List of sovereign states in the 2020s explained

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 210 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 195 widely recognized sovereign states, two associated states, and 13 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

width=60%Name and capital citywidth=40%Information on status and recognition of sovereignty
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A

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Widely-recognized UN member state. The United Nations continued to recognize the exiled government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as the de jure legitimate government (from 15 August 2021).[1]

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valign=top Albania – Republic of Albania Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Algeria – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Andorra – Principality of Andorra 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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valign=top Angola – Republic of Angola Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Antigua and Barbuda Widely recognized UN member state and a Commonwealth realm. Antigua and Barbuda had two dependencies, Barbuda and Redonda.
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valign=top Argentina – Argentine Republic Widely recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city. It had a claim over Argentine Antarctica, which was 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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valign=top Armenia – Republic of Armenia Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Australia – Commonwealth of Australia Widely recognized UN member state and a Commonwealth realm. Australia was a federation of six states and three territories. It had sovereignty over the following external territories:
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valign=top Austria – Republic of Austria Widely recognized UN member state and an EU member. Austria was a federation of nine states.
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valign=top Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan 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 (to 1 January 2024).
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B

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valign=top – Commonwealth of the Bahamas Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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valign=top Bahrain – Kingdom of Bahrain Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Bangladesh – People's Republic of Bangladesh Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Barbados Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm until 30 November 2021, when it became a republic.
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valign=top Belarus – Republic of Belarus Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Belgium was a federation of three communities and three regions.
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valign=top Belize Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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valign=top Benin – Republic of Benin
Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (seat of government)Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top – Plurinational State of Bolivia
Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative)Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Bosnia and Herzegovina 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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valign=top Botswana – Republic of Botswana Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil Widely recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 26 states and one federal district.
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valign=top – Nation of Brunei, Abode of Peace 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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valign=top Bulgaria – Republic of Bulgaria Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top Burkina Faso Widely recognized UN member state.
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Burma Myanmar
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valign=top Burundi – Republic of Burundi Widely recognized UN member state.
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C

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valign=top Cambodia – Kingdom of Cambodia Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Cameroon – Republic of Cameroon Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Canada Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm; Canada was a federation of ten provinces and three territories.
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valign=top Cape Verde – Republic of Cabo Verde Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Central African Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Chad – Republic of Chad Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Chile – Republic of Chile 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, although it was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.
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valign=top ChinaPeople's Republic of China Widely recognized UN member state. The People's Republic of China had 22 provinces, four direct controlled municipalities and 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, Penghu, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and the Vereker Banks, and Itu Aba, all of 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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valign=top Colombia – Republic of Colombia 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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valign=top Comoros – Union of the Comoros 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 region of Mayotte and the Glorioso Islands. Comoros also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and France).
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valign=top Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica Widely recognized UN member state.
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Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast
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valign=top Croatia – Republic of Croatia Widely recognized UN member state and an EU member.
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valign=top Cuba – Republic of Cuba Widely recognized UN member state. The Cuban region of Guantánamo Bay was under the control of the United States.
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valign=top Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus Widely recognized UN member state; EU member. The northeastern part of the island was the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, which was recognized only by Turkey.
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valign=top Czech Republic Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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D

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valign=top Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. The Kingdom of Denmark also included two autonomous countries:
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valign=top Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Dominican Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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E

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valign=top – Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Eritrea – State of Eritrea Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Estonia – Republic of Estonia Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top – Kingdom of Eswatini
Capital: Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal and legislative)Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Ethiopia – Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia 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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valign=top Fiji – Republic of Fiji Widely recognized UN member state. Fiji had an autonomous dependency, Rotuma.
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valign=top Finland – Republic of Finland Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region:
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valign=top France – French Republic Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. France included five overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion. It also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:

France also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and the Comoros).

