List of sovereign states in the 2020s
This is a list of sovereign states in the 2020s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 2020 and the present day. It contains 209 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 195 widely recognized sovereign states, 2 associated states, and 12 entities which claim an effective sovereignty but are considered de jure 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 are ex officio Co-Princes of Andorra. The defense of Andorra is 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 and a Commonwealth realm; Antigua and Barbuda has two dependencies and they are Barbuda and Redonda. | |
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![]() Capital: Buenos Aires |
Widely-recognized UN member state; Argentina is a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city. It has a claim over Argentine Antarctica, which is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. It also claims the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, both of which are British overseas territories. | |
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![]() Capital: Yerevan |
Widely-recognized UN member state.[lower-alpha 2] | |
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![]() Capital: Canberra |
Widely-recognized UN member state and a Commonwealth realm. Australia is a federation of six states and three territories. It has sovereignty over the following external territories:
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![]() Capital: Vienna |
Widely-recognized UN member state and an EU member; Austria is a federation of nine states. | |
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![]() Capital: Baku |
Widely-recognized UN member state; Azerbaijan has one autonomous republic and it is Nakhchivan. It includes the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where a partially recognized breakaway republic has 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 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2020. EU member. Belgium is 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 is a federation of two constituent entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 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 is a federation of 26 states and one federal district. | |
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![]() Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan |
Widely-recognized UN member state. Brunei claims 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 ![]() | ||
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![]() Capital: Gitega |
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 and a Commonwealth realm; Canada is 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 has two special territories and they are Easter Island and the Juan Fernández Islands. It has a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory, although it is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. | |
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![]() Capital: Beijing |
Widely-recognized UN member state[lower-alpha 3] and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. China has five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. Additionally, it has sovereignty over two special administrative regions:
China claims Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, the Pratas Islands and Itu Aba, all of which are governed by Taiwan. It also claims the Paracel Islands (disputed by Taiwan and Vietnam), the Spratly Islands (disputed by Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei), and South Tibet (controlled by India). China administers Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract, which are within the disputed region of Kashmir. | |
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![]() Capital: Bogotá |
Widely-recognized UN member state; Colombia administers Serranilla Bank and claims Bajo Nuevo Bank (disputed by Nicaragua and the United States). | |
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![]() Capital: Moroni |
Widely-recognized UN member state. The Comoros is a federation of three islands autonomous islands: Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan. Comoros also claims sovereignty over the French region of Mayotte and the Glorioso Islands. Comoros also claims Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and France). | |
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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 ![]() | ||
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![]() Capital: Zagreb |
Widely-recognized UN member state and an EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Havana |
Widely-recognized UN member state; the Cuban region of Guantánamo Bay is under the control of the United States. | |
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![]() Capital: Nicosia |
Widely-recognized UN member state;[lower-alpha 4] EU member. The northeastern part of the island is the de facto independent statelet of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey. | |
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![]() Capital: Prague |
Widely-recognized UN member state and an 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 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2020. | |
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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 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2020 and tentatively 2021; 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 is 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 and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. EU member. France includes five overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion. It also has sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
France also claims Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and the 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 has two autonomous regions and they are Adjara and Abkhazia; the latter is home to a de facto independent state. Georgia also includes 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 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2020. EU member. Germany is 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 has sovereignty over Mount Athos, an autonomous monastic state that is 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 has 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 claims the uninhabited U.S. possession of Navassa Island. | |
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Holy See ![]() | ||
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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 is a federation of twenty-eight states and nine union territories. Indian sovereignty over South Tibet is disputed by China; India administers part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. | |
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![]() Capital: Jakarta |
