Which continent has the fewest countries?

Antarctica is unique among the continents because it contains no sovereign countries. Instead, it is governed by an international treaty system, primarily the Antarctic Treaty System, which regulates the territory in terms of scientific research and environmental protections. Although there are various research stations operated by multiple countries, these do not represent independent nations or countries. This status sets Antarctica apart, as the other continents listed, such as South America, Asia, and Africa, each have multiple independent countries. For example, South America has 12 countries, Asia has numerous countries, and Africa has over 50. The absence of countries in Antarctica makes it the continent with the fewest.