This is a list of sovereign states and dependent territories of the world by continent, displayed with their respective national flags, including the following entities:
- By association within the UN system:
- The 193 United Nations (UN) member states.
- Vatican City (administered by the Holy See, a UN General Assembly observer state), which has diplomatic relations with 183 countries as of 7 January 2019.
- Palestine (a UN General Assembly observer state), which has diplomatic relations with 157 countries as of 23 September 2025.
- By other states:
- Generally, this contains states with limited recognition and associated states not members of the United Nations.
- Partially recognised de facto sovereign states with UN membership, such as the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of China (Taiwan).
- De facto sovereign states lacking general international recognition.
- Cook Islands and Niue, two states in free association with New Zealand without UN membership.
- By dependent territories of other UN member states:
- Generally, this contains non-sovereign territories that are recognised by the UN as part of some member state.
- Dependent territories.
- Other territories often regarded as separate geographical territories, even though they are integral parts of their mother countries (such as the overseas departments and regions of France).
This list divides the world using the seven-continent model, with islands grouped into adjacent continents. Variations on are noted below and discussed in the following articles: Continent, Boundaries between the continents of Earth, and List of transcontinental countries.
Legend
| "Membership within the UN System" column legend UN Member states UN General Assembly observer state Member state of a UN Specialized Agency Observer in a UN Specialized Agency No membership Dependent Territory of UN member | "Sovereignty dispute" column legend Undisputed sovereignty Disputed sovereignty |
Africa
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Africa with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Africa: territories and regions.
Geologically, Africa is connected to Eurasia by the Isthmus of Suez and forms part of Afro-Eurasia.
| Common and formal names | Membership within the UN System | Sovereignty dispute | Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty |
|---|---|---|---|
| ↓ UN member states and General Assembly observer states ↓ | |||
| Algeria – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria | UN member state | None | |
| Angola – Republic of Angola | UN member state | None | |
| Benin – Republic of Benin | UN member state | None | |
| Botswana – Republic of Botswana | UN member state | None | |
| Burkina Faso | UN member state | None | |
| Burundi – Republic of Burundi | UN member state | None | |
| Cameroon – Republic of Cameroon | UN member state | None | |
| Cape Verde – Republic of Cabo Verde | UN member state | None | |
| Central African Republic | UN member state | None | |
| Chad – Republic of Chad | UN member state | None | |
| Comoros – Union of the Comoros | UN member state | None | Comoros is a federation of three islands. |
| Congo, Democratic Republic of the | UN member state | None | |
| Congo, Republic of the | UN member state | None | |
| Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti | UN member state | None | |
| Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt | UN member state | None | |
| Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea | UN member state | None | |
| Eritrea – State of Eritrea | UN member state | None | |
| Eswatini – Kingdom of Eswatini | UN member state | None | |
| Ethiopia – Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia | UN member state | None | Ethiopia is a federation of twelve regions and two chartered cities. |
| Gabon – Gabonese Republic | UN member state | None | |
| Gambia, The – Republic of the Gambia | UN member state | None | |
| Ghana – Republic of Ghana | UN member state | None | |
| Guinea – Republic of Guinea | UN member state | None | |
| Guinea-Bissau – Republic of Guinea-Bissau | UN member state | None | |
| Ivory Coast – Republic of Côte d'Ivoire | UN member state | None | |
| Kenya – Republic of Kenya | UN member state | None | |
| Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho | UN member state | None | |
| Liberia – Republic of Liberia | UN member state | None | |
| Libya – State of Libya | UN member state | None | |
| Madagascar – Republic of Madagascar | UN member state | None | |
| Malawi – Republic of Malawi | UN member state | None | |
| Mali – Republic of Mali | UN member state | None | |
| Mauritania – Islamic Republic of Mauritania | UN member state | None | |
| Mauritius – Republic of Mauritius | UN member state | None | Mauritius has an autonomous island, Rodrigues. |
| Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco | UN member state | None | Part of the Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara is controlled by the partially recognised Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. |
| Mozambique – Republic of Mozambique | UN member state | None | |
| Namibia – Republic of Namibia | UN member state | None | |
| Niger – Republic of the Niger | UN member state | None | |
| Nigeria – Federal Republic of Nigeria | UN member state | None | Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and one federal territory. |
| Republic of the Congo → See Congo, Republic of the listing | |||
| Rwanda – Republic of Rwanda | UN member state | None | |
| Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic → See Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic listing | |||
| São Tomé and Príncipe – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe | UN member state | None | São Tomé and Príncipe contains one autonomous province, Príncipe. |
| Senegal – Republic of Senegal | UN member state | None | |
| Seychelles – Republic of Seychelles | UN member state | None | |
| Sierra Leone – Republic of Sierra Leone | UN member state | None | |
| Somalia – Federal Republic of Somalia | UN member state | None | Somalia is a federation of six states. Two, Puntland and Galmudug, have self-declared autonomy, while one, Somaliland, is de facto independent. |
| South Africa – Republic of South Africa | UN member state | None | |
| South Sudan – Republic of South Sudan | UN member state | None | South Sudan is a federation of 10 states and three administrative areas.
|
| Sudan – Republic of the Sudan | UN member state | None | Sudan is a federation of 18 states.
|
| Tanzania – United Republic of Tanzania | UN member state | None | Tanzania contains one autonomous region, Zanzibar. |
| Togo – Togolese Republic | UN member state | None | |
| Tunisia – Republic of Tunisia | UN member state | None | |
| Uganda – Republic of Uganda | UN member state | None | |
| Zambia – Republic of Zambia | UN member state | None | |
| Zimbabwe – Republic of Zimbabwe | UN member state | None | |
| ↑ UN member states and General Assembly observer states ↑ | |||
| ↓ Other states ↓ | |||
| Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | No membership | Claimed by Morocco | Recognised at some stage by 84 UN member states, 38 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. |
| Somaliland – Republic of Somaliland | No membership | Claimed by Somalia | A de facto independent state, not diplomatically recognised by any other state, claimed in whole by the Federal Republic of Somalia. |
| ↑ Other states ↑ | |||
| ↓ Dependent Territories ↓ | |||
| Bouvet Island | Norwegian Dependent Territory | None | |
| British Indian Ocean Territory | British Overseas Territory | ||
| French Southern and Antarctic Lands | French Overseas Territory | None | |
| Heard Island and McDonald Islands – Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands | Australian External Territory | None | |
| Mayotte – Department of Mayotte | French Overseas Department and Region | None | |
| Réunion – Department of Réunion | French Overseas Department and Region | None | |
| Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | British Overseas Territory | None | |
| ↑ Dependent Territories ↑ | |||
- Transcontinental countries in Europe and Africa, classified as Southern European countries by the United Nations Statistics Division: Italy (Pantelleria and the Pelagie Islands), Malta, Portugal (Madeira [including the Savage Islands]), and Spain (Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla, Alboran Island, and Spain's plazas de soberanía).
- Transcontinental country in Europe and Africa, classified as a Western European country by the United Nations Statistics Division: France (Mayotte, and Réunion).
- Transcontinental country in Asia and Africa, classified as a Western Asian country by the United Nations Statistics Division: Yemen (Socotra).
Asia
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Asia with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Asia: territories and regions.
Geologically, Asia is part of Eurasia and due to the Isthmus of Suez forms part of Afro-Eurasia.
