Many of us avid travelers aspire to visit as many new countries as possible before we get too old and wobbly. We like the excitement of visiting a new place and navigating the unfamiliar. And because we’re goal-oriented people, we like to count up where we’ve been and proudly proclaim it in our social media.
But we each do it a different way. Ask my brother-in-law. He’s well-traveled and adventurous. The kind of guy who likes to transit dodgy border crossings and to eat bugs-on-sticks. He scoffs at counting independent territories such as those dotting the Caribbean. But I do count them.
All of that goal-setting and country-counting is great but it gets complicated when you stop to ask yourself how many countries there really are in the world.
How Many Countries Are In the World?
That depends upon who’s counting. There are 193 member states of the UN. But if you are willing to count independent territories, dependent territories, special administrative regions, constituent countries, overseas collectives, disputed states, sort of autonomous indigenous areas and micronations then the list well exceeds 325.
There is a listing for the 193 UN member states. And another for the 66 territories. The 10 disputed states have “limited recognition”. There is also a list compiled by the Travelers Century Club that lists 325 countries and other locations that are “geographically, politically or ethnologically removed” from the parent country.
So How Do You Count Up Your Countries?
It’s mind boggling but here are some things worth considering if you are a country counter.
Go for the big list
The Travelers Century list is the largest, and the most forgiving list for country counters. They count those pesky Caribbean islands. And they consider a geographically distant landmass as a separate “territory” from the mother country. So they will credit you with Alaska (US), Papua (Indonesia), the Galapagos (Ecuador) and Tasmania (Australia).Don’t forget the Vatican
The Vatican is not part of the UN. Nor are they a territory or protectorate of any other country. They are just their own thing. Count it.Count disputed states
The most notable disputed state includes Taiwan which is currently petitioning to rejoin the UN. I’ve never visited Taiwan but my dog was born there so her list includes it.Count Antarctica as 1
Most travelers think of Antarctica as one continent/country. But there are territorial claims in the region from Argentina, Australia, Chile, Norway, France and New Zealand. So if you’ve been to Antarctica, do you count 7? I suggest 1.Embrace the weird
There are also lists of “micronations” that read like a most-wanted poster of eccentric secessionists and whackadoodles. Of course, Texas has two entries on the list because...it’s Texas. But you can also visit the Conch Republic of Key West Florida, Kugelmugel dome shaped house in Vienna and the Global Country of World Peace, a borderless state created for “loving people everywhere”. We should all visit that one.Visit culturally important places, even if they don’t count
There are other places in the world where the local population enjoys a degree of autonomy from the parent country. Where they have a defined territory, their own laws, language and cultural traditions. For instance, the Navajo Nation of the southwestern US or the Gunas of the San Blas islands in Panama. I recently visited Antelope Canyon which is located within the Navajo Nation (Arizona). I asked my Navajo guide about whether I could "count" Navajo Nation as a country. He was non-committal on the subject. But my visit was worthwhile nonetheless and the scenery didn't disappoint.
How Other Well-Traveled Writers Count Countries
If you ask other travel professionals how many countries are in the world, you will also get a myriad of answers.
Chris Guillebeau set a 10-year goal to visit all 193 countries in the world. Sounds like he’s using the UN list. He was actually deported from Eritrea before he got out of the airport but his loyal readers cut him slack on that one and he completed his goal in 2014.
Wandering Earl’s list boasts 88 countries, all of which appear to be on the UN list. But the page itself says that there are “200+ countries and territories out there”.
Gary Arndt uses the Travelers Century Club list for his count of 177 countries and territories. He has also bagged all 50 US states, 295 UNESCO sites and is working on all of the national parks in the US and Canada. Phew.
What’s the Point of All of This?
Despite all of this math, the true point is to just get out there into the world. The point is to get out of your comfort zone. The point is to eat bugs-on-sticks and have someone speak to you in Navajo. Whether or not you consider Vatican City its own country, it is worth a visit to embrace the mystical properties of the site. Aim for new and diverse experiences and you will be the richer for it.
A longer form version of this article was originally posted on Wayfaring Views
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