How many countries are there in the world? As of 2024, the United Nations (UN) recognizes 195 independent countries, including its 193 members and two permanent observer states (Vatican and Palestine). In recent history, the number of states has quadrupled. However, some are contested by member states, others are subject to special sovereignty or have an ambiguous status.
All Countries in the World
Distribution of countries by continent
Disputed Countries
The United Nations list is far from reaching consensus. Cyprus, which has been independent since 1960, is not recognized by Turkey, even though Turkey is a member of the United Nations. Another example: France still refuses diplomatic recognition to North Korea.
Conversely, some states are not recognized by the United Nations, but are recognized by at least one member of the organization. Two examples are Kosovo, which declared itself independent in 2008 and was recognized by 103 states, or Taiwan, which is recognized by 14 states although it has never declared independence. Here is a full list of disputed countries and capitals:
- Not recognized as a country by the United Nations but listed here: Taiwan, Kosovo, Western Sahara.
- Hong Kong, Macau are part of the People’s Republic of China and are not separate, sovereign states.
- Faroe Islands, Greenland belong to Denmark and are not their own sovereign states.
- Russia belongs to Europe and Asia. But since the larger part of the country belongs to Asia; the same applies to Turkey.
- Latin America is not considered a continent in its own right.
- Antarctica is an independent continent, but it does not have its own sovereign states.
- Jerusalem is not recognized as the capital of Israel by the United Nations and the majority of member states, even though Israel declares it to be so by national law.
Evolution of the number of countries in the world
The number of countries in the world has exploded due to decolonization. In 1914 there were only 53 countries in the world recognized as independent. At that time, dominions such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand were still under British sovereignty. At the end of 1945, the newly formed United Nations had 51 member states, while 72 states divided the world between themselves. With decolonization and the disintegration of the Eastern Bloc, that number has quadrupled. The most recent formation is South Sudan, which was declared independent in 2011 after years of civil war.
All Capital Cities in the World
Capital is either the most important city of a country, a state (or province), or even the most essential town of a city (or county). In general, it’s the administrative center of local government. For example, London is the capital city of United Kingdom, while Austin is the capital city of Texas (one of the 50 U.S. states).
In the table below, please see an alphabetical list of all independent nations and their capitals as well as the regions where each country is located:
# |
Flag |
Nation |
Population |
Capital |
Capital |
1 |
|
Afghanistan |
38,928,357 |
Kabul |
Southern Asia |
2 |
|
Åland Islands |
29,789 |
Mariehamn |
Northern Europe |
3 |
|
Albania |
2,877,808 |
Tirana |
Southern Europe |
4 |
|
Algeria |
43,851,055 |
Algiers |
Northern Africa |
5 |
|
Andorra |
77,276 |
Andorra |
Southern Europe |
6 |
|
Angola |
32,866,283 |
Luanda |
Central Africa |
7 |
|
Antigua and Barbuda |
97,940 |
Saint John’s |
North America |
8 |
|
Argentina |
45,195,785 |
Buenos Aires |
South America |
9 |
|
Armenia |
2,963,254 |
Yerevan |
Western Asia |
10 |
|
Australia |
25,499,895 |
Canberra |
Australasia |
11 |
|
Austria |
9,006,409 |
Vienna |
Western Europe |
12 |
|
Azerbaijan |
10,139,188 |
Baku |
Western Asia |
13 |
|
Bahamas |
393,255 |
Nassau |
North America |
14 |
|
Bahrain |
1,701,586 |
Manama |
Western Asia |
15 |
|
Bangladesh |
164,689,394 |
Dhaka |
Southern Asia |
16 |
|
Barbados |
287,386 |
Bridgetown |
North America |
17 |
|
Belarus |
9,449,334 |
Minsk |
Eastern Europe |
18 |
|
Belgium |
11,589,634 |
Brussels |
Western Europe |
19 |
|
Belize |
397,639 |
Belmopan |
North America |
20 |
|
Benin |
12,123,211 |
Porto-Novo |
Western Africa |
21 |
|
Bhutan |
771,619 |
Thimphu |
Southern Asia |
22 |
|
Bolivia |
11,673,032 |
Sucre |
South America |
23 |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
3,280,830 |
Sarajevo |
Southern Europe |
24 |
|
Botswana |
2,351,638 |
Gaborone |
Southern Africa |
25 |
|
Brazil |
212,559,428 |
Brasilia |
South America |
26 |
|
Brunei |
437,490 |
Bandar Seri Begawan |
Southeastern Asia |
27 |
|
Bulgaria |
6,948,456 |
Sofia |
Eastern Europe |
28 |
|
Burkina Faso |
20,903,284 |
Ouagadougou |
Western Africa |
29 |
|
Burma |
54,409,811 |
Naypyidaw |
Southeastern Asia |
30 |
|
Burundi |
11,890,795 |
Gitega |
Eastern Africa |
31 |
|
Cambodia |
16,718,976 |
Phnom Penh |
Southeastern Asia |
32 |
|
Cameroon |
26,545,874 |
Yaounde |
Central Africa |
33 |
|
Canada |
37,742,165 |
Ottawa |
North America |
34 |
|
Cape Verde |
555,998 |
Praia |
Western Africa |
35 |
|
Central African Republic |
4,829,778 |
Bangui |
Central Africa |
36 |
|
Chad |
16,425,875 |
N’Djamena |
Central Africa |
37 |
|
Chile |
19,116,212 |
Santiago |
South America |
38 |
|
China |
1,439,323,787 |
Beijing |
Eastern Asia |
39 |
|
Colombia |
50,882,902 |
Bogota |
South America |
40 |
|
Comoros |
869,612 |
Moroni |
Eastern Africa |
41 |
|
Cook Islands |
17,459 |
Avarua District |
Oceania |
42 |
|
Costa Rica |
5,094,129 |
San Jose |
North America |
43 |
|
Côte d’Ivoire |
26,378,285 |
Yamoussoukro |
Western Africa |
44 |
|
Croatia |
4,105,278 |
Zagreb |
Southern Europe |
45 |
|
Cuba |
11,326,627 |
Havana |
North America |
46 |
|
Cyprus |
1,207,370 |
Nicosia |
Western Asia |
47 |
|
Czech Republic |
10,708,992 |
Prague |
Eastern Europe |
48 |
|
Democratic Republic of the Congo |
89,561,414 |
Kinshasa |
Central Africa |
49 |
|
Denmark |
5,792,213 |
Copenhagen |
Northern Europe |
50 |
|
Djibouti |
988,011 |
Djibouti |
Eastern Africa |
51 |
|
Dominica |
71,997 |
Roseau |
North America |
52 |
|
Dominican Republic |
10,847,921 |
Santo Domingo |
North America |
