How many Ｃountries are there in the world, an d what is the distribution of Ｃountries across the seven continents of the world as well as the information about international alliances?

How many countries areintheworld?

Today, there are 197 countries in the world:193 UN members+2 UN observers+ChinaTaiwan+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 United Nations (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, Russia, 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. Such a complicated procedure ensures that all the accepted UN members have been recognized by the vast majority of other states and have established diplomatic relations with them.

Two UN observers, Holy See (Vatican City) and Palestine, are both countriesbecause the UN observer status confirms the certain degree of their international recognition. The Holy See maintains bilateral relations with the majority of the world through its 180 diplomatic missions in independent states and international organizations. Palestine is currently recognized by 138 of the 193 UN member states and the Vatican City State.

All other self-proclaimed entities are considered as partially recognized countries. Some of them either do not control their own territory, like the Western Sahara, or are recognized only by 1-5 UN members and by partially recognized subjects like themselves. For example, the independence of the Northern Cyprus is confirmed only by Turkey; the Republic of Abkhazia has obtained acceptance of 5 members of the UN; the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic statehood is accepted only by three partially recognized states. The list may go on, but there are two exceptions:

oTaiwan is officially recognized by 13 countries (12 UN members and one UN observer). This self-governed territory with a population more of than 23 million people has all signs of statehood and plays the significant role in the region as one of the highly developed economies in Asia Pacific. It participates in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Taiwan has its diplomatic missions (official and unofficial) in more than 100 states and maintains the unofficial bilateral relations with the United States, Canada, UK, European Union, Germany, France, Russia, India, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Nigeria and others.

Kosovo is officially recognized by 101 UN member countries and by China Taiwan. It also has obtained the membership of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Such wide recognition of these two entities could be a basis to include Taiwan and Kosovo in the list of independent states. At the same time, China claims that Taiwan is a part of its internal territory, and Serbia does the same by insisting that Kosovo is its autonomous province.

Nowadays there is no consensus on the issue of the total quantity of countries because still there is no universally agreed definition of country and there is no one single competent international body, which could correctly answer the question, How many are there in the world?.

Regarding Zhengxianling - China's first pan - international talent recruitment platform

Zhengxianling is developed and operated by Shanghai Yuntong Information Technology Co., Ltd. The company mainly provides international services such as talent job-seeking and recruitment, recruitment and introduction of high-level talents / science and technology innovation-related talents (Overseas Excellent Young Talents, Qiming Plan, online and offline job fairs, campus recruitment, social recruitment, online recruitment, headhunting, etc.), academic exchanges, and software development. In due time, we will launch language platforms and APPs in AI English, Korean, Japanese, French, German, etc. to meet the needs of global users. Up to now, the company has established communication channels with national ministries and commissions such as the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Ministry of Science and Technology, talent offices of the Organization Departments of some provincial and municipal Party committees, departments of human resources and social security, industry and information technology, science and technology, trade unions, chambers of commerce, academic societies, associations, 985 and 211 universities in various regions across the country, HRs of some enterprises, the International Academician Consortium, the United Nations Science and Technology Commission WDTA, and some international institutions in countries such as Russia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Canada, and QS World's top 100 universities (MIT, Oxford, the University of Melbourne...).

Service items are as follows:
A. Recruitment and introduction of international high-level / science and technology innovation-related talents (doctors, post-doctors, academicians) (online and offline job fairs, campus recruitment, social recruitment, online recruitment, headhunting, etc.), overseas enterprise study tours, academic exchanges, and software development.
B. Operation of Zhengxianling® (The types of talents on the platform and official account are not limited. Note: The official website is undergoing upgrading and renovation).

Service-supported regions:
China, South Korea, Japan, Russia, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Italy, the United States, Canada, etc. (covering more than 100 countries and regions).

Main service content: Online and offline special high-level talent job fairs for cities, parks, and employers, talent-introduction activities related to science and technology innovation (project solicitation, screening, roadshow... implementation, etc.), investment promotion, academic exchange conferences, online job-seeking and recruitment, and offline services are available in the above-mentioned designated countries.

In the past 2024, we have successively joined the Hubei Chushang Federation in China and the World Federation of Inventors' Associations [IFIA], and have established the grand goal of building Zhengxianling into China's first pan-international talent recruitment platform (Language platforms and APPs in AI English, Korean, Japanese, French, German, etc. will be launched in due time. The establishment of the International HRD (HR) Alliance is in progress), and in the future, it will serve billions of users in more than 200 countries around the world. As of December 31, 2024, we have received a reply from the chairman of the United Nations Science and Technology Commission WDTA, welcoming Yuntong Technology and Zhengxianling to join the cooperation of the United Nations Science and Technology Commission WDTA in 2025. Starting from 2025, we will cooperate with the International Academician Consortium and may participate in activities such as the FCPAE (Federation of Chinese Professionals in Europe) European Forum to facilitate international talent exchanges and cooperation, thereby promoting scientific and technological innovation, driving employment, serving global economic construction, and promoting friendly cross-border cooperation to create a better future. Thus, we can better serve users from all over the world.

The Chinese full name of IFIA: World Federation of Inventors' Associations. Its headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland, and San Francisco, the United States. In February 2024, after being reviewed and approved by the 47th Global Executive Committee of IFIA, Shanghai Yuntong Information Technology Co., Ltd. [Zhengxianling] joined the organization. For details, please refer to the official website of IFIA:

https://www.ifia.com/ifia-47th-executive-committee-meeting-held-on-feb-2024/

Our company's recruitment platform will officially launch a paid service starting from February 1, 2025. For details, please refer to:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/YmOxE1snwAAvskZgwm5RxA

Currently, we are organizing online and offline special job fairs for high-level talents of international organizations. For details of the event, please refer to the push article on the schedule plan of the international high-level talent recruitment activities of Zhengxianling®:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UGfNhxHRoIs1KZF7Thsfxg

Zhengxianling® recruits a large number of overseas high-level talents and innovative talents all year round. For details, please refer to the official account introduction:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/8YaCD8xaXiDeC93a1foUKQ

Regarding the invitation letter for the initiation of the International HRD (HR) Alliance, please refer to the official account introduction:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/fdg6QB82KAJCeTi0VZVZKQ

We welcome HRs of employers from all over the world, heads of universities and research institutes, academic leaders, young doctors / post-doctors / academicians and other talents to contact us or register to join our platform，The talents we recruit will be preferentially recommended to work in universities, research institutions and other units in China or various countries around the world.

List of countriesinEurope

Europe is a unique continent, which is not surrounded by water from all directions and has an overland border with neighboring Asia. Physiographically, it occupies the northwestern part of the large landmass known as Eurasia and surrounded from the north by the Arctic Ocean, from the west by the Atlantic Ocean, from the south by the Mediterranean Sea, and from the southeast by the Black Sea.

Definition of the correct border between two continents was a big question for geographers and politicians. Nowadays it is commonly delineated by the Ural Mountains in Russia, the Caspian Sea, and the Caucasus Mountains.

Now Europe includes 51 independent states. Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey are transcontinental countries, partially located in both Europe and Asia. Armenia and Cyprus politically are considered European countries, though geographically they are located in the West Asia territory.

Europe's largest country is Russia (37% of total continent area), and the smallest one is Vatican City, which occupies only a tiny territory in the center of Rome.

The most visited travel destination in this part of the world is France with its capital Paris as the best place of interest, followed by Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

The always up-to-date list of countries ofEurope inalphabeticalorder

·A

·Albania

·Andorra

·Armenia

·Austria

·Azerbaijan

·B

·Belarus

·Belgium

·Bosnia and Herzegovina

·Bulgaria

·C

·Croatia

·Cyprus

·Czechia

·D

·Denmark

·E

·Estonia

·F

·Finland

·France

·G

·Georgia

·Germany

·Greece

·H

·Hungary

·I

·Iceland

·Ireland

·Italy

·K

·Kazakhstan

·Kosovo

·L

·Latvia

·Liechtenstein

·Lithuania

·Luxembourg

·M

·Malta

·Moldova

·Monaco

·Montenegro

·N

·Netherlands

·North Macedonia

·Norway

·P

·Poland

·Portugal

·R

·Romania

·Russia

·S

·San Marino

·Serbia

·Slovakia

·Slovenia

·Spain

·Sweden

·Switzerland

·T

·Turkey

·U

·Ukraine

·United Kingdom (UK)

·V

·Vatican City (Holy See)

List of countriesinAsia

Being the biggest continent in the world, Asia includes 50 independent countries and occupies the eastern part of the single Eurasian landmass. Surrounded by the Arctic Ocean from the north, by the Pacific Ocean from the east and by the Indian Ocean from the south, it is separated from Africa by Suez Canal. The Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea separate Asia from Europe, farther the overland border runs through the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian Sea, the Ural River, and the Ural Mountains. This boundary crosses through the territory of Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, so these states are in both continents.

Armenia and Cyprus geographically are in Asia, but politically and culturally they also are considered as a part of Europe.

The largest of the Asian countries by area is Russia, which occupies about 30% of the total territory of the continent. The smallest one of the independent states is the Maldives. It is an archipelago of islands famous for its beach resorts.

The most visited by tourists country in this region is China as a huge cultural center, followed by no less popular destinations like India, Thailand, Malaysia, Turkey.

The always up-to-date list of countries ofAsia inalphabeticalorder

·A

·Afghanistan

·Armenia

·Azerbaijan

·B

·Bahrain

·Bangladesh

·Bhutan

·Brunei

·C

·Cambodia

·China

·Cyprus

·G

·Georgia

·I

·India

·Indonesia

·Iran

·Iraq

·Israel

·J

·Japan

·Jordan

·K

·Kazakhstan

·Kuwait

·Kyrgyzstan

·L

·Laos

·Lebanon

·M

·Malaysia

·Maldives

·Mongolia

·Myanmar

·N

·Nepal

·North Korea

·O

·Oman

·P

·Pakistan

·Palestine

·Philippines

·Q

·Qatar

·R

·Russia

·S

·Saudi Arabia

·Singapore

·South Korea

·Sri Lanka

·Syria

·T

·Taiwan

·Tajikistan

·Thailand

·Timor-Leste

·Turkey

·Turkmenistan

·U

·United Arab Emirates (UAE)

·Uzbekistan

·V

·Vietnam

·Y

·Yemen

List of countriesinAfrica

Surrounded by water from all directions, Africa is a continent with clearly defined borders. In the north it is separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea, in the northeast, is separated from Asia by the Suez Canal and farther by the Red Sea. From the east and southeast, it is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, from the west by the Atlantic Ocean.

The total number of independent states in Africa is 54. The transcontinental country in this region is Egypt, also having a small part of its territory in Asia, on the other side of the Suez Canal, but politically it is a member of the African Union.

Among the African countries, the biggest one is Algeria, occupying around 7% of the continent's territory. And the smallest nation is Seychelles, the worldwide famous luxurious beach holiday destination, occupying 115 islands stretching along the mainland's eastern coast.

Colorful Morocco is in the first place among the most popular travel spots in this part of the world, the second place belongs to South Africa, followed by Egypt and Tunisia.

The always up-to-date list of countries ofAfrica inalphabeticalorder

·A

·Algeria

·Angola

·B

·Benin

·Botswana

·Burkina Faso

·Burundi

·C

·Cabo Verde

·Cameroon

·Central African Republic

·Chad

·Comoros

·Congo, Democratic Republic of the

·Congo, Republic of the

·Cote d'Ivoire

·D

·Djibouti

·E

·Egypt

·Equatorial Guinea

·Eritrea

·Eswatini

·Ethiopia

·G

·Gabon

·Gambia

·Ghana

·Guinea

·Guinea-Bissau

·K

·Kenya

·L

·Lesotho

·Liberia

·Libya

·M

·Madagascar

·Malawi

·Mali

·Mauritania

·Mauritius

·Morocco

·Mozambique

·N

·Namibia

·Niger

·Nigeria

·R

·Rwanda

·S

·Sao Tome and Principe

·Senegal

·Seychelles

·Sierra Leone

·Somalia

·South Africa

·South Sudan

·Sudan

·T

·Tanzania

·Togo

·Tunisia

·U

·Uganda

·Z

·Zambia

·Zimbabwe

List of countries inNorthAmerica

Occupying the northern part of the large supercontinent known as Americas or New World, North America is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean from the north and by the Atlantic Ocean from the east, by the Pacific Ocean from the west and south. It has an overland border with South America continent, which runs along the state boundary between Panama and Colombia.

In total, in North America, there are 23 officially recognized independent states. The largest of them is Canada, followed by also rather big the United States. These two giants together occupy more than 79% of the whole continent area. The smallest country in this part of the world is Saint Kitts and Nevis, it is only two small islands in the Caribbean.

Among the most visited North American countries the number one is the USA, where New York City is considered the most attractive landmark for travelers, further followed by Mexico and Canada.

The always up-to-date list of countries ofNorthAmerica inalphabeticalorder

·A

·Antigua and Barbuda

·B

·Bahamas

·Barbados

·Belize

·C

·Canada

·Costa Rica

·Cuba

·D

·Dominica

·Dominican Republic

·E

·El Salvador

·G

·Grenada

·Guatemala

·H

·Haiti

·Honduras

·J

·Jamaica

·M

·Mexico

·N

·Nicaragua

·P

·Panama

·S

·Saint Kitts and Nevis

·Saint Lucia

·Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

·T

·Trinidad and Tobago

·U

·United States of America (USA)

List of dependent territories ofNorthAmerica inalphabeticalorder

·A

·Anguilla(UK)

·Aruba(Netherlands)

·B

·Bermuda(UK)

·Bonaire(Netherlands)

·British Virgin Islands(UK)

·C

·Cayman Islands(UK)

·Clipperton Island(France)

·Curacao(Netherlands)

·G

·Greenland(Denmark)

·Guadeloupe(France)

·M

·Martinique(France)

·Montserrat(UK)

·N

·Navassa Island(USA)

·P

·Puerto Rico(USA)

·S

·Saba(Netherlands)

·Saint Barthelemy(France)

·Saint Martin(France)

·Saint Pierre and Miquelon(France)

·Sint Eustatius(Netherlands)

·Sint Maarten(Netherlands)

·T

·Turks and Caicos Islands(UK)

·U

·US Virgin Islands(USA)

List of countries inSouthAmerica

This continent occupies the entire southern part of the supercontinent of the Americas, that's why is called South America. It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean from the west, by the Atlantic Ocean from the east and north, by the Caribbean Sea from the northwest and connected with North America in the northeast part. An overland border between two continents stretches along the Panama-Colombian state boundary.

In total, there are 12 independent countries and 3 dependent territories in South America. The largest country by area and the most populated is Brazil, it occupies about 50% of the total mainland area, and more than 52% of the population live on its territory. The smallest independent state is Suriname, it is the only nation in this region, speaking Dutch as an official language.

As for travel, the most visited among the South American countries are Brazil, Argentina, and Peru, the last one is the home of the region's most famous tourist attraction Machu Picchu, the mysterious city of the Incas.

The always up-to-date list of countries ofSouthAmerica inalphabeticalorder

·A

·Argentina

·B

·Bolivia

·Brazil

·C

·Chile

·Colombia

·E

·Ecuador

·G

·Guyana

·P

·Paraguay

·Peru

·S

·Suriname

·U

·Uruguay

·V

·Venezuela

List of dependent territories ofSouthAmerica inalphabeticalorder

·F

·Falkland Islands(UK)

·French Guiana(France)

·S

·South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands(UK)

List of countries in Australia/Oceania

The smallest continent in the world, called Australia and Oceania, is surrounded by the Indian, Southern and Pacific Oceans. It includes the entire Australian mainland, such big islands as New Zealand, Tasmania, New Guinea (only its eastern half), and many thousands of tiny, tropical islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia regions, scattered throughout the South Pacific.

There are 14 independent countries and 12 dependent overseas territories. The largest sovereign state is Australia, occupying about 86% of the region's total area. The smallest independent country is Nauru, which is so tiny that you need less than an hour to drive around it.

The most visited tourist destinations in this part of the world are the Australian cities of Sydney and Melbourne, the famous beach resorts of the Gold Coast. The best natural attraction is the Great Barrier Reef, and popular island holiday destinations are Fiji and Bora Bora.

The always up-to-date list of countries of AustraliaandOceania inalphabeticalorder

·A

·Australia

·F

·Fiji

·K

·Kiribati

·M

·Marshall Islands

·Micronesia

·N

·Nauru

·New Zealand

·P

·Palau

·Papua New Guinea

·S

·Samoa

·Solomon Islands

·T

·Tonga

·Tuvalu

·V

·Vanuatu

List of dependent territories ofOceania inalphabeticalorder

·A

·American Samoa(USA)

·C

·Cook Islands(New Zealand)

·F

·French Polynesia(France)

·G

·Guam(USA)

·N

·New Caledonia(France)

·Niue(New Zealand)

·Norfolk Island(Australia)

·Northern Mariana Islands(USA)

·P

·Pitcairn Islands(UK)

·T

·Tokelau(New Zealand)

·W

·Wake Island(USA)

·Wallis and Futuna(France)

Current list of all 27EuropeanUnion countries

The Birthday of the European Union is considered May 9, 1950. At present, May 9 is celebrated annually as Europe Day.

The first agreement establishing the European Economic Community was signed in 1957 by six countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom joined in 1973, Greece in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986. In subsequent years many other countries joined the Union. The United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union on January 31, 2020. Today the EU consists of 27 member countries.

It is not only an economic union but the single market with no borders for trade and the single euro currency used by 20 member states of the Eurozone. Furthermore, it is the political union with own parliament and other institutions. The Schengen Agreement signed in 1985 allows free movement of citizens without passport controls at border crossings within Schengen Area.

Alphabetical list of countries of European Union (EU) with theaccessiondates