Widely-recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2020. Indonesia has five special provinces and they are 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 is constitutionally designated as a federation of autonomous regions, but only one region (Iraqi Kurdistan) has been established. | |
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![]() Capital: Dublin |
Widely-recognized UN member state and a EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Jerusalem |
Widely-recognized UN member state.[lower-alpha 7] Israel occupies 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 and an EU member. Italy has 5 autonomous regions and they are 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 and a Commonwealth realm. | |
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![]() Capital: Tokyo |
Widely-recognized UN member state; its claim over the Liancourt Rocks is disputed by North Korea and South Korea. Its claim over Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai Islands is disputed by Russia. | |
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![]() Capital: Amman |
Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
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K | ||
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![]() Capital: Nur-Sultan |
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.[lower-alpha 8] It claims to be the sole legitimate government of Korea and its claim over the Liancourt Rocks is disputed by South Korea and Japan. | |
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![]() Capital: Seoul |
Widely-recognized UN member state.[lower-alpha 9] South Korea has one autonomous region and it is Jeju. It claims to be the sole legitimate government of Korea and its claim over the Liancourt Rocks is disputed by North Korea and Japan. | |
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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 and an 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. | |
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![]() Capital: Vaduz |
Widely-recognized UN member state; the defense of Liechtenstein is the responsibility of Switzerland. | |
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![]() Capital: Vilnius |
Widely-recognized UN member state and an EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Luxembourg |
Widely-recognized UN member state and an EU member. | |
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M | ||
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![]() Capital: Antananarivo |
Widely-recognized UN member state. Madagascar claims the French possessions of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands and Juan de Nova Island. It also claims Banc du Geyser, though this is disputed by Comoros and France. | |
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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 is a federation of thirteen states and three federal territories. Malaysia claims part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by China, Taiwan, 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. | |
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![]() Capital: Valletta |
Widely-recognized UN member state and an 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 claims 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. Mauritius also has two other dependencies and they are Agalega Islands and Cargados Carajos. It claims 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 is 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 is a federation of four states. | |
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![]() Capital: Chişinău |
Widely-recognized UN member state. Moldova had two autonomous territorial units and they are Gagauzia and Transnistria; the latter is home to a de facto independent state. | |
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![]() Capital: Monaco |
Widely-recognized UN member state; the defense of Monaco is 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 claims sovereignty over and controlled most of the disputed Western Sahara, which is home to the de facto independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Morocco disputed the 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 is the responsibility of Australia. | |
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![]() Capital: Kathmandu |
Widely-recognized UN member state. Nepal is designated as a federation, but its federal units have not yet been created. | |
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![]() Capital: Amsterdam (official), The Hague (seat of government) |
Widely-recognized UN member state. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of four autonomous countries:
Territory of islands without autonomy (consists of three special municipalities that are part of the Netherlands): The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole is a member of the EU, but Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Caribbean Netherlands are not. | |
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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 claims Swains Island, part of American Samoa (a U.S. dependence). New Zealand does 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. | |
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![]() Capital: Niamey |
Widely-recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2020 and 2021. | |
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![]() Capital: Abuja |
Widely-recognized UN member state. Nigeria is 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 is a federation of four provinces and four territories. It administers 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 a 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.[lower-alpha 11] Palestine claims sovereignty over a disputed region consisting of three Israeli-occupied territories: the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. Palestine is a permanent observer at the United Nations. The Palestinian National Authority is an interim administrative body that exercises limited control over parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Gaza is 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 and a Commonwealth realm. Papua New Guinea has one autonomous region and it is 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 has one autonomous region and it is Bangsamoro. The Philippines administered Scarborough Shoal, which was disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China. It also claims sovereignty over the Spratly Islands (disputed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia) and the Malaysian territory of Sabah. | |
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![]() Capital: Warsaw |
Widely-recognized UN member state and an EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Lisbon |
Widely-recognized UN member state and an EU member. Portugal had two autonomous regions: the Azores and Madeira. Portugal claims 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 and an EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Moscow |