| Common and formal names | Membership within the UN System | Sovereignty dispute | Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty |
|---|---|---|---|
| ↓ UN member states and General Assembly observer states ↓ | |||
| Afghanistan – Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan | UN member state | None | The ruling Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in power since 2021, has not been recognised by the United Nations or any other state. The defunct Islamic Republic of Afghanistan remains the recognised government. |
| Armenia – Republic of Armenia | UN member state | None | |
| Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan | UN member state | None | Azerbaijan contains one autonomous region, Nakhchivan. |
| Bahrain – Kingdom of Bahrain | UN member state | None | |
| Bangladesh – People's Republic of Bangladesh | UN member state | None | |
| Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan | UN member state | None | |
| Brunei – Brunei Darussalam | UN member state | None | |
| Burma → See Myanmar listing | |||
| Cambodia – Kingdom of Cambodia | UN member state | None | |
| China – People's Republic of China | UN member state | Partially unrecognised. Claimed by the Republic of China | China contains five autonomous regions, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Tibet, and Xinjiang. Additionally, it has sovereignty over the Special Administrative Regions of:
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. China is not recognised by 12 UN member states and the Holy See, which, with the exception of Bhutan, all recognise Taiwan instead. |
| China, Republic of → See Taiwan listing | |||
| Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus | UN member state | Not recognised by Turkey | Member of the EU. 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. |
| Democratic People's Republic of Korea → See Korea, North listing | |||
| East Timor – Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste | UN member state | None | |
| Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt | UN member state | None | |
| Georgia | UN member state | None | Georgia contains two autonomous republics, Adjara and Abkhazia. In Abkhazia and South Ossetia, de facto states have been formed. |
| India – Republic of India | UN member state | None | India is a federation of 28 states and eight union territories. |
| Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia | UN member state | None | Indonesia has eight autonomous provinces, Aceh, Jakarta, Central Papua, Highland Papua, Papua, South Papua, West Papua, and Yogyakarta. |
| Iran – Islamic Republic of Iran | UN member state | None | |
| Iraq – Republic of Iraq | UN member state | None | Iraq is a federation of 19 governorates, four of which make up the autonomous Kurdistan Region. |
| Israel – State of Israel | UN member state | Partially unrecognised Disputed by Palestine | Israel exerts strong control over the territory claimed by Palestine. Israel annexed East Jerusalem, an annexation not recognised by the international community. 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. Israel is not recognised as a state by 28 UN members and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The Palestine Liberation Organization, recognised by a majority of UN member states as the sole representative of the Palestinian people, recognised Israel in 1993. |
| Japan | UN member state | None | |
| Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan | UN member state | None | |
| Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan | UN member state | None | |
| Korea, North – Democratic People's Republic of Korea | UN member state | Claimed by South Korea | 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. |
| Korea, South – Republic of Korea | UN member state | Claimed by North Korea | South Korea has one autonomous region, Jejudo. South Korea is not recognised by North Korea, which claims to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. |
| Kuwait – State of Kuwait | UN member state | None | |
| Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyz Republic | UN member state | None | |
| Laos – Lao People's Democratic Republic | UN member state | None | |
| Lebanon – Republic of Lebanon | UN member state | None | |
| Malaysia | UN member state | None | Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories. |
| Maldives – Republic of Maldives | UN member state | None | |
| Mongolia | UN member state | None | |
| Myanmar – Republic of the Union of Myanmar | UN member state | None | Wa State is a de facto autonomous state within Myanmar. The United Nations has not recognized the de facto ruling government of Myanmar, the State Administration Council. |
| Nepal – Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal | UN member state | None | Nepal is a federation composed of 7 provinces. |
| Oman – Sultanate of Oman | UN member state | None | |
| Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan | UN member state | None | 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, instead regarding it as a disputed territory. The portions that it controls are divided into two territories, administered separately from Pakistan proper:
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. 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. |
| Palestine – State of Palestine | UN General Assembly observer state; member of 2 UN specialized agencies | Partially unrecognised. Disputed by Israel | The State of Palestine, declared in 1988, is not recognised as a state by Israel but has received diplomatic recognition from 157 states. The proclaimed state has no agreed territorial borders, or effective control over much of the territory that it proclaimed. 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. The State of Palestine is a member state of UNESCO, UNIDO and other international organizations. |
