How Many Countries are in the World?
- There are 197 countries in the world : 193 UN members + 2 UN Observers + Taiwan + Kosovo.
- The United Nations, as the most influential international organization, is often considered the start point for the correct counting the total number. All the 193 UN members are independent countries recognized worldwide. Become a part of the United Nations is not so easy. First of all, the security Council is voting and the consent of all 5 permanent members of the council The United States, The United Kingdom, France, Rusia and China is needed for the adoption of the new candidate. After that, the UN General Assembly approves this decision by no less than the two-thirds of the votes.
- Two UN Observers, Holy see(Vatican) and Palestine, are both countries because the UN observer status confirms the certain degree of their international recognition.
- Taiwan is officially recognized by 15 Countries(14 UN members and one UN observer), This self-governed territory with a population more of than 23 million people one of the highly developed economies in Asia Pacific.
- Kosovo is officially recognized by 98 UN member countries and by Taiwan. It also has obtained the membership of the World Bank, the international Monetary Fund(IMF), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development(EBRD)
