List of sovereign states in 1991

Sovereign states by year
List of sovereign states in 1990	Events of 1991	List of sovereign states in 1992

Internationally recognized sovereign states

A

• Afghanistan - Republic of Afghanistan, UN member State
• Albania
  • People's Socialist Republic of Albania (to 29 April), UN member State
  • Republic of Albania (from 29 April), UN member State
• Algeria – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, UN member State
• Andorra – Principality of Andorra
• Angola – People's Republic of Angola, UN member State
• Antigua and Barbuda – UN member State
• Argentina – Argentine Republic, UN member State
• Armenia
  • Republic of Armenia (to 23 September, De facto independent sovereign entity, Republic within the Soviet Union)
  • Republic of Armenia (from 23 September, De facto independent state, Republic within the Soviet Union to 26 December)
• Australia – Commonwealth of Australia, UN member State
• Austria – Republic of Austria, UN member State
• Azerbaijan
  • Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (to 5 February, De facto independent sovereign entity, Republic within the Soviet Union)
  • Republic of Azerbaijan (from 5 February, De facto independent sovereign entity to 30 August, Republic within the Soviet Union)
  • Republic of Azerbaijan (from August, de facto independent state, Republic within the Soviet Union to 26 December)

B

• The Bahamas – Commonwealth of the Bahamas, UN member State
• Bahrain – State of Bahrain, UN member State
• Bangladesh – People's Republic of Bangladesh, UN member State
• Barbados – UN member State
• Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium, UN member State
• Belize – UN member State
• Benin - Republic of Benin, UN member State
• Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan, UN member State
• Bolivia – Republic of Bolivia, UN member State
• Bophuthatswana – Republic of Bophuthatswana (nominally independent South African bantustan)
• Botswana – Republic of Botswana, UN member State
• Bougainville – Republic of Bougainville (de facto independent state)
• Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil, UN member State
• Brunei – State of Brunei, Abode of Peace, UN member State
• Bulgaria - Republic of Bulgaria, UN member State
• Burkina Faso - UN member State

Burma → Myanmar

• Burundi - Republic of Burundi, UN member State
• Byelorussia / Belarus
  • Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, UN member State (to 25 August, De facto independent sovereign entity, Republic within the Soviet Union)
  • Republic of Belarus (from 25 August, de facto independent state, Republic within the Soviet Union to 26 December), UN member State

C

• State of Cambodia (partially recognized de facto independent state)
• Cambodia - National Government of Cambodia, UN member State
• Cameroon – Republic of Cameroon, UN member State
• Canada – UN member State
• Cape Verde – Republic of Cape Verde, UN member state
• Central African Republic, UN member State
• Chad – Republic of Chad, UN member State
• Chechnya - Chechen Republic (partially recognized de facto independent state from 1 November)
• Chile – Republic of Chile, UN member State
• China, People's Republic of – UN member State
• China, Republic of (partially recognized de facto independent state)
• Ciskei – Republic of Ciskei (nominally independent South African bantustan)
• Colombia – Republic of Colombia, UN member State
• Comoros - Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros, UN member State

Congo

• People's Republic of Congo (to 10 June), UN member State
• Republic of the Congo (from 10 June), UN member State

Congo, Democratic Republic of the → Zaire

• Cook Islands (A state in free association with New Zealand)
• Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica, UN member State

Côte d'Ivoire → Ivory Coast

• Croatia – Republic of Croatia (from 25 June, de facto independent state)
• Cuba – Republic of Cuba, UN member State
• Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus, UN member State
• Czechoslovakia - Czech and Slovak Federative Republic, UN member State

D

• Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark, UN member State
• Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti, UN member State
• Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica, UN member State
• Dominican Republic, UN member State

E

• Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador, UN member State
• Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt, UN member State
• El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador, UN member State
• Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea, UN member State
• Estonia
  • Republic of Estonia (to 20 August, (De facto independent sovereign entity, Republic within the Soviet Union))
  • Republic of Estonia (from 20 August, de facto independent state, Republic within the Soviet Union to 6 September), UN member State from 17 September

Ethiopia

• People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (to 28 May), UN member State
• Transitional Government of Ethiopia (from 28 May), UN member State

F

• Fiji - Sovereign Democratic Republic of Fiji, UN member State
• Finland – Republic of Finland, UN member State
• France – French Republic, UN member State

G

• Gabon – Gabonese Republic, UN member State
• The Gambia – Republic of the Gambia, UN member State
• Gagauzia – Gagauz Republic (De facto independent state from 19 August)
• Georgia - Republic of Georgia (from 9 April, de facto independent state to 26 December)
• Germany - Federal Republic of Germany, UN member State
• Ghana – Republic of Ghana, UN member State
• Greece – Hellenic Republic, UN member State
• Grenada - UN member State
• Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala, UN member State
• Guinea – Republic of Guinea, UN member State
• Guinea-Bissau – Republic of Guinea-Bissau, UN member State
• Guyana – Co-operative Republic of Guyana, UN member State

