List of sovereign states in the 2010s
This is a list of sovereign states in the 2010s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. It contains 212 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 195 widely recognized sovereign states, 2 associated states, and 15 entities which claim an effective sovereignty but are considered de facto constituents of other powers by the general international community.
Members or observers of the United Nations
Name and capital city | Information on status and recognition of sovereignty | |
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A | ||
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![]() ![]() Capital: Kabul |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Tirana |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Algiers |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Andorra la Vella |
Widely recognized UN member state. The President of France and Bishop of Urgell were ex officio Co-Princes of Andorra. The defense of Andorra was the responsibility of France and Spain. | |
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![]() Capital: Luanda |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: St. John's |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Antigua and Barbuda had two dependencies, Barbuda and Redonda. | |
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![]() ![]() Capital: Buenos Aires |
Widely recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city. It had a claim over Argentine Antarctica, which is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. It also claimed the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, both of which were British overseas territories. | |
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![]() Capital: Yerevan |
Widely recognized UN member state.[b] | |
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![]() Capital: Canberra |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Australia was a federation of six states and three territories. It had sovereignty over the following external territories: | |
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![]() Capital: Vienna |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Austria was a federation of nine states. | |
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![]() ![]() Capital: Baku |
Widely recognized UN member state. Azerbaijan had one autonomous republic, Nakhchivan. It included the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where a partially recognized breakaway republic had declared independence. | |
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B | ||
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![]() Capital: Nassau |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. | |
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![]() Capital: Manama |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Dhaka |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Bridgetown |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. | |
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![]() ![]() Capital: Minsk |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Brussels |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Belgium was a federation of three communities and three regions. | |
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![]() ![]() Capital: Belmopan |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. | |
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![]() Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (seat of government) |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Thimphu |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative) |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Sarajevo |
Widely recognized UN member state. Bosnia and Herzegovina was a federation of two constituent entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was itself a federation of ten cantons, and Republika Srpska. | |
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![]() Capital: Gaborone |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Brasília |
Widely recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 26 states and one federal district. | |
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![]() Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan |
Widely recognized UN member state. Brunei claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia). | |
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![]() Capital: Sofia |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Ouagadougou
|
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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Burma → Myanmar | ||
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![]() Capital: Bujumbura (to 24 December 2018), Gitega (from 24 December 2018) |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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C | ||
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![]() Capital: Phnom Penh |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Yaoundé |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Ottawa |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Canada was a federation of ten provinces and three territories. | |
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![]() Capital: Praia
|
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Bangui |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: N'Djamena |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Santiago |
Widely recognized UN member state. Chile had two special territories: Easter Island and the Juan Fernández Islands. It had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory, which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. | |
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![]() Capital: Beijing |
Widely recognized UN member state[c] . The People's Republic of China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. Additionally, it had sovereignty over two special administrative regions:
The People's Republic of China claimed Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and the Vereker Banks, and Itu Aba, which were governed by the Republic of China. It also claimed the Paracel Islands (disputed by the Republic of China and Vietnam), the Spratly Islands (disputed by the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei), and South Tibet (controlled by India). The People's Republic of China administered Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract, which were within the disputed region of Kashmir. | |
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![]() Capital: Bogotá |
Widely recognized UN member state. Colombia administered Serranilla Bank and claimed Bajo Nuevo Bank (disputed by Nicaragua and the United States) | |
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![]() Capital: Moroni |
Widely recognized UN member state. The Comoros was a federation of three islands autonomous islands: Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan. Comoros also claimed sovereignty over the French territory, then department of Mayotte, and the French-administered Glorioso Islands and Banc du Geyser (the latter two also disputed by Madagascar). | |
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![]() Capital: Kinshasa |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Brazzaville |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: San José |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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Côte d'Ivoire → Ivory Coast | ||
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![]() Capital: Zagreb |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member (from 1 July 2013). | |
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![]() Capital: Havana |
Widely recognized UN member state. The Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the permanent control of the United States. | |
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![]() Capital: Nicosia |
