How Many Countries Are There in the World?

Short answer: The most cited figure is 195 countries — 193 United Nations member states + 2 observer states (Holy See & State of Palestine). But depending on the rulebook (UN, ISO, FIFA, IOC, or academic criteria), credible lists range from 193 to ~197. This guide explains why the numbers differ and provides clean tables by continent.

Key idea: “Country” isn’t a single legal switch. Recognition varies by institution. Always state your counting method.

Which List Should You Use?

Institution What it lists Typical count Where to verify
United Nations (UN) Sovereign states admitted by the General Assembly 193 members + 2 observers = 195 UN Member States
ISO 3166-1 Codes for countries/territories for data exchange (includes territories) ~249 entries (not all are sovereign) ISO
World Bank Economies for statistics & lending ~218 economies World Bank Economies
CIA World Factbook “Countries” + dependencies & areas ~200+ entries CIA Factbook
FIFA & IOC Football associations / Olympic committees 211 (FIFA), 206 (IOC) FIFA, IOC
Editorial tip: For schoolwork and general reference, say “195 (UN system)”. For datasets/SEO lists, clarify the framework (UN, ISO, World Bank) to avoid comments wars.

Why the Confusion? (4 Quick Reasons)

  1. Different mandates: The UN counts members; ISO lists coding entities (adds territories); the World Bank groups “economies”.
  2. Partial recognition: Kosovo & Taiwan are recognized in some arenas (FIFA/IOC/ISO) but not UN members.
  3. Dependencies: Territories like Greenland, Bermuda, Hong Kong have wide autonomy but are not sovereign UN members.
  4. Disputed areas: Some regions claim statehood but lack broad recognition; lists choose to include/exclude differently.

UN Countries by Continent (195 framework)

Continent UN members Examples
Africa 54 Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Morocco
Asia 49 India, China, Japan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia
Europe 44 Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland
Americas 35 United States, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Argentina
Oceania 14 Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea
UN Observers 2 Holy See, State of Palestine

Counts aggregate subregions following common UN geoschemes. Always check UN M49 for official groupings.

Borderline Cases You’ll See in Lists

Taiwan

Self-governing, high-income democracy; appears in ISO codes and many datasets. Not a UN member since 1971. See ISO 3166-1 TW.

Kosovo

Declared independence in 2008; recognized by 100+ UN members, member of FIFA/UEFA/IOC; not a UN member. See IOC Kosovo.

Western Sahara

Non-self-governing territory on the UN list; sovereignty disputed. See UN Decolonization.

Dependent Territories

Examples: Greenland (Denmark), Bermuda (UK), French Polynesia (France), Hong Kong (China SAR). Present in ISO & World Bank, non-sovereign at the UN.

How to Cite the Number (Templates)

  • General use: “There are 195 countries in the world if you count UN members (193) + UN observers (2).”
  • Data/analytics: “We use the ISO 3166-1 list (≈249 entries including territories) because it aligns with coding standards.”
  • Sports: “International football recognizes 211 associations (FIFA), which isn’t the same as sovereign countries.”
Avoid: Mixing UN counts with ISO territories in the same bullet list without telling readers. Pick one rule and label it.

FAQ

How many UN member countries are there?

193. Source: UN.

Why do some articles say 197?

They usually add Taiwan and Kosovo to 195. Methodology varies; state yours.

How many countries use the euro?

20 EU member states (the euro area). Source: European Commission.

Smallest and largest UN members?

Largest: Russia by area; Smallest: Monaco by area among UN members. Microstates like the Holy See are observers.

How many countries are in the Olympics?

206 National Olympic Committees. Source: IOC.

Further Reading (Authoritative)

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