Countries, States and Nations
- A state is a territory with its own institutions and populations.
- A sovereign state is a state with its own institutions and populations that has a permanent population, territory, and government. It must also have the right and capacity to make treaties and other agreements with other states.
- A nation is a large group of people who inhabit a specific territory and are connected by history, culture, or another commonality.
- A nation-state is a cultural group (a nation) that is also a state (and may, in addition, be a sovereign state).
- A country is a political unit with a territory, population and government. It can be used to mean the same thing as state, sovereign state, or nation-state. It can also be used in a less political manner to refer to a region or cultural area that has no governmental status. Examples include Wine Country (the grape-growing area of northern California) and Coal Country (the coal-mining region of Pennsylvania).
The word state is also used to refer to geographic sections of sovereign states that have their own governments but are subject to a larger federal government. E.g. the 50 United States are non-sovereign states.
State
A State is a political unit that has sovereignty over an area of territory and the people within it.
A country is simply another word for State. The United States can be referred to as either a 'country' or a 'State.' People use the terms interchangeably. However, in political science, and especially in the area of international relations, the term 'State' is used as it is more precise and less ambiguous, as 'country' can refer to other things, such as a rural environment.
The 50 states comprising the United States are political subdivisions of the United States. The 50 states do not have independent sovereignty like the United States and other States. It is convention to capitalize the term 'State' when referring to State in terms of a sovereign political unit, and not to capitalize the term 'state' when referring to a political subdivision of a State, such as 'the state of Minnesota' versus 'the State of Germany.'
A country is simply another word for State. The United States can be referred to as either a 'country' or a 'State.' People use the terms interchangeably. However, in political science, and especially in the area of international relations, the term 'State' is used as it is more precise and less ambiguous, as 'country' can refer to other things, such as a rural environment.
The 50 states comprising the United States are political subdivisions of the United States. The 50 states do not have independent sovereignty like the United States and other States. It is convention to capitalize the term 'State' when referring to State in terms of a sovereign political unit, and not to capitalize the term 'state' when referring to a political subdivision of a State, such as 'the state of Minnesota' versus 'the State of Germany.'
Sovereign State
A sovereign state is also sometimes called an independent state, as it is independent.
It is a political entity that is represented by one centralized government that has sovereignty over a geographic area.
It has the following qualities:
Sovereignty is the legitimate and ultimate authority over a polity (i.e., a political unit). For example, the United States is a State that is sovereign over all 50 states and its territories, such as Puerto Rico and Guam. There is no higher political authority over the geographic region that is controlled by the United States.
It is a political entity that is represented by one centralized government that has sovereignty over a geographic area.
It has the following qualities:
- Space or territory that has a defined and internationally recognized boundaries
- A permanent population
- Regulations governing foreign and domestic trade
- The ability to issue legal tender that is recognized across boundaries
- An internationally recognized government that provides public services and police power and has the right to make treaties, wage war, and take other actions on behalf of its people
- Sovereignty, meaning that no other state should have power over the country's territory
Sovereignty is the legitimate and ultimate authority over a polity (i.e., a political unit). For example, the United States is a State that is sovereign over all 50 states and its territories, such as Puerto Rico and Guam. There is no higher political authority over the geographic region that is controlled by the United States.
Non-Sovereign States
Territories of sovereign states are not sovereign states in their own right.
Many entities have most of the most qualities of sovereign states but are officially considered to be non-sovereign.
Many have their own histories, and some even have their own languages.
Examples include:
There are disputes, for example, Taiwan claims to be an independent country, but it is recognised by other countries as part of China.
Many entities have most of the most qualities of sovereign states but are officially considered to be non-sovereign.
Many have their own histories, and some even have their own languages.
Examples include:
- Hong Kong (China)
- Bermuda (United Kingdom)
- Greenland (Denmark)
- Puerto Rico (United States of America)
- Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and England (United Kingdom)
There are disputes, for example, Taiwan claims to be an independent country, but it is recognised by other countries as part of China.
Nations
Nations are culturally homogeneous groups of people who share a common language, institution, religion, and/or historical experience. For example. all Jewish people comprise a Jewish nation and different tribes of Native Americans are considered nations, such as the Lakota.
Some nations are sovereign states, but many are not.
Nations that hold territory but are not sovereign states include:
Some nations are sovereign states, but many are not.
Nations that hold territory but are not sovereign states include:
- The Indian Nations of the United States
- Bosnia (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Catalonia (in northern Spain)
- Quebec
- Corsica
- Sicily
- Tibet
- Kurds
Nation-States
When a nation of people has a sovereign state of its own, it is called a nation-state. Populations living in nation-states share history, language, ethnicity, and culture.
Examples of nation-states are: Iceland, France, Germany and Japan. The vast majority of people born in these nation-states share the same ancestry and culture.
Examples of nation-states are: Iceland, France, Germany and Japan. The vast majority of people born in these nation-states share the same ancestry and culture.
How Many Countries In The World?
How many countries are there in the world? According to the United Nations, there are 195 sovereign states. If you include the two U.N. observer state, Vatican City and Palestine, there are 197.
Calculating the number of countries in the world may seem like it should be a simple task, but it is one that quickly becomes fraught with political, geographical, and socio-economic difficulties. Depending on the source, the number of countries can vary quite considerably, and there is no universal agreement on the total.
However, many people look to the United Nations as the most reliable source, as for a country to become a member of the U.N. requires a considerable process of assessment and voting by existing members. A country applying for U.N. membership must receive consent from all five permanent member countries of the Security Council (United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China), in addition to receiving approval from a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly.
At present, the U.N. recognizes a total of 197 countries. This includes 193 member countries, two U.N. observers (Holy See (Vatican) and Palestine), and Taiwan and Kosovo, each widely regarded as self-governed territories. Taiwan, in particular, is recognized as having significant economic resources. However, it should be noted that China regards Taiwan as being part of its territory, as does Serbia with Kosovo. Both are good examples of the political sensitivities involved in defining what makes a country, particularly when the area involved shares contested space, such as in the case of Palestine.
It is also worth noting that some well-established countries haven't always been members of the U.N., which complicates using U.N. figures. For example, Switzerland joined the U.N. in 2002, but few would argue over Switzerland's status as a sovereign state long before this date. It can therefore be useful to look to other internationally-recognized organizations for country data, such as the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Even the United Kingdom, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a strong global economic player, is simply the collective name for the constituent countries of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, all of which have varying levels of devolution and each of which has a complicated political history with England, including territorial disputes that continue to this day.
All of this demonstrates that it is not so simple to determine the exact number of countries there are in the world, and the constantly changing nature of politics means that issues around sovereignty are unlikely to ever be fully resolved as the ever-shifting forces of globalization continue to redefine the meaning of nationhood.
The table below shows 232 because it includes territories and regions that have some elements of self-governance but are not considered sovereign states.
Click on the button to view the list on World Population Review
Calculating the number of countries in the world may seem like it should be a simple task, but it is one that quickly becomes fraught with political, geographical, and socio-economic difficulties. Depending on the source, the number of countries can vary quite considerably, and there is no universal agreement on the total.
However, many people look to the United Nations as the most reliable source, as for a country to become a member of the U.N. requires a considerable process of assessment and voting by existing members. A country applying for U.N. membership must receive consent from all five permanent member countries of the Security Council (United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China), in addition to receiving approval from a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly.
At present, the U.N. recognizes a total of 197 countries. This includes 193 member countries, two U.N. observers (Holy See (Vatican) and Palestine), and Taiwan and Kosovo, each widely regarded as self-governed territories. Taiwan, in particular, is recognized as having significant economic resources. However, it should be noted that China regards Taiwan as being part of its territory, as does Serbia with Kosovo. Both are good examples of the political sensitivities involved in defining what makes a country, particularly when the area involved shares contested space, such as in the case of Palestine.
It is also worth noting that some well-established countries haven't always been members of the U.N., which complicates using U.N. figures. For example, Switzerland joined the U.N. in 2002, but few would argue over Switzerland's status as a sovereign state long before this date. It can therefore be useful to look to other internationally-recognized organizations for country data, such as the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Even the United Kingdom, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a strong global economic player, is simply the collective name for the constituent countries of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, all of which have varying levels of devolution and each of which has a complicated political history with England, including territorial disputes that continue to this day.
All of this demonstrates that it is not so simple to determine the exact number of countries there are in the world, and the constantly changing nature of politics means that issues around sovereignty are unlikely to ever be fully resolved as the ever-shifting forces of globalization continue to redefine the meaning of nationhood.
The table below shows 232 because it includes territories and regions that have some elements of self-governance but are not considered sovereign states.
Click on the button to view the list on World Population Review
Changing Country Names
2010 - 2019
Eswatini (also eSwatini, formerly Swaziland) in 2018. King Mswati III changed the name of the country. It was part of the 50th anniversary of independence and was a move in part to break with its colonial past.
Czechia (Czech Republic) in 2016. Czechia became the official short geographic name for the Czech Republic.
2000 - 2009
Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor and Portuguese Timor) in 2002.
1990 - 1999
Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) in 1997. This country has undergone many name changes since 1885. Zaire was an alternative name for the Congo River. After the fall of the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, the name was changed from Zaire.
Cambodia (formerly Kampuchea) in 1991.
Namibia (formerly German Southwest Africa) in 1990.
1980 - 1989
Myanmar (formerly Burma) in 1989.
Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) in 1984.
1970 - 1979
Kiribati (formerly Gilbert Islands) in 1979.
Djibouti (formerly Territory of the Afars and the Issas and French Somaliland) in 1977.
Benin (formerly Dahomey) in 1975.
Eswatini (also eSwatini, formerly Swaziland) in 2018. King Mswati III changed the name of the country. It was part of the 50th anniversary of independence and was a move in part to break with its colonial past.
Czechia (Czech Republic) in 2016. Czechia became the official short geographic name for the Czech Republic.
2000 - 2009
Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor and Portuguese Timor) in 2002.
1990 - 1999
Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) in 1997. This country has undergone many name changes since 1885. Zaire was an alternative name for the Congo River. After the fall of the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, the name was changed from Zaire.
Cambodia (formerly Kampuchea) in 1991.
Namibia (formerly German Southwest Africa) in 1990.
1980 - 1989
Myanmar (formerly Burma) in 1989.
Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) in 1984.
1970 - 1979
Kiribati (formerly Gilbert Islands) in 1979.
Djibouti (formerly Territory of the Afars and the Issas and French Somaliland) in 1977.
Benin (formerly Dahomey) in 1975.