How Many Countries Are There in 2026? (195, Explained)

There are 195 countries in the world in 2026. That is the 193 member states of the United Nations plus the two UN observer states, Vatican City and Palestine. It is the list every Quiz Zoomies quiz uses, from the flag quiz to the countries of the world challenge, and the number most schools, atlases and quiz sites agree on.

The short version: if a place is a full UN member or one of the two observer states, it counts. If it is a territory of another country, or recognized by only some countries, it does not appear in the 195.

Why 195 and not some other number?

Counting countries sounds simple, but lists disagree because not every place that governs itself is recognized by everyone. The most common standard is UN membership: 193 countries are full members. Two more take part in the UN as permanent observer states: the Holy See (Vatican City), an observer since 1964, and Palestine, which became a non-member observer state in 2012. Together that makes 195.

The newest country on the list is South Sudan, which became independent and joined the UN in July 2011. No new country has joined since then, so the count has stayed at 193 members for well over a decade.

Why do some lists say 197 or more?

Some lists add places such as Kosovo or Taiwan, which are recognized by some countries but are not UN members, so you may see totals like 197 or more. Sports bodies use their own rules, which is why the numbers jump even higher there: football’s governing body has 211 member associations and the Olympic movement recognizes 206 national committees, because places like England and Scotland (in football) or Puerto Rico and Hong Kong (in both) compete as their own teams.

Territories such as Greenland, Puerto Rico or Hong Kong are part of, or linked to, another country, so they are not counted as separate countries. Greenland, for example, is the world’s largest island and governs itself, but it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

How many countries are on each continent?

Using the six-continent model from our quizzes:

Continent	Countries
Africa	54
Asia	47
Europe	45
North America	23
Oceania	14
South America	12

Africa has the most countries of any continent, more than a quarter of the world’s total. South America has the fewest, with 12.

Continent lines are not always clear. Russia and Turkey stretch across Europe and Asia, Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean close to Asia, and Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan sit right on the border. In our quizzes Russia and Cyprus count as Europe, and Turkey and the Caucasus countries count as Asia. Central America and the Caribbean are part of North America. Other sources split them differently, which is why you will sometimes see Europe with 44 or 46 countries.

Biggest, smallest and a few record holders

• Largest by area: Russia, about 17.1 million km², roughly 1.7 times the size of the next largest country, Canada.
• Smallest by area: Vatican City, about 0.49 km², smaller than many city parks.
• Most people: India, with about 1.45 billion people, just ahead of China.
• Fewest people: Vatican City, with roughly 800 residents.
• Double landlocked: only two countries, Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan, are surrounded entirely by other landlocked countries.

Countries from A to Z

Country names start with 24 of the 26 letters. S is the most common first letter, with 26 countries, followed by M with 18 and B with 17. No country starts with W or X, and only one country each starts with O (Oman), Q (Qatar) and Y (Yemen). See the full list on countries A to Z, or jump straight to the countries that start with D, one of the most searched letters.

How to remember all 195

Nobody learns 195 countries in one sitting. These tricks work for our viewers:

1. Go continent by continent. Start with South America (12) and Oceania (14), then build up to Africa (54).
2. Use flags as hooks. A flag gives a name a picture. Our flag quiz and the real or fake flag video make the shapes and colors stick.
3. Spin a random country. The random country generator picks one for you; say its capital and continent before you look.
4. Practice little and often. Ten minutes a day beats one long session, which is why a new quiz goes up on the channel every day.

Test yourself

How many of the 195 can you name? Try the countries of the world quiz, then see if you can match every flag in the flag quiz.

FAQ

How many countries are there in the world in 2026?

There are 195 countries: 193 United Nations member states plus two observer states, Vatican City and Palestine.

How many countries are in the United Nations?

193 countries are full UN members. Vatican City (the Holy See) and Palestine are permanent observers, not members.

What is the newest country in the world?

South Sudan, which became independent on July 9, 2011, and joined the UN the same month.

Which continent has the most countries?

Africa, with 54 countries. Asia is second with 47 in the model our quizzes use.

Is Taiwan or Kosovo counted as a country?

Not in the 195. Both govern themselves and are recognized by some countries, but neither is a UN member or observer state, so most standard lists leave them out.