List of sovereign states in the 2000s

Last updated

This is a list of sovereign states in the 2000s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2009. It contains 213 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 194 widely recognized sovereign states, 2 associated states, and 17 entities which claim an effective sovereignty but are considered de facto dependencies of other powers by the general international community.

Contents

Members or observers of the United Nations

Name and capital cityStatus and recognition of sovereignty

A


Flag of the Taliban.svgFlag of Afghanistan (1992-2001).svgFlag of Afghanistan (2001-2002).svgFlag of Afghanistan (2002-2004).svgFlag of Afghanistan (2004-2013).svg Afghanistan
Capital: Taloqan (to 6 September 2000), Fayzabad (from 6 September 2000 to 13 November 2001), Kabul (from 13 November 2001)
Widely-recognized UN member state. [lower-alpha 3] Claimed to be and was widely recognized as the sole legitimate government of Afghanistan, however in effect it only controlled a small portion of the country until 13 November 2001.

Flag of Albania (1992-2002).svgFlag of Albania.svg  Albania – Republic of Albania
Capital: Tirana
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
Capital: Algiers
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra – Principality of Andorra
Capital: Andorra la Vella
Widely-recognized UN member state. The President of France and Bishop of Urgell were ex officio Co-Princes of Andorra. The defense of Andorra was the responsibility of France and Spain.

Flag of Angola.svg  Angola – Republic of Angola
Capital: Luanda
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda
Capital: St. John's
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Antigua and Barbuda had two dependencies, Barbuda and Redonda.

Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svgFlag of Argentina.svg  Argentina – Argentine Republic [lower-alpha 4]
Capital: Buenos Aires
Widely-recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city. [lower-alpha 5] 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.

Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia – Republic of Armenia
Capital: Yerevan
Widely-recognized UN member state. [3]

Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia – Commonwealth of Australia
Capital: Canberra
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Australia was a federation of six states and three territories. [lower-alpha 6] It had sovereignty over the following external territories:

Flag of Austria.svg  Austria – Republic of Austria
Capital: Vienna
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member. Austria was a federation of nine states. [lower-alpha 7]

Flag of Azerbaijan 1918.svgFlag of Azerbaijan (2004-2013).svg Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan
Capital: Baku
Widely-recognized UN member state. Azerbaijan had one autonomous republic, Nakhchivan. It included the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where a partially recognized breakaway republic had declared independence.

B


Flag of the Bahamas.svg  The Bahamas – Commonwealth of the Bahamas
Capital: Nassau
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.

Flag of Bahrain (1972-2002).svgFlag of Bahrain.svg Bahrain
Capital: Manama
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh – People's Republic of Bangladesh
Capital: Dhaka
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados
Capital: Bridgetown
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.

Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  Belarus – Republic of Belarus
Capital: Minsk
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium
Capital: Brussels
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member. Belgium was a federation of three communities and three regions. [lower-alpha 9]

Flag of Belize (1981-2019).svg Belize
Capital: Belmopan
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.

Flag of Benin.svg  Benin – Republic of Benin
Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (seat of government)
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan
Capital: Thimphu
Widely-recognized UN member state. Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs, but effectively pursued an independent foreign policy. The Indo-Bhutanese Friendship Treaty was revised on 8 February 2007, confirming Bhutan's full independence in this area.

Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg  Bolivia
Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative)
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Capital: Sarajevo
Widely-recognized UN member state. Bosnia and Herzegovina was a federation of two constituent entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was itself a federation of ten cantons, [lower-alpha 10] and Republika Srpska. There was also a neutral Brčko District.

Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana – Republic of Botswana
Capital: Gaborone
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil
Capital: Brasília
Widely-recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 26 states and one federal district. [lower-alpha 11]

Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei – State of Brunei, Abode of Peace
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Widely-recognized UN member state. Brunei claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia).

Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria – Republic of Bulgaria
Capital: Sofia
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member (from 1 January 2007).

Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso
Capital: Ouagadougou
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Burma Myanmar

Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi – Republic of Burundi
Capital: Bujumbura
Widely-recognized UN member state.

C


Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia – Kingdom of Cambodia
Capital: Phnom Penh
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon – Republic of Cameroon
Capital: Yaoundé
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Capital: Ottawa
Widely-recognized UN member state and Commonwealth realm; Canada was a federation of ten provinces and three territories. [lower-alpha 12]

Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde – Republic of Cape Verde
Capital: Praia
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic
Capital: Bangui
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Chad.svg  Chad – Republic of Chad
Capital: N'Djamena
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Chile.svg  Chile – Republic of Chile
Capital: Santiago
Widely-recognized UN member state. Chile had two special territories after 30 July 2007, Easter Island and the Juan Fernández Islands. It had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory, which is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.

Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China – People's Republic of China
Capital: Beijing
Widely-recognized UN member state. [6] China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. Additionally, it had sovereignty over two special administrative regions:

China claimed Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and the Vereker Banks, and Itu Aba, all of which were governed by Taiwan. It also claimed the Paracel Islands (disputed by the Republic of China and Vietnam), the Spratly Islands (disputed by the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei), and South Tibet (controlled by India). The People's Republic of China administered Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract, which were within the disputed region of Kashmir.


Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia – Republic of Colombia
Capital: Bogotá
Widely-recognized UN member state. Colombia administered Serranilla Bank and claimed Bajo Nuevo Bank (disputed by Nicaragua and the United States)

Flag of the Comoros (1996-2001).svgFlag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros
Capital: Moroni
  • Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros (to 23 December 2001) [7]
  • Union of the Comoros (from 23 December 2001) [7]
Widely-recognized UN member state. The Comoros was a federation of three islands (autonomous islands since 23 December 2001): Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan. Anjouan and Mohéli were de facto independent states until 10 March 2002. Comoros also claimed sovereignty over the French overseas territories of Mayotte and the Glorioso Islands. Comoros also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and France).

Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997-2003).svg Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2003-2006).svgFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo, Democratic Republic of the – Democratic Republic of the Congo
Capital: Kinshasa
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo, Republic of the – Republic of the Congo
Capital: Brazzaville
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica
Capital: San José
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast

Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia – Republic of Croatia
Capital: Zagreb
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba – Republic of Cuba
Capital: Havana
Widely-recognized UN member state. The Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the control of the United States.

Flag of Cyprus (1960-2006).svg Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus
Capital: Nicosia
Widely-recognized UN member state. [lower-alpha 13] EU member (from 1 May 2004). The northeastern part of the island was the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey.

Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic
Capital: Prague
Widely-recognized UN member state. [8] EU member (from 1 May 2004).

D


Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Kingdom of Denmark
Capital: Copenhagen
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member. The Danish Realm also included two of its constituent countries:

Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti
Capital: Djibouti
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Dominica.svg  Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica
Capital: Roseau
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic
Capital: Santo Domingo
Widely-recognized UN member state.

E


Flag of East Timor.svg  East Timor [lower-alpha 14] (from 20 May 2002) [9]
Capital: Dili
  • Democratic Republic of East Timor (from 20 May 2002 to 27 September 2002)
  • Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (from 27 September 2002)
Widely recognized independent state; UN member state (from 27 September 2002).

Flag of Ecuador (1900-2009).svgFlag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador
Capital: Quito
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt Arab Republic of Egypt
Capital: Cairo
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador
Capital: San Salvador
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea
Capital: Malabo
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea – State of Eritrea
Capital: Asmara
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia – Republic of Estonia
Capital: Tallinn
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member (from 1 May 2004).

Flag of Ethiopia (1996-2009).svgFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia – Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Capital: Addis Ababa
Widely-recognized UN member state; Ethiopia was a federation of nine regions and two chartered cities. [lower-alpha 15]

F


Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji – Republic of the Fiji Islands
Capital: Suva
Widely-recognized UN member state. Fiji had an autonomous dependency, Rotuma.

Flag of Finland.svg  Finland – Republic of Finland
Capital: Helsinki
Widely-recognized UN member state. EU member. Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region:

Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France – French Republic
Capital: Paris
Widely-recognized UN member state. EU member. France included four overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. It also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:

France also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and the Comoros).


G


Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon – Gabonese Republic
Capital: Libreville
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of The Gambia.svg  The Gambia – Republic of the Gambia
Capital: Banjul
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Georgia (1990-2004).svgFlag of Georgia.svg  Georgia
Capital: Tbilisi
Widely-recognized UN member state. Georgia had two autonomous republics: Adjara and Abkhazia. The latter republic was home to a de facto independent state. Georgia also included the disputed region of South Ossetia, where a partially recognized breakaway republic had declared independence.

Flag of Germany.svg  Germany – Federal Republic of Germany
Capital: Berlin
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member. Germany was a federation of sixteen states. [lower-alpha 16]

Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana – Republic of Ghana
Capital: Accra
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Greece.svg  Greece Hellenic Republic
Capital: Athens
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member. Greece had sovereignty over Mount Athos, an autonomous monastic state that was jointly governed by the multi-national "Holy Community" on the mountain and the Civil Governor appointed by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and spiritually came under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada
Capital: St. George's
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Grenada had one autonomous dependency, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala
Capital: Guatemala City
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea – Republic of Guinea
Capital: Conakry
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau – Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Capital: Bissau
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana – Co-operative Republic of Guyana
Capital: Georgetown
Widely-recognized UN member state.

H


Flag of Haiti.svg  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

Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras – Republic of Honduras
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary – Republic of Hungary
Capital: Budapest
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member (from 1 May 2004).

I


Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland – Republic of Iceland
Capital: Reykjavík
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of India.svg  India – Republic of India
Capital: New Delhi
Widely-recognized UN member state. India was a federation of twenty-eight states and seven union territories. [lower-alpha 17] Indian sovereignty over South Tibet was disputed by the People's Republic of China. India administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia
Capital: Jakarta
Widely-recognized UN member state. Indonesia had five special provinces: Aceh, Jakarta, Papua (from 21 November 2001), West Papua (from 14 November 2003), and Yogyakarta

Flag of Iran.svg  Iran – Islamic Republic of Iran
Capital: Tehran
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Iraq (1963-1991).svgFlag of Iraq (2004-2008).svgFlag of Iraq.svg  Iraq [lower-alpha 18]
Capital: Baghdad
Widely-recognized UN member state. After 15 October 2005, Iraq was constitutionally designated as a federation of autonomous regions, but only one region (i.e. Iraqi Kurdistan) had been established.

Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland [lower-alpha 19]
Capital: Dublin
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member.

Flag of Israel.svg  Israel – State of Israel
Capital: Jerusalem
Widely-recognized UN member state. [lower-alpha 20] Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights, the Israeli Security Zone in Southern Lebanon (to 22 May 2000), and the West Bank. These areas were not generally recognized as being part of Israel.

Flag of Italy (1946-2003).svgFlag of Italy (2003-2006).svgFlag of Italy.svg  Italy – Italian Republic
Capital: Rome
Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member. Italy had 5 autonomous regions and they were the Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.

Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast – Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
Capital: Yamoussoukro (official), Abidjan (seat of government)
Widely-recognized UN member state.

J


Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
Capital: Kingston
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Capital: Tokyo
Widely-recognized UN member state. Japan claimed the Liancourt Rocks, which were controlled by South Korea.

Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Capital: Amman
Widely-recognized UN member state.

K


Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan
Capital: Astana
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya – Republic of Kenya
Capital: Nairobi
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Kiribati.svg  Kiribati – Republic of Kiribati
Capital: South Tarawa
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of North Korea.svg  Korea, North – Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Capital: Pyongyang
Widely-recognized UN member state. [lower-alpha 21] Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.

Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg  Korea, South – Republic of Korea
Capital: Seoul
Widely-recognized UN member state. [lower-alpha 22] South Korea had one autonomous region and it was Jeju Island from 1 July 2006; claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. South Korea controlled the Liancourt Rocks, which were claimed by Japan.

Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait – State of Kuwait
Capital: Kuwait City
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyz Republic
Capital: Bishkek
Widely-recognized UN member state.

L


Flag of Laos.svg  Laos – Lao People's Democratic Republic
Capital: Vientiane
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia – Republic of Latvia
Capital: Riga
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member (from 1 May 2004).

Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon – Lebanese Republic
Capital: Beirut
Widely-recognized UN member state. Lebanon was occupied by Syria (to 25 April 2005). Some of Southern Lebanon was occupied by Israel (to 22 May 2000).

Flag of Lesotho (1987-2006).svg Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho
Capital: Maseru
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia – Republic of Liberia
Capital: Monrovia
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg Libya – Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Capital: Tripoli, Libya
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein
Capital: Vaduz
Widely-recognized UN member state. [8] The defense of Liechtenstein was the responsibility of Switzerland.

Flag of Lithuania (1988-2004).svg Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania – Republic of Lithuania
Capital: Vilnius
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member (from 1 May 2004).

Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Capital: Luxembourg
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member.

M


Flag of North Macedonia.svg  Macedonia – Republic of Macedonia [lower-alpha 23]
Capital: Skopje
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Madagascar.svg Madagascar – Republic of Madagascar
Capital: Antananarivo
Widely-recognized UN member state. Madagascar 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 Comoros and France)

Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi – Republic of Malawi
Capital: Lilongwe
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia
Capital: Kuala Lumpur (official), Putrajaya (administrative)
Widely-recognized UN member state. Malaysia was a federation of thirteen states and three federal territories. [lower-alpha 24] Malaysia claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei).

Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives – Republic of Maldives
Capital: Malé
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Mali.svg  Mali – Republic of Mali
Capital: Bamako
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Malta.svg  Malta – Republic of Malta
Capital: Valletta
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member (from 1 May 2004).

Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg  Marshall Islands – Republic of the Marshall Islands
Capital: Majuro
Widely-recognized UN member state under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The Marshall Islands claimed the United States territory of Wake Island.

Flag of Mauritania (1959-2017).svg  Mauritania Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Capital: Nouakchott
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius – Republic of Mauritius
Capital: Port Louis
Widely-recognized UN member state. Mauritius had one autonomous dependency: Rodrigues (from 12 October 2002). Mauritius also had three (later two) other dependencies: Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos and Rodrigues (to 12 October 2002). It claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territory of Tromelin Island.

Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico – United Mexican States
Capital: Mexico City
Widely-recognized UN member state. Mexico was a federation of 31 states and one federal district. [lower-alpha 25] </ref>

Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Micronesia – Federated States of Micronesia
Capital: Palikir
Widely-recognized UN member state under Compact of Free Association with the United States; the FSM was a federation of four states. [lower-alpha 26]

Flag of Moldova (1990-2010).svg Moldova – Republic of Moldova
Capital: Chişinău
Widely-recognized UN member state. Moldova had two autonomous territorial units: Gagauzia and Transnistria. The latter was home to a de facto independent state.

Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco – Principality of Monaco
Capital: Monaco
Widely-recognized UN member state. The defense of Monaco was the responsibility of France.

Flag of Mongolia (1992-2011).svg  Mongolia
Capital: Ulaanbaatar
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro (from 3 June 2006)
Capital: Podgorica
Widely recognized independent state from 3 June 2006; UN member state from 28 June 2006.

Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco
Capital: Rabat
Widely-recognized UN member state. Morocco claimed sovereignty over and controlled most of the disputed Western Sahara, which was home to the de facto independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Morocco disputed the Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla, and Peñón de Alhucemas.

Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique – Republic of Mozambique
Capital: Maputo
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Myanmar (1974-2010).svg Myanmar – Union of Myanmar [lower-alpha 29]
Capital: Yangon (to 6 November 2005), Naypyidaw (from 6 November 2005)
Widely-recognized UN member state.

N


Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia – Republic of Namibia
Capital: Windhoek
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Nauru.svg  Nauru – Republic of Nauru
Capital: Yaren (unofficial)
Widely-recognized UN member state. The defense of Nauru was the responsibility of Australia.

Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal
Capital: Kathmandu
  • Kingdom of Nepal (to 15 January 2007) [13]
  • State of Nepal (from 15 January 2007 to 28 May 2008) [13] [14]
  • Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (from 28 May 2008) [14]
Widely-recognized UN member state. Nepal was designated as a federation after 28 May 2008, but its federal units had not yet been created.

Flag of the Netherlands.svg 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 EU, but Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles were not.


Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Capital: Wellington
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. New Zealand had responsibilities for the two free associated states of:

It also had sovereignty over two dependent territories:

The government of Tokelau claimed Swains Island, part of American Samoa (a U.S. dependence). New Zealand did not recognize this claim.


Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua
Capital: Managua
Widely-recognized UN member state. Nicaragua had two autonomous regions: Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte and Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur.

Flag of Niger.svg  Niger – Republic of Niger
Capital: Niamey
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria Federal Republic of Nigeria
Capital: Abuja
Widely-recognized UN member state. Nigeria was a federation of 36 states and one federal territory. [lower-alpha 30]

Flag of Norway.svg  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 Spitsbergen Treaty. Norway had sovereignty over the following dependencies:

O


Flag of Oman.svg  Oman – Sultanate of Oman
Capital: Muscat
Widely-recognized UN member state.

P


Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Capital: Islamabad
Widely-recognized UN member state. Pakistan was a federation of four provinces and four territories. [lower-alpha 31] It administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the territories of Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas. The latter territory was autonomous under the name Gilgit-Baltistan after 29 August 2009.

Flag of Palau.svg  Palau – Republic of Palau
Capital: Koror (to 7 October 2006), Ngerulmud (from 7 October 2006)
Widely-recognized UN member state under Compact of Free Association with the United States.

Flag of Panama.svg  Panama – Republic of Panama
Capital: Panama City
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea – Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Capital: Port Moresby
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. After 15 June 2005, Papua New Guinea had one autonomous region: Bougainville.

Flag of Paraguay (1990-2013).svg  Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay
Capital: Asunción
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Peru.svg  Peru – Republic of Peru
Capital: Lima
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines – Republic of the Philippines
Capital: Manila
Widely-recognized UN member state. The Philippines had one autonomous region: Muslim Mindanao. The Philippines administered Scarborough Shoal and Macclesfield Bank, 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, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia) and the Malaysian territory of Sabah.

Flag of Poland.svg  Poland – Republic of Poland
Capital: Warsaw
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member (from 1 May 2004).

Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal – Portuguese Republic
Capital: Lisbon
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member. Portugal had two autonomous regions: the Azores and Madeira. Portugal claimed the Spanish municipalities of Olivenza and Táliga.

Q


Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar – State of Qatar
Capital: Doha
Widely-recognized UN member state.

R


Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Capital: Bucharest
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member (from 1 January 2007).

Flag of Russia.svg  Russia – Russian Federation
Capital: Moscow
Widely-recognized UN member state. Russia was a federation of 21 republics, 49 oblasts, 9 krais, 2 federal cities, 1 autonomous oblast, and 10 autonomous okrugs. [lower-alpha 32]

Flag of Rwanda (1962-2001).svg Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda
Capital: Kigali
Widely-recognized UN member state.

S


Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg  Saint Kitts and Nevis – Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Capital: Basseterre
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Saint Kitts and Nevis was a federation of fourteen parishes within two islands. [lower-alpha 34] Nevis (which was one of the islands) had autonomy.

Flag of Saint Lucia (1979-2002).svgFlag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia
Capital: Castries
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.

Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Capital: Kingstown
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.

Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa – Independent State of Samoa
Capital: Apia
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of San Marino (1862-2011).svg  San Marino – Republic of San Marino
Capital: San Marino
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg  São Tomé and Príncipe – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
Capital: São Tomé
Widely-recognized UN member state. São Tomé and Príncipe had one autonomous province: Príncipe.

Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Capital: Riyadh
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal – Republic of Senegal
Capital: Dakar
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Serbia – Republic of Serbia (from 5 June 2006) [lower-alpha 35]
Capital: Belgrade
Widely-recognized UN member state from 5 June 2006. Serbia had two autonomous provinces: Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija. The latter province was governed by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. After 17 February 2008, it was home to a partially-recognized de facto independent state.

Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro (to 5 June 2006)
Capital: Belgrade (administrative/legislative), Podgorica (judicial, from 4 February 2003 to 3 June 2006)
Widely recognized independent state; UN member state from 1 November 2000. Serbia and Montenegro was a federation of two republics, Montenegro and Serbia, until 3 June 2006 after which it only consisted of the latter. It also included two autonomous provinces within Serbia, Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija. The latter province was under the administration of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.

Flag of Seychelles.svg  Seychelles – Republic of Seychelles
Capital: Victoria
Widely-recognized UN member state. The Seychelles claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territories of Tromelin Island and the Glorioso Islands.

Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone – Republic of Sierra Leone
Capital: Freetown
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore – Republic of Singapore
Capital: Singapore
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia – Slovak Republic
Capital: Bratislava
Widely-recognized UN member state; [8] EU member (from 1 May 2004).

Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia – Republic of Slovenia
Capital: Ljubljana
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member (from 1 May 2004).

Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands
Capital: Honiara
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.

Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia
Capital: Mogadishu
Widely-recognized UN member state. Somalia did not have a recognized central government until April 2000, when the Transitional National Government (after November 2004, the Transitional Federal Government) was established. Over the course of the Somali Civil War, several autonomous regional governments were established in the de jure territory of Somalia. Although these states did not claim independence from Somalia, they were de facto self-governing:

There were also areas of the country which at various times had no effective government at all or which were ruled by local clans. In addition, there were two states which had declared and established de facto independence from Somalia: Puntland (to 1 July 2001) and Somaliland.


Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa – Republic of South Africa
Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Spain.svg  Spain – Kingdom of Spain
Capital: Madrid
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member. Spain was divided into seventeen autonomous communities and two autonomous cities. [lower-alpha 38] 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.

Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka – Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Capital: Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan Republic of the Sudan
Capital: Khartoum
Widely-recognized UN member state. Sudan was a federation of 26 states, ten of which formed the autonomous region of Southern Sudan after 9 January 2005. [lower-alpha 39]

Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname – Republic of Suriname
Capital: Paramaribo
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Eswatini.svg  Swaziland – Kingdom of Swaziland
Capital: Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal and legislative)
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden
Capital: Stockholm
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member.

Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland – Swiss Confederation
Capital: Bern
Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (to 10 September 2002). UN member state (from 10 September 2002). Switzerland was a federation of 26 cantons. [lower-alpha 40]

Flag of Syria.svg  Syria – Syrian Arab Republic
Capital: Damascus
Widely-recognized UN member state. Syria included the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel. It disputed the Turkish sovereignty over Hatay Province.

T


Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan – Republic of Tajikistan
Capital: Dushanbe
Widely-recognized UN member state. Tajikistan had one autonomous province: Gorno-Badakhshan.

Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania – United Republic of Tanzania
Capital: Dodoma (official), Dar es Salaam (seat of government)
Widely-recognized UN member state. Tanzania had one autonomous region: Zanzibar.

Flag of Thailand (TIS 982 draft standard).svg Thailand – Kingdom of Thailand
Capital: Bangkok
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Timor-Leste East Timor

Flag of Togo.svg Togo
Capital: Lomé
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga
Capital: Nukuʻalofa
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago – Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Capital: Port of Spain
Widely-recognized UN member state. Trinidad and Tobago had one autonomous island: Tobago.

Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia – Tunisian Republic
Capital: Tunis
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey – Republic of Turkey
Capital: Ankara
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Turkmenistan (1997-2001).svg Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan
Capital: Ashgabat
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Tuvalu.svg  Tuvalu
Capital: Funafuti
Widely recognized independent state and UN member state from 5 September 2000; Commonwealth realm.

