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How many countries in the world? 197 although it’s pretty complicated, let’s have a look…

Trying to visit every country in the world is a thousand times tougher than I ever expected. For a start, I have to sit back and think ‘OK, but hang on, how many countries in the world? 200 or so?’ it’s so tough to get a definitive answer.

Generally speaking though, there are around 200 countries, but generally doesn’t cut it when you’re trying to become the youngest person to officially do it! So I had to delve a little deeper, and the answer was found somewhere between the United Nations list (193 recognised countries and the FIFA football list (211 members), but how can you put an official number on it?!

What is a country?!

First of all, we need to think what makes a country a country. Does it have to have a flag, a government, it’s own currency, a passport? It’s so difficult to decide. So let’s say this – an independent country is not only a self-governed nation with its own authorities, but its status needs the international diplomatic recognition of sovereignty from other countries. So you need to manage all your own affairs AND every other country has to admit that you are indeed a country. Which stops me from declaring my apartment ‘johnnyland’ and it being an officially country! Shame.

FIFA?

Initially, being a huge football fan, I wanted to work off the FIFA list, but it was just plain wrong. Football has more national teams than any other sport so that’s a great starting point too, and the federation ‘FIFA’ is a huge global body. They But alas, politics still plays a part. For example, the UK is 1 country but FIFA used Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales as 4 separate ‘countries’, despite all using the same British pound, same British passport, having the same British queen and all using the same British Government (albeit slightly differently). So without getting political, and growing up in Northern Ireland that’s quite tough (!), the FIFA list isn’t strictly correct, so onto the next one. The United Nations….

THE UNITED NATIONS SAY THERE ARE 193 ‘COUNTRIES’…

The United Nations list is probably the best to work off, it’s pretty expansive, not TOO political (more on that in a second), and if you’re recognised by the UN then realistically you’re pretty much a country. So they say they have 193 members. So that means 193 countries? Not quite!

The UN also see 2 permanent observer states in Palestine and the Vatican City, both of which I see as countries and Palestine in particular is one of my favourite, so that would make the count 195. So 195 countries? Calm down sailor, we’re not there yet.. That then excludes Taiwan (recognised by 22 countries), and Kosovo (recognised by 109 other countries), so what to do?

Due to the political nature of the UN, 195 would then exclude Taiwan (recognised by 22 countries), and Kosovo (recognised by 108 other countries). Taiwan is excluded because China claims them, the rest of the world don’t want to harm their relations with China due to all the trading opportunities, so they too cut ties with Taiwan, despite the fact that very much is a country, so that makes the cut. Incidentally, Taiwan is a brilliant place to visit, I’d massively recommend it. Anyway, now we’re at 196.

Kosovo is a political one too, since declaring itself independent from Serbia in 2008 it’s had a tough ride, but again without getting overly political, it’s recognised by countries such as the UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and a lot more, as well as being a member of the IMF, The World Bank, the IOC etc,  yet the countries that don’t recognise it include Iraq, Iran, Angola, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Mali, Nigeria, Russia, Syria and Sudan, so I have gone with including it in my list and I personally recognise Kosovo as a country, so that makes 197!

So there are 197 countries in the world?

Yes, 197 countries in the world. An independent country is not only a self-governed nation with its own authorities, but its status needs the international diplomatic recognition of sovereignty from other countries. Bearing that in mind, there are 197.

Disputed territories…

Nothing is simple when defining what makes a country, so for that reason there are a lot of disputed territories around the world. Now while Catalonia or Scotland, for example, fight regularly for independance, they are still very much part of Spain and UK respectively, so they certainly can’t be counted. This is not a political endorsement, just a simple fact.

However, the following 9 territories have declared themselves independent already (although those declarations aren’t officially ratified, and are unlikely to be), and therefore not yet recognised by most of the rest of the world, so can’t really be considered ‘countries’ just yet. Incidentally, I’ve actually visited 5 of these 9 areas, and will probably visit them all, but just because it’s fascinating, rather than to achieve any particular goal.

