Last reviewed: September 2, 2026
In everyday speech, a country is a geographic and political community with its own government and territory. In international relations, however, the concepts of a country, a state, a nation and a territory do not always line up perfectly.
Country and state
“State” is the more technical term in international law and diplomacy. A state is generally understood as having a population, territory, government and the capacity to conduct relations with other states. “Country” is broader and more conversational.
Recognition matters
Political recognition is one reason country lists can differ. A place may function with many characteristics of a state while not being recognized in the same way by every government. That makes a simple numerical answer dependent on the list-maker’s purpose.
Countries versus territories
Many geographic entities have their own names, flags or internet domains but are not sovereign states. This site keeps dependencies and territories separate from its core 195-country list so visitors can see exactly what is being counted.