U


Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda – Republic of Uganda
Capital: Kampala
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
Capital: Kyiv
Widely-recognized UN member state; Ukraine had one autonomous republic and it was Crimea.

Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Widely-recognized UN member state; the United Arab Emirates was a federation of seven emirates. [lower-alpha 41]

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Capital: London
Widely-recognized UN member state; EU member. The United Kingdom was composed of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It had sovereignty over the following dependent territories (referred to as "overseas territories" after 26 February 2002):

In addition, the British Monarch had direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies:


Flag of the United States.svg  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. [lower-alpha 42] It asserted sovereignty over the following inhabited insular areas:

Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay
Capital: Montevideo
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan – Republic of Uzbekistan
Capital: Tashkent
Widely-recognized UN member state. Uzbekistan had one autonomous republic: Karakalpakstan.

V


Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu
Capital: Port Vila
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of the Vatican City (2023-present).svg  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 and a Permanent observer at the United Nations. The Holy See also administered a number of extraterritorial properties in Italy. The Pope was the ex officio head of state of Vatican City.

Flag of Venezuela (1954-2006).svgFlag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela
Capital: Caracas
Widely-recognized UN member state. Venezuela was a federation of 23 states, one federal dependency, and one federal district. [lower-alpha 45]

Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam – Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Capital: Hanoi
Widely-recognized UN member state. 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, Brunei, the Philippines, and Malaysia).

Y


Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen – Republic of Yemen
Capital: Sana'a
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Z


Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia – Republic of Zambia
Capital: Lusaka
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe – Republic of Zimbabwe
Capital: Harare
Widely-recognized UN member state.

Non-UN members or observers

Name and capital cityInformation on status and recognition of sovereignty
Flag of the Republic of Abkhazia.svg  Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia
Capital: Sukhumi
Partially recognized de facto self-governing entity. [lower-alpha 46] Claimed by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.

Flag of the Taliban.svg Afghanistan, Islamic Emirate of (to 7 December 2001) [lower-alpha 47]
Capital: Kabul (to 13 November 2001), Kandahar (from 13 November 2001)
Partially recognized de facto independent state. [26] Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Afghanistan but only controlled a small portion of the country after 13 November 2001.

Flag of Anjouan.svg Anjouan – State of Anjouan (to 10 March 2002) [27]
Capital: Mutsamudu
De facto self-governing entity. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the Comoros.

Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands
Capital: Avarua
A state in free association with New Zealand, recognized by China. The Cook Islands is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity. It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship.

Flag of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.svg  Chechnya – Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (to 6 February 2000) [lower-alpha 48]
Capital: Dzhokhar-Ghala
Partially recognized de facto self-governing entity. [29] Claimed by Russia as the Republic of Chechnya.

Flag of Albania (1992-2002).svg Kosova – Republic of Kosova (until 1 February 2000)
Capital: Pristina
Partially-recognized de facto independent state. [30]

Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo – Republic of Kosovo (from 17 February 2008) [lower-alpha 49]
Capital: Pristina
Partially recognized de facto self-governing entity. [32] Claimed by Serbia as the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija under UN administration

Flag of Moheli.svg Mohéli – Democratic Republic of Mohéli (to 10 March 2002) [27]
Capital: Fomboni
De facto self-governing entity. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the Comoros.

Flag of Artsakh.svg  Nagorno-Karabakh – Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Capital: Stepanakert
De facto self-governing entity. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Azerbaijan.

Flag of Niue.svg  Niue
Capital: Alofi
A state in free association with New Zealand, recognized by China (from 12 December 2007). Niue is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity. It had shared citizenship with New Zealand.

Flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.svg  Northern Cyprus – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Capital: Lefkoşa
Partially recognized de facto self-governing entity. [33] Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus.

Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine – State of Palestine [lower-alpha 50]
Capital: Ramallah (administrative), Gaza City (administrative), Jerusalem (claimed)
Disputed region consisting of three occupied territories: the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. The declared State of Palestine, which claimed independence for all the Palestinian territories, was recognized by a large number of countries. In foreign relations, Palestine was represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, which was a permanent observer at the United Nations. The Palestinian National Authority was an interim administrative body that exercised limited control over parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. From 12 September 2005 to 15 June 2007, the PNA controlled all of Gaza. After 15 June 2007, Gaza was under the control of Hamas.

Flag of Somalia.svg  Puntland – Puntland State of Somalia (to 1 July 2001) [34]
Capital: Garowe
De facto self-governing entity. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Somalia.

Flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.svg  Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Capital: Bir Lehlou (official), Rabouni (seat of government-in-exile), El Aaiún (claimed)
Partially recognized de facto self-governing entity. [35] The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic claimed the disputed territory of Western Sahara, most of which was under control of Morocco. The territories under its control, the so-called Free Zone, were claimed by Morocco. Its government resided in exile in Tindouf, Algeria.

Flag of Somaliland.svg  Somaliland – Republic of Somaliland
Capital: Hargeisa
De facto self-governing entity. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Somalia.

Flag of South Ossetia.svg  South Ossetia – Republic of South Ossetia
Capital: Tskhinvali
Partially recognized de facto independent state. [lower-alpha 51] Claimed by Georgia (as the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia from April 2007).

Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan – Republic of China
Capital: Taipei (seat of government)
Partially recognized de facto independent state. [6] 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 (to 2002 [36] ); the Russian republic of Tuva; the Sixty-Four Villages East of the River (administered by Russia); The majority of Gorno-Badakhshan (administered by Tajikistan); 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); and Kachin State (administered by Myanmar) (to mid 2000s [37] ).

Bicolor flag of Tamil Eelam.svg  Tamil Eelam (to 18 May 2009) [38]
Capital: Trincomalee
Unrecognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Sri Lanka.

Flag of Transnistria (state).svg  Transnistria – Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
Capital: Tiraspol
Partially recognized de facto self-governing entity. [lower-alpha 52] Claimed by Moldova.