Widely-recognized UN member state and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Russia is a federation of 22 republics, 46 oblasts, 9 krais, 3 federal cities, 1 autonomous oblast, and 4 autonomous okrugs. Its claim over Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai Islands is disputed by Japan and its claim over Crimea is disputed by Ukraine. | |
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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 is a federation of fourteen parishes within two island. Nevis (which is one of the islands) has autonomy. | |
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![]() Capital: Castries |
Widely-recognized UN member state and a Commonwealth realm. | |
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![]() Capital: Kingstown |
Widely-recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2020 and tentatively 2021; 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 has one autonomous province and it is Príncipe. | |
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![]() Capital: Riyadh |
Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Dakar |
Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Belgrade |
Widely-recognized UN member state. Serbia claims two autonomous provinces and they are Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija,[1] with the latter being home to a partially-recognized de facto independent state. | |
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![]() Capital: Victoria |
Widely-recognized UN member state; the Seychelles claims the British Indian Ocean Territory. | |
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![]() Capital: Freetown |
Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Singapore |
Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Bratislava |
Widely-recognized UN member state and an EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Ljubljana |
Widely-recognized UN member state and an EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Honiara |
Widely-recognized UN member state and an Commonwealth realm. | |
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![]() Capital: Mogadishu |
Widely-recognized UN member state. Several autonomous regional governments exist in the de jure territory of Somalia. Although these states do not claim independence from Somalia, they are de facto self-governing:
There are also areas of the country which at various times have no effective government at all or which are ruled by local clans. In addition, there is one state which has declared and established de facto independence from Somalia and it is Somaliland. | |
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![]() Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial) |
Widely-recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2020. | |
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![]() Capital: Juba |
Widely-recognized independent state and an UN member state; disputes Abyei with Sudan. South Sudan is a federation of 10 states. | |
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![]() Capital: Madrid |
Widely-recognized UN member state and an EU member. Spain is 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 is disputed by Morocco. Its sovereignty over Olivenza and Táliga is disputed by Portugal; it claims the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. | |
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![]() Capital: Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte (administrative), Colombo (commercial) |
Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Khartoum |
Widely-recognized UN member state; Sudan is a federation of 18 states. Abyei is disputed with South Sudan. | |
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![]() Capital: Paramaribo |
Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
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Swaziland ![]() | ||
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![]() Capital: Stockholm |
Widely-recognized UN member state. EU member. | |
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![]() Capital: Bern |
Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state. Switzerland is a federation of 26 cantons. | |
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![]() 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. | |
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T | ||
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![]() Capital: Dushanbe |
Widely-recognized UN member state; Tajikistan has one autonomous province and it is Gorno-Badakhshan. | |
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![]() Capital: Dodoma (official), Dar es Salaam (seat of government) |
Widely-recognized UN member state; Tanzania has one autonomous region and it is Zanzibar. | |
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![]() Capital: Bangkok |
Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
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Timor-Leste ![]() | ||
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![]() Capital: Lomé |
Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Nuku'alofa |
Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Port of Spain |
Widely-recognized UN member state; Trinidad and Tobago has one autonomous island and it is Tobago. | |
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![]() Capital: Tunis |
Widely-recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2020 and tentatively 2021. | |
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![]() Capital: Ankara |
Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Ashgabat |
Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Funafuti |
Widely-recognized UN member state and a Commonwealth realm. | |
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U | ||
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![]() Capital: Kampala |
Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
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![]() Capital: Kiev |
Widely-recognized UN member state; Ukraine has one autonomous republic and it is Crimea. | |
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![]() Capital: Abu Dhabi |
Widely-recognized UN member state; the United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates. | |
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![]() Capital: London |
Widely-recognized UN member state and a permanent member of the UN Security Council; EU member to 31 January 2020. The United Kingdom is composed of four "countries": England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It has sovereignty over the following British overseas territories:
In addition, the British Monarch (not the United Kingdom) has direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies:
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![]() Capital: Washington, D.C. |