| Philippines – Republic of the Philippines | UN member state | None | The Philippines contains one autonomous region, Bangsamoro. |
| Qatar – State of Qatar | UN member state | None | |
| Russia – Russian Federation | UN member state | None | 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. |
| Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | UN member state | None | |
| Singapore – Republic of Singapore | UN member state | None | |
| Sri Lanka – Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka | UN member state | None | |
| Syria – Syrian Arab Republic | UN member state | None | 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 – Republic of Tajikistan | UN member state | None | Tajikistan contains one autonomous region, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province. |
| Thailand – Kingdom of Thailand | UN member state | None | |
| Timor-Leste → See East Timor listing | |||
| Turkey – Republic of Türkiye | UN member state | None | |
| Turkmenistan | UN member state | None | |
| United Arab Emirates | UN member state | None | The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates. |
| Uzbekistan – Republic of Uzbekistan | UN member state | None | Uzbekistan contains one autonomous region, Karakalpakstan. |
| Vietnam – Socialist Republic of Vietnam | UN member state | None | |
| Yemen – Republic of Yemen | UN member state | None | |
| ↑ UN member states and General Assembly observer states ↑ | |||
| ↓ Other states ↓ | |||
| Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia | No membership | Claimed by Georgia | Recognised by Russia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Syria, Venezuela, South Ossetia and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia. |
| Northern Cyprus – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus | No membership | Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus | 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. |
| South Ossetia – Republic of South Ossetia – State of Alania | No membership | Claimed by Georgia | A de facto independent state, recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, Abkhazia and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia. |
| Taiwan – Republic of China | Former UN member state (1945 - 1971) | Partially unrecognised. Claimed by the People's Republic of China | 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. The ROC is recognised by 11 UN member states and the Holy See as of 15 January 2024. All these states do not recognise the PRC either. Additionally, one UN member (Bhutan) has refrained from recognising either the ROC or the PRC. In addition to these relations, the ROC also maintains unofficial relations with 58 UN member states, one self-declared state (Somaliland), three territories (Guam, Hong Kong, and Macau), and the European Union via its representative offices and consulates under the One China principle. Taiwan has the 31st-largest diplomatic network in the world with 110 offices. The territory of the ROC is claimed in whole by the PRC. The ROC participates in international organizations under a variety of pseudonyms, most commonly "Chinese Taipei" and in the WTO it has full membership under the designation of "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu". 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. |
| ↑ Other states ↑ | |||
| ↓ Dependent Territories ↓ | |||
| Akrotiri and Dhekelia – Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia | British Overseas Territory | None | |
| Ashmore and Cartier Islands – Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands | Australian External Territory | Claimed by Indonesia | |
| British Indian Ocean Territory | British Overseas Territory | ||
| Christmas Island – Territory of Christmas Island | Australian External Territory | None | |
| Cocos (Keeling) Islands – Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Australian External Territory | None | |
| Hong Kong – Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China | PRC Special Administrative Region | None | |
| Macau – Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China | PRC Special Administrative Region | None | |
| ↑ Dependent Territories ↑ | |||
- Transcontinental country in Africa and Asia, classified as a Northern African country by the United Nations Statistics Division: Egypt (Sinai).
- Transcontinental country in Europe and Asia, classified as an Eastern European country by the United Nations Statistics Division: Russia (North Asia).
- States mostly or entirely in West Asia, but commonly associated with Europe, and a member of the Council of Europe: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, and Turkey.
- States with limited recognition, entirely in West Asia, but commonly associated with Europe: Abkhazia, North Cyprus, and South Ossetia.
- Entirely in Southeast Asia, but commonly associated with Oceania, and lying east of the biogeographical Wallace Line: East Timor.
- Transcontinental country in Europe and Asia, classified as a Southern European country by the United Nations Statistics Division: Greece (Islands in North Aegean and South Aegean).
- Transcontinental country in Asia and North America, classified as a Northern American country by the United Nations Statistics Division: United States (Little Diomede Island, Near Islands, and St. Lawrence Island).
Europe
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Europe: political geography.
Geologically, Europe is part of Eurasia and due to the Isthmus of Suez forms part of Afro-Eurasia.
| Common and formal names | Membership within the UN System | Sovereignty dispute | Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty |
|---|---|---|---|
| ↓ UN member states and General Assembly observer states ↓ | |||
| Abkhazia → See Abkhazia listing | |||
| Albania – Republic of Albania | UN member state | None | |
| Andorra – Principality of Andorra | UN member state | None | 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, who himself is appointed with approval from the Holy See. |
| Armenia – Republic of Armenia | UN member state | None | |
| Austria – Republic of Austria | UN member state | None | Member of the European Union. Austria is a federation of nine states. |
| Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan | UN member state | None | Azerbaijan contains one autonomous region, Nakhchivan. |
| Belarus – Republic of Belarus | UN member state | None | Many states rescinded their recognition of President Alexander Lukashenko following the disputed 2020 election. Lithuania currently recognizes Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Coordination Council as the legitimate government of Belarus. |
| Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. Belgium is a federation of three linguistic communities and three regions. |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | UN member state | None | Bosnia and Herzegovina has two constituent entities:
and Brčko District, a self-governing administrative district. |
| Bulgaria – Republic of Bulgaria | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| Croatia – Republic of Croatia | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus | UN member state | Not recognised by Turkey | Member of the EU. 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. |
| Czech Republic | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. The Kingdom of Denmark includes 2 self-governing territories:
The continental territory of Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland form the three constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Danish Realm. 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. |
| Estonia – Republic of Estonia | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| Finland – Republic of Finland | UN member state | None | Member of the EU.
|
| France – French Republic | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. France contains five overseas regions/departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Réunion. France also includes the overseas territories of:
|
| Georgia | UN member state | None | Georgia contains two autonomous republics, Adjara and Abkhazia. In Abkhazia and South Ossetia, de facto states have been formed. |
| Germany – Federal Republic of Germany | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. Germany is a federation of 16 states. |
| Greece – Hellenic Republic | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. Greece contains one autonomous area, Mount Athos. |
| Holy See → See Vatican City listing | |||
| Hungary | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| Iceland | UN member state | None | |
| Ireland | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| Italy – Italian Republic | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. Italy has 5 autonomous regions, Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. |
| Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan | UN member state | None | |
| Kosovo → See Kosovo listing | |||
| Latvia – Republic of Latvia | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein | UN member state | None | |
| Lithuania – Republic of Lithuania | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| Macedonia → See North Macedonia listing | |||
| Malta – Republic of Malta | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| Moldova – Republic of Moldova | UN member state | None | Moldova has the autonomous regions of Gagauzia and the Left Bank of the Dniester. The latter, as well as the city of Bender (Tighina), are under the de facto control of Transnistria. |
| Monaco – Principality of Monaco | UN member state | None | |
| Montenegro | UN member state | None | |
| Netherlands – Kingdom of the Netherlands | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. The Kingdom of the Netherlands includes four areas with substantial autonomy:
Metropolitan 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 metropolitan Netherlands. The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole is a member of the EU, but EU law applies only to parts within Europe. |
| North Macedonia – Republic of North Macedonia | UN member state | None | |
| Northern Cyprus → See Northern Cyprus listing | |||
| Norway – Kingdom of Norway | UN member state | None | Norway has two unincorporated areas in Europe:
Norway has one dependent territory and two claimed Antarctic dependent territories in the Southern Hemisphere:
|
| Poland – Republic of Poland | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| Portugal – Portuguese Republic | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. Portugal contains two autonomous regions, the Azores and Madeira. |
| Pridnestrovie → See Transnistria listing | |||
