How many countries are there? 193, 195 or 197 – the honest answer

There is one question everyone with a bit of wanderlust asks sooner or later. Usually late at night, with a world map on the phone or a globe in a child’s bedroom: How many countries are there – and how many of them will I ever see?

We asked ourselves that question a lot on the road. On the Atlantic near Essaouira, when the wind smelled as if it came straight from Brazil. Under the northern lights on the Lofoten Islands, when the sky burned green and the world suddenly felt huge and tiny at the same time. And in the dunes of Atins, where there was no signal and suddenly plenty of time to think about things like this.

The answer is surprisingly exciting. The number of countries is not a law of nature – it is a mirror of world politics. Who counts as a country is decided not by maps, but by recognition. In this article you get the honest answer, the sources behind it and, above all, what it means for your next trip.

How many countries are there? The three numbers you should know

193 – the member states of the United Nations

The United Nations has 193 member states. The youngest member is South Sudan, which became independent in July 2011 and joined shortly afterwards. The number has not changed since. Because UN membership is a clear, verifiable list, 193 is considered the most “official” answer.

195 – UN members plus two observer states

Besides its members, the UN has the status of non-member observer state. Exactly two hold it: the Holy See (Vatican) and the State of Palestine. The Vatican is a widely recognised sovereign state that chooses not to be a full member. Palestine has had observer status since 2012 and received additional rights from the General Assembly in 2024 – but it is not a full member. In September 2025 the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Portugal and France, among others, recognised Palestine; according to reports at the time, around 157 of the 193 UN states now recognise it. That is why 195 is the number you will find in most atlases, country lists and quiz games.

197 – the US State Department list

The US State Department keeps its own list, “Independent States in the World”. It counts 197 independent states – including Kosovo and the Holy See. Taiwan is not in the main list but in a separate “Other” row. The list shows nicely what this is about: every country decides for itself whom it recognises. Austria, Germany or the USA do not necessarily count the same way.

How many countries are disputed? Taiwan, Kosovo, Palestine and more

It gets interesting with places that work like a country – their own government, currency and passport – but are not recognised as a state everywhere.

Taiwan

Taiwan has its own government, border controls and currency. Only 12 states still have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan (as of May 2026, according to Reuters). The People’s Republic of China regards Taiwan as part of its territory, and at the UN China is represented by the PRC. For you as a traveller: entry, stamps, currency – everything works like in a separate country.

Kosovo

Kosovo declared independence in 2008. Even the number of states recognising it is disputed: Kosovo speaks of around 120, Serbia of far fewer, and independent counts land at about 110 of the 193 UN states. Austria and Germany recognise Kosovo; five EU states (Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Slovakia) do not. If you are planning a Balkan trip, read your foreign ministry’s current travel advice before you fix the route – especially for border crossings between Kosovo and Serbia.

Palestine and the Vatican

Both are UN observer states and part of the 195. At around 0.44 km², the Vatican is the smallest state in the world – and one of the few you can “cross” on foot in a few minutes without ever seeing a passport check.

Western Sahara, Northern Cyprus, Somaliland and others

In addition, there are territories that see themselves as states but are barely recognised. Northern Cyprus is recognised only by Turkey. Somaliland has been de facto independent since 1991; in December 2025 Israel became the first country to formally recognise it – Somalia, Egypt, Turkey and Djibouti sharply rejected the move. Western Sahara is a disputed territory, largely administered by Morocco. There are also Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria. None of the major counts lists them as countries.

The big overview: who counts how many countries?

How many countries there are – and why it matters for your trip

Sounds like a geography lesson? It isn’t, because behind every “country” are its own rules – and they cost money if you don’t know them.

• Entry and fees: Every country decides on visas, electronic travel authorisations and their price. Since 30 September 2025 the official US ESTA costs 40 US dollars instead of 21. Since 2025 the United Kingdom also requires an ETA from EU citizens.
• Travel insurance: Many policies distinguish between “Europe”, “worldwide” and “worldwide including USA/Canada”. If you don’t read carefully, you are not covered in the wrong country.
• Money and cards: A new currency means new exchange fees. Since 1 January 2026, 21 countries pay in euros (Bulgaria joined) – beyond that, the wrong card gets expensive.
• Phone and internet: EU roaming ends at the EU border. Beyond it, every country decides on network, prices and coverage.

The biggest trap: unofficial visa websites

This is where we see the most money disappear – completely unnecessarily. Anyone who googles “apply for ESTA” or “UK ETA” often lands first on agencies that look like a government office. They fill in the same form you could complete yourself in ten minutes – and charge several times the official fee. For a family of four, that is easily more than a hundred euros for nothing.

How to do it right:

• USA: only via the official US Customs and Border Protection site (esta.cbp.dhs.gov) or the official app.
• United Kingdom: only via gov.uk or the official “UK ETA” app.
• All other countries: read your foreign ministry’s travel advice (for Austrians bmeia.gv.at, for Germans auswaertiges-amt.de, for UK citizens gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) – it tells you whether you need a visa and where the official office is.

This is exactly why our Frangipani guides exist: every guide names the official, cheaper way – not the one that paid for the top spot on Google. These shortcuts have often saved us several hundred euros on our trips.

How many countries can you realistically visit?

Anyone who has visited all 193 UN states belongs to a very small circle of people worldwide. Some countries are hard to access, others are at times not travellable at all because of war or crises. The Travelers’ Century Club only accepts members after 100 visited “countries and territories” – according to its own, much longer list.

However, our honest view is this: the number is fun to collect, but it says little about how deeply you travelled. Six weeks in Brazil changed us more than some five countries in five days. A place where you truly arrive – where you know the light, greet the baker and know when the wind turns – counts more for us than ten stamps.

How to count your countries fairly

• By UN list (193 or 195): the simplest and most comparable way.
• With grey zones: list Taiwan, Kosovo and co. separately – honest and complete.
• Only with a real stay: many frequent travellers don’t count airport transits. One night or a real experience on the ground is a good yardstick.

Discovering countries: where the world surprises most

193 or 195 countries – and each holds places hardly anyone knows. Here are a few we experienced ourselves that might grab you just as much:

• Brazil: the white dunes with rainwater lagoons of the Lençóis Maranhenses around Atins and the mighty falls of Foz do Iguaçu – our Brazil travel story.
• Norway: northern lights on the Lofoten Islands, often between 6 and 9 pm – in Norway in winter.
• Morocco: horse riding along the Atlantic coast near Essaouira – our riding trip.
• Portugal: a beach house in the dunes of Costa da Caparica near Lisbon – our Lisbon tips.
• Finland: reindeer sleighs and aurora in Lapland – Lapland in winter.

All countries and places are collected under Destinations.

Checklist: before you visit a new country

• ☐ Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date?
• ☐ Entry rules checked with your foreign ministry?
• ☐ Visa or travel authorisation applied for only on the official site?
• ☐ Travel insurance covers exactly this country (USA/Canada often extra)?
• ☐ Card without foreign fees, plus some cash in local currency?
• ☐ Internet sorted: eSIM, local SIM or a backup for remote places?
• ☐ Registered with your foreign ministry’s traveller registration for emergencies?
• ☐ Frangipani guide for your destination downloaded – with the official, cheaper booking routes?

Frequently asked questions