How many countries are there in the world?

Quick answer: There are 195 countries: 193 member states of the United Nations plus 2 observer states, Palestine and the Vatican City.

Why the number is 195

Most atlases and quiz sites use the United Nations as the reference. Its 193 members cover almost every independent state, and its two permanent observers bring the total to 195.

Countries by continent

Counts vary slightly by source, but a common split is:

• Africa: 54
• Asia: 48
• Europe: 44
• North America: 23
• Oceania: 14
• South America: 12

Why some lists say more or fewer

Places such as Taiwan, Kosovo and Western Sahara are recognised by some countries but not all. Territories like Greenland or Puerto Rico have their own flags but belong to other states, so they are not counted.

How to remember them

Learn one continent at a time, start with the largest countries, then fill the gaps with neighbours. Naming every country against a timer is one of the fastest ways to find the ones you always forget.

Largest and smallest

The largest countries by area are Russia, Canada, the United States, China and Brazil. The smallest are Vatican City, Monaco, Nauru, Tuvalu and San Marino. Russia is larger than Pluto’s surface area, while Vatican City is smaller than many city parks.

The newest countries

South Sudan became independent in 2011, making it the newest UN member. Before that came Montenegro and Serbia (2006) and Timor-Leste (2002).

Places that are not counted

Some territories have their own flags and teams but are not counted as independent countries in most lists, such as Greenland, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong and the Faroe Islands. Taiwan and Kosovo are recognised by some countries but are not UN members.

The most populous countries

The countries with the most people:

Countries with the most neighbours

China and Russia each border 14 countries, the most of any nation. Brazil borders 10, every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.

Countries to know

Frequently asked questions