How Many Countries are There in the World?

The question of how many countries are there in the world is a common one, and the answer is not as straightforward as you might think. While there are 195 recognized sovereign states in the world today, there are many more territories, dependencies, and disputed regions that are not considered fully independent countries. Additionally, some countries have changed their names or borders over time, making it difficult to keep track of the exact number of countries in the world.

One reason for the ambiguity is that the borders and names of some countries have changed over time. For example, the Soviet Union was once a superpower made up of multiple republics, but it dissolved in 1991 and its constituent republics became independent states. Similarly, Yugoslavia broke apart in the 1990s and its republics became independent states as well.

There are also some ongoing territorial disputes that affect the number of recognized states. For example, Taiwan is a self-governing territory that is not recognized as a sovereign state by some countries, including China. Similarly, Palestine has limited international recognition as a state due to its ongoing conflict with Israel.

In addition to these political issues, there are also some areas of the world that have not been definitively assigned to any country. Antarctica, for example, is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System, which suspends territorial claims and designates the continent as a scientific preserve.

Despite the complexity of determining exactly how many countries there are in the world, the list of recognized sovereign states is widely accepted and consists of 195 countries. This number may change over time due to political and territorial developments, but for now, it serves as a useful reference point for understanding the global political landscape.

Let’s first take a look at the list of recognized sovereign states, as recognized by the United Nations. There are currently 195 countries on this list, including: