How Many Countries Are There in the World
If you are wondering how many countries are there in the world, you are not the only one wondering it. Hundreds of thousands of people including teachers, travelers, geography students etc. are interested to know about the countries around the world. From all the countries in the world, if you just want to pick one country randomly, you can use the tool random country generator to quickly get result of a random country along with its key details.
As of 2026, the world has 195 countries which are widely recognized globally. Total 193 countries are member states of the UN, while the other 2 countries are observer states. We will discuss in detail about it in this article.
In this article, you will find:
- Total number of countries in the world
- List of countries in continents
- A complete list of countries in the world in alphabetical order
- Key facts about important countries
- Some key questions and their answers
How Many Total Countries Are There in the World?
There are 195 countries in the world. It includes 193 member states of the UN (United Nations) and the 2 observer states which includes Holy See (Vatican City) and Palestine.
However, in some lists you might find 196 or 197 countries but that is due to political debates but for academic purpose standard count is 195 countries.
What counts as a country?
A sovereign state is generally defined as a country, which has defined border, has a population that’s permanent, has its government and is engaged in international relations with other countries.
Explaining it further Puerto Rico is not among the list of sovereign countries, as its part of USA. Similarly Hong Kong which is administrative by China and Greenland which is part of Denmark are also not part of list of global countries.
Complete list of all countries in alphabetic order:
Countries Starting With A
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Andorra
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
Countries Starting With B
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
Countries Starting With C
- Cabo Verde
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
Countries Starting With D
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
Countries Starting With E
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
Countries Starting With F
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
Countries Starting With G
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
Countries Starting With H
- Haiti
- Holy See
- Honduras
- Hungary
Countries Starting With I
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
Countries Starting With J
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
Countries Starting With K
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
Countries Starting With L
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
Countries Starting With M
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
Countries Starting With N
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Norway
Countries Starting With O
- Oman
Countries Starting With P
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Palestine
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
Countries Starting With Q
- Qatar
Countries Starting With R
- Romania
- Russia
- Rwanda
Countries Starting With S
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- South Sudan
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
Countries Starting With T
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
Countries Starting With U
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
Countries Starting With V
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
Countries Starting With Y
- Yemen
Countries Starting With Z
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Countries in each Continent:
Briefly we will discuss the continents and number of countries in each continent.
Africa:
Continent Africa has 54 countries in it, which means it is the continent with most countries in it.
Africa is popular for cultural diversity, forests, and rich natural resources.
Asia:
Asia is largest continent in terms of population and area, and it has 49 countries in it. Major global powers are part of this continent and it has diverse culture.
Europe:
Europe includes 44 countries and is known for advanced in technology and economy.
North America:
A total of 23 countries are part of this continent including USA, Canada, and Mexico.
South America:
12 countries are part of South America and is known for rainforests, vibrant culture and beautiful forests.
Oceania:
Oceania has 14 countries as part of it, and big number are island nations in the Pacific Ocean.
If you are looking to explore countries from any specific continent, you can select your desired continent to get a result of country name from that continent only.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How many countries are officially in the word?
There are 195 countries that are generally globally accepted around the world: 193 are UN members and 2 observer states.
Why do some lists show 196 countries?
Some country lists may include Taiwan as a separate country, due to political differences.
Is Taiwan a country?
Taiwan operates as a separate entity but not much international recognition.
Are territories counted as countries?
No, Territories aren’t considered sovereign states.
What is the newest country in the world?
South Sudan is the newest country in the world which became independent in 2011.
Conclusion
There are total 195 countries in the world which are globally recognized, and they have their own government, identity and culture. It includes smallest island states of the largest countries of the world. Whether you are a student of geography, a traveler, or simply interested to explore and read about countries.
And if you want to experience global discovery in an exciting way, try using a the tool on our home page to instantly pick a country and start learning about it today.