There are newer editions of this article available. To find the most recent, view all "How Many Countries in the World" updates!
This article, originally from 2011, has been revised and updated to February 2021. You can view some older versions of the article in our archives. Latest update: Removed the so-called "Islamic State" (ISIS/ISIL) as a "de facto state" candidate.
A world political map published by the US government. |
Here are six of the most common answers, each correct in its own way: