How many countries are there in the world? Which continent has the most? And why is the distribution so uneven? These questions often arise when we look at a world map. Today, the world has 195 recognised countries, including 193 United Nations member states and two observer states, Vatican City and Palestine. But these countries are not spread evenly across the seven continents.
Some regions have dozens of nations, while others have only a handful.
According to data from World Population Review and the United Nations, Africa has the highest number of countries, with 54, while South America has the fewest, with just 12.
This difference is the result of centuries of history, colonisation, geography and political change.
AFRICA LEADS THE WORLD
Africa alone accounts for more than a quarter of the world’s countries. The continent covers about 20% of the Earth’s land area and has a wide mix of large and small nations.
Countries such as Algeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo are among the largest by size. At the same time, Africa is also home to small island nations like Seychelles and So Tom and Prncipe.
The high number of countries in Africa is linked to its colonial past. During the 20th century, many African nations gained independence from European powers, resulting in the creation of multiple sovereign states.
ASIA COMES SECOND
Asia has 49 countries, making it the second-highest in the world. It is also the most populated continent, with nearly 60% of the global population living there. Some of the world’s largest countries, including Russia, China and India, are located in Asia.
At the same time, smaller nations such as Singapore and the Maldives occupy very little land.
Asia’s diversity reflects thousands of years of civilisation, migration and political development.
EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA
Europe has 43 countries, many of which emerged after wars and political changes in the 19th and 20th centuries. Ukraine is the largest country in Europe by land area, followed by France.
North America has 23 countries, including nations in Central America and the Caribbean. These include both large countries and smaller island states.
OCEANIA AND SOUTH AMERICA
At the lower end of the list are Oceania, with 14 countries, and South America, with just 12. South America’s smaller number reflects its colonial history, where large territories became single nations after independence.
Antarctica has no countries, as it is governed by international treaty and has no permanent population.
The number of countries in each continent is not random. It reflects centuries of exploration, colonisation, independence and political change.
While borders may shift over time, today’s map tells the story of how human societies organised themselves across the planet.
From Africa’s 54 nations to South America’s 12, the world remains a complex mosaic shaped by geography and history.