H

• Haiti – Republic of Haiti, UN member State

Holy See → Vatican City

• Honduras – Republic of Honduras, UN member State
• Hungary – Republic of Hungary, UN member State

I

• Iceland – Republic of Iceland, UN member State
• India – Republic of India, UN member State
• Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia, UN member State
• Iran – Islamic Republic of Iran, UN member State
• Iraq - Republic of Iraq, UN member State
• Ireland – Republic of Ireland, UN member State
• Israel – State of Israel, UN member State (wasn't recognized by 21 UN member States)
• Italy – Italian Republic, UN member State
• Ivory Coast – Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, UN member State

J

• Jamaica - UN member State
• Japan - UN member State
• Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, UN member State

K

• • Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (to 10 December, De facto independent sovereign entity, Republic within the Soviet Union)
  • Republic of Kazakhstan (from 10 December, De facto independent sovereign entity to 16 December, Republic within the Soviet Union)
  • Republic of Kazakhstan (from 16 December, de facto independent state, Republic within the Soviet Union to 26 December)
• Kenya – Republic of Kenya, UN member State
• Kiribati – Republic of Kiribati
• Kirghizia / Kyrgyzstan
  • Republic of Kyrgyzstan (to 31 August, De facto independent sovereign entity to 16 December, Republic within the Soviet Union)
  • Republic of Kyrgyzstan (from 16 December, de facto independent state, Republic within the Soviet Union to 26 December)
• North Korea – Democratic People's Republic of Korea, UN member state from 17 September (wasn't recognized by 4 UN member States)
• South Korea – Republic of Korea, UN member state from 17 September (wasn't recognized by 2 UN member States at greatest extent)
• Kuwait – State of Kuwait (from 27 February), UN member State

L

• Laos – Lao People's Democratic Republic, UN member State
• Latvia Latvia
  • Republic of Latvia (to 21 August, (De facto independent sovereign entity, Republic within the Soviet Union))
  • Republic of Latvia (from 21 August, de facto independent state, Republic within the Soviet Union to 6 September), UN member State from 17 September
• Lebanon – Lebanese Republic, UN member State
• Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho, UN member State
• Liberia – Republic of Liberia, UN member State
• Libya – Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, UN member State
• Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein, UN member State
• Lithuania - Republic of Lithuania (De facto independent state, Republic within the Soviet Union to 6 September), UN member State from 17 September
• Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, UN member State

M

• Macedonia - Republic of Macedonia (from 8 September, de facto independent state)
• Madagascar - Democratic Republic of Madagascar, UN member State
• Malawi – Republic of Malawi, UN member state
• Malaysia - UN member State
• Maldives – Republic of Maldives, UN member State
• Mali – Republic of Mali, UN member State
• Malta – Republic of Malta, UN member State
• Marshall Islands – Republic of the Marshall Islands (A state under Compact of Free Association with the United States), UN member State from 17 September
• Mauritania – Islamic Republic of Mauritania, UN member State
• Mauritius - UN member State
• Federated States of Micronesia (A state under Compact of Free Association with the United States), UN member State from 17 September
• Mexico – United Mexican States, UN member State
• Moldavia / Moldova
  • Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova (to 23 May, De facto independent sovereign entity, Republic within the Soviet Union)
  • Republic of Moldova (from 23 May, De facto independent sovereign entity to 27 August, Republic within the Soviet Union)
  • Republic of Moldova (from 27 August, de facto independent state, Republic within the Soviet Union to 26 December)*Monaco – Principality of Monaco, Permanent observer at the UN
• Mongolia – Mongolian People's Republic, UN member State
• Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco, UN member State
• Mozambique - Republic of Mozambique, UN member State
• Myanmar – Union of Myanmar, UN member State

N

• Namibia – Republic of Namibia, UN member State
• Nauru – Republic of Nauru, UN member State
• Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal, UN member State
• Netherlands – Kingdom of the Netherlands, UN member State
• New Zealand - UN member State
• Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua, UN member State
• Niger – Republic of Niger, UN member State
• Nigeria – Federal Republic of Nigeria, UN member State
• Niue (A state in free association with New Zealand)
• Northern Cyprus – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (partially recognized de facto independent state)
• Norway – Kingdom of Norway, UN member State

O

• Oman – Sultanate of Oman, UN member State

P

• Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan, UN member state
• Palestine - State of Palestine (Disputed region consisting of three occupied territories: the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem)
• Panama – Republic of Panama, UN member State
• Papua New Guinea – Independent State of Papua New Guinea, UN member State
• Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay, UN member State
• Peru – Republic of Peru, UN member State
• Philippines – Republic of the Philippines, UN member State
• Poland – Republic of Poland, UN member State
• Portugal – Portuguese Republic, UN member state

