Last reviewed: September 2, 2026
195 is one of the most commonly used answers to “How many countries are there in the world?” That total comes from 193 United Nations member states plus two UN non-member observer states: the Holy See and the State of Palestine.
Why you may see a different number
There is no single counting rule used for every purpose. Lists can differ based on recognition, membership criteria, dependent territories, partially recognized states and whether a source is counting sovereign states or geographic entities. A travel website, standards organization and international body may therefore publish different totals without necessarily making the same kind of list.
What this website counts
For clarity and consistency, our core “all countries” directory uses the 195-country convention. Territories and dependencies are not mixed into the main list. This makes the directory easier to understand while still allowing us to explain alternative classifications in editorial guides.
Is 195 an official universal total?
No single number functions as a universal legal definition for every context. The 195 convention is useful because it is transparent and widely understood, but official tasks should always follow the country or territory list specified by the relevant authority.