Widely recognized UN member state.[d] EU member. The northeastern part of the island was the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey. | |
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![]() Capital: Prague |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
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D | ||
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![]() Capital: Copenhagen |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. The Kingdom of Denmark also included two autonomous countries: | |
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![]() Capital: Djibouti |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Roseau |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Santo Domingo |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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E | ||
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![]() Capital: Dili |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Quito |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Cairo |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: San Salvador |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Malabo |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Asmara |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Tallinn |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal and legislative)
|
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Addis Ababa |
Widely recognized UN member state. Ethiopia was a federation of nine regions and two chartered cities. | |
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F | ||
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![]() Capital: Suva
|
Widely recognized UN member state. Fiji had an autonomous dependency, Rotuma. | |
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![]() Capital: Helsinki |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region: | |
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![]() Capital: Paris |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. France included five (four until 31 March 2011) overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte (from 31 March 2011, disputed by Comoros) and Réunion. It also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
France also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and Comoros). | |
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G | ||
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![]() Capital: Libreville |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Banjul
|
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Tbilisi |
Widely recognized UN member state. Georgia had two autonomous republics: Adjara and Abkhazia. The latter republic was controlled by a de facto independent state. Georgia also included the disputed region of South Ossetia, where a partially recognized breakaway republic had declared independence. | |
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![]() Capital: Berlin |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Germany was a federation of sixteen states. | |
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![]() Capital: Accra |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Athens |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Greece had sovereignty over Mount Athos, an autonomous monastic state that was jointly governed by the multi-national "Holy Community" on the mountain and the Civil Governor appointed by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and spiritually under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. | |
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![]() Capital: St. George's |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Grenada had one autonomous dependency, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. | |
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![]() Capital: Guatemala City |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Conakry |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Bissau |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Georgetown |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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H | ||
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![]() Capital: Port-au-Prince |
Widely recognized UN member state. Haiti claimed the uninhabited United States possession of Navassa Island. | |
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Holy See → Vatican City | ||
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![]() Capital: Tegucigalpa |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Budapest
|
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
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I | ||
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![]() Capital: Reykjavík |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: New Delhi |
Widely recognized UN member state. India was a federation of twenty-nine states and seven union territories. Indian sovereignty over South Tibet was disputed by the People's Republic of China. India administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the state of Jammu and Kashmir. | |
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![]() Capital: Jakarta |
Widely recognized UN member state. Indonesia had five special provinces: Aceh, Jakarta, Papua, West Papua, and Yogyakarta. | |
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![]() Capital: Tehran |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Baghdad |
Widely recognized UN member state. Iraq was constitutionally designated as a federation of autonomous regions, but only one region (Iraqi Kurdistan) had been established. | |
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![]() Capital: Dublin |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Jerusalem |
Widely recognized UN member state.[f] Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights, and the West Bank. These areas were not generally recognized as being part of Israel. | |
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![]() Capital: Rome |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Italy had 5 autonomous regions: Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. | |
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![]() Capital: Yamoussoukro (official), Abidjan (seat of government) |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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J | ||
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![]() Capital: Kingston |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. | |
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![]() Capital: Tokyo |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Amman |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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K | ||
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![]() Capital: Astana (renamed Nur-Sultan in 2019) |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Nairobi |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: South Tarawa |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Pyongyang |
Widely recognized UN member state.[g] It claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. | |
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![]() ![]() Capital: Seoul |
Widely recognized UN member state.[h] South Korea had one autonomous region, Jeju-do. It claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korean Peninsula. | |
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![]() Capital: Kuwait City |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Bishkek |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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L | ||
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![]() Capital: Vientiane |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Riga |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Beirut |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Maseru |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Monrovia |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() ![]() Capital: Tripoli
|
Widely recognized UN member state. Control passed due to civil war between 15 February 2011 and de facto 20 October 2011, de jure 23 October 2011. | |
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![]() Capital: Vaduz |
Widely recognized UN member state. The defense of Liechtenstein was the responsibility of Switzerland. | |
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![]() Capital: Vilnius |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Luxembourg |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
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M | ||
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Macedonia → North Macedonia | ||
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![]() Capital: Antananarivo
|
Widely recognized UN member state. Madagascar claimed the French possessions of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands (also disputed by Comoros), Juan de Nova Island, and Banc du Geyser (also disputed by Comoros) | |
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![]() ![]() ![]() Capital: Lilongwe |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Kuala Lumpur (official), Putrajaya (administrative) |
Widely recognized UN member state. Malaysia was a federation of thirteen states and three federal territories. Malaysia claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei). | |
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![]() Capital: Malé |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Bamako |
Widely recognized UN member state. Part of Mali's territory was controlled by the de facto State of Azawad from 6 April 2012 to 12 July 2012. | |
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![]() Capital: Valletta |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Majuro |
Widely recognized UN member state under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The Marshall Islands claimed the United States territory of Wake Island. | |
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![]() ![]() Capital: Nouakchott |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Port Louis |
Widely recognized UN member state. Mauritius had one autonomous dependency, Rodrigues, and two other dependencies, Agalega Islands and Cargados Carajos. It claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territory of Tromelin Island. | |
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![]() Capital: Mexico City |
Widely recognized UN member state. Mexico was a federation of 31 states and one federal district. | |
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![]() Capital: Palikir |
Widely recognized UN member state under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The FSM was a federation of four states. | |
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![]() ![]() Capital: Chişinău |
Widely recognized UN member state. Moldova had two autonomous territorial units: Gagauzia and Transnistria; the latter was controlled by a de facto independent state. | |
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![]() Capital: Monaco |
Widely recognized UN member state. The defense of Monaco was the responsibility of France. | |
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![]() ![]() Capital: Ulaanbaatar |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Podgorica |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Rabat |
Widely recognized UN member state. Morocco claimed sovereignty over Western Sahara, which was disputed and partially controlled by the de facto independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Morocco disputed Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla, and Peñón de Alhucemas. | |
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![]() Capital: Maputo |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() ![]() Capital: Naypyidaw
|
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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N | ||
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![]() Capital: Windhoek |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Yaren (unofficial, seat of parliament) |
Widely recognized UN member state. The defense of Nauru was the responsibility of Australia. | |
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![]() Capital: Kathmandu |
Widely recognized UN member state. Nepal was a federation, and its seven provinces were created on 20 September 2015. | |
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![]() Capital: Amsterdam (official), The Hague (seat of government) |
Widely recognized UN member state. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consisted of four (three until October 2010) autonomous countries:
It also had sovereignty over one non-autonomous region (consisting of three special municipalities that are part of the Netherlands):
The Kingdom of the Netherlands, excluding Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands Antilles, Sint Maarten, and the Caribbean Netherlands, was a member of the EU. | |
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![]() Capital: Wellington |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. New Zealand had responsibilities for the two free associated states of:
It also had sovereignty over two dependent territories:
The government of Tokelau claimed Swains Island, part of American Samoa (a U.S. dependence). New Zealand did not recognize this claim. | |
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![]() Capital: Managua |
Widely recognized UN member state. Nicaragua had two autonomous regions: the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region and South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region. Until constitutional reforms in 2014, they were referred to as the North Atlantic Autonomous Region and South Atlantic Autonomous Region. | |
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![]() Capital: Niamey |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Abuja |
Widely recognized UN member state. Nigeria was a federation of 36 states and one federal territory. | |
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![]() Capital: Skopje
|
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Oslo |
Widely recognized UN member state. Norway had two integral overseas areas: Jan Mayen and Svalbard. The latter of area had a special status due to the Spitsbergen Treaty. Norway had sovereignty over the following dependencies:
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O | ||
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![]() Capital: Muscat |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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P | ||
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![]() Capital: Islamabad |
Widely recognized UN member state. Pakistan was a federation of four provinces and four territories. It administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the territories of Azad Kashmir and the autonomous territory of Gilgit-Baltistan. | |
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![]() Capital: Ngerulmud |
Widely recognized UN member state under Compact of Free Association with the United States. | |
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![]() Capital: Ramallah (administrative), Gaza City (administrative), Jerusalem (claims)
|
Partially recognised de facto self-governing entity.[k] Palestine claimed sovereignty over a disputed region consisting of three Israeli-occupied territories: the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. In foreign relations, Palestine was represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, which was a permanent observer at the United Nations (to 29 November 2012). Permanent observer at the United Nations (since 29 November 2012). The Palestinian National Authority was an interim administrative body that exercised limited control over parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Gaza was under the control of Hamas. | |
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![]() Capital: Panama City |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Port Moresby |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Papua New Guinea had one autonomous region, Bougainville. | |
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![]() ![]() Capital: Asunción |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Lima |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Manila |
Widely recognized UN member state. The Philippines had one autonomous region: Muslim Mindanao (until 2019), Bangsamoro (since 2019). The Philippines administered Scarborough Shoal, which was disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China. It also claimed sovereignty over the Spratly Islands (disputed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia) and the Malaysian territory of Sabah. Part of the Philippines' territory was controlled by the de facto Bangsamoro Republik from 27 July 2013 to 28 September 2013. | |
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![]() Capital: Warsaw |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Lisbon |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Portugal had two autonomous regions, the Azores and Madeira. Portugal claimed the Spanish municipalities of Olivenza and Táliga. | |
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Q | ||
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![]() Capital: Doha |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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R | ||
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![]() Capital: Bucharest |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Moscow |
Widely recognized UN member state. Russia was a federation of 22 republics, 46 oblasts, 9 krais, 3 federal cities, 1 autonomous oblast, and 4 autonomous okrugs. Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, annexed in 2014, were recognized as a part of Ukraine by most of the international community.[6] | |
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![]() Capital: Kigali |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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S | ||
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![]() Capital: Basseterre |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Saint Kitts and Nevis was a federation of fourteen parishes within two island. It had one autonomous island, Nevis. | |
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![]() Capital: Castries |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. | |
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![]() Capital: Kingstown |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. | |
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![]() Capital: Apia |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() ![]() Capital: San Marino |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: São Tomé |
Widely recognized UN member state. São Tomé and Príncipe had one autonomous province, Príncipe. | |
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![]() Capital: Riyadh |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Dakar |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
| ||
![]() ![]() Capital: Belgrade |
Widely recognized UN member state. Serbia had two autonomous provinces: Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija. The latter was governed by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. Kosovo declared independence in 2008,[7] and was a partially recognized de facto independent republic. | |
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![]() Capital: Victoria |
Widely recognized UN member state. The Seychelles claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Freetown |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Singapore |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Bratislava |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Ljubljana |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Honiara |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Mogadishu
|
Widely recognized UN member state. Over the course of the Somali Civil War, several autonomous regional governments were established in the de jure territory of Somalia. Although these states did not claim independence from Somalia, they were de facto self-governing:
There were also areas of the country which at various times had no effective government at all or that were ruled by local clans. In addition, there was one state that declared and established de facto independence from Somalia, Somaliland. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial) |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Juba |
Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 July 2011). South Sudan was a federation of 10 states. It disputed Abyei with Sudan. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Madrid |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Spain was divided into seventeen autonomous communities and two autonomous cities. Its sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla and Peñón de Alhucemas was disputed by Morocco. Its sovereignty over Olivenza and Táliga was disputed by Portugal. It claimed the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte (administrative), Colombo (commercial) |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Khartoum
|
Widely recognized UN member state. Sudan was a federation of 25 states (later 15, then 17, then 18), ten of which formed South Sudan on 9 July 2011. It disputed Abyei with South Sudan | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Paramaribo |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
| ||
Swaziland → Eswatini | ||
| ||
![]() Capital: Stockholm |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Bern |
Widely recognized UN member state. Switzerland was a federation of 26 cantons. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Damascus |
Widely recognized UN member state. Syria included the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel. It disputed the Turkish sovereignty over Hatay Province. Syrian Arab Republic is widely viewed as the legitimate authority of Syria, though control of its territory transferred between multiple groups during the Syrian civil war (from 15 March 2011). | |
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T | ||
| ||
![]() Capital: Dushanbe |
Widely recognized UN member state. Tajikistan had one autonomous province, Gorno-Badakhshan. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Dodoma (official), Dar es Salaam (seat of government) |
Widely recognized UN member state. Tanzania had one autonomous region, Zanzibar. | |
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![]() ![]() Capital: Bangkok |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
| ||
Timor-Leste → East Timor | ||
| ||
![]() Capital: Lomé |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Nukuʻalofa |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Port of Spain |
Widely recognized UN member state. Trinidad and Tobago had one autonomous island, Tobago. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Tunis |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Ankara |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Ashgabat |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Funafuti |
Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. | |
| ||
U | ||
| ||
![]() Capital: Kampala |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Kyiv |
Widely recognized UN member state. Ukraine had one autonomous republic: Crimea. Crimea and the city of Sevastopol were under de facto Russian control beginning in 2014.[6] | |
| ||
![]() Capital: Abu Dhabi |
Widely recognized UN member state. The United Arab Emirates was a federation of seven emirates. | |
| ||
![]() Capital: London |
Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. The United Kingdom was composed of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It had sovereignty over the following British overseas territories:
In addition, the British Monarch (not the United Kingdom) had direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies:
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![]() Capital: Washington, D.C. |
Widely recognized UN member state. The United States was a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and one incorporated territory. It had sovereignty over the following inhabited insular areas:
It also had sovereignty over eight uninhabited unincorporated territories: These islands were sometimes designated for statistical purposes as the United States Minor Outlying Islands
The United States claimed Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank. Its claim to Serranilla was disputed by Colombia and Nicaragua and its claim to Bajo Nuevo was disputed by Colombia, Jamaica, and Nicaragua. Some government sources stated that these two areas were unincorporated territories of the United States. | |
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![]() Capital: Montevideo |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Tashkent |
Widely recognized UN member state. Uzbekistan had one autonomous republic: Karakalpakstan. | |
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V | ||
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![]() Capital: Port Vila |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Vatican City |
Widely recognized independent state. Vatican City was administered by the Holy See, a sovereign entity recognized by a large number of countries and a Permanent observer at the United Nations. The Holy See also administered a number of extraterritorial properties in Italy. The Pope was the ex officio head of state of Vatican City. | |
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![]() Capital: Caracas |
Widely recognized UN member state. Venezuela was a federation of 23 states, one federal dependency, and one federal district. | |
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![]() Capital: Hanoi |
Widely recognized UN member state. Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands (disputed by China and Taiwan) and Spratly Islands (disputed by China, Taiwan, Brunei, the Philippines, and Malaysia). | |
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Y | ||
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![]() Capital: Sana'a |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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Z | ||
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![]() Capital: Lusaka |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Harare |
Widely recognized UN member state. | |
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Non-UN members or observers
Name and capital city | Information on status and recognition of sovereignty |
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![]() Capital: Sukhumi |
Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity.[m] Claimed by Georgia as the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia. |
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![]() Capital: Stepanakert
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De facto self-governing entity. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Azerbaijan. |
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![]() Capital: Gao |
De facto self-governing state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Mali.
Debellation by Ansar Dine and MUJAO completed on 12 July 2012.[8] |
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![]() Capital: Davao City (Claimed), Zamboanga City (De facto) |
De facto self-governing state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the Philippines.
Bangsamoro Republik dissolved after the Zamboanga City crisis ended in Philippine government victory on 28 September 2013.[9][10] |
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![]() Capital: Avarua |
A state in free association with New Zealand, recognized by Japan (from 16 June 2011), Netherlands (from 16 August 2011) and China. The Cook Islands was a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity. It shared a head of state and citizenship with New Zealand. |
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![]() Capital: Simferopol |
De facto self-governing state. Partially recognized de facto self-governing entity.[n] Claimed by Ukraine as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. |
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![]() Capital: Donetsk |
Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity.[o] Claimed by Ukraine as part of the Donetsk Oblast. |
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![]() Capital: Pristina |
Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity.[p] Claimed by Serbia as the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija under UN administration. |
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![]() Capital: Luhansk |
Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity.[q] Claimed by Ukraine as part of the Luhansk Oblast. |
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Nagorno-Karabakh → Artsakh | |
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![]() Capital: Alofi |
A state in free association with New Zealand, recognized by China. Niue was a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity. It shared a head of state and citizenship with New Zealand. |
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![]() Capital: Lefkoşa |
Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity.[r] Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus. |
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Confederation of unrecognized states: Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic. Claimed by Ukraine. |
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![]() Capital: Tifariti (temporary), El Aaiún (claimed) |
Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity.[s] The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic claimed the disputed territory of Western Sahara, most of which was under control of Morocco. The territories under its control, the so-called Free Zone, were claimed by Morocco. Its government resided in exile in Tindouf, Algeria. |
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![]() Capital: Hargeisa |
De facto self-governing entity. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Somalia. |
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![]() Capital: Tskhinvali
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Partially-recognized de facto independent state.[t] Claimed by Georgia as the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia. |
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![]() Capital: Taipei (seat of government) |
Partially-recognized de facto independent state.[u] The Republic of China claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China, but only administered Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and Itu Aba. Claimed by China. |
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![]() Capital: Tiraspol |
Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity.[v] Claimed by Moldova. |
Other entities
Excluded from the list above are the following noteworthy entities which either were not fully sovereign or did not claim to be independent:
Antarctica as a whole had no government and no permanent population. Seven states claimed portions of Antarctica and five of these reciprocally recognised one another's claims.[13] These claims, which were regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, were neither recognised nor disputed by any other signatory state.[14]
The European Union is a sui generis supranational organisation which had 27 (then 28) member states. The member states transferred a measure of their legislative, executive, and judicial powers to the institutions of the EU, and as such the EU had some elements of sovereignty, without generally being considered a sovereign state. The European Union did not claim to be a sovereign state and had only limited capacity for relations with other states.
