How Many Countries Make Up the British Isles? (It's Not Four)

The British Isles is a geographical term encompassing two sovereign states and thousands of islands:

• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (comprising England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
• Republic of Ireland (sovereign state)
• Plus the Crown Dependencies: Isle of Man, Channel Islands (Guernsey, Jersey)
• And 6,000+ smaller islands

Great Britain (the largest island) contains three countries: England, Scotland, Wales. The British Isles ≠ Great Britain ≠ United Kingdom.