• Somaliland (visited 2010)

Declared its independence from Somalia in 1991. Not recognised as a country by any other country, officially still a part of Somalia proper.

• Nagorno-Karabakh (visited 2013)

Declared its independence in 1991. It isn’t recognised by any UN member states, and by only 3 UN non-members: Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria. Officially part of Azerbaijan.

• (The Turkish Republic of) Northern Cyprus (visited 2013)

Declared its independence in 1983. It is only recognised by 1 UN member state, Turkey. Officially still part of Cyprus proper.

• Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic/Western Sahara (visited 2015)Declared its independence in 1976. It is recognised by 47 UN member states (plus 37 additional member states who used to recognise it) as well as South Ossetia. Officially still part of Morocco proper.

• Transnistria/Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (visited 2012)

Declared its independence in 1990. It isn’t recognised by any UN member states, and by only 3 UN non-members: Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Officially part of Moldova.

• South Ossetia

Declared its independence in 1991.  It is recognised by 4 UN member states (Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru) and 4 UN non-member states (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistria). Officially part of Georgia proper.

• Abkhazia

Declared its independence in 1999. It is recognised by 4 UN member states (Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru) and 3 UN non-member states (South Ossetia, Transnistria and Nagorno-Karabakh). Officially part of Georgia proper.

• Cook Islands

Cook Islanders are New Zealand passport holders, and New Zealand is officially responsible for the defence and foreign affairs of the Cook Islands (and Niue). However, these responsibilities confer New Zealand no rights of control per se.  It is however recognised by 11 UN member states. As of 2016, the Cook Islands, Niue, and Kosovo are the only states that participate in UN specialised agencies, but which are not member or observer states of the UN itself.

• Niue

Niueans are New Zealand passport holders, and New Zealand is officially responsible for the defence and foreign affairs of Niue (and the Cook Islands). However, these responsibilities confer New Zealand no rights of control per se.  It is however recognised by 7 UN member states. As of 2016, the Cook Islands, Niue, and Kosovo are the only states that participate in UN specialised agencies, but which are not member or observer states of the UN itself.

And other places that lots of people (wrongly!) consider countries but all belong to an actual sovereign member state.

• Hong Kong (rightly or wrongly, China)
• Macau (China)
• Tibet (China)
• Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales (the UK)
• French Guiana (France)
• Puerto Rica (US)
• Lots of the Caribbean (BVI, Guadelope, Aruba, USVI, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, Anguilla, Saint Martin and more)
• Reunion Island (France)
• French Polynesia (France)
• American Samoa (US)
• Canary Islands (Spain)
• Madeira (Portugal)
• Faroe Islands (part of Denmark)
• Gibraltar (part of the UK)
• Greenland (part of Denmark)
• The Arctic (belongs partly to Norway, Denmark, Canada, the US and Russia)
• The Falklands (part of the UK)
• French Polynesia (part of France)
• Guam (US)
• Tahiti (French Polynesia, and therefore France. Same for Bora Bora!)

So, how many countries in the world? That’s it, 197, although to be honest when I started writing this I was absolutely sure the final number was 197 but after spending the whole day researching, I’m starting to reevaluate and I’m considering adding Western Sahara (where I’ve already been) Niue, the Cook Islands, making it 200, and even perhaps Abkhazia and South Ossetia to my list, making it 202. In my head and my heart thought, I’d say it’s 197. If Niue and Cook Islanders have New Zealand passports, then can they really be sovereign states? Doubtful. However, on my journey to every country in the world, perhaps I’ll visit all the disputed territories too, just to make sure. Or maybe now I’m close to the end, I just can’t quit my travels. “Hi, my name is johnny,  I’m a travelaholic” Something like that. So now I’m looking at flights to Niue and the Cook islands like the travel freak I am! See you on the road I guess!

Oh, and here’s the full list of EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!

Just to make it more interesting, I’ve listed them in the order I’ve visited them:

1. Republic of Ireland
2. UK
3. France
4. The Netherlands
5. Belgium
6. USA
7. Canada
8. Thailand
9. Laos
10. Cambodia
11. China
12. Bangladesh
13. India
14. Nepal
15. South Korea
16. Vietnam
17. Malaysia
18. Singapore
19. Japan
20. The Philippines
21. Brunei
22. Indonesia
23. East Timor
24. Australia
25. Sri Lanka
26. Zimbabwe
27. Zambia
28. Botswana
29. South Africa
30. Swaziland
31. Mozambique
32. Malawi
33. Tanzania
34. Kenya
35. Uganda
36. Rwanda
37. Ethiopia
38. Somalia
39. Djibouti
40. Sudan
41. Egypt
42. Jordan
43. Syria
44. Lebanon
45. Burma
46. Taiwan

47. North Korea
48. Mongolia
49. Russia
50. Kazakhstan
51. Finland
52. Estonia
53. Latvia
54. Lithuania
55. Belarus
56. Ukraine
57. Moldova

58. Romania
59. Bulgaria
60. Macedonia
61. Kosovo
62. Greece
63. Albania
64. Montenegro
65. Croatia
66. Bosnia & Herzegovina
67. Serbia
68. Hungary
69. Israel
70. Palestine
71. Italy
72. Vatican City
73. San Marino
74. Switzerland
75. Liechtenstein
76. Slovenia
77. Austria
78. Slovakia
79. Czech Republic
80. Poland
81. Germany
82. Denmark
83. Sweden
84. Luxembourg
85. Qatar
86. Bhutan
87. UAE
88. Portugal
89. Spain
90. Andorra
91. Monaco
92. Iceland
93. Papua New Guinea
94. New Zealand
95. Solomon Islands
96. Vanuatu
97. Fiji
98. Tonga
99. Samoa

100. Kyrgyzstan
101. Tajikistan
102. Uzbekistan
103. Iraq
104. Maldives
105. Iran
106. Azerbaijan
107. Georgia
108. Armenia

109. Turkey
110. Malta
111. Cyprus
112. Mexico
113. Belize
114. Guatemala
115. El Salvador
116. Honduras
117. Nicaragua
118. Costa Rica
119. Panama
120. Brazil
121. Uruguay
122. Paraguay
123. Venezuela
124. Colombia
125. Ecuador
126. Peru
127. Bolivia
128. Argentina
129. Chile

*Antarctica

130. Suriname
131. Guyana
132. Trinidad and Tobago
133. Grenada
134. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
135. Saint Lucia
136. Barbados
137. Dominica
138. Antigua and Barbuda
139. St Kitts and Nevis
140. Dominican Republic
141. Haiti
142. Cuba
143. Bahamas
144. Jamaica
145. Bahrain
146. Kuwait
147. Algeria
148. Tunisia
149. South Sudan
150. Democratic Republic of Congo
151. Burundi
152. Comoros
153. Madagascar
154. Seychelles
155. Mauritius
156. Lesotho
157. Namibia
158. Angola
159. Republic of Congo
160. Gabon
161. Sao Tome and Principe
162. Equatorial Guinea
163. Cameroon
164. Central African Republic
165. Chad
166. Nigeria
167. Benin
168. Togo
169. Ghana
170. Ivory Coast
171. Mali
172. Burkina Faso
173. Niger
174. Liberia
175. Sierra Leone
176. Guinea
177. Guinea-Bissau
178. Senegal
179. The Gambia
180. Mauritania
181. Morocco
182. Cape Verde
183. Libya
184. Eritrea
185. Afghanistan
186. Turkmenistan
187. Kiribati
188. Tuvalu
189. Marshall islands
190. Nauru
191. Palau
192. Micronesia
193. Pakistan
194. Oman

STILL TO GO:

195. Yemen

196. Saudi Arabia

197. Norway (party time!)

That’s everything I can think of! Let me know if you have any questions, or if you think I’ve made a mistake anywhere. Please note, I don’t wanna get drawn into political debates, I blog about travel, lifestyle and blogging. I have my opinions on what should be considered countries, and what shouldn’t, but those conversations are for the pub, not for a lifestyle blog. Thanks everyone!