| Romania | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| Russia – Russian Federation | UN member state | None | 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. |
| San Marino – Republic of San Marino | UN member state | None | |
| Serbia – Republic of Serbia | UN member state | None | Serbia contains two autonomous regions, Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija. The latter is under the de facto control of Kosovo. |
| Slovakia – Slovak Republic | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| Slovenia – Republic of Slovenia | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| South Ossetia → See South Ossetia listing | |||
| Spain – Kingdom of Spain | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities and two special autonomous cities. |
| Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden | UN member state | None | Member of the EU. |
| Switzerland – Swiss Confederation | UN member state | None | Switzerland is a federation of 26 cantons. |
| Transnistria → See Transnistria listing | |||
| Turkey – Republic of Türkiye | UN member state | None | |
| Ukraine | UN member state | None | Ukraine contains one autonomous region, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, which is under the de facto control of Russia, along with neighbouring Sevastopol, parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. |
| United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | UN member state | None | Former EU member. The United Kingdom is a Commonwealth realm 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:
The British monarch also has direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown Dependencies:
|
| Vatican City – Vatican City State | UN General Assembly observer state under the designation of "Holy See"; member of three UN specialized agencies and the IAEA | None | 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. 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") 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. |
| ↑ UN member states and General Assembly observer states ↑ | |||
| ↓ Other states ↓ | |||
| Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia | No membership | Claimed by Georgia | Recognised by Russia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Syria, Venezuela, South Ossetia and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia. |
| Kosovo – Republic of Kosovo | Member of two UN specialized agencies | Claimed by Serbia | 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. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, and it has received diplomatic recognition from 117 UN member states and the Republic of China, while 18 states have recognized Kosovo only to later withdraw their recognition. 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. |
| Northern Cyprus – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus | No membership | Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus | 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. |
| South Ossetia – Republic of South Ossetia – State of Alania | No membership | Claimed by Georgia | A de facto independent state, recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Syria, Venezuela, Abkhazia and Transnistria. Claimed in whole by Georgia as the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia. |
| Transnistria – Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic | No membership | Claimed by Moldova | A de facto independent state, recognised only by Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Claimed in whole by Moldova as the Administrative-Territorial Units of the Left Bank of the Dniester. |
| ↑ Other states ↑ | |||
| ↓ Dependent Territories ↓ | |||
| Akrotiri and Dhekelia – Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia | British Overseas Territory | None | |
| Bailiwick of Guernsey → Guernsey, Bailiwick of | |||
| Bailiwick of Jersey → Jersey | |||
| Faroe Islands | Danish Autonomous Territory | None | |
| Gibraltar | British Overseas Territory | Claimed by Spain | |
| Guernsey, Bailiwick of | British Crown Dependency | None | |
| Isle of Man | British Crown Dependency | None | |
| Jan Mayen | Norwegian Territory | None | |
| Jersey – Bailiwick of Jersey | British Crown Dependency | None | |
| Svalbard | Norwegian Territory | None | |
| Åland | Finnish Autonomous Region | None | |
| ↑ Dependent Territories ↑ | |||
- Transcontinental countries in Europe and Asia, classified as West Asian countries by the United Nations Statistics Division: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey (all but Kazakhstan are members of the Council of Europe).
- Entirely in West Asia, but commonly associated with Europe, and a member of the Council of Europe: Armenia and Cyprus.
- States with limited recognition, entirely in West Asia, but commonly associated with Europe: Abkhazia, North Cyprus, and South Ossetia.
Vojvodina.
North America
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in North America with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see North America: countries and territories.
Geologically, North America is joined with South America by the Isthmus of Panama to form the Americas.
| Common and formal names | Membership within the UN System | Sovereignty dispute | Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty |
|---|---|---|---|
| ↓ UN member states and General Assembly observer states ↓ | |||
