List of sovereign states

File:Palais des Nations unies, à Genève.jpg

Flags of the United Nations member and non-member GA observer states in front of the Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland

The following is a list providing an overview of sovereign states around the world with information on their status and recognition of their sovereignty.

The 205 listed states can be divided into three categories based on membership within the United Nations System: 193 UN member states,<ref name="unms">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> two UN General Assembly non-member observer states, and ten other states. The sovereignty dispute column indicates states having undisputed sovereignty (188 states, of which there are 187 UN member states and one UN General Assembly non-member observer state), states having disputed sovereignty (15 states, of which there are six UN member states, one UN General Assembly non-member observer state, and eight de facto states), and states having a special political status (two states, both in free association with New Zealand).

Compiling a list such as this can be complicated and controversial, as there is no definition that is binding on all the members of the community of nations concerning the criteria for statehood. For more information on the criteria used to determine the contents of this list, please see the criteria for inclusion section below. The list is intended to include entities that have been recognised as having de facto status as sovereign states, and inclusion should not be seen as an endorsement of any specific claim to statehood in legal terms.

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".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

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 polities that consider themselves sovereign states (through a declaration of independence or some other means) and either:

• are often regarded as satisfying the declarative theory of statehood, or
• are recognised as a sovereign state by at least one UN member state

In some cases, there is a divergence of opinion over the interpretation of the first point, and whether an entity satisfies it is disputed. Unique political entities which fail to meet the classification of a sovereign state are considered proto-states.<ref name=Hahn>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=Griffiths>Template:Cite book</ref>

On the basis of the above criteria, this list includes the following 205 entities:Template:EfnTemplate:Efn

• 203 states recognised by at least one UN member state
• One state that satisfies the declarative theory of statehood and is recognised only by non-UN member states
• One state that satisfies the declarative theory of statehood and is not recognised by any other state

The table includes bullets in the right-hand column representing entities that 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:

• Entities that are in a free association relationship with another state
• Two entities controlled by Pakistan which are neither sovereign states, dependent territories, nor 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

List of states

UN member states and General Assembly observer states

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 "Membership within the UN System" column legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Col-2 "Sovereignty dispute" column legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Col-end Template:Sticky header

Common and formal names	Membership within the UN SystemTemplate:Efn	Sovereignty disputeTemplate:Efn	Further information on status and recognition of sovereigntyTemplate:Efn
Template:Flag – Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentThe ruling Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in power since 2021, has not been recognised by the United Nations or any other state. The defunct Template:Flag remains the recognised government.<ref name="akhund2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="UN_Seats_Denied">Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flag – Republic of Albania	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Principality of Andorra	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentAndorra 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,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> who himself is appointed with approval from the Holy See.
Template:Flag – Republic of Angola	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentAntigua and Barbuda is a Commonwealth realmTemplate:Efn with one autonomous region, Barbuda.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Argentine RepublicTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentArgentina is a federation of 23 provinces and one autonomous city.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Armenia	A UN member state	Not recognised by Pakistan Template:ExtentArmenia is not recognised by Pakistan due to the dispute over Artsakh.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Needs update
Template:Flag – Commonwealth of Australia	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentAustralia is a Commonwealth realmTemplate:Efn and a federation of both states and territories. There are six states, three internal territories, six external territories and one claimed Antarctic external territory. The external territories of Australia are: Template:Noflag Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Noflag Template:Noflag Template:Flag Template:Noflag
Template:Flag – Republic of Austria	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the European Union.Template:Efn Austria is a federation of nine states.
Template:Flag – Republic of AzerbaijanTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentAzerbaijan contains one autonomous region, Nakhchivan.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Commonwealth of The Bahamas<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentThe Bahamas is a Commonwealth realm.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Kingdom of Bahrain	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – People's Republic of Bangladesh	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Belarus	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMany states rescinded their recognition of President Alexander Lukashenko following the disputed 2020 election. Lithuania currently recognises Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Coordination Council as the legitimate government of Belarus.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag – Kingdom of Belgium	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn Belgium is a federation of three linguistic communities and three regions.
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentBelize is a Commonwealth realm.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Benin	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Kingdom of Bhutan	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Plurinational State of Bolivia	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentBosnia and Herzegovina has two constituent entities: Template:Noflag Template:Flag and Brčko District, a self-governing administrative district.<ref name="Stjepanović2015">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Template:Flag – Republic of Botswana	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Federative Republic of Brazil	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentBrazil is a federation of 26 states and one federal district.
Template:Flag – Brunei Darussalam	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Bulgaria	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Burundi	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Kingdom of Cambodia	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Cameroon	A UN member state	A None
Template:FlagTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentCanada is a Commonwealth realmTemplate:Efn and a federation of 10 provinces and three territories.
Template:Flag – Republic of Cabo VerdeTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Chad	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Chile	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentChile has one special territory, Easter Island.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – People's Republic of ChinaTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	Partially unrecognised. Template:Claimedby Template:ExtentChina contains five autonomous regions, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Tibet, and Xinjiang.Template:Efn Additionally, it has sovereignty over two Special Administrative Regions: Template:Flag Template:Flag China claims, but does not control, Taiwan, which is governed by a rival administration (the Republic of China) that claims all of China as its territory.Template:Efn China is not recognised by [[Foreign relations of China#Countries without diplomatic relations with the PRC|Template:Numrec]] UN member states and Vatican City, which, with the exception of Bhutan, all recognise the Republic of China (Taiwan) instead.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Colombia	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Union of the Comoros	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentComoros is a federation of three islands.Template:Efn
Template:FlagTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None
Template:FlagTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Costa Rica	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Croatia	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Cuba	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Cyprus	A UN member state	Not recognised by Turkey<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn The northeastern part of the island is the de facto state of Northern Cyprus. Cyprus is not recognised by Turkey due to the Cyprus problem, with Turkey recognising Northern Cyprus.
Template:FlagTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Kingdom of Denmark	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn The Kingdom of Denmark includes two self-governing territories: Template:Flag Template:Flag The metropolitan territory of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland form the three constituent countries of the Kingdom.Template:Efn The Kingdom of Denmark as a whole is a member of the EU, but EU law (in most cases) does not apply to the Faroe Islands and Greenland. See Greenland and the European Union, and Faroe Islands and the European Union.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag – Republic of Djibouti	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Commonwealth of Dominica	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Ecuador	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Arab Republic of Egypt	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of El Salvador	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Equatorial Guinea	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – State of Eritrea	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Estonia	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Kingdom of EswatiniTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentEthiopia is a federation of 12 regions and two chartered cities.
Template:Flag – Republic of Fiji	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentFiji contains one autonomous region, Rotuma.Template:Efn<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag – Republic of Finland	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn Template:Flag is a neutral and demilitarized autonomous region of Finland.Template:EfnTemplate:Efn
Template:Flag – French Republic	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn France contains five overseas regions/departments; French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Réunion. France also includes eight overseas territories: Template:Noflag Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Noflag Template:Noflag Template:Noflag Template:Noflag Template:FlagTemplate:Efn
Template:Flag – Gabonese Republic	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of The Gambia<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentGeorgia contains two autonomous republics, Adjara and Abkhazia.Template:Efn In Abkhazia and South Ossetia, de facto states have been formed.
Template:Flag – Federal Republic of Germany	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn Germany is a federation of 16 states.
Template:Flag – Republic of Ghana	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Hellenic Republic	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn Greece contains one autonomous area, Mount Athos.<ref>Constitution of Greece, Art. 105.</ref>
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentGrenada is a Commonwealth realm.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Guatemala	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of GuineaTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Guinea-Bissau	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Co-operative Republic of Guyana	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Haiti	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Honduras	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:FlagTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of India	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentIndia is a federation of 28 states and eight union territories.
Template:Flag – Republic of Indonesia	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentIndonesia has nine autonomous provinces: Aceh, Jakarta, Central Papua, Highland Papua, Papua, South Papua, Southwest Papua, West Papua, and Yogyakarta.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Islamic Republic of Iran	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Iraq	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentIraq is a federationTemplate:Efn<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> of 19 governorates, four of which make up the autonomous Kurdistan Region.Template:Efn
Template:FlagTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – State of Israel	A UN member state	Partially unrecognised Template:ExtentIsrael exerts strong control over the territory claimed by Palestine. It has annexed East Jerusalem,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> an act not recognised by the international community.<ref name=dis>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Israel has varying levels of control over the rest of the West Bank, and although it ended its permanent civilian or military presence in the Gaza Strip, it is still considered to be the occupying power under international law.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=occ>Template:Cite book * Template:Cite book * Template:Cite book</ref> Israel is not recognised as a state by 28 UN members and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The Palestine Liberation Organization, recognised by a majority of UN member states as the representative of the Palestinian people, recognised Israel in 1993.
Template:Flag – Italian Republic	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn Italy has five autonomous regions: Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Côte d'IvoireTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentJamaica is a Commonwealth realm.Template:Efn
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Kazakhstan	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Kenya	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Kiribati	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – State of Kuwait	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Kyrgyz Republic	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Lao People's Democratic Republic	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Latvia	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Lebanon	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Kingdom of Lesotho	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Liberia	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – State of Libya	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Principality of Liechtenstein	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Lithuania	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Madagascar	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Malawi	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMalaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories.
Template:Flag – Republic of Maldives	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Mali	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Malta	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of the Marshall Islands	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentUnder Compact of Free Association with the United States.
Template:Flag – Islamic Republic of Mauritania	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Mauritius	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMauritius has an autonomous island, Rodrigues.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – United Mexican States	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMexico is a federation of 31 states and one autonomous city.
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentUnder Compact of Free Association with the United States. The Federated States of Micronesia is a federation of four states.
Template:Flag – Republic of Moldova	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMoldova has two autonomous territorial units, Gagauzia and the Left Bank of the Dniester. The latter and a city, Bender (Tighina), are under the de facto control of Transnistria.
Template:Flag – Principality of Monaco	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Kingdom of Morocco	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentPart of the Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara is controlled by the partially recognised Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
Template:Flag – Republic of Mozambique	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of the Union of MyanmarTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentWa State is a de facto autonomous state within Myanmar. The United Nations has not recognised the de facto ruling government of Myanmar, the State Administration Council.<ref name="UN_Seats_Denied" />
Template:Flag – Republic of Namibia	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Nauru	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentNepal is a federation composed of seven provinces.
