195 Countries? The Real Answer is Complicated

So, let’s peel back the layers of our world map and explore why this seemingly simple question is one of the most complicated in all of geography.

The “Official” Answer: What Makes 195?

First, where does that common number, 195, even come from? It’s not arbitrary. This figure is generally a combination of two groups recognized by the world’s preeminent international organization, the United Nations:

193 Member States: These are the sovereign countries that are full members of the UN General Assembly. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, this list forms the bedrock of international relations. To become a member, a state must be recommended by the Security Council (without a veto from any of the five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US) and then approved by a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly.
2 Permanent Observer States: These are states that have been granted the right to participate in UN activities and maintain a mission at the UN headquarters but cannot vote in the General Assembly. The two current observer states are the Holy See (Vatican City) and the State of Palestine.

Together, 193 + 2 = 195. This is the definition used by many governments and international bodies. It’s a tidy, politically-sanctioned list. But the real world is rarely so tidy.

The Politics of a Passport: States in Limbo

The moment you step outside the halls of the UN, the picture gets messy. What makes a country a country? The most cited definition is the Montevideo Convention of 1933, which states a territory must have:

A defined territory
A permanent population
A government
The capacity to enter into relations with other states

Several entities meet all these criteria but aren’t on the list of 195. Why? The one unwritten rule: political recognition. If other powerful countries don’t acknowledge your sovereignty, you exist in a state of geopolitical limbo.

Case Study: Taiwan

Perhaps the most famous example is Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC). It has its own democratically elected government, a population of 23 million, a powerful economy, and a modern military. It ticks all the boxes of the Montevideo Convention. Yet, only about 12 countries officially recognize it. The reason is the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which claims Taiwan as a rogue province under its “One China” policy. To maintain diplomatic and economic relations with Beijing, most of the world, including the United States, does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent country, even while maintaining robust unofficial relations.

Case Study: Kosovo

Another compelling case is Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008. It is recognized by over 100 UN members, including the United States and most of the European Union. However, its bid for full UN membership is blocked by Serbia and its powerful allies, Russia and China, who refuse to recognize its sovereignty. Is Kosovo a country? For the USA, yes. For Russia, no. The answer literally changes depending on which capital city you’re in.

And the list goes on. Somaliland has been a stable, democratic state in the Horn of Africa since 1991, with its own currency and government, but it is not recognized by any other country. Western Sahara is disputed between the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and Morocco. These places are home to millions of people whose national identity is caught in the crossfire of international politics.

More Than Just Borders: Language, Identity, and the Birth of a Nation

This is where we move from political geography to human geography. What sparks the desire for statehood in the first place? Often, it’s not about resources or political power, but something far more fundamental: identity. And a cornerstone of collective identity is language.

It’s crucial to distinguish between a “state” and a “nation”:

A state is a political and legal entity with borders and a government. (e.g., The Kingdom of Spain).
A nation is a group of people bound by a shared culture, history, and often, language. (e.g., The Catalan people).

When a nation feels its identity is suppressed or distinct enough from the state that governs it, separatist movements are often born. Language is not just a tool for communication; it’s a living library of a people’s history, values, and worldview. To lose your language is to risk losing your identity.

Consider Catalonia in Spain or Scotland in the UK. Both have distinct languages (or dialects), unique cultural histories, and strong nationalist movements that periodically campaign for full independence. The Catalan language was suppressed under the Franco dictatorship, making its revival a powerful symbol of national resilience and the desire for self-determination.

The tragic breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s is a stark example of this process. While Serbo-Croatian was once promoted as a unified language, deep-seated ethnic and religious identities—Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian—erupted into conflict, ultimately fragmenting the state along these national lines. New countries were born from the ashes, each seeking to solidify its unique identity.

This shows that the world map is not static. It is a living document, constantly being erased and redrawn by the powerful human drive to belong to a group and control one’s own destiny.

So, What’s the Magic Number?

By now, it should be clear: there is no single, universally agreed-upon answer to “how many countries are there?” The answer depends entirely on the criteria you use.

UN Members? The answer is 193.
UN Members + Observers? The answer is 195.
States recognized by major powers like the US? The number climbs to 196 (by including Kosovo).
Functional states that meet the Montevideo Convention? The number rises again to include at least Taiwan.
Nations aspiring for statehood? The number becomes vast and uncountable.

Instead of seeking a simple number, a better approach is to appreciate the complexity. The shifting, contested nature of our world map is what makes geography so endlessly fascinating. It’s a discipline not just of static facts and figures, but of dynamic stories about power, identity, and the enduring question of who gets to draw the lines.