Visited countries map: how to count the places you have been
A visited countries map is the easiest way to keep count: you mark every country you have been to on a world map. Decide first which list you use, the 193 UN member states, 195 states including the two observer states, or territories as well, and set a rule for what counts as a visit so your number stays comparable over the years.
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How many countries are there in the world?
There is no single correct number, because “country” is defined in different ways. The United Nations has 193 member states. Two non-member observer states, the Holy See and Palestine, bring that to 195. If you also count dependent territories such as Greenland, Puerto Rico or the Faroe Islands, lists go well beyond 200.
For a personal travel list, no method is wrong. What matters is that you pick one and stick with it. If you switch later, make a note, or your count will jump for no obvious reason.
| Method | Count | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| UN member states | 193 | members of the United Nations only |
| States incl. observers | 195 | UN members plus the Holy See and Palestine |
| Countries and territories | over 200 | also dependent territories such as Greenland or Puerto Rico |
What counts as visiting a country?
There is no official rule here either. Many travellers count a country once they have crossed the border and done something there: a night, a meal, a walk. Changing planes in an airport transit zone usually does not count, because you never formally entered the country.
Write your rule down once and apply it to all past trips. Borderline cases are quick to settle when the rule exists before the case does.
- Strict: at least one night in the country.
- Middle: entered and did something, day trips included.
- Relaxed: any entry, even passing through by car or train.
- Almost always excluded: an airport transit zone without passing immigration.
What percentage of the world have I visited?
The country share is simple: countries visited divided by the total of your counting method. 30 countries out of 193 is 30 ÷ 193 ≈ 15.5 percent; out of 195 it is 15.4 percent. The difference stays small as long as you do not count territories.
Land area gives a different picture, because it weights countries by size. Someone who has been to Canada, Brazil and Australia has a large area share from just three countries. Someone who has visited many small European states has a high country share but a small area. Together the two numbers describe your travels better than either alone.
- Choose your counting method (193, 195 or with territories).
- Count the countries you have visited under your rule.
- Divide by the total and multiply by 100.
- Optionally, add up the land area of the countries visited and divide by the land area of the Earth.
How many countries are in each continent?
Continents are also a matter of assignment. Some states lie on two continents, such as Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan or Egypt, and lists place them differently. The UN Statistics Division uses its own regional scheme (M49) for statistics, which assigns every state to exactly one region.
For your own overview, choose one assignment and keep it. Progress per continent then quickly shows where the blank spots are, for example when Europe is nearly full but Africa or South America have barely begun.
Tips for a countries visited list you can trust
Memories fade faster than you expect. If you build your list after the fact, old passports, dated photos, booking confirmations and card statements from abroad all help.
- Start with the countries you are sure of, then settle doubtful ones with your rule.
- Note the year of your first trip for each country; that becomes a timeline later.
- Keep places you have lived and places you want to go separate from “visited”.
- Back up the list now and then so it survives a new phone.
How Orbisto works as a visited countries map
Orbisto is an Android app with a world map where you tap a country to mark it as visited. You can switch the counting method, and the statistics keep track of your count, your share of the world and your progress per continent. According to its store listing, your trips stay on your device and no account is needed.
- A world map to zoom and tap, plus a search list for every country.
- Three counting modes: 193 UN member states, 195 states or all 242 countries and territories; territories are marked as such.
- Statistics with your count, percentage of the world and progress per continent.
- A vertical 9:16 share picture with your map and number for stories.
- Backup as a file; Android backup can restore it on a new phone.
- With Pro: unlimited countries, 514 states and regions in 20 countries, about 34,000 cities, “lived” and “want to go” layers, years per country with a timeline, land area share and a passport-stamp share picture.
What the app cannot do
Orbisto does not detect trips automatically, for example from your location; you tap every country yourself. The free version marks up to 10 countries, and the app is Android only.
Price
Free for up to 10 countries; Orbisto Pro is a subscription at $2.99 a month or $19.99 a year in the US (Google Play shows your local price), cancel anytime in Google Play. The free version shows ads; Pro is ad-free. We build this app ourselves; on Google Play it is listed under the developer name InfinityAkhi.
Get it on Google Play: Orbisto
Screenshots
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Frequently asked questions
Does an airport layover count as a visited country?
For most travellers it does not, because in the transit zone you have not formally entered the country. Your own rule decides, as long as you apply it the same way everywhere.
Why do lists show different numbers of countries?
They count different things: UN members only (193), plus the observer states Holy See and Palestine (195), or dependent territories such as Greenland as well.
What is the difference between country share and area share?
Country share divides the number of countries visited by all countries. Area share weights by size, so one large country adds much more than a small one.
Do I need an account for Orbisto?
No. According to the store listing there is no login and your trips stay on the device; you can save a backup as a file.
Sources
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