@JGoldman10,
Since we are talking middle school = there is currently 195 countries in the world right now. It is expected to be 196 in July when South Sudan will declare its independence, but who knows with all the wars going on if any of this will change.
192 are United Nations with 2 being independent (Vatican City and Kosovo) and one Taiwan, but due to political reasons is not recognized as being independent from China according to the United Nations.
Isn't this fun?