How Many Countries Are There in the World? 195, and Why Lists Differ
The standard answer is 195: the 193 UN member states plus the two UN observer states. Olympic, football, and travel-club lists count something else, which is why you also see 206, 211, 330, or more.
Last verified: September 2026
In short: there are 195 countries in the usual sense: the 193 member states of the United Nations plus the Holy See (Vatican City) and the State of Palestine, which hold UN observer status. Some lists go higher by adding places outside the UN, such as Kosovo. The Olympic movement has 206 National Olympic Committees, FIFA has 211 member associations, and the Travelers' Century Club counts 330 countries and territories. None of these is wrong; each counts something different.
- Usual answer
- 195 countries
- UN member states
- 193; the most recent, South Sudan, joined on 14 July 2011
- UN observer states
- 2: the Holy See, and the State of Palestine since 29 November 2012
Every major list and its count
- UN member statesSovereign states admitted to the United Nations
- 193
- UN members and observer statesAdds the Holy See and the State of Palestine
- 195
- National Olympic CommitteesOlympic teams, including Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, Guam, Bermuda, Chinese Taipei, Kosovo, and Palestine
- 206
- FIFA member associationsFootball associations, which FIFA says represent 211 countries and territories
- 211
- Travelers' Century ClubCountries and territories set apart from their parent country, such as Alaska, the Hawaiian Islands, Sicily, and Sardinia (list as of January 2022)
- 330
- NomadMania regionsTravel regions within countries, after NomadMania's May 2026 review
- 1,381
Counts are as of September 2026 and come from each list's owner. Lists do change: NomadMania added 80 regions in its May 2026 review, and a new UN member would move the first two rows at once.
Why the totals differ
Each list answers a different question, so the totals are not competing estimates of one number.
- Sovereignty. The UN lists are about states. They are the closest thing to a neutral answer, which is why 195 is the one most people mean.
- Sport. The IOC and FIFA recognize teams and associations. A territory can have its own Olympic committee or football association without being a state, so both lists are longer than the UN's.
- Travel distinctiveness. The Travelers' Century Club splits off places that feel like a different destination from their parent country, and NomadMania goes further, into regions within countries. These lists reward depth of travel, not political status.
- Codes. ISO 3166 is the standard behind two-letter codes such as FR and JP. ISO says it only defines codes and takes country names from United Nations sources, so it does not rule on which places are countries either.
That is why "I have been to 80 countries" means little until you know the list. One traveler counts Hong Kong separately, another folds it into China, and a third counts UN states only. All three can be consistent and still report different totals.
Pick one list and say which
For a personal count, the rule is simple: choose a list, apply it to every trip, and name it when you share the total. Mixing lists, such as counting Hong Kong under one system and Greenland under another, is how a total becomes impossible to compare. For most people UN 195 is the sensible default. Collectors aiming at the Travelers' Century Club need its 330-entry list, and its visit rule is generous: the club says even a port call or a plane fuel stop counts, provided you get off and set foot in the territory.
Layovers are where personal standards differ most. Does a layover count as visiting a country? covers the common approaches.
In AtlasDays you choose the list under Settings → Tracking → Country Count: 195 Countries (the default: the 193 UN members plus Vatican City and Palestine), All Places, which also counts overseas territories and dependencies, or a list you build yourself. Switching changes the total, not your trips, and a trip saved as Transit never counts as a visit.
Beyond the count
A country list is a way of keeping score, not a legal category. Whether a place needs a visa, whether it is inside the Schengen area, or whether days there count toward a residence test is set by that place's own rules. The Schengen countries list, for example, has nothing to do with how many countries you have visited.
AtlasDays counts your countries under the list you choose
Log your trips once and see your total out of the 195 UN countries, All Places including territories, or your own list. Your visited map and totals update from the same private record on your iPhone.
Get AtlasDaysFAQ
Are there 195 or 197 countries in the world?
195 is the standard answer: the 193 UN member states plus the Holy See and the State of Palestine, which have UN observer status. Totals like 197 come from lists that add places outside the UN, such as Kosovo. No international body keeps such a list, so say which count you use when you quote a number.
Why do FIFA and the Olympics have more members than the UN?
They count sporting bodies, not states. There are 206 National Olympic Committees and 211 FIFA member associations, because territories such as Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, Guam, and Bermuda have their own Olympic committees, and FIFA's associations represent countries and territories alike.
Does a layover count toward my country count?
It depends on the list you follow. The Travelers' Century Club counts even a plane fuel stop if you get off and set foot in the territory, while many travelers only count places where they passed through immigration or left the airport. Pick one standard and apply it to every trip.
About this article: AtlasDays provides general information, not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Rules change and outcomes depend on your circumstances, so never rely on it alone: check the linked official source or ask a qualified professional.