List of sovereign states in the 1970s


This is a list of sovereign states in the 1970s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1970 and 31 December 1979. It contains 191 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 166 widely-recognized sovereign states, 2 constituent republics of another sovereign state that were UN members on their own right, 12 entities which claim an effective sovereignty but are considered de facto dependencies of other powers by the general international community, 4 associated states, and 7 transitional states.

Sovereign states

A

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Transitional independent state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Afghanistan was occupied by the Soviet Union from 27 December 1979.
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Transitional independent state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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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 foreign states, in this case France and Spain.
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Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 1 December 1976.
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Associated state of the United Kingdom. Antigua had two dependencies, Barbuda and Redonda.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 22 provinces and two federal territories. 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.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Australia was a federation of six states and three territories. It had sovereignty over the following external territories:
Australia administered one United Nations Trust Territory:
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Austria was a federation of nine states.
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B

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Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 18 September 1973. Commonwealth realm.
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Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 21 September 1971.
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De facto independent state. Claimed by Pakistan. Permanent observer at the UN. Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member.
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Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. UN member state. Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs, but effectively pursued an independent foreign policy starting in the 1970s.
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Partially recognized de facto independent state; claimed by Nigeria.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Nominally independent South African bantustan.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 22 states, four territories, and one federal district.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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C

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De facto independent state. Claimed by Portugal and Angola.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Kampuchea, despite being in exile from 10 January 1979.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Until 2 June 1972, Cameroon was a federation of two regions.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Canada was a federation of ten provinces and two territories.
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Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm to 22 May 1972.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. It had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory, which is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.
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Partially recognized de facto independent state. Widely-recognized UN member state. The People's Republic of China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. The People's Republic of China claimed Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, the Pratas Islands and Itu Aba, all of which were governed by the Republic of China. It also claimed the Paracel Islands, the Spratly Islands, and South Tibet. The People's Republic of China administered Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract, which were within the disputed region of Kashmir.
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Widely-recognized UN member state to 25 October 1971 under the name "China"; partially-recognized de facto independent state from 25 October 1971. Taiwan claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China, but only administered Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, the Pratas Islands 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 ; The majority of Gorno-Badakhshan ; The eastern tip of the Wakhan Corridor ; a small portion of Gilgit-Baltistan ; Aksai Chin ; eastern Bhutan; South Tibet ; and Kachin State.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Colombia claimed Quita Sueño Bank, Roncador Bank, and Serrana Bank ; Bajo Nuevo Bank ; and Serranilla Bank.
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De facto independent state. Claimed by France to 31 December 1975; widely-recognized state from 12 November 1975. UN member state from 12 November 1975. After 24 May 1978, the Comoros was a federation of three islands.
3 Islands: Anjouan, Grande Comore, Mohéli. Comoros claimed sovereignty over the French overseas territories of Mayotte and the Glorioso Islands. It also claimed Banc du Geyser.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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A state in free association with [|New Zealand]; it shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; the Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the control of the United States.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Cyprus included one self-declared state which, although it did not claim independence, was de facto self-governing:
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Czechoslovakia was a federation of two republics.
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D

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member from 1 January 1973. The Danish Realm also included two of its constituent countries:
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Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 20 September 1977.
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Associated state of the [|United Kingdom].
Widely-recognized independent state from 3 November 1978; UN member state from 18 December 1978.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Transitional independent state.
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E

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De facto independent state from 28 November 1975 to 7 December 1975; claimed by Portugal and Indonesia from 29 November 1975.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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F

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Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 13 October 1970. Commonwealth realm. Fiji had an autonomous dependency, Rotuma.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Finland had a neutral and demilitarized region:
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Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member. France included five overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon. It also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
It also co-administered one condominium:
France also claimed Banc du Geyser.
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Transitional independent state.
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G

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm to 24 April 1970.
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Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state; Permanent observer at the UN to 18 September 1973. UN member state from 18 September 1973; EEC member. West Germany was a federation of ten states.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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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.
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Associated state of the United Kingdom.
Widely-recognized independent state from 7 February 1974; UN member state from 17 September 1974. Commonwealth realm. Grenada had one autonomous dependency, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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De facto independent state; claimed by Portugal to 10 September 1974. Widely-recognized from 10 September 1974; UN member state from 17 September 1974.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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H

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Widely-recognized UN member state; Haiti claimed the uninhabited United States possession of Navassa Island.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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I

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. India was a federation of 22 states and 11 union territories. India had sovereignty over one protectorate:
Indian sovereignty over South Tibet, administered as part of North-East Frontier Agency and then Arunachal Pradesh from 1972 was disputed by the People's Republic of China. India administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Indonesia's sovereignty over Timor Timur from 17 July 1976 was disputed and not widely recognized.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member from 1 January 1973.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Israel occupied the Gaza Strip the Golan Heights, the Sinai Peninsula, and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. These areas were not recognized as being part of Israel.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member. Italy had 5 autonomous regions: Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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J

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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Jordan claimed the Israeli-occupied territories of West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
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K

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Partially recognized de facto independent state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Kampuchea; the People's Republic of Kampuchea was occupied by Vietnam from December 1978.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state.
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Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN from 1973; claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.
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Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN; claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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L

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Lebanon was occupied by Syria from 2 November 1975.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Federation of Arab Republics member from 17 April 1971 to November 1977.
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Widely-recognized independent state. The defense of Liechtenstein was the responsibility of Switzerland.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member.
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M

