How Many Countries Are There in the World? (2023)

Get Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: go.nebula.tv/w...
10-year Anniversary Chat:nebula.tv/vide...
Listen to me talk unscripted for 1 hour about how I got started on KZbin and a little about the last 10 years.
In this video, a re-make of my first ever video, uploaded June 23, 2013, I ask the seemingly simple question: how many countries are there in the world? Turns out the answer is a bit more complicated than it seems!
Original video: • How Many Countries Are...
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:57 Holy See & Palestine
4:51 Kosovo
7:04 Taiwan
12:32 United Kingdom
14:29 Netherlands
15:19 Denmark & French Polynesia
15:55 Free Association
16:59 Unrecognised countries
17:57 Secession movements
19:32 How many countries are there?
20:52 10-year anniversary bonus video
MUSIC:
By Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.c...
and
Silver Flame, Truth in the Stones - Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons...
Select image/footage from Getty Images
Support the channel: / wonderwhy
Join the Discord: / discord

[@WonderWhy]

10 years since my first video! Genuinely cannot believe it, how times flies! To mark the occassion, I decided to re-make my first video looking at how many countries there are in the world. It was really this question that inspired me to start the channel, and led me down a rabbit hole of curiosities. In this video, which an overhaul of the original script, I try to answer this question that seems simple, but is actually quite complicated. I put together a companion video to this one over on Nebula, it's an unscripted chat about how I got started making videos and a bit about my journey of the last 10 years. If you're interested, you can you check it out here: nebula.tv/videos/wonderwhy-10year-anniversary-chat-how-i-got-started-on-youtube Or if you're interested in checking out the original video, you can do so here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqfWgXWVoceib5Y I was actually quite surprised that not a lot has actually changed. Aside from minor developments, all the numbers are basically the name as last time! Thanks to each and every one of you for being here with me over this last decade making video, I really do appreciate it. Here's to next 10 years! Cheers!

[@bluemop2024]

Wow time really does fly. I can’t believe that at that time I was only four years old.

[@anoemuser310]

Like it 👍

[@desiredditor]

You are a great content creator

[@amberlandball]

​@@bluemop2024i was 0 years old Dont judge me i cant whoch time i get born

[@uzbek9669]

As someone living in scotland i immediately recognised the Glasgow royal concert hall from the image as soon as i saw it.

[@alphabravoindia5267]

Thanks for 10 years of providing YT with valuable knowledge. I remember watching this channel when I was a literal 9 year old, and now as a junior in high school, it's awesome to see this channel going strong! Thanks for the memories

[@LilCurson]

Wonderwhy was the first KZbin channel I watched when I was 9. Still one of my favorite YouThbe channels 8 years later

[@jamium]

Same!

[@neos9934]

Same here man haha

[@metalbob123]

Thanks for the memories of flying with delta

[@evanstanislas898]

I remembered during the time I was in Primary school watching WonderWhy on my Nokia Symbian phone. Now I'm in college and still watching

[@exploshaun]

Honestly, that list at the end is basically the perfect answer to the question of "How many countries are there" and it's nice that someone finally have it clearly laid out in a video.

[@WonderWhy]

Thanks so much! And wow, you've been subscribed for a LONG time!

[@bennyboy5949]

I wish you mentioned the fact that the ISO counts 249 “countries”. They count nearly every overseas territory as a separate country, but they count the United Kingdom as 1 country, and don’t list Kosovo. Also ~10 of the “countries” are uninhabited.

[@vibce]

Are there any other than Bouvet Island (BV) that are uninhabited?

[@bennyboy5949]

@@vibce I should have said territories with no permanent population. 🇦🇶 Antarctica 🇧🇻 Bouvet Island 🇮🇴 British Indian Ocean Territory 🇹🇫 French Southern Territories 🇭🇲 Heard and McDonald Islands 🇬🇸 South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands 🇸🇯 Svalbard and Jan Mayen 🇺🇲 US Minor Outlying Islands So there’s 9, unless I made a mistake.

[@barmanitan]

​@@bennyboy5949Even if Jan Mayen doesn't, Svalbard very much has a permanent population

[@Artyomi]

@@bennyboy5949 Well, Svalbard has 2,500 permanent residents, the US minor outlying islands has a population of 300 on Johnston Atoll. Even though it’s tiny, technically those two do have permanent populations

[@AaronMcHale]

The ISO list also includes Jersey and Guernsey, which are not technically part of the UK but are considered Crown Dependencies.

[@Adam19]

Congratulations on 10 years on KZbin. The fact the comment section is littered with congratulations is testament to the great content and work you've produced over this time. 🎉🎉

[@WonderWhy]

Cheers Adam! 🎉

[@MaxTheCat-eh5ts]

I remember being 8 and watching this channel, now I’m 18. Here’s to another damn great decade.

[@ciyrainshgaming507]

Same

[@leadharsh0616]

Damn same

[@Jack-496]

I’ve been watching your videos since I was a child, all those years ago. I may not have been here for all the years, but it’s been close and I’ve loved watching you grow. Your videos get better and better every year, and this whole community of educational KZbinrs is just wonderful! Continue the work, you’re a great guy! I look forward to seeing more and more quality and ambition from someone who is already stellar.

[@finnsalsa9304]

Could not have said it better!

[@unofficialspaghet]

Congratulations on your ten-year anniversary! Not many channels can say they’ve had quality, informative content for a whole decade, but you are one of them. Thank you and once again, congrats on ten years!

[@dareo.]

The original of this video was the video which introduced me to your channel. Definitely a long ride... Celebrating 10 years with a remake of the video is lovely

[@ryandriver9478]

Crazy to think it’s been that long. I was 20 when I found this channel and now just turned 30

[@chronomenter]

i was 13 now i’m 23 times flies man

[@cesrperez]

I was 8 now I’m 18

[@Ninja-eh4cu]

i was in the womb now im 9

[@bravesgrizzliesdolphinsfan]

I was 11-13 when I first saw his vids and I’m 19 now

[@_levi07]

@@cesrperez same

[@missm10]

Congrats on 10 years! I remember finding your videos as a teenager (at least 5-6 years ago). It's been wonderful seeing your channel grow over time. Here's to another 10 years!

[@amanicricket9367]

When the world needed him most he returned

[@H8nji]

He was gone for a month bro, stop clout chasing

[@HdFung]

Im tired hi lol

[@waveforcenews4589]

@@H8njibro there is literally no reason to say that last part. Now you seem like an asshole because you accused them

[@Jack6J57]

this is literally his regular upload schedule, he didn’t really return

[@Hamzerio]

@@H8njibruh why you hating

[@RossParker1877]

As a fellow Scot who has watched you for years here and on Nebula I always love when your videos come out. Well worth the wait. Great to see views of the world through a Scottish lense too

[@VirtuallyVexed]

My first video of yours I watched was "The Most Complex International Borders in the World" when I was 15 years old. I am now 25 and still ecstatic when you release a video. Your always stellar work gets better every video and I have felt privileged to have grown up with your work. Thank you for all you have brought to educational KZbin! Best from a fellow Scot!

[@mrkrabbbbz]

i've been watching you since 2017 and all your videos are incredible. keep up the good work!

[@gg_vard]

It's truly amazing how many people have literally grown up and became adults like myself Thank you for your channel and thank you for Nebula

[@Zixivyxity]

Ten years. Ten YEARS on this platform. I remember being about 8 or so watching your Winners and Losers series on the TV, and I was immediately hooked to your channel. Every since, I have been watching your videos over and over again, and they never get boring. Thank you for being on this platform!

[@fidtrumpdump86]

I stumbled across the original video probably about 8 years ago now, and ever since I have been watching every upload and learning so much more about the world. You are what got me into Geography and History, and after a lot of life struggles you’re videos brighten up my day, I was so happy to see your videos again once I rediscovered your channel a couple years ago and subscribed. Keep it up WonderWhy, we love you!!

[@inhocsignovinces1327]

French Polynesia isn't a "country of France" but a Overseas Territory, which is a close thing of what were the colonies. They have autonomy but aren't recognized as a country.

[@thedeutschman9905]

I remember the original video, it’s a classic in my opinion and have been subscribed for 6 years, it’s so cool to see a channel change and improve their content, best of wishes!

