How many countrys are there in the world?

onlytrivial

193, but most countries such as the US only officially recognise 192, leaving Taiwan out. http://geography.about.com/cs/countries/a/numbercountries.htm Jan 13 05, 2:18 AM

turbopuss572

There can't be because at the Athens games there were 202 countries playing!!! Jan 13 05, 2:25 AM

gmackematix

In the Olympics some non-sovereign nations such as Hong Kong or the Cook Islands often perform as separate countries. Jan 13 05, 2:44 AM

onlytrivial

Yes, also countries such as British Virgin Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Guam and Puerto Rico participated. Although they are territories or dependencies of other nations, they are geographically separate, and have their own teams. Jan 13 05, 2:57 AM

author

There are about 230-235 "countries" in the world if you include colonies/overeseas dependent areas etc. Many of these have a local government, a local currency, a local flag, participate in the Olympics etc. The exact number is a question of definition. Jan 13 05, 10:39 AM