Template:Flag – Kingdom of the Netherlands	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn The Kingdom of the Netherlands includes four areas with substantial autonomy: Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag The Metropolitan Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten form the four constituent countries of the Kingdom. Three overseas parts of the Netherlands (Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius) are special municipalities of the metropolitan Netherlands.Template:Efn The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole is a member of the EU, but EU law only wholly applies to parts within Europe.
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentNew Zealand is a Commonwealth realm,Template:Efn and has one dependent territory and one claimed Antarctic dependent territory: Template:Flag Template:Noflag The New Zealand Government acts for the entire Realm of New Zealand in all international contexts, which has responsibilities for (but no rights of control over) two freely associated states: Template:Flag Template:Flag The Cook Islands and Niue have diplomatic relations with Template:Numrel and Template:Numrel UN members respectively.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }} For more information, see Foreign relations of the Cook Islands.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> They have full treaty-making capacity in the UN,<ref name="untreaty1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> and are members of some UN specialized agencies.
Template:Flag – Republic of Nicaragua	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentNicaragua contains two autonomous regions, North Caribbean Coast and South Caribbean Coast.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of the Niger	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Federal Republic of Nigeria	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentNigeria is a federation of 36 states and one federal territory.
Template:Flag – Democratic People's Republic of Korea	A UN member state	Template:Claimedby Template:ExtentNorth Korea is not recognised by one UN member, South Korea, which claims to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag – Republic of North MacedoniaTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Kingdom of Norway	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentNorway has two unincorporated areas in Europe: Template:Noflag is an integral part of Norway, but has a special status due to the Svalbard Treaty. Template:Noflag is an uninhabited island that is an integral part of Norway, although unincorporated. Norway has one dependent territory and two claimed Antarctic dependent territories in the Southern Hemisphere: Template:Noflag Template:Noflag Template:Noflag
Template:Flag – Sultanate of Oman	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Islamic Republic of Pakistan	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentPakistan is a federation of four provinces and one capital territory. Pakistan exercises control over certain portions of Kashmir, but has not officially annexed any of it,<ref>Constitution of Pakistan, Art. 1.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> instead regarding it as a disputed territory.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The portions that it controls are divided into two territories, administered separately from Pakistan proper: Template:Flag Template:Noflag 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="gbtribune.files.wordpress.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="AJ&KHistory">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> These territories are not usually regarded as sovereign, as they do not fulfil the criteria set out by the declarative theory of statehood (for example, their current laws do not allow them to engage independently in relations with other states). Several state functions of these territories (such as foreign affairs and defense) are performed by Pakistan.<ref name="gbtribune.files.wordpress.com"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag – Republic of Palau	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentUnder Compact of Free Association with the United States.
Template:Flag – State of Palestine	A UN General Assembly observer state; member of two UN specialized agencies	Partially unrecognised Template:ExtentThe State of Palestine, declared in 1988, is not recognised as a state by Israel but has received diplomatic recognition from Template:Numrec states.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> The proclaimed state has no agreed territorial borders, or effective control over much of the territory that it proclaimed.<ref>See the following on statehood criteria: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }} "...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 fulfil the requisite state practice". Template:Cite journal "It is possible, however, to argue for Palestinian statehood based on the constitutive theory". Template:Cite journal "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."</ref> The Palestinian Authority is an interim administrative body formed as a result of the Oslo Accords that exercises limited autonomous jurisdiction within the occupied Palestinian territories. In foreign relations, Palestine is represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization.<ref name="unnms"/> The State of Palestine is a member state of UNESCO,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> UNIDO and other international organizations.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag – Republic of Panama	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Independent State of Papua New Guinea	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentPapua New Guinea is a Commonwealth realmTemplate:Efn with one autonomous region, Bougainville.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Paraguay	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Peru	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of the Philippines	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentThe Philippines contains one autonomous region, Bangsamoro.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Poland	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Portuguese Republic	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn Portugal contains two autonomous regions, the Azores and Madeira.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – State of Qatar	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Russian Federation	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentRussia is a federation of 83 internationally recognised federal subjects (republics, oblasts, krais, autonomous okrugs, federal cities, and an autonomous oblast). Several of the federal subjects are ethnic republics.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Rwanda	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentSaint Kitts and Nevis is a Commonwealth realmTemplate:Efn and is a federationTemplate:Efn of two islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentSaint Lucia is a Commonwealth realm.Template:Efn
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentSaint Vincent and the Grenadines is a Commonwealth realm.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Independent State of Samoa	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of San Marino	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentSão Tomé and Príncipe contains one autonomous province, Príncipe.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Senegal	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Serbia	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentSerbia contains two autonomous provinces, Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija.Template:Efn The latter is under the de facto control of Kosovo.
Template:Flag – Republic of Seychelles	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Sierra Leone	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Singapore	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Slovak Republic	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Slovenia	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentSolomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Federal Republic of Somalia	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentSomalia is a federation of six states. Two, Puntland and Galmudug, have self-declared autonomy, while one, Somaliland, is de facto independent.
Template:Flag – Republic of South Africa	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Korea	A UN member state	Template:Claimedby Template:ExtentSouth Korea has one autonomous region, Jeju Province.Template:Efn<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> South Korea is not recognised by North Korea, which claims to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.
Template:Flag – Republic of South Sudan	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentSouth Sudan is a federation of 10 states and three administrative areas. The Abyei Area is a zone with "special administrative status" established by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. It is de jure a condominium of South Sudan and Sudan, but de facto administered by two competing administrations and the United Nations.<ref name=UNISFA2017>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=AbyeiName>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag – Kingdom of Spain	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities and two special autonomous cities.Template:EfnTemplate:Efn
Template:Flag – Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri LankaTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of the Sudan	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentSudan is a federation of 18 states. The Abyei Area is a zone with "special administrative status" established by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. It is de jure a condominium of South Sudan and Sudan, but de facto administered by two competing administrations and the United Nations.<ref name=UNISFA2017/><ref name=AbyeiName/>
Template:Flag – Republic of Suriname	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Kingdom of Sweden	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentMember of the EU.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Swiss Confederation	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentSwitzerland is a federation of 26 cantons.
Template:Flag – Syrian Arab Republic	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentDuring the Syrian civil war, the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) was recognised as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people by 20 UN members and established an interim government to rule rebel-controlled territory. After the fall of the Assad regime, the SNC declared its allegiance to the new government. Syria has one self-declared autonomous region, Rojava.
Template:Flag – Republic of Tajikistan	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentTajikistan contains one autonomous region, Gorno-Badakhshan.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – United Republic of Tanzania	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentTanzania contains one autonomous region, Zanzibar.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Kingdom of Thailand	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Democratic Republic of Timor-LesteTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Togolese Republic	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Kingdom of Tonga	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Trinidad and Tobago	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentTrinidad and Tobago contains one autonomous region, Tobago.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Tunisia	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of TürkiyeTemplate:Efn	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentTuvalu is a Commonwealth realm.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Uganda	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentUkraine contains one autonomous region, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea,Template:Efn which is under the control of Russia. Seven other areas of Ukraine are under full or partial Russian control, including Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia oblasts and Sevastopol.
Template:Flag	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentThe United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates.
Template:Flag – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentThe United Kingdom is a Commonwealth realmTemplate:Efn consisting of four constituent countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom has the following 13 overseas territories and one claimed Antarctic dependent territory: Template:Noflag Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Noflag Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag The British monarch also has direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown Dependencies: Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag
Template:Flag – United States of America	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentThe United States is a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and one incorporated territory (Palmyra Atoll). Additionally, the federal government of the United States has sovereignty over 13 unincorporated territories. Of these unincorporated territories, five are inhabited possessions: Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag The United States also has sovereignty over eight uninhabited territories: Baker Island Howland Island Jarvis Island Johnston Atoll Kingman Reef Midway Atoll Navassa Island Wake Island The United States disputes sovereignty over two territories: Bajo Nuevo Bank Serranilla Bank Three sovereign states have become associated states of the United States under the Compact of Free Association: Template:Flag Template:Flag Template:Flag
Template:Flag – Oriental Republic of Uruguay	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Uzbekistan	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentUzbekistan contains one autonomous region, Karakalpakstan.Template:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Vanuatu	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Vatican City State	A UN General Assembly observer state under the designation of "Holy See"; member of three UN specialized agencies	A None Template:ExtentAdministered by the Holy See, a sovereign entity with diplomatic relations to Template:Numrec (including Template:Numrec UN member states, the Cook Islands, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and Palestine).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> In addition, the European Union and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta maintain diplomatic relations with the Holy See. The Holy See is a member of three UN specialized agencies (ITU, UPU, and WIPO) and the IAEA, as well as being a permanent observer of the UN (in the category of "Non-member State")<ref name="unnms">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.
Template:Flag – Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela	A UN member state	A None Template:ExtentVenezuela is a federation of 23 states, one capital district, and federal dependencies.
Template:Flag – Socialist Republic of Vietnam	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Yemen	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Zambia	A UN member state	A None
Template:Flag – Republic of Zimbabwe	A UN member state	A None