53 |
|
Ecuador |
17,643,065 |
Quito |
South America |
54 |
|
Egypt |
102,334,415 |
Cairo |
Northern Africa |
55 |
|
El Salvador |
6,486,216 |
San Salvador |
North America |
56 |
|
Equatorial Guinea |
1,402,996 |
Malabo |
Central Africa |
57 |
|
Eritrea |
3,546,432 |
Asmara |
Eastern Africa |
58 |
|
Estonia |
1,326,546 |
Tallinn |
Northern Europe |
59 |
|
Ethiopia |
114,963,599 |
Addis Ababa |
Eastern Africa |
60 |
|
Faroe Islands |
48,678 |
Tórshavn |
Europe |
61 |
|
Micronesia |
112,640 |
Palikir |
Micronesia |
62 |
|
Fiji |
896,456 |
Suva |
Melanesia |
63 |
|
Finland |
5,540,731 |
Helsinki |
Northern Europe |
64 |
|
France |
65,273,522 |
Paris |
Western Europe |
65 |
|
Gabon |
2,225,745 |
Libreville |
Central Africa |
66 |
|
Gambia |
2,416,679 |
Banjul |
Western Africa |
67 |
|
Georgia |
3,989,178 |
Tbilisi |
Western Asia |
68 |
|
Germany |
83,783,953 |
Berlin |
Western Europe |
69 |
|
Ghana |
31,072,951 |
Accra |
Western Africa |
70 |
|
Greece |
10,423,065 |
Athens |
Southern Europe |
71 |
|
Greenland |
56,225 |
Nuuk |
North America |
72 |
|
Grenada |
112,534 |
Saint George’s |
North America |
73 |
|
Guatemala |
17,915,579 |
Guatemala City |
North America |
74 |
|
Guinea |
13,132,806 |
Conakry |
Western Africa |
75 |
|
Guinea-Bissau |
1,968,012 |
Bissau |
Western Africa |
76 |
|
Guyana |
786,563 |
Georgetown |
South America |
77 |
|
Haiti |
11,402,539 |
Port-au-Prince |
North America |
78 |
|
Holy See |
812 |
Vatican City |
Southern Europe |
79 |
|
Honduras |
9,904,618 |
Tegucigalpa |
North America |
80 |
|
Hungary |
9,660,362 |
Budapest |
Eastern Europe |
81 |
|
Iceland |
341,254 |
Reykjavik |
Northern Europe |
82 |
|
India |
1,380,004,396 |
New Delhi |
Southern Asia |
83 |
|
Indonesia |
273,523,626 |
Jakarta |
Southeastern Asia |
84 |
|
Iran |
83,992,960 |
Tehran |
Western Asia |
85 |
|
Iraq |
40,222,504 |
Baghdad |
Western Asia |
86 |
|
Ireland |
4,937,797 |
Dublin |
Northern Europe |
87 |
|
Israel |
8,655,546 |
Jerusalem |
Western Asia |
88 |
|
Italy |
60,461,837 |
Rome |
Southern Europe |
89 |
|
Jamaica |
2,961,178 |
Kingston |
North America |
90 |
|
Japan |
126,476,472 |
Tokyo |
Eastern Asia |
91 |
|
Jordan |
10,203,145 |
Amman |
Western Asia |
92 |
|
Kazakhstan |
18,776,718 |
Astana |
Central Asia |
93 |
|
Kenya |
53,771,307 |
Nairobi |
Eastern Africa |
94 |
|
Kiribati |
119,460 |
Tarawa Atoll |
Micronesia |
95 |
|
Kosovo |
1,810,377 |
Pristina |
Eastern Europe |
96 |
|
Kuwait |
4,270,582 |
Kuwait City |
Western Asia |
97 |
|
Kyrgyzstan |
6,524,206 |
Bishkek |
Central Asia |
98 |
|
Laos |
7,275,571 |
Vientiane |
Southeastern Asia |
99 |
|
Latvia |
1,886,209 |
Riga |
Northern Europe |
100 |
|
Lebanon |
6,825,456 |
Beirut |
Western Asia |
101 |
|
Lesotho |
2,142,260 |
Maseru |
Southern Africa |
102 |
|
Liberia |
5,057,692 |
Monrovia |
Western Africa |
103 |
|
Libya |
6,871,303 |
Tripoli |
Northern Africa |
104 |
|
Liechtenstein |
38,139 |
Vaduz |
Western Europe |
105 |
|
Lithuania |
2,722,300 |
Vilnius |
Northern Europe |
106 |
|
Luxembourg |
625,989 |
Luxembourg |
Western Europe |
107 |
|
