List of sovereign states in the 2010s explained

This is a list of sovereign states in the 2010s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. It contains 212 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 195 widely recognized sovereign states, 2 associated states, and 15 entities which claim an effective sovereignty but are considered de facto constituents of other powers by the general international community.

Members or observers of the United Nations

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 – Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Albania – Republic of Albania Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Algeria – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Andorra – Principality of Andorra Widely recognized UN member 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	Angola – Republic of Angola Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Antigua and Barbuda Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Antigua and Barbuda had two dependencies, Barbuda and Redonda.
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valign=top	→ Argentina – Argentine Republic Widely recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city. It had a claim over Argentine Antarctica, which is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. 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	Armenia – Republic of Armenia Widely recognized UN member state.
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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. It had sovereignty over the following external territories: Ashmore and Cartier Islands Australian Antarctic Territory (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.) Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Coral Sea Islands Heard Island and McDonald Islands Norfolk Island
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valign=top	Austria – Republic of Austria Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Austria was a federation of nine states.
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valign=top	→ Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan Widely recognized UN member state. Azerbaijan had one autonomous republic, Nakhchivan. It included the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where a partially recognized breakaway republic had declared independence.
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B
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valign=top	– Commonwealth of the Bahamas Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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valign=top	Bahrain – Kingdom of Bahrain Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Bangladesh – People's Republic of Bangladesh Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Barbados Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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valign=top	→ Belarus – Republic of Belarus Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Belgium was a federation of three communities and three regions.
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valign=top	→ Belize Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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valign=top	Benin – Republic of Benin Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (seat of government)Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	– Plurinational State of Bolivia Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative)Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Bosnia and Herzegovina Widely recognized UN member state. Bosnia and Herzegovina was a federation of two constituent entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was itself a federation of ten cantons, and Republika Srpska.
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valign=top	Botswana – Republic of Botswana Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil Widely recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 26 states and one federal district.
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valign=top	– Nation of Brunei, Abode of Peace Widely recognized UN member state. Brunei claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia).
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valign=top	Bulgaria – Republic of Bulgaria Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top	Burkina Faso Burkina Faso (to 15 October 2014) Burkina Faso (from 15 October 2014) Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top colspan=2 style="font-size: 100%;"	Burma Myanmar
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valign=top	Burundi – Republic of Burundi Capital: Bujumbura (to 24 December 2018), Gitega (from 24 December 2018)Widely recognized UN member state.
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C
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valign=top	Cambodia – Kingdom of Cambodia Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Cameroon – Republic of Cameroon Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Canada Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Canada was a federation of ten provinces and three territories.
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valign=top	Cape Verde Republic of Cape Verde (to 24 October 2013) Republic of Cabo Verde (from 24 October 2013)^[1] Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Central African Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Chad – Republic of Chad Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Chile – Republic of Chile Widely recognized UN member state. Chile had two special territories: Easter Island and the Juan Fernández Islands. It had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory, which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.
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valign=top	China – People's Republic of ChinaWidely recognized UN member state . The People's Republic of China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. Additionally, it had sovereignty over two special administrative regions: Hong Kong The People's Republic of China claimed Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and the Vereker Banks, and Itu Aba, which were governed by the Republic of China. It also claimed the Paracel Islands (disputed by the Republic of China and Vietnam), the Spratly Islands (disputed by the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei), and South Tibet (controlled by India). The People's Republic of China administered Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract, which were within the disputed region of Kashmir.
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valign=top	Colombia – Republic of Colombia Widely recognized UN member state. Colombia administered Serranilla Bank and claimed Bajo Nuevo Bank (disputed by Nicaragua and the United States)
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valign=top	Comoros – Union of the Comoros Widely recognized UN member state. The Comoros was a federation of three islands autonomous islands: Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan. Comoros also claimed sovereignty over the French territory, then department of Mayotte, and the French-administered Glorioso Islands and Banc du Geyser (the latter two also disputed by Madagascar).
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valign=top	Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top colspan=2 style="font-size: 100%;"	Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast
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valign=top	Croatia – Republic of Croatia Widely recognized UN member state. EU member (from 1 July 2013).
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valign=top	Cuba – Republic of 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	Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. The northeastern part of the island was the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey.
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valign=top	Czech Republic Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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D
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valign=top	Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. The Kingdom of Denmark also included two autonomous countries: Greenland Faroe Islands
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valign=top	Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Dominican Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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E
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valign=top	– Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Eritrea – State of Eritrea Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Estonia – Republic of Estonia Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top	/ Swaziland Capital: Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal and legislative) Kingdom of Swaziland (to 19 April 2018) Kingdom of Eswatini (from 19 April 2018) Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Ethiopia – Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Widely recognized UN member state. Ethiopia was a federation of nine regions and two chartered cities.
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F
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valign=top	Fiji Republic of the Fiji Islands (to 2 February 2011) Republic of Fiji (from 2 February 2011) Widely recognized UN member state. Fiji had an autonomous dependency, Rotuma.
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valign=top	Finland – Republic of Finland Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region:
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valign=top	France – French Republic Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. France included five (four until 31 March 2011) overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte (from 31 March 2011, disputed by Comoros) and Réunion. It also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: Clipperton Island French Polynesia (including a claim to Adélie Land which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.) Mayotte (to 31 March 2011, disputed by Comoros) New Caledonia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon French Southern and Antarctic Lands (district of Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean): Bassas da India (disputed by Madagascar) Europa Island (disputed by Madagascar) Glorioso Islands (disputed by Madagascar and Comoros) Juan de Nova Island (disputed by Madagascar) Tromelin Island (disputed by Mauritius) Wallis and Futuna France also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and Comoros).
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G
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valign=top	Gabon – Gabonese Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Republic of the Gambia (to 11 December 2015, from 29 January 2017) Islamic Republic of the Gambia (from 11 December 2015 to 29 January 2017) Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Georgia Widely recognized UN member state. Georgia had two autonomous republics: Adjara and Abkhazia. The latter republic was controlled by a de facto independent state. Georgia also included the disputed region of South Ossetia, where a partially recognized breakaway republic had declared independence.
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valign=top	Germany – Federal Republic of Germany Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Germany was a federation of sixteen states.
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valign=top	Ghana – Republic of Ghana Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Greece – Hellenic Republic Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. 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 under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
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valign=top	Grenada Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Grenada had one autonomous dependency, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
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valign=top	Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Guinea – Republic of Guinea Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Guinea-Bissau – Republic of Guinea-Bissau Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Guyana – Co-operative Republic of Guyana Widely recognized UN member state.
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H
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valign=top	Haiti – Republic of 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: 100%;"	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 Republic of Hungary (to 1 January 2012) Hungary (from 1 January 2012) Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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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 – Republic of India Widely recognized UN member state. India was a federation of twenty-nine states and seven union territories. Indian sovereignty over South Tibet 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 – Republic of Indonesia Widely recognized UN member state. Indonesia had five special provinces: Aceh, Jakarta, Papua, West Papua, and Yogyakarta.
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valign=top	– Islamic Republic of Iran Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Iraq – Republic of Iraq Widely recognized UN member state. Iraq was constitutionally designated as a federation of autonomous regions, but only one region (Iraqi Kurdistan) had been established.
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valign=top	Ireland – Republic of IrelandWidely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top	Israel – State of IsraelWidely recognized UN member state. Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights, and the West Bank. These areas were not generally recognized as being part of Israel.
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valign=top	Italy – Italian Republic Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Italy had 5 autonomous regions: Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
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valign=top	– Republic of Côte d'Ivoire Capital: Yamoussoukro (official), Abidjan (seat of government)Widely recognized UN member state.
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J
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valign=top	Jamaica Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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valign=top	Japan Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Widely recognized UN member state.
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K
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valign=top	Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan Capital: Astana (renamed Nur-Sultan in 2019)Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Kenya – Republic of Kenya Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Kiribati – Republic of Kiribati Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	– Democratic People's Republic of Korea Widely recognized UN member state. It claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.
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valign=top	→ – Republic of Korea Widely recognized UN member state. South Korea had one autonomous region, Jeju-do. It claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korean Peninsula.
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valign=top	Kuwait – State of Kuwait Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyz Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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L
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valign=top	– Lao People's Democratic Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Latvia – Republic of Latvia Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top	Lebanon – Lebanese Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho 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 Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (to 23 October 2011) Libya (from 27 February 2011 to 22 December 2017) State of Libya (from 22 December 2017)^[2] ^[3] ^[4] ^[5] Widely recognized UN member state. Control passed due to civil war between 15 February 2011 and de facto 20 October 2011, de jure 23 October 2011.
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valign=top	Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein Widely recognized UN member state. The defense of Liechtenstein was the responsibility of Switzerland.
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valign=top	Lithuania – Republic of Lithuania Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top	Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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M
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valign=top colspan=2 style="font-size: 100%;"	Macedonia North Macedonia
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valign=top	Madagascar Republic of Madagascar Republic of Madagascar Widely recognized UN member state. Madagascar claimed the French possessions of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands (also disputed by Comoros), Juan de Nova Island, and Banc du Geyser (also disputed by Comoros)
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valign=top	→ → Malawi – Republic of Malawi Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Malaysia Capital: Kuala Lumpur (official), Putrajaya (administrative)Widely recognized UN member state. Malaysia was a federation of thirteen states and three federal territories. Malaysia claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei).
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valign=top	Maldives – Republic of Maldives Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Mali – Republic of Mali Widely recognized UN member state. Part of Mali's territory was controlled by the de facto State of Azawad from 6 April 2012 to 12 July 2012.
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valign=top	Malta – Republic of Malta Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top	Marshall Islands – Republic of the Marshall Islands Widely recognized UN member state under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The Marshall Islands claimed the United States territory of Wake Island.
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valign=top	→ Mauritania – Islamic Republic of Mauritania Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Mauritius – Republic of Mauritius Widely recognized UN member state. Mauritius had one autonomous dependency, Rodrigues, and two other dependencies, Agalega Islands and Cargados Carajos. It claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territory of Tromelin Island.
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valign=top	Mexico – United Mexican States Widely recognized UN member state. Mexico was a federation of 31 states and one federal district.
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valign=top	Widely recognized UN member state under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The FSM was a federation of four states.
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valign=top	→ – Republic of Moldova Widely recognized UN member state. Moldova had two autonomous territorial units: Gagauzia and Transnistria; the latter was controlled by a de facto independent state.
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valign=top	Monaco – Principality of Monaco Widely recognized UN member state. The defense of Monaco was the responsibility of France.
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valign=top	→ Mongolia Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Montenegro Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco Widely recognized UN member state. Morocco claimed sovereignty over Western Sahara, which was disputed and partially controlled by the de facto independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Morocco disputed Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla, and Peñón de Alhucemas.
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valign=top	Mozambique – Republic of Mozambique Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	→ Myanmar Union of Myanmar (to 21 October 2010) Republic of the Union of Myanmar (from 21 October 2010) Widely recognized UN member state.
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N
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valign=top	Namibia – Republic of Namibia Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Nauru – Republic of Nauru Capital: Yaren (unofficial, seat of parliament)Widely recognized UN member state. The defense of Nauru was the responsibility of Australia.
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valign=top	Nepal – Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal Widely recognized UN member state. Nepal was a federation, and its seven provinces were created on 20 September 2015.
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valign=top	Netherlands – Kingdom of the Netherlands Capital: Amsterdam (official), The Hague (seat of government)Widely recognized UN member state. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consisted of four (three until October 2010) autonomous countries: Aruba Netherlands (to 10 October 2010) (from 10 October 2010) (from 10 October 2010) It also had sovereignty over one non-autonomous region (consisting of three special municipalities that are part of the Netherlands): (from 10 October 2010) The Kingdom of the Netherlands, excluding Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands Antilles, Sint Maarten, and the Caribbean Netherlands, was a member of the EU.
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valign=top	New Zealand Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. New Zealand had responsibilities for the two free associated states of: Cook Islands Niue It also had sovereignty over two dependent territories: Ross Dependency (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty) Tokelau The government of Tokelau claimed Swains Island, part of American Samoa (a U.S. dependence). New Zealand did not recognize this claim.
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valign=top	Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua Widely recognized UN member state. Nicaragua had two autonomous regions: the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region and South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region. Until constitutional reforms in 2014, they were referred to as the North Atlantic Autonomous Region and South Atlantic Autonomous Region.
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valign=top	Niger – Republic of Niger Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Nigeria – Federal Republic of Nigeria Widely recognized UN member state. Nigeria was a federation of 36 states and one federal territory.
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valign=top	/ Macedonia Republic of Macedonia (to 12 February 2019) Republic of North Macedonia (from 12 February 2019) 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 of area had a special status due to the Spitsbergen Treaty. Norway had sovereignty over the following dependencies: Bouvet Island Peter I Island (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty) Queen Maud Land (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty)
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O
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valign=top	Oman – Sultanate of Oman Widely recognized UN member state.
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P
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valign=top	Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan Widely recognized UN member state. Pakistan was a federation of four provinces and four territories. It administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the territories of Azad Kashmir and the autonomous territory of Gilgit-Baltistan.
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valign=top	Palau – Republic of Palau Widely recognized UN member state under Compact of Free Association with the United States.
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valign=top	Capital: Ramallah (administrative), Gaza City (administrative), Jerusalem (claims) Palestinian National Authority (to 3 January 2013) State of Palestine (from 2 January 2013) Partially recognised de facto self-governing entity. Palestine claimed sovereignty over a disputed region consisting of three Israeli-occupied territories: the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. In foreign relations, Palestine was represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, which was a permanent observer at the United Nations (to 29 November 2012). Permanent observer at the United Nations (since 29 November 2012). The Palestinian National Authority was an interim administrative body that exercised limited control over parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Gaza was under the control of Hamas.
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valign=top	Panama – Republic of Panama Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Papua New Guinea – Independent State of Papua New Guinea Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Papua New Guinea had one autonomous region, Bougainville.
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valign=top	→ Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Peru – Republic of Peru Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Philippines – Republic of the Philippines Widely recognized UN member state. The Philippines had one autonomous region: Muslim Mindanao (until 2019), Bangsamoro (since 2019). The Philippines administered Scarborough Shoal, which was disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China. It also claimed sovereignty over the Spratly Islands (disputed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia) and the Malaysian territory of Sabah. Part of the Philippines' territory was controlled by the de facto Bangsamoro Republik from 27 July 2013 to 28 September 2013.
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valign=top	Poland – Republic of Poland Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top	Portugal – Portuguese Republic Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Portugal had two autonomous regions, the Azores and Madeira. Portugal claimed the Spanish municipalities of Olivenza and Táliga.
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Q
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valign=top	Qatar – State of Qatar Widely recognized UN member state.
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R
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valign=top	Romania Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top	– Russian Federation Widely recognized UN member state. Russia was a federation of 22 republics, 46 oblasts, 9 krais, 3 federal cities, 1 autonomous oblast, and 4 autonomous okrugs. Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, annexed in 2014, were recognized as a part of Ukraine by most of the international community.^[6]
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valign=top	Rwanda – Republic of RwandaWidely recognized UN member state.
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S
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valign=top	Saint Kitts and Nevis – Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Saint Kitts and Nevis was a federation of fourteen parishes within two island. It had one autonomous island, Nevis.
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valign=top	Saint Lucia Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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valign=top	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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valign=top	Samoa – Independent State of Samoa Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	→ San Marino – Republic of San Marino Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	– Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe Widely recognized UN member state. São Tomé and Príncipe had one autonomous province, Príncipe.
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valign=top	Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Senegal – Republic of Senegal Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	→ Serbia – Republic of Serbia Widely recognized UN member state. Serbia had two autonomous provinces: Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija. The latter was governed by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. Kosovo declared independence in 2008,^[7] and was a partially recognized de facto independent republic.
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valign=top	Seychelles – Republic of Seychelles Widely recognized UN member state. The Seychelles claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory.
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valign=top	Sierra Leone – Republic of Sierra Leone Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Singapore – Republic of Singapore Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Slovakia – Slovak Republic Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top	Slovenia – Republic of Slovenia Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top	Solomon Islands Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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valign=top	Somalia Somalia (to 1 August 2012) Federal Republic of Somalia (from 1 August 2012) Widely recognized UN member state. Over the course of the Somali Civil War, several autonomous regional governments were established in the de jure territory of Somalia. Although these states did not claim independence from Somalia, they were de facto self-governing: Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a al-Shabaab Galmudug Himan and Heeb Hizbul Islam (to 20 December 2010) Jubaland/Azania There were also areas of the country which at various times had no effective government at all or that were ruled by local clans. In addition, there was one state that declared and established de facto independence from Somalia, Somaliland.
