How Many Countries Are There in the World in 2017?

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This article, originally from 2011, has been revised and updated to June 2017.

A world political map published by the US government (public domain)

One of the most basic questions for map-lovers is, "How many countries are there in the world?" But anyone who replies with just a number is leaving out part of the story. It actually depends a lot on how you define a "country".

Here are six of the most common answers, each correct in its own way:

Libya Control Map & Timeline - June 2017 (Subscription)

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Research by Djordje Djukic. Map by onestopmap.com, Evan Centanni, and Djordje Djukic.

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The past month has seen major changes to control in Libya's interior, as rival governments face off there and in around the capital city of Tripoli. Meanwhile, the so-called "Islamic State" (ISIS/ISIL) has reportedly re-emerged in rural areas near the coast.
 
See all this and more on the latest update to PolGeoNow's concise, professional Libyan Civil War control map, which comes with a timeline of changes since our April 2017 Libya control map report.

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Exclusive report includes:

• Up-to-date map of current territorial control in Libya, color-coded for the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), the rival Tobruk parliament and Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), and the so-called "Islamic State" (ISIS/ISIL). New colors have been added for the Tuareg and Toubou ethnic alliances that control much of the country's far south.
• Detailed indication of city-by-city control, including key towns and other locations important to current events.
• Locations of recent fighting and military operations, including Tamenhint and Jufra airbases, Brak, Sukna, Bani Walid, and more.
• Detailed timeline of important events and changes to territorial control since April 28, 2017, with links to all sources.

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"Islamic State" in the Philippines? Detailed Control Map & Timeline of the Marawi Conflict

Map by Evan Centanni. All rights reserved.

Syria Control Map & Timeline: "De-escalation zones" & Continued IS Losses - May 2017 (Subscription)

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Research by Djordje Djukic. Map by onestopmap.com, Evan Centanni, and Djordje Djukic

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The past month has seen continued territorial losses for the so-called "Islamic State" (IS; formerly, ISIS/ISIL), as government and rebel forces take vast swaths of desert and a Kurdish-led coalition closes in on the group's capital. Meanwhile, foreign countries have begun drawing up provisional ceasefire zones along hardened lines between rebel and government control.

 See all this and more on the latest update to PolGeoNow's concise, professional Syrian Civil War control map, which includes a timeline of changes since our previous Syria map report in April, with sources cited.

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Exclusive report includes:

• Up-to-date map of current territorial control in Syria, color-coded for the Assad government, rebel groups, "Islamic State" (ISIS/ISIL) fighters, and Kurdish/SDF forces. Colorblind accessible.
• Markers showing the approximate locations of Russian-Turkish-Iranian "de-escalation zones" and the one known US "deconfliction zone".
• Special symbols indicating towns dominated by rebels of the former Nusra Front (now Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
• Detailed indication of city-by-city control, including key towns and other locations important to current events.
• Locations of recent fighting and other important events, including Qaboun, Sawwana, Shaer gas fields, Jirah airbase, and more.
• Detailed timeline of important events and changes to territorial control since April 26, 2017, compiled by our Syria-Iraq expert, with links to sources.

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Yemen Control Map & Report: May 2017 (Subscription)

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Timeline by Djordje Djukic. Map by Louis Martin-Vézian, Evan Centanni, and Djordje Djukic.

Since February, the Saudi-backed coalition supporting Yemen's internationally-recognized government  has made some modest territorial gains against the Houthi government in two different areas, while Al Qaeda fighters still hold much of the country's east.

See all this and more on the newest update to PolGeoNow's Yemen territorial control map, which includes a timeline of changes and important events since our previous Yemen map report in late February.

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Exclusive report includes:

• Up-to-date map of current territorial control in Yemen, color-coded for the pro-Hadi coalition, Houthi/Saleh forces, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and the so-called "Islamic State" (ISIS/ISIL).
• Detailed indication of town-by-town control, including provincial boundaries, all major cities, and many smaller ones
• Markers for recent areas of fighting, including Mocha, Maydee, al-Zahari, Nihm, and others
• Timeline of changes to the situation since February 22, 2017, with links to sources

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This map and report are not available for automated purchase to non-subscribers. If you need access or republication rights for only this map report, contact service@polgeonow.com for options.