Uh as of 2011, there are this many officially recognized states in the world:

In the year 2011 there were 195 recognized sovereign states and 11 entities , 206 entries altogether.

A sovereign state is a state with borders where a particular group of people sharing a common language and common cultural values live. This formation is represented by a centralized government that makes laws followed by people.

An entity is a partially recognized state that claims sovereignty but is usually a constituent ( part ) of other powers. Some examples of entities are : Kosovo, Cook Islands, Northern Cyprus and Niue.