How many countries are there?

[Vortex_Master]

How many countries do you believe there are? I would like you to post how many you think there are, and watch one or both of the videos linked below, and also post how many you think there are now, with your reasoning if you'd like.

On Earth, there is land. Land is claimed. The claimed land is governed. That governed land is a country... Right? No. That governed land is a country if other countries recognize it as such. (Paradoxes, yeah.) So, how is a country a country? They join the UN. Right? Maybe? ... Well, what is the UN, why does it have any power? Well... It is a conglomeration of countries, working to... Wait, wait, there's that word again. Country.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4vsPB_lbo94
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4AivEQmfPpk

Anyway, prior to watching these, I never really knew how many countries there were. Five years ago I would have said about 200. Three years ago I would have said 204... Then I learned that the Olympics committee doesn't know how to count correctly, and I went back to about 200. Now, I will still say "around 200" if asked. But I think that if I were forced to say a definite number, I probably would say 214, just to get whoever is asking off my back. However, there really isn't a wrong answer... As long as you answer more than 193 and less than 240.

This is just my current perception, it may change. I would love to hear everyone else's input.

[infected]

i say 216 but im too lazy to watch the videos

[Aurora Australis]

The UN's classification of country exists on paper only.

There's one aspect you haven't included. How do you define a territory with no governing authority? (such as large parts of Africa).
Or how about territories which are completely self-governing in their own right, with their own armies & everything? (such as Eritrea was for over 20 years before it was recognised).
And what about puppet states, countries officially independent and part of the UN, yet have a 'master' country controlling them?

Ok, so that's three aspects.
Do you classify Nigeria as one country, or two? Is Somalia even a country? If you start wondering about these things, a number simply vanishes.

[GivinUDaHimelik]

i always thought there were 219 official countries................

[Autumnwolf17]

I count the ROC, but I'm biased. They are definitely not DRC though.

[Vortex_Master]

The UN's classification of country exists on paper only.

There's one aspect you haven't included. How do you define a territory with no governing authority? (such as large parts of Africa).
Or how about territories which are completely self-governing in their own right, with their own armies & everything? (such as Eritrea was for over 20 years before it was recognised).
And what about puppet states, countries officially independent and part of the UN, yet have a 'master' country controlling them?

Ok, so that's three aspects.
Do you classify Nigeria as one country, or two? Is Somalia even a country? If you start wondering about these things, a number simply vanishes.

The only areas with no governing authority are Antarctica and Bir Tawil (the area that both Egypt and Sudan refuse as theirs.)
Sometimes it takes time to recognize if a governed area is a country. Weather it will last, or if it is just a small uprising.
Overseas Territories are exactly that. Overseas Territories. An Overseas Territory is still part of the country, however, they are very awkward.
Also, places with disputes are inevitable, and it is easiest to just agree that whoever was in charge last is in charge until conditions arise making it otherwise.

This is exactly my point. What is a country really? Nobody knows, but everyone has their own idea.

[>(FM)<]

So many smart people in this game, you all are either geniuses.
Or Google search experts.

[Chess435]

Darn it, I went to Wikipedia to look this up and I ended up reading about Britian's WW2 counter-espionage system.

[infected]

So many smart people in this game, you all are either geniuses.
Or Google search experts.

that takes all the fun out of it i mean who doesnt want to strain there brains think back to 5th grade then get it wrong by the people who did use google

[Vortex_Master]

So many smart people in this game, you all are either geniuses.
Or Google search experts.

Well, with all the information available to people, there are multiple ways to get the facts. Internet, People, Documentation, Organizations, Books (although most on this subject a probably out of date), etc.

All you have to do is look. Most "geniuses" are not geniuses without resources to spark their study.

I am just both a history buff and a geography geek, so I am interested in things like this.