How many countries have you visited?

[Flashback]

There's 2 reference lists that I use:

• ISO 3166 ISO 3166 — Country Codes
• US GOV Independent States in the World Independent States in the World - United States Department of State

Based on ISO 3166 I'm at 72 countries. I was meant to hit 75 this year but COVID-19 put paid to that. Was hoping to hit 100 by 2022 but again that's looking unlikely now.

 

[flychrisfly]

70 countries for me over 7 continental areas.

 

[Liz Sier]

The UN lists 193 countries that are member states, with two more non-member observer states - The Holy See (Vatican City) and the State of Palestine. Taiwan is still considered to be part of the People's Republic of China, while there are several other states that are Dependencies or Areas of Special Sovereignty or states which are not self governing and so are not counted in the list. My total of countries visited keeps to this definition - 46.

 

[Citoyen]

There are far more practical approaches to what's a country. The UN list will always be overly political - denying obvious realities.
About a decade ago I heard Sepp Blatter explain why the FIFA membership list was always going to be more comprehensive than other lists and I've often used this for non-political purposes. It currently has 211 "countries" per fifa.com. (eg. In Europe San Marino, Gibraltar and Andorra are in but Vatican is out.)
If we want to get political, how do you account for name changes - border changes?
#memories

 

[Larkey]

So I have been thinking about how many countries I have visited and there are so many lists of what is the number of countries. Does anyone have their version of the definitive list? What are you criteria for visiting a country eg I've been through Dubai airport about 10 times does that mean I can count that country? Does England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland count as separate countries. What about Jersey?

There is a very old thread here How many countries?

Another question that maybe should have a separate thread? How many people have stood on all 7 continents (apart from me)?

OK everyone - go!!

Here is a list from the World Bank that has 190 countries listed. There is also a neat iPhone App called Been where you can visually see the countries visited on a globe. Don't forget The Vatican is also a country. I have been to 39 countries so far, that is actually entered through immigration and toured either on business or pleasure

 

[Melburnian1]

I've been to 43 other nations plus have travelled extensively within Australia. About the only major area in Oz I haven't been to is Litchfield in NT although have been on surface transport near it. I have not been to Africa and at this stage don't want to, so that pushes my count down.

Taiwan is a separate nation so (as usual) the UN is incorrect.

 

[SydneySwan]

Now that free movement between states in Australia has been suspended, is it time to start counting states as countries? I need a 'visa' to go to Queensland from NSW and if I was to try and visit the NT I would currently need to undergo 14 days mandatory quarantine.

It is easier to cross borders between many countries in Europe at the moment than it is to travel between states in Australia.

 

[VPS]

Now that free movement between states in Australia has been suspended, is it time to start counting states as countries? I need a 'visa' to go to Queensland from NSW and if I was to try and visit the NT I would currently need to undergo 14 days mandatory quarantine.

It is easier to cross borders between many countries in Europe at the moment than it is to travel between states in Australia.

That would be funny if it wasn't so sad

 

[Spongbob]

Would you classify Saint Helena (HLE) as a separate country?

 

[SydneySwan]

Would you classify Saint Helena (HLE) as a separate country?

I would given the effort required to get there. But would you then include Tristan da Cunha? or Ascension Island as well?

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I would given the effort required to get there. But would you then include Tristan da Cunha? or Ascension Island as well?

I have been to Tristan da Cunha so its a YES from me

 

[SydneySwan]

I have been to Tristan da Cunha so its a YES from me

I agree. If I had been there I would definitely want it to count.

 

[LadyC]

I've been to 45 different countries - all continents except Antarctica. My current bucket list contains about another 45 more. The thing with bucket lists is that something comes off and another thing comes on!

 

[Nukie]

Definitely agree with that!

 

[p--and--t]

Off topic from what the op proposed, but, hey! Given the antics of the Premiers in the last few months I feel like I've been visiting a country I've never seen before and haven't even got on a plane.

 

[VPS]

Off topic from what the op proposed, but, hey! Given the antics of the Premiers in the last few months I feel like I've been visiting a country I've never seen before and haven't even got on a plane.

If you'd been in a coma for a few months and woke up to the news that said two Victorian men had been arrested for trying to sneak into South Australia - you would go WTF

 

[p--and--t]

If you'd been in a coma for a few months and woke up to the news that said two Victorian men had been arrested for trying to sneak into South Australia - you would go WTF

Heavens, which emoji, a real dilemma. Maybe all of these

 

[AIRwin]

If you'd been in a coma for a few months and woke up to the news that said two Victorian men had been arrested for trying to sneak into South Australia - you would go WTF

Reminds me of a movie Goodbye Lenin!

 

[p--and--t]

If you'd been in a coma for a few months and woke up to the news that said two Victorian men had been arrested for trying to sneak into South Australia - you would go WTF

I don't pretend to be fully appraised of the circumstances of these, but certainly seem dystopian - a woman and three kids being arrested and taken away trying to transit from one flight to another at Adelaide airport - or a teenager, a resident of SA arriving at Adelaide airport being charged for not wearing a mask when AFAIK its not mandatory in SA anyway

 

[VPS]

And South Australian residents denied entry from Victoria