CREATE TABLE table_204_778 (id DECIMAL, "code" DECIMAL, "county" TEXT, "former province" TEXT, "area  ( km2 ) " DECIMAL, "population\ census 2009" DECIMAL, "capital" TEXT)

how many counties have a population greater than 500,000 ?
SELECT COUNT("county") FROM table_204_778 WHERE "population\ncensus 2009" > 500000
SELECT COUNT("county") FROM "table_204_778" WHERE "population\ncensus 2009" > 500000