[@elitettelbach4247]

Congrats on 10 years!! I remember watching the original video when it first came out. As you mentioned, it’s interesting that not too much has changed regarding this issue in the past decade. Keep up the great work :)

[@mehrheitler]

2013 No mentions of Donetsk and Luhansk because they didn’t claim independence yet 2023 No mentions of Donetsk and Luhansk because they don’t claim independence anymore

[@KnowHistory]

10 years later, I still wait passionatly for your next release! Thank you for all the work you put in your videos! I was just a highschooler when i first find your channel and I've been loving it ever since! Let there be 10 more succesfull years ahead for you! :D

[@TheRemco98]

Congrats on 10 years! Genuinely love your videos and I rewatch them from time to time. Cheers to many more!

[@godtiermtg]

I love your videos so much! I’m not much of a geography or history person usually, but you’ve consistently been one of my favorite channels to watch. I remember watching your channel when you had only a couple thousand subscribers, and telling everyone I knew that they should check you out. Cheers to another decade!

[@Professorgutierrez]

Happy 10 years! I’ve enjoyed your channel and still remember when the original video was new. You’ve taught me so much, keep up the great work! God bless!

[@MrAsianPie]

Congratulations on 10 years! When I first found the original video I was a forth grader, now I'm a Freshman in college. I still go back and watch the older videos out of pure nostalgia. Keep up the great work!

[@eoinobrien2379]

Congratulations on the 10 years. Thanks for all the amazing videos. I started watching your videos before I was 20 and my 20s are almost over! Some of the best youtube content out there. Roll on the next 10 years!

[@mono-no-aware.Lem.]

Congrats on 10 years! Been here the whole time!

[@KanarisTM]

Sadly I only saw this video a month and a third after its upload, but _massive_ congratulations on ten years. I did indeed first find your videos back in 2014 when I was five years of age, which most definitely was the spark for my early love for - rather, obsession/hyperfocus of geography & geopolitics: And I still love it to this day, ten years after that. I just wanted to say that after all this time of producing simply wonderful videos, you are criminally undersubscribed to: It's ridiculous that you haven't been given the satisfaction of a million subscribers after _ten years_ of awesome video production. Thanks, man.

[@stanke4593]

I still remember stumbling upon the original video 10 years back, literally marking the time when I started watching English speaking videos on the platform, "forcing" me to learn the language more. So great thanks to You for all the amazing content and encouraging me to get better at both speaking and understanding the language, as I'm not a native speaker. Just yesterday I passed a C2 level exam in my university (I couldn't have done so before by legal status), partially thanks to You. It's actually quite astonishing to me how much better I've gotten as an English speaker. I honestly am very happy of Your achievement, and have no idea how quickly this decade has passed. Here's to another decade of great content🥂. Wish You all the best ❤️

[@adamiscoolsoya]

congrats on ten years! you are one of my favorite channels and thank you for teaching me so much info.

[@sevelofficial2696]

Been watching you since the beginning when I was 13 and for the past 10 years have always been so excited when you've uploaded. Thank you for making me more knowledgeable over the past 10 years, and congratulations! 🎉

[@willwin5752]

Don't usually comment but I want to say congrats on 10 years!! I still remember finding the original video when I was 14, it's pretty much is the reason why I got so obsessed with geopolitics and understanding how the world functions. You Rock Man!

[@anthonyverde1522]

One of the greats, your content has seen me through high school and college both! Thank you for your work :)

[@szbszig]

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta works in many ways as an independent country. It has its own flag, coat of arms, anthem, and government. It has a small, but decent population, and it gives out passports to all of its citizens, which are widely accepted internationally. It has a national currency, and the right to mint its own coins, which are also accepted internationally. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is a permanent observer state in the UN, which puts them on par with the Vatican and Palestine. However, it lacks one crucial thing which is considered integral for any country: it has no territory. The Order's headquarters are in Rome now, by international law the buildings have extraterritorial rights like embassies, still they are part of Italy. That's why most times the Order is not considered to be an independent country.

[@juliusnovachrono4370]

Congratulations on going strong for 10 years. May you continue to be legendary for ten more!

[@WindowsXPMapping1]

Nice to see a remake to the video that started the legend, Happy 10 Years of your channel WonderWhy! (And I've been watching your videos since 2014-2015, around there)

[@sciencenerd7639]

so awesome, thanks for making this!!!

[@cerjmedia]

I like how well the original video holds up, both in terms of presentation/quality as well as information. The video is almost entirely accurate to this very day, and that is not a luxury that most KZbinr's first video gets to have.

