The standard number of recognized countries globally, as found through a Google search and as stated on Wikipedia, is 195.
GCash, a mobile financial service, claims to be available in 200 countries, leading to skepticism and humor among those who immediately believe in a social media post.
The criticism of GCash's claim often overlooks the existence of territories that are not formally recognized as countries by the United Nations.
GCash provides services in additional regions beyond the 195 recognized countries, including places like Taiwan.
These additional regions where GCash operates may include territories where Visa is accepted
Understanding the 200-country claim by GCash beyond Google search
There's GCash presence in unrecognized states, autonomous territories, and Visa-accepted regions
Jan 20, 2024 10:09 AM
At a glance
If you Google how many countries there are in the world, the answer is 195, yet GCash claims it's available in 200 countries. Many laughed at it and shared a post that made fun of this claim from GCash, and many even posted the Wikipedia page that says there are 195 countries in the world.
People who reacted and criticized GCash should have checked that there are so-called unrecognized countries by the UN, that 193 countries are recognized, and that two countries have limited recognition. Yes, that's 195. However, there are countries that are NOT recognized by the UN but have GCash presence, including Taiwan, Northern Cyprus and other territories where Visa is accepted. Definitely, Wakanda is not included.
Here's a breakdown of the situation:
United Nations unrecognized countries: These are nations that lack widespread international recognition due to political disputes or other factors. Examples include Taiwan, Kosovo, and Northern Cyprus. GCash does operate in some of these territories, even though the UN does not officially recognize them.
Territories: These are regions under the control of another country but with some degree of autonomy. Hong Kong and Macau are examples. Taiwan is also included in the so-called non-UN countries. GCash can also be used in these territories.
Visa acceptance: Visa has a broader reach than UN recognition. There are places where Visa is accepted even though they're not UN-recognized countries or official territories. GCash may leverage existing partnerships or arrangements with Visa to operate in these areas.
The claim of GCash, which you can use in 200 countries, includes a combination of UN-recognized countries, unrecognized countries, territories, and possibly even areas where a Visa is accepted but there's no formal government recognition. This broader definition can confuse those who immediately believe what they see on social media.
While the 200-country claim might seem inaccurate at first glance, it's essential to understand the broader context of UN recognition, territories, and Visa acceptance to get a clearer picture of GCash's global reach. Looking beyond headlines and seeking more nuanced information before drawing conclusions is always helpful.
And, of course, Wakanda would be excluded from any discussion of real-world financial services.