This is a list of sovereign states in the 1950s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1950 and 31 December 1959. It contains 108 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 102 widely recognized sovereign states, 5 entities which were de facto sovereign but which were not widely recognized by other states, and 1 state which was initially unrecognized but then gained full recognition later in the decade.
width=60% | Name and capital city | width=40% | Information on status and recognition of sovereignty |
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A | |||
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valign=top | Afghanistan – Kingdom of Afghanistan Widely-recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | Albania – People's Republic of Albania Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955) | ||
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valign=top | Andorra – Principality of Andorra Widely-recognized independent state. The President of France and Bishop of Urgell were ex officio Co-Princes of Andorra. The defense of Andorra was the responsibility of France and Spain. | ||
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valign=top | – Arab Federation of Iraq and Jordan (from 14 February 1958 to 14 July 1958)[1] Widely-recognized independent state. The Arab Federation occupied West Bank but these areas were not generally recognized as being part of the Arab Federation.[2] | ||
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valign=top | Argentina – Argentine Republic[3] Widely-recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 23 provinces and 10 federal territories.[4] It had a claim over Argentine Antarctica. It also claimed the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, both of which were British overseas territories. | ||
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valign=top | Australia – Commonwealth of Australia Widely-recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. Australia was a federation of six states and three territories.[5] It had sovereignty over the following external territories:
Australia administered two United Nations Trust Territories:
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valign=top | Austria – Republic of Austria Widely recognized state under Allied occupation. Independent state (from 27 July 1955). Permanent observer at the UN (from 1952 to 14 December 1955). UN member state (from 14 December 1955). Austria was a federation of nine states.[6] | ||
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B | |||
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valign=top | Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (from 25 March 1957). Belgium had sovereignty over one colony: Belgium administered one United Nations trust territory: | ||
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valign=top | → Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan Capital: Punakha (to 1955), Thimphu (from 1955)Widely recognized independent state. Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs. | ||
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valign=top | Bolivia Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative) Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | Brazil – Republic of the United States of Brazil Widely recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 20 states, five territories, and one federal district. | ||
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valign=top | Bulgaria – People's Republic of Bulgaria Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). | ||
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valign=top | Burma – Union of Burma Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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C | |||
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valign=top | – Kingdom of Cambodia (from 9 November 1953)[7] Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). | ||
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valign=top | → Canada – Dominion of Canada Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Canada was a federation of ten provinces and two territories.[8] | ||
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valign=top | → – Dominion of Ceylon Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). Commonwealth realm. | ||
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valign=top | Chile – Republic of Chile Widely recognized UN member state. It had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory. | ||
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valign=top | People's Republic of China Partially recognized de facto independent state.[9] The People's Republic of China had four autonomous regions: Guangxi (from 5 March 1958), Inner Mongolia, Ningxia (from 25 October 1958), Xinjiang (from 1 October 1955). The People's Republic of China claimed Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and the Vereker Banks, and Itu Aba, all of which were governed by the Republic of China. It also claimed the Paracel Islands (disputed by the Republic of China and South Vietnam), the Spratly Islands (disputed by the Republic of China, South Vietnam, and the Philippines), and South Tibet (controlled by India's North-East Frontier Agency). | ||
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valign=top | – Republic of China Widely recognized UN member state. The Republic of China claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China, but only administered Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island, Itu Aba, and portions of Yunnan Province. The Republic of China had territorial claims over Mongolia; the Tuvan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic; the Sixty-Four Villages East of the River (administered by the Soviet Union); The majority of Gorno-Badakhshan (administered by the Soviet Union); The eastern tip of the Wakhan Corridor (administered by Afghanistan); part of the disputed Kashmir region; eastern Bhutan; South Tibet (controlled by India's North-East Frontier Agency); and Kachin State (administered by Burma). | ||
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valign=top | Colombia – Republic of Colombia Widely recognized UN member state. Colombia claimed Quita Sueño Bank, Roncador Bank, and Serrana Bank (disputed by the United States); Bajo Nuevo Bank (disputed by Jamaica, Nicaragua and the United States); and Serranilla Bank (disputed by Nicaragua and the United States) | ||
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valign=top | Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | → Cuba Widely recognized UN member state. The Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the permanent control of the United States. | ||
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valign=top | Czechoslovakia – Czechoslovak Republic Widely recognized UN member state.[10] | ||
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D | |||
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valign=top | Dadra / Dadra and Nagar Haveli Capital: Dadra (to 2 August 1954), Silvassa (from 2 August 1954)
De facto independent state.[12] Claimed by Portugal. | ||
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valign=top | Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark Widely recognized UN member state. The Danish Realm also included one autonomous region:
Denmark had one colony:
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valign=top | Dominican Republic – Third Dominican Republic Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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E | |||
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valign=top | Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | → Egypt
Widely recognized UN member state. Egypt occupied Gaza Strip. Egypt administered one condominium:
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valign=top | El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | Ethiopia – Ethiopian Empire Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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F | |||
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valign=top | Finland – Republic of Finland Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (from 1952 to 14 December 1955). UN member state (from 14 December 1955). Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region: | ||
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valign=top | France Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (from 25 March 1957). France included 21 overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, and multiple departments in French Algeria (three departments to 1955, four departments from 1955 to 1957, fourteen departments from 1957 to 1958, and seventeen departments from 1958 on.) The French Union contained the following autonomous associated states: The French Community consisted of the following autonomous republics:
France administered the foreign affairs of the following protectorates: France also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
It also co-administered one condominium:
France administered two United Nations Trust Territories:
France administered one occupied territory:
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G | |||
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valign=top | → – German Democratic Republic Capital: East Berlin (disputed)Widely recognized state under Soviet occupation. Independent state (from 26 March 1954). | ||
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valign=top | – Federal Republic of Germany Widely-recognized state under Allied occupation until 5 May 1955; independent state from 5 May 1955. Permanent observer at the UN (from 1952). EEC member (from 25 March 1957). West Germany was a federation of thirteen states.[15] | ||
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valign=top | Ghana (from 6 March 1957)[16] Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 8 March 1957). Commonwealth realm. | ||
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valign=top | Greece – Kingdom of Greece Widely recognized UN member state. Greece had sovereignty over Mount Athos, an autonomous monastic state that was jointly governed by the multi-national "Holy Community" on the mountain and the Civil Governor appointed by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and spiritually came under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. | ||
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valign=top | Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | Guinea – People's Revolutionary Republic of Guinea (from 2 October 1958)[17] Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 12 December 1958). | ||
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H | |||
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valign=top | Haiti Widely recognized UN member state. Haiti claimed the uninhabited United States possession of Navassa Island. | ||
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valign=top colspan=2 style="font-size: 90%;" | Holy See Vatican City | ||
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valign=top | Honduras – Republic of Honduras Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | → → Hungary – People's Republic of Hungary Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). | ||
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I | |||
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valign=top | Iceland – Republic of Iceland Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | India
Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm (to 26 January 1950). From 26 January 1950 to 1 November 1956, India was a federation of ten Part A states, eight Part B states, nine Part C states, and four Part D Territories.[19] After 1 November 1956, India was a federation of fourteen states and seven union territories.[20] India had partial sovereignty over one protectorate:
Indian sovereignty over South Tibet, administered as part of its North-East Frontier Agency, was disputed by the People's Republic of China. India administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the state of Jammu and Kashmir. | ||
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valign=top | Indonesia
Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 28 September 1950). Until 17 August 1950, Indonesia was a federation of fourteen states.[22] Indonesia had two special provinces: Aceh (from 26 May 1959) and Yogyakarta (from 3 August 1950). | ||
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valign=top | Iran – Imperial State of Iran Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | → Iraq
Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | Ireland[23] Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). | ||
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valign=top | Israel – State of Israel Widely recognized UN member state.[24] | ||
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valign=top | Italy – Italian Republic Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). Italy had 5 autonomous regions: Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. EEC member (from 25 March 1957). Italy administered one United Nations Trust Territory:
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J | |||
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valign=top | Japan Widely recognized state under United States occupation until 28 April 1952. Full sovereignty restored on 28 April 1952. Permanent observer at the UN (from 1952 to 18 December 1956). UN member state (from 18 December 1956). Japan had residual sovereignty over the Ryukyu Islands and the Bonin-Volcano Islands, which were occupied and administered by the United States. | ||
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valign=top | Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (to 14 February 1958, from 14 July 1958) Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). Jordan occupied West Bank but these areas were not generally recognized as being part of Jordan.[25] | ||
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K | |||
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valign=top | – Democratic People's Republic of Korea Capital: Seoul (de jure, claimed), Pyongyang (de facto)Widely recognized independent state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. | ||
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valign=top | Korea, South – Republic of Korea Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. | ||
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L | |||
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valign=top | Laos – Kingdom of Laos (from 22 October 1953)[26] Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). | ||
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valign=top | Lebanon – Lebanese Republic Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | Liberia – Republic of Liberia Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | Libya – United Kingdom of Libya (from 24 December 1951)[27] Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). Libya was a federation of three provinces.[28] | ||
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Liechtenstein Widely recognized independent state. The defense of Liechtenstein was the responsibility of Switzerland. | |||
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valign=top | Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (from 25 March 1957). | ||
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M | |||
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valign=top | – Federation of Malaya (from 31 August 1957)[29] Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 17 September 1957). Malaya was a federation of eleven states.[30] | ||
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valign=top | Mexico – United Mexican States Widely recognized UN member state. Mexico was a federation of 29 states, three territories, and one federal district.[31] | ||
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valign=top | Monaco – Principality of Monaco Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (from 1956). The defense of Monaco was the responsibility of France. | ||
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valign=top | Mongolia – Mongolian People's Republic Widely recognized independent state. | ||
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valign=top | Morocco
Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 12 November 1956). Morocco disputed the Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla and Peñón de Alhucemas. | ||
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valign=top | Muscat and Oman – Sultanate of Muscat and Oman Widely recognized independent state under the informal protection of the United Kingdom. Muscat and Oman contained one self-governing territory, The Imamate of Oman (to 11 August 1957). | ||
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N | |||
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valign=top | Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). | ||
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valign=top | – Kingdom of the Netherlands Capital: Amsterdam (official), The Hague (seat of government)Widely recognized UN member state. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consisted of three autonomous countries:
The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole was a member of the EEC (from 25 March 1957), but Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles were not. The Kingdom of the Netherlands had sovereignty over the following colonies:
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valign=top | New Zealand – Dominion of New Zealand Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. New Zealand had sovereignty over four dependent territories:
The government of Tokelau Islands claimed Swains Island, part of American Samoa (a U.S. dependence). New Zealand administered two United Nations Trust Territories:
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valign=top | Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | Norway – Kingdom of Norway Widely recognized UN member state. Norway had two integral overseas areas: Jan Mayen and Svalbard. The latter area had a special status due to the Spitsbergen Treaty. Norway had sovereignty over the following dependencies: | ||
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P | |||
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valign=top | Pakistan
Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm (to 23 March 1956). Pakistan was a federation of eight provinces, thirteen princely states, and one territory.[36] It administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir. | ||
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valign=top | Panama – Republic of Panama Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | → Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | → Peru
Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | Philippines – Republic of the Philippines Capital: Quezon City (official), Baguio (summer)Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | Poland
Widely recognized UN member state. Poland's government was still in exile. | ||
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valign=top | Portugal – Portuguese Republic Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). Portugal had sovereignty over the following colonies (overseas province from 11 June 1951):
It also had sovereignty over one possession: Portugal claimed the Spanish municipalities of Olivenza and Táliga. | ||
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R | |||
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valign=top | → Romania[38] – Romanian People's Republic Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). | ||
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S | |||
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valign=top | San Marino – Republic of San Marino Widely recognized independent state. | ||
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valign=top | Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | Sikkim – Kingdom of Sikkim (to 5 December 1950)[39] Widely-recognized independent state under the informal protection of India. | ||
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valign=top | South Africa – Union of South Africa Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. South Africa administered one League of Nations mandate: | ||
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valign=top | South Maluku – Republic of South Maluku (from 25 April 1950 to 17 October 1952)[40] De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Indonesia. | ||
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valign=top | → – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Widely recognized UN member state. The Soviet Union was a federation of 16 (later 15) republics, two of which (Byelorussia and Ukraine) were UN members in their own right.[41] | ||
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valign=top | Spain – Spanish State Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (from 1955 to 14 December 1955). UN member state (from 14 December 1955). Spain had sovereignty over the following overseas provinces:
Spain administered the foreign affairs of one protectorate:
Its sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla and Peñón de Alhucemas was disputed by Morocco. Its sovereignty over Olivenza and Táliga was disputed by Portugal. It claimed the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. | ||
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valign=top | Sudan – Republic of the Sudan (from 1 January 1956)[42] Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 12 November 1956). | ||
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valign=top | – United Suvadive Republic (from 3 January 1959)[43] De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the United Kingdom. | ||
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valign=top | Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | Switzerland – Swiss Confederation Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. Switzerland was a federation of 25 cantons.[44] | ||
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valign=top | Syria Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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T | |||
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valign=top | Thailand – Kingdom of Thailand Widely-recognized UN member state. | ||
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valign=top | Tibet [45] De facto independent state. Recognized by no other sovereign state. Claimed by the Republic of China and by the People's Republic of China. | ||
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valign=top | Tunisia)
Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state from 12 November 1956. | ||
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valign=top | – Free Territory of Trieste [48] Widely recognized state under occupation of the United Kingdom, United States, and Yugoslavia. | ||
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valign=top | Turkey – Republic of Turkey Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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U | |||
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valign=top | (from 1 February 1958) Widely-recognized UN member state. United Arab States member (from 1958). The United Arab Republic consisted of two states: Syria and Egypt. The United Arab Republic occupied the Gaza Strip, but this area was not generally recognized as being part of the UAR. | ||
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valign=top | United Arab States (from 8 March 1958)Widely-recognized UN member state. The United Arab States consisted of two states (later three): The United Arab Republic (Egypt and Syria, later, just Egypt), North Yemen, and later Syria. | ||
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valign=top | United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Widely-recognized UN member state. The United Kingdom was composed of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom administered the foreign affairs of the following protected states:
The United Kingdom co-administered the following condominiums:
It also had sovereignty over the following crown colonies and protectorates:
In addition, the British Monarch had direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies:
The United Kingdom administered four United Nations Trust Territories:
The United Kingdom administered four occupied territories:
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valign=top | → United States – United States of America Widely recognized UN member state. The United States was a federation of 48 (later 50) states, one federal district, and two (later one) incorporated territories.[49] It asserted sovereignty over the following inhabited unincorporated territories:
It also asserted sovereignty over fifteen uninhabited unincorporated territories:[51]
The United States co-administered the following condominium:
After 28 April 1952, the United States administered two territories under the residual sovereignty of Japan: In addition, the United States administered one United Nations Trust Territory: | ||
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valign=top | Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay Widely recognized UN member state. | ||
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V | |||
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valign=top | – Vatican City State Widely recognized independent state. Vatican City was administered by the Holy See, a sovereign entity recognized by a large number of countries. The Holy See also administered a number of extraterritorial properties in Italy. The Pope was the ex officio head of state of Vatican City. | ||
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valign=top | → Venezuela
Widely recognized UN member state. Venezuela was a federation of 20 states, two territories, one federal dependency, and one federal district.[53] | ||
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valign=top | → – Democratic Republic of Vietnam De facto independent state. Claimed by France (to 21 July 1954). Widely recognized (from 21 July 1954). | ||
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valign=top |
Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (from 1952). South Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China) and Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, and the Philippines). | ||
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Y | |||
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valign=top | Yemen – Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen (to 8 March 1958)Widely recognized UN member state. United Arab States member (from 1958). | ||
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valign=top | – Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia Widely recognized UN member state. Yugoslavia was a federation of six republics.[55] | ||
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Excluded from the list above are the following noteworthy entities which either were not fully sovereign or did not claim to be independent: