<P> Forty - two countries participated in the contest . Portugal and Romania returned to the contest after a year 's absence , while Bosnia and Herzegovina withdrew on financial grounds . Russia had originally planned to participate , but announced their withdrawal on 13 April 2017 , after their representative , Yulia Samoylova , was banned from entering Ukraine by virtue of having travelled directly from Russia to Crimea in 2015 , a region that was annexed by Russia in 2014 , to give a performance , which is illegal under Ukrainian law . </P>
<P> Forty - two countries participated in the contest . Portugal and Romania returned to the contest after a year 's absence , while Bosnia and Herzegovina withdrew on financial grounds . Russia had originally planned to participate , but announced their withdrawal on 13 April 2017 , after their representative , Yulia Samoylova , was banned from entering Ukraine by virtue of having travelled directly from Russia to Crimea in 2015 , a region that was annexed by Russia in 2014 , to give a performance , which is illegal under Ukrainian law . </P>
how many countries are taking part in the eurovision 2017
how many countries are taking part in the eurovision 2017
Forty - two
Forty - two