The total can vary significantly based on different levels of international recognition:
There is no single answer to how many countries exist because the definition of a "country" depends on who is being asked. As of , the most widely accepted count is 195 , which includes the 193 member states of the United Nations plus two non-member observer states. The Core Lists how many countries are there in the world
: FIFA recognizes 211 member associations (including the four constituent countries of the UK: England , Scotland , Wales , and Northern Ireland ), while the ISO standard list used for digital country codes includes 249 territories and uninhabited islands. Global Distribution (UN-recognized) The total can vary significantly based on different
: These are the fully recognized sovereign nations that have voting rights in the UN General Assembly . Global Distribution (UN-recognized) : These are the fully