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valign=top	South Africa – Republic of South Africa Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	– Republic of South Sudan (from 9 July 2011) Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 July 2011). South Sudan was a federation of 10 states. It disputed Abyei with Sudan.
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valign=top	Spain – Kingdom of Spain Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Spain was divided into seventeen autonomous communities and two autonomous cities. 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	Sri Lanka – Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Capital: Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte (administrative), Colombo (commercial)Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Sudan Widely recognized UN member state. Sudan was a federation of 25 states (later 15, then 17, then 18), ten of which formed South Sudan on 9 July 2011. It disputed Abyei with South Sudan
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valign=top	Suriname – Republic of Suriname Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top colspan=2 style="font-size: 100%;"	Swaziland Eswatini
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valign=top	Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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valign=top	Switzerland – Swiss Confederation Widely recognized UN member state. Switzerland was a federation of 26 cantons.
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valign=top	– Syrian Arab Republic Widely recognized UN member state. Syria included the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel. It disputed the Turkish sovereignty over Hatay Province. Syrian Arab Republic is widely viewed as the legitimate authority of Syria, though control of its territory transferred between multiple groups during the Syrian civil war (from 15 March 2011).
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T
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valign=top	Tajikistan – Republic of Tajikistan Widely recognized UN member state. Tajikistan had one autonomous province, Gorno-Badakhshan.
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valign=top	– United Republic of Tanzania Capital: Dodoma (official), Dar es Salaam (seat of government)Widely recognized UN member state. Tanzania had one autonomous region, Zanzibar.
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valign=top	→ – Kingdom of Thailand Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top colspan=2 style="font-size: 100%;"	Timor-Leste East Timor
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valign=top	Togo – Togolese Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Trinidad and Tobago – Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Widely recognized UN member state. Trinidad and Tobago had one autonomous island, Tobago.
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valign=top	Tunisia – Tunisian Republic Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Turkey – Republic of Turkey Widely recognized UN member state.
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valign=top	Turkmenistan Widely recognized UN member state.
----
valign=top	Tuvalu Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
----
U
----
valign=top	Uganda – Republic of Uganda Widely recognized UN member state.
----
valign=top	Ukraine Widely recognized UN member state. Ukraine had one autonomous republic: Crimea. Crimea and the city of Sevastopol were under de facto Russian control beginning in 2014.
----
valign=top	United Arab Emirates Widely recognized UN member state. The United Arab Emirates was a federation of seven emirates.
----
valign=top	United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. The United Kingdom was composed of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It had sovereignty over the following British overseas territories: Anguilla Bermuda (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty) British Indian Ocean Territory (disputed by Mauritius and the Seychelles) Cayman Islands (disputed by Argentina) Gibraltar (disputed by Spain) Montserrat Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (disputed by Argentina) Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Turks and Caicos Islands In addition, the British Monarch (not the United Kingdom) had direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies: , with two dependencies:
----
valign=top	United States – United States of America Widely recognized UN member state. The United States was a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and one incorporated territory. It had sovereignty over the following inhabited insular areas: American Samoa (including Swains Island, disputed by Tokelau) Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico It also had sovereignty over eight uninhabited unincorporated territories: These islands were sometimes designated for statistical purposes as the United States Minor Outlying Islands Baker Island Howland Island Jarvis Island Johnston Atoll Kingman Reef Midway Atoll Navassa Island (claims by Haiti) Wake Island (claims by the Marshall Islands) The United States claimed Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank. Its claim to Serranilla was disputed by Colombia and Nicaragua and its claim to Bajo Nuevo was disputed by Colombia, Jamaica, and Nicaragua. Some government sources stated that these two areas were unincorporated territories of the United States.
----
valign=top	Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay Widely recognized UN member state.
----
valign=top	Uzbekistan – Republic of Uzbekistan Widely recognized UN member state. Uzbekistan had one autonomous republic: Karakalpakstan.
----
V
----
valign=top	Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu Widely recognized UN member state.
----
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 and a Permanent observer at the United Nations. The Holy See also administered a number of extraterritorial properties in Italy. The Pope was the ex officio head of state of Vatican City.
----
valign=top	– Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Widely recognized UN member state. Venezuela was a federation of 23 states, one federal dependency, and one federal district.
----
valign=top	– Socialist Republic of Vietnam Widely recognized UN member state. Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands (disputed by China and Taiwan) and Spratly Islands (disputed by China, Taiwan, Brunei, the Philippines, and Malaysia).
----
Y
----
valign=top	Yemen – Republic of Yemen Widely recognized UN member state.
----
Z
----
valign=top	Zambia – Republic of Zambia Widely recognized UN member state.
----
valign=top	Zimbabwe – Republic of Zimbabwe Widely recognized UN member state.
----

