How Many Countries Are There in the World? 193, 195 or More

There are 195 countries in the world by the most widely used count: 193 member states of the United Nations, plus two non-member observer states, the Holy See (Vatican City) and Palestine. Other lists give bigger numbers, such as 206, 211 or 330, because they count territories and disputed places too. Nobody is wrong; they're answering slightly different questions.

If you're counting for a quiz, a school project or your own travel map, the details below tell you which number to pick and why.

So how many countries are there in the world?

The cleanest official starting point is the United Nations. Its member states page lists 193 members. The newest is South Sudan, which became independent in 2011 and joined the UN that year.

The UN also has two non-member observer states: the Holy See, which represents Vatican City, and the State of Palestine, which the General Assembly gave observer-state status in resolution A/RES/67/19 in November 2012. Add them to the 193 and you get 195.

That is the number most atlases, quiz sites and travelers settle on. Tripfolio uses it too: the "x / 195" counter, the "% of the world" figure and the milestones all count these 195 sovereign countries.

Why do some lists say 206, 211 or 330?

Because many organizations aren't asking "Is this a UN member?" They're asking "Does this place field a team?" or "Is it its own destination?" Three examples:

• The Olympics: 206. The International Olympic Committee recognizes 206 National Olympic Committees, 13 more than the UN has members. The extras include Palestine, Kosovo, Taiwan (competing under its own committee), the Cook Islands, and several dependent territories.
• Football: 211. FIFA has 211 member associations. That's more than the UN count partly because FIFA admits non-sovereign entities, among them the four UK home nations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), Hong Kong and Macau.
• Travel clubs: 330. The Travelers' Century Club is for people who have visited 100 or more "countries and territories". Its list holds 330 places as of January 2022, because it counts distant islands and territories as separate stops.

None of these is a mistake. A sports federation and a diplomatic body simply have different membership rules, and a travel club wants to reward going somewhere that feels different, even if the passport stamp says the same country.

What's the difference between a country, a state and a territory?

Three words that get mixed up:

• Sovereign state. A place that governs itself and isn't part of another country. This is what most people mean by "country". The 193 UN members are all sovereign states.
• Observer state. Treated as a state by the UN General Assembly, but without a vote as a member. The Holy See and Palestine.
• Dependent territory. A place that belongs to another country or has a special link to it, but still feels distinct on a trip. Greenland, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong and the Åland Islands are all examples.

Then there are places with disputed or limited recognition. Kosovo and Taiwan run their own affairs, but they aren't UN members, and countries disagree about whether to recognize them. A fair way to handle this is to stay neutral: say which list you're using, and be clear about it.

How do the 195 fit on the continents?

Africa has the most countries, followed by Asia and Europe, then North America, Oceania and South America. Antarctica has none: it has research stations, but no country and no permanent population. Exact totals vary by source, because the "which continent?" question does (Türkiye, Cyprus and Russia are the classic arguments), so be wary of any list that sounds too sure.

Tripfolio's map puts each country on exactly one continent so the "continents x / 7" tally stays consistent.

Which count should you use for travel?

It depends on what you want the number to do.

1. To keep score with the usual rules, use 195. It's easy to explain, it's the figure people expect, and it doesn't depend on a hard argument about borders.
2. To go deeper, add territories separately. Count the 195 as your main number, then keep a second tally of territories, such as Greenland, Hong Kong or Puerto Rico. You get to celebrate a trip to Greenland without breaking your headline number.
3. To join a travel club, use its list. If you want to qualify for the Travelers' Century Club, use its 330-place list, not the UN one.

Whichever you pick, write the rule down and stick to it. A number that changes definition every year isn't a record; it's a mood.

On Tripfolio's map, all roughly 250 places can be colored as visited or wanted, but only the 195 sovereign countries count toward "x / 195", the percentage and the milestones. Territories are colored in but not counted. Kosovo and Taiwan, for example, can be marked on the map yet don't add to the 195. The USA is split into 50 states, and Canada and Australia are split into provinces and territories and states, each with its own counter.

Do you count a country if you only changed planes there?

Usually not. The common traveler rule is that you've "been" to a country once you've entered it, which normally means clearing passport control and spending some real time there. Staying airside in a transit hall doesn't qualify for most people. Some collectors have stricter or looser rules, and that's fine. What matters is that your rule stays the same, so your count is honest.

A few smaller countries worth knowing

If you're building a list, these are the ones people most often forget or confuse:

• Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, and an observer state at the UN rather than a member.
• Palestine is the other observer state. It's included in the 195.
• Kosovo declared independence in 2008 and is recognized by many countries but isn't in the UN. It's on the map but outside the 195.

You can read more about how counting works in How Many Countries Have I Visited?. If your road trips are inside the USA, the US states visited map guide covers that tally.

Put your own number on the map

Seeing the world in color changes how you think about the number. Open the countries visited map, tap the places you've been and watch the 195 fill in. It's free, runs in your browser, and works on your phone. Then sign up if you'd like to keep it, add trips and photos, and see where your friends have been.

Ready to see your number? Try the free countries visited map.

FAQ

How many countries are there in the world in 2026?

There are 195 by the most common count: 193 UN member states and two observer states, the Holy See and Palestine. The UN's member list has been 193 since South Sudan joined in 2011.

Is it 193 or 195 countries?

Both are right. 193 is the number of UN member states; 195 adds the two non-member observer states, Vatican City (the Holy See) and Palestine.

Why does FIFA have more countries than the UN?

FIFA has 211 member associations because it also admits non-sovereign teams, such as England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Hong Kong and Macau. The Olympics have 206 committees for similar reasons.

Is Taiwan or Kosovo a country?

Both are self-governing, but neither is a UN member and countries disagree about recognizing them. That's why most lists of 193 or 195 leave them out, even though you can still travel to and visit both.

What is the newest country in the world?

South Sudan, which became independent in 2011 and joined the UN that year.