List of sovereign states in the 2010s


This is a list of sovereign states in the 2010s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. It contains 209 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 195 widely recognized sovereign states, 2 associated states, and 12 entities which claim an effective sovereignty but are considered de facto constituents of other powers by the general international community.

Members or observers of the United Nations

A

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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; 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.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2015 and 2016.
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Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Antigua and Barbuda has two dependencies, Barbuda and Redonda.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2013 and 2014. Argentina is a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city. It had a claim over Argentine Antarctica, which is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. It also claims 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 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2012 and 2013.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2013 and 2014; Commonwealth realm. Australia is a federation of six states and three territories. It had sovereignty over the following external territories:
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2010. EU member. Austria is a federation of nine states.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2012 and 2013. Azerbaijan had one autonomous republic, Nakhchivan. It included the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where a partially recognized breakaway republic had declared independence.
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B

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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.
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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 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2019. EU member. Belgium is a federation of three communities and three regions.
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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.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2017 and 2018.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2010 and 2011. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a federation of two constituent entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was further divided into ten cantons, and Republika Srpska.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2010 and 2011. Brazil is a federation of 26 states and one federal district.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Brunei claims part of the Spratly Islands.
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Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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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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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. Canada is a federation of ten provinces and three territories.
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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 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2014 and 2015.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2014 and 2015. Chile has two special territories: Easter Island and the Juan Fernández Islands. It had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory, which is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. The People's Republic of China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. Additionally, it had sovereignty over two special administrative regions:
The People's Republic of China claims Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, the Pratas Islands and Itu Aba, all of which were governed by the Republic of China. It also claims 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 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2011 and 2012. Colombia administered Serranilla Bank and claims Bajo Nuevo Bank
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Widely recognized UN member state. The Comoros is a federation of three islands autonomous islands: Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan. Comoros also claims sovereignty over the French region of Mayotte and the Glorioso Islands. Comoros also claims 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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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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Widely recognized UN member state. The Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay is under the permanent control of the United States.
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Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. The northeastern part of the island is the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey.
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Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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D

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Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. The Kingdom of Denmark also included two autonomous countries:
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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 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2019.
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E

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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 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2016 and 2017.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2018 and 2019.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2017 and 2018. Ethiopia is a federation of nine regions and two chartered cities.
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F

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Widely recognized UN member state. Fiji had an autonomous dependency, Rotuma.
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Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region:
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Widely recognized UN member state and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. EU member. France includes five overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion. It also has sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
France also claims Banc du Geyser.
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G

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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2010 and 2011.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Georgia had two autonomous republics: Adjara and Abkhazia. The latter republic is 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.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2011 and 2012 and 2019. EU member. Germany is a federation of sixteen states.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Greece has sovereignty over Mount Athos, an autonomous monastic state that is 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 under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
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Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Grenada has one autonomous dependency, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2012 and 2013.
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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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H

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Widely recognized UN member state. Haiti claims 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 and EU member.
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I

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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2011 and 2012. India is a federation of twenty-nine states and seven union territories. Indian sovereignty over South Tibet is disputed by the People's Republic of China. India administers part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2019. Indonesia had five special provinces: Aceh, Jakarta, Papua, West Papua, and Yogyakarta.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Iraq is constitutionally designated as a federation of autonomous regions, but only one region had been established.
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Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Israel occupies East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights, and the West Bank. These areas were not generally recognized as being part of Israel.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2017. EU 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 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2018 and 2019.
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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 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2010 and 2016 and 2017.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2014 and 2015.
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K

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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2017 and 2018.
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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. It claims to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2013 and 2014. South Korea had one autonomous region: Jeju-do. It claims to be the sole legitimate government of Korean Peninsula.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2018 and 2019.
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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. EU member.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2010 and 2011.
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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. Control passed due to civil war between 15 February 2011 and de facto 20 October 2011, de jure 23 October 2011.
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Widely recognized UN member state. The defense of Liechtenstein is the responsibility of Switzerland.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2014 and 2015. EU member.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2013 and 2014. EU member.
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M

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Widely recognized UN member state. Madagascar claims the French possessions of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands and Juan de Nova Island. It also claims Banc du Geyser
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2015 and 2016. Malaysia is a federation of thirteen states and three federal territories. Malaysia claims part of the Spratly Islands.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Part of Mali's territory was controlled by the de facto State of Azawad from 6 April 2012 to 12 July 2012.
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Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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Widely recognized UN member state under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The Marshall Islands claims the United States territory of Wake Island.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Mauritius had one autonomous dependency: Rodrigues. Mauritius also had two other dependencies: Agalega Islands and Cargados Carajos. It claims the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territory of Tromelin Island.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2010. Mexico is a federation of 31 states and one federal district.
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Widely recognized UN member state under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The FSM is a federation of four states.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Moldova had two autonomous territorial units: Gagauzia and Transnistria. The latter is home to a de facto independent state.
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Widely recognized UN member state. The defense of Monaco is the responsibility of France.
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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 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2012 and 2013. Morocco claims sovereignty over and controlled most of the disputed Western Sahara, which is 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.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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N

