InkpassCounting rules you set yourself
Inkpass starts from 195 countries, which is the 193 UN member states plus the 2 UN observer states. Four switches then change what counts: territories, the four UK nations, airport layovers and historic stamps. Your rules print on your cards, so a comparison with a friend stays fair.
Coming soon to iPhone
What is the default count?
The base is 195 countries. That is the 193 member states of the United Nations and the 2 observer states, the Holy See and the State of Palestine, as listed in the UN member states article on Wikipedia. The map and the percentage of the world both use this base.
Everyone counts differently, and Inkpass does not argue with you. It shows the rule under your number, such as 195 countries with territories counted separately, so a viewer knows what your total means.
Out of the box, territories show as their own stamps, while the UK nations, airport layovers and historic stamps are off. Change any of them whenever you like.
Which switches change the number?
Open Me, then Settings, then Counting rules. Four options sit there.
| Switch | What it does | Changes the count? |
|---|---|---|
| Count territories separately | Puerto Rico, Greenland, Guam and similar places get their own stamps | Adds a separate territory figure; the country count stays as it is |
| Count UK nations separately | England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each count | Yes, when on |
| Airport layovers count | You can mark a country as Layover and it adds to the total | Yes, when on |
| Show historic stamps | USSR, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and similar stamps appear in the album | Never |
What does each switch do to a real number?
Take an invented traveler, Sam, who has stamped France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, marked Qatar as a Layover after a transfer in Doha, picked Scotland and Wales as UK nations, and stamped Puerto Rico. The number changes one switch at a time.
The percentage of the world is figured from the UN list alone, so territories never push it past what the 195 allow.
| Setting | Countries | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Defaults | 4 | Puerto Rico appears as 1 territory beside the count |
| Airport layovers count on | 5 | Qatar joins |
| UK nations separate on | 6 | Scotland and Wales replace the single UK entry |
| Territories off | 6 | Puerto Rico is hidden; the country count is unchanged |
Which setup suits me, and what if I change it?
Match the switches to how you want to talk about your travel. A strict counter turns every switch off and keeps the plain UN list, which is easy to defend and easy to compare. A collector turns territories, UK nations and layovers on, and enjoys a bigger and more varied album. A pair or a group that compares maps should pick the same setup, because totals are only comparable when the rules are.
If you are unsure, start with the defaults and switch things on later. Nothing you stamp is lost by changing a rule.
Nothing is deleted. Rules decide what is counted and shown, so you can switch a rule on, read the new total and switch it back. Statuses such as Been and Lived stay as you set them.
One thing is worth knowing before you share a link. Historic stamps never go into a friend link, so a friend sees only the countries that count under your rules. Your rules are printed on your cards, which lets the other person read the number correctly.
Why do layovers have a switch?
Whether an airport transfer counts is the most argued rule in travel counting. If you switch layovers on, you can mark a country as Layover in its sheet and it counts. If you switch them off, layovers still show on the map so you remember them, but they stay out of your number.
Pick one rule and keep it. A count that changes whenever you want a bigger total is hard to compare with anyone, including your past self.
How are disputed areas handled?
Selectable countries follow the UN list. Areas whose status is disputed appear in one neutral hatch on the map, with no name, no tap target and no count. They are not listed anywhere in the app, on cards or in links.
Places whose sovereignty is not contested, such as Puerto Rico or Greenland, are territories and fall under the territories switch. The neutral shading is not a statement about any border. The terms and the About screen say the same.
Photo import, Stamp where I am and city search never resolve a point inside a neutral area. They ask you to pick from the list.
What are Been, Lived and Want to go?
Each place has a status. Been is the normal stamp. Lived marks somewhere you spent a longer stretch, drawn with a solid fill and an inner outline. Want to go is a hatched outline that does not count. Layover appears when you enable it.
Long-press a country in the picker to set a status. Statuses carry into your album and your cards.
Where do the numbers come from?
The country list follows UN membership. Map geometry comes from Natural Earth, which is public domain. Rarity uses World Bank Open Data on international tourism arrivals, licensed CC BY 4.0, and it can be out of date. These credits are listed in About and credits.
For a longer look at why totals differ so much between travelers, read how many countries have I visited.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries does Inkpass count by default?
195: the 193 UN member states plus the 2 UN observer states. Territories show as separate stamps by default, and the UK nations, layovers and historic stamps are off until you turn them on.
Do airport layovers count in Inkpass?
Only if you switch Airport layovers count on. When it is off, layovers show on the map but stay out of your number.
Can I count England and Scotland separately?
Yes. Turn on the UK nations switch in Counting rules and England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each get a stamp.
Why are some areas shaded without a name?
They are disputed areas. Inkpass shows them neutrally, without labels or counts, and follows UN membership for the selectable list.