Meet Sophia Lee, 21, who could become youngest to visit every country
Sophia Lee, a 21-year-old traveler, is nearing her goal of becoming the youngest person to visit every country in the world. She has spent four years traveling full-time, balancing the logistical challenges of visa requirements and safety with a desire for meaningful cultural experiences.
Why it matters
Her journey highlights the complexities of modern global travel and the rigorous documentation required to achieve official world records.
At 13, when her friends were obsessing about boyfriends and starting high school, Sophie Lee knew she wanted to set a world record. So she boarded a plane to Costa Rica, alone. That solo journey changed everything for her. The next year, she decided to become the youngest person to visit every country. This goal was perfect because it had everything she liked: travel and a challenge. She continued travelling, and by the age of 17, she had been to 50 of the United Nations’ 195 recognised countries. But that’s when she learned that, in order to win that title, she needed more. “I realised that it requires a lot of evidence and pre-planning and preparation for Guinness [World Records] to even have you qualify for a record.
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