[@Ottolotto0480]

Congrats on 10 years! Always enjoyed your work!

[@ayoubalrfadey3031]

I just clicked the notification that says WonderWhy uploaded a video, as I know for sure is a great video. Love your work

[@sjoerdglaser2794]

I'm glad you shared some light of our situation within the Netherlands. I hardly hear anyone talk about them, while it's in theory very similar to gb. Although it must be noted this situation is quite recent

[@boldblazervids]

I remember when KZbin recommended your channel when it had just a handful of videos. Can't believe it has been a decade since.

[@jalapenoofjustice4682]

I feel like if you count all 193 UN members by default it's a bit inconsistent not to count Niue and the Cook Islands. By my reasoning, 191 is the lowest number you can reasonably give - removing free association countries but keeping the vatican as a list of unambiguously independent nations.

[@justinarzola4584]

If you count ethnic atonoumous enclaves like tibet, assyria( modern border) or kurdistan then the number increases.

[@rileybanks1191]

you could absolutely say 190 tho. there's a very real argument to be made that in no way is the vatican a country, it's just a hill which represents the catholic church.

[@thedoublessymbol]

@@rileybanks1191 it’s completely independent from Italy

[@namingisdifficult408]

@@rileybanks1191is there a minimum size for a country?

[@Weavileiscool]

@@namingisdifficult408 No not at all

[@xE3x]

I've only just now found this video, and I remember watching the original one many years ago. I even think the original might've been one of the if not the video that actually started getting me interested into geopolitics in the first place. 10 years... time flies fast. Keep up the good work!

[@farisdurrani]

Your channel was probably my first educational KZbin channel that I discovered, before channels like Wendover and PolyMatter. I most love your videos about countries. A lot of interesting facts that I sometimes rewatch just to hear your soothing Scottish accent lecturing me about geography. Even though nothing really changed, you added more "countries" this time and did a job well done as you always do

[@chipej2075]

I remember back in like 2015 or 2016 just around that time when I found this channel and I used to watch the original like once a month. Congrats on 10 years!

[@Detroitexpat]

Congrats on ten years. I started watching you about three years ago and you have been one of my favorite educational channels

[@user-rm2qj2jh4l]

Happy 10-year anniversary, WonderWhy! I love your channel!! Congratulations :D

[@kittycatcaoimhe]

I'm a fan of the CGPGrey answer to this question: "around 200". A slightly funnier way to put it would be 215 ± 22, using the UN member states and the CIA factbook as lower and upper bounds, respectively. All in all, a great video, with a lot more depth than I usually see on the topic.

[@HuntingTheEnd]

Happy 10 years! I've been subbed for damn near all of them and I'm not going anywhere

[@rezaalan3991]

Finally 10 years anniversary, and yeah great remake of this video.

[@RyTheYouTubeGuy]

Congrats on ten years! Love your videos!

[@danielimmortuos666]

Omg it’s been 10 years already I’ve been here since the very beginning. Congrats my friend

[@dairyinthelibraryinn]

I've been here for the entire decade WonderWhy. Here's to another decade!!!

[@jonathanmueller9062]

Thanks for the update. I've used your older video before in my classes and will be using the updated version in the future.

[@PharrowlOG]

It’s been 10 years since the original “how many countries are there” video? Wow, I feel old now. Congrats on making it so far in that time!

[@jacksonfilms3388]

Happy decade WonderWhy. Been watching you since 2015 :)

[@neilb89]

Congrats on 10 years! Love your videos 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@jamium]

As someone who has tried to make animations like these myself, I can tell you that some of the animations which we might not even pay attention to are actually really time-consuming. We appreciate you for your work, Wonderwhy!

[@FiveMissiles]

i remember finding your channel ten years ago watching all your videos and being like wow this is awesome

[@goldeaglekroll1596]

Congratulations on making a decade. May the next decade go quickly with success.

[@angeldelinfierno4567]

WOW! 10 years already?! I remeber watching the first one back on the day,. CONGRATS FOR THE 10 YEARS!

[@andrewbailey4991]

@0:38 Not completely correct, because not every country recognizes every country in the UN. The best example is the 28 member states who don't recognize Israel. North Korea doesn't recognize Israel and South Korea, so according to North Korea there are only 191 countries xD

[@WhizzKid2012]

193 including vatican and paleztine.

[@Artufutu]

Congratulations on 10 years I have been watching you as long as i can remember Thank you for all the memories

[@chloefoxg]

Thanks for posting I remember right when this video came out :,) since then I’ve probably watched it over 20 times!! Thank you for all you do

[@FonikosGazmas]

In 2015 I discovered you channel and Ive been subed to it with at least one of the accounts I had over the years. Its been fun watching your past and see the progression. And for the foreseeable future Ill be here enjoying them. The only thing that needs remastering now is the borders video. In some years time Ill be here to watch it too, in case it happens. XD

[@bucketviolinist]

That “Well… there are wrong answers” joke brought back way too many memories of this channel

[@richarddavis3980]

Incredibly well done sir it calls back to the original video but adds all the information you spent gathering over your time on KZbin I am very pleased and I'm glad that you have continued to post videos for as long as you have thank you for the good work and I really appreciate it

[@chuckygt1]

Was binging your videos and I got excited when a new video was released 46 minutes ago

[@HeisenbergFam]

The fact its been 10 years and you are still uploading & having fun is insane dedication, respect

[@enochlee3601]

We've been discussing this idea for some time and man has it been worth the wait

[@borntowild480]

Damn! It's been 10 years since I have subscribed to your channel 😮

[@lukispiano]

Fun fact: Lithuania literaly build an Taiwanese embacy and PRC closed relacions with Lits

[@alistairpatterson429]

I'm a touch gutted that Sealand didn't get a mention here, I think you could probably do a whole video on the topic as it's really fascinating. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this a lot, fantastic production quality as always

[@pool5863]

dude happy 10th year in youtube! looking forward to more content in the future!

[@T1tty5uck3r]

It has been so long, the memories of that time are fading. Your voice sounds like how I remember it.

[@SamTaylorsVersion]

Happy 10th channel birthday!!!!!

[@SantaFe19484]

This is a lot better than the one posted 10 years ago.

[@roballen3281]

so well documented and presented.

[@SlayingSuperNerdX]

WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!! 10 WHOLE YEARS Congradulations

[@arjunmenon7099]

can’t believe that video was 10 years ago! keep up the good work mate

[@fcc787]

HAPPY 10 YEARS ANNIVERSARY ON YT Congrats

[@cypriotmappers5342]

When wonderwhy posts, it takes priority over everything

[@mutated__donkey5840]

I remember watching this channel when I was a kid. Good to see it’s still going.

[@RandallWest-g9u]

I remember being 8 and watching this channel, now I’m 18. Here’s to another damn great decade, and here’s to my love for world geography growing along the way.

[@cosmonautdubs]

10 years!!! wow man I love your channel and appreciate all the time and effort you put into your videos. Thanks!

[@victorpurnomo]

Congratulations and thanks for a very nice remake! 😊

[@shoeshiner9314]

Dang, 10 years! Happy birthday to your channel; funny enough, it's my 20th birthday today, so the channel is exactly half my age today! Love your vids, they're super informative, and here's to another 10 years of success!

[@dermax1027]

He lives! Congratulations on 10 years dropping a video now and then.

[@cythonian2]

i was 5 when i watched the first video and this got me really into countries and stuff so this video has a special place in me

[@lp-xl9ld]

First, congrats on 10 years on KZbin! Second, thanks for the update on Kosovo. Third, just wanted you to know that I've recommended and forwarded your material to several of my friends. Always loved your stuff and looking forward to more!

[@Kerguelen.Mapping]

I started watching 6 years ago! Can't believe you've made it this far

[@manning0]

I don't have many videos favourited, but the original of this video, is one of them.

[@harryjudge8153]

Congrats man your videos hav only got better over the years

[@JosephWilliamPelobello]

Happy 10th "Dannyversary"! I remember watching the original video years ago; one of my high-school friends grew up with you too. Thanks so much and All Glory to God!

[@rebelcommander7starwarsjur922]

How could you not mention the fact that Niue 🇳🇺 and the Cook Islands 🇨🇰 are allowed to with each having there own distinct representation separate from New Zealand 🇳🇿 participate in select UN agencies and organizations further complicating the matter

[@BigBang28A]

happy decade WonderWhy!!

[@Oscopo]

Good video. Cool to see you’re still here.