations granted separate status for historical reasons
- Cultural distinctiveness: Sometimes recognized separately from political status
Future Changes and Developments
The list of countries continues to evolve:
Active Independence Movements
- Scotland: Ongoing debate about independence from the United Kingdom
- Catalonia: Movement for independence from Spain
- New Caledonia: Multiple referendums on independence from France
- Bougainville: Voted for independence from Papua New Guinea, negotiating transition
- Dozens of other movements worldwide with varying levels of support and legitimacy
Potential New Countries
- Kurdistan: Spanning parts of Iraq, Turkey, Syria, and Iran
- Ambazonia: Independence movement in Cameroon
- West Papua: Seeking independence from Indonesia
- Success of these movements depends on internal support, international recognition, and geopolitical factors
Possible Unifications
- Korean Peninsula: Potential long-term reunification of North and South Korea
- Cyprus: Ongoing negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities
- China’s goal of reunification with Taiwan: Strongly disputed by Taiwan’s government
- These scenarios face significant political, economic, and cultural obstacles
Conclusion
The question “How many countries are there?” reveals the complex interplay of history, politics, international relations, and the evolving nature of sovereignty. While 193 UN member states provides a commonly accepted baseline, the additional cases of the Vatican City, Palestine, Kosovo, Taiwan, and other partially recognized states demonstrate that “country” is not a simple binary status.
Ultimately, the count of countries depends on the purpose of the counting and the criteria applied. From the perspective of international law and diplomatic relations, a range of 193-196 countries represents the most widely accepted answer. However, this number will continue to change as new states emerge, others unite, and recognition patterns evolve in response to global political developments.
Understanding these nuances provides insight not only into geography and international relations but also into the ongoing process by which human communities organize themselves politically on the global stage.
