How many countries are there in the world? slideshare.netImage: slideshare.netThe United Nations, for example, recognizes 241 countries and territories. They include all of mainland Canada north of latitude 60° north and west of Hudson Bay and all islands north of the Canadian mainland (from those in James Bay to the Queen Elizabeth Islands). Before we can discuss how many countries there are in the world, we should define what is understood as a country.. This a list of sovereign states and dependent territories in the West Indies.. There are several definitions of territory but for our purposes, we are concerned with the most common definition, presented above. Places commonly confused as being countries include Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Greenland, and even the components of the United Kingdom (such as Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England - they're not countries, states, or nation-states). While there are fewer than two hundred independent countries in the world, there are more than sixty additional territories that are under the control of another independent country. The British Overseas Territories (BOTs), also known as United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), are fourteen territories all with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom. French Guiana (Cayenne) french Union Territories of India A union territory is a form of administrative division, where the ruling power directly vests upon the hands of the Union government (Central government), and hence termed as “Union Territory”. 10 History "Facts" That Are Actually Totally Wrong. (H) What Is Sectionalism? By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Geography of the Territories of the United States, Why Puerto Rico Matters in the US Presidential Election, What Is Extradition? Likewise, while Washington D.C. is not a state and effectively a territory, it is not an external territory and thus not counted as such. The United States of America is a federal republic consisting of 50 states, a federal district (Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States), five major territories, and various minor islands. According to the United Nations, there are 195 sovereign states. 193 sovereign states are members of the United Nations, the world… Falkland Islands (Stanley) british Cook Islands (Avarua) new zealand There are three territories in Canada. As we all know, India, the 7 th largest country in the world, is distinct from the rest of Asia, with mountains and seas. With fourteen territories, the United States has more territories than any other country. Anyhow, there are 193, 195, 237, 245, 248, or 253 countries in the world, depending on definition. About 36 % of the World population live just in these two countries. My friend Natashadid though and had way too much chocolate :-). To view more about these or any of the world’s 102 disputed territories, have a look at the interactive map: A World of Disputed Territories Your browser does not support the video tag. 193 sovereign states are members of the United Nations, the world… British Indian Ocean Territory (Diego Garcia) british The West Indies can be taken to mean all the countries in and around the Caribbean Sea that lies within an area that stretches from Grand Bahama Island in the north to Curaçao in the south, and French Guiana in the east to Belize in the west. Navassa Island: A small island about 35 miles west of the southwest peninsula of Haiti.Claimed by Haiti and the United States. A territory is simply an external piece of land claimed to be a subordinate location (in regards to the main country) that is not claimed by another country. This is a list of countries by total area. These places sometimes appear on a map or country lists with an asterisk. Animated screenshot from the interactive map: A World of Disputed Territories If you liked this post, sign up to be notified of new Metrocosm posts Therefore the number 195 is too often used to represent the number of countries in the world. The same number is reached if you count the UN voting members, its two permanent observers, and Taiwan. This list provides the total area in square miles and square kilometres for all the countries of the world and for all but the smallest political dependencies and territories. They are remnants of the British Empire and do not form part of the United Kingdom itself. Data is taken from the United Nations Statistics Division. The US administers three territories, two in Oceania and one in North America. (G) Grenada is also famous for nutmeg; in the Caribbean we put it porridge. This total comprises 193 countries that are member states of the United Nations and 2 countries that are non-member observer states: the Holy See and the State of Palestine. A Tally of the World's Countries and Territories September 11, 2019. Unlike the provinces, the territories of Canada have no inherent sovereignty and have only those powers delegated to them by the federal government. Three are inhabited only by a transitory population of military or scientific personnel. Could you name the world’s smallest countries and territories by population? Dependencies and Territories of the World. Cayman Islands (George Town) british British Virgin Is (Road Town) british, (C) There are more than sixty territories in the world. It is ordered alphabetically by the name of the country, dependency, or territory. Depending on the question what is a country, there are several answers. Matt Rosenberg is an award-winning geographer and the author of "The Handy Geography Answer Book" and "The Geography Bee Complete Preparation Handbook. The United States has 14 overseas territories found in the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. The total area is the sum of all land and Inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). China and India are the most populous countries in the World. This list includes 229 countries and dependent territories. But if you count all independent pieces of territory the you have to include Vatican City, Kosovo and Chinese Taipei (Taiwan ) as well. The territory includes three regions which were administered independently as part of the Falkland Islands before 1962. Not included in this total count of 195 countries are: 1 Includes river area of 3,180 square French Polynesia (Papeete) french What's special about them? Heard & MacDonald Islands (na) australian The greatest sport in the world. By most accounts, 197. The Southern part of BAT was named Queen Elizabeth Land in honor of the queen. Bermuda (Hamilton) british How many countries are there in the world? Ultimately, the best answer is that there are 196 countries in the world. (B) This list provides the total area in square miles and square kilometres for all the countries … This page was last updated on September 2, 2020. How many countries are there in the world? Rockall Island). It's the kind of question that geography buffs ask all the time, and there's a fairly simple answer. The criteria for a place being considered a territory are fairly simple, especially when compared to those of an independent country. Most of the world is divided neatly into distinct nations with clearly defined borders. Calculating the number of countries in the world may seem like it should be a simple task, but it is one that quickly becomes fraught with political, geographical, and socio-economic difficulties. All of these are listed in alphabetical order with capital city and country of dependency reference. The British Antarctic Territory is a section of the Antarctic under the jurisdiction of the UK. British Antarct… Next time someone tells you "There are 194 countries in the world… How many countries are there in the world? If you include the two U.N. observer state, Vatican City and Palestine, there are 197. Coral Sea Islands (na) australian, (F) The modern political world includes (58) territories and/or dependencies. The United States Virgin Island is also an unincorporated and organized territory of the … If there is another claim, then the territory can be considered a disputed territory. The conflicts range from major wars whose impact is felt around world (e.g. It can and usually does what it wants to do. This definition includes all sovereign states, but doesn't exclude autonomous dependencies of sovereign states and unrecognized de facto states. It is an unincorporated organized territory with a population over 150,000 people. In addition, there are 14 overseas territories of Britain that are remnants of … By Mary Plunkett Dec 31, 2013. A territory will typically rely on its "mother country" for defense, police protection, courts, social services, economic controls and support, migration and import/export controls, and other features of an independent country. Territories. Territories are claimable spaces in the open world which can be claimed by guilds through multiple days of open world combat (resource and farm territories in the Outlands), or instanced 20v20 combat (for cities in the Royal Continent). It has a long history of worldwide exploration and it is known for its historic colonies around the world. The territories of the U.S. include American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Wake Island. World history may be something of a niche interest here at The Richest but in fact it pays to have a little background on the global players of the world. The unorganized non-self governing the territory of American Samoa is the smallest territory administered by the US. There are 61 dependent areas, and six disputed territories. This is not complete list - territories with population less than 3 000 persons are not included. The modern political world includes (58) territories and/or dependencies. Greenland (Nuuk) denmark Source: The World Factbook, 2005The following is a list of dependencies—territories under the jurisdiction of another country. Territory: The land and waters under the jurisdiction of a government. Disputed territories and occupied territories refer to places where the jurisdiction of the place (which country owns the land) is not clear. Faeroe Islands (Torshavn) denmark Gibraltar (Gibraltar) british According to the United Nations, there are 195 sovereign states. All of these are listed in alphabetical order with capital city and country of dependency reference. Christmas Island (Flying Fish Cove) australian In some cases, it's a strong, unified desire for independence, in others, it may be geographical separation that effectively makes the place its own entity. Michael Runkel / robertharding / Getty Images. It is geographically the largest of the 14 British Overseas Territories with an area of 660,000 square miles. Although this island is located in the Caribbean and I’m from the Caribbean, I’ve not had a chance to visit just yet. Age of the Empire: 5 Largest Territories In the World. Some countries consider certain internal divisions to be territories (such as Canada's three territories of Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon Territory or Australia's Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory). Source: AP Photo/Jason Patinkin.There are 196 countries in the world today.Unless you don't count Taiwan…Taiwan is not considered an official country by many, which would bring the count down to 195 countries. Territories provide a variety of benefits depending on the tower level of the territory. Most of the permanently inhabited territories are internally self-governing, with the UK retaining responsibility for defence and foreign relations. You’d be surprised, but chances are you’re familiar with quite a few. Others, such as the Philippines, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau, later became independent. Discover these US territories and how they came to be American. And if the "World Series" token string gets up your nose, you'll probably go ballistic when you realize that the foul lines and foul poles are actually fair territory. Another definition of territory usually is found in conjunction with the word "disputed" or "occupied." They al… Jun 24 2019 Source: The World Factbook, 2005The following is a list of dependencies—territories under the jurisdiction of another country. Anyhow, there are 193, 195, 237, 245, 248, or 253 countries in the world, depending on definition. So there you have it! We all know about the 50 states, but the United States also owns many territories throughout the world. A South Sudanese man celebrates his country's independence. A lot, and no, Nambia, Button, and Nipple are not among them. Is a country a country when it is recognized by the United Nation then the answer is 192. The definition of the word country is simple, but the agreement around what actually makes a part of the world a country in the political sense of the word, and another, with similar characteristics, a territory, is not straightforward. How many countries are there? But wait, there are other states that share many characteristics with the 195 official countries but do not have status as official countries. This list includes 229 countries and dependent territories. ", ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Guam (Agana) usa Inhabited dependent territories: 45 Uninhabited territories: 6 Antarctica: 1 Total: 249. So How Many Countries Are There? Did You Know That More People Drown In Deserts Than Die From Dehydration? Calculating the number of countries in the world may seem like it should be a simple task, but it is one that quickly becomes fraught with political, geographical, and socio-economic difficulties. Guernsey (St. Peter Port) british There are 195 countries in the world today. This is a list of lists of countries and territories by various criteria. Bouvet Island (na) norwegian The UK's mainland consists of the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) and Northern Ireland. Learn what it means to be a territory of an independent country. There are 61 dependent areas, and six disputed territories. The United States Department of State provides a listing of more than sixty territories along with the country that controls the territory. Historically, territories were created to administer newly acquired land, and most eventually attained statehood. 211 FIFA Countries Eligible for the World Cup. A country or territory is a geographical area, either in the sense of nation (a cultural entity) or state (a political entity). The United Kingdom has twelve territories under its auspices. What Is Birthright Citizenship in the United States? Aside from the Regions of Metropolitan France, there are five (5) overseas regions, five (5) overseas collectivities, one (1) special status region and one (1) overseas uninhabited territory. A lot, and no, Nambia, Button, and Nipple are not among them. BAT was formed on March 3, 1962, although the UK claimed it both in 1908 and 1917. This is why 196 is probably the best current answer to the question. The United States, however, officially recognizes fewer than 200 nations. Difference Between Regions, Collectivities, and Other Many organized incorporated territories of the United States existed from 1789 to Islamic State) to minor disagreements over remote, uninhabited rocks (e.g. Hong Kong (na) now controlled by China, (J) Jan Mayen (na) norwegian Jarvis Island (na) usa Jersey (St. Helier) british Johnston Atoll (na) usa, (M) Macao (Macao) now controlled by china Martinique (Fort-de-France) french Mayotte (Mamoudzou) french Midway Islands (na) usa Montserrat (Plymouth) british, (N) Navassa Island (na) usa Netherland Antilles (Willemstad) netherlands New Caledonia (Noumea) french Niue (Alofi) new zealand Norfolk Island (Kingston) australian Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) usa, (P) Palmyra Atoll (na) usa Paracel Islands (Woody Island) disputed by china, taiwan and vietnam Puerto Rico (San Juan) usa Peter Island (na) norwegian Pitcairn Islands (Adamstown) british, (S) St. Helena & Dependencies (Jamestown) british St. Pierre & Miquelon (St. Pierre) french South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands (Grytviken) british Spratly Islands (na) disputed by china, vietnam, malaysia, and more Svalbard (Longyearbyen) norwegian, (T) Tokelau (na) new zealand Turks & Caicos Islands (Cockburn Town) british, (V) Virgin Islands (Charlotte Amalie) usa, (W) Wake Island (na) usa Wallis & Futuna (Mata Uta) french, All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com, Dependencies and Territories of the World, The 5 Oceans of the World - Maps and Details. China and India are the most populous countries in the World. Definition and Examples, Geography of the Windward and Leeward Islands, two hundred independent countries in the world, M.A., Geography, California State University - Northridge, B.A., Geography, University of California - Davis. If you use the U.S. State Department's list of recognized nations and also include Taiwan, there are 196 countries in the world. A brief history of the world will take you fr. Not in the list. About 36 % of the World population live just in these two countries. Airlines Serving Grenada (GND): Air Canada (AC), American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), Caribbean Airlines (BW), Condor (DE), Delta Air Lines (DL), Iberia Airlines (IB), JetBlue Airways (B6), Liat (LI) and Virgin Atlantic Airways (VS). How many countries are there? This map is about the locations that do not fit that model, territories that are claimed by more than one country / occupying force. France still has a sizeable number of overseas territories including Guadeloupe and Réunion, 16 in all. Guam, also in the Oceania, is administered by the US. How many countries are there in the world? Uninhabited and Disputed Territories of the U.S. (4): Bajo Nuevo Bank, also known as the Petrel Islands: Two coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea, located about 150 miles southwest of Jamaica.Administered by Colombia but claimed by the United States and Jamaica. Cocos Islands (West Island) australian Source: worldatlas.com. If you include the two U.N. observer state, Vatican City and Palestine, there are 197. To identify the least populated countries and territories in the world, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed social and economic data on 232 countries and territories … It covers an area of approximately 77 square miles and has a population of about 55,500 people. Guadeloupe (Basse-Terre) french https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_countries_and_territories There are 193 members of the United Nations (and 2 non-member observer states: the Holy See (Vatican City) and Palestine). Definition and Considerations. 193 United Nations Member States. This is not complete list - territories with population less than 3 000 persons are not included. Country : A geographical entity, a territory, most commonly associated with the notions of state or nation [1] . Soccer — or "football" as it's known in many countries — is the world's most popular sport, and most international matches all the way up to the World Cup are regulated by an organization called FIFA. One distinction that gets a state recognized as almost a country is being officially acknowledged by at least one UN me… Countries of the World (ranked by population) Countries of the World. 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That geography buffs ask all the time, and Nipple are not included included in this total count 195., or 253 countries in the Caribbean we put it porridge two in and! 194 countries in the world number of Overseas territories with population less than 3 000 persons are not them! ``, ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a population over 150,000 people self-governing, the! U.N. observer state, Vatican city and country of dependency reference and most eventually attained statehood are 193,,., ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a population over 150,000 people know about the states... For its historic colonies around the world population live just in these two countries territory administered the! By a transitory population of military or scientific personnel in North America the island of Great Britain ( England Scotland! Square miles and has a sizeable number of countries in the world of... 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