originally published July 24, 2015
What exactly is a “country” anyway?
People always ask me, “How many countries have I visited?” I’ve kept a spreadsheet for a couple of years to keep track of the ever-expanding list. Before publishing this article, I decided to cross-check my list against an “official” list of countries. But that has proved complicated.
When I googled, “how many countries are there?” Wikipedia popped up with: “Compiling a list such as this can be a difficult and controversial process, as there is no definition that is binding on all the members of the community of nations concerning the criteria for statehood” (in the United Nations).
Well, I suppose that shouldn’t come as a surprise. It’s common knowledge that China (as in The People’s Republic of …) doesn’t recognize Taiwan, but did you know that 21 nations, plus the Holy See, don’t recognize China?
[Anybody know why they call the Vatican the “Holy See”?]
As I continued scrolling through the “Cs”, I discovered there’s a country called Comoros. Never heard of it! It’s one of the smallest countries in the world, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa, near Mozambique. Another unfamiliar one is Moldova, a tiny country tucked between Romania and the Ukraine.
Some of the spats:
My total country count: 66, after adding Myanmar and Belgium this year (2015).
I really, really loved Myanmar!
I really, really loved Bruges, Belgium, too – especially late at night or early in the morning when it was practically devoid of tourists!
And then there’s the question: what constitutes a legitimate “visit”? I was in Baghdad once – at the airport – for an extended layover on my way back from India in 1979. I don’t count it (tempting as it is, since it’s rather unlikely I’ll ever go to Iraq …) – but I know other people would.
I’m also not counting Switzerland on my list. I was in Lugano, just over the Italian border, on a morning tour – on a Sunday, when everything was closed. Obviously, I’ve technically been to Switzerland, but it feels like cheating if I claim it as a country. Lugano didn’t have any blonde girls with braids and dirndl skirts, or cows on an alpine mountainside or even a single yodeler. I didn’t even eat any cheese (nothing was open!). So I can’t possibly count Switzerland. (Can I?)
I was in Leningrad for a few days in the dead of winter many years ago before the fall of the Wall. I’ve never been back, so that trip barely scratched the surface, but I do count Russia on my list. (And I recall taking notes of my site inspection visits on Soviet toilet paper, among other treasured memories!)
I’ve counted Montenegro, where I visited the port of Kotor on an Adriatic cruise. In addition to exploring this charming town for a few hours, I was up on deck for several hours as Captain Rajko piloted the Tere Moana through some of the most beautiful waterscape I’ve ever experienced – the Bay of Kotor.
The breathtaking Bay of Kotor, Montenegro – off the Adriatic coast.
Next year, I hope to add Uganda. If I ever do a Baltic cruise, I could tick off six more in a week’s time: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. There’s a large swath of central America I’ve never experienced: Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.
Some people collect destinations, like other people collect stamps or spoons. A woman I know signs her emails with her name and “World traveler, has traveled to 251 countries.” She’s a member of a group called the Traveler’s Century Club, which uses a different system of counting countries. As of January 1, 2014, the TCC list offers their fee-paying members a tantalizing 324 countries and territories to claim on their travel resume. They explain, “Although some are not actually countries in their own right, they have been included because they are removed from the parent country, either geographically, politically or ethnologically. After consideration as to how long one must have stayed in a country or territory to qualify, it was decided that even the shortest visit would suffice — even if only a port-of-call, or a plane fuel stop. This greatly widens the field and will give the traveler a better chance to qualify for one of the most unusual clubs in the world.”
By their criteria, Alaska and Hawaii are separate “countries.” By their criteria, I’d definitely claim more than 100.
I’m not sure I agree with this system. I prefer quality over quantity, although I sure would like to claim I’ve been to Iraq!
What do you think … should I count Switzerland?
And what about you? How many countries on your list?
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10 Comments
Patricia Andersson July 24, 2015 at 3:17pm
Yes, you should count Switzerland! My criteria is that I don’t count any country where I have not made it out of the airport. If my feet land on non-airport soil, it counts! I’m at 36 currently — and I’ve been to many that you haven’t! Having been married to a Swede, I’ve gotten most of the Nordic countries under my belt 🙂
John Buschman July 24, 2015 at 4:01pm
Great topic! I left the hospitality and tourism industries about 9 years ago and had counted 55 to that point. Have since added Panama and now with your observation will have to deduct Scotland (although it may become its own country again on the next referendum!). How about countries that no longer exist, like East Germany? I say count Russia as you were in the former capital and for several days at that. I agree on the ‘leaving the airport’ comment above as I have on a few occasions created stopovers of 12 to 24 hours where I could do some exploring of a major city or region and feel like I got to know quite a lot about the country from those visits. Do visit the Nordic countries. Didn’t I see you in Iceland? Hope to add Cuba soon now that relations are being normalized!
Cynthia Sawtell July 24, 2015 at 6:38pm
My own feeling is that you should count it if you’ve been on the ground there. Connecting at an airport does not count, but I do count it if I’ve gone through a country by train. So, YES, you’ve been to Switzerland (but ought to go back – there’s so much to see/do there). I don’t count Paraguay and Brazil, even though I technically crossed into them by boat at Iguazu Falls. I do have Indonesia in my count, even though I’ve only been to Bali. I’d love to claim Reunion Island, but it is a full-on departement of France. I traveled all over Yugoslavia when it was one country. Do I count it as 1, 5 or 6 (Montenegro)?
Marilyn July 24, 2015 at 7:28pm
Okay – the jury has spoken! I’m counting Switzerland (how do you spell yodel-aa-ee-oooo . . .?)! Now it’s 67!!
Bob Franz July 24, 2015 at 8:23pm
Here’s another question. We’ve been to Antarctica which is a continent but has no countries. So do we count it as a country anyway? Very confusing.
Julie Franz July 24, 2015 at 8:25pm
I agree with the “feet on the ground outside the airport” contingent, even though I could otherwise add a couple more countries to my list and will no longer beat you to Switzerland. I believe if it was a country when you visited it (by their definition), then it counts as a country. Therefore I would count both Taiwan and China if I were to visit them both. And I sort of believe I should get credit for Antarctica even though it’s a continent, not a country. It’s a mildly diverting game, but not the reason I travel, that’s for sure. And I also prefer quality or quantity, which is why I choose to travel on your WOW trips!
Julie Franz July 24, 2015 at 8:30pm
How funny that Bob posted (unbeknownst to me) in another room at the same time I was writing my response, and we both mentioned Antarctica. BTW the time posted is about 7 hours ahead of current PDT.
Bob Murphy July 24, 2015 at 8:43pm
Kinda like having to count states you’ve visited- West and East Virginia should count separately just like North and South Dakota. Plus just plain Virginia! Then there is that whole Upper and Lower Michigan confusion.
Bob Murphy July 24, 2015 at 8:49pm
I think the term ” holy see” is actually for the branch of the Vatican government that regulates tourism and tourist commerce. They issue licenses for Food Trucks, tour operators and sidewalk vendors……..
The actual term was originally ” Holy Sheet”, as in ” Holy Sheet, can you believe how much that American Senorita paid for the pope bobble head dolls ?”
Marilyn July 25, 2015 at 2:29pm
Ohhhhh, brother – you are TOO funny! Thanks for the chuckle!