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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, which was disputed by Comoros and France.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Malaysia was a federation of thirteen states and one federal territory.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm to 13 December 1974.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. From 26 February 1976 to 11 August 1979, Mauritania claimed sovereignty over and controlled a portion of the disputed Western Sahara. The territory was home to the de facto independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic from 27 February 1976.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; 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.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Mexico was a federation of 31 states, two territories, and one federal district.
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Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. The defense of Monaco was the responsibility of France.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. After 26 February 1976, Morocco claimed sovereignty over and controlled most of the disputed Western Sahara. The territory was home to the de facto independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic from 27 February 1976. Morocco disputed the Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla, and Peñón de Alhucemas.
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Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 16 September 1975.
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Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state. Under the informal protection of the United Kingdom until 1971.
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N

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Widely-recognized independent state; the defense of Nauru was the responsibility of Australia.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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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.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. New Zealand had responsibilities for the two free associated states of:
It also had sovereignty over three dependent territories:
The government of Tokelau Islands claimed Swains Island, part of American Samoa.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Nigeria was a federation of 23 states and one federal territory.
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A state in free association with New Zealand; Niue was a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity and it had shared citizenship with New Zealand.
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De facto independent state. Claimed by Australia and Papua New Guinea.
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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:
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O

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P

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Widely-recognized UN member state. Pakistan was a federation of six provinces and three territories. It administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the territories of Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 10 October 1975. Commonwealth realm.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. The Philippines administered Scarborough Shoal, which was disputed by China and Taiwan. It also claimed sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and the Malaysian territory of Sabah.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Portugal had two autnonomous regions: the Azores and Madeira. Portugal had sovereignty over the following overseas provinces:
It had one autonomous republic:
It also had one Chinese territory which it administered as a dependency:
Portugal continued to claim sovereignty over Portuguese Timor after its unilateral declaration of independence on 28 November 1975 and its occupation by Indonesia on 7 December 1975. It claimed the former overseas province of Portuguese India, which had been annexed by India, until 31 December 1974. It also claimed the Spanish municipalities of Olivenza and Táliga.
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Q

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Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 21 September 1971.
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R

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Transitional independent state.
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De facto independent state; not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the United Kingdom.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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De facto independent state; not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Uganda.
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S

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Partially recognized de facto independent state. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic claimed the disputed territory of Western Sahara, most of which was under control of Morocco and Mauritania. The territory under its control, the so-called Free Zone, was claimed by Morocco and Mauritania. Its government resided in exile in Tindouf, Algeria.
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Associated state of the United Kingdom.
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Associated state of the United Kingdom.
Widely-recognized independent state from 22 February 1979; UN member state from 18 September 1979. Commonwealth realm.
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Associated state of the United Kingdom to 26 October 1979. Widely-recognized independent state from 27 October 1979; Commonwealth realm.
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Widely-recognized independent state.
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Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state. The Seychelles claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territories of Tromelin Island and the Glorioso Islands.
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Transitional independent state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm to 19 April 1971.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. South Africa had eight autonomous bantustans: Bophuthatswana, Ciskei Gazankulu, KwaZulu, Lebowa, Transkei, QwaQwa, and Venda. There were also three bantustans which were nominally independent: Bophuthatswana, Transkei, and Venda. South Africa administered one League of Nations mandate:
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Widely-recognized UN member state. The Soviet Union was a federation of 15 republics, two of which were UN members in their own right.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Spain included two autonomous communities. Spain had sovereignty over one overseas province:
Its sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla, and Peñón de Alhucemas was disputed by Morocco. Its sovereignty over Olivenza and Táliga was disputed by Portugal; it claimed the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 4 December 1975.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state; permanent observer at the UN. Switzerland was a federation of 26 cantons.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Federation of Arab Republics member from 17 April 1971 to November 1977. Syria included the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and disputed Turkey's sovereignty over Hatay Province.
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T

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De facto independent state; claimed by the Anglo-French New Hebrides Condominium.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Tanzania had one autonomous region: Zanzibar.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state.
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Nominally independent South African bantustan.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm to 1 August 1976.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state; Commonwealth realm.
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U

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Transitional independent state.
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Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 9 December 1971. The United Arab Emirates was a federation of seven emirates.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Federation of Arab Republics member from 17 April 1971 to November 1977. to The United Arab Republic consisted of one state: Egypt. It included the Sinai Peninsula, which was occupied by Israel.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member from 1 January 1973. The United Kingdom was composed of four constituent 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:
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Widely-recognized UN member state. The United States was a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and one incorporated territory. It asserted sovereignty over the following inhabited unincorporated territories:
The United States co-administered the following condominium:
The United States administered one territory under the residual sovereignty of Japan:
In addition, the United States administered one United Nations Trust Territory:
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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V

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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.
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Nominally independent South African bantustan.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Venezuela was a federation of 20 states, two territories, one federal dependency, and one federal district.
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Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. UN member state. Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands.
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Widely-recognized independent state; permanent observer at the UN from 30 April 1975 to 2 July 1976.
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Widely-recognized independent state to 30 April 1975; permanent observer at the UN to 30 April 1975. South Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands.
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W

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Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 15 December 1976.
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Y

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Yugoslavia was a federation of six republics.
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Z

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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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: