List of sovereign states in the 1880s

This is a list of sovereign states in the 1880s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1880 and 31 December 1889. It contains entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes widely recognized sovereign states, entities which were de facto sovereign but which were not widely recognized by other states, and 1 state which was initially unrecognized but then gained full recognition later in the decade.

Sovereign states

Name and capital city	Information on status and recognition of sovereignty
Abuja – Abuja Emirate Capital: Abuja	Widely recognized state.
Agadez – Tenere Sultanate of Aïr [1] Capital: Agadez	Widely recognized state.
Andorra – Principality of Andorra [2] Capital: Andorra la Vella	Widely recognized independent state. The President of France and Bishop of Urgell were ex officio Co-Princes of Andorra. The defense of Andorra was the responsibility of France and Spain.
Angoche – Angoche Sultanate [3] Capital: Angoche
Ankole – Kingdom of Ankole [4] Capital: Mbarara	Widely recognized state.
Argentina – Argentine Republic [5] Capital: Buenos Aires
Aro – Aro Confederacy Capital: Arochukwu	Widely recognized state.
Ashanti – Asante Union [6] Capital: Kumasi	Widely recognized state.
Aussa – Sultanate of Aussa Capital: Aussa	Widely recognized state.
Austria-Hungary – Austro-Hungarian Empire [7] Capital: Vienna (Cisleithania), Budapest (Transleithania)	Widely recognized state.
Baguirmi – Kingdom of Baguirmi Capital: Massenya	Tributary state of the Bornu Empire.
Bali – Kingdom of Bali Capital: Klungkung	Widely recognized state. Bali was a series of kingdoms that ruled the island of Bali.
Baol – Kingdom of Baol [8] Capital: Diourbel	Widely recognized state.
Barotseland – Kingdom of Barotseland [9] Capital: Mongu	Widely recognized state.
Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium [10] Capital: Brussels	Widely recognized state. Belgium has sovereignity over 1 corporatocracy and 1 condominium: Congo (Corporatocracy, 1 July 1885) Moresnet (Condominium sui iuris of Belgium and Prussia)
Benin – Kingdom of Benin [11] Capital: Edo	Widely recognized state.
Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan Capital: Punakha	Widely recognized state.
Biu – Biu Kingdom Capital: Biu	Widely recognized state.
Bolivia – Republic of Bolivia Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative)	Widely recognized state.
Bora Bora – Kingdom of Bora Bora [12] Capital: Nunue, Vaitape	Widely recognized state.
Bornu – Bornu Empire [13] Capital: Ngazargamu	Widely recognized state.
Brakna – Brakna Emirate Capital: Aleg	Widely recognized state.
Brazil [14] Capital: Rio de Janeiro Empire of Brazil (to 15 November 1889) Republic of the United States of Brazil (from 15 November 1889)	Brazil was a federation of 20 states and one federal district. [lower-alpha 1]
Brunei – Sultanate of Brunei (to 1888) Capital: Kampong Ayer	Widely recognized state to 1888. Annexed by the United Kingdom on 1888.
Buganda – Kingdom of Buganda Capital: Mengo	Widely recognized state.
Bulgaria – Principality of Bulgaria [15] Capital: Sofia	De facto independent, and de jure vassal state under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire.
Bulungan – Sultanate of Bulungan (to 1880) Capital: Tanjung Palas	Widely recognized state to 1880. Vassal state of Sulu to 1880. Annexed by the Netherlands on 1880.
Bunyoro – Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom Capital: Hoima	Widely recognized state.
Burma – Kingdom of Burma [16] (to 1885) Capital: Mandalay	Widely recognized state to 1885. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1885.
Burundi – Kingdom of Burundi Capital: Gitega	Widely recognized state.
Busoga – Kingdom of Busoga Capital: Bugembe	Widely recognized state.
Canada – Dominion of Canada Capital: Ottawa	Widely recognized state. Commonwealth realm.
Champasak – Kingdom of Champasak [17] Capital: Champasak	Widely recognized state. Vassal state of Siam.
Chile – Liberal Republic of Chile [18] Capital: Santiago	Widely recognized state.
→   China – Great Qing Empire Capital: Beijing	Widely recognized state.
Chokwe – Chokwe Kingdom Capital: Not specified	Widely recognized state.
Colombia Capital: Bogota United States of Colombia (to 1886) Republic of Colombia (from 1886)	Widely recognized state.
Congo – Congo Free State (from July 1, 1885) Capital: Boma International Association of the Congo (to 1 July 1885) Congo Free State (from 1 July 1885)	Sovereignty recognized on 8 November 1884. Widely recognized state from 1 July 1885.
Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica Capital: San Jose	Widely recognized state.
Dagbon – Kingdom of Dagbon Capital: Yendi	Widely recognized state.
Dahomey – Kingdom of Dahomey [19] Capital: Abomey	Widely recognized state.
Dai Nam – Dai Nam Realm (to 25 August 1883) Capital: Phú Xuân	Widely recognized state to 25 August 1883. Tributary state of China to 25 August 1883. Annexed by France on 25 August 1883.
Dar al Kuti – Sultanate of Dar Al Kuti [20] Capital: N'Délé	Widely recognized state. Vassal state of Dar Runga.
Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark Capital: Copenhagen	Widely recognized state. Denmark had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: Danish West Indies (Colony) Greenland (Territory)   Iceland (Dependency)
Dhala – Emirate of Dhala Capital: Dhale	Widely recognized state.
Dominican Republic – Second Republic Capital: Santo Domingo	Widely recognized state.
Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador Capital: Quito	Widely recognized state.
El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador Capital: San Salvador	Widely recognized state.
Ethiopia – Ethiopian Empire Capital: Addis Ababa	Widely recognized state.
Fadhli – Fadhli Sultanate [21] (to 1888) Capital: Shuqrah	Widely recognized state to 1888.
France – French Republic Capital: Paris	Widely recognized independent state. France had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: Annam (Protectorate from 1883 to 1887) Cambodia (Protectorate to 1887) Comoros (Protectorate from April 21, 1886) French Algeria (de jure Department of Metropolitan France, de facto Colony) French Cochinchina (Colony to 1887) French Congo (Colony from 1882) French Guiana (Colony) French India (Colony) French Indochina (Colony from 1887) French Ivory Coast (Protectorate) French Oceania - French Establishments in Oceania (Colony) French Somaliland (Colony from 1883) Guadeloupe (Colony) Malagasy Protectorate (Protectorate from 1882) Martinique (Colony) Mayotte (Colony) New Caledonia (Colony) Réunion (Colony) Saint Barthélemy (Colony) Saint Martin (Colony) Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Colony) Shanghai (Concession) Tientsin (Concession) Tonkin (Protectorate from 1883 to 1887) Tunisia (Protectorate from 1881) Upper River (Colony from 1880) Wallis and Futuna (Protectorate from 5 April 1887)
Futa Jallon – Imamate of Futa Jallon Capital: Timbo	Widely recognized state.
Garo – Kingdom of Garo (to 1883) Capital: Not specified	Widely recognized state to 1883. Annexed by Jimma in 1883.
Gaza – Gaza Empire [22] Capital: Manjacaze	Widely recognized state.
Geledi – Sultanate of the Geledi Capital: Afgooye	Widely recognized state.
Gera – Kingdom of Gera (to 1887) Capital: Chala	Widely recognized state to 1887. Annexed by the Ethiopian Empire in 1887.
Germany – German Empire Capital: Berlin	Widely recognized independent state. Germany had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: Colinsland (Colony from 1884 to 1885) German Congo (Colony from 1884 to 1885) German East Africa (Colony from 27 February 1885) German New Guinea (Colony from 3 November 1884) German South West Africa (Colony from 7 August 1884) German West Africa (Colony from 1884) Kamerun (Colony from 17 August 1884) Kamerun (Protectorate from 5 July 1884) Wituland (Protectorate from 1885)
Gomma – Kingdom of Gomma (to 1886) Capital: Agaro	Widely recognized state to 1886. Annexed by the Ethiopian Empire in 1886.
Gowa – Sultanate of Gowa Capital: Jongaya	Widely recognized state.
Greece – Kingdom of Greece Capital: Athens	Widely recognized state.
Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala Capital: Guatemala City	Widely recognized state.
Gumma – Kingdom of Gumma (to 1885) Capital: Not specified	Widely recognized state to 1885. Annexed by the Ethiopian Empire in 1885.
Gyaaman – State of Gyaaman Capital: Sampa , Drobo	Widely recognized state.
Ha'il – Emirate of Jabal Shammar Capital: Ha'il	Widely recognized state.
Haiti – Republic of Haiti [23] Capital: Port-au-Prince	Widely recognized state.
→ Harar – Emirate of Harar (to 1887) Capital: Ge	Subject of the Khedivate of Egypt to 1884. Widely recognized state from 1884 to 1887.
Hawaii – Kingdom of Hawaii Capital: Honolulu	Widely recognized state.
Honduras – Republic of Honduras Capital: Tegucigalpa	Widely recognized state.
Huahine – Kingdom of Huahine Capital: Huahine	Widely recognized state.
Hunza – State of Hunza Capital: Baltit	Widely recognized state.
Igala – Igala Kingdom Capital: Idah	Widely recognized state.
Igara – Kingdom of Igara Capital: Not specified	Widely recognized state.
Ilé-Ifẹ̀ – Ilé-Ifẹ̀ Kingdom Capital: Ilé-Ifẹ̀	Widely recognized state.
Isaaq – Isaaq Sultanate Capital: Hargeisa	Widely recognized state to 1884. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1884
Italy – Kingdom of Italy Capital: Rome	Widely recognized independent state. Italy had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: Italian Eritrea (Colony from 1882) Italian Somaliland (Colony from 1889)

J

•   Janjero – Kingdom of Janjero
•   Japan – Empire of Japan
•   Jimma – Kingdom of Jimma (to 1884)
• Johor – Sultanate of Johor (to December 11, 1885)
•   Jolof – Jolof Kingdom (to 1889)

K

•   Kaffa – Kingdom of Kaffa
•   Kajara – Kajara Kingdom
• Kakongo – Kingdom of Kakongo (to 1885)
• Kano – Emirate of Kano
•   Kasanje – Jaga Kingdom
•   Kathiri
•   Kénédougou – Kénédougou Kingdom
•   Khasso – Kingdom of Khasso (to 1880)
•   Kong – Kong Empire
• Kongo – Kingdom of Kongo
• → → → → → → Korea – Kingdom of Great Joseon
•   Koya Temne – Kingdom of Koya
•   Kuba – Kingdom of Kuba (to 1884)

L

•   Lafia Beri-Beri – Lafia Beri-Beri Kingdom
•   Liberia – Republic of Liberia
•   Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein
•   Limmu-Ennarea – Kingdom of Limmu-Ennarea
• Loango – Kingdom of Loango (to 1883)
• Lower Yafa – Sultanate of Lower Yafa
•   Luba – Luba Empire (to 1889)
•   Lunda – Lunda Empire (to 1887)
•   Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