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G

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valign=top Gabon – Gabonese Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top – Republic of the Gambia Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Georgia Widely recognized UN member state. Georgia had two autonomous regions, Adjara and Abkhazia; the latter was home to 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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valign=top Germany – Federal Republic of Germany Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Germany was a federation of sixteen states.
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valign=top Ghana – Republic of Ghana Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top GreeceHellenic Republic 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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valign=top Grenada Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Grenada had one autonomous dependency, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
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valign=top Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Guinea – Republic of Guinea Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Guinea-Bissau – Republic of Guinea-Bissau Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Guyana – Co-operative Republic of Guyana Widely recognized UN member state.
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H

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valign=top Haiti – Republic of Haiti Widely recognized UN member state. Haiti claimed the uninhabited U.S. possession of Navassa Island.
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Holy See Vatican City
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valign=top Honduras – Republic of Honduras Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Hungary Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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I

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valign=top Iceland – Republic of Iceland Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top India – Republic of India Widely recognized UN member state. India was a federation of twenty-eight states and nine union territories. Indian sovereignty over South Tibet was disputed by China. India administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
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valign=top Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia Widely recognized UN member state. Indonesia had five special provinces: Aceh, Jakarta, Papua, West Papua, and Yogyakarta.
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valign=top – Islamic Republic of Iran Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Iraq – Republic of Iraq 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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valign=top Ireland Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top Israel – State of Israel Widely recognized UN member state. 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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valign=top Italy – Italian Republic 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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valign=top – Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
Capital: Yamoussoukro (official), Abidjan (seat of government)Widely recognized UN member state.
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J

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valign=top Jamaica Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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valign=top Japan Widely recognized UN member state. Its claim over the Liancourt Rocks was disputed by North Korea and South Korea. Its claim over Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai Islands was disputed by Russia.
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valign=top Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Widely recognized UN member state.
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K

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valign=top Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan
Capital: Nur-Sultan (renamed Astana in 2022)Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Kenya – Republic of Kenya Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Kiribati – Republic of Kiribati Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top – Democratic People's Republic of Korea Widely recognized UN member state. It claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea and its claim over the Liancourt Rocks was disputed by South Korea and Japan.
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valign=top – Republic of Korea Widely recognized UN member state. South Korea had one autonomous region, Jeju. It claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea and its claim over the Liancourt Rocks was disputed by North Korea and Japan.
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valign=top Kuwait – State of Kuwait Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyz Republic Widely-recognized UN member state.
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L

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valign=top – Lao People's Democratic Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Latvia – Republic of Latvia Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top Lebanon – Lebanese Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Liberia – Republic of Liberia Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Libya – State of Libya Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein Widely recognized UN member state. The defense of Liechtenstein was the responsibility of Switzerland.
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valign=top Lithuania – Republic of Lithuania Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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M

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valign=top Madagascar – Republic of Madagascar Widely recognized UN member state. Madagascar claimed the French possessions of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands and Juan de Nova Island. It also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Comoros and France).
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valign=top Malawi – Republic of Malawi Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Malaysia
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 China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei).
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valign=top Maldives – Republic of Maldives Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Mali – Republic of Mali Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Malta – Republic of Malta Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top Marshall Islands – Republic of the Marshall Islands 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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valign=top MauritaniaIslamic Republic of Mauritania Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Mauritius – Republic of Mauritius 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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valign=top Mexico – United Mexican States Widely recognized UN member state. Mexico was a federation of 31 states and one federal district.
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valign=top 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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valign=top – Republic of Moldova 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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valign=top Monaco – Principality of Monaco Widely recognized UN member state. The defense of Monaco was the responsibility of France.
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valign=top Mongolia Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Montenegro Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco 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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valign=top Mozambique – Republic of Mozambique Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Myanmar – Republic of the Union of Myanmar Widely recognized UN member state.
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N

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valign=top Namibia – Republic of Namibia Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Nauru – Republic of Nauru
Capital: Yaren (unofficial, seat of parliament)Widely recognized UN member state. The defense of Nauru was the responsibility of Australia.
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valign=top Nepal – Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal Widely recognized UN member state. Nepal was a federation of seven provinces.
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valign=top NetherlandsKingdom of the Netherlands
Capital: Amsterdam (official), The Hague (seat of government)Widely recognized UN member state. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consisted of four 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, Sint Maarten, and the Caribbean Netherlands, was a member of the EU.

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valign=top New Zealand 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 (an unincorporated territory of the United States). New Zealand did not recognize this claim.

