how many countries are socialist?

a large percentage in some form or another

A map showing states who currently declare themselves to be Marxist-Leninist. People's Republic of China (since October 1, 1949)[1]

Republic of Cuba (since January 1, 1959) [2]

Lao People's Democratic Republic (since December 2, 1975)[3][4][5]

Socialist Republic of Vietnam (officially in reunified Vietnam since July 2, 1976, but in the North since 1954) [6]

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (since September 9, 1948[7], see: Constitution of North Korea). In 1992, all references to Marxism-Leninism were removed from the constitution[citation needed] and Juche became the official philosophy. But Juche was also described as a creative application of Marxism-Leninism[8].

Almost all countries are socialist to some significant degree ... including the US (what do you think Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment Insurance, Food Stamps, Social Security, etc. are but socialism?).

You may be confusing socialism and communism.

(n) communism (a form of socialism that abolishes private ownership)

(n) socialism (a political theory advocating state ownership of industry)

~Communist States are ;

1.) People's Republic of China (since October 1, 1949)

2.) Republic of Cuba (since January 1, 1959)

3.) Lao People's Democratic Republic (since December 2, 1975)

4.) Socialist Republic of Vietnam (officially in reunified Vietnam since July 2, 1976, but in the North since 1954)

5.) Democratic People's Republic of Korea (since September 9, 1948)

~Non-Marxist-Leninist Socialist States are;

Constitutional references:

1.) Algeria People's Democratic Republic of Algeria (since 15 September 1963)

2.) People's Republic of Bangladesh[9] (since 16 December 1971)

3.) Arab Republic of Egypt (since 11 September 1971t)

3.) Cooperative Republic of Guyana (since October 6, 1980)

4.) Republic of India (since 15 August 1947)

5.) Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (since 1 September 1969)

6.) Portuguese Republic (since 1974)

7.) Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (since 7 September 1978)

8.) Syrian Arab Republic (9 March 1963)

9.) United Republic of Tanzania (since 26 April 1964)

Informal:

1.) Plurinational State of Bolivia (since 22 January 2006)

2.) Republic of Ecuador (since August 1961)

3.) Mongolia (since November 26, 1924)

4.) Republic of Nicaragua (since 9 January 1987)

5.) Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (since 15 December 1999)

So 19 socialist states, 5 of which are Communist

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Democratic states with communist governments;

1.) Cyprus (since February 2008); Progressive Party of Working People

2.) Nepal (since April 2008); Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)

Communist parties as part of other ruling coalition;

1.) Brazil – Communist Party of Brazil – participates in the ruling coalition

2.) South Africa – South African Communist Party – participates in the ruling coalition

3.) Sri Lanka – Communist Party of Sri Lanka – participates in the ruling coalition

4.) Syria – Syrian Communist Party (Bakdash), Syrian Communist Party (Faisal) – participates in the ruling coalition

5.) Ukraine – Communist Party of Ukraine participates in the ruling coalition

6.) Uruguay – Communist Party of Uruguay – participates in the ruling coalition

So you could say 19 to 25

More than there are republics.