M

• Maguindanao – Sultanate of Maguindanao
•   Mahra
• Majeerteen Sultanate

• Maldives – Sultanate of Maldives (to 1887)
• Mangareva – Kingdom of Mangareva (to February 21, 1881)
•   Manipur – Kingdom of Manipur
•   Maravi – Kingdom of Maravi
•   Matabeleland – Matabele Kingdom
•   Mbunda – Mbunda Kingdom
• Merina – Kingdom of Imerina
• Mexico – United Mexican States
•   Monaco – Principality of Monaco
•   Montenegro – Principality of Montenegro
• Moresnet – Neutral Moresnet
•   Morocco – Sultanate of Morocco
•   Mossi Kingdoms – Mossi Empire
•   Mthwakazi – Kingdom of Mthwakazi
• Muscat and Oman – Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
•   Mutayr – Emirate of Mutayr

N

• Negeri Sembilan – Negeri Sembilan
• Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal
•   Netherlands – Kingdom of The Netherlands
• → Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua

Norway → Sweden and Norway

O

•   Orange Free State
•   Ottoman Empire – Sublime Ottoman State
•   Oyo – Oyo Empire

P

• Pahang – Sultanate of Pahang (to 1888)
•   Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay
• Persia – Sublime State of Persia
•   Peru – Peruvian Republic
• Portugal – Kingdom of Portugal

Q

• Qu'aiti – Qu'aiti Sultanate of Shihr and Mukalla (to 1888)

R

• → Raiatea – Kingdom of Raiatea (to 19 March 1888)
• Rapa Nui – Kingdom of Rapa Nui (to September 9, 1888)
• Rarotonga – Kingdom of Rarotonga (to 1888)
•   Red Nation
• Romania
  • United Principalities of Romania (to March 15, 1881)
  • Kingdom of Romania (from March 15, 1881)
• → Russia – Russian Empire
•   Rwanda – Kingdom of Rwanda (to 1885)

S

•   Samoa – Kingdom of Samoa
•   San Marino – Most Serene Republic of San Marino
•   Sarawak – Kingdom of Sarawak
• Selangor – Sultanate of Selangor
• → Serbia
  • Principality of Serbia (to March 6, 1882)
  • Kingdom of Serbia (from March 6, 1882)
• Setul Mambang Segara – Kingdom of Setul Mambang Segara
• Siam – Kingdom of Siam
• Sokoto – Sokoto Caliphate
• Spain – Kingdom of Spain
• Sulu – Sultanate of Sulu

Sweden → Sweden and Norway

•   Sweden and Norway – United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway
• Switzerland – Swiss Confederation

T

•   Tagant – Emirate of Tagant
• Tahiti – Kingdom of Tahiti (to June 29, 1880)
•   Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga
•   Toucouleur – Toucouleur Empire
•   Trarza – Emirate of Trarza
• Tunis – Beylik of Tunis

U

•   United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
•   United States – United States of America
•   Upper Aulaqi Sultanate
•   Upper Aulaqi Sheikhdom
• Upper Yafa – State of Upper Yafa
•   Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay

V

•   Venezuela – United States of Venezuela

W

•   Wadai – Wadai Empire
•   Wahidi Balhaf
•   Wahidi Haban
•   Wajoq
• Wassoulou – Wassoulou Empire
•   Welayta – Kingdom of Welayta

Y

•   Yeke – Yeke Kingdom

Z

•   Zabarma – Zabarma Emirate
•   Zanzibar – Sultanate of Zanzibar (to February 17, 1885)
• Zululand – Kingdom of Zulu (to 1887)

States claiming sovereignty

• Aceh – Sultanate of Aceh
• → Counani – Republic of Independent Guiana
• Cuba – Republic of Cuba
• Franceville – Independent Commune of Franceville (from August 9, 1889)
• Goshen – State of Goshen (from October 24, 1882, to August 6, 1883)
•   Goust – Republic of Goust
• Mindanao – Sultanate of Maguindanao
• → Stellaland – Republic of Stellaland (from July 26, 1882, to September 30, 1885)
•   Transvaal – South African Republic (from August 3, 1881)
• Upingtonia – Republic of Upingtonia (from October 20, 1885, to June 1887)

Notes

1. 20 States: Alagoas, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe. 1 Federal District: Federal District.

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