Three numbers, three different meanings.
UN member states
The number of states that are members of the United Nations.
A common country count
The 193 members plus the Holy See and the State of Palestine, the two non-member observer states.
Profiles in the app
Smart World Map & Countries includes countries and territories. This is a coverage total, not a sovereign-state count.
The UN membership and observer-state distinction is documented by the United Nations membership overview and its non-member states directory.
Why do country lists disagree?
Different lists answer different questions. A membership list counts organizations’ members. A geographic reference may include dependent territories, separately coded places and disputed entities. A school exercise may use a particular convention for recognition.
Before comparing totals, ask what each list includes. A longer list does not necessarily identify more independent states, and a shorter list may still be complete for its stated purpose. Use the list’s scope and source alongside the number.
What does “260 countries and territories” mean here?
The app’s 260 profiles are reference entries for countries and territories across its six continent groups. The website preview uses a separate dataset with 236 entries, including Antarctic places. The two totals describe different collections.
Neither total should be presented as a count of universally recognized sovereign states. You can browse the website’s country and territory directory to see exactly which names its preview covers.
Read the label.
“Countries and territories” is a broader scope than “UN member states.” Keeping those labels clear makes the numbers useful.
A useful answer for a geography exercise
If a quiz asks for the number of countries without explaining its definition, check the teacher’s or publisher’s convention. A helpful answer states the scope: “193 UN member states,” or “195 when the two non-member observer states are included.”
For country research, follow a named source and its date. Membership and recognition are different concepts, so the purpose of the list matters as much as the total.
A few good questions
Why do many references say 195 countries?
That count adds the two UN non-member observer states to the 193 UN member states. It is a commonly used convention.
Does the app claim there are 260 independent countries?
No. Its coverage total explicitly includes countries and territories. It is a count of app profiles.
Why does the website have 236 entries?
The website’s interactive preview and directory use a separate, smaller reference dataset. The mobile app provides 260 profiles.
Smart World Map & Countries resource library · Updated .