Other entities

Excluded from the list above are the following noteworthy entities which either were not fully sovereign or did not claim to be independent:

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 A transitional government for Afghanistan was appointed on 13 June 2002 by a loya jirga. [1]
  2. 1 2 Afghanistan ratified a new constitution on 26 January 2004. [2]
  3. The Islamic State of Afghanistan was not recognized by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates until 7 December 2001.
  4. The name "Argentine Nation" was also used for the purposes of legislation.
  5. 23 provinces: Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquén, Río Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego, Tucumán. 1 autonomous city: Buenos Aires.
  6. 6 states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia. 3 territories: Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, Northern Territory.
  7. 9 states: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Upper Austria, Vorarlberg, Vienna.
  8. Bahrain enacted a new constitution on 14 February 2002. Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah, the Emir of Bahrain, was declared a King. [4]
  9. 3 communities: Flemish Community, French Community, German-speaking Community. 3 Regions: Brussels-Capital Region, Flanders, Wallonia.
  10. 10 cantons: Bosnian-Podrinje, Canton 10, Central Bosnia, Herzegovina-Neretva, Posavina, Sarajevo, Tuzla, Una-Sana, West Herzegovina, Zenica-Doboj.
  11. 26 states: Acre, Alagoas, Amapá, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins. 1 federal district: Federal District.
  12. 10 provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland (renamed Newfoundland and Labrador on 6 December 2001), Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan. 3 territories: Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon.
  13. Was not recognized by Turkey or Northern Cyprus.
  14. Also known as "Timor-Leste".
  15. 9 regions: Afar, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambela, Harari, Oromiya, Somali, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, Tigray. 2 chartered cities: Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa.
  16. 16 states: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia
  17. 28 states: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh (from 1 November 2000), Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand (from 15 November 2000), Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal (from 9 November 2000, renamed Uttarakhand in 2007), West Bengal. 7 union territories: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, National Capital Territory of Delhi, Pondicherry (spelled Puducherry from 2006).
  18. Iraq was administered from 21 April 2003 to 28 June 2004 by the United States, the United Kingdom, and other member states of the Multinational force in Iraq. [10]
  19. Ireland also had the legal description of "Republic of Ireland", although this was not its constitutional name.
  20. Israel was not recognized by Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Chad, Cuba, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, or Yemen.
  21. North Korea was not recognized by Estonia, France, Japan, or South Korea.
  22. South Korea was not recognized by North Korea.
  23. Provisionally referred to by the UN and a number of states and international organizations as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", see Macedonia naming dispute.
  24. 13 states: Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu. 3 federal territories: Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Putrajaya (from 1 February 2001).
  25. 31 states: Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatán, Zacatecas. 1 federal district: Federal District.
  26. 4 states: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap.
  27. Montenegro declared independence from Serbia and Montenegro on 3 June 2006. [11]
  28. 1 2 The Republic of Montenegro adopted a new constitution on 22 October 2007, shortening its official name to "Montenegro". [12]
  29. Commonly known in English as "Burma".
  30. 36 states: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara. 1 federal territory: Federal Capital Territory.
  31. 4 provinces: Balochistan, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh. 4 territories: Azad Kashmir, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Islamabad Capital Territory, Northern Areas (renamed Gilgit-Baltistan on 29 August 2009).
  32. 21 republics: Adygea, Altai, Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Chechnya, Chuvash Republic, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Kalmykia, Karachay–Cherkessia, Karelia, Khakassia, Komi, Mari El, Mordovia, North Ossetia–Alania, Sakha, Tatarstan, Tuva, Udmurtia. 49 oblasts: Amur, Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Chita (to 1 March 2008), Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kamchatka (to 1 July 2007), Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad, Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhny Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Oryol, Penza, Perm (to 1 December 2005), Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan, Sakhalin, Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk, Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver, Tyumen, Ulyanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl. 9 krais: Altai, Kamchatka (from 1 July 2007), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm (from 1 December 2005), Primorsky, Stavropol, Zabaykalsky (from 1 March 2008). 2 federal cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg. 1 autonomous oblast: Jewish Autonomous Oblast. 10 autonomous okrugs: Agin-Buryatia (to 1 March 2008), Chukotka, Evenkia (to 1 January 2007), Khanty–Mansi, Koryakia (to 1 July 2007), Nenetsia, Permyakia (to 1 December 2005), Taymyria (to 1 January 2007), Ust-Orda Buryatia (to 1 January 2008), Yamalia.
  33. 1 2 On 26 May 2003, Rwanda adopted a new constitution, changing its official French name from "République rwandaise" to "République du Rwanda". [15] [16] The former name can be translated into English as "Rwandese Republic", [17] "Rwandan Republic", [18] or "Republic of Rwanda". [19] The official name in Kinyarwanda has always been "Republika y'u Rwanda".
  34. 2 islands: Saint Kitts, Nevis. 14 parishes: Christ Church Nichola Town (Saint Kitts), Saint Anne Sandy Point (Saint Kitts), Saint George Basseterre (Saint Kitts), Saint George Gingerland (Nevis), Saint James Windward (Nevis), Saint John Capesterre (Saint Kitts), Saint John Figtree (Nevis), Saint Mary Cayon (Saint Kitts), Saint Paul Capisterre (Saint Kitts), Saint Paul Charlestown (Nevis), Saint Peter Basseterre (Saint Kitts), Saint Thomas Lowland (Nevis), Saint Thomas Middle Island (Saint Kitts), Trinity Palmetto Point (Saint Kitts)
  35. 1 2 The Serbian parliament declared independence from Serbia and Montenegro on 5 June 2006, ending the union. [20]
  36. 1 2 The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia reconstituted itself as Serbia and Montenegro on 4 February 2003. [21]
  37. 1 2 The Transitional National Government of Somalia adopted a Federal Charter on 16 July 2000. [22]
  38. 17 autonomous communities: Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Balearic Islands, Basque Country, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castile-La Mancha, Castile and León, Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre, La Rioja, Valencian Community. 2 autonomous cities: Ceuta, Melilla.
  39. 26 states: Blue Nile, Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Al Jazirah, Jonglei, Kassala, Khartoum, Lakes, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, North Darfur, North Kurdufan, Northern, Al Qadarif, Red Sea, River Nile, Sennar, South Darfur, South Kurdufan, Unity, Upper Nile, Western Equatoria, Western Bahr el Ghazal, West Darfur, West Kurdufan (to 16 August 2005), White Nile, Warrap.
  40. 26 Cantons: Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Glarus, Graubünden, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zürich.
  41. 7 emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Qaiwain.
  42. 50 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. 1 federal district: District of Columbia. 1 incorporated territory: Palmyra Atoll.
  43. 1 2 After being installed as interim president of Venezuela on 14 April 2002, Pedro Carmona issued a decree which voided the 1999 constitution. [23]
  44. 1 2 Hugo Chávez returned to power on 13 April 2002 and restored the Constitution of Venezuela. [24]
  45. 23 states: Amazonas, Anzoátegui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolívar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Falcón, Guárico, Lara, Mérida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Táchira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia. 1 federal district: Capital District. 1 federal dependency: Federal Dependencies.
  46. Abkhazia was recognized by South Ossetia (from 19 September 2005), Transnistria (from 17 November 2006), Russia (from 26 August 2008), Nicaragua (from 5 September 2008), Venezuela (from 10 September 2009), and Nauru (from 15 December 2009).
  47. Kandahar, the last major city under Taliban control, fell to the Islamic State of Afghanistan on 7 December 2001. [25]
  48. Grozny fell to the Russians on 6 February 2000, ending the de facto independence of Chechnya. [28]
  49. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008. [31]
  50. See the following on statehood criteria:
    • Mendes, Errol (30 March 2010), Statehood and Palestine for the purposes of Article 12 (3) of the ICC Statute (PDF), 30 March 2010, pp. 28, 33, retrieved 2011-04-17: "...the Palestinian State also meets the traditional criteria under the Montevideo Convention..."; "...the fact that a majority of states have recognized Palestine as a State should easily fulfill the requisite state practice".
    • McKinney, Kathryn M. (1994), "The Legal Effects of the Israeli-PLO Declaration ofPrinciples: Steps Toward Statehood for Palestine", Seattle University Law Review, 18 (93), Seattle University: 97, archived from the original on 2011-07-22, retrieved 2011-04-17: "It is possible, however, to argue for Palestinian statehood based on the constitutive theory".
    • McDonald, Avril (Spring 2009), "Operation Cast Lead: Drawing the Battle Lines of the Legal Dispute", Human Rights Brief, 25, Washington College of Law, Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, retrieved 2011-04-17: "Whether one applies the criteria of statehood set out in the Montevideo Convention or the more widely accepted constitutive theory of statehood, Palestine might be considered a state."
  51. South Ossetia was recognized by Abkhazia (from 19 September 2005), Transnistria (from 17 November 2006), Russia (from 26 August 2008), Nicaragua (from 5 September 2008), Venezuela (from 10 September 2009), and Nauru (from 16 December 2009).
  52. Transnistria was recognized by Abkhazia (from 17 November 2006) and South Ossetia (from 17 November 2006).