| Antigua and Barbuda | UN member state | None | Antigua and Barbuda is a Commonwealth realm with one autonomous region, Barbuda. |
| Bahamas, The – Commonwealth of the Bahamas | UN member state | None | The Bahamas is a Commonwealth realm. |
| Barbados | UN member state | None | |
| Belize | UN member state | None | Belize is a Commonwealth realm. |
| Canada | UN member state | None | Canada is a Commonwealth realm and a federation of 10 provinces and three territories. |
| Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica | UN member state | None | |
| Cuba – Republic of Cuba | UN member state | None | |
| Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica | UN member state | None | |
| Dominican Republic | UN member state | None | |
| El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador | UN member state | None | |
| Grenada | UN member state | None | Grenada is a Commonwealth realm. |
| Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala | UN member state | None | |
| Haiti – Republic of Haiti | UN member state | None | |
| Honduras – Republic of Honduras | UN member state | None | |
| Jamaica | UN member state | None | Jamaica is a Commonwealth realm. |
| Mexico – United Mexican States | UN member state | None | Mexico is a federation of 31 states and one autonomous city. The Rebel Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities have de facto autonomy. |
| Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua | UN member state | None | Nicaragua contains two autonomous regions, Atlántico Sur and Atlántico Norte. |
| Panama – Republic of Panama | UN member state | None | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis – Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis | UN member state | None | Saint Kitts and Nevis is a Commonwealth realm and is a federation of two islands, St. Kitts and Nevis. |
| Saint Lucia | UN member state | None | Saint Lucia is a Commonwealth realm. |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | UN member state | None | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a Commonwealth realm. |
| The Bahamas → See Bahamas, The listing | |||
| Trinidad and Tobago – Republic of Trinidad and Tobago | UN member state | None | Trinidad and Tobago contains one autonomous region, Tobago. |
| United States – United States of America | UN member state | None | 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:
It also has sovereignty over several uninhabited territories:
It also disputes sovereignty over the following two territories:
Three sovereign states have become associated states of the United States under the Compact of Free Association:
|
| ↑ UN member states and General Assembly observer states ↑ | |||
| ↓ Dependent Territories ↓ | |||
| Anguilla | British Overseas Territory | None | |
| Aruba – Country of Aruba | Dutch Constituent Country | None | |
| Bermuda | British Overseas Territory | None | |
| Bonaire | Dutch Special Municipality | None | |
| British Virgin Islands – Virgin Islands | British Overseas Territory | None | |
| Cayman Islands | British Overseas Territory | None | |
| Clipperton Island | French State's Private Property | None | |
| Commonwealth of Puerto Rico → Puerto Rico | |||
| Curaçao – Country of Curaçao | Dutch Constituent Country | None | |
| Greenland | Danish Autonomous Territory | None | |
| Guadeloupe | French Overseas Department and Region | None | |
| Martinique | French Overseas Department and Region | None | |
| Montserrat | British Overseas Territory | None | |
| Navassa Island | US Insular Area | None | |
| Puerto Rico – Commonwealth of Puerto Rico | US Insular Area | None | |
| Saba | Dutch Special Municipality | None | |
| Saint Barthélemy – Territorial Collectivity of Saint Barthélemy | French Overseas Collectivity | None | |
| Saint Martin – Collectivity of Saint Martin | French Overseas Collectivity | None | |
| Saint Pierre and Miquelon | French Overseas Collectivity | None | |
| Sint Eustatius | Dutch Special Municipality | None | |
| Sint Maarten | Dutch Constituent Country | None | |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | British Overseas Territory | None | |
| United States Virgin Islands – Virgin Islands of the United States | US Insular Area | None | |
| Virgin Islands → British Virgin Islands | |||
| Virgin Islands of the United States → United States Virgin Islands | |||
| ↑ Dependent Territories ↑ | |||
- Transcontinental countries in North America or South America (depending on the boundary definition), classified as South American countries by the United Nations Statistics Division: Colombia (Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina) and Venezuela (Nueva Esparta, the Federal Dependencies of Venezuela [including Isla de Aves]).
- Transcontinental countries in Europe and North America, classified as Western European countries by the United Nations Statistics Division: Netherlands (Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius) and France (Guadeloupe and Martinique).
- States partially lying on the North American Plate, but commonly associated with Europe, and a member of the Council of Europe: Iceland, Portugal (Azores), and Russia (Commander Islands and Big Diomede).
Oceania
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Oceania with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Oceania: territories and regions.
