List of sovereign states
This list of sovereign states provides an overview of sovereign states around the world, with information on their status and recognition of their sovereignty.
Membership within the United Nations system divides the 206 listed states into three categories: 193 member states,[1] two observer states, and 11 other states. The sovereignty dispute column indicates states whose sovereignty is undisputed (190 states) and states whose sovereignty is disputed (16 states, out of which there are 6 member states, 1 observer state and 9 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. The list is intended to include entities that have been recognized to have de facto status as sovereign states, and inclusion should not be seen as an endorsement of any specific claim to statehood in legal terms.
List of states
Short and formal names | Membership within the UN System [Note 1] | Sovereignty dispute [Note 2] | Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty [Note 3] |
---|---|---|---|
UN member states or observer states ↓ | ↓|||
Abkhazia | Abkhazia →|||
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
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,[2] who himself is appointed by the Holy See. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Antigua and Barbuda is a Commonwealth realm[Note 4] with 1 autonomous region, Barbuda.[Note 5][3] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Argentina is a federation of 23 provinces and 1 autonomous city. |
![]() |
UN member state | Not recognized by Pakistan[4][5][6] | See Armenia–Pakistan relations and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Australia is a Commonwealth realm[Note 4] and a federation of six states and 10 territories. The external territories of Australia are: |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the European Union.[a] Austria is a federation of nine states (Bundesländer). |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Azerbaijan contains two autonomous regions, Nakhchivan and Nagorno-Karabakh (Dağlıq Qarabağ).[Note 5] The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, a de facto state, has been established in the latter. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | The Bahamas is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 4] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Barbados is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 4] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Belarus forms the Union State jointly with Russia. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] Belgium is a federation divided into linguistic communities and regions. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Belize is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 4] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Bosnia and Herzegovina is a federation of two constituent units:
and Brčko District, a self-governing administrative unit.[8] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Brazil is a federation of 26 states and 1 federal district. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
Burma → Myanmar | |||
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Canada is a Commonwealth realm[Note 4] and a federation of 10 provinces and three territories. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Chile has two "special territories" in the Valparaíso Region: Easter Island and Juan Fernández Islands |
![]() |
UN member state | Partially unrecognized. Claimed by the Republic of China | The People's Republic of China (PRC) contains five autonomous regions, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet.[Note 5] Additionally, it has sovereignty over the Special Administrative Regions of:
China is not recognised by 21 UN member states and the Holy See, which instead recognise Taiwan (the Republic of China).[Note 11] China claims, but does not control, Taiwan which is governed by a rival administration.[Note 12] China controls part of the territory of Kashmir, which is disputed by India and Pakistan. |
China, Republic of → Taiwan | |||
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Comoros is a federation of 3 islands.[Note 13][9] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
Cook Islands | Cook Islands →|||
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
Côte d'Ivoire → Ivory Coast | |||
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | Not recognized by Turkey[10] | Member of the EU.[a] The northeastern part of the island is the de facto state of Northern Cyprus. See Foreign relations of Cyprus and Cyprus dispute. Turkey refers to the Republic of Cyprus government as "The Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus".[11] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
Democratic People's Republic of Korea → Korea, North | |||
Democratic Republic of the Congo → Congo, Democratic Republic of the | |||
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] The Kingdom of Denmark includes two self-governing territories:
The continental territory of Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland form the three constituent countries of the Kingdom. The designation "Denmark" can refer either to continental Denmark or to the short name for the entire Kingdom (e.g. in international organizations). The Kingdom of Denmark as a whole is a member of the EU, but EU law does not apply to the Faroe Islands and Greenland.[citation needed] See Greenland Treaty. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Ethiopia is a federation of nine regions and two chartered cities. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Fiji contains 1 autonomous region, Rotuma.[Note 5][12][13] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] France contains five overseas regions/departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Réunion. France also includes the overseas territories of: |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Georgia contains two autonomous republics, Adjara and Abkhazia.[Note 5] In Abkhazia and South Ossetia, de facto states have been formed. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] Germany is a federation of 16 federated states (Länder). |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] 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.[14] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Grenada is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 4] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
Holy See → Vatican City | |||
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | India is a federation of 29 states and seven union territories. India claims the entire territory of Kashmir as one of its states, but only exercises control over part of it, while the rest is controlled by the People's Republic of China and Pakistan. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Indonesia has five provinces with official special autonomy status: Aceh, Jakarta SCR, Yogyakarta SR, Papua, and West Papua.[Note 5] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Iraq is a federation[Note 13][15] of 18 governorates, three of which make up the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan.[Note 5] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
UN member state | Partially unrecognized | Israel exerts strong control over the territory claimed by Palestine. Israel annexed East Jerusalem,[17] an annexation not recognised by the international community.[18] Israel maintains varying levels of control over the rest of the West Bank, and although Israel no longer has a permanent civilian or military presence in the Gaza Strip, following its unilateral disengagement, it is still considered by some to be the occupying power under international law.[19][20][21][22][23] Israel is not recognised as a state by 32 UN members (including most Arab states) nor by the SADR. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] Italy has five autonomous regions, Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.[Note 5] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Jamaica is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 4] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | South Korea | Claimed byNorth Korea is not recognised by two UN members: Japan and South Korea.[Note 22][24] |
![]() |
UN member state | North Korea | Claimed bySouth Korea contains 1 autonomous region, Jeju-do.[Note 5][25] South Korea is not recognised by one UN member: North Korea.[Note 22] |
Kosovo | Kosovo →|||
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Libya has one self-declared autonomous region: Cyrenaica[26] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
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". |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Under Compact of Free Association with the United States. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Mauritius has an autonomous island, Rodrigues.[Note 5] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Mexico is a federation of 31 states and one autonomous city. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The Federated States of Micronesia is a federation of four states. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Moldova has the autonomous regions of Gagauzia and Transnistria, the latter of which has established a de facto state. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Morocco claims sovereignty over Western Sahara and controls most of it, which is disputed by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
Nagorno-Karabakh | Nagorno-Karabakh →|||
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Nepal is a federation composed of 14 zones. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] The Kingdom of the Netherlands includes three areas with substantial autonomy:
The continental part of the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten form the four constituent countries of the Kingdom. Three other territories (Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius) are special municipalities of the continental Netherlands. The designation "Netherlands" can refer either to the continental Netherlands or to the short name for the entire 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 parts within Europe. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | New Zealand is a Commonwealth realm,[Note 4] and has the dependent territories of:
New Zealand has responsibilities for (but no rights of control over) two freely associated states: The Cook Islands and Niue have diplomatic relations with 49 and with 18 UN members respectively.[28][29][30] They have full treaty-making capacity in the UN,[31] and are members of some UN specialized agencies. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Nicaragua contains two autonomous regions, Atlántico Sur and Atlántico Norte.[Note 5] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and 1 federal territory. |
Niue | Niue →|||
Northern Cyprus | Northern Cyprus →|||
North Korea → Korea, North | |||
![]() |
UN member state | None |
Norway has the dependent territories of: |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Pakistan is a federation of four provinces, 1 capital territory, and tribal regions. Pakistan disputes the entire territory of Kashmir with India, and part of it with the People's Republic of China. It exercises control over certain portions of Kashmir, but has not officially annexed any of it,[32][33] instead regarding it as a disputed territory.[34][35] The portions that it controls are divided into two territories, administered separately from Pakistan proper:[Note 24]
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.[36][37] These territories are not usually regarded as sovereign, as they do not fulfill 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 defence) are performed by Pakistan.[37][38][39] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Under Compact of Free Association with the United States. |
![]() |
