Country

A country is a distinct territorial body or political entity, typically possessing sovereignty, which grants it supreme and independent authority over its territory. This includes the power to govern its own affairs without external interference, though sovereignty may be limited by international treaties, alliances, or global organizations. The people of a country often share a sense of national identity, based on shared history, culture, language, or ethnicity, though this is not always uniform, especially in multicultural nations.

As of May 2025, there are 197 widely recognized sovereign countries, including 193 member states of the United Nations, two observer states, and two additional nations with significant international recognition.

Features

Government

A country has its own government, which exercises control over its territory and populace. The government makes laws, manages public administration, and has the capacity to enter into relations with other countries.

Territory

A country has defined borders, which may occasionally be disputed. Its territory includes land, water (such as rivers, lakes, and territorial seas), and sometimes claims over airspace.

Population

A country is inhabited by a permanent population. The people within its borders may share a common identity, culture, language, or history, though many countries are multicultural.

Types

Nation-state

A nation-state is a country where the borders align closely with a single national or ethnic identity. Japan is often cited as an example.

Multinational state

A multinational state comprises multiple nations or ethnic groups within its borders, such as Belgium or Switzerland.

City-state

A city-state is a sovereign state consisting of a single city and its dependencies, such as Singapore or historically Vatican City.

Microstates

Microstates are very small countries, often with limited resources or population, such as Monaco or San Marino.

Recognition

For a territory to be considered a country in the international system, it often requires recognition by other countries. This introduces the distinction between de jure (by law) and de facto (in practice) sovereignty. Some territories may function as countries but lack widespread international recognition, such as Kosovo or Taiwan.

Definitions

Montevideo Convention

The Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (1933) outlines the criteria for statehood, stating that a country should possess:

A permanent population
A defined territory
A government
The capacity to enter into relations with other states

These criteria remain a cornerstone of international law regarding statehood.

History

The concept of the modern nation-state emerged in Europe with the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, which established principles of territorial sovereignty. Over centuries, colonialism, wars, and independence movements shaped the global map of countries. The 20th century saw significant changes, including the decolonization of Africa and Asia and the dissolution of states like the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, leading to the creation of new countries.

List of countries

The following is a list of 197 sovereign countries, organized by continent. This includes 193 UN member states, two UN observer states (Palestine and Vatican City), and two additional widely recognized countries (Kosovo and Taiwan). Countries are listed alphabetically within their respective continents.

Africa

Main article: Africa

Asia

Main article: Asia

Australia and Oceania

Main article: Australia (continent)

Europe

Main article: Europe

North America

Main article: North America

South America

Main article: South America

References

External links