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta was a United Nations observer. The order had bi-lateral diplomatic relations with a large number of states, but had no territory other than extraterritorial areas within Rome and Malta.[15] The order's Constitution stated: "The Order is a subject of international law and exercises sovereign functions."[16] Although the order frequently asserted its sovereignty, it did not claim to be a sovereign state. It lacked a defined territory. Since all its members were citizens of other states, almost all of them lived in their native countries, and those who resided in the order's extraterritorial properties in Rome did so only in connection with their official duties, the order lacked the characteristic of having a permanent population.
See also
- List of sovereign states by year
- List of state leaders in 2010
- List of state leaders in 2011
- List of state leaders in 2012
- List of state leaders in 2013
- List of state leaders in 2014
- List of state leaders in 2015
- List of state leaders in 2016
- List of state leaders in 2017
- List of state leaders in 2018
- List of state leaders in 2019
Notes
- ^ The name "Argentine Nation" is also used for the purposes of legislation.
- ^ Armenia is not recognized by Pakistan.
- ^ The People's Republic of China and the Republic of China do not recognize each other, as both states claims to be the sole legitimate government of China. The following states had recognized the ROC instead of the PRC as of October 2019: Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Nicaragua, Palau, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Tuvalu, and Vatican City.
- ^ Cyprus is not recognized by Turkey or Northern Cyprus.
- ^ Also known as "Timor-Leste".
- ^ Israel was not recognized by Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Chad, Cuba, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, or Yemen.
- ^ North Korea was not recognized by Taiwan, Estonia, France, Japan, or South Korea.
- ^ South Korea was not recognized by North Korea.
- ^ Commonly known in English as "Burma".
- ^ Provisionally referred to by the UN and a number of countries and international organizations as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" until 2019; see Macedonia naming dispute.
- ^ Palestine was recognized by Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda (from 22 September 2011), Argentina (from 6 December 2010), Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize (from 9 September 2011), Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (from 22 December 2010), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil (from 1 December 2010), Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chad, the Central African Republic, Chile (from 7 January 2011), China, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominica (from 14 September 2011), the Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador (from 24 December 2010), Egypt, El Salvador (from 25 August 2011), Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada (from 25 September 2011), Guatemala (from 9 April 2013), Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana (from 13 January 2011), Haiti (27 September 2013), Holy See (February 2013), Honduras (from 26 August 2011), Hungary, Iceland (from 15 December 2011), India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho (from 6 June 2011), Liberia (from July 2011), Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru (from 24 January 2011), the Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia (14 September 2015), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (from 29 August 2011), São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname (from 1 February 2011), Swaziland, Sweden (30 October 2014), Syria (from 18 July 2011), Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand (from 18 January 2012), Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay (from 15 March 2011), Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- ^ The Transitional Federal Government was overthrowed on 20 August 2012.
- ^ Abkhazia is recognized by six UN member states (Russia, Syria (from 29 May 2018), Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, and Vanuatu (from 23 May 2011)), and three non-UN member states (South Ossetia, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Transnistria).
- ^ Crimea was recognized only by Russia.[11]
- ^ Donetsk People's Republic is recognized by two non-UN member states (Luhansk People's Republic (from 11 May 2014) and South Ossetia (from 27 June 2014)).
