loadCountries static method
Loads and returns all countries from the data source.
The countries are automatically sorted alphabetically by name. Results are cached after the first load to improve performance on subsequent calls.
Returns a List<Country> containing all 195 UN-recognized countries.
Implementation
static List<Country> loadCountries() {
if (_countries != null) return _countries!;
return allCountries()..sort((a, b) => a.name.compareTo(b.name));
}