How many countries are there in the entire world?

Question

How many countries are there in the entire world?

Answer 1

Depending on how you define what a country is (or isn't), there are about 200-250 countries.

192 countries are members of the United Nations.  There are 193 countries that are generally recognized worldwide.  There are another 9 places not usually recognized as being countries, but are recognized by a few other countries, or have some sort of uncertain status (for example Taiwan, Western Sahara, Northern Cyprus).  There are another 40± or so territories that have some sort of autonomy, as if they were sovereign countries, but technically are not (for example Greenland, French Polynesia, Cook Islands).

Answer 2

about 200

(it depends on exactly how you define country)