Since January, four more countries have joined, most recently Mauritania.
At the same time, it's a world in which more and more countries have nuclear weapons.
Not only are totals rising, but more and more countries have reported cases of the disease.
More countries have ratified the treaty than any other arms control agreement.
Since the single currency's launch five more countries have joined the euro area.
That way, more countries have a better chance of raising the taxes that help build civilisation.
But in recent years more and more countries have chafed at the delay.
Over the years, more and more countries have switched to a territorial system.
More countries have come to realise that they do not need to own airlines to encourage air services.
Indeed, more countries have been represented on the winners' podium for wrestling than for nearly any other sport.
On political fronts, we see a decline in liberal democracy; for instance, Freedom House reports that more countries have experienced losses than gains in freedoms since 2005.
