How many countries are there in the world? The most widely used answer is 195: the 193 member states of the United Nations plus two UN observer states, the Holy See (Vatican City) and the State of Palestine. But ask a geographer, a football fan or a passport office and you may hear a different number. This guide explains how many countries are there in the world in 2026, how they split by continent, which places are disputed, and why the count keeps changing.
- 195 countries is the standard answer: 193 UN members + 2 observer states.
- By continent: Africa 54 · Asia 48 · Europe 44 · North America 23 · Oceania 14 · South America 12.
- Newest country: South Sudan, independent since 2011.
- Newest name: Nauru became Naoero in 2026.
- Disputed places such as Taiwan, Kosovo and Western Sahara are usually not in the 195.
How many countries are there in the world? Why 195
There is no single world authority that decides what counts as a country, so most atlases, schools and governments use the United Nations as the reference point. The UN has 193 member states, and two more states take part as permanent observers: the Holy See (Vatican City) and the State of Palestine. Add them together and you get 195, which is why “195” is the usual answer when people ask how many countries are there in the world.
Palestine's status has changed fast. In September 2025, the UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognised the State of Palestine, and by then at least 145 of the 193 UN members did so. It is still an observer, not a full UN member.
AtlasWise follows the same standard: we have a travel guide for each of the 195 countries, grouped by continent, from Africa to Oceania.
How many countries are there in the world by continent?
| Continent | Countries | Largest by area | Smallest by area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌍 Africa | 54 | Algeria | Seychelles |
| 🌏 Asia | 48 | China | Maldives |
 Europe | 44 | Russia* | Vatican City |
| 🌎 North America | 23 | Canada | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
| 🌏 Oceania | 14 | Australia | Naoero (Nauru) |
| 🌎 South America | 12 | Brazil | Suriname |
| Total | 195 |
*Russia is counted in Europe here, although most of its land is in Asia. Countries that sit across two continents, such as Russia, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Egypt and Georgia, are placed differently by different sources, so continent totals can vary by one or two. Antarctica has no countries at all: it is governed by the Antarctic Treaty.
Disputed and partially recognised countries
Several places govern themselves and have their own flag, government and passport, but are not counted in the 195 because many countries do not recognise them:
| Place | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Taiwan | Fully self-governing, but recognised by only around a dozen UN members; not a UN member |
| Kosovo | Declared independence from Serbia in 2008; recognised by roughly half of UN members |
| Western Sahara | Disputed between Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic |
| Northern Cyprus | Recognised only by Türkiye |
| Abkhazia and South Ossetia | Claimed by Georgia; recognised by Russia and very few others |
| Somaliland | Has run its own affairs since 1991, but is not widely recognised |
If you add Taiwan and Kosovo, you get 197, which is why some lists give a slightly higher number for how many countries are there in the world.
Places that look like countries but are not
Many popular destinations are territories of another country rather than independent states, so they are not counted. Examples include Greenland (Denmark), Puerto Rico and Guam (USA), Bermuda and Gibraltar (UK), French Polynesia (France) and Hong Kong and Macau (China).
The UK is one country made up of four nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They play as separate teams in football, which is one reason FIFA has 211 members, far more than the number of countries in the world.
How many countries are there in the world over time?
The answer to the question “how many countries are there in the world?” has changed many times. In 1945 the UN had 51 members. Decolonisation in Africa and Asia in the 1950s–70s and the break-up of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia in the early 1990s added dozens more.
South Sudan, which became independent from Sudan in 2011 and joined the UN as its 193rd member.
Nauru officially became the Republic of Naoero in 2026, the latest in a long line of countries that changed their names.
Timor-Leste became the 11th member of ASEAN in October 2025.
Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) voted for independence in 2019 and is negotiating its future.
Country records: biggest, smallest and most populated
| Record | Country |
|---|---|
| Largest by area | Russia (about 17.1 million km²) |
| Smallest by area | Vatican City (0.49 km²) |
| Most people | India (since 2023), then China |
| Fewest people | Vatican City |
| Most neighbours | China and Russia (14 each) |
| Most UNESCO sites | Italy (62 in 2026) |
Compare any two countries by size, population and more with our Compare Countries tool, or see the largest countries in the world.
❓ Frequently asked questions
How many countries are there in the world in 2026?
There are 195 countries in the world in 2026: the 193 member states of the United Nations plus two observer states, the Holy See (Vatican City) and the State of Palestine.
How many countries are in the United Nations?
The UN has 193 member states. South Sudan, which joined in 2011, was the most recent.
Is Taiwan a country?
Taiwan governs itself, but it is not a UN member and is recognised by only around a dozen countries, so it is usually not counted among the 195.
How many countries are there in Africa?
Africa has 54 countries, more than any other continent.
How many countries are there in Europe?
Europe has 44 countries, including transcontinental Russia and the tiny Vatican City.
What is the newest country in the world?
South Sudan, which became independent from Sudan on 9 July 2011.
How many countries are there in the world if you count Taiwan and Kosovo?
Some lists add Taiwan and Kosovo, which are self-governing but only partially recognised, to the 195.
🌍 Explore all 195 countries
Find travel guides for every country, or test your knowledge with our geography quizzes.
Sources:
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