List of sovereign states
2008/9 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: Geography
This list of sovereign states, alphabetically arranged, gives an overview of states around the world with information on the extent of their sovereignty. It includes both states widely recognized ( de jure) to be sovereign and entities that claim sovereignty while exercising de facto control over (part of) their claimed territory.
Criteria for inclusion
This list derives its definition of a sovereign state from Article 1 of the Montevideo Convention of 1933. According to the Convention, a sovereign state should possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population, (b) a defined territory, (c) government, and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states. In respect of the last qualification, the role of recognition by other states can often be crucial since it implies acceptance into the international community. The list includes all states that satisfy these criteria and claim independence; however, the aforementioned qualifications are not absolute and permit variations.
On the basis of the above criteria, this list includes the following 203 entities:
- 193 sovereign states with general international recognition:
- 192 member states of the United Nations
- One state with general international recognition but not UN membership, governed by the Holy See (a UN permanent observer): Vatican City
- 10 sovereign states lacking general international recognition:
- Four entities lacking general international recognition, none of which are UN members, that may be defined as states in the body of customary international law: the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Kosovo, and the Palestinian territories.
- Six entities lacking general international recognition, none of which are UN members, that have declared independence and have limited or no international recognition: the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (only recognized by Turkey), Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Transnistria, Somaliland, and South Ossetia.
Entities considered to be micronations that are not internationally recognized are not included. Unlisted are the following noteworthy entities that do not possess all the qualifications in the Montevideo Convention:
- two states, in free association with New Zealand and represented in most matters by that country: Niue and the Cook Islands.
- one entity, a UN observer member, recognized by 96 states, but with extraterritorial areas within Rome is the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
- one state, never a UN member, only ever briefly recognized by the Republic of Georgia, with all of its claimed territory under military occupation, the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.
- The European Union, a sui generis supranational organization which currently has 27 member countries. The member countries transferred part of their legislative, executive, and judicial powers to the institutions of the EU; therefore, it has some characteristics of a sovereign state, without generally being considered a sovereign state.
- Parts of Antarctica are claimed by a few nations.
The listing or placement of any entity in this article is not meant to imply an official position in any naming dispute.
Internationally recognized sovereign states
- This list is complete and up-to-date as of June 8, 2008.
Name in English and the official languages of the state | Information on the extent of the sovereignty | |||
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A |
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Abkhazia Other states | ||||
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Afghanistan - Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Albania - Republic of Albania
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Algeria - People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Andorra - Principality of Andorra
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Angola - Republic of Angola
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Widely recognized member of the UN. A separatist government in exile claims independence for Cabinda | |||
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Antigua and Barbuda - Antigua and Barbuda
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Antigua and Barbuda is a Commonwealth Realm and has a division (dependency), Barbuda, with a autonomous status. | |||
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Argentina - Argentine Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Argentina is a federation divided in provinces and one federal district. Argentine claims also sovereignty over the British overseas territories of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | |||
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Armenia - Republic of Armenia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Australia - Commonwealth of Australia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Australia is a Commonwealth Realm and a federation of states and territories. Australia has sovereignty over:
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Austria - Republic of Austria
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. Austria is a federation divided in states (Bundesländer). | |||
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Azerbaijan - Republic of Azerbaijan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Azerbaijan has one autonomous republic, Nakhchivan, and the autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh (Dağlıq Qarabağ,). In Nagorno Karabakh a de facto country in the de jure territory of Azerbaijan has been established. | |||
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B |
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The Bahamas - Commonwealth of The Bahamas
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Widely recognized member of the UN. The Bahamas is a Commonwealth Realm. | |||
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Bahrain - Kingdom of Bahrain
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Bangladesh - People's Republic of Bangladesh
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Barbados
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Barbados is a Commonwealth Realm. | |||
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Belarus - Republic of Belarus
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Belgium - Kingdom of Belgium
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. Belgium is a federation divided in linguistic communities and regions. | |||
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Belize
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Belize is a Commonwealth Realm. | |||
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Benin - Republic of Benin
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Bhutan - Kingdom of Bhutan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Bolivia - Republic of Bolivia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Widely recognized member of the UN. As a result of the Dayton Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina is divided into two constituent entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska. | |||
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Botswana - Republic of Botswana
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Brazil - Federative Republic of Brazil
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Brasil is a federation divided in states and one federal district. | |||
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Brunei - Negara Brunei Darussalam
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Brunei claims sovereignty over part of the Spratly Islands. | |||
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Bulgaria - Republic of Bulgaria
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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Burkina Faso - Burkina Faso
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Burma - Union of Myanmar (Burma)
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Burundi - Republic of Burundi
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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C |
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Cambodia - Kingdom of Cambodia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Cameroon - Republic of Cameroon
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Canada
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Canada is a Commonwealth Realm and a federation divided into provinces and territories. | |||
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Cape Verde - Republic of Cape Verde
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Central African Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Chad - Republic of Chad
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Chile - Republic of Chile
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Easter Island is an integral part of Chile. | |||
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China - People's Republic of China
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Commonly known as China, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. Additionally, it has sovereignty over the Special Administrative Regions of It claims sovereignty over Taiwan (Republic of China; ROC) (which claims sovereignty over the whole of China), the Paracel Islands (disputed by the ROC and Vietnam), the Spratly Islands (disputed by the ROC, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei), and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Kashmir. Tibet and East Turkestan (Xinjiang) have separatist governments in exile. |
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China, Republic of Other states | ||||
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Colombia - Republic of Colombia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Comoros - Union of the Comoros
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Widely recognized member of the UN. The Comoros is a federation with autonomous islands. The Comoros dispute the French sovereignty over Mayotte and the Glorioso Islands. | |||
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Congo - Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa)
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Congo - Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Cook Islands New Zealand | ||||
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Costa Rica - Republic of Costa Rica
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Côte d'Ivoire - Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Croatia - Republic of Croatia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Cuba - Republic of Cuba
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Widely recognized member of the UN. The Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay is as the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base under the permanent control (with no claim of sovereignty) of the United States which pays rent under terms of treaties with Cuba. | |||
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Cyprus - Republic of Cyprus
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. See Northern Cyprus for the de facto state in the de jure territory of Cyprus. | |||
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Czech Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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D |
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Denmark - Kingdom of Denmark
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. The Kingdom of Denmark includes also two autonomous provinces. For more information, see Rigsfællesskabet.
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Djibouti - Republic of Djibouti
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Dominica - Commonwealth of Dominica
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Dominican Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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E |
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East Timor - Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Ecuador - Republic of Ecuador
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Egypt - Arab Republic of Egypt
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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El Salvador - Republic of El Salvador
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Equatorial Guinea - Republic of Equatorial Guinea
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Eritrea - State of Eritrea
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Estonia - Republic of Estonia
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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Ethiopia - Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Ethiopia is a federation divided in regions and chartered cities. | |||
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F |
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Fiji - Republic of the Fiji Islands
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Fiji has an autonomous region (dependency), Rotuma. | |||
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Finland - Republic of Finland
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. Åland is a neutral and demilitarised autonomous region of Finland.. | |||
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France - French Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. The French overseas regions/departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion) are legally part of France and France possesses the uninhabited Clipperton Island. The French sovereignty includes also the overseas territories of
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G |
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Gabon - Gabonese Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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The Gambia - Republic of The Gambia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Georgia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Georgia has three divisions with an autonomous status, Adjara, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Both in Abkhazia and South Ossetia de facto states inside the de jure territory of Georgia have been formed. | |||
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Germany - Federal Republic of Germany
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. Germany is a federation divided in states (Länder). | |||
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Ghana - Republic of Ghana
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Greece - Hellenic Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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Grenada
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Grenada is a Commonwealth Realm. | |||
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Guatemala - Republic of Guatemala
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Guinea - Republic of Guinea
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Guinea-Bissau - Republic of Guinea-Bissau
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Guyana - Co-operative Republic of Guyana
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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H |
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Haiti - Republic of Haiti
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Haiti claims the uninhabited United States possession of Navassa. | |||
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Honduras - Republic of Honduras
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Hungary - Republic of Hungary
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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I |
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Iceland - Republic of Iceland
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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India - Republic of India
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Widely recognized member of the UN. India is a federation divided in states and union territories. The Indian sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh is disputed by the People's Republic of China. India claims sovereignty over and occupies part of Kashmir. | |||
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Indonesia - Republic of Indonesia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Indonesia has four provinces with special status, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Yogyakarta Special Region, Papua, and Jakarta Special Capital Region. Separatist governments in exile claim independence for the Republic of the South Moluccas and the Republic of West Papua | |||
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Iran - Islamic Republic of Iran
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Divided into provinces and counties | |||
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Iraq - Republic of Iraq
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Iraq's constitution labels the country as a federation divided in regions, governorates and the capital district. At present the only region is Iraqi Kurdistan. | |||
