CAVEAT SINCE TIME BEGAN EMPTOR
SINCE TIME BEGAN : salus populi suprema est lex - the right of the people is the supreme law : IN TRUTH WE TRUST
STANDING UP TO BE SEEN - SPEAKING OUT TO BE HEARD - REMAINING STANDING UNTIL ACKNOWLEDGED
"As of 2024, the United Nations (UN) includes 193 member states123. In addition to these, there are also two non-member observer states: the Holy See/Vatican City and Palestine13. These entities are self-ruling territories but not full-fledged countries3. The UN is the world’s largest intergovernmental organization, and all members have equal representation in the UN General Assembly4. Membership in the UN is open to all states which accept certain terms of the charter and are able to carry them out4. New members must be recommended by the United Nations Security Council4. The UN also invites non-member states to be observer states at the UN General Assembly4. A member state that has persistently violated the principles of the United Nations Charter can be expelled from the United Nations4"
"The total number of countries in the world can vary depending on the source and the criteria used to determine what constitutes a “country”. Here are some common counts:
- The United Nations recognizes 193 countries as member states12.
- There are also 2 non-member observer states: the Holy See/Vatican City and Palestine12.
- Some sources, like Britannica, grant full nationhood rights to Vatican City, Taiwan, and Kosovo for a total of 196 countries1.
- Wikipedia’s list of sovereign states mirrors the U.N.'s list of 193 countries and two observer states, then adds eleven sovereign states, including Taiwan, Kosovo, Northern Cyprus, Cook Islands, and more for a total of 2061.
- The United States’ CIA Factbook lists 237 countries, including dependent and disputed territories1.
Please note that these numbers can change due to political events and the constantly changing nature of politics1. It’s also important to note that not all entities considered “countries” by some are recognized as such by others1. For example, Taiwan is considered a territory of mainland China by the U.N., but it is recognized as a separate country by some other entities1. Similarly, some entities like Greenland control many of their own domestic affairs but are ultimately controlled by another country (Denmark, in this case) and are not U.N. member countries1. Therefore, the exact number of countries in the world can be a complex issue to determine1."
SINCE TIME BEGAN : salus populi suprema est lex - the right of the people is the supreme law : IN TRUTH WE TRUST
