Next time you’re at a dinner party and someone asks this question—because apparently, people do that now—you can lean back, look smug, and say, “It’s 54, but it’s complicated.” Then watch them squirm as you casually mention Portuguese Azores or the tiny island of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. You’ll sound like a genius. Do not mention the Miquelon part unless you’ve had snacks.
Honestly, the real takeaway here is that the Western Hemisphere is a huge, messy, beautiful blob of land and water where people drink weird sodas, argue about soccer, and yell at their GPS. You’re part of that blob. So the next time you stand in the grocery store, staring at that coffee bag, just remember: there are 54 countries in there, and one of them probably grows the beans for your “World’s Okayest Parent” mug. And that’s kind of amazing.
