List of sovereign states in the 1920s explained

This is a list of sovereign states in the 1920s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1920 and 31 December 1929. It contains entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 90 widely recognized sovereign states, and entities which were de facto sovereign but which were not widely recognized by other states.

Sovereign states

width=60%	Name and capital city	width=40%	Information on status and recognition of sovereignty
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A
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Abkhazia – Socialist Soviet Republic of Abkhazia Recognized independent state. It was subordinate to the Georgian SSR from December 16, 1921.
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→ → → → → → → Afghanistan Emirate of Afghanistan ^[1] Kingdom of Afghanistan Emirate of Afghanistan ^[2] Kingdom of Afghanistan ^[3] Reign of Amanullah Khan, Inayatullah Khan, and Mohammed Nadir Shah: Widely-recognized independent state. Reign of Habibullāh Kalakāni,^[4] Ali Ahmad Khan and Abd-al Karim: Not recognized by any state.
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→ → → Albania Widely-recognized independent state. De facto Italian protectorate to August 2, 1920. LON member state from December 17, 1920.
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Andorra – Principality of Andorra Widely-recognized independent state.
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– Argentine Republic Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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→ Armenia Widely-recognized independent state. Became part of the Transcaucasian SFSR from March 12, 1922.
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Asir – Idrisid Emirate of Asir Widely-recognized independent state. Vassal state of Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd from October 21, 1926.
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Asir, Upper – Sheikdom of Upper Asir Widely-recognized independent state. Partitioned between Sultanate of Nejd and Idrisid Emirate of Asir from August 30, 1920.
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Aussa  - Sultanate of Aussa Widely recognized state.
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– Commonwealth of Australia Widely-recognized independent state after 15 November, 1926. LON founding member state from 10 January, 1920. Australia had two external territories: Norfolk Island Australia administered two League of Nations mandates:
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Austria – Republic of Austria Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from December 15, 1920.
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→ → Azerbaijan Widely-recognized independent state. Became part of the Transcaucasian SFSR from March 12, 1922. Azerbaijan had one protectorate: Nakhichevan ASSR ^[5]
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B
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– Kingdom of Belgium Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. Belgium had sovereignty over one colony and one concession: Belgium administered one League of Nations mandate:
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Bolivia Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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Brazil – Republic of the United States of Brazil Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920; withdrew in June 14, 1926. Brazil was a federation of 20 states, one territory, and one federal district.
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– Kingdom of Bulgaria Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from December 16, 1920.
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C
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→ – Dominion of Canada Widely-recognized independent state after November 15, 1926. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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Chile Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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→ – Republic of China Capital: Beijing, Nanjing Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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– Republic of Colombia Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from December 16, 1920; withdrew in January 22, 1925.
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– Republic of Cuba Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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→ Czechoslovakia Czecho-Slovak Republic Czechoslovak Republic Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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D
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– Free City of Danzig Widely-recognized independent. Under League of Nations protection.
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– Kingdom of Denmark Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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Dominican Republic – Third Dominican Republic Widely-recognized independent state under United States military occupation to 18 September 1924. LON member state from September 28, 1924.
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E
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Ecuador Widely-recognized independent state.
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– Kingdom of Egypt Widely-recognized independent state.
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– Republic of El Salvador Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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Estonia – Republic of Estonia Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from September 22, 1921.
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– Ethiopian Empire Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from September 28, 1923.
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F
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– Republic of Finland Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from December 16, 1920.
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– Free State of Fiume Widely-recognized independent. Annexed by Italy from February 22, 1924.
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France – French Republic Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. France administered the foreign affairs of the following protectorates: France administered the following League of Nations mandates:
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G
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→ → Georgia Widely-recognized independent state. Georgian SSR had one autonomous republic (from July 16, 1921): Adjarian ASSR. Became part of the Transcaucasian SFSR from March 12, 1922.
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Germany – German Realm Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from September 8, 1926.
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→ Greece Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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H
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→ Ha'il / Jabal Shammar – Emirate of Ha'il Widely-recognized independent state. It was completely conquered by Saudi forces from November 2, 1921 and subsequently incorporated into the Sultanate of Nejd.
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Haiti – Republic of Haiti Widely-recognized independent state under United States occupation. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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→ – Hashemite Kingdom of Hejaz Widely-recognized independent state. Annexed by Sultanate of Nejd, creating the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd from January 8, 1926.
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Hejaz and Nejd – Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd Capital: Mecca (Hejaz), Riyadh (Nejd) Kingdom of Hejaz and Sultanate of Nejd Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd Widely-recognized independent state. Nejd and Hejaz had one protectorate:
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– Republic of Honduras Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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→ Hungary Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from September 18, 1922.
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I
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Iceland – Kingdom of Iceland Widely-recognized independent state.
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– Irish Free State Widely-recognized independent state after November 15, 1926. LON member state from September 10, 1923.
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– Kingdom of Italy Widely-recognized independent state under fascism from 31 October 1922. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. Italy had four colonies and three concessions:
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J
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– Empire of Japan Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. Japan had sovereignty over the following dependencies and concessions: Japan administered one League of Nations mandate: South Seas Mandate
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L
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& Latvia Republic of Latvia Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from September 22, 1921.
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– Republic of Liberia Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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→ – Principality of Liechtenstein Widely-recognized independent state.
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Lithuania – Republic of Lithuania Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from September 22, 1921.
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– Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from December 16, 1920.
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M
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– United Mexican States Widely-recognized independent state. Mexico had sovereignty over one territory:
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– Principality of Monaco Widely-recognized independent state.
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Mountain Republic – Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus Widely-recognized independent state. Incorporated into the Russian SFSR as the Mountain ASSR from January 20, 1921.
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– Sultanate of Muscat and Oman De jure independent state. De facto a British protectorate.
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N
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→ Nejd Widely-recognized independent state. Nejd annexed Hejaz, creating the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd from January 8, 1926.
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Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal Widely-recognized independent state.
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Netherlands – Kingdom of the Netherlands Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. The Netherlands had sovereignty over three colonies: Curaçao and Dependencies Dutch East Indies Surinam
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– Dominion of Newfoundland Widely-recognized independent state after November 15, 1926.
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New Zealand – Dominion of New Zealand Widely-recognized independent state after November 15, 1926. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. The following are territories of New Zealand: New Zealand administered one League of Nations mandate:
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– Republic of Nicaragua Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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– Kingdom of Norway Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. Norway had sovereignty over two uninhabited possessions: Bouvet Island Sverdrup Islands
---- O
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– Sublime Ottoman State Widely-recognized independent state. Ottoman Empire had one protectorate:
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P
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– Republic of Panama Widely-recognized independent state.
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– Republic of Paraguay Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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→ Persia Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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– Peruvian Republic Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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→ Poland – Republic of Poland Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. The following are colonies and possession of Portugal:
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R
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– Kingdom of Romania Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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– Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic Widely-recognized independent state. Became part of the Soviet Union from December 30, 1922. Russia had three protectorates and one concession:
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S
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– Most Serene Republic of San Marino Widely-recognized independent state.
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Serbs, Croats and Slovenes / Yugoslavia Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes Kingdom of Yugoslavia Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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Siam – Kingdom of Siam Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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→ – Union of South Africa Capital: Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, and Pietermaritzburg Widely-recognized independent state after November 15, 1926. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. South Africa administered one League of Nations mandate:
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→ → – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Widely-recognized independent state. The Soviet Union was a federation of four (later seven) republics.
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Spain – Kingdom of Spain Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. Spain had sovereignty over the following colonies, possessions and protectorate:
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– Kingdom of Sweden Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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Switzerland – Swiss Confederation Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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T
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Tibet De facto independent state. Claimed by the Republic of China.
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– Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic Widely-recognized independent state. The Transcaucasian SFSR was a federation constituted by the Armenian SSR, the Azerbaijan SSR and the Georgian SSR. Became part of the Soviet Union from December 30, 1922.
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Turkey Turkey Republic of Turkey Widely-recognized independent state.
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U
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Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. The following were colonies, concessions, and territories of the United Kingdom: Aden Amoy Anglo-Egyptian Sudan Ascension Island → Bahama Islands Bahrain – State of Bahrain Baker Island Basutoland – Territory of Basutoland Bechuanaland – Bechuanaland Protectorate Bermuda Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan British Guiana British Honduras British Leeward Islands – Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands British Somaliland – British Somaliland Protectorate British Western Pacific Territories British Windward Islands – Federal Colony of the Windward Islands Brunei – State of Brunei → Cyprus Egypt → Falkland Islands Federated Malay States Gambia – Gambia Colony and Protectorate Guernsey – Bailiwick of Guernsey Hankou Heard Island and McDonald Islands Hong Kong Isle of Man Jamaica Kenya Jarvis Island – Bailiwick of Jersey Jiujiang Kuwait – Sheikhdom of Kuwait → Maldive Islands – Sultanate of the Maldive Islands → Malta → Mauritius Nepal Nigeria – Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria Northern Rhodesia – Protectorate of Northern Rhodesia → Nyasaland – Nyasaland Protectorate Qatar – State of Qatar Saint Helena Sarawak – Kingdom of Sarawak Seychelles Sierra Leone – Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate Sikkim South Orkney Islands – Colony of Southern Rhodesia South Shetland Islands → Straits Settlements Swaziland – Swaziland Protectorate Transjordan Tristan da Cunha Trucial States Uganda Unfederated Malay States United Kingdom administered the following League of Nations mandates:
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– United States of America Widely-recognized independent state. The following were territories of the United States of America: → Alaska American Samoa Corn Islands Guam Hawaii Howland Island Johnston Atoll Kingman Reef Midway Atoll Navassa Island Petrel Islands Philippine Islands Puerto Rico Quita Sueno Bank Roncador Bank Serrana Bank Serranilla Bank Swan Islands →
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– Eastern Republic of Uruguay Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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V
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– Vatican City State Widely recognized independent state. Vatican City is administered by the Holy See.