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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state. The defense of Nauru is the responsibility of Australia.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Nepal is designated as a federation, but its federal units had not yet been created.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2018. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of four autonomous countries:
Territory of islands without autonomy :
The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole is a member of the EU, but Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Caribbean Netherlands are not.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2015 and 2016; 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 claims Swains Island, part of American Samoa. New Zealand does not recognize this claim.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Nicaragua had two autonomous regions: the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region and South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region. Until constitutional reforms in 2014, they were referred to as the North Atlantic Autonomous Region and South Atlantic Autonomous Region.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2010 and 2011 and 2014 and 2015. Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and one federal territory.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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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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Widely recognized UN member state.
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P

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Widely recognized UN member state. Pakistan is a federation of four provinces and four territories. It administers part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the territories of Azad Kashmir and the autonomous territory of Gilgit-Baltistan.
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Widely recognized UN member state under Compact of Free Association with the United States.
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Partially recognised de facto self-governing entity. Palestine claims sovereignty over a disputed region consisting of three Israeli-occupied territories: the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. In foreign relations, Palestine was represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, which was a permanent observer at the United Nations. Permanent observer at the United Nations. The Palestinian National Authority is an interim administrative body that exercised limited control over parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Gaza is under the control of Hamas.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Papua New Guinea has one autonomous region: Bougainville.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2018 and 2019.
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Widely recognized UN member state. The Philippines had one autonomous region: Muslim Mindanao, Bangsamoro. The Philippines administered Scarborough Shoal, which was disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China. It also claims sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and the Malaysian territory of Sabah. Part of the Philippines' territory was controlled by the de facto Bangsamoro Republik from 27 July 2013 to 28 September 2013.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2018 and 2019. EU member.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2011 and 2012. EU member. Portugal had two autonomous regions: the Azores and Madeira. Portugal claims the Spanish municipalities of Olivenza and Táliga.
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Q

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Widely recognized UN member state.
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R

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Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Russia is a federation of 22 republics, 46 oblasts, 9 krais, 3 federal cities, 1 autonomous oblast, and 4 autonomous okrugs.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2013 and 2014.
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S

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Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Saint Kitts and Nevis is a federation of fourteen parishes within two island. Nevis has autonomy.
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Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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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.
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Widely recognized UN member state. São Tomé and Príncipe had one autonomous province: Príncipe.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2016 and 2017.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Serbia had two autonomous provinces: Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija. The latter was governed by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo; Kosovo declared independence in 2008, and is a partially recognized de facto independent republic.
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Widely recognized UN member state. The Seychelles claims the British Indian Ocean 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. EU member.
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Widely recognized UN member state. EU member.
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Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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Widely recognized UN member state. 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 is one state which has declared and established de facto independence from Somalia: Somaliland.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2011 and 2012 and 2019.
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Widely recognized independent state. UN member state. Disputes Abyei with the Republic of the Sudan. South Sudan is a federation of 10 states.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2015 and 2016. EU member. Spain is divided into seventeen autonomous communities and two autonomous cities. Its sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla and Peñón de Alhucemas is disputed by Morocco. Its sovereignty over Olivenza and Táliga is disputed by Portugal. It claims the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Sudan is a federation of 25 states, ten of which formed South Sudan on 9 July 2011. Disputes Abyei with the Republic of the South Sudan
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2017 and 2018. EU member.
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Widely recognized independent state. UN member state. Switzerland is a federation of 26 cantons.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Syria included the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel. It disputed the Turkish sovereignty over Hatay Province. Syrian Arab Republic is widely viewed as the legitimate authority of Syria.
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T

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Widely recognized UN member state. Tajikistan had one autonomous province: Gorno-Badakhshan.
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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 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2012 and 2013.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Trinidad and Tobago had one autonomous island: Tobago.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2010.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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U

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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2010.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2016 and 2017. Ukraine has one autonomous republic: Crimea.
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Widely recognized UN member state. The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. EU member. The United Kingdom is composed of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It has sovereignty over the following British overseas territories:
In addition, the British Monarch has direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies:
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Widely recognized UN member state and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. The United States is a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and one incorporated territory. It asserted sovereignty over the following inhabited insular areas:
It also asserted sovereignty over eight uninhabited unincorporated territories: These islands were sometimes designated for statistical purposes as the United States Minor Outlying Islands
The United States claims Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank. Its claim to Serranilla is disputed by Colombia and Nicaragua and its claim to Bajo Nuevo is disputed by Colombia, Jamaica, and Nicaragua. Some government sources stated that these two areas were unincorporated territories of the United States.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2016 and 2017.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Uzbekistan had one autonomous republic: Karakalpakstan.
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V

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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized independent state. Vatican City is 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 is the ex officio head of state of Vatican City.
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Widely recognized UN member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2015 and 2016. Venezuela is a federation of 23 states, one federal dependency, and one federal district.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Vietnam claims sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands.
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Y

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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Z

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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Non-UN members or observers

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: