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

WonderWhy

23 Jun 202323:37

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe script discusses the complex question of how many countries exist in the world, explaining why there is no definitive answer. It analyzes factors like UN membership status, recognition of disputed territories like Kosovo and Taiwan, and constituent countries within larger nations. After reviewing the arguments around various numbers, it settles on 196 as the most commonly accepted figure. The script also traces the history of the channel over 10 years since the first video on this topic, previewing an anniversary reflection video available exclusively on Nebula.

Takeaways

📺 This video celebrates the 10th anniversary of the channel with a remake of the first ever uploaded video, discussing the complex question of how many countries are in the world.
🌍 The United Nations has 193 member states, which is often cited as the minimum number of countries globally.
💻 The UN also recognizes two permanent non-member observer states: the Holy See (Vatican City) and the State of Palestine, adding complexity to the country count.
🌎 The US State Department lists 195 countries, including all UN members, the Holy See, and Kosovo, highlighting variations in country recognition.
🇨🇳 Taiwan presents a unique case, operating as an independent country but not universally recognized due to political complexities with China.
🌐 The UK is described as a 'country of countries', illustrating the nuanced definition of what constitutes a country.
🗺️ Several territories and regions have disputed or partial recognition, such as Kosovo, Western Sahara, and Northern Cyprus, further complicating global politics.
📖 Independence movements in Scotland, Catalonia, and Bougainville indicate potential future changes in country counts.
📈 The video underscores the ambiguity of the term 'country' and suggests that there is no universally accepted count, with figures ranging based on different criteria.
🎬 The channel's creator reflects on 10 years of content creation, promoting an exclusive video on Nebula that discusses the journey and future of the channel.

Q & A

How many countries are officially recognized as members of the United Nations?
-There are currently 193 official member countries in the United Nations.
What are the two non-member observer states at the UN?
-The two non-member observer states are the Holy See (Vatican City) and the State of Palestine.
Why isn't Taiwan a member of the United Nations?
-Taiwan lost its seat at the UN in 1971 when the UN General Assembly voted to recognize the People's Republic of China as the sole representative of China. The UN officially considers Taiwan to be part of China.
What was the result of Scotland's independence referendum in 2014?
-In the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, 55% voted against independence, so Scotland remained part of the United Kingdom.
What is the status of Kosovo's recognition and UN membership?
-Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but is only partially recognized. 101 out of 193 UN members recognize Kosovo. Kosovo has not applied for UN membership because it would be vetoed by Russia.
What is the threshold required for admission as a member state to the United Nations?
-To be admitted as a UN member state, an application must be approved by the 15-member UN Security Council, including none of the 5 permanent members using their veto power.
What was the significance of the Potsdam Declaration at the end of World War II regarding Taiwan?
-The Potsdam Declaration stated that Japan must relinquish control of territories acquired by force, including Taiwan. This transferred sovereignty of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China in 1945.
How many constituent countries make up the Kingdom of the Netherlands?
-The Kingdom of the Netherlands is made up of four constituent countries: The Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten.
What small countries have defense arrangements provided by more powerful countries?
-Some small countries like Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino have defense arrangements provided by more powerful countries, similar to freely associated states like Niue and the Cook Islands.
Why was Palestine's 2011 application for UN membership unsuccessful?
-Palestine's 2011 UN membership bid failed because it must be approved by the Security Council, where the US said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must first be resolved before Palestine can become a full member.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Summary of the First 10 Years of the YouTube Channel

The paragraph introduces the 10 year anniversary of the YouTube channel. It mentions that this video is a remake of the first video ever uploaded to the channel, which asked the question of how many countries there are in the world. The paragraph explains that there is no definitive answer to this question.

05:04

😞 Kosovo - A Partially Recognised Country

This paragraph discusses Kosovo and its disputed independence from Serbia. It provides background on the Kosovo War in the 1990s and NATO involvement. Kosovo is recognised by over half of UN members but not by Serbia. Kosovo is seeking to join the EU but faces issues gaining full international recognition.

10:08

😕 Taiwan - UN Says Part of China, Reality Shows Otherwise

The paragraph examines the complex case of Taiwan and its relationship to China. While officially considered part of China by the UN, Taiwan operates fully independently. A historical overview is provided of China's civil war and the split between ROC Taiwan and PRC China. Most Taiwanese favor autonomy over unification with China.

15:08

🤔 Exploring the Constituent Countries of the UK

This paragraph looks at the United Kingdom and ambiguity around treating Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland as countries. Variation in sporting representation is highlighted. While distinct, these countries are not fully sovereign states. Similar examples like the Kingdom of the Netherlands are provided.

20:13

🌎 Many More Places with Unclear Country Status

The concluding paragraph summarizes the complexity in determining number of countries globally. It presents a range of potential counts based on factors considered. The lack of a definitive answer presents a chance to better understand the nuances of nation states. Updated numbers from 10 years prior are provided.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Country

The key term 'country' is central to the video's theme about defining how many countries exist. It highlights the ambiguity around what constitutes a country, since there is no universally accepted definition. For example, the status of Taiwan, Palestine, and Kosovo as countries is disputed.

💡United Nations

The United Nations (UN) serves as a reference point for determining countries, with 193 member states. However, it lacks universality, excluding disputed territories like Taiwan and Palestine as well as the Vatican City.

💡Sovereignty

The issue of sovereignty, or independent territorial self-governance, factors into debates around what is a country. Entities like Scotland, Catalonia and Bougainville lack full sovereignty but have independence movements.

💡Constituent Country

The video explains the concept of a 'constituent country' like Scotland or Wales within the UK. These countries within a country complicate tallying the total number of countries globally.

💡Partially Recognized State

Recognition plays a key role in defining country status. Places like Kosovo, Palestine and Taiwan are considered countries by some nations but not others due to geopolitical tensions.

💡Free Association

A set of small Pacific island countries have a 'free association' pact with the U.S., blurring the lines of sovereignty and independence from a global superpower.

💡Independence Referendum

Referendums on independence in places like Scotland, Catalonia and Bougainville show shifts in global political configurations that make enumerating countries complex.

💡Special Cases

Unique entities like the Vatican City and subnational islands dotting colonial empires historically demonstrate a diversity of political arrangements between territory and state.

💡Territorial Dispute

Ongoing territorial disputes, exemplified by China-Taiwan tensions or the Serbia-Kosovo conflict, mean the number of countries may fluctuate based on geopolitical events.

💡Political Recognition

The video emphasizes that issues of legal jurisdiction and political recognition, more than geographical territory or population, define what constitutes a country in modern international relations.

Highlights

There is no definitive answer for how many countries there are due to the ambiguity of the term 'country'

The UN has 193 members, with 2 non-member observer states: Vatican City and Palestine

Vatican City is recognized as a country within Rome by everyone despite its small size

Palestine wants to be a full UN member state but is unlikely to achieve this due to U.S. opposition

The U.S. State Department lists 195 independent countries including Vatican City and Kosovo

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but is only partially recognized

Taiwan operates independently but is considered part of China by the UN

The UK consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but it's debated whether these are countries

The Kingdom of the Netherlands contains 4 constituent countries, 3 in the Caribbean

Denmark holds sovereignty over 2 autonomous countries: Greenland and the Faroe Islands

New Zealand has free association agreements with Niue and the Cook Islands

There are many independence movements around the world that could lead to new countries

An accepted number is 196 countries, with disagreement on the 196th being Kosovo or Palestine

Constituent countries, territories in free association and unrecognized states make it complex

There is no definitive answer, but 196 countries is a commonly cited figure

Transcripts

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