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– United States of Venezuela Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920.
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Y
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Yemen – Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen Widely-recognized independent state.
---- Other entities Excluded from the list above are the following noteworthy entities which either were not fully sovereign or did not claim to be independent:
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Alash – Alash Autonomy Unrecognized state.^[6]
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Ararat – Republic of Ararat Unrecognized state.
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Armenia, Mountainous – Republic of Mountainous Armenia Unrecognized state.
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Azadistan Unrecognized state.
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Baranya–Baja – Serbian–Hungarian Baranya–Baja Republic Unrecognized state.
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Bottleneck – Free State of Bottleneck Quasi-state. Unoccupied territory within post-World War I Germany.
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Bukhara Bukharan People's Soviet Republic Bukharan Socialist Soviet Republic Soviet state.
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Byelorussia – Byelorussian Socialist Soviet Republic Soviet state. Became part of the Soviet Union from December 30, 1922.
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Carnaro – Italian Regency of Carnaro Unrecognized state.
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Central Lithuania – Republic of Central Lithuania Puppet state of the Second Polish Republic.
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Don – Don Republic Unrecognized state.
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Puppet state/Buffer state of Soviet Russia.
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Galicia – Galician Socialist Soviet Republic Unrecognized state.
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Gilan – Persian Socialist Soviet Republic Unrecognized state.
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Ireland – Irish Republic Unrecognized state.
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Karelia Karelian United Government Republic of Eastern Karelia Unrecognized state.
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Kholodny Yar – Kholodny Yar Republic Unrecognized state.
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Khorasan – Autonomous Government of Khorasan Unrecognized state.
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Khorezm Khorezm People's Soviet Republic Khorezm Socialist Soviet Republic Soviet state.
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Korea, Provisional Government of – Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea Partially recognized Korean government-in-exile.
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– Kuban People's Republic Unrecognized state.
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Kurdistan – Kingdom of Kurdistan Unrecognized state.
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Labin – Labin Republic Unrecognized state.
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Leitha – Banate of Leitha Unrecognized state.
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Lemko Republic – Lemko-Rusyn People's Republic Unrecognized state.
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Mirdita – Republic of Mirdita Unrecognized state.
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→ → Mongolia Capital: Niislel Khüree (renamed Ulaanbaatar in 1924) Bogd Khanate of Mongolia Mongolian People's Government Partially recognized socialist republic. Under Soviet intervention from 1921 to 1924. Satellite state of the Soviet Union from November 26, 1924.
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North Ingria – Republic of North Ingria Unrecognized state.
Raqqa – Independent State of Raqqa Unrecognized state.
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Rhineland – Rhenish Republic Unrecognized state.
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Rif – Confederal Republic of the Tribes of the Rif Unrecognized state.
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Southern Karelia – Olonets Government of Southern Karelia Unrecognized state.
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Syria – Arab Kingdom of Syria De facto independent state not recognized by any other state.^[7]
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→ Tannu Tuva People's Republic of Tannu Tuva Tuvan People's Republic Partially recognized socialist republic. Satellite state of the Soviet Union.
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Uhtua – Republic of Uhtua Unrecognized state.
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Ukraine, Soviet – Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic Soviet proto-state. Became part of the Soviet Union from December 30, 1922.
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Notes and References

1. Encyclopedia: Poullada . L. B. . Encyclopædia Iranica. AMĀNALLĀH. Online. Columbia University. United States.
2. Book: Kabul Under Siege: Fayz Muhammad's Account of the 1929 Uprising. Muḥammad. Fayz̤. Hazārah. Fayz̤ Muḥammad Kātib. 1999. Markus Wiener Publishers. 9781558761551. 275. en. The capture of the Arg on October 13, 1929 marked the end of the Tajik regime.
3. Book: Kabul Under Siege: Fayz Muhammad's Account of the 1929 Uprising. Muḥammad. Fayz̤. Hazārah. Fayz̤ Muḥammad Kātib. 1999. Markus Wiener Publishers. 9781558761551. 275. en. Nadir received word of the victory in Ali Khayl and immediately set out for the capital, arriving in the city on the 15th..
4. Book: Kabul under siege: Fayz Muhammad's account of the 1929 Uprising. Muḥammad. Fayz̤. McChesney. R. D.. 1999. Markus Wiener Publishers. 9781558761544. 236. en.
5. Московский договор между Росскией и Турцией, 16 марта 1921 года
6. Book: Ubiria, Grigol. Soviet Nation-Building in Central Asia:The Making of the Kazakh and Uzbek Nations. 242. Routledge. 16 September 2015. 9781317504351. 30 June 2021.
7. Book: Tauber, Eliezer. The Formation of Modern Iraq and Syria. 13 September 2013. Routledge. 978-1-135-20118-0. 30–.