Geographers (along with some other mad people) are normally obsessed with travel and with counting the countries (or even states within countries, capital cities, etc.) where they have been! It is a harmless 'sport', but a confusing one as well...Currently there are 193 members of the United Nations. The Holy Sea and Palestine only have an observer state status. There are also 11 other states. While Portugal has recognised Kosovo as an independent country, Spain and Greece (and obviously because of domestic issues) have not done so. Thus...counting countries is a fascinating task, and far from a apolitical one. There are sources that refer to 206 countries (193+2+11), and others that not only count political entities but also geographically separated entities.

For me countries are counted in an inclusive perspective on politically independent territorial entities at the time of my visit. Being in Moscow and somewhere in the Azerbaijan Republic before 1991 (unfortunately I was not) would only count as one visited country: Soviet Union; the same for Slovenia and Croatia when Yugoslavia still existed (yes I was!). Yet, while being in Ljubljana in 1989 counted as one country - Yugoslavia, being in the same earth in 2008 counted as another country - Slovenia: same place, two countries. There is a debate on whether West Berlin should be counted as a separate country from the German Federal Republic, which now (after 'reunification') is counted as Germany. I also count Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as separate countries to England (four countries), although they are all part of 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland', an entity existing since 1927. Countries where I was only in transit (such as Peru and others) are not taken in consideration. Usually a minimum of 24 hours stay or an overnight should apply. In Israel (which is not recognised by 32 countries) I was only for about 5 hours, but I got so many stamps in my passport, went through a long a detailed security check procedure and had such a hassle to get in, that I decided I deserved counting Israel as one of the visited countries! States or autonomous regions within nations are mentioned although they do not count as visited countries.