According
to Nationsonline.org – it is 195 – it states that since South Sudan became an
independent state on 9 July 2011, there are now 195 independent sovereign
states in the world (including disputed but defacto independent Taiwan), plus
about 60 dependent areas, and five disputed territories, like Kosovo. Many sources offer different answers, and
depending on the source, there are 189, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195 or 196
independent countries in the world today.
As of 2008, the United Nations has 192 official
members (including Montenegro
and Serbia
- the two newest nations). That number does not include the Vatican, and it
doesn't (yet) include Kosovo ! – most sources would differ on whether to
include – Kosovo, Palestine, Greenland, Western Sahara …. And more… The US State Department recognizes 194
independent countries around the world, but that list of countries reflects the
political agenda of the United
States of America. As an example, it
includes Kosovo, but does not include Taiwan,
as China claims that Taiwan (the ROC) is simply a province of China.
Regarding England, Scotland and Wales,
though all are widely considered individual countries, they are all still a
part of the United Kingdom (UK), a recognized European country by the United
Nations, United States, and others, and therefore included within the United
Kingdom.
Then there is the
concept of ‘Sovereign States’ based on their
status and recognition of their sovereignty. Wikipedia lists 206 divided into:
1. The membership within the United Nations
system column divides the states into three categories: 193 member states, two
observer states, and 11 other states.
2. The sovereignty dispute column indicates
states whose sovereignty is undisputed (190 states) and states whose
sovereignty is disputed (16 states).
Then
there is ISO …. Yes - ISO 3166-1 is part of the ISO 3166 standard published by
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines codes for the
names of countries, dependent territories, and special areas of geographical
interest. It defines three sets of country codes. The alphabetic country codes were first
included in ISO 3166 in 1974, and the numeric country codes were first included
in 1981. The country codes have been published as ISO 3166-1 since 1997.
Now
to answer the Q at the start – Sealand - Fort off the English coast has just 22
residents – still has its own king, stamps and currency The Principality of Sealand is a
micronation located in the North Sea. Its mass
consists of what was HM Fort Roughs, a former Second World War Maunsell Sea
Fort, off the coast of Suffolk, England, United Kingdom. While it has been described as the world's
smallest country, or the world's smallest nation, Sealand is not recognised by
any established sovereign state, although Sealand's government claims it has
been de facto recognised by the United Kingdom (after an English court ruled it
did not have jurisdiction over Sealand as territorial water limitations were
defined at the time) and Germany.
Since 1967 the
facility has been occupied by family and associates of Paddy Roy Bates, who
claim that it is an independent sovereign state. Bates seized it from a group
of pirate radio broadcasters in 1967 with the intention of setting up his own
station at the site. Bates is no more….
A recent Daily Mail report states that the tiny state consists of two
concrete towers connected by an iron platform - originally built as WW2 defence. Lying six miles offshore from Felixstowe,
state is 'ruled' by Prince Michael, 63; after his father, Roy Bates, claimed
platform as his own and crowned himself king.
Its residents
catch their own fish and lobster and produce drinkable water; they make money by selling titles (a Count is £200)
and Sealand memorabilia. Tourist trips to the 5,290sq ft fort are being planned
for later this summer. The tiny state
occupies a 5,290sq ft Second World War fort has its own currency, the
Sealand Dollar, and its own football team, the Sealand All Stars. The Sealand
mementoes are sold online. Daily Mail
reports you can buy the title Count or Countess of Sealand; alternatively, you
can buy one square foot of the territory for £19.99, a mug or a football shirt.
The Bates family
designed their own crest, featuring their motto which translates as From The
Sea, Liberty – and it has been in existence since Christmas eve of 1966 when
Bates took over Fort Roughs with his wife, Joan, daughter, Penelope, 16, and
son, Michael, 16, and the following September he declared himself Prince of
Sealand and his wife, Princess Joan. Thereafter followed a series of
challenges, from the British government, who sent delegates to recce Sealand, to
a group of German and Dutch 'invaders', but the Bates family - who gave
themselves the motto E Mare Libertas (From The Sea, Freedom) - managed to hang
on to the windy platform they had made their own. In October 2012, Roy Bates
died at the age of 91, and the Sealand crown passed to his son, Michael, 63,
who is still said to live on Sealand with his family and friends. It is stated that they import from the UK and Europe
most of provisions, apart from local produce like fish and lobsters; they make own water and are 99 percent green energy
producing. It is claimed that they offer
30 rooms of various sizes, and most of days are spent with office and IT work
these days, processing orders from our online shop, security and maintenance.'
As of
now, Indian Marine Insurer may not have any problem of insuring a cargo destined
for this destination ! ~ longshot may have to take call at some point of time
on this port of call !!!
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
17th June 2014.
Pictures courtesy : dailymail.co.uk
