This is a list of sovereign states in the 1960s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1960 and 31 December 1969. It contains 165 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 143 widely-recognized sovereign states, 2 constituent republics of another sovereign state that were UN members on their own right, 7 associated states, and 11 entities which were de facto sovereign (and 1 nominally independent puppet state) but which were not widely-recognized by other states.
Name and capital city | Information on status and recognition of sovereignty | |
---|---|---|
A | ||
Afghanistan – Kingdom of Afghanistan Capital: Kabul | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Albania – People's Republic of Albania Capital: Tirana | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Algeria (from 5 July 1962) Capital: Algiers | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 8 October 1962). | |
Andorra – Principality of Andorra 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. | |
→ Anguilla – Republic of Anguilla (from 12 July 1967 to 19 March 1969) [2] Capital: The Valley | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the United Kingdom as part of the associated state of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla. | |
Antigua (from 27 February 1967) Capital: St. John's | Associated state of the United Kingdom. Antigua had a dependency, Redonda. | |
Argentina – Argentine Republic [3] Capital: Buenos Aires | Widely-recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 22 provinces and two federal territories. [4] It had a claim over Argentine Antarctica, which was 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. | |
Australia – Commonwealth of Australia Capital: Canberra | Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Australia was a federation of six states and three territories. [5] It had sovereignty over the following external territories:
Australia administered two United Nations Trust Territories:
| |
Austria – Republic of Austria Capital: Vienna | Widely-recognized UN member state. Austria was a federation of nine states. [6] | |
B | ||
Barbados (from 30 November 1966) [7] Capital: Bridgetown | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 9 December 1966). Commonwealth realm. | |
Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium Capital: Brussels | Widely-recognized UN member state. EEC member. Belgium had sovereignty over one colony:
Belgium administered one United Nations trust territory:
| |
Benin – Republic of Benin (from 19 September 1967 to 20 September 1967) [8] Capital: Benin City | Nominally independent puppet state of Biafra. Claimed by Nigeria. | |
→ Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan Capital: Thimphu | Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (from 1968). Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs. | |
Biafra – Republic of Biafra (from 30 May 1967) [9] Capital: Enugu | Partially recognized de facto independent state. [10] Claimed by Nigeria. | |
Bolivia Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative)
| Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Botswana – Republic of Botswana (from 30 September 1966) [11] Capital: Gaborone | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 17 October 1966). | |
→ → Brazil Capital: Rio de Janeiro (to 21 April 1960), Brasília (from 21 April 1960)
| Widely-recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 22 states, four territories, and one federal district. [a] | |
→ Bulgaria – People's Republic of Bulgaria Capital: Sofia | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Burma – Union of Burma Capital: Rangoon | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
→ → → Burundi (from 1 July 1962) Capital: Bujumbura
| Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 18 September 1962). | |
C | ||
Cambodia – Kingdom of Cambodia Capital: Phnom Penh | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
→ Cameroun / Cameroon (from 1 January 1960) Capital: Yaoundé | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). After 1 October 1961, Cameroon was a federation of two regions. [15] | |
→ Canada – Dominion of Canada Capital: Ottawa | Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Canada was a federation of ten provinces and two territories. [16] | |
Central African Republic (from 13 August 1960) [17] Capital: Bangui | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). | |
Ceylon – Dominion of Ceylon Capital: Colombo | Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. | |
Chad – Republic of Chad (from 11 August 1960) [18] Capital: N'Djamena | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). | |
Chile – Republic of Chile Capital: Santiago | Widely-recognized UN member state. It had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory, which is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. | |
People's Republic of China Capital: Beijing | Partially recognized de facto independent state. [19] The People's Republic of China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet (from 9 September 1965). The People's Republic of China claimed Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and the Vereker Banks, and Itu Aba, all of which were governed by the Republic of China. It also claimed the Paracel Islands (disputed by the Republic of China and Vietnam), the Spratly Islands (disputed by the Republic of China, South Vietnam, and the Philippines), and South Tibet (controlled by India's North-East Frontier Agency). The People's Republic of China administered Aksai Chin (from 21 November 1962) and the Trans-Karakoram Tract (from 3 March 1963), which were within the disputed region of Kashmir. | |
China, Republic of Capital: Taipei (seat of government), Nanjing (claimed) | Widely-recognized UN member state under the name "China". [19] 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. The Republic of China had territorial claims over Mongolia; the Tuvan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic; the Sixty-Four Villages East of the River (administered by the Soviet Union); The majority of Gorno-Badakhshan (administered by the Soviet Union); The eastern tip of the Wakhan Corridor (administered by Afghanistan); a small portion of Gilgit-Baltistan (administered by Pakistan and part of the disputed Kashmir region); Aksai Chin (administered by the People's Republic of China and part of the disputed Kashmir region); eastern Bhutan; South Tibet (controlled by India's North-East Frontier Agency); and Kachin State (administered by Burma). | |
Colombia – Republic of Colombia Capital: Bogotá | Widely-recognized UN member state. Colombia claimed Quita Sueño Bank, Roncador Bank, and Serrana Bank (disputed by the United States); Bajo Nuevo Bank (disputed by Jamaica, Nicaragua and the United States); and Serranilla Bank (disputed by Nicaragua and the United States) | |
Congo (Brazzaville) / Congo, Republic of the (from 15 August 1960) Capital: Brazzaville
| Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). | |
→ → Congo (Léopoldville) / Congo, Democratic Republic of the (from 30 June 1960) Capital: Léopoldville (renamed Kinshasa in 1966) | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). Congo (Léopoldville) contained one self-declared state which, although it did not claim independence, was de facto self-governing:
| |
Congo (Stanleyville) / Congo, Free Republic of the – Free Republic of the Congo (from 13 December 1960 to 5 August 1961) Capital: Stanleyville | Rival state set up during the Congo Crisis. Recognized by 21 states. Claimed by Congo (Léopoldville). | |
Cook Islands (from 4 August 1965) Capital: Avarua | A state in free association with New Zealand. It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship. | |
Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica Capital: San José | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Cuba – Republic of Cuba Capital: Havana | Widely-recognized UN member state. The Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the permanent control of the United States. | |
Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus (from 16 August 1960) [22] Capital: Nicosia | Widely-recognized independent state. [23] UN member state (from 20 September 1960). | |
Czechoslovakia Capital: Prague | Widely-recognized UN member state. [25] After 1 January 1969, Czechoslovakia was a federation of two republics. [26] | |
D | ||
Dadra and Nagar Haveli – Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli (to 11 August 1961) [27] Capital: Silvassa | De facto independent state. [28] Claimed by Portugal. | |
Dahomey – Republic of Dahomey (from 1 August 1960) [29] Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (seat of government) | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). | |
Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark Capital: Copenhagen | Widely-recognized UN member state. The Danish Realm also included one autonomous area: | |
Dominica (from 1 March 1967) Capital: Roseau | Associated state of the United Kingdom. | |
Dominican Republic Capital: Santo Domingo
| Widely-recognized UN member state. Under United States occupation from April 28, 1965 to September 21, 1966. | |
E | ||
Ecuador Capital: Quito
| Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Egypt → United Arab Republic | ||
El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador Capital: San Salvador | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea (from 12 October 1968) [30] Capital: Malabo | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 12 November 1968). | |
Ethiopia – Ethiopian Empire Capital: Addis Ababa | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
F | ||
Finland – Republic of Finland Capital: Helsinki | Widely-recognized UN member state. Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region: | |
France – French Republic Capital: Paris | Widely-recognized UN member state. EEC member. France included 21 overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, and seventeen departments in French Algeria (to 3 July 1962). The French Community consisted of the following autonomous republics:
France also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
It also co-administered one condominium:
France administered one United Nations Trust Territory:
France also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by the Malagasy Republic). | |
G | ||
Gabon (from 17 August 1960) [31] Capital: Libreville
| Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). | |
The Gambia (from 18 February 1965) [32] Capital: Banjul | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 21 September 1965). Commonwealth realm. | |
