List of sovereign states
This list of sovereign states, alphabetically arranged, gives an overview of states around the world with information on the extent of their sovereignty. It includes both states widely recognized to be de jure sovereign and states that claim de jure sovereignty and exercise de facto control over some territory, but which are not generally recognised.
| Contents: | Criteria for inclusion Sovereign states: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z Other states |
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This list derives its definition of a sovereign state from Article 1 of the Montevideo Convention of 1933. According to the Convention, a sovereign state should possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population, (b) a defined territory, (c) government, and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states. In respect of the last qualification, the role of recognition by other states can often be crucial since it implies acceptance into the international community.[1] The list includes all states that satisfy these criteria and claim independence; however, the aforementioned qualifications are not absolute and permit variations.
On the basis of the above criteria, this list includes the following 203 entities:
- 193 sovereign states with general international recognition:
- 192 member states of the United Nations
- One state with general international recognition, governed by the Holy See (a UN permanent observer): Vatican City
- 10 sovereign states lacking general international recognition, none of which are members of the United Nations:
- One state with diplomatic relations with 93 states and informal relations with 25 others, governed by the Palestinian National Authority (a UN permanent observer): the Palestinian territories
- One state, recognized by 53 UN member states and by Taiwan, informal relations with 6 others: Kosovo
- One state, recognized by 46 other states, a member of the African Union, in partial control of the Western Sahara (listed by the United Nations as a non self-governing territory): the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
- One state, unable to join the UN due to the One China Policy, recognized by 23 other states, having informal relations with 59 more, until 25 October 1971 a member state of the United Nations and mainly in control of the island of Taiwan: the Republic of China
- Two states, recognized by two UN member states, by Transnistria and by the other of the two: Abkhazia and South Ossetia
- One state, recognized by Abkhazia and South Ossetia: Transnistria
- One state, recognized by one other state and having informal relations with 19 more: the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
- Two states not recognized by any other state: Nagorno-Karabakh and Somaliland
Entities considered to be micronations that are not internationally recognized are not included. Unlisted are the following noteworthy entities that do not possess all the qualifications in the Montevideo Convention:
one entity, a UN observer member, recognized by 96 states, but with extraterritorial areas within Rome is the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
The European Union, a sui generis supranational organization which currently has 27 member countries. The member countries transferred part of their legislative, executive, and judicial powers to the institutions of the EU; therefore, it has some characteristics of a sovereign state, without generally being considered a sovereign state.
Parts of Antarctica are claimed by a few nations.
The listing or placement of any entity in this article is not meant to imply an official position in any dispute.
- This list is complete and up-to-date as of June 8, 2008.
| Name in English and the official languages of the state[2] | Information on the extent of the sovereignty[3] | |
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Abkhazia  Other states |
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 Afghanistan - Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Albania - Republic of Albania
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Algeria - People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Andorra - Principality of Andorra
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Angola - Republic of Angola
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Widely recognized member of the UN. A separatist government in exile claims independence for Cabinda[4] | |
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 Antigua and Barbuda - Antigua and Barbuda
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Antigua and Barbuda is a Commonwealth Realm[5] and has a division (dependency), Barbuda, with an autonomous status.[6] | |
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 Argentina - Argentine Republic[7]
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Argentina is a federation[8] divided in provinces and one federal district. Argentina also claims sovereignty over the British overseas territories of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands[9] | |
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 Armenia - Republic of Armenia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Australia - Commonwealth of Australia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Australia is a Commonwealth Realm[5] and a federation[8] of states and territories. Australia has sovereignty over:
Australia claims sovereignty over parts of Antarctica as: |
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 Austria - Republic of Austria
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU.[10] Austria is a federation[8] divided in states (Bundesländer). | |
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 Azerbaijan - Republic of Azerbaijan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Azerbaijan has one autonomous republic,  Nakhchivan, and the autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh (Dağlıq Qarabağ,).[6] In Nagorno Karabakh a de facto country in the de jure territory of Azerbaijan has been established. |
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 The Bahamas - Commonwealth of The Bahamas
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Widely recognized member of the UN. The Bahamas is a Commonwealth Realm.[5] | |
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 Bahrain - Kingdom of Bahrain
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Bangladesh - People's Republic of Bangladesh
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Barbados
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Barbados is a Commonwealth Realm.[5] | |
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 Belarus - Republic of Belarus
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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.svg){kind=small} Belgium - Kingdom of Belgium
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU.[10] Belgium is a federation[8] divided in linguistic communities and regions. | |
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 Belize
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Belize is a Commonwealth Realm.[5] | |
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 Benin - Republic of Benin[11]
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Bhutan - Kingdom of Bhutan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Bolivia - Republic of Bolivia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Widely recognized member of the UN. As a result of the Dayton Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina is divided into two constituent entities, the  Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the  Republika Srpska.[12] |
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 Botswana - Republic of Botswana
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Brazil - Federative Republic of Brazil
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Brasil is a federation[8] divided in states and one federal district. | |
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 Brunei - Negara Brunei Darussalam
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Brunei claims sovereignty over part of the Spratly Islands.[13] | |
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 Bulgaria - Republic of Bulgaria
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU.[10] | |
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 Burkina Faso - Burkina Faso[14]
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Burma - Union of Myanmar (Burma)
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Burundi - Republic of Burundi
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Cambodia - Kingdom of Cambodia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Cameroon - Republic of Cameroon
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Canada[16]
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Canada is a Commonwealth Realm[5] and a federation[8] divided into provinces and territories. | |
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 Cape Verde - Republic of Cape Verde
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Central African Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Chad - Republic of Chad
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Chile - Republic of Chile
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Easter Island is an integral part of Chile. | |
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 China - People's Republic of China[17]
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Widely recognized member of the UN.[18] Commonly known as China, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet.[6]
Additionally, it has sovereignty over the Special Administrative Regions of
It claims sovereignty over the territories of:
Aksai Chin, controlled by the PRC, is claimed by India as a part of Jammu and Kashmir.[23] Tibet and East Turkestan (Xinjiang) have separatist governments in exile.[4] |
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 Colombia - Republic of Colombia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Comoros - Union of the Comoros
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Widely recognized member of the UN. The Comoros is a federation with autonomous islands.[8][6] The Comoros dispute the French sovereignty over Mayotte and the Glorioso Islands.[9] | |
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 Congo - Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa)[24]
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Congo - Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Costa Rica - Republic of Costa Rica
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Côte d'Ivoire - Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Croatia - Republic of Croatia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Cuba - Republic of Cuba
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Widely recognized member of the UN. The Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay is as the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base under the permanent control (with no claim of sovereignty) of the United States which pays rent under terms of treaties with Cuba. | |
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 Cyprus - Republic of Cyprus
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Widely recognized[25] member of the UN and the EU.[10] See Northern Cyprus for the de facto state in the de jure territory of Cyprus. | |
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 Czech Republic[26]
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU.[10] | |
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 Denmark - Kingdom of Denmark
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU.[10]
The Kingdom of Denmark includes also two autonomous countries. For more information, see Rigsfællesskabet.
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 Djibouti - Republic of Djibouti
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Dominica - Commonwealth of Dominica
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Dominican Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN and OAS. | |
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 East Timor - Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste[27]
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Ecuador - Republic of Ecuador
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Egypt - Arab Republic of Egypt
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 El Salvador - Republic of El Salvador
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Equatorial Guinea - Republic of Equatorial Guinea
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Eritrea - State of Eritrea
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Estonia - Republic of Estonia
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU.[10] | |
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 Ethiopia - Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Ethiopia is a federation[8] divided in regions and chartered cities. | |
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 Fiji - Republic of the Fiji Islands
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Fiji has an autonomous region (dependency), Rotuma.[6] | |
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 Finland - Republic of Finland
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU.[10]  Åland is a neutral and demilitarised autonomous region of Finland.[30][6] |
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 France - French Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU.[10] The French overseas regions/departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion) are legally part of France and France possesses the uninhabited Clipperton Island. The French sovereignty includes also the overseas territories of
The French sovereignty over Bassas da India, Europa Island and Juan de Nova is disputed by Madagascar, over Glorioso Islands by Madagascar, the Seychelles and the Comoros, and over Tromelin by Mauritius and the Seychelles.[9] |
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 Gabon - Gabonese Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 The Gambia - Republic of The Gambia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Georgia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Georgia has three divisions with an autonomous status,  Adjara,  Abkhazia and  South Ossetia.[6] Both in Abkhazia and South Ossetia de facto states inside the de jure territory of Georgia have been formed. |
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 Germany - Federal Republic of Germany
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU.[10] Germany is a federation[8] divided in states (Länder). | |
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 Ghana - Republic of Ghana
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Greece - Hellenic Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU.[10] | |
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 Grenada
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Grenada is a Commonwealth Realm.[5] | |
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 Guatemala - Republic of Guatemala
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Guinea - Republic of Guinea
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Guinea-Bissau - Republic of Guinea-Bissau
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Guyana - Co-operative Republic of Guyana
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Haiti - Republic of Haiti
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Haiti claims the uninhabited United States possession of Navassa.[9] | |
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 Honduras - Republic of Honduras
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Hungary - Republic of Hungary
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU.[10] | |
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 Iceland - Republic of Iceland
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 India - Republic of India
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Widely recognized member of the UN. India is a federation[8] divided in states and union territories. The Indian sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh is disputed by the People's Republic of China.[9] India claims sovereignty over and administers part of Kashmir.[23] | |
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 Indonesia - Republic of Indonesia
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Indonesia has four provinces with special status, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Yogyakarta Special Region, Papua, and Jakarta Special Capital Region.[6] Separatist governments in exile claim independence for the Republic of the South Moluccas, the Republic of West Papua, and the Sultanate of Nangroe Aceh Darusalam[31] | |
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 Iran - Islamic Republic of Iran
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Divided into provinces and counties | |
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 Iraq - Republic of Iraq
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Iraq's constitution labels the country as a federation[32][8] divided in regions, governorates and the capital district. At present the only region is Iraqi Kurdistan. | |
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 Ireland - Ireland[33]
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU.[10] | |
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 Israel - State of Israel
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Widely recognized member of the UN.[34] Israel occupies the Golan Heights and parts of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. It has supervision over the partially occupied Palestinian territories. These occupations are internationally not recognized.[9] See for more information also Palestine. | |
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 Italy - Italian Republic
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Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU.[10] Italy has autonomous regions, Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.[6] | |
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| Ivory Coast Côte d'Ivoire |
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 Jamaica
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Widely recognized member of the UN. Jamaica is a Commonwealth Realm.[5] | |
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 Japan - State of Japan[35]
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Jordan - Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Kazakhstan - Republic of Kazakhstan
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Kenya - Republic of Kenya
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Kiribati - Republic of Kiribati
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Korea, North - Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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 Korea, South - Republic of Korea (South Korea)
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Widely recognized member of the UN. | |
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| Kosovo Other states |
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