UN observer state; member of one UN specialized agency | Partially unrecognized. Disputed by Israel | The declared State of Palestine has received diplomatic recognition from 145 states.[40] The proclaimed state has no agreed territorial borders, or effective control on much of the territory that it proclaimed.[41] The Palestinian National Authority is an interim administrative body formed as a result of the Oslo Accords that exercises limited autonomous jurisdiction within the Palestinian territories. In foreign relations, Palestine is represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization.[42] The State of Palestine is a member state of UNESCO,[43] and an observer state in the UN. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Papua New Guinea is a Commonwealth realm[Note 4] with 1 autonomous region, Bougainville.[Note 5] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | The Philippines contains one autonomous region, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.[Note 5] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] Portugal contains two autonomous regions, Azores and Madeira.[Note 5] |
Pridnestrovie → Transnistria | |||
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
Republic of Korea → Korea, South | |||
Republic of the Congo → Congo, Republic of the | |||
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Russia is officially a federation of 85 federal subjects (republics, oblasts, krais, autonomous okrugs, federal cities, and an autonomous oblast). Several of the federal subjects are ethnic republics.[Note 5] Russia also forms the Union State jointly with Belarus. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic →|||
![]() |
UN member state | None | Saint Kitts and Nevis is a Commonwealth realm[Note 4] and is a federation[Note 13] of two islands, St. Kitts and Nevis. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Saint Lucia is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 4] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 4] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | São Tomé and Príncipe contains 1 autonomous province, Príncipe.[Note 5] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Serbia contains two autonomous regions, Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija.[Note 5] The latter is under the de facto control of the Republic of Kosovo. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | The Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 4] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Somalia has two self-declared autonomous regions: Puntland and Galmudug, while the territory of Somaliland has formed an unrecognised de facto state. |
Somaliland | Somaliland →|||
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
South Korea → Korea, South | |||
South Ossetia | South Ossetia →|||
![]() |
UN member state | None | South Sudan is a federation of 28 states. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities and 2 special autonomous cities.[Note 5] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Formerly known as Ceylon. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Sudan is a federation of 17 states. |
South Sudan | Sudan, South →|||
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Switzerland is a federation of 26 cantons. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | The Syrian National Coalition, which is recognized as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people by 20 UN members, has established an interim government to rule rebel controlled territory during the Syrian civil war.
Syria has one self-declared autonomous region: Syrian Kurdistan |
Taiwan | Taiwan (Republic of China) →|||
![]() |
UN member state | None | Tajikistan contains 1 autonomous region, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province.[Note 5] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Tanzania contains 1 autonomous region, Zanzibar.[Note 5] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
Timor-Leste → East Timor | |||
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
Transnistria | Transnistria →|||
![]() |
UN member state | None | Trinidad and Tobago contains 1 autonomous region, Tobago.[Note 5] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Tuvalu is a Commonwealth realm.[Note 4] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Member of the EU.[a] The United Kingdom is a Commonwealth realm[Note 4] consisting of four constituent 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: |
![]() |
UN member state | None | The United States is a federation of 50 states and 1 federal district. The United States has sovereignty over the following inhabited possessions and commonwealths:
It also has sovereignty over several uninhabited territories:
It also has sovereignty over the following incorporated territories: Three sovereign states have become associated states of the United States under the Compact of Free Association:
It also disputes sovereignty over the following territories: |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Uzbekistan contains 1 autonomous region, Karakalpakstan.[Note 5] |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN observer state under the designation of "Holy See"; member of three UN specialized agencies and the IAEA | None | Administered by the Holy See, a sovereign entity with diplomatic ties to 181 states.[44] The Holy See is a member of the IAEA, ITU, UPU, and WIPO and a permanent observer of the UN (in the category of "Non-member State")[42] 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. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | Venezuela is a federation of 23 states, 1 capital district, and federal dependencies. |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
![]() |
UN member state | None | |
UN member states and observer states ↑ | ↑|||
↓ Other states ↓ | |||
![]() |
No membership | Georgia | Claimed byRecognised by Russia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Venezuela,[45] Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia and Transnistria.[46] Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia. |
![]() |
UN specialized agencies | Member of eight(See political status) |
NoneA state in free association with New Zealand, the Cook Islands maintains diplomatic relations with 52 states. The Cook Islands is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity.[31] It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship. |
![]() |
UN specialized agencies | Member of twoSerbia | Claimed byPursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, Kosovo was placed under the administration of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo in 1999.[47] Kosovo declared independence in 2008, and it has received diplomatic recognition from 114 UN member states and the Republic of China. 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. |
