What is the exact number of countries in the world this moment?

Question

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

By Most Accounts, 193 is the Correct Answer
A very frequent geographical question is "How many countries are in the world?." Different numbers pop up when one inquires or reads about the number of countries in the world. Each source you use often yields a different answer.
United Nations

There are 192 members of the United Nations. Unfortunately, the number 192 is too often used to represent the number of countries in the world. Although this number represents almost all of the countries in the world, there is still one country (the Vatican City) that is independent and has chosen not to become a member of the U.N. so 192 is not the number of countries in the world.

U.S. Department of State

The United States' State Department recognizes 193 independent countries around the world. Their list of 193 countries reflects the political agenda of the United States of America and its allies. Missing from the State Department's list is one entity that may or may not be considered a country, depending on who you talk to.

The One Outsider

Taiwan meets most, but not all of the requirements of independent country or state status. However, due to political reasons, it fails to be recognized by the United States and much of the rest of the world. If it were recognized, it would be considered a country.

Taiwan was actually a member of the United Nations (and even the Security Council) until 1971, when mainland China replaced Taiwan in the organization. Taiwan continues to press for full recognition by other countries, to become "part of the club" and fully recognized worldwide but China claims that Taiwan is simply a province of China.

Thus...

Your Guide considers there to be 193 countries in the world, which is probably the best current answer to the question, "How many countries are in the world?" unless Taiwan becomes officially recognized by the international community, in which case the answer would be 194.

However...

Recognize that there are dozens of territories and colonies that are sometimes erroneously called "countries" but don't count at all - they're governed by other countries. Places commonly confused as being countries include Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Greenland, Palestine, Western Sahara, and even the components of the United Kingdom (such as Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England - sorry folks, they're not countries, states, or nation-states).


Suggested Reading
192 Countries of the World and Their Capitals
 
Defining a Country, State, and Nation
 
Non-Members of the United Nations

Anonymous · Answer

Almost an impossible question to answer correctly because the true definition of a 'country' differs from country to country. 

For example, some nations still consider Tibet a free nation while others accept it as a part of China.

The average number of true countries runs from about 200 to 230 countries.

zebrasyndrome · Answer

152 but since 2 havent joined the uno so there are 150 registered countries

? · Answer

actually there are 200 countries, since there are 198 countries in UNO + Switzerland + Vatican

jjbctvzm · Answer

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What is the exact number of countries in the world this moment?

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