List of countries (sovereign states and classifications)

Overview of sovereign states, common counts, criteria for statehood, categories (UN members, observers, de facto states, territories), history, uses, and reasons lists vary.

A "list of countries" typically refers to a catalog of sovereign states recognised in international relations. Such lists are useful for diplomacy, statistics, travel, trade and education, but their contents depend on the recognition criteria and the purpose of the list. The United Nations system is a common reference point, yet other compilations may include partially recognised or de facto states and exclude dependent territories.

Characteristics and criteria

In practice, a political entity called a country or sovereign state is generally described by four attributes: a permanent population, a defined territory, an effective government, and the capacity to enter relations with other states. These ideas are captured in widely cited conventions and practice, but legal recognition by other states and admission to international bodies heavily influence whether an entity appears on widely used lists.

Categories and common counts

UN member states: the primary group used in many official lists.
Observer states and entities with limited recognition: often counted separately (for example, the Holy See and Palestine are UN observers).
De facto or partially recognised states: entities that exercise effective control over territory but lack broad diplomatic recognition.
Dependent territories and constituent countries: politically distinct units that are not sovereign for foreign affairs.

Because of these categories, totals vary. A frequently cited figure counts UN members plus observer states; other tallies add entities with partial recognition or exclude non-sovereign territories.

Lists of countries have evolved alongside the modern nation-state. Colonial empires, decolonisation, the collapse and formation of states in the 20th century, and secessionist movements have all changed which entities are regarded as countries. For current, authoritative compilations consult major international organizations and databases; see relevant sources for specific lists and membership rules.

Notable distinctions to watch for include legal recognition versus effective control, the difference between a country and a territory, and how statistical bodies choose to present regional, economic, or political groupings.