Q

• Qatar – State of Qatar, UN member State

R

• Romania – UN member State
• Russia
  • Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (to 12 December, De facto independent sovereign entity, Republic within the Soviet Union)
  • Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (from 12 December, De facto independent state, Republic within the Soviet Union to 26 December)
  • Russian Federation (from 26 December), UN member State
• Rwanda – Rwandese Republic, UN member state

S

• Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Partially recognized de facto independent state)
• Saint Kitts and Nevis – Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, UN member State
• Saint Lucia, UN member State
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, UN member State

Samoa → Western Samoa

• San Marino – Republic of San Marino
• São Tomé and Príncipe – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, UN member State
• Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UN member State
• Senegal – Republic of Senegal, UN member State
• Seychelles – Republic of Seychelles, UN member State
• Sierra Leone – Republic of Sierra Leone, UN member State
• Singapore – Republic of Singapore, UN member State
• Slovenia – Republic of Slovenia (from 25 June, de facto independent state)
• Solomon Islands - UN member State

Somalia

• Somali Democratic Republic (to 26 January), UN member State
• Somali Republic (from 26 January to 18 November), UN member State
• Somalia (from 18 November), UN member State
• Somaliland – Republic of Somaliland (De facto independent state from 18 May)
• South Africa – Republic of South Africa, UN member State
• Soviet Union – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (to 26 December), UN member State
• Spain – Kingdom of Spain, UN member State
• Sri Lanka – Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, UN member State
• Sudan – Republic of the Sudan, UN member State
• Suriname – Republic of Suriname, UN member State
• Swaziland – Kingdom of Swaziland, UN member State
• Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden, UN member State
• Switzerland – Swiss Confederation, Permanent observer at UN
• Syria – Syrian Arab Republic, UN member State

T

Taiwan → China, Republic of

• Tajikistan
  • Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic (to 31 August, De facto independent sovereign entity, Republic within the Soviet Union)
  • Republic of Tajikstan (from 31 August, De facto independent sovereign entity to 9 September, Republic within the Soviet Union)
  • Republic ofTajikstan (from 9 September, de facto independent state, Republic within the Soviet Union to 26 December)
• Tamil Eelam (unrecognized de facto self-governing entity)
• Tanzania – United Republic of Tanzania, UN member State
• Thailand – Kingdom of Thailand, UN member State
• Togo – Togolese Republic, UN member State
• Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga, UN member State
• Transkei – Republic of Transkei (nominally independent South African bantustan)
• Transnistria
  • Transnistrian Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic (from 25 August to 5 November, de facto independent state)
  • Transnistrian Moldovan Republic (from 5 November, de facto independent state)
• Trinidad and Tobago – Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, UN member State
• Tunisia – Tunisian Republic, UN member State
• Turkey – Republic of Turkey, UN member State
• Turkmenistan
  • Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (to 27 October, De facto independent sovereign entity, Republic within the Soviet Union)
  • Turkmenistan (from 27 October, de facto independent state, Republic within the Soviet Union to 26 December)
• Tuvalu

U

• Uganda – Republic of Uganda, UN member State
• Ukraine
  • Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, UN member State (to 24 August, De facto independent sovereign entity, Republic within the Soviet Union until 24 August)
  • Ukraine, UN Member State (from 24 August, de facto independent state, Republic within the Soviet Union to 26 December), UN member State
• United Arab Emirates - UN member State
• United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, UN member State
• United States – United States of America, UN member State
• Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay, UN member State

USSR → Soviet Union

• Uzbekistan
  • Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (to 31 August, De facto independent sovereign entity, Republic within the Soviet Union)
  • Republic of Uzbekistan (from 31 August, de facto independent state, Republic within the Soviet Union to 26 December)

V

• Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu, UN member State
• Vatican City – Vatican City State, Permanent observer at UN
• Venda – Republic of Venda (nominally independent South African bantustan)
• Venezuela – Republic of Venezuela, UN member State
• Vietnam – Socialist Republic of Vietnam, UN member State

W

• Western Samoa - Independent State of Western Samoa, UN member State

Y

• Yemen – Republic of Yemen, UN member State
• Yugoslavia – Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, UN member State

Z

• Zaire - Republic of Zaire, UN member State
• Zambia - Republic of Zambia, UN member State
• Zimbabwe – Republic of Zimbabwe, UN member State

Non-sovereign territories

Australia

• Ashmore and Cartier Islands - The Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands (Uninhabited external territory)
• Australian Antarctic Territory (Uninhabited external territory)
• Christmas Island - The Territory of Christmas Island (External territory)
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands - The Territory of the Cocos Islands (External territory)
• Coral Sea Islands - The Coral Sea Islands Territory (Uninhabited external territory)
• Heard Island and McDonald Islands – Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands (Uninhabited external territory)
• Norfolk Island – Territory of Norfolk Island (External territory)

Denmark

• Faroe Islands (Constituent country)
• Greenland (Constituent country)

Finland

• Åland (Neutral and demilitarised region)

France

• French Polynesia (Overseas territory), with Clipperton Island
• French Southern and Antarctic Lands - The Territory of French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Overseas territory)
• Mayotte (Overseas territory)
• New Caledonia (Overseas territory)
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Overseas territory)
• Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (Overseas territory), consisting of five uninhabited possessions:
  • Bassas da India (Disputed by Madagascar)
  • Europa Island (Disputed by Madagascar)
  • Glorioso Islands (Disputed by Madagascar, Comoros and the Seychelles)
  • Juan de Nova Island (Disputed by Madagascar)
  • Tromelin Island (Disputed by Mauritius and the Seychelles)
• Wallis and Futuna - The Territory of the Wallis and Futuna (Overseas territory)

Greece

• Mount Athos (Autonomous monastic state)

Netherlands

• Aruba (Autonomous country)
• Netherlands Antilles (Autonomous country)

New Zealand

• Ross Dependency (Suspended under the Antarctic Treaty)
• Tokelau

Norway

• Bouvet Island
• Peter I Island (Suspended under the Antarctic Treaty)
• Queen Maud Land (Suspended under the Antarctic Treaty)

Portugal

• Macau (Chinese territory administered by Portugal)

United Kingdom

• Akrotiri and Dhekelia - Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (Dependent territory)
• Anguilla (Dependent territory)
• Bermuda (Dependent territory)
• British Antarctic Territory (Dependent territory suspended under the Antarctic Treaty)
• British Indian Ocean Territory (Dependent territory disputed by Mauritius and the Seychelles)
• British Virgin Islands (Dependent territory)
• Cayman Islands (Dependent territory)
• Falkland Islands (Dependent territory disputed by Argentina)
• Gibraltar (Dependent territory)
• Hong Kong (Dependent territory)
• Montserrat (Dependent territory)
• Pitcairn Islands (Dependent territory)
• Saint Helena (Dependent territory), with two dependencies:
  • Ascension Island
  • Tristan da Cunha
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (Dependent territory disputed by Argentina)
• Turks and Caicos Islands (Dependent territory)
• Guernsey - The Bailiwick of Guersney (Crown depedency), with three dependencies:
  • Alderney
  • Sark
  • Herm
• Isle of Man (Crown depedency)
• Jersey - The Bailiwick of Jersey (Crown depedency)

United States

• American Samoa (Insular area including Swains Island, disputed by Tokelau)
• Guam (Insular area)
• Northern Mariana Islands - Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (Insular area)
• Puerto Rico - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Insular area)
• United States Virgin Islands - Virgin Islands of the United States (Insular area)
• Baker Island (Uninhabited unincorporated territory)
• Howland Island (Uninhabited unincorporated territory)
• Jarvis Island (Uninhabited unincorporated territory)
• Johnston Atoll (Uninhabited unincorporated territory)
• Kingman Reef (Uninhabited unincorporated territory)
• Midway Atoll (Uninhabited unincorporated territory)
• Navassa Island (Uninhabited unincorporated territory claimed by Haiti)
• Wake Island (Uninhabited unincorporated territory claimed by the Marshall Islands)
• Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, consisting of one territory
  • Palau

Other states

• Antarctica as a whole had no government and no permanent population. Seven states claimed portions of Antarctica and five of these had reciprocally recognised one another's claims. These claims, which were regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, were neither recognised nor disputed by any other signatory state.
• Estonia was a part of the Soviet Union until this year, but its annexation was not widely recognized. A government in exile claimed independence for Estonia, but aside from its embassies in the West it controlled no territory.
• Latvia was a part of the Soviet Union until this year, but its annexation was not widely recognized. A government in exile claimed independence for Latvia, but aside from its embassies in the West it controlled no territory.
• The Sovereign Military Order of Malta was an entity claiming sovereignty. The order had bi-lateral diplomatic relations with a large number of states, but had no territory other than extraterritorial areas within Rome. The order's Constitution stated: "The Order is a subject of international law and exercises sovereign functions." Although the order frequently asserted its sovereignty, it did not claim to be a sovereign state. It lacked a defined territory. Since all its members were citizens of other states, almost all of them lived in their native countries, and those who resided in the order's extraterritorial properties in Rome did so only in connection with their official duties, the order lacked the characteristic of having a territory or.

References