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How Many Countries Are There in North America?

There are 23 countries in North America — that is, 23 sovereign states.

This count runs from Canada and the United States down through Central America and across the Caribbean island nations. It does not include South America, which is counted separately.

United Nations — Standard Country Codes (M49) ↗
Source UN M49Method sovereign states (193 UN members + 2 observers)As of 2026

The countries

All 23 sovereign states of North America, A–Z. Each traces to the UN list of member and observer states.

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Canada
  • Costa Rica
  • Cuba
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • El Salvador
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Jamaica
  • Mexico
  • Nicaragua
  • Panama
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • United States

The countries: 23 · sovereign states (193 UN members + 2 observers)

How we count North America

We count the sovereign states of North America: the three large northern countries (Canada, the United States and Mexico), the seven Central American states, and the island nations of the Caribbean. Dependencies such as Puerto Rico, Greenland, Bermuda and the many Caribbean territories are not sovereign states and are not counted, even though they often appear as separate entries in economic data. South America is a separate continent with its own page.

FAQ

What is the largest country in North America?
Canada is the largest country in North America by area, ahead of the United States. By population, the United States is by far the largest.
What is the smallest country in North America?
Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest country in North America by both area and population — a two-island Caribbean state of about 261 square kilometres.
Is Central America part of North America?
Yes. The seven Central American countries — from Guatemala to Panama — are part of the North American continent and are included in this count of 23.
Are the Caribbean islands counted as North America?
The independent Caribbean nations — such as Cuba, Jamaica and the Bahamas — are counted as North American sovereign states. Caribbean dependencies and territories are not, because they are not independent countries.
Why is Puerto Rico not in this list?
Puerto Rico is a United States territory, not a sovereign state, so it is not counted here. It does appear separately in some economic datasets, such as the World Bank list of economies.

Antarctica has 0 countries — it is governed by the Antarctic Treaty, not by any sovereign state.

More, by numbers

How many countries are there in the world?

195 — the full picture, sourced →

Population by country

Every country, ranked →

Facts, by numbers

Straight, sourced answers →

The other continents

How many countries in Europe?
44 sovereign states →
How many countries in Asia?
48 sovereign states →
How many countries in Africa?
54 sovereign states →
How many countries in South America?
12 sovereign states →
How many countries in Oceania?
14 sovereign states →

Sources

Every number here traces to an official body.