If you look at the broader historical landscape, there are in England, many of which were traditionally referred to as "shires". Today, England is divided into 48 ceremonial counties , of which 25 have names ending in "-shire".
Many counties that don't end in "shire" are still historically shires. For example: how many shires in england
Since 1997, England has (also called geographic counties). These are used for the Lord Lieutenants (monarch’s representatives). Among these: If you look at the broader historical landscape,
The number of shires in depends on whether you are counting by name, geography, or current administration. Most commonly, currently bear the "-shire" suffix in their official names. For example: Since 1997, England has (also called
The Shires of England: A Guide to the Nation’s Historic and Modern Counties
If you are looking for counties that actually have the word "shire" in their name, the count is (or 28, if you’re generous with your definitions).