As of 2021, there are 195 recognized sovereign states in the world, including 193 member states of the United Nations and 2 observer states (the Holy See and Palestine). Some definitions of “country” may also include other territories or entities, such as dependent territories, disputed territories, and unrecognized states, which would bring the total number of countries to closer to 250. However, the number of recognized sovereign states is generally considered to be the most widely accepted and internationally recognized definition of “country.”