- ^ Kosovo is recognized by Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra (from 8 June 2011), Antigua and Barbuda (20 May 2015), Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh (27 February 2017), Belgium, Belize, Benin (from 18 August 2011), Brunei (25 April 2012), Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi (16 October 2012), Canada, Central African Republic (from 22 July 2011), Chad (1 June 2012), Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands (18 May 2015), Costa Rica, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti (from 8 May 2010), Dominica (11 December 2012), Dominican Republic, Egypt (26 June 2013), El Salvador (29 June 2013), Estonia, Fiji (19 November 2012), Finland, France, Gabon (15 September 2011), the Gambia, Germany, Ghana (23 January 2012), Grenada (25 September 2013), Guinea-Bissau (from 10 January 2011), Guyana (16 March 2013), Haiti (10 February 2012), Honduras (from 3 September 2010), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast (16 September 2011), Japan, Jordan, Kiribati (from 21 October 2010), Kuwait (from 11 October 2011), Latvia, Lesotho (11 February 2014), Liberia, Libya (25 September 2013), Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania (from 12 January 2010), Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger (15 August 2011), Niue (23 June 2015), Norway, Oman (4 February 2011), Palau, Pakistan (24 December 2012), Panama, Papua New Guinea (3 October 2012), Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar (from 7 January 2011), the Republic of China, Saint Kitts and Nevis (28 November 2012), Saint Lucia (19 August 2011), Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore (1 December 2016), Slovenia, the Solomon Islands (13 August 2014), Somalia (from 19 May 2010), South Korea, Suriname (8 July 2016), Swaziland (12 April 2010), Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania (29 May 2013), Thailand (24 September 2013), Timor-Leste (20 September 2012), Togo (11 July 2014), Tonga (15 January 2014), Turkey, Tuvalu (18 November 2010), the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vanuatu (from 28 April 2010), and Yemen (11 June 2013).
- ^ Luhansk People's Republic is recognized by two non-UN member states (Donetsk People's Republic (from 11 May 2014) and South Ossetia (from 18 June 2014)).
- ^ Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey.
- ^ the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic was recognized by Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Jamaica, Laos, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Suriname, Syria, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
- ^ South Ossetia is recognized by five UN member states (Russia, Syria (from 29 May 2018), Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Nauru), and four non-UN member states (Abkhazia, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Transnistria, and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (from 30 September 2010)).
- ^ The Republic of China and the People's Republic of China did not recognize each other, as both states claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China. The following states had recognized the ROC instead of the PRC as of October 2019: Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Nicaragua, Palau, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Tuvalu, and Vatican City.
- ^ Transnistria is recognized by Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
References
- ^ "Cabo Verde põe fim à tradução da sua designação oficial" [Cabo Verde puts an end to translation of its official designation] (in Portuguese). Panapress. 31 October 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ^ "Publications Office – Interinstitutional style guide – Annex A5 – List of countries, territories and currencies". Publications.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 5 August 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ "The World Factbook". Cia.gov. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ "LY - Libya - ISO". www.iso.org. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ "The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Republic of Crimea". The Territories of the Russian Federation 2018. Europa Territories of the World series. London: Routledge. 2018. p. 180. ISBN 9781351103916. OCLC 1027753558.
Note: The territories of the Crimean peninsula, comprising Sevastopol City and the Republic of Crimea, remained internationally recognized as constituting part of Ukraine, following their annexation by Russia in March 2014.
- ^ "UNMIK Background". UN. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ "Al Qaeda-linked Islamists drive Mali's Tuaregs from last stronghold". France24. AFP. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ "WHO IS AFRAID OF MINDANAO INDEPENDENCE?". 14 August 2013. Archived from the original on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "Zamboanga crisis is over, Palace: Zamboanga crisis is over". ABS-CBN News. Reuters. 28 September 2013. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
- ^ "Executive Order on recognising Republic of Crimea". President of Russia. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ Fuller, Liz (9 February 2017). "South Ossetia Referendum on Name Change Steers Clear of Thornier Unification Issue". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ Rogan-Finnemore, Michelle (2005), "What Bioprospecting Means for Antarctica and the Southern Ocean", in Von Tigerstrom, Barbara (ed.), International Law Issues in the South Pacific, Ashgate Publishing, p. 204, ISBN 0-7546-4419-7,
Australia, New Zealand, France, Norway and the United Kingdom reciprocally recognize the validity of each other's claims.
- ^ CIA – the World Factbook – Antarctica – accessed 19 January 2008
- ^ Bilateral relations with countries Archived 26 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 22 December 2009
- ^ Chapter General of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta (12 January 1998). Constitutional Charter and Code of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta, promulgated 27 June 1961, revised by the Extraordinary Chapter General 28–30 April 1997, Article 3 "Sovereignty," Paragraph 1 (PDF). Rome: Tipografia Arte della Stampa. p. 11.