How Many Countries in Asia?

There are 48 countries in Asia according to the United Nations. However, the exact number can sometimes vary depending on how a "country" is defined and which territories are included.

The United Nations' Count
The most widely accepted count comes from the United Nations, which recognizes 48 sovereign states in Asia. This list includes countries that are geographically situated on the Asian continent.

Here are some of the countries included in this count:

East Asia: China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia
Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam
South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan
Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
West Asia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, State of Palestine, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
Why the Number Can Vary
You might see different numbers, such as 49, 50, or even more. This is due to a few key reasons:

Transcontinental Countries 
Some countries span across both Asia and Europe. The way these countries are counted can change the total.

Russia: While most of its landmass is in Asia (Siberia), the majority of its population lives in its European part. It's often considered a European country politically and culturally.
Turkey: Most of its territory is in Asia (Anatolia), but its largest city, Istanbul, is split between Europe and Asia.
Kazakhstan: It's primarily in Central Asia, but a small portion of its land west of the Ural River is in Europe.
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: These countries in the Caucasus region can be considered part of both Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
States with Limited Recognition and Dependencies
The total number can also change if you include states with limited or no international recognition, or dependent territories.

Taiwan: It governs itself as the Republic of China but is claimed by the People's Republic of China. Its political status is a point of contention, and it is not a member of the UN.
Hong Kong and Macau: These are Special Administrative Regions of China with their own governments and economies but are not independent countries.
Palestine: It is a UN non-member observer state, which means it can participate in General Assembly debates but does not have voting rights.
So, while the most straightforward answer is 48, the total can fluctuate based on these political and geographical complexities.