Untitled
This is a list of sovereign states, giving an overview of states around the world with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty.
The list contains 204 entries, as of 2011[update]. The states are divided using two distinct methods:
- The membership within the United Nations system column divides the states into three categories: 192 member states of the United Nations[1], 2 states which are not UN member states but which are either a UN observer state or a member state of a UN specialized agency, and 10 other states.
- The sovereignty disputes column divides the states into two categories: 14 states whose sovereignty is disputed and 190 other states.
Compiling a list such as this can be a difficult and controversial process, 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.
List of states
Name in English, and the official, national, and other important languages of the state [Note 1] | Membership within the UN System [Note 2] | Sovereignty dispute [Note 3] | Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty [Note 5] |
---|---|---|---|
UN member states | |||
Abkhazia | Abkhazia →|||
Afghanistan – Islamic Republic of Afghanistan | UN member state | None | |
Albania – Republic of Albania
| UN member state | None | |
Algeria – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
| UN member state | None | |
Andorra – Principality of Andorra
| UN member state | 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 by the Holy See. |
Angola – Republic of Angola
| UN member state | None | |
Antigua and Barbuda
| UN member state | None | Antigua and Barbuda is a Commonwealth realm[Note 6] with 1 autonomous region, Barbuda.[Note 7][3] |
Argentina – Argentine Republic [Note 8]
| UN member state | None | Argentina is a federation of 23 provinces and 1 autonomous city. Argentina claims sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, which are administered by the United Kingdom.[4] Argentina claims Argentine Antarctica as part of its national territory, officially a department of the province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica, and South Atlantic Islands, which overlaps with the claims of the UK and Chile.[Note 9][5] |
Armenia – Republic of Armenia
| UN member state | None | Armenia is not recognised by one UN member: Pakistan. |
Australia – Commonwealth of Australia
| UN member state | None | Australia is a Commonwealth realm[Note 6] and a federation of 6 states and 10 territories. The external territories of Australia are: |
Austria – Republic of Austria
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] Austria is a federation of 9 states (Bundesländer). |
Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan
| UN member state | None | Azerbaijan contains 2 autonomous regions, Nakhchivan and Nagorno-Karabakh (Dağlıq Qarabağ).[Note 7] In Nagorno-Karabakh, a de facto state has been established (see Nagorno-Karabakh). |
Bahamas – Commonwealth of The Bahamas
| UN member state | None | The Bahamas is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 6] |
Bahrain – Kingdom of Bahrain
| UN member state | None | |
Bangladesh – People's Republic of Bangladesh
| UN member state | None | |
Barbados
| UN member state | None | Barbados is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 6] |
Belarus – Republic of Belarus
| UN member state | None | |
Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium | UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] Belgium is a federation divided into linguistic communities and regions. |
Belize
| UN member state | None | Belize is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 6] |
Benin – Republic of Benin [Note 10]
| UN member state | None | |
Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan
| UN member state | None | |
Bolivia – Plurinational State of Bolivia | UN member state | None | |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | UN member state | None | Bosnia and Herzegovina is a federation of 2 constituent units: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska.[Note 11] |
Botswana – Republic of Botswana | UN member state | None | |
Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil
| UN member state | None | Brazil is a federation of 26 states and 1 federal district. |
Brunei – State of Brunei, Abode of Peace | UN member state | None | Brunei claims sovereignty over part of the Spratly Islands.[Note 12] |
Bulgaria – Republic of Bulgaria | UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
Burkina Faso [Note 13]
| UN member state | None | |
Burma – Republic of the Union of Myanmar [Note 14][8]
| UN member state | None | |
Burundi – Republic of Burundi | UN member state | None | |
Cambodia – Kingdom of Cambodia
| UN member state | None | |
Cameroon – Republic of Cameroon | UN member state | None | |
Canada [Note 15] | UN member state | None | Canada is a Commonwealth realm[Note 6] and a federation of 10 provinces and 3 territories. |
Cape Verde – Republic of Cape Verde
| UN member state | None | |
Central African Republic | UN member state | None | |
Chad – Republic of Chad | UN member state | None | |
Chile – Republic of Chile
| UN member state | None | Easter Island and the Juan Fernández Islands are "special territories" of Chile in the Valparaíso Region. Chile claims part of Antarctica as a commune in its Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region. Its claim overlaps with those of the UK and Argentina.[Note 9] |
China – People's Republic of China[Note 16]
| UN member state | Republic of China | Claimed by theThe People's Republic of China (PRC) contains five autonomous regions, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet.[Note 7] Additionally, it has sovereignty over the Special Administrative Regions of: It also claims:
Aksai Chin, controlled by the PRC, is claimed by India as a part of Jammu and Kashmir.[Note 20]As of 2011[update] the PRC was not recognised by 22 UN member states and the Holy See, which instead recognise the ROC.[Note 21] |
China, Republic of (Taiwan) → Taiwan | |||
Colombia – Republic of Colombia
| UN member state | None | Colombia's department of the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina is the subject of a territorial dispute with Nicaragua.[4] |
Comoros – Union of the Comoros | UN member state | None | Comoros is a federation of 3 islands, and claims Mayotte, currently[update] part of France, as a fourth.[Note 22][11] Comoros also disputes French sovereignty over the Glorioso Islands and Banc du Geyser.[4] |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the (Congo-Kinshasa) [Note 23]
| UN member state | None | |
Congo, Republic of the (Congo-Brazzaville)
| UN member state | None | |
Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica
| UN member state | None | |
Côte d'Ivoire – Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
| UN member state | None | |
Croatia – Republic of Croatia
| UN member state | None | |
Cuba – Republic of Cuba
| UN member state | None | |
Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus | UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] The northeastern part of the island is the de facto state of Northern Cyprus. Cyprus is not recognised by one UN member: Turkey.[Note 24] |
Czech Republic [Note 25]
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] The Kingdom of Denmark also includes two self-governing countries.[Note 26]
|
Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti | UN member state | None | |
Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica
| UN member state | None | |
Dominican Republic | UN member state | None | |
East Timor – Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste [Note 27]
| UN member state | None | |
Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador
| UN member state | None | |
Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt
| UN member state | None | |
El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador
| UN member state | None | |
Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea
| UN member state | None | |
Eritrea – State of Eritrea | UN member state | None | |
Estonia – Republic of Estonia
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
Ethiopia – Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
| UN member state | None | Ethiopia is a federation of 9 regions and 2 chartered cities. |
Fiji – Republic of Fiji
| UN member state | None | Fiji contains 1 autonomous region, Rotuma.[Note 7][13][14] |
Finland – Republic of Finland | UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
France – French Republic
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] French overseas regions/departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion) are full, integral parts of France. The French Republic also includes the overseas territories of:
Clipperton Island is a possession of the government. French sovereignty over Banc du Geyser, Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, Mayotte, and Tromelin Island is disputed in part by Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and the Comoros.[4] |
Gabon – Gabonese Republic
| UN member state | None | |
The Gambia – Republic of The Gambia | UN member state | None | |
Georgia
| UN member state | None | Georgia contains 2 autonomous regions, Adjara and Abkhazia.[Note 7] In Abkhazia and South Ossetia, de facto states have been formed. |
Germany – Federal Republic of Germany
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] Germany is a federation of 16 federated states (Länder). |
Ghana – Republic of Ghana
| UN member state | None | |
Greece – Hellenic Republic
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] Mount Athos is an autonomous part of Greece that is jointly governed by the multinational "Holy Community" on the mountain and a civil governor appointed by the Greek government.[15] |
Grenada
| UN member state | None | Grenada is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 6] |
Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala
| UN member state | None | |
Guinea – Republic of Guinea
| UN member state | None | |
Guinea-Bissau – Republic of Guinea-Bissau
| UN member state | None | |
Guyana – Co-operative Republic of Guyana
| UN member state | None | A substantial part of Guyana, from the west of the Essequibo River, is claimed by Venezuela. |
Haiti – Republic of Haiti
| UN member state | None | Haiti claims the uninhabited United States possession of Navassa Island.[4] |
Holy See → Vatican City | |||
Honduras – Republic of Honduras
| UN member state | None | |
Hungary – Republic of Hungary
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
Iceland – Republic of Iceland
| UN member state | None | |
India – Republic of India
| UN member state | None | India is a federation of 28 states and 7 union territories. Indian sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh is disputed by the People's Republic of China.[4] India claims sovereignty over the whole of Kashmir, but administers only part of it as the federated state of Jammu and Kashmir.[Note 20] |
Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia
| UN member state | None | Indonesia has 3 provinces with official special autonomy status: Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Papua, and West Papua.[Note 7] |
Iran – Islamic Republic of Iran
| UN member state | None | |
Iraq – Republic of Iraq | UN member state | None | Iraq is a federation[Note 22][18] of 18 governorates, 3 of which make up the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan.[Note 7] |
Ireland [Note 29] | UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