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Member states of the United Nations</span> Overview of 193 UN member states

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unitary state</span> State governed as a single unit with a supreme central government

A unitary state is a sovereign state governed as a single entity in which the central government is the supreme authority. The central government may create or abolish administrative divisions. Such units exercise only the powers that the central government chooses to delegate. Although political power may be delegated through devolution to regional or local governments by statute, the central government may override the decisions of devolved governments, curtail their powers, or expand their powers. Unitary states in its modern concept originated in France; in the aftermath of the Hundred Years' War, national feelings that emerged from the war unified France. The Hundred Years' War accelerated the process of transforming France from a feudal monarchy to a unitary state. The French then later spread unitary states by conquests, throughout Europe during and after the Napoleonic Wars, and to the world through the vast French colonial empire.

An associated state is the minor partner or dependent territory in a formal, free relationship between a political territory and a major party—usually a larger nation.

This gallery of sovereign state flags shows the national or state flags of sovereign states that appear on the list of sovereign states. For flags of other entities, please see gallery of flags of dependent territories. Each flag is depicted as if the flagpole is positioned on the left of the flag, except for those of Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia which are depicted with the hoist to the right.

This armorial of sovereign states shows the coat of arms, national emblem, or seal for every sovereign state. Although some countries do not have an official national emblem, unofficial emblems which are de facto used as national emblems are also shown below.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enlargement of the United Nations</span> Joining of each UN member

As of 11 April 2024, there are 193 member states in the United Nations (UN), each of which is a member of the United Nations General Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monarchy of Saint Kitts and Nevis</span> Constitutional monarchy as a system of government in Saint Kitts and Nevis

The monarchy of Saint Kitts and Nevis is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The current monarch of Saint Kitts and Nevis, since 8 September 2022, is King Charles III. As sovereign, he is the personal embodiment of the Crown of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Although the person of the sovereign is equally shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations, each country's monarchy is separate and legally distinct. As a result, the current monarch is officially titled King of Saint Christopher and Nevis and, in this capacity, he and other members of the royal family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of Saint Kitts and Nevis. However, the King is the only member of the royal family with any constitutional role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policies of British Overseas Territories</span> Policies on permits required to enter the British Overseas Territories

The British Overseas Territories maintain their own entry requirements different from the visa policy of the United Kingdom. As a general rule, British citizens do not have automatic right of abode in these territories.

