: Many sources, such as Remitly , include Taiwan and Kosovo due to their widespread (though not universal) recognition and functional independence.
The total can vary significantly based on different levels of international recognition: how many countries are there in the world
: Organizations like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognize 206 "National Olympic Committees," which includes dependent territories like Puerto Rico and American Samoa that compete as their own nations. : Many sources, such as Remitly , include
How many countries are there in the world? (2026) - Total & List : Many sources