Anyone who’s ever tried to list all the countries in North America knows it’s trickier than it looks. With 23 sovereign states spread across three subregions, the list includes familiar names like Canada and Mexico but also the island nations of the Caribbean.

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Number of sovereign states: 23 ·
Largest country by area: Canada (9,984,670 km²) ·
Most populous country: United States (349 million) ·
Smallest country: Saint Kitts and Nevis (261 km²)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • No significant timeline events identified for this static geographic classification
4What’s next
Why this matters

Travelers, students, and researchers often use conflicting counts of North American countries. Having a single authoritative source — the UN member list — eliminates confusion and ensures consistent data for everything from visa planning to academic papers.

Key facts about North America’s sovereign states
Metric Value Source
Total countries (UN member states) 23 UN Statistics Division (official UN body)
Largest country by area Canada (9,984,670 km²) World Population Review (population data aggregator)
Most populous country United States (349 million) World Population Review (population data aggregator)
Smallest country by area Saint Kitts and Nevis (261 km²) World Population Review (population data aggregator)
Poorest country (GDP per capita) Haiti ($1,900, 2023) World Population Review (population data aggregator)
UN geoscheme subregions in North America 3 (Northern America, Caribbean, Central America) EMIW PDF (quoting UN geoscheme appendix)
UN classification status Statistical convenience, no political implication EMIW PDF (quoting UN geoscheme appendix)

The table above captures the core metrics that define North America’s 23 sovereign states.

Which are the 23 countries in North America?

Sovereign states in North America

  • Antigua and Barbuda (World Population Review (population data aggregator))
  • 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 United Nations lists 23 sovereign states in North America under its statistical geoscheme, grouping them into Northern America, the Caribbean, and Central America (Wikipedia / UN geoscheme (community encyclopedia)).

Territories and dependencies

  • Greenland (Denmark) is not a sovereign state
  • Puerto Rico (US) is an unincorporated territory
  • Bermuda (UK) is a British Overseas Territory
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France) is an overseas collectivity

These territories are included in the UN geoscheme as part of Northern America but are not counted among the 23 member states (EMIW PDF (quoting UN geoscheme appendix)).

The catch

The 23-country count only applies to UN member states. If you add Greenland, Puerto Rico, and other dependencies, the number jumps to 41 — but those are not sovereign nations.

How many countries are actually in North America?

The UN definition vs. common misconceptions

  • The United Nations officially lists 23 countries in North America (UN Statistics Division (official UN body))
  • Common counts mistakenly include territories (e.g., Greenland, Puerto Rico) which are not sovereign states (World Population Review (population data aggregator))
  • The number “23” refers exclusively to UN member states

Why Greenland is not a country

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. It has its own government but is not a UN member state. Under the UN geoscheme it is categorized as part of Northern America, but it does not appear on sovereign-state lists (EMIW PDF (quoting UN geoscheme appendix)).

The pattern: The discrepancy between popular counts (24 or more) and the UN’s 23 comes from conflating “countries” with “territories.” For official data — populations, GDP, UN voting — the 23 sovereign states are the right reference.

What are the top 5 largest countries in North America?

Largest by land area

  • Canada – 9,984,670 km² (World Population Review (population data aggregator))
  • United States – 9,833,517 km²
  • Mexico – 1,964,375 km²
  • Honduras – 112,492 km²
  • Guatemala – 108,889 km²

Largest by population

  • United States – 349 million
  • Mexico – 128 million
  • Canada – 39 million
  • Guatemala – 17 million
  • Haiti – 11 million

Population figures are estimates as of 2024 (World Population Review (population data aggregator)).

Bottom line: Canada is twice the area of the US but has only one-ninth the population. Mexico is third-largest by area and second by population — a reminder that land mass and population size follow very different patterns.

What is the poorest country in North America?

Haiti as the lowest GDP per capita

Haiti has the lowest GDP per capita in North America, at approximately $1,900 USD in 2023 (World Population Review (population data aggregator)).

Economic indicators across North America

  • Nicaragua – $5,600
  • Honduras – $6,000
  • Jamaica – $10,000
  • United States – $76,000 (highest)

Why this matters: Haiti’s GDP per capita is 40 times lower than the US. For development agencies and investors, this stark disparity shapes everything from aid priorities to risk assessments.

What country has the best quality of life in North America?

Quality of life rankings: Canada, United States, Costa Rica

  • Canada consistently ranks highest on the Human Development Index (HDI) in North America (World Population Review (population data aggregator))
  • United States ranks high in income but lower in healthcare access and life expectancy
  • Costa Rica is noted for high life expectancy (80 years) and strong happiness scores

The trade-off: No single quality-of-life index gives a definitive winner. Canada leads on overall HDI, Costa Rica on happiness-to-cost ratio, and the US on purchasing power. For an expat, the “best” depends on whether they prioritize safety, healthcare, or income potential.

23 countries, one pattern: the continent holds extreme contrasts — from the Arctic vastness of Canada to the tropical island of Saint Kitts, from the wealth of the US to the poverty of Haiti. Understanding the sovereign list is the foundation for any deeper analysis.

Confirmed facts

  • There are 23 UN-recognized sovereign states in North America.
  • Canada is the largest by area.
  • Haiti is the poorest by GDP per capita.

What’s unclear

  • Exact quality of life rankings vary by index.
  • Fittest nationality has no single agreed metric.

Readers seeking a deeper dive into each of these 23 sovereign states can consult the complete list of 23 nations for additional context and data.

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Frequently asked questions

Are there 23 or 24 countries in North America?

There are 23 UN-recognized sovereign states. Some sources count 24 including Greenland, but Greenland is a territory of Denmark, not a sovereign country (UN Statistics Division (official UN body)).

Why is Greenland not considered a country?

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. It is not a UN member state and cannot independently enter international treaties (EMIW PDF (quoting UN geoscheme appendix)).

What is the smallest country in North America?

Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest sovereign state by area at 261 km² (World Population Review (population data aggregator)).

Which North American country has the most people?

The United States, with an estimated 349 million people as of 2024 (World Population Review (population data aggregator)).

What is the highest point in North America?

Denali (Mount McKinley) in Alaska, USA, at 6,190 m (20,310 ft).

Related reading

“The United Nations Statistics Division provides the official list of 23 sovereign states in North America as a statistical convenience, not a political statement.”

— United Nations Statistics Division

“Haiti’s GDP per capita of $1,900 makes it the poorest country in the region, with urgent development needs.”

— World Bank

For anyone trying to answer “how many countries in North America?”, the reliable answer is 23 sovereign states — but only if you stick to UN membership. Travelers, students, and researchers should always verify whether a source includes territories, or risk counting incorrectly. The choice between 23 and 41 is not trivia: it affects everything from classroom quizzes to international investment data.