The following is a list providing an overview of sovereign states around the world with information on their status and recognition of their sovereignty.
The 205 listed states can be divided into three categories based on membership within the United Nations System: 193 UN member states, 2 UN General Assembly non-member observer states, and 10 other states. The sovereignty dispute column indicates states having undisputed sovereignty (189 states, of which there are 188 UN member states and one UN General Assembly non-member observer state), states having disputed sovereignty (14 states, of which there are 5 UN member states, 1 UN General Assembly non-member observer state, and 8 de facto states), and states having a special political status (two states, both in free association with New Zealand).
Compiling a list such as this can be complicated and controversial, as there is no definition that is binding on all the members of the community of nations concerning the criteria for statehood. For more information on the criteria used to determine the contents of this list, please see the criteria for inclusion section below. The list is intended to include entities that have been recognised as having de facto status as sovereign states, and inclusion should not be seen as an endorsement of any specific claim to statehood in legal terms.
Tables
· List of states › UN member states and General Assembly observer states
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Afghanistan – Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Afghanistan – Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Col 1
A
Common and formal names
Afghanistan – Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty
The ruling Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in power since 2021, has not been recognised by the United Nations or any other state except Russia. The defunct Islamic Republic of Afghanistan remains the recognised government.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Albania – Republic of Albania
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Algeria – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Andorra – Principality of Andorra
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Andorra is a co-principality in which the office of head of state is jointly held ex officio by the French president and the bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of Urgell, who himself is appointed with approval from the Holy See.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Angola – Republic of Angola
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Antigua and Barbuda
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Antigua and Barbuda is a Commonwealth realm with one autonomous region, Barbuda.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Argentina – Argentine Republic
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Argentina is a federation of 23 provinces and one autonomous city.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Armenia – Republic of Armenia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Australia – Commonwealth of Australia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Australia is a Commonwealth realm and a federation of both states and territories. There are six states, three internal territories, six external territories and one claimed Antarctic external territory. The external territories of Australia are:
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Coral Sea Islands Territory
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Norfolk Island
Australian Antarctic Territory
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Austria – Republic of Austria
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the European Union. Austria is a federation of nine states.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Azerbaijan contains one autonomous region, Nakhchivan.
Bahamas, The – Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Bahamas, The – Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Col 1
B
Common and formal names
Bahamas, The – Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty
The Bahamas is a Commonwealth realm.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Bahrain – Kingdom of Bahrain
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Bangladesh – People's Republic of Bangladesh
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Barbados
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Belarus – Republic of Belarus
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Many states rescinded their recognition of President Alexander Lukashenko following the disputed 2020 election. Lithuania currently recognises Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Coordination Council as the legitimate government of Belarus.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU. Belgium is a federation of three linguistic communities and three regions.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Belize
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Belize is a Commonwealth realm.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Benin – Republic of Benin
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Bolivia – Plurinational State of Bolivia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Bosnia and Herzegovina has two constituent entities:
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Republika Srpska
and Brčko District, a self-governing administrative district.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Botswana – Republic of Botswana
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Brazil is a federation of 26 states and one federal district.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Brunei – Brunei Darussalam
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Bulgaria – Republic of Bulgaria
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Burkina Faso
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Burundi – Republic of Burundi
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Cambodia – Kingdom of Cambodia
Cambodia – Kingdom of Cambodia
Col 1
C
Common and formal names
Cambodia – Kingdom of Cambodia
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Cameroon – Republic of Cameroon
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Canada
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Canada is a Commonwealth realm and a federation of 10 provinces and three territories.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Cape Verde – Republic of Cabo Verde
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Central African Republic
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Chad – Republic of Chad
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Chile – Republic of Chile
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Chile has one special territory, Easter Island.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
China – People's Republic of China
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
Partially unrecognised. BClaimed by AfghanistanClaimed by GeorgiaClaimed by North Korea Claimed by Serbia Claimed by Somalia Claimed by the People's Republic of China Claimed by the Republic of China Claimed by South Korea Claimed by Azerbaijan Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus Disputed by Israel Claimed by Indonesia Claimed by the Marshall Islands Claimed by Mauritius Claimed by Morocco Claimed by Moldova Claimed by Mali Claimed by Spain Claimed by Argentina Claimed by Ukraine Claimed by Pakistan
Sovereignty dispute
China contains five autonomous regions, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Tibet, and Xinjiang. Additionally, it has sovereignty over two Special Administrative Regions:
Hong Kong
Macao
China claims, but does not control, Taiwan, which is governed by a rival administration (the Republic of China) that claims all of China as its territory.
China is not recognised by 11 UN member states and Vatican City, which, with the exception of Bhutan, all recognise the Republic of China (Taiwan) instead.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Colombia – Republic of Colombia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Comoros – Union of the Comoros
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Comoros is a federation of three islands.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Congo, Republic of the
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Croatia – Republic of Croatia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Cuba – Republic of Cuba
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
Not recognised by Turkey
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU. The northeastern part of the island is the de facto state of Northern Cyprus.
Cyprus is not recognised by Turkey due to the Cyprus problem, with Turkey recognising Northern Cyprus.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Czech Republic
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark
Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark
Col 1
D
Common and formal names
Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty
Member of the EU. The Kingdom of Denmark includes two self-governing territories:
Faroe Islands
Greenland
The metropolitan territory of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland form the three constituent countries of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Denmark as a whole is a member of the EU, but EU law (in most cases) does not apply to the Faroe Islands and Greenland. See Greenland and the European Union, and Faroe Islands and the European Union.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Dominican Republic
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador
Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador
Col 1
E
Common and formal names
Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Eritrea – State of Eritrea
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Estonia – Republic of Estonia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Eswatini – Kingdom of Eswatini
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Ethiopia – Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Ethiopia is a federation of 12 regions and two chartered cities.
Fiji – Republic of Fiji
Fiji – Republic of Fiji
Col 1
F
Common and formal names
Fiji – Republic of Fiji
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty
Fiji contains one autonomous region, Rotuma.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Finland – Republic of Finland
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
Åland is a neutral and demilitarized autonomous region of Finland.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
France – French Republic
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU. France contains five overseas regions/departments; French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Réunion. France also includes eight overseas territories:
Clipperton Island
French Polynesia
New Caledonia
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Wallis and Futuna
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Gabon – Gabonese Republic
Gabon – Gabonese Republic
Col 1
G
Common and formal names
Gabon – Gabonese Republic
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Gambia, The – Republic of The Gambia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Georgia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Georgia contains two autonomous republics, Adjara and Abkhazia. In Abkhazia and South Ossetia, de facto states have been formed.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Germany – Federal Republic of Germany
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU. Germany is a federation of 16 states.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Ghana – Republic of Ghana
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Greece – Hellenic Republic
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU. Greece contains one autonomous area, Mount Athos.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Grenada
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Grenada is a Commonwealth realm.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Guinea – Republic of Guinea
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Guinea-Bissau – Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Guyana – Co-operative Republic of Guyana
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Haiti – Republic of Haiti
Haiti – Republic of Haiti
Col 1
H
Common and formal names
Haiti – Republic of Haiti
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Honduras – Republic of Honduras
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Hungary
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
Iceland
Iceland
Col 1
I
Common and formal names
Iceland
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
India – Republic of India
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
India is a federation of 28 states and eight union territories.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Indonesia has nine autonomous provinces: Aceh, Jakarta, Central Papua, Highland Papua, Papua, South Papua, Southwest Papua, West Papua, and Yogyakarta.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Iran – Islamic Republic of Iran
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Iraq – Republic of Iraq
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Iraq is a federation of 19 governorates, four of which make up the autonomous Kurdistan Region.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Ireland
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Israel – State of Israel
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
Partially unrecognised
Sovereignty dispute
Israel exerts strong control over the territory claimed by Palestine. It has annexed East Jerusalem, an act not recognised by the international community. Israel has varying levels of control over the rest of the West Bank, and although it ended its permanent civilian or military presence in the Gaza Strip, it is still considered to be the occupying power under international law.
Israel is not recognised as a state by 28 UN members and the Sahrawi Republic. The Palestine Liberation Organization, recognised by a majority of UN member states as the representative of the Palestinian people, recognised Israel in 1993.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Italy – Italian Republic
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU. Italy has five autonomous regions: Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Ivory Coast – Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Jamaica
Jamaica
Col 1
J
Common and formal names
Jamaica
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty
Jamaica is a Commonwealth realm.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Japan
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan
Col 1
K
Common and formal names
Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Kenya – Republic of Kenya
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Kiribati – Republic of Kiribati
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Kuwait – State of Kuwait
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyz Republic
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Laos – Lao People's Democratic Republic
Laos – Lao People's Democratic Republic
Col 1
L
Common and formal names
Laos – Lao People's Democratic Republic
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Latvia – Republic of Latvia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Lebanon – Republic of Lebanon
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Liberia – Republic of Liberia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Libya – State of Libya
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Lithuania – Republic of Lithuania
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
Madagascar – Republic of Madagascar
Madagascar – Republic of Madagascar
Col 1
M
Common and formal names
Madagascar – Republic of Madagascar
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Malawi – Republic of Malawi
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Malaysia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Maldives – Republic of Maldives
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Mali – Republic of Mali
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Malta – Republic of Malta
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Marshall Islands – Republic of the Marshall Islands
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Under Compact of Free Association with the United States.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Mauritania – Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Mauritius – Republic of Mauritius
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Mauritius has an autonomous island, Rodrigues.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Mexico – United Mexican States
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Mexico is a federation of 31 states and one autonomous city.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Micronesia, Federated States of
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The Federated States of Micronesia is a federation of four states.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Moldova – Republic of Moldova
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Moldova has two autonomous territorial units, Gagauzia and the Left Bank of the Dniester. The latter and a city, Bender (Tighina), are under the de facto control of Transnistria.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Monaco – Principality of Monaco
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Mongolia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Montenegro
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Part of the Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara is controlled by the partially recognised Sahrawi Republic.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Mozambique – Republic of Mozambique
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Myanmar – Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Wa State is a de facto autonomous state within Myanmar. The United Nations has not recognised the de facto ruling government of Myanmar, the State Administration Council.
Namibia – Republic of Namibia
Namibia – Republic of Namibia
Col 1
N
Common and formal names
Namibia – Republic of Namibia
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Nauru – Republic of Nauru
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Nepal – Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Nepal is a federation composed of seven provinces.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Netherlands – Kingdom of the Netherlands
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU. The Kingdom of the Netherlands includes four areas with substantial autonomy:
Aruba
Curaçao
Netherlands
Sint Maarten
The Metropolitan Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten form the four constituent countries of the Kingdom. Three overseas parts of the Netherlands (Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius) are special municipalities of the metropolitan Netherlands. The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole is a member of the EU, but EU law only wholly applies to parts within Europe.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
New Zealand
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
New Zealand is a Commonwealth realm, and has one dependent territory and one claimed Antarctic dependent territory:
Tokelau
Ross Dependency
The New Zealand Government acts for the entire Realm of New Zealand in all international contexts, which has responsibilities for (but no rights of control over) two freely associated states:
Cook Islands
Niue
The Cook Islands and Niue have diplomatic relations with 63 and 25 UN members respectively. They have full treaty-making capacity in the UN, and are members of some UN specialized agencies.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Nicaragua contains two autonomous regions, North Caribbean Coast and South Caribbean Coast.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Niger – Republic of the Niger
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Nigeria – Federal Republic of Nigeria
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and one federal territory.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
North Korea – Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
BClaimed by AfghanistanClaimed by GeorgiaClaimed by North Korea Claimed by Serbia Claimed by Somalia Claimed by the People's Republic of China Claimed by the Republic of China Claimed by South Korea Claimed by Azerbaijan Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus Disputed by Israel Claimed by Indonesia Claimed by the Marshall Islands Claimed by Mauritius Claimed by Morocco Claimed by Moldova Claimed by Mali Claimed by Spain Claimed by Argentina Claimed by Ukraine Claimed by Pakistan
Sovereignty dispute
North Korea is not recognised by 2 UN members, Japan, and South Korea, which the latter claims to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
North Macedonia – Republic of North Macedonia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Norway – Kingdom of Norway
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Norway has two unincorporated areas in Europe:
Svalbard is an integral part of Norway, but has a special status due to the Svalbard Treaty.
Jan Mayen is an uninhabited island that is an integral part of Norway, although unincorporated.
Norway has one dependent territory and two claimed Antarctic dependent territories in the Southern Hemisphere:
Bouvet Island
Peter I Island
Queen Maud Land
Oman – Sultanate of Oman
Oman – Sultanate of Oman
Col 1
O
Common and formal names
Oman – Sultanate of Oman
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Col 1
P
Common and formal names
Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty
Pakistan is a federation of four provinces and one capital territory. Pakistan exercises control over certain portions of Kashmir, but has not officially annexed any of it, instead regarding it as a disputed territory. The portions that it controls are divided into two territories, administered separately from Pakistan proper:
Azad Kashmir
Gilgit-Baltistan
Azad Kashmir describes itself as a "self-governing state under Pakistani control", while Gilgit-Baltistan is described in its governance order as a group of "areas" with self-government. These territories are not usually regarded as sovereign, as they do not fulfil the criteria set out by the declarative theory of statehood (for example, their current laws do not allow them to engage independently in relations with other states). Several state functions of these territories (such as foreign affairs and defense) are performed by Pakistan.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Palau – Republic of Palau
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Under Compact of Free Association with the United States.
A UN General Assembly observer state; member of two UN specialized agencies
A UN General Assembly observer state; member of two UN specialized agencies
Col 1
Palestine – State of Palestine
Common and formal names
A UN General Assembly observer state; member of two UN specialized agencies
Membership within the UN System
Partially unrecognised. Occupied by Israel.
Sovereignty dispute
The State of Palestine, declared in 1988, is not recognised as a state by Israel but has received diplomatic recognition from 157 states. The proclaimed state has no agreed territorial borders, or effective control over much of the territory that it proclaimed. The Palestinian Authority is an interim administrative body formed as a result of the Oslo Accords that exercises limited autonomous jurisdiction within Palestine. In foreign relations, Palestine is represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization. The State of Palestine is a member state of UNESCO, UNIDO and other international organizations.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Panama – Republic of Panama
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Papua New Guinea – Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Papua New Guinea is a Commonwealth realm with one autonomous region, Bougainville.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Peru – Republic of Peru
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Philippines – Republic of the Philippines
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
The Philippines contains one autonomous region, Bangsamoro.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Poland – Republic of Poland
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Portugal – Portuguese Republic
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU. Portugal contains two autonomous regions, the Azores and Madeira.
Qatar – State of Qatar
Qatar – State of Qatar
Col 1
Q
Common and formal names
Qatar – State of Qatar
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
Romania
Romania
Col 1
R
Common and formal names
Romania
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty
Member of the EU.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Russia – Russian Federation
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Russia is a federation of 83 internationally recognised federal subjects (republics, oblasts, krais, autonomous okrugs, federal cities, and an autonomous oblast). Several of the federal subjects are ethnic republics.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Rwanda – Republic of Rwanda
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Col 1
S
Common and formal names
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty
Saint Kitts and Nevis is a Commonwealth realm and is a federation of two islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Saint Lucia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Saint Lucia is a Commonwealth realm.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a Commonwealth realm.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Samoa – Independent State of Samoa
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
San Marino – Republic of San Marino
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
São Tomé and Príncipe – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
São Tomé and Príncipe contains one autonomous province, Príncipe.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Senegal – Republic of Senegal
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Serbia – Republic of Serbia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Serbia contains two autonomous provinces, Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija. The latter is under the de facto control of Kosovo.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Seychelles – Republic of Seychelles
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Sierra Leone – Republic of Sierra Leone
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Singapore – Republic of Singapore
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Slovakia – Slovak Republic
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Slovenia – Republic of Slovenia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Solomon Islands
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Somalia – Federal Republic of Somalia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Somalia is a federation of six states. Two, Puntland and Galmudug, have self-declared autonomy, while one, Somaliland, is de facto independent.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
South Africa – Republic of South Africa
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
South Korea – Republic of Korea
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
BClaimed by AfghanistanClaimed by GeorgiaClaimed by North Korea Claimed by Serbia Claimed by Somalia Claimed by the People's Republic of China Claimed by the Republic of China Claimed by South Korea Claimed by Azerbaijan Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus Disputed by Israel Claimed by Indonesia Claimed by the Marshall Islands Claimed by Mauritius Claimed by Morocco Claimed by Moldova Claimed by Mali Claimed by Spain Claimed by Argentina Claimed by Ukraine Claimed by Pakistan
Sovereignty dispute
South Korea has one autonomous region, Jeju Province.
South Korea is not recognised by North Korea, which claims to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
South Sudan – Republic of South Sudan
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
South Sudan is a federation of 10 states and three administrative areas.
The Abyei Area is a zone with "special administrative status" established by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. It is de jure a condominium of South Sudan and Sudan, but de facto administered by two competing administrations and the United Nations.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Spain – Kingdom of Spain
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU. Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities and two special autonomous cities.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Sri Lanka – Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Sudan – Republic of the Sudan
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Sudan is a federation of 18 states.
The Abyei Area is a zone with "special administrative status" established by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. It is de jure a condominium of South Sudan and Sudan, but de facto administered by two competing administrations and the United Nations.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Suriname – Republic of Suriname
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Member of the EU.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Switzerland – Swiss Confederation
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Switzerland is a federation of 26 cantons.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Syria – Syrian Arab Republic
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
During the Syrian civil war, the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) was recognised as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people by 20 UN members and established an interim government to rule rebel-controlled territory. After the fall of the Assad regime, the SNC declared its allegiance to the new government.
Syria has one self-declared autonomous region, Rojava.
Tajikistan – Republic of Tajikistan
Tajikistan – Republic of Tajikistan
Col 1
T
Common and formal names
Tajikistan – Republic of Tajikistan
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty
Tajikistan contains one autonomous region, Gorno-Badakhshan.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Tanzania – United Republic of Tanzania
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Tanzania contains one autonomous region, Zanzibar.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Thailand – Kingdom of Thailand
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Timor-Leste – Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Togo – Togolese Republic
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Trinidad and Tobago – Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Trinidad and Tobago contains one autonomous region, Tobago.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Tunisia – Republic of Tunisia
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Turkey – Republic of Türkiye
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Turkmenistan
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Tuvalu
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Tuvalu is a Commonwealth realm.
Uganda – Republic of Uganda
Uganda – Republic of Uganda
Col 1
U
Common and formal names
Uganda – Republic of Uganda
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Ukraine
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Ukraine contains one autonomous region, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, which is under the control of Russia. Nine other areas of Ukraine are under full or partial Russian control, including Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia oblasts and Sevastopol.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
United Arab Emirates
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
The United Kingdom is a Commonwealth realm consisting of four constituent countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom has the following 13 overseas territories and one claimed Antarctic dependent territory:
Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Anguilla
Bermuda
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Montserrat
Pitcairn Islands
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands
British Antarctic Territory
The British monarch also has direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown Dependencies:
Guernsey
Isle of Man
Jersey
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
United States – United States of America
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
The United States is a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and one incorporated territory (Palmyra Atoll).
Additionally, the federal government of the United States has sovereignty over 13 unincorporated territories. Of these unincorporated territories, five are inhabited possessions:
American Samoa
Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
The United States also has sovereignty over eight uninhabited territories:
Baker Island
Howland Island
Jarvis Island
Johnston Atoll
Kingman Reef
Midway Atoll
Navassa Island
Wake Island
The United States disputes sovereignty over two territories:
Bajo Nuevo Bank
Serranilla Bank
Three sovereign states have become associated states of the United States under the Compact of Free Association:
Marshall Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
Palau
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Uruguay – Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Uzbekistan – Republic of Uzbekistan
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Uzbekistan contains one autonomous region, Karakalpakstan.
Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu
Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu
Col 1
V
Common and formal names
Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
A UN General Assembly observer state under the designation of "Holy See"; member of three UN specialized agencies
A UN General Assembly observer state under the designation of "Holy See"; member of three UN specialized agencies
Col 1
Vatican City – Vatican City State
Common and formal names
A UN General Assembly observer state under the designation of "Holy See"; member of three UN specialized agencies
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Administered by the Holy See, a sovereign entity with diplomatic relations to 183 states (including 180 UN member states, the Cook Islands, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and Palestine). In addition, the European Union and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta maintain diplomatic relations with the Holy See. The Holy See is a member of three UN specialized agencies (ITU, UPU, and WIPO) and the IAEA, as well as being a permanent observer of the UN (in the category of "Non-member State") and multiple other UN System organizations. The Vatican City is governed by officials appointed by the Pope, who is the Bishop of the Diocese of Rome and ex officio sovereign of Vatican City.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Venezuela – Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Sovereignty dispute
Venezuela is a federation of 23 states, one capital district, and federal dependencies.
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Vietnam – Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Yemen – Republic of Yemen
Yemen – Republic of Yemen
Col 1
Y
Common and formal names
Yemen – Republic of Yemen
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
Zambia – Republic of Zambia
Zambia – Republic of Zambia
Col 1
Z
Common and formal names
Zambia – Republic of Zambia
Membership within the UN System
A UN member state
Sovereignty dispute
A None
A UN member state
A UN member state
Col 1
Zimbabwe – Republic of Zimbabwe
Common and formal names
A UN member state
Membership within the UN System
A None
Ranked list
Common and formal names
Membership within the UN System
Sovereignty dispute
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty
A
Afghanistan – Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
A UN member state
A None
The ruling Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in power since 2021, has not been recognised by the United Nations or any other state except Russia. The defunct Islamic Republic of Afghanistan remains the recognised government.
Albania – Republic of Albania
A UN member state
A None
Algeria – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
A UN member state
A None
Andorra – Principality of Andorra
A UN member state
A None
Andorra is a co-principality in which the office of head of state is jointly held ex officio by the French president and the bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of Urgell, who himself is appointed with approval from the Holy See.
Angola – Republic of Angola
A UN member state
A None
Antigua and Barbuda
A UN member state
A None
Antigua and Barbuda is a Commonwealth realm with one autonomous region, Barbuda.
Argentina – Argentine Republic
A UN member state
A None
Argentina is a federation of 23 provinces and one autonomous city.
Armenia – Republic of Armenia
A UN member state
A None
Australia – Commonwealth of Australia
A UN member state
A None
Australia is a Commonwealth realm and a federation of both states and territories. There are six states, three internal territories, six external territories and one claimed Antarctic external territory. The external territories of Australia are: Ashmore and Cartier Islands Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Coral Sea Islands Territory Heard Island and McDonald Islands Norfolk Island Australian Antarctic Territory
Austria – Republic of Austria
A UN member state
A None
Member of the European Union. Austria is a federation of nine states.
Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan
A UN member state
A None
Azerbaijan contains one autonomous region, Nakhchivan.
B
Bahamas, The – Commonwealth of The Bahamas
A UN member state
A None
The Bahamas is a Commonwealth realm.
Bahrain – Kingdom of Bahrain
A UN member state
A None
Bangladesh – People's Republic of Bangladesh
A UN member state
A None
Barbados
A UN member state
A None
Belarus – Republic of Belarus
A UN member state
A None
Many states rescinded their recognition of President Alexander Lukashenko following the disputed 2020 election. Lithuania currently recognises Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Coordination Council as the legitimate government of Belarus.
Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium
A UN member state
A None
Member of the EU. Belgium is a federation of three linguistic communities and three regions.
Belize
A UN member state
A None
Belize is a Commonwealth realm.
Benin – Republic of Benin
A UN member state
A None
Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan
A UN member state
A None
Bolivia – Plurinational State of Bolivia
A UN member state
A None
Bosnia and Herzegovina
A UN member state
A None
Bosnia and Herzegovina has two constituent entities: Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Republika Srpska and Brčko District, a self-governing administrative district.
Botswana – Republic of Botswana
A UN member state
A None
Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil
A UN member state
A None
Brazil is a federation of 26 states and one federal district.
Brunei – Brunei Darussalam
A UN member state
A None
Bulgaria – Republic of Bulgaria
A UN member state
A None
Member of the EU.
Burkina Faso
A UN member state
A None
Burundi – Republic of Burundi
A UN member state
A None
C
Cambodia – Kingdom of Cambodia
A UN member state
A None
Cameroon – Republic of Cameroon
A UN member state
A None
Canada
A UN member state
A None
Canada is a Commonwealth realm and a federation of 10 provinces and three territories.
Cape Verde – Republic of Cabo Verde
A UN member state
A None
Central African Republic
A UN member state
A None
Chad – Republic of Chad
A UN member state
A None
Chile – Republic of Chile
A UN member state
A None
Chile has one special territory, Easter Island.
China – People's Republic of China
A UN member state
Partially unrecognised. BClaimed by AfghanistanClaimed by GeorgiaClaimed by North Korea Claimed by Serbia Claimed by Somalia Claimed by the People's Republic of China Claimed by the Republic of China Claimed by South Korea Claimed by Azerbaijan Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus Disputed by Israel Claimed by Indonesia Claimed by the Marshall Islands Claimed by Mauritius Claimed by Morocco Claimed by Moldova Claimed by Mali Claimed by Spain Claimed by Argentina Claimed by Ukraine Claimed by Pakistan
China contains five autonomous regions, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Tibet, and Xinjiang. Additionally, it has sovereignty over two Special Administrative Regions: Hong Kong Macao China claims, but does not control, Taiwan, which is governed by a rival administration (the Republic of China) that claims all of China as its territory. China is not recognised by 11 UN member states and Vatican City, which, with the exception of Bhutan, all recognise the Republic of China (Taiwan) instead.
Colombia – Republic of Colombia
A UN member state
A None
Comoros – Union of the Comoros
A UN member state
A None
Comoros is a federation of three islands.
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
A UN member state
A None
Congo, Republic of the
A UN member state
A None
Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica
A UN member state
A None
Croatia – Republic of Croatia
A UN member state
A None
Member of the EU.
Cuba – Republic of Cuba
A UN member state
A None
Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus
A UN member state
Not recognised by Turkey
Member of the EU. The northeastern part of the island is the de facto state of Northern Cyprus. Cyprus is not recognised by Turkey due to the Cyprus problem, with Turkey recognising Northern Cyprus.
Czech Republic
A UN member state
A None
Member of the EU.
D
Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark
A UN member state
A None
Member of the EU. The Kingdom of Denmark includes two self-governing territories: Faroe Islands Greenland The metropolitan territory of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland form the three constituent countries of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Denmark as a whole is a member of the EU, but EU law (in most cases) does not apply to the Faroe Islands and Greenland. See Greenland and the European Union, and Faroe Islands and the European Union.
Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti
A UN member state
A None
Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica
A UN member state
A None
Dominican Republic
A UN member state
A None
· List of states › Other states
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Cook Islands
Cook Islands
Common and formal names → Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia
Cook Islands
Membership within the UN System → D No membership
D Member of eight UN specialized agencies
Sovereignty dispute → Claimed by Georgia. Occupied by Russia.
A None(See political status)
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty → Recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, South Ossetia, and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.
A state in free association with New Zealand, the Cook Islands maintains diplomatic relations with at least 65 UN member states and 3 other states and is recognized as a sovereign state by a number of them. 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.
Kosovo – Republic of Kosovo
Kosovo – Republic of Kosovo
Common and formal names → Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia
Kosovo – Republic of Kosovo
Membership within the UN System → D No membership
D Member of two UN specialized agencies
Sovereignty dispute → Claimed by Georgia. Occupied by Russia.
BClaimed by AfghanistanClaimed by GeorgiaClaimed by North Korea Claimed by Serbia Claimed by Somalia Claimed by the People's Republic of China Claimed by the Republic of China Claimed by South Korea Claimed by Azerbaijan Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus Disputed by Israel Claimed by Indonesia Claimed by the Marshall Islands Claimed by Mauritius Claimed by Morocco Claimed by Moldova Claimed by Mali Claimed by Spain Claimed by Argentina Claimed by Ukraine Claimed by Pakistan
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty → Recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, South Ossetia, and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.
Pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, Kosovo was placed under the administration of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo in 1999. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, and it has received diplomatic recognition from 117 UN member states and the Republic of China (Taiwan), while 18 of those states have recognised Kosovo only to later withdraw their recognition. Serbia continues to maintain its sovereignty claim over Kosovo. Other UN member states and non UN member states continue to recognise Serbian sovereignty or have taken no position on the question. Kosovo is a member of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. The Republic of Kosovo has de facto control over most of the territory, with limited control in North Kosovo.
Niue
Niue
Common and formal names → Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia
Niue
Membership within the UN System → D No membership
D Member of five UN specialized agencies
Sovereignty dispute → Claimed by Georgia. Occupied by Russia.
A None(See political status)
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty → Recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, South Ossetia, and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.
A state in free association with New Zealand, Niue maintains diplomatic relations with at least 28 UN member states and 2 other states and is recognized as a sovereign state by a number of them. Niue 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.
Northern Cyprus – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Northern Cyprus – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Common and formal names → Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia
Northern Cyprus – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Membership within the UN System → D No membership
D No membership
Sovereignty dispute → Claimed by Georgia. Occupied by Russia.
Claimed by Cyprus. Occupied by Turkey.
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty → Recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, South Ossetia, and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.
Recognised only by Turkey. Under the name "Turkish Cypriot State", it is an observer state of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Economic Cooperation Organization. Northern Cyprus is claimed in whole by the Republic of Cyprus.
Sahrawi Republic – Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Sahrawi Republic – Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Common and formal names → Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia
Sahrawi Republic – Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Membership within the UN System → D No membership
D No membership
Sovereignty dispute → Claimed by Georgia. Occupied by Russia.
Claimed and occupied by Morocco.
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty → Recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, South Ossetia, and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.
The Polisario Front, which administers the Sahrawi Republic, is recognized by the UN as the legitimate representative of the people of Western Sahara. Recognised at some stage by 84 UN member states, 38 of which have since withdrawn or frozen their recognition. It is a founding member of the African Union, an international organization with permanent observer status at the UN General Assembly.
The territories under its control, the so-called Free Zone, are claimed in whole by Morocco. In turn, the Sahrawi Republic claims the Moroccan-occupied part of Western Sahara to the west of the Moroccan sand wall. Its government resides in exile in the Sahrawi refugee camps of Tindouf, Algeria.
Somaliland – Republic of Somaliland
Somaliland – Republic of Somaliland
Common and formal names → Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia
Somaliland – Republic of Somaliland
Membership within the UN System → D No membership
D No membership
Sovereignty dispute → Claimed by Georgia. Occupied by Russia.
BClaimed by AfghanistanClaimed by GeorgiaClaimed by North Korea Claimed by Serbia Claimed by Somalia Claimed by the People's Republic of China Claimed by the Republic of China Claimed by South Korea Claimed by Azerbaijan Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus Disputed by Israel Claimed by Indonesia Claimed by the Marshall Islands Claimed by Mauritius Claimed by Morocco Claimed by Moldova Claimed by Mali Claimed by Spain Claimed by Argentina Claimed by Ukraine Claimed by Pakistan
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty → Recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, South Ossetia, and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.
A de facto independent state not formally diplomatically recognised by any other state and claimed in whole by the Federal Republic of Somalia.
South Ossetia – Republic of South Ossetia–the State of Alania
South Ossetia – Republic of South Ossetia–the State of Alania
Common and formal names → Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia
South Ossetia – Republic of South Ossetia–the State of Alania
Membership within the UN System → D No membership
D No membership
Sovereignty dispute → Claimed by Georgia. Occupied by Russia.
Claimed by Georgia. Occupied by Russia.
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty → Recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, South Ossetia, and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.
A de facto independent state, recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, Abkhazia, and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia through the Administration of South Ossetia.
Taiwan – Republic of China
Taiwan – Republic of China
Common and formal names → Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia
Taiwan – Republic of China
Membership within the UN System → D No membership
D UN member state until 1971, now no membership
Sovereignty dispute → Claimed by Georgia. Occupied by Russia.
Partially unrecognised. BClaimed by AfghanistanClaimed by GeorgiaClaimed by North Korea Claimed by Serbia Claimed by Somalia Claimed by the People's Republic of China Claimed by the Republic of China Claimed by South Korea Claimed by Azerbaijan Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus Disputed by Israel Claimed by Indonesia Claimed by the Marshall Islands Claimed by Mauritius Claimed by Morocco Claimed by Moldova Claimed by Mali Claimed by Spain Claimed by Argentina Claimed by Ukraine Claimed by Pakistan.
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty → Recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, South Ossetia, and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.
A state competing (nominally) for recognition with the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the government of China since 1949. The Republic of China (ROC) controls the islands of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, and Pratas Island, as well as Taiping Island and Zhongzhou Reef of the Spratly Islands, and has not renounced claims over its annexed territories on the mainland. The ROC is recognised by 11 UN member states and Vatican City, none of which recognise the PRC. Additionally, one UN member (Bhutan) has refrained from recognising either the ROC or the PRC.
In addition to these relations, the ROC also maintains unofficial relations with 58 UN member states, one self-declared state (Somaliland), three territories (Guam, Hong Kong, and Macau), and the European Union via its representative offices and consulates under the One China principle. Taiwan has the 31st-largest diplomatic network in the world with 110 offices.
The territory of the ROC is claimed in whole by the PRC. The ROC participates in international organizations under a variety of pseudonyms, most commonly "Chinese Taipei". In the WTO, the ROC has full membership under the designation of "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu". The ROC was a founding member of the UN and enjoyed membership from 1945 to 1971, with veto power in the UN Security Council. See China and the United Nations.
Transnistria – Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
Transnistria – Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
Common and formal names → Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia
Transnistria – Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
Membership within the UN System → D No membership
D No membership
Sovereignty dispute → Claimed by Georgia. Occupied by Russia.
Claimed by Moldova. Occupied by Russia.
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty → Recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, South Ossetia, and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.
A de facto independent state, recognised only by Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Claimed in whole by Moldova.
Ranked list
Common and formal names
Membership within the UN System
Sovereignty dispute
Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty
Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia
D No membership
Claimed by Georgia. Occupied by Russia.
Recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, South Ossetia, and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.
Cook Islands
D Member of eight UN specialized agencies
A None(See political status)
A state in free association with New Zealand, the Cook Islands maintains diplomatic relations with at least 65 UN member states and 3 other states and is recognized as a sovereign state by a number of them. 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.
Kosovo – Republic of Kosovo
D Member of two UN specialized agencies
BClaimed by AfghanistanClaimed by GeorgiaClaimed by North Korea Claimed by Serbia Claimed by Somalia Claimed by the People's Republic of China Claimed by the Republic of China Claimed by South Korea Claimed by Azerbaijan Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus Disputed by Israel Claimed by Indonesia Claimed by the Marshall Islands Claimed by Mauritius Claimed by Morocco Claimed by Moldova Claimed by Mali Claimed by Spain Claimed by Argentina Claimed by Ukraine Claimed by Pakistan
Pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, Kosovo was placed under the administration of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo in 1999. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, and it has received diplomatic recognition from 117 UN member states and the Republic of China (Taiwan), while 18 of those states have recognised Kosovo only to later withdraw their recognition. Serbia continues to maintain its sovereignty claim over Kosovo. Other UN member states and non UN member states continue to recognise Serbian sovereignty or have taken no position on the question. Kosovo is a member of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. The Republic of Kosovo has de facto control over most of the territory, with limited control in North Kosovo.
Niue
D Member of five UN specialized agencies
A None(See political status)
A state in free association with New Zealand, Niue maintains diplomatic relations with at least 28 UN member states and 2 other states and is recognized as a sovereign state by a number of them. Niue 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.
Northern Cyprus – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
D No membership
Claimed by Cyprus. Occupied by Turkey.
Recognised only by Turkey. Under the name "Turkish Cypriot State", it is an observer state of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Economic Cooperation Organization. Northern Cyprus is claimed in whole by the Republic of Cyprus.
Sahrawi Republic – Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
D No membership
Claimed and occupied by Morocco.
The Polisario Front, which administers the Sahrawi Republic, is recognized by the UN as the legitimate representative of the people of Western Sahara. Recognised at some stage by 84 UN member states, 38 of which have since withdrawn or frozen their recognition. It is a founding member of the African Union, an international organization with permanent observer status at the UN General Assembly. The territories under its control, the so-called Free Zone, are claimed in whole by Morocco. In turn, the Sahrawi Republic claims the Moroccan-occupied part of Western Sahara to the west of the Moroccan sand wall. Its government resides in exile in the Sahrawi refugee camps of Tindouf, Algeria.
Somaliland – Republic of Somaliland
D No membership
BClaimed by AfghanistanClaimed by GeorgiaClaimed by North Korea Claimed by Serbia Claimed by Somalia Claimed by the People's Republic of China Claimed by the Republic of China Claimed by South Korea Claimed by Azerbaijan Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus Disputed by Israel Claimed by Indonesia Claimed by the Marshall Islands Claimed by Mauritius Claimed by Morocco Claimed by Moldova Claimed by Mali Claimed by Spain Claimed by Argentina Claimed by Ukraine Claimed by Pakistan
A de facto independent state not formally diplomatically recognised by any other state and claimed in whole by the Federal Republic of Somalia.
South Ossetia – Republic of South Ossetia–the State of Alania
D No membership
Claimed by Georgia. Occupied by Russia.
A de facto independent state, recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, Abkhazia, and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia through the Administration of South Ossetia.
Taiwan – Republic of China
D UN member state until 1971, now no membership
Partially unrecognised. BClaimed by AfghanistanClaimed by GeorgiaClaimed by North Korea Claimed by Serbia Claimed by Somalia Claimed by the People's Republic of China Claimed by the Republic of China Claimed by South Korea Claimed by Azerbaijan Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus Disputed by Israel Claimed by Indonesia Claimed by the Marshall Islands Claimed by Mauritius Claimed by Morocco Claimed by Moldova Claimed by Mali Claimed by Spain Claimed by Argentina Claimed by Ukraine Claimed by Pakistan.
A state competing (nominally) for recognition with the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the government of China since 1949. The Republic of China (ROC) controls the islands of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, and Pratas Island, as well as Taiping Island and Zhongzhou Reef of the Spratly Islands, and has not renounced claims over its annexed territories on the mainland. The ROC is recognised by 11 UN member states and Vatican City, none of which recognise the PRC. Additionally, one UN member (Bhutan) has refrained from recognising either the ROC or the PRC. In addition to these relations, the ROC also maintains unofficial relations with 58 UN member states, one self-declared state (Somaliland), three territories (Guam, Hong Kong, and Macau), and the European Union via its representative offices and consulates under the One China principle. Taiwan has the 31st-largest diplomatic network in the world with 110 offices. The territory of the ROC is claimed in whole by the PRC. The ROC participates in international organizations under a variety of pseudonyms, most commonly "Chinese Taipei". In the WTO, the ROC has full membership under the designation of "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu". The ROC was a founding member of the UN and enjoyed membership from 1945 to 1971, with veto power in the UN Security Council. See China and the United Nations.
Transnistria – Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
D No membership
Claimed by Moldova. Occupied by Russia.
A de facto independent state, recognised only by Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Claimed in whole by Moldova.
References
The following bullets are grouped according to the availability of sources for the two criteria ((a) or (b)). This arran
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is not included, as despite being a sovereign entity it lacks territory and does n
This column indicates whether or not a state is a member of the United Nations. It also indicates which non-member state
This column indicates whether or not a state is the subject of a major sovereignty dispute. Only states whose entire sov
The member states of the European Union have transferred part of their sovereignty in the form of legislative, executive
Information is included on:
The extent to which a state's sovereignty is recognised internationally. More information ca
Commonwealth realm refers to any member state of the Commonwealth of Nations whose head of state is King Charles III. Ea
For more information on divisions with a high degree of autonomy, see List of autonomous areas by country.
The Argentine Constitution (Art. 35) recognises the following denominations for Argentina: "United Provinces of the Río
Argentina's claimed Antarctic territory of Argentine Antarctica (Antártida Argentina) is one of five constituent departm
"Azerbaijan Republic" is sometimes used in an official capacity.
The legal name for Canada is the sole word; an officially sanctioned, though disused, name is Dominion of Canada (which
The government of Cape Verde declared "Cabo Verde" to be the official English name of the country in 2013.
Chile's claimed Antarctic territory of the Chilean Antarctic (Antártica Chilena) is a commune of the Antártica Chilena P
The People's Republic of China (PRC) is commonly referred to as "China", while the Republic of China (ROC) is commonly r
In 1949, the Republic of China government led by the Kuomintang (KMT) lost the Chinese Civil War to the Chinese Communis
See also Dates of establishment of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and Foreign relations of Chi
More information on more or less federal structures can be found at Federal governments.
Also known as Congo-Kinshasa. Formerly referred to as Zaire, its official name from 1971 to 1997.
Also known as Congo-Brazzaville.
An official short name in English has been adopted by the Czech government, "Czechia". This variant remains uncommon, bu
The designation "Denmark" can refer either to Metropolitan Denmark or to the entire Danish Realm (e.g. in international
Formerly referred to as the Kingdom of Swaziland, its official name until 2018.
Åland was demilitarized by the Treaty of Paris in 1856, which was later affirmed by the League of Nations in 1921, and i
France's claimed Antarctic territory of Adélie Land (Terre Adélie) is one of five constituent districts of the French So
Also known as Guinea-Conakry.
While sometimes referred to as the "Republic of Iceland" and sometimes its counterpart Lýðveldið Ísland in Icelandic, th
"Ireland" is the official name of the country in English. "Republic of Ireland" (the official description in English) an
The government of Ivory Coast uses "Côte d'Ivoire" as the official English name of the country.
The country's official name of Myanmar, adopted in 1989, has been mixed and controversial, with the former name Burma st
The designation "the Netherlands" can refer either to the Metropolitan Netherlands or to the entire Kingdom (e.g. in int
Formerly known constitutionally as the "Republic of Macedonia" from 1991 to 2019 and under the international designation
Spain holds several small overseas territories scattered along the Mediterranean coast bordering Morocco, known as the p
Formerly known as Ceylon until 1972.
Formerly also known as East Timor.
Formerly the "Republic of Turkey". In 2023, the United Nations recognized "Türkiye" as the official English name of the
There is no official flag for Akrotiri and Dhekelia; it is represented by the flag of the United Kingdom, the Union Jack
There is no official flag for Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; it is represented by the flag of the United
Though de facto recognized by the Republic of China (Taiwan).
