How many countries are there in the world?

Go on, guess. Whatever you guessed you're definitely wrong, and quite possibly right - at the same time. Because what seems like a simple question leads to a set of answers of labyrinthine complexity.

Here is a quick skim through the complexities (and if you think that you can't skim through complexities, you're right: not that it stops me trying) - which leads me to a fundamental and worrying question? Is Wattpad plotting world domination?