How Many Countries Are There Really? Why We Count 332 Places

Ask five people how many countries there are, and you'll get five answers. 193. 195. 197. "Around 200." They're all right — and they're all incomplete. If you track your travels, that difference matters: was your trip to Greenland a new country? Does Scotland count separately from England? What about Hawaii, Taiwan or Antarctica?

Here's how the different numbers come about — and why travel2gether counts 332 places.

Why there's no single answer

193 is the number of member states of the United Nations — the most common official answer.

195 adds the two UN observer states: Vatican City and Palestine.

197 and above come from adding places like Kosovo and Taiwan, which function as countries but aren't UN members.

But none of these lists answers the question a traveller actually asks: "Have I been somewhere different?" Greenland feels nothing like Denmark. Hawaii is a world away from the US mainland. And Tasmania is a destination of its own, not just "a bit more Australia".

How travel2gether counts: 332 places

We built our count around what feels different when you travel — while staying transparent about every category:

Category	Count	Examples
Countries	196	The 193 UN members — with the UK counted as England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
UN observer states	2	Vatican City, Palestine
Territories	67	Greenland, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, Hawaii — plus Kosovo, Taiwan, the Cook Islands and Niue
Sub-regions	54	Tasmania, Corsica, the Balearic Islands
Disputed regions	6	Transnistria, Abkhazia, Somaliland
Antarctic claims	7	The seven territorial claims on Antarctica
Total	332

Including disputed regions doesn't mean we take a political position. We include them because, for a traveller, they work as separate places — with their own borders, stamps and experiences.

Why "honest" counting matters

Many travel apps let you tick off "countries" without saying what counts. That's how you end up with friends who have "been to 60 countries" — some of which were airport layovers and day trips across a border.

Our rule is simple: every number comes with its explanation. In travel2gether you can tap the ⓘ next to your counter and see exactly what's included. And the same numbers appear everywhere — on your map, your public profile, the leaderboard and your year-in-travel recap. You'll never see two different totals.

When does a visit actually count?

This is the question that starts the most arguments between travellers. Did you "visit" a country if you changed planes there? If your cruise ship docked for six hours? If you walked across a border bridge for a photo?

There's no official rule — travel clubs and apps all handle it differently. Here's the simple guideline we recommend:

✅ It counts if you set foot on the ground and experienced the place — even briefly:

• You left the airport and went into the city, even on a long layover
• You went ashore from a cruise ship and explored the port town
• You crossed a land border and spent time on the other side — a meal, a walk, a night
• A day trip counts just as much as a two-week holiday

❌ It doesn't count if:

• You only changed planes and never left the airport's transit area
• You flew over it
• Your ship or train passed through without you getting off
• You only stood on the border line for a photo (fun — but let's be honest)

🤔 Grey areas — your call:

• A short airport layover where you left the terminal but saw almost nothing
• Stepping one foot over a border at a tourist spot like Four Corners or a border bridge

Our rule of thumb: if you can tell a story about the place, it counts.

In the end, it's your map — travel2gether doesn't police anyone's travels. But if you want your count to mean something (and to compare fairly on the leaderboard), use the same honest standard every time. You can also add the year of your visit to each place, which turns your map into a real travel diary.

Badges: achievements, not places

Some things are worth collecting but aren't "places" in the same sense — like the Seven Wonders or an iconic hike. That's why travel2gether tracks 152 badges separately: the New and Ancient Seven Wonders, iconic peaks and hikes, sacred sites, architectural icons, extreme points, island chains and all 50 US states.

Badges never inflate your "world explored" percentage. They're personal achievements on top.

So how many have you been to?

Most travellers are surprised: once you count territories and sub-regions honestly, the number usually goes up — and your "world explored %" becomes a lot more meaningful. (It's simply your places ÷ 332.)

Try it now: on the travel2gether homepage, tap the countries you've visited and instantly see how much of the world you've explored — no account needed. If you like it, save your map for free and add your passport, ID and visa dates so you never miss a renewal.

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