List of sovereign states and dependent territories by continent

Comoros is a federation of three islands.[lower-alpha 6]

Ethiopia is a federation of nine regions and two chartered cities.

Mauritius has an autonomous island, Rodrigues.[lower-alpha 12]

Part of the Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara is controlled by the partially recognised Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and one federal territory.

São Tomé and Príncipe contains one autonomous province, Príncipe.[lower-alpha 12]

Somalia is a federation of six states. Two, Puntland and Galmudug, have self-declared autonomy, while one, Somaliland, is de facto independent.

South Sudan is a federation of 10 states and three administrative areas.

• The Abyei Area is a zone with "special administrative status" established by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. It is de jure a condominium of South Sudan and Sudan, but de facto administered by two competing administrations and the United Nations.[7][8]

Sudan is a federation of 18 states.

• The Abyei Area is a zone with "special administrative status" established by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. It is de jure a condominium of South Sudan and Sudan, but de facto administered by two competing administrations and the United Nations.[7][8]

Tanzania contains one autonomous region, Zanzibar.[lower-alpha 12]

Recognised at some stage by 84 UN member states, 45 of which have since withdrawn or frozen their recognition. It is a founding member of the African Union and the Asian–African Strategic Partnership formed at the 2005 Asian–African Conference. The territories under its control, the so-called Free Zone, are claimed in whole by Morocco as part of its Southern Provinces. In turn, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic claims the part of Western Sahara to the west of the Moroccan Wall controlled by Morocco. Its government resides in exile in Tindouf, Algeria.

A de facto independent state,[9][10][11][12][13] not diplomatically recognised by any other state, claimed in whole by the Federal Republic of Somalia.[14]

Armenia is not recognised by Pakistan due to the dispute over Artsakh.[15][16][17]

Azerbaijan contains one autonomous region, Nakhchivan [lower-alpha 12] The de facto state of Artsakh has been established in the southwest of Azerbaijan.

China contains five autonomous regions, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Tibet, and Xinjiang.[lower-alpha 12] Additionally, it has sovereignty over the Special Administrative Regions of:

•  Hong Kong
•  Macau

China claims, but does not control Taiwan, which is governed by a rival administration (the Republic of China) that claims all of China as its territory.[lower-alpha 17]

China is not recognised by 15 UN member states and the Holy See, which, with the exception of Bhutan, all recognise Taiwan instead.[lower-alpha 18]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3] The northeastern part of the island is the de facto state of Northern Cyprus.

Cyprus is not recognised by Turkey due to the Cyprus dispute, with Turkey recognising Northern Cyprus.

Georgia contains two autonomous republics, Adjara and Abkhazia.[lower-alpha 12] In Abkhazia and South Ossetia, de facto states have been formed.

India is a federation of 28 states and eight union territories.

Indonesia has five autonomous provinces, Aceh, Jakarta, Papua, West Papua, and Yogyakarta.[lower-alpha 12]

Iraq is a federation[lower-alpha 6][19] of 19 governorates, four of which make up the autonomous Kurdistan Region.[lower-alpha 12]

Israel exerts strong control over the territory claimed by Palestine. Israel annexed East Jerusalem,[20] an annexation not recognised by the international community.[21] Israel maintains varying levels of control over the rest of the West Bank, and although Israel no longer has a permanent civilian or military presence in the Gaza Strip, following its unilateral disengagement, it is still considered by some to be the occupying power under international law.[22][23][24][25][26] Israel is not recognised as a state by 32 UN members and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The Palestine Liberation Organization, which enjoys recognition by a majority of UN member states as the sole representative of the Palestinian people, also does not recognise Israel.

North Korea is not recognised by three UN members, France, Japan, and South Korea, the last of which claims to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.[27]

South Korea has one autonomous region, Jejudo.[lower-alpha 12][28] South Korea is not recognised by North Korea, which claims to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.

Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories.

Wa State is a de facto autonomous state within Myanmar.

Nepal is a federation composed of 7 provinces.

Pakistan is a federation of four provinces and one capital territory. Pakistan exercises control over certain portions of Kashmir, but has not officially annexed any of it,[29][30] instead regarding it as a disputed territory.[31][32] The portions that it controls are divided into two territories, administered separately from Pakistan proper:

•  Azad Kashmir
•  Gilgit-Baltistan

Azad Kashmir describes itself as a "self-governing state under Pakistani control", while Gilgit-Baltistan is described in its governance order as a group of "areas" with self-government.[33][34][35] These territories are not usually regarded as sovereign, as they do not fulfil the criteria set out by the declarative theory of statehood (for example, their current laws do not allow them to engage independently in relations with other states). Several state functions of these territories (such as foreign affairs and defence) are performed by Pakistan.[34][36][37]

The State of Palestine, declared in 1988, is not recognised as a state by Israel and has received diplomatic recognition from 138 states.[38] The proclaimed state has no agreed territorial borders, or effective control over much of the territory that it proclaimed.[39] The Palestinian National Authority is an interim administrative body formed as a result of the Oslo Accords that exercises limited autonomous jurisdiction within the Palestinian territories. In foreign relations, Palestine is represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization.[40] The State of Palestine is a member state of UNESCO,[41] UNIDO, and an observer state in the UN.

The Philippines contains one autonomous region, Bangsamoro.[lower-alpha 12]

Russia is a federation of 85 federal subjects (republics, oblasts, krais, autonomous okrugs, federal cities, and an autonomous oblast). Several of the federal subjects are ethnic republics.[lower-alpha 12]

The Syrian National Coalition, which is recognised as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people by 20 UN members, has established an interim government to rule rebel controlled territory during the Syrian civil war. Syria has one self-declared autonomous region: Rojava.

Tajikistan contains one autonomous region, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province.[lower-alpha 12]

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates.

Uzbekistan contains one autonomous region, Karakalpakstan.[lower-alpha 12]

Recognised by Russia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Syria, Venezuela, Artsakh, South Ossetia and Transnistria.[42] Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.

A de facto independent state,[9][43][44] recognised only by Abkhazia,[45] South Ossetia[45] and Transnistria.[45][46] Claimed in whole by Azerbaijan.[47]

Recognised only by Turkey. Under the name "Turkish Cypriot State", it is an observer state of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Economic Cooperation Organization. Northern Cyprus is claimed in whole by the Republic of Cyprus.[48]

A de facto independent state,[49] recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, Abkhazia, Artsakh and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia.[50]

A state competing (nominally) for recognition with the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the government of China since 1949. The Republic of China (ROC) controls the island of Taiwan and associated islands, Quemoy, Matsu, the Pratas and parts of the Spratly Islands, and has not renounced claims over its annexed territories on the mainland.[51] The ROC is recognised by 14 UN member states and the Holy See as of 20 September 2019. All these states do not recognise the PRC either. Additionally, one UN member (Bhutan) has refrained from recognising either the ROC or the PRC.

The territory of the ROC is claimed in whole by the PRC.[lower-alpha 17] The ROC participates in international organizations under a variety of pseudonyms, most commonly "Chinese Taipei" and in the WTO it has full membership. The ROC was a founding member of the UN and enjoyed membership from 1945 to 1971, with veto power in the UN Security Council. See China and the United Nations.

Andorra is a co-principality in which the office of head of state is jointly held ex officio by the French president and the bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of Urgell,[52] who himself is appointed with approval from the Holy See.

Armenia is not recognised by Pakistan due to the dispute over Artsakh.[53][54][55]

Member of the European Union.[lower-alpha 3] Austria is a federation of nine states.

Azerbaijan contains one autonomous region, Nakhchivan [lower-alpha 12] The de facto state of Artsakh has been established in the southwest of Azerbaijan.

Belarus forms the Union State jointly with Russia.

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3] Belgium is a federation of three linguistic communities and three regions.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has two constituent entities:

•  Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
•  Republika Srpska

and Brčko District, a self-governing administrative district.[57]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3] The northeastern part of the island is the de facto state of Northern Cyprus.

Cyprus is not recognised by Turkey due to the Cyprus dispute, with Turkey recognising Northern Cyprus.

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3] The Kingdom of Denmark includes 2 self-governing territories:

•  Faroe Islands
•  Greenland

The continental territory of Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland form the three constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Danish Realm.[lower-alpha 27] The Kingdom of Denmark as a whole is a member of the EU, but EU law does not apply to the Faroe Islands and Greenland.[59][60]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

•  Åland is a neutral and demilitarised autonomous region of Finland.[lower-alpha 12][lower-alpha 28]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3] France contains five overseas regions/departments; French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Réunion. France also includes the overseas territories of:

•  Clipperton Island
•  French Polynesia
•  New Caledonia
•  Saint Barthélemy
•  Saint Martin
•  Saint Pierre and Miquelon
•  Wallis and Futuna
•  French Southern and Antarctic Lands[lower-alpha 29]

Georgia contains two autonomous republics, Adjara and Abkhazia.[lower-alpha 12] In Abkhazia and South Ossetia, de facto states have been formed.

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3] Germany is a federation of 16 states.

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3] Greece contains one autonomous area, Mount Athos.[61]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3] Italy has 5 autonomous regions, Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.[lower-alpha 12]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

Moldova has the autonomous regions of Gagauzia and Transnistria autonomous territorial unit. The latter is under the de facto control of Transnistria.

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3] The Kingdom of the Netherlands includes four areas with substantial autonomy:

•  Aruba
•  Curaçao
•  Netherlands
•  Sint Maarten

The continental part of the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten form the four constituent countries of the Kingdom. Three other overseas territories (Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius) are special municipalities of the continental Netherlands.[lower-alpha 32] The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole is a member of the EU, but EU law applies only to parts within Europe.

Norway has two unincorporated areas in Europe:

•  Svalbard is an integral part of Norway, but has a special status due to the Svalbard Treaty.
•  Jan Mayen is an uninhabited island that is an integral part of Norway, although unincorporated.

Norway has one dependent territory and two claimed Antarctic dependent territories in the Southern Hemisphere:

•  Bouvet Island
•  Peter I Island
•  Queen Maud Land

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3] Portugal contains two autonomous regions, the Azores and Madeira.[lower-alpha 12]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

Russia is a federation of 85 federal subjects (republics, oblasts, krais, autonomous okrugs, federal cities, and an autonomous oblast). Several of the federal subjects are ethnic republics.[lower-alpha 12]

Serbia contains two autonomous regions, Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija.[lower-alpha 12] The latter is under the de facto control of Kosovo.

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3] Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities and two special autonomous cities.[lower-alpha 12][lower-alpha 34]

Member of the EU.[lower-alpha 3]

Switzerland is a federation of 26 cantons.

Ukraine contains one autonomous region, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea,[lower-alpha 12] however it is under the de facto control of Russia.

Former EU member in transition.[lower-alpha 35] The United Kingdom is a Commonwealth realm[lower-alpha 36] consisting of four constituent countries; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom has the following 13 overseas territories and one claimed Antarctic dependent territory:

•  Akrotiri and Dhekelia
•  Anguilla
•  Bermuda
•  British Indian Ocean Territory
•  British Virgin Islands
•  Cayman Islands
•  Falkland Islands
•  Gibraltar
•  Montserrat
•  Pitcairn Islands
•  Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
•  South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
•  Turks and Caicos Islands
•  British Antarctic Territory

The British monarch also has direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies:

•  Guernsey
•  Isle of Man
•  Jersey

Administered by the Holy See, a sovereign entity with diplomatic relations to 183 states. This figure consists of 180 UN member states, the Cook Islands, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and the State of Palestine.[66] In addition, the European Union and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta maintain diplomatic relations with the Holy See. The Holy See is a member of the IAEA, ITU, UPU, and WIPO and a permanent observer of the UN (in the category of "Non-member State")[40] and multiple other UN System organizations. The Vatican City is governed by officials appointed by the Pope, who is the Bishop of the Diocese of Rome and ex officio sovereign of Vatican City.

Recognised by Russia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Syria, Venezuela, Artsakh, South Ossetia and Transnistria.[42] Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.

A de facto independent state,[9][67][68] recognised only by Abkhazia,[45] South Ossetia[45] and Transnistria.[45][46] Claimed in whole by Azerbaijan.[69]

Pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, Kosovo was placed under the administration of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo in 1999.[70] Kosovo declared independence in 2008, and it has received diplomatic recognition from 113 UN member states and the Republic of China, while 18 states have recognized Kosovo only to later withdraw their recognition.[71] Serbia continues to maintain its sovereignty claim over Kosovo. Other UN member states and non UN member states continue to recognise Serbian sovereignty or have taken no position on the question. Kosovo is a member of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. The Republic of Kosovo has de facto control over most of the territory, with limited control in North Kosovo.

Recognised only by Turkey. Under the name "Turkish Cypriot State", it is an observer state of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Economic Cooperation Organization. Northern Cyprus is claimed in whole by the Republic of Cyprus.[72]

A de facto independent state,[73] recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, Abkhazia, Artsakh and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia.[50]

A de facto independent state,[9] recognised only by Abkhazia, Artsakh and South Ossetia.[42] Claimed in whole by Moldova as the Transnistria autonomous territorial unit.[74]

Antigua and Barbuda is a Commonwealth realm[lower-alpha 36] with one autonomous region, Barbuda.[lower-alpha 12]

The Bahamas is a Commonwealth realm.[lower-alpha 36]

Barbados is a Commonwealth realm.[lower-alpha 36]

Belize is a Commonwealth realm.[lower-alpha 36]

Canada is a Commonwealth realm[lower-alpha 36] and a federation of 10 provinces and three territories.

Grenada is a Commonwealth realm.[lower-alpha 36]

Mexico is a federation of 31 states and one autonomous city. The Rebel Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities have de facto autonomy.

Nicaragua contains two autonomous regions, Atlántico Sur and Atlántico Norte.[lower-alpha 12]

Saint Kitts and Nevis is a Commonwealth realm[lower-alpha 36] and is a federation[lower-alpha 6] of two islands, St. Kitts and Nevis.

Saint Lucia is a Commonwealth realm.[lower-alpha 36]

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a Commonwealth realm.[lower-alpha 36]

Trinidad and Tobago contains one autonomous region, Tobago.[lower-alpha 12]

The United States is a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and one incorporated territory. Additionally, the Federal government of the United States has sovereignty over 13 unincorporated territories. Of these territories, the following five are inhabited possessions:

•  American Samoa
•  Guam
•  Northern Mariana Islands
•  Puerto Rico
•  U.S. Virgin Islands

It also has sovereignty over several uninhabited territories:

•  Baker Island
•  Howland Island
•  Jarvis Island
•  Johnston Atoll
•  Kingman Reef
•  Midway Atoll
•  Navassa Island
•  Wake Island

It also disputes sovereignty over the following two territories:

•  Bajo Nuevo Bank
•  Serranilla Bank

Three sovereign states have become associated states of the United States under the Compact of Free Association:

•  Marshall Islands – Republic of the Marshall Islands
•  Micronesia – Federated States of Micronesia
•  Palau – Republic of Palau

Australia is a Commonwealth realm[lower-alpha 36] and a federation of both states and territories. There are six states, three internal territories, six external territories and one claimed Antarctic external territory. The external territories of Australia are:

•  Ashmore and Cartier Islands
•  Christmas Island
•  Cocos (Keeling) Islands
•  Coral Sea Islands Territory
•  Heard Island and McDonald Islands
•  Norfolk Island
•  Australian Antarctic Territory

Fiji contains one autonomous region, Rotuma.[lower-alpha 12][77][78]

Indonesia has five autonomous provinces, Aceh, Jakarta, Papua, West Papua, and Yogyakarta.[lower-alpha 12]

Under Compact of Free Association with the United States.

Under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The Federated States of Micronesia is a federation of four states.

New Zealand is a Commonwealth realm,[lower-alpha 36] and has one dependent territory and one claimed Antarctic dependent territory of:

•  Tokelau
•  Ross Dependency

The Realm of New Zealand has responsibilities for (but no rights of control over) two freely associated states:

•  Cook Islands
•  Niue

The Cook Islands and Niue have diplomatic relations with 49 and 18 UN members respectively.[79][80][81] They have full treaty-making capacity in the UN,[82] and are members of some UN specialized agencies.

Under Compact of Free Association with the United States.

Papua New Guinea is a Commonwealth realm[lower-alpha 36] with one autonomous region, Bougainville.[lower-alpha 12]

The Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm.[lower-alpha 36]

Tuvalu is a Commonwealth realm.[lower-alpha 36]

A state in free association with New Zealand, the Cook Islands maintains diplomatic relations with 52 states. The Cook Islands is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity.[82] It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship.

A state in free association with New Zealand, Niue maintains diplomatic relations with 20 states. Niue is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity.[82] It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship.

Argentina is a federation of 23 provinces and one autonomous city.[lower-alpha 50]

Brazil is a federation of 26 states and one federal district.

[lower-alpha 51]