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Ireland - Ireland
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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Israel - State of Israel
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Israel occupies the Syrian Golan Heights and parts of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. It has supervision over the partially occupied Palestinian territories. These occupations are internationally not recognized. See for more information also Palestine. | |||
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Italy - Italian Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. Italy has autonomous regions, Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. | |||
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Ivory Coast Côte d'Ivoire | ||||
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J |
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Jamaica
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Jamaica is a Commonwealth Realm. | |||
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Japan - State of Japan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Jordan - Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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K |
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Kazakhstan - Republic of Kazakhstan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Kenya - Republic of Kenya
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Kiribati - Republic of Kiribati
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Korea, North - Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Korea, South - Republic of Korea (South Korea)
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Kosovo Other states | ||||
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Kuwait - State of Kuwait
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Kyrgyzstan - Kyrgyz Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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L |
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Laos - Lao People's Democratic Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Latvia - Republic of Latvia
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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Lebanon - Republic of Lebanon
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Lesotho - Kingdom of Lesotho
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Liberia - Republic of Liberia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Libya - Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Liechtenstein - Principality of Liechtenstein
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Lithuania - Republic of Lithuania
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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Luxembourg - Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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M |
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FYR Macedonia - (Former Yugoslav) Republic of Macedonia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Madagascar - Republic of Madagascar
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Madagascar claims the French possessions of the Glorioso Islands and Juan de Nova. | |||
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Malawi - Republic of Malawi
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Malaysia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Malaysia is a federation divided in states and federal territories. Malaysia claims part of the Spratly Islands. | |||
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Maldives - Republic of Maldives
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Mali - Republic of Mali
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Malta - Republic of Malta
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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Marshall Islands - Republic of the Marshall Islands
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Widely recognized member of the UN. The Marshall Islands claim the United States territory of Wake Island. | |||
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Mauritania - Islamic Republic of Mauritania
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Mauritius - Republic of Mauritius
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Mauritius has an autonomous island, Rodrigues. Mauritius claims the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French island of Tromelin. | |||
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Mexico - United Mexican States
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Mexico is a federation divided in states and one federal district. | |||
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Micronesia - Federated States of Micronesia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Micronesia is a federation divided in states. | |||
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Moldova - Republic of Moldova
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Moldova has an autonomous region, Gagauzia. See Transnistria for the de facto state inside the de jure territory of Moldova. | |||
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Monaco - Principality of Monaco
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Mongolia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Montenegro - Republic of Montenegro
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Morocco - Kingdom of Morocco
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Morocco claims sovereignty over the Western Sahara and controls most of it, which is disputed by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Morocco disputes the Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla and Peñón de Alhucemas. | |||
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Mozambique - Republic of Mozambique
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Myanmar Burma | ||||
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N |
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Nagorno Karabakh Other states | ||||
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Namibia - Republic of Namibia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Nauru - Republic of Nauru
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Nepal - Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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The Netherlands - Kingdom of the Netherlands
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. Legally the Netherlands refers to the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with the latter consisting of one European country:
and the two overseas (associated) countries:
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New Zealand
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Widely recognized member of the UN. New Zealand is a Commonwealth Realm and has sovereignty over the associated states of
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Nicaragua - Republic of Nicaragua
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Niger - Republic of Niger
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Nigeria - Federal Republic of Nigeria
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Nigeria is a federation divided in states and one federal district. | |||
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Niue New Zealand | ||||
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Northern Cyprus Other states | ||||
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North Korea Korea, Democratic People's Republic of | ||||
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Norway - Kingdom of Norway
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Svalbard is an integral part of Norway, but has a special status due to the Svalbard Treaty. The overseas uninhabited possessions of Bouvet Island and Jan Mayen are integral part of Norway. The Norwegian claim of Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land (Antarctica) as part of Norway is suspendend. | |||
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O |
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Oman - Sultanate of Oman
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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P |
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Pakistan - Islamic Republic of Pakistan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Pakistan is a federation divided in provinces and territories. Pakistan claims sovereignty over and occupies part of Kashmir. | |||
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Palau - Republic of Palau
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Palestine Other states | ||||
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Panama - Republic of Panama
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Papua New Guinea - Independent State of Papua New Guinea
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Papua New Guinea is a Commonwealth Realm and has an autonomous province, Bougainville Province. | |||
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Paraguay - Republic of Paraguay
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Peru - Republic of Peru
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Philippines - Republic of the Philippines
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Widely recognized member of the UN. The Philippines have has an autonomous region, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The Philippines claim the Spratly Islands. | |||
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Poland - Republic of Poland
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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Portugal - Portuguese Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. Portugal has two autonomous regions, Azores and Madeira. | |||
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Pridnestrovie Other states, Transnistria | ||||
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Q |
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Qatar - State of Qatar
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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R |
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Romania
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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Russia - Russian Federation
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Russia is a federation divided in Subjects of Russia (oblasts, republics, autonomous okrugs, krays, and federal cities). Several of the federal subjects are autonomous republics: |
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Rwanda - Republic of Rwanda
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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S |
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Saint Kitts and Nevis - Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Saint Kitts and Nevis is a Commonwealth Realm and is a federation of the islands. | |||
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Saint Lucia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Saint Lucia is a Commonwealth Realm. | |||
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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a Commonwealth Realm. | |||
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Samoa - Independent State of Samoa
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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San Marino - Most Serene Republic of San Marino
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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São Tomé and Príncipe - Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
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Widely recognized member of the UN. São Tomé and Príncipe has an autonomous province, Príncipe. | |||
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Saudi Arabia - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Senegal - Republic of Senegal
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Serbia - Republic of Serbia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Serbia has two autonomous provinces, Kosovo and Metohija and Vojvodina. The Serbian autonomous province of Kosovo and Metohija is currently administered by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government under the supervision of the UN Interim Administration Mission. Kosovo Albanians have recently unilaterally declared independence which remains largely unrecognized. | |||
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Seychelles - Republic of Seychelles
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Widely recognized member of the UN. The Sechelles claim the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French Glorioso Islands and Tromelin. | |||
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Sierra Leone - Republic of Sierra Leone
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Singapore - Republic of Singapore
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Slovakia - Slovak Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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Slovenia - Republic of Slovenia
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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Solomon Islands
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Widely recognized member of the UN. The Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth Realm. | |||
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Somalia - Somali Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Somalia is presently fragmented with its Transitional National Government. Somalia disputed the Yemenite sovereignty over Socotra. See Somaliland for the de facto country inside the de jure territory of Somalia. | |||
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South Africa - Republic of South Africa
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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South Korea Korea, Republic of | ||||
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South Ossetia Other states | ||||
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Spain - Kingdom of Spain
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. Spain has characteristics of a federation and is divided in autonomous communities and cities, of which Andalusia, Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia have a higher degree of autonomy. The sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla and Peñón de Alhucemas is disputed by Morocco. Spain disputes the British sovereignty over Gibraltar. | |||
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Sri Lanka - Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Tamil Eelam has a separatist government that controls part of Sri Lanka.(see source). It strives after an independent country but has not yet declared independence. | |||
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Sudan - Republic of the Sudan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Sudan is a federation divided in states and it has one autonomous region, Southern Sudan, formed out of the Southern Sudanese states. | |||
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Suriname - Republic of Suriname
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Swaziland - Kingdom of Swaziland
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Sweden - Kingdom of Sweden
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. | |||
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Switzerland - Swiss Confederation
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Switzerland is a federation divided in cantons. | |||
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Syria - Syrian Arab Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN. The Golan is occupied by Israel. Syria disputed the Turkish sovereignty over Hatay Province. | |||
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T |
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Taiwan Other states | ||||
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Tajikistan - Republic of Tajikistan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Tajikistan has an autonomous province, Gorno-Badakhshan. | |||
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Tanzania - United Republic of Tanzania
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Tanzania is a federacy with an autonomous status for Zanzibar. | |||
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Thailand - Kingdom of Thailand
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Timor-Leste East Timor | ||||
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Togo - Togolese Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Tonga - Kingdom of Tonga
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Transnistria Other states | ||||
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Trinidad and Tobago - Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Trinidad and Tobago has an autonomous island, Tobago. | |||
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Tunisia - Tunisian Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Turkey - Republic of Turkey
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Widely recognized member of the UN. The Turkish sovereignty over the Hatay Province is disputed by Syria | |||
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Turkmenistan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Tuvalu
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Tuvalu is a Commonwealth Realm. | |||
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U |
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Uganda - Republic of Uganda
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Ukraine
|
Widely recognized member of the UN. Ukraine has an autonomous republic, Crimea. | |||
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United Arab Emirates - United Arab Emirates
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Widely recognized member of the UN. The United Arab Emirates is a federation divided into emirates. | |||
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United Kingdom - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU. The United Kingdom is a Commonwealth Realm and divided into constituent countries:
The United Kingdom has the following overseas territories:
The British Crown has sovereignty over
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United States of America
|
Widely recognized member of the UN. The United States is a federation divided in states, a federal district, and one territory. The United States has sovereignty over the following (inhabited) territories and commonwealths
Besides these, there are uninhabited territories in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea: Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Wake Island (disputed by the Marshall Islands) as well as Navassa Island (disputed by Haiti). Of these only Palmyra Atoll is fully incorporated and considered a part of the US. The Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay is as the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base under the permanent control (with no claim of sovereignty) of the United States which pays rent under terms of treaties with Cuba. |
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Uruguay - Eastern Republic of Uruguay
|
Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Uzbekistan - Republic of Uzbekistan
|
Widely recognized member of the UN. Uzbekistan has an autonomous republic, Karakalpakstan. | |||
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V |
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Vanuatu - Republic of Vanuatu
|
Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Vatican City - State of the Vatican City
|
Widely recognized country, observer state in the United Nations. Vatican City is administered by a President of the Government appointed by the Pope, with the latter being the head of the Holy See and that of the Vatican City concurrently. | |||
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Venezuela - Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
|
Widely recognized member of the UN. Venezuela is a federation divided in states, one federal dependency and one federal district. | |||
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Vietnam - Socialist Republic of Vietnam
|
Widely recognized member of the UN. Vietnam claims sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and the Spratly Islands. | |||
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W |
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Western Sahara Other states | ||||
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Y |
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Yemen - Republic of Yemen
|
Widely recognized member of the UN. The Yemenite sovereignty over Socotra is disputed by Somalia. | |||
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Z |
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Zambia - Republic of Zambia
|
Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Zimbabwe - Republic of Zimbabwe
|
Widely recognized member of the UN. | |||
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Other states
This annex lists states that claim sovereignty and have control over (part of) its claimed territory, but due to disputes over their legitimacy, do not have normal diplomatic relations with the majority of sovereign states. Entities considered to be micronations are not included.
|
|
Abkhazia: Republic of Abkhazia
|
De facto independent state, inside the de jure territory of Georgia (the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia), diplomatically recognized by no UN member states. |
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|
China, Republic of Taiwan, listed below | |
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Nagorno-Karabakh - Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
|
Nagorno-Karabakh is a de facto independent state inside the de jure territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, diplomatically recognized by no UN member states. |
|
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Kosovo - Republic of Kosovo
|
De facto independent state recognized by 41 of 192 UN member states and not by the UN itself . Claimed in whole by the Republic of Serbia as the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija. Previously administered by a United Nations mission ( UNMIK) and entered into the Central European Free Trade Agreement ( CEFTA) during this period. |
|
|
Northern Cyprus - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
|
De facto independent state, inside the de jure territory of the Republic of Cyprus, recognized by no UN member states except Turkey. Though without universal diplomatic recognition, it was accepted as an observer state of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the name of Turkish Cypriot State since 1979. In addition, the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic regards TRNC as sovereign but Azerbaijan (the sovereign state that Nakhichevan belongs to) has not followed suit. |
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Palestinian territories
|
The Palestinian territories are partially occupied by Israel and partially under control of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has gained control of the Gaza Strip, but has not declared independence. Palestine has received a standing invitation to participate as observer at United Nations General Assembly and maintains a permanent observer mission at the UN Headquarters The proposed State of Palestine is recognized by 103 countries. In diplomatic relations, the proposed State of Palestine is represented by the Palestinian Authority. |
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Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
|
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a government-in-exile that declared independence and claims sovereignty over the Western Sahara. This is disputed by Morocco, which controls most of it |
|
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Somaliland - Republic of Somaliland
|
De facto independent state inside the de jure territory of the Somali Republic, diplomatically recognized by no UN member states. |
|
|
South Ossetia - Republic of South Ossetia
|
De facto independent state inside the de jure territory of Georgia (the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia), diplomatically recognized by no UN member states. |
|
|
Taiwan - Republic of China
|
De facto state independent of Mainland China; de jure the Republic of China, a polity regarded by the People's Republic of China be its defunct (and no longer legitimate) predecessor state. In addition to the island Taiwan, the Republic of China (Taiwan) also governs part of the Spratly Islands and has not formally renounced claims over the territory of the PRC and Mongolia. The territory of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is claimed in whole by the People's Republic of China. Diplomatically recognized by 23 UN member states. Most other UN member states maintain unofficial relations with Taiwan. Taiwan participates in a number of non-UN international organizations such as the World Trade Organization, International Olympic Committee and others under a variety of pseudonyms, most commonly Chinese Taipei. |
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|
Transnistria - Transnistrian Moldovan Republic (Pridnestrovie, Trans-Dniester)
|
De facto independent state, inside the de jure territory of the Republic of Moldova (the Territorial Unit of Transnistria), diplomatically recognized by no UN member states. |
Other listings
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