Madagascar |
27,691,029 |
Antananarivo |
Eastern Africa |
108 |
|
Malawi |
19,129,963 |
Lilongwe |
Eastern Africa |
109 |
|
Malaysia |
32,366,010 |
Kuala Lumpur |
Southeastern Asia |
110 |
|
Maldives |
540,555 |
Male |
Southern Asia |
111 |
|
Mali |
20,250,844 |
Bamako |
Western Africa |
112 |
|
Malta |
441,554 |
Valletta |
Southern Europe |
113 |
|
Marshall Islands |
59,201 |
Majuro |
Micronesia |
114 |
|
Mauritania |
4,649,669 |
Nouakchott |
Western Africa |
115 |
|
Mauritius |
1,271,779 |
Port Louis |
Eastern Africa |
116 |
|
Mexico |
128,932,764 |
Mexico City |
North America |
117 |
|
Moldova |
4,033,974 |
Chisinau |
Eastern Europe |
118 |
|
Monaco |
39,253 |
Monaco |
Western Europe |
119 |
|
Mongolia |
3,278,301 |
Ulaanbaatar |
Eastern Asia |
120 |
|
Montenegro |
628,077 |
Podgorica |
Southern Europe |
121 |
|
Morocco |
36,910,571 |
Rabat |
Northern Africa |
122 |
|
Mozambique |
31,255,446 |
Maputo |
Eastern Africa |
123 |
|
Namibia |
2,540,916 |
Windhoek |
Southern Africa |
124 |
|
Nauru |
10,835 |
Yaren District |
Micronesia |
125 |
|
Nepal |
29,136,819 |
Kathmandu |
Southern Asia |
126 |
|
Netherlands |
17,134,883 |
Amsterdam |
Western Europe |
127 |
|
New Zealand |
4,822,244 |
Wellington |
Polynesia |
128 |
|
Nicaragua |
6,624,565 |
Managua |
North America |
129 |
|
Niger |
24,206,655 |
Niamey |
Western Africa |
130 |
|
Nigeria |
206,139,600 |
Abuja |
Western Africa |
131 |
|
Niue |
1,620 |
Alofi |
Oceania |
132 |
|
North Korea |
25,778,827 |
Pyongyang |
Eastern Asia |
133 |
|
Norway |
5,421,252 |
Oslo |
Northern Europe |
134 |
|
Macedonia |
2,022,558 |
Skopje |
Southern Europe |
135 |
|
Oman |
5,106,637 |
Muscat |
Western Asia |
136 |
|
Pakistan |
220,892,351 |
Islamabad |
Southern Asia |
137 |
|
Palau |
18,105 |
Melekeok |
Micronesia |
138 |
|
Palestine |
5,101,425 |
East Jerusalem |
Western Asia |
139 |
|
Panama |
4,314,778 |
Panama City |
North America |
140 |
|
Papua New Guinea |
8,947,035 |
Port Moresby |
Melanesia |
141 |
|
Paraguay |
7,132,549 |
Asuncion |
South America |
142 |
|
Peru |
32,971,865 |
Lima |
South America |
143 |
|
Philippines |
109,581,089 |
Manila |
Southeastern Asia |
144 |
|
Poland |
37,846,622 |
Warsaw |
Eastern Europe |
145 |
|
Portugal |
10,196,720 |
Lisbon |
Southern Europe |
146 |
|
Puerto Rico |
3,285,874 |
San Juan |
Caribbean |
147 |
|
Qatar |
2,881,064 |
Doha |
Western Asia |
148 |
|
Republic of the Congo |
5,240,011 |
Brazzaville |
Central Africa |
149 |
|
Romania |
19,237,702 |
Bucharest |
Eastern Europe |
150 |
|
Russia |
145,934,473 |
Moscow |
Eastern Europe |
151 |
|
Rwanda |
12,952,229 |
Kigali |
Eastern Africa |
152 |
|
Samoa |
198,425 |
Apia |
Polynesia |
153 |
|
San Marino |
33,942 |
San Marino |
Southern Europe |
154 |
|
Sao Tome and Principe |
219,170 |
Sao Tome |
Central Africa |
155 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
34,813,882 |
Riyadh |
Western Asia |
156 |
|
Senegal |
16,743,938 |
Dakar |
Western Africa |
157 |
|
Serbia |
8,737,382 |
Belgrade |
Southern Europe |
158 |
|
Seychelles |
98,358 |
Victoria |
Eastern Africa |
159 |
|
Sierra Leone |
7,976,994 |
Freetown |
Western Africa |
160 |
|
Singapore |
5,850,353 |
Singapore |
Southeastern Asia |
161 |
|
Slovakia |
5,459,653 |
Bratislava |
Eastern Europe |
162 |
|
Slovenia |
2,078,949 |
Ljubljana |
Southern Europe |
163 |
|
Solomon Islands |
686,895 |
Honiara |
Melanesia |
164 |
|
Somalia |
15,893,233 |
Mogadishu |
Eastern Africa |
165 |
|
South Africa |
59,308,701 |
Bloemfontein; Pretoria; Cape Town |
Southern Africa |
166 |
|
South Korea |
51,269,196 |
Seoul |
Eastern Asia |
167 |
|
South Sudan |
11,193,736 |
Juba |
Eastern Africa |
168 |
|
Spain |
46,754,789 |
Madrid |
Southern Europe |
169 |
|
Sri Lanka |
21,413,260 |
Colombo; Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte |
Southern Asia |
170 |
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis |
52,441 |
Basseterre |
North America |
171 |
|
Saint Lucia |
181,889 |
Castries |
North America |
172 |
|
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines |
110,951 |
Kingstown |
North America |
173 |
|
Sudan |
43,849,271 |
Khartoum |
Northern Africa |
174 |
|
Suriname |
586,643 |
Paramaribo |
South America |
175 |
|
Swaziland |
1,163,491 |
Mbabane |
Southern Africa |
176 |
|
Sweden |
10,099,276 |
Stockholm |
Northern Europe |
177 |
|
Switzerland |
8,654,633 |
Bern |
Western Europe |
178 |
|
Syria |
17,500,669 |
Damascus |
Western Asia |
179 |
|
Taiwan* |
23,816,786 |
Taipei |
Eastern Asia |
180 |
|
Tajikistan |
9,537,656 |
Dushanbe |
Central Asia |
181 |
|
Tanzania |
59,734,229 |
DDodoma |
Eastern Africa |
182 |
|
Thailand |
69,799,989 |
Bangkok |
Southeastern Asia |
183 |
|
East Timor |
1,318,456 |
Dili |
Southeastern Asia |
184 |
|
Togo |
8,278,735 |
Lome |
Western Africa |
185 |
|
Tonga |
105,706 |
Nuku’alofa |
Polynesia |
186 |
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
1,399,499 |
Port-of-Spain |
North America |
187 |
|
Tunisia |
11,818,630 |
Tunis |
Northern Africa |
188 |
|
Turkey |
84,339,078 |
Ankara |
Western Asia |
189 |
|
Turkmenistan |
6,031,211 |
Ashgabat |
Central Asia |
190 |
|
Tuvalu |
11,803 |
Vaiaku |
Polynesia |
191 |
|
Uganda |
45,741,018 |
Kampala |
Eastern Africa |
192 |
|
Ukraine |
43,733,773 |
Kiev |
Eastern Europe |
193 |
|
United Arab Emirates |
9,890,413 |
Abu Dhabi |
Western Asia |
194 |
|
United Kingdom |
67,886,022 |
London |
Northern Europe |
195 |
|
United States |
331,002,662 |
Washington, D. C. |
North America |
196 |
|
Uruguay |
3,473,741 |
Montevideo |
South America |
197 |
|
Uzbekistan |
33,469,214 |
Tashkent |
Central Asia |
198 |
|
Vanuatu |
307,156 |
Port-Vila |
Melanesia |
199 |
|
Venezuela |
28,435,951 |
Caracas |
South America |
200 |
|
Vietnam |
97,338,590 |
Hanoi |
Southeastern Asia |
201 |
|
Western Sahara |
597,339 |
Laayoune |
Western Africa |
202 |
|
Yemen |
29,825,975 |
Sanaa |
Western Asia |
203 |
|
Zambia |
18,383,966 |
Lusaka |
Eastern Africa |
204 |
|
Zimbabwe |
14,862,935 |
Harare |
Eastern Africa |
Note: While Taiwan has its own capital city, it is not a nation, but a part of China.
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