Germany, East – German Democratic Republic Capital: East Berlin (disputed) | Widely-recognized independent state. | |
Germany, West – Federal Republic of Germany Capital: Bonn | Widely-recognized independent state; permanent observer at the UN. EEC member. West Germany was a federation of ten states. [33] | |
→ → Ghana Capital: Accra
| Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm (to 1 July 1960). | |
Greece – Kingdom of Greece Capital: Athens | Widely-recognized UN member state. Greece had sovereignty over Mount Athos, an autonomous monastic state that was jointly governed by the multi-national "Holy Community" on the mountain and the Civil Governor appointed by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and spiritually came under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. | |
Grenada (from 3 March 1967) Capital: St. George's | Associated state of the United Kingdom. | |
→ Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala Capital: Guatemala City | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Guinea – Republic of Guinea Capital: Conakry | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Guyana (from 26 May 1966) [35] Capital: Georgetown | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1966); Commonwealth realm. | |
H | ||
→ Haiti – Republic of Haiti Capital: Port-au-Prince | Widely-recognized UN member state. Haiti claimed the uninhabited United States possession of Navassa Island. | |
Holy See → Vatican City | ||
Honduras – Republic of Honduras Capital: Tegucigalpa | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Hungary – People's Republic of Hungary Capital: Budapest | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
I | ||
Iceland – Republic of Iceland Capital: Reykjavík | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
India – Republic of India Capital: New Delhi | Widely-recognized UN member state. India was a federation of seventeen states and eleven union territories. [36] India had sovereignty over one protectorate:
Indian sovereignty over South Tibet, administered as part of its North-East Frontier Agency, was disputed by the People's Republic of China. India administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the state of Jammu and Kashmir. | |
Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia Capital: Djakarta | Widely-recognized UN member state. Indonesia withdrew from the UN from 20 January 1965 to 28 September 1966. Indonesia had three special provinces: Aceh, Jakarta (from 1966), and Yogyakarta. | |
→ Iran – Imperial State of Iran Capital: Tehran | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
→ Iraq Capital: Baghdad
| Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Ireland [37] Capital: Dublin | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Israel – State of Israel Capital: Jerusalem | Widely-recognized UN member state. [38] Israel occupied the Gaza Strip (from 6 June 1967) the Golan Heights (from 10 June 1967), the Sinai Peninsula (from 8 June 1967), and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (from 6 June 1967). These areas were not recognized as being part of Israel. | |
Italy – Italian Republic Capital: Rome | Widely-recognized UN member state. EEC member. Italy had 5 autonomous regions: Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. Italy administered one United Nations Trust Territory:
| |
Ivory Coast – Republic of Ivory Coast (from 7 August 1960) [39] Capital: Abidjan | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). | |
J | ||
Jamaica (from 6 August 1962) [40] Capital: Kingston | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 18 September 1962); Commonwealth realm. | |
Japan Capital: Tokyo | Widely-recognized UN member state. Japan had residual sovereignty over the Ryukyu Islands, which were occupied and administered by the United States. | |
Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Capital: Amman | Widely-recognized UN member state. Jordan occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, until 6 June 1967, but these areas were not generally recognized as being part of Jordan. [41] Jordan continued to claim the territories after they were occupied by Israel in 1967. | |
K | ||
Katanga – State of Katanga (from 11 July 1960 to 15 January 1963) [42] Capital: Élisabethville | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Congo (Léopoldville). | |
Kenya (from 12 December 1963) Capital: Nairobi | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 16 December 1963). Commonwealth realm (to 12 December 1964). | |
Korea, North – Democratic People's Republic of Korea Capital: Seoul (de jure, claimed), Pyongyang (de facto) | Widely-recognized independent state. [44] Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. | |
Korea, South Capital: Seoul
| Widely-recognized independent state. [45] Permanent observer at the UN. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. | |
Kuwait – State of Kuwait (from 19 June 1961) [46] Capital: Kuwait City | Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (from 1962 to 14 May 1963). UN member state (from 14 May 1963). | |
L | ||
Laos – Kingdom of Laos Capital: Vientiane | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Lebanon – Lebanese Republic Capital: Beirut | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho (from 4 October 1966) [47] Capital: Maseru | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 17 October 1966). | |
Liberia – Republic of Liberia Capital: Monrovia | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
→ Libya Capital: Tripoli
| Widely-recognized UN member state. Until 7 October 1963, Libya was a federation of three provinces. [50] | |
Liechtenstein Capital: Vaduz | Widely-recognized independent state. [25] The defense of Liechtenstein was the responsibility of Switzerland. | |
Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Capital: Luxembourg | Widely-recognized UN member state. EEC member. | |
M | ||
Malagasy Republic (from 26 June 1960) [51] Capital: Antananarivo | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). The Malagasy Republic claimed the French possessions of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands and Juan de Nova Island. It also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by France) | |
Malawi (from 6 July 1964) Capital: Lilongwe | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 1 December 1964). Commonwealth realm (to 6 July 1966). | |
Malaya – Federation of Malaya (to 16 September 1963) [54] Capital: Kuala Lumpur | Widely-recognized UN member state. Malaya was a federation of eleven states. [55] | |
Malaysia (from 16 September 1963) [54] Capital: Kuala Lumpur | Widely-recognized UN member state. Malaysia was a federation of fourteen states. [56] | |
Maldives Islands / Maldives (from 26 July 1965) Capital: Malé | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 21 September 1965). | |
Mali → Sudanese Republic | ||
Mali Federation (from 20 June 1960 to 20 August 1960) [58] Capital: Dakar | Widely-recognized independent state. The Mali Federation was a federation of two states. [59] | |
Malta – State of Malta (from 21 September 1964) [60] Capital: Valletta | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 1 December 1964). Commonwealth realm. | |
Mauritania – Islamic Republic of Mauritania (from 28 November 1960) [61] Capital: Nouakchott | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 27 October 1961). | |
Mauritius (from 12 March 1968) [62] Capital: Port Louis | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 24 April 1968). Commonwealth realm. Mauritius had three dependencies: Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos and Rodrigues. It claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territory of Tromelin Island. | |
→ Mexico – United Mexican States Capital: Mexico City | Widely-recognized UN member state. Mexico was a federation of 31 states, two territories, and one federal district. [63] | |
Monaco – Principality of Monaco Capital: Monaco | Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. The defense of Monaco was the responsibility of France. | |
Mongolia – Mongolian People's Republic Capital: Ulaanbaatar | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 27 October 1961). | |
Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco Capital: Rabat | Widely-recognized UN member state. Morocco disputed the Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla, and Peñón de Alhucemas. | |
Muscat and Oman – Sultanate of Muscat and Oman Capital: Muscat, Oman | Widely-recognized independent state under the informal protection of the United Kingdom. | |
N | ||
Nauru – Republic of Nauru (from 31 January 1968) [64] Capital: Yaren (unofficial) | Widely-recognized independent state. The defense of Nauru was the responsibility of Australia. | |
→ Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal Capital: Kathmandu | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
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 three autonomous countries: The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole was a member of the EEC. The Kingdom of the Netherlands had sovereignty over one external territory:
| |
New Zealand – Dominion of New Zealand Capital: Wellington | Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. New Zealand had responsibilities for one free associated state:
It also had sovereignty over four dependent territories:
The government of Tokelau Islands claimed Swains Island, part of American Samoa (a U.S. dependence). New Zealand administered two United Nations Trust Territories:
| |
Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua Capital: Managua | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Niger – Republic of Niger (from 3 August 1960) [65] Capital: Niamey | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). | |
Nigeria (from 1 October 1960) Capital: Lagos
| Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 7 October 1960). Commonwealth realm (to 1 October 1963). Nigeria was a federation of three regions (to 27 May 1967) and twelve states (from 27 May 1967). [68]
| |
Norway – Kingdom of Norway Capital: Oslo | 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 Svalbard Treaty. Norway had sovereignty over the following dependencies:
| |
P | ||
Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan Capital: Karachi (to 1 August 1960), Rawalpindi (from 1 August 1960 to 14 August 1967), Islamabad (from 14 August 1967) | Widely-recognized UN member state. Pakistan was a federation of two provinces. It administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir. [69] | |
