How many countries are there? It sounds like a question for a third-grade geography bee, but the answer is a total mess. If you ask a UN diplomat, they’ll give you one number. Ask a FIFA scout or a professional traveler chasing the "full set," and you’ll get something entirely different.
Honestly, the list of all the countries of the world isn't a static document. It’s a shifting, breathing political argument.
Most people stick with the number 195. That's the 193 member states of the United Nations plus two "observer states"—the Holy See (Vatican City) and Palestine. But even that is kinda simplified. There are places like Kosovo, which has its own flag, government, and recognition from over 100 countries, yet it isn't on the "official" UN member list because of some very old-school geopolitical vetoes.
Why the list of all the countries of the world is so confusing
Politics. That's basically the reason.
For a place to be a "country," it usually needs a permanent population, a defined border, and a government. But the secret sauce is recognition. If your neighbors don't say you're a country, you're basically just a very organized club with a lot of land.
Take Taiwan, for example. It has its own military, issues its own passports, and runs a massive global economy. Yet, because of the "One China" policy, most of the world doesn't officially recognize it as a sovereign state to avoid a diplomatic nightmare.
Then you've got the "nations" that aren't states. Greenland? It’s huge. It has its own culture. But it's technically part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Same goes for the Cook Islands and Niue, which are "in free association" with New Zealand. They're self-governing, sure, but they aren't fully independent in the way France or Japan are.
The Big List: Breaking Down the 195 (and then some)
If we're looking at the most widely accepted count, we group them by continent. But even "continents" are up for debate—some people say there are seven, others say six. Let's look at how the 195 UN-recognized states are spread out across the globe.
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In Africa, there are 54 countries. It’s the continent with the most sovereign states. You’ve got giants like Nigeria and Algeria, and tiny island nations like the Seychelles. South Sudan is the baby of the group; it only became independent in 2011.
Asia has 48 countries. This includes the heavy hitters like China and India, but also the Middle East and Central Asian "Stans" like Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Europe is home to 44 countries. This is where things get weird with "transcontinental" states. Russia and Turkey both sit in Europe and Asia.
Latin America and the Caribbean account for 33 countries. People often forget that the Caribbean isn't just one big holiday destination; it's a collection of fiercely independent nations like Barbados and Saint Lucia.
Oceania has 14 countries, dominated by Australia and New Zealand, but filled out by Pacific island nations like Vanuatu and Kiribati.
Northern America is the smallest group with just 2: the United States and Canada.
What about the ones that aren't on the list?
If you’re a serious traveler, you’ve probably heard of the Travelers' Century Club. They don't care about the UN. They list 330 "countries" and territories. Why? Because they believe that if a place is geographically separate or has a vastly different culture, it counts as a destination.
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To them, Alaska is a country. Hawaii is a country. Even the Galapagos Islands.
This is why you see people claiming they've visited "every country in the world" while others say they still have 50 to go. It depends on which rulebook you’re using.
The places currently fighting for a spot
The list of all the countries of the world isn't finished. There are several regions currently pushing for independence.
Bougainville is a big one to watch. It’s currently part of Papua New Guinea, but they voted overwhelmingly for independence. Most experts expect them to become the world’s newest country sometime between 2025 and 2027.
Then there’s New Caledonia. They’ve had three referendums to leave France. So far, the "No" vote has won, but the movement isn't going away.
Western Sahara is another complicated one. It’s recognized by many countries in Africa, but Morocco claims it. It’s a "non-self-governing territory" in the eyes of the UN, which is basically diplomatic speak for "we haven't figured this out yet."
Sovereignty is a spectrum
We like to think of countries as solid blocks on a map, but the reality is more like a gradient.
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- Fully Sovereign: Japan, Brazil, Norway. No questions asked.
- De Facto Independent: Somaliland. It has its own currency and police, but no one else recognizes it.
- Associated States: Palau or the Marshall Islands. They handle their own business but rely on the US for defense.
- Dependent Territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, or the Falkland Islands. They are distinctly their own places, but they legally belong to another nation.
How to actually use this information
If you’re trying to memorize the list of all the countries of the world for a quiz or just to be the smartest person at the dinner table, don't just memorize names. Learn the stories.
The reason why "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" had to change its name to North Macedonia in 2019 is a fascinating rabbit hole involving Greek history and Alexander the Great. The reason Eswatini changed its name from Swaziland was to shed the colonial-era naming conventions.
When you understand the why behind the names, the list stops being a boring data set and starts being a map of human history.
Actionable insights for the geography-curious
- Stop using 193 as the "total." It's the most common number, but it ignores the Vatican and Palestine. 195 is the standard "sovereign" count for most professionals.
- Watch the Pacific. This is where the newest countries are likely to emerge in the next decade.
- Use the "ISO 3166-1" list for technical work. If you're building a website or a database, this is the gold standard. It includes 249 codes, covering countries and major territories like Hong Kong or Puerto Rico.
- Distinguish between the UK and its parts. The UK is the country. Scotland, Wales, and England are "countries within a country." It’s a nuance that matters if you're talking to someone from Glasgow or Cardiff.
Geography isn't about lines in the sand; it's about who gets to draw them. The world is a lot more fragmented and interesting than a classroom map suggests.
To truly understand the global landscape, look into the specific history of the "unrecognized" states like Transnistria or Northern Cyprus. Knowing why they aren't on the official list tells you more about current world power dynamics than the list of recognized nations ever could.
Check your favorite map app or a modern atlas—you'll likely find that even the tech giants can't agree on where one country ends and another begins.