![]() |
No membership | Azerbaijan | Claimed byA de facto independent state,[48][49][50] recognised only by Abkhazia,[51] South Ossetia[51] and Transnistria.[51][52] Claimed in whole by Azerbaijan.[53] |
![]() |
UN specialized agencies | Member of five(See political status) |
NoneA state in free association with New Zealand, Niue maintains diplomatic relations with 20 states. Niue is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity.[31] It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship. |
![]() |
No membership | Claimed by Cyprus | 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.[54] |
![]() |
No membership | Morocco | Claimed byRecognised 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 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 Western Sahara to the west of the Moroccan Wall controlled by Morocco. Its government resides in exile in Tindouf, Algeria. |
![]() |
No membership | Somalia | Claimed byA de facto independent state,[48][55][56][57][58] not diplomatically recognised by any other state, claimed in whole by the Federal Republic of Somalia.[59] |
![]() |
No membership | Georgia | Claimed byA de facto independent state,[60] recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Venezuela,[45] Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Transnistria.[46] Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia.[61] |
![]() |
Former UN member (as Republic of China, 1945-1971) Observer in one UN specialized agency under the name "Chinese Taipei" | 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 26] and has not renounced claims over its annexed territories on the mainland.[62] The Republic of China is recognised by 11 UN member states and the Holy See as of 15 January 2024. The territory of the Republic of China is claimed in whole by the People's Republic of China.[Note 27] The Republic of China participates in international organizations under a variety of pseudonyms, most commonly "Chinese Taipei" and in the WTO it has full membership. The Republic of China was a founding member of the UN and enjoyed membership from 1945 to 1971, with veto power in the security council. See China and the United Nations. |
![]() |
No membership | Moldova | Claimed byA de facto independent state,[48] recognised only by Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia.[46] Claimed in whole by Moldova as the Transnistria autonomous territorial unit.[63] |
↑ Other states ↑ | |||
Legend "Membership within the UN system" column
UN Member states
UN Observer states
Member of a UN Specialized Agency
Observer in a UN Specialized Agency
No membership in the UN system
|
Legend "Sovereignty dispute" column
Undisputed sovereignty
Sovereignty disputed
|
Criteria for inclusion
The dominant customary international law standard of statehood is the declarative theory of statehood, which was codified by the Montevideo Convention of 1933. The Convention defines the state as a person of international law if it "possess[es] the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) a capacity to enter into relations with the other states" so long as it was not "obtained by force whether this consists in the employment of arms, in threatening diplomatic representations, or in any other effective coercive measure".[64]
Debate exists on the degree to which recognition should be included as a criterion of statehood. The declarative theory of statehood 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 recognised as sovereign by other states. For the purposes of this list, included are all states that either:
- (a) consider themselves sovereign (through a declaration of independence or some other means) and are often regarded as satisfying the declarative theory of statehood, or
- (b) are recognised as a sovereign state by at least one UN member 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 206 entities:[65][Note 28]
- 203 states recognised by at least one UN member state
- Two states that satisfy the declarative theory of statehood and are recognised only by non-UN member states: Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Transnistria
- One state that satisfies the declarative theory of statehood and is not recognised by any other state: Somaliland
The table includes bullets representing entities which are either not sovereign states or have a close association to another sovereign state. It also includes subnational areas where the sovereignty of the titular state is limited by an international agreement. Taken together, these include:
- States in a free association relationship to another state
- Two entities controlled by Pakistan which are neither sovereign states, dependent territories, or part of another state: Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan
- Dependent territories of another state, as well as areas that exhibit many characteristics of dependent territories according to the dependent territory page
- Subnational entities created by international agreements
See also
- ISO 3166-1
- Adjectivals and demonyms for countries and nations
- Gallery of country coats of arms
- Gallery of sovereign state flags
- List of countries and capitals in native languages
- List of national capitals in alphabetical order
- List of country-name etymologies
- List of dependent territories
- List of international rankings
- List of micronations
- List of rebel groups that control territory
- List of states with limited recognition
- List of territorial disputes
- Sovereign state
- Table of administrative divisions by country
- Template:Clickable world map
- Terra nullius
Notes
- ^ This column indicates whether or not a state is a member of the United Nations.[1] It also indicates which non-member states participate in the United Nations System through membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency or one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations. All United Nations members belong to at least one specialized agency and are parties to the statute of the International Court of Justice.