Widely-recognized UN member state and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. The United States is a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and one incorporated territory. It asserts sovereignty over the following inhabited insular areas:
It also asserts sovereignty over eight uninhabited unincorporated territories, these islands are sometimes designated for statistical purposes as the United States Minor Outlying Islands:
The United States claims Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank. Its claim to Serranilla is disputed by Colombia and Nicaragua and its claim to Bajo Nuevo is 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 and it is 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 is 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 is the ex officio head of state of Vatican City. | |
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![]() Capital: Caracas |
Widely-recognized UN member state. Venezuela is a federation of 23 states, one federal dependency, and one federal district. | |
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![]() Capital: Hanoi |
Widely-recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2020 and tentatively 2021. Vietnam claims 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. 3 |
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![]() Capital: Stepanakert |
De facto self-governing entity. Not recognized by any other state; claimed by Azerbaijan. |
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![]() Capital: Avarua |
A state in free association with New Zealand, recognized by Japan, Netherlands, and China. The Cook Islands is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity. It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship. |
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![]() Capital: Pristina |
Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity.[lower-alpha 12] Claimed by Serbia as the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija under UN administration |
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![]() Capital: Alofi |
A state in free association with New Zealand, recognized by China. Niue is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity and it has shared citizenship with New Zealand. |
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![]() Capital: Lefkoşa |
Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity;[lower-alpha 13] claimed by Cyprus. |
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![]() Capital: Tifariti (temporary), El Aaiún (claimed) |
Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity.[lower-alpha 14] The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic claims the disputed territory of Western Sahara, most of which is under control of Morocco. The territories under its control, the so-called Free Zone, were claims by Morocco. Its government resides in exile in Tindouf, Algeria. |
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![]() Capital: Hargeisa |
De facto self-governing entity; not recognized by any other state and claimed by Somalia. |
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![]() Capital: Tskhinvali |
Partially-recognized de facto independent state.[lower-alpha 15] 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.[lower-alpha 16] The "Republic of China" claims to be the sole legitimate government of China, but only administered Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, the Pratas Islands and Itu Aba. Claimed by China. |
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![]() Capital: Tiraspol |
Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity;[lower-alpha 17] 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 has no government and no permanent population. Seven states claim portions of Antarctica and five of these have reciprocally recognised one another's claims.[2] These claims, which were regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, were neither recognised nor disputed by any other signatory state.[3] The European Union is a sui generis supranational organisation which had 27 (then 28) member states. The member states had 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 is a United Nations observer. The order had bi-lateral diplomatic relations with a large number of states, but has no territory other than extraterritorial areas within Rome and Malta.[4] The order's Constitution stated: "The Order is a subject of international law and exercises sovereign functions."[5] 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 2020
Notes
- The name "Argentine Nation" is also used for the purposes of legislation.
- Armenia is not recognized by Pakistan.
- China and Taiwan do not recognize each other. The following states have diplomatic relations with Taiwan instead of China: Belize,Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, 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".
- Ireland also had the legal description of "Republic of Ireland", although this is not its constitutional name.
- Israel is 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 is not recognized by Taiwan, Estonia, France, Japan, or South Korea.
- South Korea is not recognized by North Korea.
- Commonly known in English as "Burma".
- Palestine is recognized by Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chad, the Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, eSwatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, 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, the Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- Kosovo is recognized by Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, eSwatini, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, the Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Niue, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, the Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Korea, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vanuatu, and Yemen.
- Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey.
- the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is 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.
- Abkhazia is recognized by South Ossetia, Transnistria, Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, and Vanuatu.
- Taiwan and China do not recognize each other, as both states claims to be the sole legitimate government of China. The following states recognized the ROC instead of the PRC: Belize, Burkina Faso, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, the Gambia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, São Tomé and Príncipe, Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Tuvalu, and Vatican City.
- Transnistria is recognized by Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
References
- "UNMIK Background". UN. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- 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 2008-06-26 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 2009-12-22
- 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.