Fact Check: "There are over 190 countries in the world."
What We Know
The claim that "there are over 190 countries in the world" generally refers to the number of recognized sovereign states. As of October 2023, the United Nations (UN) has 193 member states, and there are two observer states: the Holy See and Palestine, bringing the total to 195 recognized entities that can be classified as countries in a broad sense (source-1). However, the exact number of countries can vary based on different definitions of statehood and recognition. For instance, some territories and regions may claim independence but are not widely recognized as sovereign states, such as Taiwan or Kosovo, which complicates the count (source-2).
Analysis
The assertion that there are "over 190 countries" is somewhat accurate but lacks specificity. The commonly accepted figure of 195 includes both UN member states and observer states. However, the term "country" can be ambiguous. For example, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recognizes 250 territories, which include countries, dependencies, and regions (source-3).
The sources referenced primarily deal with the CIA's hacking tools and operations, which do not directly address the geopolitical landscape or the number of countries. Thus, while they provide context on international relations, they do not serve as reliable sources for verifying the claim about the number of countries. The claim could be considered "over 190" if one includes various territories and regions that are not universally recognized as independent states.
Conclusion
Verdict: Unverified
The claim that "there are over 190 countries in the world" is partially true but lacks precision. While it is accurate to say there are 195 recognized entities (193 UN member states plus 2 observer states), the definition of "country" can vary, leading to different counts depending on the criteria used. Therefore, without a clear definition, the claim remains unverified.