Non-UN members or observers

width=60%	Name and capital city	width=40%	Information on status and recognition of sovereignty
valign=top	– Republic of Abkhazia Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Georgia as the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.
----
valign=top	/ Nagorno-Karabakh Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (to 21 February 2017) Republic of Artsakh (from 21 February 2017) De facto self-governing entity. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Azerbaijan.
----
valign=top	– State of Azawad (from 6 April 2012 to 12 July 2012) De facto self-governing state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Mali. Debellation by Ansar Dine and MUJAO completed on 12 July 2012.^[8]
----
valign=top	– United Federated States of Bangsamoro Republik (from 27 July 2013 to 28 September 2013) Capital: Davao City (Claimed), Zamboanga City (De facto)De facto self-governing state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the Philippines. Bangsamoro Republik dissolved after the Zamboanga City crisis ended in Philippine government victory on 28 September 2013.^[9] ^[10]
----
valign=top	Cook Islands A state in free association with New Zealand, recognized by Japan (from 16 June 2011), Netherlands (from 16 August 2011) and China. The Cook Islands was a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity. It shared a head of state and citizenship with New Zealand.
----
valign=top	Crimea – Republic of Crimea (from 17 March 2014 to 21 March 2014) De facto self-governing state. Partially recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Ukraine as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
----
valign=top	(from 7 April 2014 to 22 May 2014, from 20 May 2015) Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Ukraine as part of the Donetsk Oblast.
----
valign=top	– Republic of Kosovo Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Serbia as the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija under UN administration.
----
valign=top	(from 27 April 2014 to 22 May 2014, from 20 May 2015) Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Ukraine as part of the Luhansk Oblast.
----
valign=top colspan=2 style="font-size: 100%;"	Nagorno-Karabakh Artsakh
----
valign=top	Niue A state in free association with New Zealand, recognized by China. Niue was a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity. It shared a head of state and citizenship with New Zealand.
----
valign=top	– Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus.
----
valign=top	Novorossiya – Federal State of Novorossiya Confederation of unrecognized states: Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic. Claimed by Ukraine.
----
valign=top	Capital: Tifariti (temporary), El Aaiún (claimed)Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic claimed the disputed territory of Western Sahara, most of which was under control of Morocco. The territories under its control, the so-called Free Zone, were claimed by Morocco. Its government resided in exile in Tindouf, Algeria.
----
valign=top	– Republic of Somaliland De facto self-governing entity. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Somalia.
----
valign=top	Republic of South Ossetia (to 9 April 2017) Republic of South Ossetia–the State of Alania (from 9 April 2017)^[11] Partially-recognized de facto independent state. Claimed by Georgia as the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia.
----
valign=top	– Republic of China Capital: Taipei (seat of government)Partially-recognized de facto independent state. The Republic of China claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China, but only administered Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and Itu Aba. Claimed by China.
----
valign=top	– Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Partially-recognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Moldova.

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:

as a whole had no government and no permanent population. Seven states claimed portions of Antarctica and five of these reciprocally recognised one another's claims. These claims, which were regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, were neither recognised nor disputed by any other signatory state.^[12]
The European Union is a sui generis supranational organisation which had 27 (then 28) member states. The member states transferred a measure of their legislative, executive, and judicial powers to the institutions of the EU, and as such the EU had some elements of sovereignty, without generally being considered a sovereign state. The European Union did not claim to be a sovereign state and had only limited capacity for relations with other states.
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta was a United Nations observer. The order had bi-lateral diplomatic relations with a large number of states, but had no territory other than extraterritorial areas within Rome and Malta.^[13] The order's Constitution stated: "The Order is a subject of international law and exercises sovereign functions."^[14] Although the order frequently asserted its sovereignty, it did not claim to be a sovereign state. It lacked a defined territory. Since all its members were citizens of other states, almost all of them lived in their native countries, and those who resided in the order's extraterritorial properties in Rome did so only in connection with their official duties, the order lacked the characteristic of having a permanent population.

Notes and References

Web site: Cabo Verde põe fim à tradução da sua designação oficial . 31 October 2013 . 17 December 2013 . Panapress . pt . Cabo Verde puts an end to translation of its official designation . https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224228/http://www.panapress.com/Cabo-Verde-poe-fim-a-traducao-da-sua-designacao-oficial--3-885656-47-lang4-index.html . 17 December 2013 . live .
Web site: Publications Office – Interinstitutional style guide – Annex A5 – List of countries, territories and currencies . Publications.europa.eu . 1 April 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130805170859/http://publications.europa.eu/code/en/en-5000500.htm . 5 August 2013 .
Web site: The World Factbook . Cia.gov . 1 April 2016 .
Web site: LY - Libya - ISO. www.iso.org. 9 June 2018.
Web site: The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency. www.cia.gov. en. 9 June 2018.
Book: The Territories of the Russian Federation 2018 . Routledge . 2018 . 9781351103916 . Europa Territories of the World series . London . 180 . https://books.google.com/books?id=1z1MDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT180. Republic of Crimea . 1027753558 . Note: The territories of the Crimean peninsula, comprising Sevastopol City and the Republic of Crimea, remained internationally recognized as constituting part of Ukraine, following their annexation by Russia in March 2014..
Web site: UNMIK Background. UN. 21 January 2015.
News: Al Qaeda-linked Islamists drive Mali's Tuaregs from last stronghold . 12 July 2012 . AFP . France24 . 10 November 2019 .
Web site: WHO IS AFRAID OF MINDANAO INDEPENDENCE?. 14 August 2013. 19 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130915073150/http://mnlfnet.com/Articles/Editorial_14Aug2013_Who%20is%20Afraid%20of%20Mindanao%20Independence_Prologue.htm. 15 September 2013. dead.
Web site: Zamboanga crisis is over, Palace: Zamboanga crisis is over . . 28 September 2013 . 28 September 2013 . Reuters . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130929153614/http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/28/13/palace-zamboanga-crisis-over . 29 September 2013 .
News: South Ossetia Referendum on Name Change Steers Clear of Thornier Unification Issue . Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty . 9 February 2017 . en . 18 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170914173029/https://www.rferl.org/a/caucasus-report-south-ossetia-referendum-name-change/28298590.html . 14 September 2017 . live . Fuller . Liz .
https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/antarctica/ CIA – the World Factbook – Antarctica
http://www.orderofmalta.org/attdiplomatica.asp?idlingua=5 Bilateral relations with countries
Book: Chapter General of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta . Constitutional Charter and Code of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta, promulgated 27 June 1961, revised by the Extraordinary Chapter General 28–30 April 1997, Article 3 "Sovereignty," Paragraph 1. . Tipografia Arte della Stampa . 12 January 1998 . Rome . 11 .

List of sovereign states in the 2010s explained

Members or observers of the United Nations

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

Y

Z

Non-UN members or observers

Other entities

See also

Notes and References