Panama – Republic of Panama Capital: Panama City | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay Capital: Asunción | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Peru Capital: Lima
| Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Philippines Capital: Quezon City (official), Baguio (summer)
| Widely-recognized UN member state. 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 the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, and South Vietnam) and the Malaysian territory of Sabah. | |
Poland – Polish People's Republic Capital: Warsaw | Widely-recognized UN member state. Poland's government was still in exile. | |
Portugal – Portuguese Republic Capital: Lisbon | Widely-recognized UN member state. Portugal had sovereignty over the following overseas provinces:
It also had sovereignty over one possession:
Portugal continued to claim Portuguese India after its annexation by India on 14 January 1961. It also claimed the Spanish municipalities of Olivenza and Táliga. | |
R | ||
→ Rhodesia (from 11 November 1965) [70] Capital: Salisbury | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the United Kingdom. | |
→ Romania [71] Capital: Bucharest | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Rwanda – Rwandese Republic [73] [74] (from 1 July 1962) [75] Capital: Kigali | Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state (from 18 September 1962). | |
Rwenzururu – Kingdom of Rwenzururu (from 30 June 1963) [76] Capital: Kasese | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Uganda. | |
S | ||
→ Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla (from 27 February 1967) Capital: Basseterre | Associated state of the United Kingdom. | |
Saint Lucia (from 1 March 1967) Capital: Castries | Associated state of the United Kingdom. | |
Saint Vincent (from 27 October 1969) Capital: Kingstown | Associated state of the United Kingdom. | |
San Marino – Republic of San Marino Capital: San Marino | Widely-recognized independent state. | |
Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Capital: Riyadh | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Senegal – Republic of Senegal (from 20 August 1960) [58] Capital: Dakar | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 28 September 1960). | |
Sierra Leone (from 27 April 1961) [77] Capital: Freetown | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 27 September 1961). Commonwealth realm. | |
Singapore (from 9 August 1965) Capital: Singapore | Transitional independent state (1963). Widely-recognized (from 9 August 1965). UN member state (from 21 September 1965). | |
Somalia (from 1 July 1960) Capital: Mogadishu
| Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). | |
Somaliland – State of Somaliland (from 26 June 1960 to 30 June 1960) [83] Capital: Hargeisa | Transitional independent state. | |
South Africa Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)
| Widely-recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm (to 31 May 1961). South Africa had one autonomous bantustan: Transkei (from 30 May 1963). South Africa administered one League of Nations mandate: | |
Soviet Union – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Capital: Moscow | Widely-recognized UN member state. The Soviet Union was a federation of 15 republics, two of which (Byelorussia and Ukraine) were UN members in their own right. [85] | |
Spain – Spanish State Capital: Madrid | Widely-recognized UN member state. Spain had sovereignty over the following overseas provinces:
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. | |
Sudan Capital: Khartoum
| Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
→ Sudanese Republic / Mali (from 20 August 1960) Capital: Bamako
| Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 28 September 1960). | |
Suvadive Islands – United Suvadive Republic (to 23 September 1963) [88] Capital: Hithadhoo | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the United Kingdom. | |
Swaziland – Kingdom of Swaziland (from 6 September 1968) [89] Capital: Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal and legislative) | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 24 September 1968). | |
Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden Capital: Stockholm | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Switzerland – Swiss Confederation Capital: Bern | Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. Switzerland was a federation of 25 cantons. [90] | |
→ Syria Capital: Damascus
| Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (13 October 1961). Syria included the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel (from 10 June 1967). It disputed the Turkish sovereignty over Hatay Province. | |
T | ||
Tanganyika (from 9 December 1961) Capital: Dar es Salaam | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1961). Commonwealth realm (to 9 December 1962). | |
Tanganyika and Zanzibar / Tanzania Capital: Dar es Salaam | Widely-recognized UN member state. Tanzania had one autonomous region: Zanzibar. | |
Thailand – Kingdom of Thailand Capital: Bangkok | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Togo (from 27 April 1960) [95] Capital: Lomé
| Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). | |
Trinidad and Tobago (from 31 August 1962) [96] Capital: Port of Spain | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 18 September 1962). Commonwealth realm. | |
Tunisia – Tunisian Republic Capital: Tunis | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
Turkey – Republic of Turkey Capital: Ankara | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
U | ||
Uganda (from 9 October 1962) Capital: Kampala
| Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 25 October 1962). Commonwealth realm (to 9 October 1963). | |
United Arab Republic Capital: Cairo | Widely-recognized UN member state. United Arab States member (to 1961). The United Arab Republic consisted of two states: Syria (to 28 September 1961) and Egypt. It included the Sinai Peninsula, which was occupied by Israel from 8 June 1967. The United Arab Republic occupied the Gaza Strip until 6 June 1967, but this area was not generally recognized as being part of the UAR. It continued to claim these territories after their occupation by Israel in 1967. | |
United Arab States (to 26 December 1961) | Widely-recognized UN member state. The United Arab States consisted of two states (later three): The United Arab Republic (Egypt and Syria, later, just Egypt), North Yemen, and later Syria. | |
United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Capital: London | Widely-recognized UN member state. The United Kingdom was composed of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom had responsibilities for the following self-governing free associated states:
The United Kingdom administered the foreign affairs of the following protected states:
The United Kingdom co-administered the following condominiums:
It also had sovereignty over the following crown colonies and protectorates:
In addition, the British Monarch had direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies:
The United Kingdom administered three United Nations Trust Territories:
| |
→ United States – United States of America Capital: Washington, D.C. | Widely-recognized UN member state. The United States was a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and one incorporated territory. [99] It asserted sovereignty over the following inhabited unincorporated territories:
It also asserted sovereignty over fifteen uninhabited unincorporated territories: [100]
The United States co-administered the following condominium:
The United States administered two territories under the residual sovereignty of Japan:
In addition, the United States administered one United Nations Trust Territory: | |
Upper Volta – Republic of Upper Volta (from 5 August 1960) [101] Capital: Ouagadougou | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). | |
Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay Capital: Montevideo | Widely-recognized UN member state. | |
V | ||
Vatican City – Vatican City State Capital: Vatican City | Widely-recognized independent state. Vatican City was administered by the Holy See, a sovereign entity recognized by a large number of countries. Permanent observer at the UN (from 6 April 1964). The Holy See also administered a number of extraterritorial properties in Italy. The Pope was the ex officio head of state of Vatican City. | |
Venezuela – Republic of Venezuela Capital: Caracas | Widely-recognized UN member state. Venezuela was a federation of 20 states, two territories, one federal dependency, and one federal district. [102] | |
Vietnam, North – Democratic Republic of Vietnam Capital: Hanoi | Widely-recognized independent state. | |
Vietnam, South – Republic of Vietnam Capital: Saigon | Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. South Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China) and Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, and the Philippines). | |
W | ||
Western Samoa – Independent State of Western Samoa (from 1 January 1962) [103] Capital: Apia | Widely-recognized independent state. | |
Y | ||
→ Yemen / Yemen, North Capital: Ta'izz (to 26 September 1962), Sana'a (from 26 September 1962) | Widely-recognized UN member state; United Arab States constituent member (to 1961). | |
Yemen, South – People's Republic of South Yemen (from 30 November 1967) [105] | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1967). | |
Yugoslavia Capital: Belgrade | Widely-recognized UN member state. Yugoslavia was a federation of six republics. [107] | |
Z | ||
Zambia – Republic of Zambia (from 24 October 1964) [108] Capital: Lusaka | Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 1 December 1964). | |
→ → Zanzibar Capital: Zanzibar City
| Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 16 December 1963). | |
Excluded from the list above are the following noteworthy entities which either were not fully sovereign or did not claim to be independent:
The member states of the United Nations comprise 193 sovereign states. The United Nations (UN) is the world's largest intergovernmental organization. All members have equal representation in the UN General Assembly.
A federation is an entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governing status of the component states, as well as the division of power between them and the central government, is constitutionally entrenched and may not be altered by a unilateral decision, neither by the component states nor the federal political body without constitutional amendment.
