This is a list of sovereign states and dependent territories of the world by continent, displayed with their respective national flags, including the following entities:
By association within the UN system: The 193 United Nations member states (UN). Vatican City (administered by the Holy See, a UN General Assembly observer state), which has diplomatic relations with . Palestine (a UN General Assembly observer state), which has diplomatic relations with . By Other States Generally this contains states with limited recognition and associated states not members of the United Nations Partially recognised de facto sovereign states without UN membership, such as the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of China (Taiwan) De facto sovereign states lacking general international recognition Cook Islands and Niue, two states in free association with New Zealand without UN membership By Dependent Territories of other UN member states: Generally this contains non-sovereign territories that are recognized by the UN as part of some member state. Dependent territories. Other territories often regarded as separate geographical territories even though they are integral parts of their mother countries (such as the overseas departments and regions of France).
This list divides the world using the seven-continent model, with islands grouped into adjacent continents. Variations on are noted below and discussed in the following articles: Continent, Boundaries between the continents of Earth, and List of transcontinental countries.
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Africa
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Africa with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Africa: territories and regions.
Geologically, Africa is connected to Eurasia by the Isthmus of Suez and forms part of Afro-Eurasia.
Transcontinental countries in Europe and Africa, classified as Southern European countries by the United Nations Statistics Division: (Pantelleria and the Pelagie Islands), , (Madeira [including the Savage Islands]), and (Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla, Alboran Island, and Spain's plazas de soberanía). Transcontinental country in Europe and Africa, classified as a Western European country by the United Nations Statistics Division: (Mayotte, and Réunion). Transcontinental country in Asia and Africa, classified as a Western Asian country by the United Nations Statistics Division: (Socotra).
Asia
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Asia with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Asia: territories and regions.
Geologically, Asia is part of Eurasia and due to the Isthmus of Suez forms part of Afro-Eurasia.
Transcontinental country in Africa and Asia, classified as a Northern African country by the United Nations Statistics Division: (Sinai). Transcontinental country in Europe and Asia, classified as an Eastern European country by the United Nations Statistics Division: (North Asia). States mostly or entirely in West Asia, but commonly associated with Europe, and a member of the Council of Europe: , , , , and . States with limited recognition, entirely in West Asia, but commonly associated with Europe: , , , and . Entirely in Southeast Asia, but commonly associated with Oceania, and lying east of the biogeographical Wallace Line: . Transcontinental country in Europe and Asia, classified as a Southern European country by the United Nations Statistics Division: (Islands in North Aegean and South Aegean). Transcontinental country in Asia and North America, classified as a Northern American country by the United Nations Statistics Division: (Little Diomede Island, Near Islands, and St. Lawrence Island).
Europe
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Europe: political geography.
Geologically, Europe is part of Eurasia and due to the Isthmus of Suez forms part of Afro-Eurasia.
Transcontinental countries in Europe and Asia, classified as West Asian countries by the United Nations Statistics Division: , , , and (all but Kazakhstan are members of the Council of Europe). Entirely in West Asia, but commonly associated with Europe, and a member of the Council of Europe: and . States with limited recognition, entirely in West Asia, but commonly associated with Europe: , , , and .
North America
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in North America with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see North America: countries and territories.