Other states

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 "Membership within the UN System" column legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Col-2 "Sovereignty dispute" column legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Col-end

Common and formal names	Membership within the UN SystemTemplate:Efn	Sovereignty disputeTemplate:Efn	Further information on status and recognition of sovereigntyTemplate:Efn
Template:Flag – Republic of Abkhazia	D No membership	Template:Claimedby Template:ExtentRecognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, South Ossetia, and Transnistria.<ref name=ASOTREC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.
Template:Flag	D Member of eight UN specialized agencies	A None (See political status) Template:ExtentA state in free association with New Zealand, the Cook Islands maintains diplomatic relations with at least 63 other states and is recognized as a sovereign state by a number of them. The Cook Islands is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty-making capacity.<ref name="untreaty1"/> It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship.
Template:Flag – Republic of Kosovo	D Member of two UN specialized agencies	Template:Claimedby Template:ExtentPursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, Kosovo was placed under the administration of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo in 1999.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kosovo declared independence in 2008, and it has Template:Numrec and the Republic of China (Taiwan), while 18 of those states have recognised Kosovo only to later withdraw their recognition.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.
Template:Flag	D Member of five UN specialized agencies	A None (See political status) Template:ExtentA state in free association with New Zealand, Niue maintains diplomatic relations with at least 28 other states and is recognized as a sovereign state by a number of them. Niue is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty-making capacity.<ref name="untreaty1"/> It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship.
Template:Flag – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus	D No membership	Template:Claimedby Template:Extent 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.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
Template:Flag	D No membership	Template:Claimedby Template:ExtentThe Polisario Front, which administers the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, is recognized by the UN as the legitimate representative of the people of Western Sahara.<ref>Question of Western Sahara A/RES/34/37 (1979)</ref><ref>Question of Western Sahara A/RES/35/19 (1980)</ref> Recognised at some stage by Template:Numrec, Template:Numrec of which have since withdrawn or frozen their recognition. It is a founding member of the African Union, an international organization with permanent observer status at the UN General Assembly. The territories under its control, the so-called Free Zone, are claimed in whole by Morocco 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 sand wall controlled by Morocco. Its government resides in exile in Tindouf, Algeria.
Template:Flag – Republic of Somaliland	D No membership	Template:Claimedby Template:ExtentA de facto independent state<ref name=montevideo>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=FailureofStates>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=StrangeCase>Template:Cite journal</ref> not formally diplomatically recognised by any other stateTemplate:Efn and claimed in whole by the Federal Republic of Somalia.<ref name="Somalilandprofile">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag – Republic of South Ossetia–the State of Alania	D No membership	Template:Claimedby Template:ExtentA de facto independent state,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, Abkhazia, and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia through the Administration of South Ossetia.<ref name="cnnAbSO">Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flag – Republic of ChinaTemplate:Efn	D UN member state until 1971, now no membership	Partially unrecognised. Template:Claimedby Template:ExtentA state competing (nominally) for recognition with the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the government of China since 1949. The Republic of China (ROC) controls the islands of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, and Pratas Island, as well as Taiping Island and Zhongzhou Reef of the Spratly Islands, and has not renounced claims over its annexed territories on the mainland.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The ROC is recognised by Template:Numrec UN member states and Vatican City, none of which recognise the PRC. Additionally, one UN member (Bhutan) has refrained from recognising either the ROC or the PRC. In addition to these relations, the ROC also maintains unofficial relations<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> with 58 UN member states, one self-declared state (Somaliland), three territories (Guam, Hong Kong, and Macau), and the European Union via its representative offices and consulates under the One China principle. Taiwan has the 31st-largest diplomatic network in the world with 110 offices.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> The territory of the ROC is claimed in whole by the PRC.Template:Efn The ROC participates in international organizations under a variety of pseudonyms, most commonly "Chinese Taipei". In the WTO, the ROC has full membership under the designation of "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu". The ROC was a founding member of the UN and enjoyed membership from 1945 to 1971, with veto power in the UN Security Council. See China and the United Nations.
Template:Flag – Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic	D No membership	Template:Claimedby Template:ExtentA de facto independent state,<ref name=montevideo/> recognised only by Abkhazia and South Ossetia.<ref name=ASOTREC /> Claimed in whole by Moldova.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

• Armorial of sovereign states
• Associated state
• Condominium
• Dependent territory
• ISO 3166-1
• List of adjectival and demonymic forms for countries and nations
• List of administrative divisions by country
• List of countries and dependencies and their capitals in native languages
• List of countries and dependencies by area
• List of countries and dependencies by population
• List of countries and territories by the United Nations geoscheme
• List of country-name etymologies
• List of international rankings
• List of ISO 3166 country codes
• List of micronations
• List of national capitals
• List of national flags of sovereign states
• List of rebel groups that control territory
• List of states with limited recognition
• List of territorial disputes
• List of territories governed by the United Nations
• Lists of political entities by century
• Lists of state leaders by century
• Member states of the United Nations
• Sovereign state
  • List of former sovereign states
  • List of sovereign states and dependent territories by continent
  • List of sovereign states by date of formation
• Template:Clickable world map
• Terra nullius
• United Nations list of non-self-governing territories

Bibliography

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