195 Countries of the World: A Complete List With Facts

There are 195 countries in the world today — 193 member states of the United Nations plus 2 observer states (Vatican City and Palestine). Each one has a unique story, culture, and identity.

This comprehensive guide organizes every country by continent with key facts and interesting trivia. Use our Country Wheel Spinner to randomly jump to any part of the world!

Africa (54 Countries)

Africa is the second-largest continent by both area and population, home to 54 nations and the world's greatest diversity of languages and cultures.

North Africa

• 🇪🇬 Egypt — Home to the last surviving Ancient Wonder: the Great Pyramids of Giza, built 4,500 years ago.
• 🇲🇦 Morocco — Where the Sahara meets the Atlantic. Home to the oldest university in the world (University of al-Qarawiyyin, 859 AD).
• 🇹🇳 Tunisia — Birthplace of the Arab Spring movement. Home to Carthage, ancient rival of Rome.
• 🇩🇿 Algeria — The largest country in Africa by area, 80% of which is Sahara Desert.
• 🇱🇾 Libya — Has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean in Africa.
• 🇸🇩 Sudan — Has more pyramids than Egypt (over 200 ancient Nubian pyramids).
• 🇸🇸 South Sudan — The world's newest country, gaining independence in 2011.

East Africa

• 🇰🇪 Kenya — Famous for the Great Migration and as a pioneer of mobile money (M-Pesa).
• 🇹🇿 Tanzania — Home to Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, and the Serengeti.
• 🇪🇹 Ethiopia — Birthplace of coffee, the only African country never colonized, and uses its own unique calendar.
• 🇷🇼 Rwanda — Known as the 'Land of a Thousand Hills' and home to mountain gorilla trekking.
• 🇺🇬 Uganda — Source of the Nile River and home to over half the world's mountain gorillas.
• 🇲🇬 Madagascar — 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth.
• 🇲🇺 Mauritius — The only known home of the dodo bird before its extinction.
• 🇸🇨 Seychelles — The smallest country in Africa by population, with pristine beaches.
• 🇩🇯 Djibouti — Hosts military bases from multiple world powers due to its strategic location.
• 🇪🇷 Eritrea — One of the youngest nations, independent since 1993.
• 🇸🇴 Somalia — Has the longest coastline in mainland Africa.

West Africa

• 🇳🇬 Nigeria — Africa's most populous country and largest economy, known as the 'Giant of Africa.'
• 🇬🇭 Ghana — First sub-Saharan country to gain independence (1957). Famous for cocoa production.
• 🇸🇳 Senegal — Home to the stunning Pink Lake (Lac Rose) and vibrant music scene.
• 🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire — World's largest cocoa producer, supplying 40% of global chocolate.
• 🇲🇱 Mali — Home to Timbuktu, legendary center of learning and trade.
• 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso — Name means 'Land of Honest People.' Hosts Africa's largest film festival (FESPACO).
• 🇬🇳 Guinea, 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau, 🇬🇲 Gambia, 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone, 🇱🇷 Liberia, 🇹🇬 Togo, 🇧🇯 Benin, 🇳🇪 Niger, 🇲🇷 Mauritania, 🇨🇻 Cape Verde

Central Africa

• 🇨🇩 DR Congo — Has the world's second-largest rainforest and the Congo River, the deepest river on Earth.
• 🇨🇲 Cameroon — Called 'Africa in miniature' for its geographical and cultural diversity.
• 🇬🇦 Gabon — 85% covered in rainforest with incredible biodiversity.
• 🇨🇬 Republic of Congo, 🇹🇩 Chad, 🇨🇫 Central African Republic, 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea, 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe

Southern Africa

• 🇿🇦 South Africa — Has 3 capitals and 11 official languages. Home to Table Mountain and incredible wildlife.
• 🇧🇼 Botswana — Home to the Okavango Delta, one of Africa's last great wildlife sanctuaries.
• 🇳🇦 Namibia — Has the Namib Desert (oldest in the world) and the eerie Skeleton Coast.
• 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe — Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders, spans its border with Zambia.
• 🇿🇲 Zambia, 🇲🇼 Malawi, 🇲🇿 Mozambique, 🇦🇴 Angola, 🇱🇸 Lesotho, 🇸🇿 Eswatini, 🇰🇲 Comoros

Asia (48 Countries)

The largest and most populous continent, Asia stretches from the Mediterranean to the Pacific and is home to some of the world's oldest civilizations.

• 🇯🇵 Japan — 6,852 islands, the world's oldest company (founded 578 AD), and a blend of ancient tradition and cutting-edge technology.
• 🇨🇳 China — Home to the Great Wall, 1.4 billion people, and 5,000 years of continuous civilization.
• 🇮🇳 India — The world's largest democracy, with 22 official languages and the Taj Mahal.
• 🇰🇷 South Korea — K-pop, kimchi, and one of the fastest internet speeds in the world.
• 🇹🇭 Thailand — The only Southeast Asian country never colonized by Europeans. Land of smiles and incredible street food.
• 🇻🇳 Vietnam — Ha Long Bay, pho, and a 4,000-year history of resilience.
• 🇮🇩 Indonesia — The world's largest archipelago with 17,000+ islands and incredible biodiversity.
• 🇵🇭 Philippines — 7,641 islands with some of the world's most beautiful beaches.
• 🇲🇾 Malaysia — A melting pot of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous cultures.
• 🇸🇬 Singapore — The world's only island city-state, a global financial hub smaller than New York City.
• 🇳🇵 Nepal — Home to 8 of the world's 14 highest peaks, including Mount Everest.
• 🇧🇹 Bhutan — Measures prosperity by Gross National Happiness. Carbon negative.
• 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka — Called the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean' with 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• 🇲🇻 Maldives — The lowest-lying country on Earth, averaging just 1.5 meters above sea level.
• 🇦🇪 UAE — From desert to global hub in 50 years. Home to the world's tallest building.
• 🇮🇱 Israel — More start-ups per capita than any other country. Home to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on land.
• 🇹🇷 Turkey — Straddles two continents and is home to Hagia Sophia and Cappadocia's fairy chimneys.
• And 31 more nations across Central, West, and Southeast Asia.

Europe (44 Countries)

• 🇫🇷 France — The most visited country on Earth with 90+ million tourists annually.
• 🇩🇪 Germany — Europe's largest economy. Has over 1,500 different beers and 300 bread varieties.
• 🇮🇹 Italy — More UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country (58).
• 🇪🇸 Spain — Eats dinner at 10 PM, naps in the afternoon, and has the world's oldest restaurant (Sobrino de Botín, 1725).
• 🇬🇧 United Kingdom — A constitutional monarchy with global cultural influence from Shakespeare to The Beatles.
• 🇬🇷 Greece — Birthplace of democracy, the Olympics, and Western philosophy.
• 🇮🇸 Iceland — Has no standing army, runs on 100% renewable energy, and has active volcanoes under glaciers.
• 🇳🇴 Norway — Consistently ranked the happiest country on Earth. Home to fjords and the Northern Lights.
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland — Has not been in a war since 1815. Invented milk chocolate and the World Wide Web.
• 🇵🇹 Portugal — Europe's oldest nation-state (borders unchanged since 1249). Decriminalized all drugs in 2001.
• 🇳🇱 Netherlands — One-third of the country is below sea level. Has more bicycles than people.
• And 33 more nations spanning from Scandinavia to the Balkans.

The Americas (35 Countries)

• 🇺🇸 United States — The world's third-largest country with 50 states and every climate zone.
• 🇨🇦 Canada — The second-largest country by area, with more lakes than the rest of the world combined.
• 🇲🇽 Mexico — Gave the world chocolate, chili peppers, and over 60 indigenous languages still spoken today.
• 🇧🇷 Brazil — Home to the Amazon Rainforest (60% of it) and the world's largest carnival.
• 🇦🇷 Argentina — Tango, the widest avenue in the world (Avenida 9 de Julio), and Patagonia's glaciers.
• 🇵🇪 Peru — Machu Picchu, the Amazon, and one of the world's best food scenes.
• 🇨🇴 Colombia — The world's leading emerald producer and home to incredible biodiversity.
• 🇨🇱 Chile — The longest north-to-south country, stretching 2,653 miles along the Pacific.
• 🇨🇷 Costa Rica — Runs on 99% renewable energy and contains 5% of global biodiversity.
• 🇨🇺 Cuba — Frozen in time with 1950s cars, vibrant music, and a unique political history.
• And 25 more nations across Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

Oceania (14 Countries)

• 🇦🇺 Australia — A continent and country. Home to unique marsupials and the Great Barrier Reef.
• 🇳🇿 New Zealand — First country to give women the vote (1893). Used as Middle-earth in Lord of the Rings.
• 🇫🇯 Fiji — 333 tropical islands with some of the friendliest people on Earth.
• 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea — The most linguistically diverse country: 840+ languages spoken.
• 🇼🇸 Samoa, 🇹🇴 Tonga, 🇻🇺 Vanuatu, 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands, 🇰🇮 Kiribati, 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands, 🇵🇼 Palau, 🇫🇲 Micronesia, 🇳🇷 Nauru (smallest republic), 🇹🇻 Tuvalu (smallest by population)

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Every one of the world's 195 countries has something extraordinary to offer — from ancient wonders to natural beauty, from unique cultures to surprising facts. This guide barely scratches the surface of what each nation holds, but it's a starting point for a lifetime of discovery.

Use our Country Wheel Spinner to randomly explore, and let each spin be an invitation to learn something new about our incredible planet.