How to Track the Countries You've Visited
"How many countries have you been to?" is one of the most common travel questions, and many people are not sure of their own answer. Trips blur together, layovers raise questions, and different lists disagree on how many countries there are in the first place.
This guide explains how to set clear rules for what counts, which country list to use, how to work out your percentage of the world, and the pros and cons of the main ways to keep track. It ends with how to track your countries in WorldFill.
Decide what counts as a visit
There is no official rule, so the most important step is to decide on yours and apply it consistently. Common approaches, from strictest to loosest:
- Stayed at least one night.
- Spent real time there, such as a day trip, and did something beyond passing through.
- Went through immigration and set foot outside the airport.
- Set foot in the country at all, including airport transits.
Many travellers do not count airport layovers without leaving the terminal, but count a day trip across a land border. Whatever you choose, write it down. It stops your count drifting and makes comparisons with friends fair.
Choose a country list
Counts differ because lists differ. The United Nations has 193 member states, plus 2 observer states (Vatican City and Palestine), which gives 195. Some lists add places such as Taiwan and Kosovo, which brings the total to 197. Travel clubs sometimes use much longer lists that count territories and regions separately.
None of these is wrong; they answer slightly different questions. Pick one list and stick with it, and mention which you use when you quote your number. If you have been to places that your list does not include separately, such as overseas territories, you can note them on the side.
Working out your percentage of the world
Divide the number of countries you have visited by the number on your list, then multiply by 100. On a 197-country list:
- 10 countries is about 5.1%.
- 25 countries is about 12.7%.
- 30 countries is about 15.2%.
- 50 countries is about 25.4%.
- 100 countries is about 50.8%.
A percentage by continent is often more motivating than a world total, because it shows where you have barely started. Keep in mind that continent groupings also vary between sources, especially for countries spanning two continents and for island nations.
Rebuilding your list from memory
If you have travelled for years, your first list will probably miss a few. Places to check:
- Passport stamps and old passports.
- Photo libraries, which often show the location or date of a trip.
- Booking confirmations and travel emails.
- Old travel journals, postcards and tickets.
- Family members who were with you.
Go continent by continent and region by region rather than trying to recall everything at once.
Maps, spreadsheets and apps compared
Scratch-off or printed wall map
Satisfying and nice to display. Hard to undo mistakes, gives you no numbers, and small countries can be almost impossible to scratch neatly.
Spreadsheet
Flexible: you can add dates, cities and notes, and calculate totals. It does not give you a map at a glance, and you need to build the list yourself.
Travel map app
Quick to update and shows both a map and the numbers. Check what list it uses and whether it supports your rules. Most focus on countries rather than detailed trip journals.
Tracking your countries in WorldFill
WorldFill uses a list of 197 countries: the UN member states plus Vatican City, Palestine, Taiwan and Kosovo.
- Drag and zoom the world map, then tap a country to see its name and flag.
- Choose Visited. The country fills with colour. Tapping the same status again sets it back to not visited.
- For small countries, open the List tab and search by name. Tap to cycle the status, or long-press to pick one directly.
- Mark the places you still want to go as Wishlist.
- Open the Stats tab to see visited, wishlist and remaining counts, your world percentage and progress bars for Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Oceania.
- Use Share on the Stats tab to send a summary of your count and percentage.
WorldFill records status only, not trip dates or notes, and does not list dependent territories separately. In the web version your map stays in this browser. WorldFill is also available for iPhone. For planning ahead, see how to make a travel bucket list.
Frequently asked questions
Does an airport layover count as visiting a country?
There is no official rule. Many travellers only count it if they leave the airport. Choose a rule and apply it every time.
How many countries are there in the world?
It depends on the list. The UN has 193 member states plus 2 observer states, making 195; adding Taiwan and Kosovo makes 197.
How do I calculate what percentage of the world I have visited?
Divide your country count by the total on your list and multiply by 100. For example, 30 out of 197 is about 15.2%.
Should I count countries I visited as a child?
That is up to you. Some people count them; others only count trips they remember. Note your choice so your count stays consistent.
Can WorldFill record when I visited each country?
No. It tracks whether each country is visited, on your wishlist or not visited.