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valign=top Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua 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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valign=top Niger – Republic of Niger Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top NigeriaFederal Republic of Nigeria Widely recognized UN member state. Nigeria was a federation of 36 states and one federal territory.
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valign=top – Republic of North Macedonia Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Norway – Kingdom of Norway Widely recognized UN member state. Norway had two integral overseas areas: Jan Mayen and Svalbard. The latter 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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valign=top Oman – Sultanate of Oman
Widely recognized UN member state.
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P

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valign=top Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan 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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valign=top Palau – Republic of Palau Widely recognized UN member state under a Compact of Free Association with the United States.
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valign=top – State of Palestine
Capital: Ramallah (administrative), Gaza City (administrative), Jerusalem (claims)Partially-recognised de facto self-governing entity. Palestine claimed sovereignty over a disputed region consisting of three Israeli-occupied territories: the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. Palestine was a non-member observer state of the United Nations General Assembly. 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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valign=top Panama – Republic of Panama Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Papua New Guinea – Independent State of Papua New Guinea Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Papua New Guinea had one autonomous region, Bougainville.
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valign=top Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Peru – Republic of Peru Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Philippines – Republic of the Philippines Widely recognized UN member state. The Philippines had one autonomous region, Bangsamoro. 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.
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valign=top Poland – Republic of Poland Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top Portugal – Portuguese Republic 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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valign=top Qatar – State of Qatar Widely recognized UN member state.
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R

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valign=top Romania Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top – Russian Federation Widely recognized UN member state and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Russia was 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 was disputed by Japan and its claim over Crimea,[2] Donetsk Oblast, Kherson Oblast, Luhansk Oblast and Zaporizhzhia Oblast[3] was disputed by Ukraine.
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valign=top Rwanda – Republic of RwandaWidely recognized UN member state.
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S

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valign=top Saint Kitts and Nevis – Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Saint Kitts and Nevis was a federation of fourteen parishes on two islands. It had one autonomous island, Nevis.
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valign=top Saint Lucia Widely recognized UN member state and a Commonwealth realm.
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valign=top Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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valign=top Samoa – Independent State of Samoa Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top San Marino – Republic of San Marino Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe Widely recognized UN member state; São Tomé and Príncipe had one autonomous province, Príncipe.
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valign=top Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Senegal – Republic of Senegal Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Serbia – Republic of Serbia Widely recognized UN member state. Serbia claimed two autonomous provinces, Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija,[4] with the latter controlled by a partially-recognized de facto independent state.
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valign=top Seychelles – Republic of Seychelles Widely recognized UN member state. The Seychelles claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory.
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valign=top Sierra Leone – Republic of Sierra Leone Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Singapore – Republic of Singapore Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Slovakia – Slovak Republic Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top Slovenia – Republic of Slovenia Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top Solomon Islands Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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valign=top Somalia – Federal Republic of Somalia Widely recognized UN member state. Several autonomous regional governments existed 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 that at various times had no effective government at all, or which were ruled by local clans. In addition, one state, Somaliland, had declared and established de facto independence from Somalia.

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valign=top South Africa – Republic of South Africa
Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top – Republic of South Sudan Widely recognized UN member state. South Sudan was a federation of 10 states. It disputed Abyei with Sudan.
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valign=top Spain – Kingdom of Spain Widely recognized UN member state and an 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.
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valign=top Sri Lanka – Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Capital: Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte (administrative), Colombo (commercial)Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Sudan – Republic of the Sudan Widely recognized UN member state; Sudan was a federation of 18 states. Sovereignty over Abyei was disputed with South Sudan.
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valign=top Suriname – Republic of Suriname Widely recognized UN member state.
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Swaziland Eswatini
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valign=top Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top Switzerland – Swiss Confederation Widely recognized UN member state. Switzerland was a federation of 26 cantons.
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valign=top – Syrian Arab Republic Widely recognized UN member state. Syria included the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel. It disputed the Turkish sovereignty over Hatay Province. The government of the Syrian Arab Republic was widely viewed as the legitimate authority of Syria, though control of its territory transferred between multiple groups during the Syrian civil war.
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T

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valign=top Tajikistan – Republic of Tajikistan Widely recognized UN member state; Tajikistan had one autonomous province, Gorno-Badakhshan.
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valign=top – United Republic of Tanzania
Capital: Dodoma (official), Dar es Salaam (seat of government)Widely recognized UN member state; Tanzania had one autonomous region, Zanzibar.
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valign=top – Kingdom of Thailand Widely recognized UN member state.
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Timor-Leste East Timor
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valign=top Togo – Togolese Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Trinidad and Tobago – Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Widely recognized UN member state; Trinidad and Tobago had one autonomous island, Tobago.
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valign=top Tunisia – Tunisian Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Turkey – Republic of Türkiye Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Turkmenistan Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Tuvalu Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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U

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valign=top Uganda – Republic of Uganda Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Ukraine Widely recognized UN member state; Ukraine had one autonomous republic, Crimea. Crimea and the city of Sevastopol were under de facto Russian control, and Donetsk Oblast, Kherson Oblast, Luhansk Oblast and Zaporizhzhia Oblast were claimed by Russia beginning in 2022.
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valign=top United Arab Emirates Widely recognized UN member state; the United Arab Emirates was a federation of seven emirates.
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valign=top United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Widely recognized UN member state. EU member (to 31 January 2020). 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:

  • , with two dependencies:
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valign=top United States – United States of America Widely recognized UN member state. The United States was a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and one incorporated territory. It asserted sovereignty over the following inhabited insular areas:

It also had sovereignty over eight uninhabited unincorporated territories, which are 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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valign=top Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Uzbekistan – Republic of Uzbekistan Widely recognized UN member state. Uzbekistan had one autonomous republic, Karakalpakstan.
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V

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valign=top Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top – Vatican City State Widely recognized independent state. Vatican City was administered by the Holy See, a sovereign entity recognized by a large number of countries and a non-member observer state of the United Nations General Assembly. 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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valign=top – Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Widely recognized UN member state. Venezuela was a federation of 23 states, one federal dependency, and one federal district.
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valign=top – Socialist Republic of Vietnam 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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valign=top Yemen – Republic of Yemen Widely recognized UN member state. It faced two civil wars:
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Z

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valign=top Zambia – Republic of Zambia Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top Zimbabwe – Republic of Zimbabwe Widely recognized UN member state.
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Non-UN members or observers

width=60%Name and capital citywidth=40%Information on status and recognition of sovereignty
valign=top – Republic of Abkhazia Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Georgia.
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valign=top – Republic of Artsakh (to 1 January 2024) De facto self-governing entity (to 1 January 2024). It was not recognized by any other state and was claimed by Azerbaijan.
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valign=top Cook Islands A state in free association with New Zealand, recognized by Japan, Netherlands, 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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valign=top – Donetsk People's Republic (to 4 October 2022) Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Ukraine as part of the Donetsk Oblast.
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valign=top Kherson (from 29 September 2022 to 4 October 2022) Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Ukraine as the Kherson Oblast.
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valign=top – Republic of Kosovo Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Serbia as the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija under UN administration
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valign=top – Luhansk People's Republic (to 4 October 2022)Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Ukraine as part of the Luhansk Oblast.
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valign=top Niue 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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valign=top – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Cyprus.
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valign=top – Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Capital: Tifariti (temporary), El Aaiún (claimed)Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. 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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valign=top – Republic of Somaliland De facto self-governing entity. It was not recognized by any other state and was claimed by Somalia.
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valign=top – Republic of South Ossetia Partially-recognized de facto independent state. Claimed by Georgia as the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia.
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valign=top – Republic of China
Capital: Taipei (seat of government)Partially-recognized de facto independent state. The Republic of China claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China, but only administered Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and Itu Aba (collectively known as the "free area"). Territories controlled by the Republic of China were claimed by the People's Republic of China.
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valign=top – Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Moldova.
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valign=top Zaporozhye (from 29 September 2022 to 4 October 2022)
Capital: Melitopol (temporary), Zaporozhye (claimed)Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Ukraine as the Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

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:

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Who will speak for Afghanistan at the United Nations. 24 September 2021 .
  2. Book: The Territories of the Russian Federation 2018 . Routledge . 2018 . 9781351103916 . Europa Territories of the World series . London . 180 . https://books.google.com/books?id=1z1MDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT180. Republic of Crimea . 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..
  3. Web site: Russia vetoes Security Council resolution condemning attempted annexation of Ukraine regions. 30 September 2022 . UN. 5 October 2022.
  4. Web site: UNMIK Background. UN. 21 January 2015.
  5. Web site: The World Factbook . CIA . 2023-12-13 . 2023-12-24.
  6. Web site: Bilateral relations with countries. https://web.archive.org/web/20080626003221/http://www.orderofmalta.org/attdiplomatica.asp?idlingua=5 . 2008-06-26 .
  7. Book: Chapter General of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta . 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. . Tipografia Arte della Stampa . 1998-01-12 . Rome . 11 .