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  3. Armenia was not recognized by Pakistan.
  4. 1 2 Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain (2002)
  5. 1 2 Bolivia enacted a new constitution on 7 February 2009, changing the official name of the state. Archived 2012-01-24 at the Wayback Machine
  6. 1 2 The People's Republic of China and the Republic of China did not recognize each other, as both states claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China. The following states recognized the ROC instead of the PRC: Belize, Burkina Faso, Chad (to 6 August 2006), Costa Rica (to 1 June 2007), Dominica (to 31 March 2004), Dominican Republic, El Salvador, the Gambia, Guatemala, Grenada (to 20 January 2005), Haiti, Honduras, Kiribati (from 29 November 2003), Malawi (to 28 December 2007), Marshall Islands, Nauru (to 21 July 2002 and then again from 31 May 2005), Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia (5 May 2007), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal (to 25 October 2005), Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Tuvalu, and Vatican City. Until 11 October 2003, Liberia recognized both the ROC and the PRC, which led to the PRC severing diplomatic relations. After 11 October 2003, Liberia only recognized the PRC.
  7. 1 2 .za/hr_docs/constitutions/docs/ComorosC%20(english%20summary)(rev).doc The Comoros adopted a new constitution on 23 December 2001
  8. 1 2 3 Owing to a dispute over lands seized during World War II, Liechtenstein did not recognize the Czech Republic or Slovakia, and neither country recognized Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein established diplomatic relations with the Czech Republic on 13 July 2009 and with Slovakia on 9 December 2009.
  9. Timor-Leste declared independence from United Nations administration on 20 May 2002.
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  13. 1 2 Nepal adopted an interim constitution on 15 January 2007, changing its official name to "State of Nepal" "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-19. Retrieved 2012-02-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. 1 2 The Nepalese monarchy was formally abolished on 28 May 2008
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  26. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was recognized by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
  27. 1 2 Anjouan and Moheli became autonomous islands of the Comoros after a referendum on 10 March 2002.
  28. "BBC News | EUROPE | Putin: 'Grozny liberated'".
  29. Chechnya was recognized by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
  30. Only recognized by Albania.
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  32. Kosovo was recognized by Afghanistan (from 18 February 2008), Albania (from 18 February 2008), Australia (from 19 February 2008), Austria (from 28 February 2008), Bahrain (from 19 May 2009), Belgium (from 24 February 2008), Belize (from 7 August 2008), Bulgaria (from 20 March 2008), Burkina Faso (from 24 April 2008), Canada (from 18 March 2008), Colombia (from 6 August 2008), Comoros (from 14 May 2009), Costa Rica (from 18 February 2008), Croatia (from 19 March 2008), the Czech Republic (from 21 May 2008), Denmark (from 21 February 2008), Dominican Republic (from 10 July 2009), Estonia (from 21 February 2008), Finland (from 7 March 2008), France (from 18 February 2008), the Gambia (from 7 April 2009), Germany (from 20 February 2008), Hungary (from 19 March 2008), Iceland (from 5 March 2008), Ireland (from 29 February 2008), Italy (from 21 February 2008), Japan (from 18 March 2008), Jordan (from 7 July 2009), Latvia (from 20 February 2008), Liberia (from 30 May 2008), Liechtenstein (from 25 March 2008), Lithuania (from 6 May 2008), Luxembourg (from 21 February 2008), Macedonia (from 9 October 2008), Malawi (from 14 December 2009), Malaysia (from 31 October 2008), Maldives (from 19 February 2009), Malta (from 21 August 2008), Marshall Islands (from 17 April 2008), Federated States of Micronesia (from 5 December 2008), Monaco (from 19 March 2008), Montenegro (from 9 October 2008), Nauru (from 23 April 2008), Netherlands (from 4 March 2008), New Zealand (from 9 November 2009), Norway (from 28 March 2008), Palau (from 6 March 2009), Panama (from 16 January 2009), Peru (from 22 February 2008), Poland (from 26 February 2008), Portugal (from 7 October 2008), the Republic of China (from 18 February 2008), Samoa (from 15 September 2008), San Marino (from 11 May 2008), Saudi Arabia (from 20 April 2000), Senegal (from 19 February 2008), Sierra Leone (from 13 June 2008), Slovenia (from 5 March 2008), South Korea (from 28 March 2008), Sweden (from 4 March 2008), Switzerland (from 27 February 2008), Turkey (from 18 February 2008), the United Arab Emirates (from 14 October 2008), the United Kingdom (from 18 February 2008), and the United States (from 18 February 2008).
  33. Northern Cyprus was recognized only by Turkey.
  34. Puntland's "temporary independence" came to an end on 1 July 2001, when it adopted a new constitution and declared itself to be an integral part of Somalia. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-04-24. Retrieved 2010-05-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic was recognized by Afghanistan (to 12 July 2002), Albania (to 11 November 2004), Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Burundi (to 5 May 2006 and then again from 17 June 2008), Cambodia, Cape Verde (to 30 July 2007), Chad (from 17 July 2007), Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador (to 19 June 2004 and then again from 8 February 2006), Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau (from 30 May 2009), Guyana, Haiti (from 23 November 2006), Honduras, India (to 26 June 2000), Iran, Jamaica, Kenya (to 22 October 2006), Kiribati (to 15 September 2000), Laos, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Malawi (to 16 September 2008), Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru (to 15 September 2000), Nicaragua (to 21 July 2000 then again 12 January 2007), Nigeria, North Korea, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay (from 9 February 2000), Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (from 14 February 2002), Seychelles (to 17 April 2008), Sierra Leone, South Africa (from 15 September 2004), Suriname, Syria, Tanzania, Timor-Leste (from 20 May 2002), Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu (to 15 September 2000), Uganda, Uruguay (from 28 December 2005), Vanuatu (to November 2000 and then again from August 2008), Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
  36. Mongolia–Taiwan relations
  37. "Maps and list of administrative divisions covering above places were published until 2005." History of the administrative divisions of China (1912–49)
  38. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam defeated in the Sri Lankan Civil War
  39. Rogan-Finnemore, Michelle (2005), "What Bioprospecting Means for Antarctica and the Southern Ocean", in Von Tigerstrom, Barbara (ed.), International Law Issues in the South Pacific, Ashgate Publishing, p. 204, ISBN   0-7546-4419-7 "Australia, New Zealand, France, Norway and the United Kingdom reciprocally recognize the validity of each other's claims."
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