This particular question pops out on our heads some times. I had a light debate with my friend about the exact answer. He told me that there were 223 countries in this world. I gave it a thought for some seconds then I remembered being told by my other friend that there were actually 195 countries in this world! I googled it, then found the answer from http://geography.about.com/od/countryinformation/a/capitals.htm. Yes, i was right!
There are 195 beautiful countries, apart from what is happening in that country or what has happened there, in this small tiny little earth. (compare it to the whole universe, we're just one little dot, a living dot.)
I also found out that Vatican City and Kosove are not listed as the member of the UN. And some times people confused Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Greenland, Palestine, Western Sahara, and even the components of the United Kingdom (such as Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England) as countries. But they are actually not a country, they are governed by another countries.
United States recognizes only 194 countries in this world. Taiwan fails to be recognized by the international community as independent due to political reasons. But we should also consider it independent as it meets the requirements. Eh, simply confused me.
How many countries in this world have you visited by far?
Here is the statistic of my country :
Indonesia
* Official name: Republic of Indonesia
* Capital: Jakarta
* Total Area: 1,919,445 km2
* Approximate population: 231,627,000
* Location: Southeastern Asia
* Languages: Bahasa Indonesia, other local languages and dialects
* Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Sunni Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist
* Currency: Rupiah
* Organizations: United Nations, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
* World's 16th largest country/territory (area)
* World's largest arhipelago
Plus, there are 18,110 islands in Indonesia out of which only 600 are inhabited by people!
Here's is the statistic of Malaysia, our neighboring country which currently has some issues claiming our Pendet Dance (it's from Bali,Indonesia) :
Malaysia
* Official name: Federation of Malaysia
* Capital: Kuala Lumpur
* Total Area: 332,965 km2
* Approximate population: 26,572,000
* Location: Southeastern Asia
* Languages: English, Malay, Chinese, Tamil, other local languages
* Religions: Sunni Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, other traditional beliefs
* Currency: Ringgit
* Organizations: United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Association of Southeast Asian Nations
* World's 66th largest country/territory (area)
Indonesian people are really friendly! Trust me, we just send our deepest sympathy to our fellow who claims or steals our traditional songs, Reog, Pendet Dance, Wayang, Batik, Sipadan and Ligitan, our Kalimantan or Borneo, etc. I know how bad it feels to not having any particular culture as your own. But i guess at least we all how bad it is to steal :)
Anyways.. If you wanna know the names and the capitals of all the lovely countries, feel free to check out my blog.
XxOo
http://geography.about.com/cs/countries/a/numbercountries.htm
http://www.blurtit.com/q448985.html
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/23/protests-over-presence-pendet-dance-malaysia%E2%80%99s-tourism-ad-continue.html