- ^ This column indicates whether or not a state is the subject of a major sovereignty dispute. Only states whose entire sovereignty is disputed by another state are listed.
- ^ Information is included on:
- The extent to which a state's sovereignty is recognised internationally. More information can be found at List of states with limited recognition,
- Membership in the European Union,[a] where applicable,
- Any dependencies, if applicable, which are generally not part of the territory of the sovereign state,
- federal structure of the state, where applicable. More information can be found at Federated state,
- Any autonomous areas inside the territory of the sovereign state,
- Any situations where one person is the Head of State of more than one state,
- Any governments in exile recognised by at least one state.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Commonwealth realms are members of the Commonwealth of Nations in which the head of state is Queen Elizabeth II. The realms are sovereign states; see Relationship of the realms.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w For more information on divisions with a high degree of autonomy, see the List of autonomous areas by country.
- ^ The Argentine Constitution (Art. 35) recognises the following denominations for Argentina: "United Provinces of the Río de la Plata", "Argentine Republic" and "Argentine Confederation"; furthermore, it establishes the usage of "Argentine Nation" for purposes of legislation.
- ^ Formerly referred to as Dahomey, its official name until 1975.
- ^ Also known as Burkina; formerly referred to as Upper Volta, its official name until 1984.
- ^ The legal name for Canada is the sole word; an officially sanctioned, though disused, name is Dominion of Canada (which includes its legal title); see: Name of Canada, Dominion.
- ^ a b The People's Republic of China (PRC) is commonly referred to as "China", while the Republic of China (ROC) is commonly referred to as "Taiwan". The ROC is also occasionally known diplomatically as Chinese Taipei, along with other names.
- ^ See also Dates of establishment of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and Foreign relations of the People's Republic of China.
- ^ In 1949, the Republic of China government led by the Kuomintang (KMT) lost the Chinese Civil War to the Communist Party of China (CPC) and set up a provisional capital in Taipei. The CPC established the PRC. As such, the political status of the ROC and legal status of Taiwan (alongside the territories under ROC jurisdiction) are in dispute. In 1971, the United Nations gave the China seat to the PRC and the ROC withdrew from the UN. Most states recognise the PRC to be the sole legitimate representative of all China, and the UN classifies Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China". The ROC has de facto relations with most sovereign states. A significant political movement within Taiwan advocates Taiwan independence.
- ^ a b c More information on more or less federal structures can be found at a List of federations.
- ^ Also known as Congo-Kinshasa. Formerly referred to as Zaire, its official name from 1971 to 1997.
- ^ Also known as Congo-Brazzaville.
- ^ A simpler official short-form name has been encouraged by the Czech government: the English variant Czechia remains uncommon, but variants in Czech (Česko) and some other languages are more popular. See Name of the Czech Republic
- ^ The government of East Timor uses "Timor-Leste" as the English translation.
- ^ Åland was demilitarised by the Treaty of Paris in 1856, which was later affirmed by the League of Nations in 1921, and in a somewhat different context reaffirmed in the treaty on Finland's admission to the European Union in 1995.
- ^ Also known as Guinea-Conakry.
- ^ While sometimes referred to as the "Republic of Iceland" ([1] [2]) and sometimes its counterpart Lýðveldið Ísland in Icelandic, the official name of the country is simply Iceland. [3][4] One example of the former is the name of the Constitution of Iceland, which in Icelandic is Stjórnarskrá lýðveldisins Íslands and literally means "the Constitution of the republic of Iceland", but note that "republic" is not capitalized. The official title of the President of Iceland (Forseti Íslands) does also not include the word republic as in some other republics. See Names for Iceland.
- ^ "Ireland" is the official name in English. "Republic of Ireland" (the official description in English) and "Éire" (the official name in Irish) have sometimes been used unofficially to distinguish the state from the larger island of Ireland; this is officially deprecated.[16] See names of the Irish state.
- ^ a b Both North Korea and South Korea claim to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. See also Foreign relations of North Korea and Foreign relations of South Korea.
- ^ The government changed the state's official name in English from "Union of Myanmar" to "Republic of the Union of Myanmar" in October 2010.
- ^ Sovereignty over Kashmir is disputed between India and Pakistan; smaller parts are disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China. Kashmir is divided between India, Pakistan and the PRC. See the List of territorial disputes.
- ^ The Constitution of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Art. 1.2) recognizes "Artsakh Republic" as an alternative denomination.
- ^ The sovereignty over the Spratly Islands is disputed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and in part by Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Except for Brunei, each of these countries occupies part of the islands (see List of territorial disputes).
- ^ In 1949, the Republic of China government led by the Kuomintang (KMT) lost the Chinese Civil War to the Communist Party of China (CPC) and set up a provisional capital in Taipei. The CPC established the PRC. As such, the political status of the ROC and legal status of Taiwan (alongside the territories under ROC jurisdiction) are in dispute. In 1971, the United Nations gave the China seat to the PRC and the ROC withdrew from the UN. Most states recognise the PRC to be the sole legitimate representative of all China, and the UN classifies Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China". The ROC has de facto relations with most sovereign states. A significant political movement within Taiwan advocates Taiwan independence.
- ^ The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is not included, as despite being a sovereign entity it lacks territory and does not claim statehood. Entities considered to be micronations are not included. It is often up to debate whether a micronation truly controls its claimed territory. Also omitted from this list are all uncontacted peoples, either who live in societies that cannot be defined as states or whose statuses as such are not definitively known.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac The member states of the European Union have transferred part of their sovereignty in the form of legislative, executive, and judicial powers to the institutions of the EU, which is an example of supranational union. The EU has 28 member states.[7]
References
- ^ a b Press Release ORG/1469 (3 July 2006). "United Nations Member States". United Nations. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Andorra country profile". BBC News. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ Government of Antigua and Barbuda. "Chapter 44: The Barbuda Local Government Act" (PDF). Laws of Antigua and Barbuda. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ^ "Pakistan Worldview, Report 21, Visit to Azerbaijan" (PDF). Senate of Pakistan Foreign Relations Committee. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Nilufer Bakhtiyar: "For Azerbaijan Pakistan does not recognise Armenia as a country" 13 September 2006 [14:03] – Today.Az
- ^ "Pakistan the only country not recognizing Armenia – envoy". News.Az. February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
We are the only country not recognizing Armenia as a state.
- ^ Europa, retrieved 28 February 2011
- ^ Stjepanović, Dejan (2015). "Dual Substate Citizenship as Institutional Innovation: The Case of Bosnia's Brčko District". Nationalism and Ethnic Politics. 21 (4): 382–383. doi:10.1080/13537113.2015.1095043. eISSN 1557-2986. ISSN 1353-7113. OCLC 5927465455.
{{cite journal}}
: Unknown parameter|subscription=
ignored (|url-access=
suggested) (help) - ^ Constitution of Comoros, Art. 1.
- ^ Andreas S. Kakouris (July 9, 2010). "Cyprus is not at peace with Turkey". CNN. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
Turkey stands alone in violation of the will of the international community. It is the only country to recognize the "TRNC" and is the only country that does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus and its government.
- ^ See Republic of Turkey Ministry for European Union Affairs Retrieved June 12, 2012.
- ^ "Rotuma Act". Laws of Fiji (1978 ed.). Suva, Fiji: Government of Fiji. 1927.
{{cite book}}
:|access-date=
requires|url=
(help); External link in
(help); Unknown parameter|chapterurl=
|chapterurl=
ignored (|chapter-url=
suggested) (help) Archived June 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine - ^ Government of Fiji, Office of the Prime Minister (1978). "Chapter 122: Rotuma Act". Laws of Fiji. University of the South Pacific. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ^ Constitution of Greece, Art. 105.
- ^ Source: Iraqi constitution
- ^ Daly, Mary E. (January 2007). "The Irish Free State/Éire/Republic of Ireland/Ireland: "A Country by Any Other Name"?". Journal of British Studies. 46 (1). Cambridge University Press on behalf of The North American Conference on British Studies. doi:10.1086/508399.
{{cite journal}}
: Unknown parameter|subscription=
ignored (|url-access=
suggested) (help) - ^ Knesset website, Basic Law: Jerusalem, Capital of Israel
- ^ "Disputes: International". CIA World Factbook. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ Gold, Dore; Institute for Contemporary Affairs (26 August 2005). "Legal Acrobatics: The Palestinian Claim that Gaza is Still "Occupied" Even After Israel Withdraws". Jerusalem Issue Brief, Vol. 5, No. 3. Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ^ Bell, Abraham (28 January 2008). "International Law and Gaza: The Assault on Israel's Right to Self-Defense". Jerusalem Issue Brief, Vol. 7, No. 29. Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ^ "Address by Foreign Minister Livni to the 8th Herzliya Conference" (Press release). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel. 22 January 2008. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ^ Salih, Zak M. (17 November 2005). "Panelists Disagree Over Gaza's Occupation Status". University of Virginia School of Law. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ^ "Israel: 'Disengagement' Will Not End Gaza Occupation". Human Rights Watch. 29 October 2004. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ^ "Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea". Retrieved 2008-10-27.
- ^ Keun Min. "Greetings". Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ^ "East Libya declares self-government". Al Jazeera. November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
- ^ "Myanmar gets new flag, official name, anthem". Reuters. 21 October 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
- ^ Federal Foreign Office of Germany (November 2009). "Beziehungen zu Deutschland". Government of Germany. Retrieved 2010-07-16. For more information, see Foreign relations of the Cook Islands.
- ^ China Internet Information Centre (13 December 2007). "Full text of joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Niue". Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ^ Republic of Nauru Permanent Mission to the United Nations. "Foreign Affairs". United Nations. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ^ a b c http://untreaty.un.org/cod/repertory/art102/english/rep_supp8_vol6-art102_e_advance.pdf
- ^ Constitution of Pakistan, Art. 1.
- ^ Aslam, Tasnim (11 December 2006). "'Pakistan Does Not Claim Kashmir As An Integral Part...'". Outlook India. The Outlook Group.
- ^ Williams, Kristen P. (2001). Despite nationalist conflicts: theory and practice of maintaining world peace. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 154–155. ISBN 978-0-275-96934-9.
- ^ Pruthi, R.K. (2001). An Encyclopaedic Survey Of Global Terrorism In 21St Century. Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. pp. 120–121. ISBN 978-81-261-1091-9.
- ^ http://home.ajk.gov.pk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72&catid=14
- ^ a b http://gbtribune.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/self-governance-order-2009.pdf
- ^ Political Handbook of the World 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ http://www.ajkassembly.gok.pk/AJK_Interim_Constitution_Act_1974.pdf
- ^ Palestine Liberation Organization. "Road For Palestinian Statehood: Recognition and Admission". Negotiations Affairs Department. Retrieved 2011-07-28.
- ^ See the following on statehood criteria:
- Mendes, Errol (30 March 2010). "Statehood and Palestine for the purposes of Article 12 (3) of the ICC Statute" (PDF). 30 March 2010: 28, 33. Retrieved 2011-04-17:
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) "...the Palestinian State also meets the traditional criteria under the Montevideo Convention..."; "...the fact that a majority of states have recognised Palestine as a State should easily fulfill the requisite state practice". - McKinney, Kathryn M. (1994). "The Legal Effects of the Israeli-PLO Declaration ofPrinciples: Steps Toward Statehood for Palestine". Seattle University Law Review. 18 (93). Seattle University: 97. Retrieved 2011-04-17: "It is possible, however, to argue for Palestinian statehood based on the constitutive theory".
- McDonald, Avril (Spring 2009). "Operation Cast Lead: Drawing the Battle Lines of the Legal Dispute". Human Rights Brief. 25. Washington College of Law, Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. Retrieved 2011-04-17: "Whether one applies the criteria of statehood set out in the Montevideo Convention or the more widely accepted constitutive theory of statehood, Palestine might be considered a state."
- Mendes, Errol (30 March 2010). "Statehood and Palestine for the purposes of Article 12 (3) of the ICC Statute" (PDF). 30 March 2010: 28, 33. Retrieved 2011-04-17:
- ^ a b "Non-member States and Entities". United Nations. 29 February 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ^ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. "Arab States: Palestine". United Nations. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- ^ "Bilateral relations of the Holy See". Holy See website. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
- ^ a b "Chavez Backs Abkhazia, South Ossetia". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
- ^ a b c Абхазия, Южная Осетия и Приднестровье признали независимость друг друга и призвали всех к этому же (in Russian). newsru.com. 2006-11-17. Retrieved 2011-06-05.
- ^ "United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo". UN. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ a b c Ker-Lindsay, James (2012). The Foreign Policy of Counter Secession: Preventing the Recognition of Contested States. Oxford University Press. p. 53.
...there are three other territories that have unilaterally declared independence and are generally regarded as having met the Montevideo criteria for statehood but have not been recognized by any states: Transnistria, Nagorny Karabakh, and Somaliland.
- ^ Krüger, Heiko (2010). The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: A Legal Analysis. Springer. p. 55. ISBN 978-3-642-11787-9.
- ^ Nikoghosyan, Hovhannes (August 2010). "Kosovo ruling implications for Armenia and Azerbaijan". HULIQ.com. Hareyan Publishing, LLC. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- ^ a b c Вице-спикер парламента Абхазии: Выборы в НКР соответствуют всем международным стандартам: "Абхазия, Южная Осетия, НКР и Приднестровье уже давно признали независимость друг друга и очень тесно сотрудничают между собой", – сказал вице-спикер парламента Абхазии. ... "...Абхазия признала независимость Нагорно-Карабахской Республики..." – сказал он."
- ^ "In detail: The foreign policy of Pridnestrovie". Pridnestrovie. 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
- ^ See Regions and territories: Nagorno-Karabakh (17 January 2006). BBC News. Retrieved January 17, 2006.
- ^ See The World Factbook|Cyprus (10 January 2006). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved January 17, 2006.
- ^ "Self-Determination, Sovereignty, and the Failure of States: Somaliland and the Case for Justified Secession" (PDF). Minnesota Journal of International Law. 19:2: 380–381. 2010.
Considering each of these factors, Somaliland has a colorable argument that it meets the theoretical requirements of statehood. ... On these bases, Somaliland appears to have a strong claim to statehood.
- ^ International Crisis Group (23 May 2006). "Somaliland: Time for African Union leadership" (PDF). Africa Report (110): 10–13. Retrieved 2011-04-19Template:Inconsistent citations
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ Mesfin, Berouk (September 2009). "The political development of Somaliland and its conflict with Puntland" (PDF). ISS Paper (200). Institute for Security Studies: 8. Retrieved 2011-04-19Template:Inconsistent citations
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ Arieff, Alexis. "De Facto Statehood? The Strange Case of Somaliland" (PDF). Yale Journal of International Affairs (Spring/Summer 2008). Retrieved 2011-04-17Template:Inconsistent citations
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ See Regions and territories: Somaliland (30 December 2005). BBC News. Retrieved January 17, 2006.
- ^ Jansen, Dinah (2009). "The Conflict between Self-Determination and Territorial Integrity: the South Ossetian Paradigm" (PDF). Geopolitics vs. Global Governance: Reinterpreting International Security. Centre for Foreign Policy Studies, University of Dalhousie: 222–242. ISBN 978-1-896440-61-3Template:Inconsistent citations
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ "Russia condemned for recognizing rebel regions". CNN.com. Cable News Network. 2008-08-26. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
- ^ "Ma refers to China as ROC territory in magazine interview". Taipei Times. 2008-10-08.
- ^ 'See Regions and territories: Trans-Dniester (13 December 2005). BBC News. Retrieved January 17, 2006.
- ^ Hersch Lauterpacht (2012). Recognition in International Law. Cambridge University Press. p. 419. ISBN 9781107609433.
- ^ The following bullets are grouped according to the availability of sources for the two criteria ((a) and/or (b)). This arrangement is not intended to reflect the relative importance of the two theories. Additional details are discussed in the state's individual entries.
Bibliography
- Bissio, Roberto Remo, ed. (1995). The World: A Third World Guide: 1995/96. Montevideo: Instituto del Tercer Mundo. ISBN 978-0-85598-291-1. 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.
- "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 978-0-7494-4066-4. OCLC 51992589.