Tanganyika was a sovereign state, comprising the mainland part of present-day Tanzania, that existed from 1961 until 1964. It first gained independence from the United Kingdom on 9 December 1961 as a Commonwealth realm headed by Queen Elizabeth II before becoming a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations a year later. After signing the Articles of Union on 22 April 1964 and passing an Act of Union on 25 April, Tanganyika officially joined with the People's Republic of Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar on Union Day, 26 April 1964. The new state changed its name to the United Republic of Tanzania within a year.
Decolonization is the undoing of colonialism, the latter being the process whereby imperial nations establish and dominate foreign territories, often overseas. The meanings and applications of the term are disputed. Some scholars of decolonization focus especially on independence movements in the colonies and the collapse of global colonial empires.
The decolonisation of Africa was a series of political developments in Africa that spanned from the mid-1950s to 1975, during the Cold War. Colonial governments gave way to sovereign states in a process often marred by violence, political turmoil, widespread unrest, and organised revolts. Major events in the decolonisation of Africa included the Mau Mau rebellion, the Algerian War, the Congo Crisis, the Angolan War of Independence, the Zanzibar Revolution, and the events leading to the Nigerian Civil War.
The French Community was the constitutional organization set up in October 1958 between France and its remaining African colonies, then in the process of decolonization. It replaced the French Union, which had reorganized the colonial empire in 1946. While the Community remained formally in existence until 1995, when the French Parliament officially abolished it, it had effectively ceased to exist and function by the end of 1960, by which time all the African members had declared their independence and left it.
The decolonization of the Americas occurred over several centuries as most of the countries in the Americas gained their independence from European rule. The American Revolution was the first in the Americas, and the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) was a victory against a great power, aided by France and Spain, Britain's enemies. The French Revolution in Europe followed, and collectively these events had profound effects on the Spanish, Portuguese, and French colonies in the Americas. A revolutionary wave followed, resulting in the creation of several independent countries in Latin America. The Haitian Revolution (1791–1804), perhaps one of the most successful slave uprisings in history, resulted in the independence of the French slave colony of Saint-Domingue. The Peninsular War with France, which resulted from the Napoleonic occupation of Spain, caused Spanish Creoles in Spanish America to question their allegiance to Spain, stoking independence movements that culminated in various Spanish American wars of independence (1808–33), which were primarily fought between opposing groups of colonists and only secondarily against Spanish forces. At the same time, the Portuguese monarchy fled to Brazil during the French invasion of Portugal. After the royal court returned to Lisbon, the prince regent, Pedro, remained in Brazil and in 1822 successfully declared himself emperor of a newly independent Brazilian Empire.
A list of former and present British colonies, dependencies and dates when they severed legal ties with Britain:
The following is a list of the political history of East Africa.
As of 18 December 2024, there are 193 member states in the United Nations (UN), each of which is a member of the United Nations General Assembly.
The republics in the Commonwealth of Nations are the sovereign states in the organisation with a republican form of government. As of June 2022, 36 out of the 56 member states were republics. While Charles III is the titular Head of the Commonwealth, the King is not the head of state of the republican members. The King is however, the reigning monarch in the Commonwealth realms. The Head of the Commonwealth role does not carry with it any power; instead, it is a symbol of the free association of Commonwealth members.
Tanganyika was a colonial territory in East Africa which was administered by the United Kingdom in various guises from 1916 until 1961. It was initially administered under a military occupation regime. From 20 July 1922, it was formalised into a League of Nations mandate under British rule. From 1946, it was administered by the UK as a United Nations trust territory. It bordered British East Africa to the North East
The decolonisation of Asia was the gradual growth of independence movements in Asia, leading ultimately to the retreat of foreign powers and the creation of several nation-states in the region.
Elizabeth II was Queen of Tanganyika from 1961 to 1962, when Tanganyika was an independent sovereign state and a constitutional monarchy. She was also the monarch of other sovereign states, including the United Kingdom. Her constitutional roles in Tanganyika were mostly delegated to the governor-general of Tanganyika.
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