Israel – State of Israel | UN member state | None | Israel annexed East Jerusalem, and occupies the Golan Heights[19] and parts of the West Bank. These areas are not internationally-recognised as being part of Israel.[4] Israel no longer has a permanent military presence in the Gaza Strip, following its unilateral disengagement, but is still arguably considered the occupying power under international law.[20][21][22][23][24] As of 2011[update] Israel was not recognised as a state by 20 members of the UN.[Note 30] |
Italy – Italian Republic
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] Italy has 5 autonomous regions, Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.[Note 7] |
Ivory Coast → Côte d'Ivoire | |||
Jamaica
| UN member state | None | Jamaica is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 6] |
Japan | UN member state | None | Japan disputes Russian administration of the Kuril Islands. |
Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
| UN member state | None | |
Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan | UN member state | None | |
Kenya – Republic of Kenya | UN member state | None | |
Kiribati – Republic of Kiribati
| UN member state | None | |
Korea, North – Democratic People's Republic of Korea
| UN member state | South Korea | Claimed byNorth Korea is not recognised by two UN members: Japan and South Korea.[Note 32][25] |
Korea, South – Republic of Korea
| UN member state | North Korea | Claimed bySouth Korea contains 1 autonomous region, Jeju-do.[Note 7][26] South Korea is not recognised by one UN member: North Korea.[Note 32] |
Kosovo | Kosovo →|||
Kuwait – State of Kuwait
| UN member state | None | |
Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyz Republic | UN member state | None | |
Laos – Lao People's Democratic Republic
| UN member state | None | |
Latvia – Republic of Latvia
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
Lebanon – Lebanese Republic | UN member state | None | |
Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho | UN member state | None | |
Liberia – Republic of Liberia
| UN member state | None | |
Libya – Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
| UN member state | None | |
Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein
| UN member state | None | |
Lithuania – Republic of Lithuania
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
Macedonia – Republic of Macedonia
| UN member state | None | Because of the Macedonia naming dispute, the country is referred to by the UN and a number of states and international organizations as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". |
Madagascar – Republic of Madagascar | UN member state | None | Madagascar claims the French territories of Banc du Geyser, Juan de Nova Island, and the Glorioso Islands.[4] |
Malawi – Republic of Malawi | UN member state | None | |
Malaysia | UN member state | None | Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and 3 federal territories. Malaysia claims part of the Spratly Islands.[Note 12] |
Maldives – Republic of Maldives
| UN member state | None | |
Mali – Republic of Mali
| UN member state | None | |
Malta – Republic of Malta | UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
Marshall Islands – Republic of the Marshall Islands
| UN member state | None | Under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The Marshall Islands claim the U.S. territory of Wake Island.[4] |
Mauritania – Islamic Republic of Mauritania | UN member state | None | |
Mauritius – Republic of Mauritius
| UN member state | None | Mauritius has an autonomous island, Rodrigues.[Note 7] Mauritius claims the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French island of Tromelin.[4] |
Mexico – United Mexican States
| UN member state | None | Mexico is a federation of 31 states and 1 federal district. |
Micronesia, Federated States of
| UN member state | None | Under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The Federated States of Micronesia is a federation of 4 states. |
Moldova – Republic of Moldova | UN member state | None | Moldova has the autonomous regions of Gagauzia and Transnistria, the latter of which has established a de facto state. |
Monaco – Principality of Monaco
| UN member state | None | |
Mongolia
| UN member state | None | |
Montenegro
| UN member state | None | |
Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco
| UN member state | None | Morocco claims sovereignty over the Western Sahara and controls most of it, which is disputed by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Morocco disputes Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla and Peñón de Alhucemas.[4] |
Mozambique – Republic of Mozambique
| UN member state | None | |
Myanmar → Burma | |||
Nagorno-Karabakh | Nagorno-Karabakh →|||
Namibia – Republic of Namibia
| UN member state | None | |
Nauru – Republic of Nauru | UN member state | None | |
Nepal – Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
| UN member state | None | Nepal is a federation composed of 14 zones. |
Netherlands – Kingdom of the Netherlands
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of four constituent countries: The monarch and her ministers form the government of the kingdom as well as the government of the country the Netherlands. Following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010, Curaçao and Sint Maarten have become constituent countries which, alongside Aruba, enjoy considerable autonomy. The other three islands (Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius) became special municipalities of the Netherlands. The designation "Netherlands" can refer to either one of the Kingdom's constituent countries or to the short name for the Kingdom (e.g. in international organizations). The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole is a member of the EU, but EU law applies only to the Netherlands proper. |
New Zealand | UN member state | None | New Zealand is a Commonwealth realm[Note 6] and has responsibilities for (but haven´t any sovereignty over) two freely associated states: Cook Islands and Niue are recognized by number of states. They established diplomatic relatations with 31 and 6 UN members respectively.[29][30][31] Cook Islands and Niue are sovereign subjects of international law. UN recognized the full treaty-making capacity of the Cook Islands in 1992 and that of Niue in 1994.[32] Cook Islands and Niue are members of UN specialized agencies without any specifications or limitations. Cook Islands is member of FAO, ICAO, IFAD, IMO, UNESCO, WHO, WMO nad Niue is member of FAO, IFAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO. New Zealand also has the dependent territories of: The Tokelauan government claims sovereignty over Swains Island, part of American Samoa, a territory of the United States.[33] New Zealand does not recognize the Tokelauan claim.[34] |
Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua
| UN member state | None | Nicaragua contains 2 autonomous regions, Atlántico Sur and Atlántico Norte.[Note 7] |
Niger – Republic of Niger | UN member state | None | |
Nigeria – Federal Republic of Nigeria | UN member state | None | Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and 1 federal territory. |
Northern Cyprus | Northern Cyprus →|||
North Korea → Korea, Democratic People's Republic of | |||
Norway – Kingdom of Norway | UN member state | None | Svalbard is an integral part of Norway, but has a special status due to the Spitsbergen Treaty. Bouvet Island is a dependent territory of Norway. Norway also claims Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land as dependent territories of Norway, as part of the Norwegian Antarctic Territory.[Note 9] |
Oman – Sultanate of Oman
| UN member state | None | |
Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan | UN member state | None | Pakistan is a federation of 4 provinces, 1 capital territory, and tribal regions. Pakistan disputes Indian sovereignty over Kashmir. It exercises control over some areas, but does not explicitly claim any part of it,[35][36] instead regarding it as a disputed territory.[37][38] The portions that it controls are divided into two polities, administered separately from Pakistan proper:[Note 20] |
Palau – Republic of Palau | UN member state | None | Under Compact of Free Association with the United States. |
Palestine | Palestine →|||
Panama – Republic of Panama
| UN member state | None | |
Papua New Guinea – Independent State of Papua New Guinea | UN member state | None | Papua New Guinea is a Commonwealth realm[Note 6] with 1 autonomous region, Bougainville.[Note 7] |
Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay | UN member state | None | |
Peru – Republic of Peru | UN member state | None | |
Philippines – Republic of the Philippines | UN member state | None | The Philippines contains 1 autonomous region, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.[Note 7] The Philippines administers Scarborough Shoal and some of the Spratly Islands,[Note 12] and claims sovereignty over the Macclesfield Bank and Sabah, which as of 2011[update] was part of Malaysia.[4] |
Poland – Republic of Poland
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
Portugal – Portuguese Republic
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] Portugal contains 2 autonomous regions, Azores and Madeira.[Note 7] Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over Olivenza and Táliga.[4] |
Pridnestrovie → Transnistria | |||
Qatar – State of Qatar
| UN member state | None | |
Romania | UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
Russia – Russian Federation
| UN member state | None | Russia is officially a federation of 83 federal subjects (oblasts, republics, autonomous okrugs, krays, and federal cities). Several of the federal subjects are republics acting as ethnic autonomies.[Note 7] Sovereignty over the Kuril Islands is disputed by Japan. |
Rwanda – Republic of Rwanda
| UN member state | None | |
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic →|||
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
| UN member state | None | Saint Kitts and Nevis is a Commonwealth realm[Note 6] and is a federation [Note 22] of 14 parishes. |
Saint Lucia
| UN member state | None | Saint Lucia is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 6] |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
| UN member state | None | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 6] |
Samoa – Independent State of Samoa | UN member state | None | |
San Marino – Republic of San Marino
| UN member state | None | |
São Tomé and Príncipe – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
| UN member state | None | São Tomé and Príncipe contains 1 autonomous province, Príncipe.[Note 7] |
Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| UN member state | None | |
Senegal – Republic of Senegal
| UN member state | None | |
Serbia – Republic of Serbia
| UN member state | None | Serbia contains 2 autonomous regions, Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija.[Note 7] Most of the latter is under the de facto control of the Republic of Kosovo. |
Seychelles – Republic of Seychelles | UN member state | None | Seychelles claims the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island.[4] |
Sierra Leone – Republic of Sierra Leone
| UN member state | None | |
Singapore – Republic of Singapore | UN member state | None | |
Slovakia – Slovak Republic | UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
Slovenia – Republic of Slovenia | UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
Solomon Islands
| UN member state | None | The Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 6] |
Somalia – Somali Republic | UN member state | None | Somalia is presently divided with its official government (TFG) controlling only part of the country. Puntland and Galmudug have declared themselves as autonomous regions of Somalia (a claim which the TFG does not recognise),[41][need quotation to verify] while Somaliland has formed an unrecognised de facto state. |
Somaliland | Somaliland →|||
South Africa – Republic of South Africa
| UN member state | None | |
South Korea → Korea, Republic of | |||
South Ossetia | South Ossetia →|||
South Sudan – Republic of South Sudan | None | None | |
Spain – Kingdom of Spain | UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] Spain is divided into autonomous communities and cities.[Note 7] Sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla and Peñón de Alhucemas is disputed by Morocco. Sovereignty over Olivenza and Táliga is disputed by Portugal. Spain disputes British sovereignty over Gibraltar.[4] |
Sri Lanka – Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka | UN member state | None | Formerly known as Ceylon. |
Sudan – Republic of the Sudan | UN member state | None | Sudan is a federation of 15 states. |
Suriname – Republic of Suriname
| UN member state | None | |
Swaziland – Kingdom of Swaziland | UN member state | None | |
Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] |
Switzerland – Swiss Confederation | UN member state | None | Switzerland is a federation of 26 cantons. |
Syria – Syrian Arab Republic
| UN member state | None | Israel occupies the Golan Heights.[19] Syria disputed[clarification needed] the Turkish sovereignty over Hatay Province.[4] |
Taiwan | Taiwan (Republic of China) →|||
Tajikistan – Republic of Tajikistan
| UN member state | None | Tajikistan contains 1 autonomous region, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province.[Note 7] |
Tanzania – United Republic of Tanzania | UN member state | None | Tanzania contains 1 autonomous region, Zanzibar.[Note 7] |
Thailand – Kingdom of Thailand
| UN member state | None | |
Timor-Leste → East Timor | |||
Togo – Togolese Republic
| UN member state | None | |
Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga | UN member state | None | |
Transnistria | Transnistria →|||
Trinidad and Tobago – Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| UN member state | None | Trinidad and Tobago contains 1 autonomous region, Tobago.[Note 7] |
Tunisia – Republic of Tunisia | UN member state | None | |
Turkey – Republic of Turkey
| UN member state | None | |
Turkmenistan
| UN member state | None | |
Tuvalu | UN member state | None | Tuvalu is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 6] |
Uganda – Republic of Uganda | UN member state | None | |
Ukraine | UN member state | None | Ukraine contains 1 autonomous region, Crimea.[Note 7] |
United Arab Emirates
| UN member state | None | The United Arab Emirates is a federation of 7 emirates. |
United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[Note 4] The United Kingdom is a Commonwealth realm[Note 6] consisting of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom has the following overseas territories:
The British monarch has direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies: |
United States – United States of America | UN member state | None | The United States is a federation of 50 states, 1 federal district, and the incorporated territory of Palmyra Atoll. The United States has sovereignty over the following inhabited possessions and commonwealths:
In addition, there are uninhabited possessions of the United States in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea: Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Navassa Island (disputed by Haiti), and Wake Island (disputed by the Marshall Islands). According to some sources, the United States also claims Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank as territories.[4] |
Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay
| UN member state | None | |
Uzbekistan – Republic of Uzbekistan | UN member state | None | Uzbekistan contains 1 autonomous region, Karakalpakstan.[Note 7] |
Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu | UN member state | None | |
Vatican City | Vatican City →|||
Venezuela – Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
| UN member state | None | Venezuela is a federation of 23 states, 1 capital district, and federal dependencies. |
Vietnam – Socialist Republic of Vietnam
| UN member state | None | Vietnam claims sovereignty over the Paracel[Note 19] and Spratly Islands.[Note 12] |
Yemen – Republic of Yemen
| UN member state | None | |
Zambia – Republic of Zambia | UN member state | None | |
Zimbabwe – Republic of Zimbabwe | UN member state | None | |
UN member states | |||
UN observer states and member states of UN Specialized Agencies | |||
Vatican City – State of the Vatican City | UN observer state and member of one or more related agencies | None | Administered by the Holy See, a sovereign entity with diplomatic ties to 178 states. The Holy See is a permanent observer of the UN in the category of "Non-member State"[46] and a member of the IAEA, ITU, UPU, and WIPO. The Vatican City is governed by officials appointed by the Pope, who is the Bishop of the Archdiocese of Rome and ex officio sovereign of Vatican City. The Holy See also administers a number of extraterritorial properties in Italy and in many other countries (Apostolic Nunciatures). |
Kosovo – Republic of Kosovo | related agencies | Not a UN member state, but member of one or moreSerbia | Claimed byKosovo is a member of the IMF and the WBG. It has obtained diplomatic recognition by 114 UN member states and by the Republic of China. Claimed in whole by Serbia as part of its Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija. Republic of Kosovo has de facto control over most of the territory, with limited control in North Kosovo. |
UN observer states and member states of UN Specialized Agencies | |||
States with no membership to the UN or to UN specialized agencies | |||
Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia | No membership | Georgia | Claimed byRecognised by Russia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Venezuela,[47] South Ossetia and Transnistria.[48] Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia. |
Nagorno-Karabakh – Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
| No membership | Azerbaijan | Claimed byA de facto independent state,[49][50] recognised only by Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Azerbaijan.[51] |
Northern Cyprus – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
| No membership | Republic of Cyprus | Claimed by theRecognised only by Turkey. It has participated as an observer state of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference under the name "Turkish Cypriot State" since 1979. In addition, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic regards TRNC as sovereign but Azerbaijan has not followed suit.[citation needed] Northern Cyprus is claimed in whole by the Republic of Cyprus.[52] |
Palestine
| No membership. Observer entity at the UN General Assembly | Israel | Disputed byPalestine,[53][54][55] categorised as a non-member entity by the United Nations,[46] has observer status at United Nations General Assembly and maintains a permanent observer mission at the UN Headquarters. The unilaterally-declared State of Palestine has received diplomatic recognition from over 110 countries; the exact number is unknown due to the equivocal nature of many declarations of acknowledgment.[56][57][58] The proclaimed state has no agreed territorial borders, nor effective control on the territory which it proclaimed. In foreign relations, the State of Palestine is represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization. The Palestinian National Authority is an interim administrative body formed as a result of the Oslo Accords that exercises limited autonomous jurisdiction over parts of the West Bank, while the Gaza Strip is controlled by Hamas. |
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | No membership | Morocco | Claimed byRecognised by 81 other states[citation needed]. It is a founding member of the African Union and the Asian-African Strategic Partnership formed at the 2005 Asian-African Conference. The territories under its control, the so-called Free Zone, are claimed in whole by Morocco as part of its Southern Provinces. In turn, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic claims the part of the Western Sahara to the west of the Moroccan Wall controlled by Morocco. Its government resides in exile in Tindouf, Algeria. |
Somaliland – Republic of Somaliland | No membership | Somalia | Claimed byA de facto independent state,[59][60][61] not diplomatically recognised by any other state, claimed in whole by the Somali Republic.[62] |
South Ossetia – Republic of South Ossetia | No membership | Georgia | Claimed byA de facto independent state,[63] recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Venezuela,[47] Abkhazia and Transnistria.[48] Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia.[64] |
Taiwan – Republic of China[Note 16] | Member or participant in some UN-related organizations as "Chinese Taipei" (see right) | People's Republic of China | Claimed by theA state competing for recognition with the People's Republic of China as the government of China since 1949. The Republic of China controls the island of Taiwan and associated islands, Quemoy, Matsu, the Pratas and parts of the Spratly Islands,[Note 12] and has not renounced claims over its annexed territories on the mainland.[65] The Republic of China is currently recognised by including the Holy See. The territory of the Republic of China is claimed in whole by the People's Republic of China.[Note 18] The Republic of China participates in the World Health Organization and a number of non-UN international organizations such as the World Trade Organization, International Olympic Committee and others under a variety of pseudonyms, most commonly "Chinese Taipei". |
Transnistria – Transnistrian Moldovan Republic (Pridnestrovie, Trans-Dniester)
| No membership | Moldova | Claimed byA de facto independent state, recognised only by Abkhazia and South Ossetia.[48] Claimed in whole by Moldova as the Territorial Unit of Transnistria.[66] |
States with no membership to the UN or to UN Specialized Agencies | |||
Criteria for inclusion
The dominant customary international law standard of statehood is the declarative theory of statehood that defines the state as a person of international law if it possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states." Debate exists on the degree to which recognition should be included as a criterion of statehood. The declarative theory of statehood, an example of which can be found in the Montevideo Convention, argues that statehood is purely objective and recognition of a state by other states is irrelevant. On the other end of the spectrum, the constitutive theory of statehood defines a state as a person under international law only if it is recognized as sovereign by other states. For the purposes of this list are included all states which either:
- (a) have declared independence and are often regarded as having control over a permanently populated territory, or
- (b) are recognized as a sovereign state by at least one other sovereign state
Note that in some cases there is a divergence of opinion over the interpretation of the first point, and whether an entity satisfies it is disputed.
On the basis of the above criteria, this list includes the following 204 entities:[67][Note 35]
- 201 states recognized by at least one UN member state
- Two states which control a permanently populated territory and are recognized only by non-UN member states: Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Transnistria
- One state which controls a permanently populated territory and is not recognized by any other state: Somaliland
See also
Notes
References
Bibliography
- Federal Foreign Office of Germany (22 April 2009). "Amtliche Bezeichnungen ausländischer Staaten in den Landessprachen" (PDF). Government of Germany. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
- Bissio, Roberto Remo, ed. (1995). The World: A Third World Guide: 1995/96. Montevideo: Instituto del Tercer Mundo. ISBN 9780855982911. OCLC 476299738.
- "Countries or areas, codes and abbreviations". Statistics Division, United Nations. 1 April 2010.
- Davis, Tim (19 February 2009). "World Countries and States List". Timdavis.com.au.
- "Geographic Names" (PDF). Department of Public Information, Cartographic Section, United Nations. 7 September 2000.
- "ISO 3166-1 Country names and code elements". International Organization for Standardization. 2010.
- "List of countries, territories and currencies". Publications Office of the European Union. 4 May 2010.
- Madore, David (3 August 2003). "How many countries are there in the world?". Madore.org.
- "The World Factbook". United States: Central Intelligence Agency. 2010.
- World of Information (Firm), and International Chamber of Commerce (2003). Middle East Review 2003/04: The Economic and Business Report (27th ed.). London: Kogan Page. p. 161. ISBN 9780749440664. OCLC 51992589.
af:Lys van landeals:Liste unabhängiger Staatenang:Land þǣre woruldeab:Атәылақәеи атерриториақәеи алфавиттә рыхьӡынҵаar:ملحق:قائمة الدولan:Estatos d'o mundoarc:ܡܟܬܒܢܘܬܐ ܕܐܬܪܘܬܐroa-rup:Vãsãliili di pi Terra (2)frp:Payis (L)as:দেশৰ তালিকাast:Llista de paísesgn:Opaite tetã yvyguaaz:Dünya ölkələrinin siyahısıbn:সার্বভৌম রাষ্ট্রসমূহের তালিকাbjn:Daptar nagara di duniazh-min-nan:Kok-ka lia̍t-toaⁿmap-bms:Daftar negarabe:Краіны паводле алфавітуbe-x-old:Сьпіс краінаў і тэрыторыяў па альфабэцеbcl:Lista nin mga nacionbar:Listn vo de Staatnbo:རྒྱལ་ཁབ་དག་གི་མིང་།bs:Države svijetabr:Roll riezoù ar Bedbg:Списък на странитеca:Llista d'estats independents i territoris dependentsceb:Talaan sa mga nasodcs:Seznam států světacbk-zam:Anexo:Maga Nacion del Mundocy:Gwledydd y bydda:Verdens landepdc:Lischt vun Lennerde:Liste der Staaten der Erdenv:Kéyah Daʼnaaznilígíídsb:Lisćina krajowdz:List of countrieset:Maailma riikide loendel:Κατάλογος χωρώνes:Anexo:Países del mundoeo:Listo de sendependaj ŝtatojeu:Estatu burujabeen eta hiriburuen zerrendafa:فهرست کشورهای جهان بر اساس الفبای فارسیfo:Heimsins londfr:Liste des pays du mondefy:List fan lannen en gebietenff:Ngaluuji leydifur:Liste di Stâts dal montga:Liosta tíorthagv:Rolley çheeraghyn y theihillgag:Devletlär tablițasıgd:Dùthchannan an t-Saoghailgl:Lista de paísesgot:𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐌾𐌰/Reikjaxal:Орн Нутгин буулһаврko:나라 목록ha:Ƙasashen Duniyahaw:Papa o nā ʻāinahy:Լիիշխան պետությունների ցանկhi:विश्व के सभी देशhsb:Lisćina krajowhr:Popis državaio:Listo di nedependanta statiig:Ndetu obodoilo:Listaan dagiti pagilian ti lubongbpy:দেশর নাঙর তালিকাহানid:Daftar negara berdaulatia:Lista de statos e entitates soveranie:Liste del landes del mundeos:Бæстæты номхыгъдis:Listi yfir fullvalda ríkiit:Stati del mondohe:מדינות לפי שםjv:Dhaptar negarakl:Silarsuarmi nunatkn:ಸಾರ್ವಭೌಮ ದೇಶಗಳ ಪಟ್ಟಿpam:Paktura da reng Bangsaka:ქვეყნების სიაkk:Ел тізіміkw:Gwlasowky:Дүйнө өлкөлөрүsw:Madolakg:Nsiht:Lis peyiku:Lîsteya dewletên cîhanêlad:Lista de payizesla:Nationes mundiltg:Pasauļa vaļsteibu sarokstslv:Suverēno valstu uzskaitījumslb:Lëscht vun de Länner vun der Weltlt:Sąrašas:Šalių sąrašasln:Molɔngɔ́ ya bisé ya mokilijbo:gugde listehu:Országok és területek listájamk:Список на држави во светотmg:Lisitry ny firenenamt:Pajjiżi tad-dinjamr:जगातील देशांची यादीms:Senarai negara berdaulatmwl:Lhista de paísesmn:Улс орнуудын жагсаалтnah:Tlācatiyānna:Ebnl:Lijst van landen in 2011nds-nl:Lieste van lanen van de wereldne:राष्ट्रja:国の一覧nap:Lista d''e Paise d''o munnoce:Могlам, элпнашца долу мехкашfrr:Lönjepih:Lyst o' kuntriino:Liste over staternn:Verdas landnrm:Liste des pays du mondeoc:Lista dels païses del Mondor:ଦେଶom:List of countriesuz:Davlatlar ro‘yxatipa:ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਦੀ ਸੂਚੀpag:Listaan na saray bansapnb:دیشاں دی سوچیps:نور هېوادونهkm:រាយឈ្មោះប្រទេសtpi:Ol kantrinds:Land#Lännerpl:Państwa światapt:Anexo:Lista de paíseskaa:Ma'mleketler dizimicrh:Memleketler cedvelity:List of countriesro:Lista statelor lumiirmy:Patrinipen le themengorm:Glista dals stadis independentsqu:Wikipidiya:Unanchakunap Plantillankunarue:Список країн світаru:Алфавитный список стран и территорийsah:Дойдулар тиһиктэрэsa:देशाःsc:Istados de su mundusco:Leet o kintrasstq:Loundescn:Lista dî Paisi dû Munnusi:ස්වෛරී රාජ්ය ලැයිස්තුවsimple:List of countriesss:Emave emhlabask:Zoznam štátovsl:Seznam suverenih državso:Dalalkackb:لیستی دەوڵەتانی جیھانsrn:Rei fu kondresr:Списак државаsh:Spisak državasu:Daptar nagarafi:Luettelo itsenäisistä valtioistasv:Världsgeografi#Lista över ländertl:Talaan ng mga bansata:உலக நாடுகளின் பட்டியல்tt:Däwlätlär isemlegete:దేశాల జాబితాtet:Nasaun sira-nia Naran no Kapitál sirath:รายชื่อประเทศ ดินแดน และเมืองหลวงtg:Номгӯи давлатҳоchr:ᎠᏰᎵ ᏚᎾᏙᏢᏩᏗᏒ ᏙᎪᏪᎸtr:Ülkeler listesitk:Döwletudm:Дуннеысь кунъёсbug:Daftar ᨓᨊᨘᨕ ᨓᨊᨘᨕ ᨑᨗ ᨒᨗᨊᨚuk:Список країнur:فہرست ممالکug:Hazirkhi Wakhalarvec:Stati del mondovi:Danh sách quốc giafiu-vro:Maailma maaqwo:Limu réewi àdduna biwuu:世界地理索引yi:רשימה:לענדער פון דער וועלטyo:Àkójọ àwọn orílẹ̀-èdèzh-yue:國家同地區一覽diq:Dewletibat-smg:Šaliū sārašoszh:世界地理索引