How many countries are in the world?

There are 196 countries in the world.

The count is the 193 member states of the United Nations, the 2 UN observer states (Palestine and Vatican City) and Kosovo.

Not counted: Taiwan, Western Sahara, Greenland and Puerto Rico.

Other sources often say 195, which leaves out Kosovo, or 197, which adds Taiwan.

All 196 countries in the world

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What is the largest country in the world?: Russia, at 17,098,242 km².
What is the smallest country in the world?: Vatican City, at 0.44 km².
Which country in the world has the most people?: India, with about 1.46 billion people (World Bank estimate).
How many countries in the world are landlocked?: 45 of 196 countries have no coastline.