| Common and formal names | Membership within the UN System | Sovereignty dispute | Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty |
|---|---|---|---|
| ↓ UN member states and General Assembly observer states ↓ | |||
| Australia – Commonwealth of Australia | UN member state | None | Australia is a Commonwealth realm 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:
|
| Cook Islands → See Cook Islands listing | |||
| Fiji – Republic of Fiji | UN member state | None | Fiji contains one autonomous region, Rotuma. |
| Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia | UN member state | None | Indonesia has eight autonomous provinces, Aceh, Jakarta, Central Papua, Highland Papua, Papua, South Papua, West Papua, and Yogyakarta. |
| Kiribati – Republic of Kiribati | UN member state | None | |
| Marshall Islands – Republic of the Marshall Islands | UN member state | None | Under Compact of Free Association with the United States. |
| Micronesia – Federated States of Micronesia | UN member state | None | Under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The Federated States of Micronesia is a federation of four states. |
| Nauru – Republic of Nauru | UN member state | None | |
| New Zealand | UN member state | None | New Zealand is a Commonwealth realm, and has one dependent territory and one claimed Antarctic dependent territory of:
The Realm of New Zealand has responsibilities for (but no rights of control over) two freely associated states:
The Cook Islands and Niue have diplomatic relations with 63 and 25 UN members respectively. They have full treaty-making capacity in the UN, and are members of some UN specialized agencies. |
| Niue → See Niue listing | |||
| Palau – Republic of Palau | UN member state | None | Under Compact of Free Association with the United States. |
| Papua New Guinea – Independent State of Papua New Guinea | UN member state | None | Papua New Guinea is a Commonwealth realm with one autonomous region, Bougainville. |
| Samoa – Independent State of Samoa | UN member state | None | |
| Solomon Islands | UN member state | None | The Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm. |
| Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga | UN member state | None | |
| Tuvalu | UN member state | None | Tuvalu is a Commonwealth realm. |
| Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu | UN member state | None | |
| ↑ UN member states and General Assembly observer states ↑ | |||
| ↓ Other states ↓ | |||
| Cook Islands | Member of eight UN specialized agencies | None (See political status) | A state in free association with New Zealand, the Cook Islands maintains diplomatic relations with 66 states. The Cook Islands is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity. It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship. |
| Niue | Member of five UN specialized agencies | None (See political status) | A state in free association with New Zealand, Niue maintains diplomatic relations with 27 states. Niue is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity. It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship. |
| ↑ Other states ↑ | |||
| ↓ Dependent Territories ↓ | |||
| American Samoa – Territory of American Samoa | US Insular Area | None | |
| Ashmore and Cartier Islands – Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands | Australian External Territory | Claimed by Indonesia | |
| Baker Island | US Insular Area | None | |
| Christmas Island – Territory of Christmas Island | Australian External Territory | None | |
| Clipperton Island | French State's Private Property | None | |
| Cocos (Keeling) Islands – Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Australian External Territory | None | |
| Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands → Northern Mariana Islands | |||
| Coral Sea Islands – Coral Sea Islands Territory | Australian External Territory | None | |
| French Polynesia – Overseas Lands of French Polynesia | French Overseas Collectivity | None | |
| French Southern and Antarctic Lands | French Overseas Territory | None | |
| Guam – Territory of Guam | US Insular Area | None | |
| Heard Island and McDonald Islands – Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands | Australian External Territory | None | |
| Howland Island | US Insular Area | None | |
| Jarvis Island | US Insular Area | None | |
| Johnston Atoll | US Insular Area | None | |
| Kingman Reef | US Insular Area | None | |
| Midway Atoll | US Insular Area | None | |
| New Caledonia – Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies | French Sui Generis Collectivity | None | |
| Norfolk Island – Territory of Norfolk Island | Australian External Territory | None | |
| Northern Mariana Islands – Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands | US Insular Area | None | |
| Palmyra Atoll | US Insular Area | None | |
| Pitcairn Islands – Pitcairn Group of Islands | British Overseas Territory | None | |
| Tokelau | New Zealand Dependent Territory | None | |
| Wake Island | US Insular Area | Claimed by the Marshall Islands | |
| Wallis and Futuna – Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands | French Overseas Collectivity | None | |
| ↑ Dependent Territories ↑ | |||
- Transcontinental country in Asia and Oceania, classified as an Eastern Asian country by the United Nations Statistics Division: Japan (Ogasawara [also known as the Bonin Islands or as the Nanpō Islands]).
- Transcontinental country in Asia and Oceania, classified as a Southeastern Asian country by the United Nations Statistics Division: Indonesia (Maluku Islands and Western New Guinea).
- Entirely in Southeast Asia, but commonly associated with Oceania, and lying east of the biogeographical Wallace Line: East Timor.
- Transcontinental country in North America and Oceania, classified as a Northern American country by the United Nations Statistics Division: United States (Hawaii).
- Transcontinental countries in Oceania and South America, classified as South American countries by the United Nations Statistics Division: Chile (Insular Chile) and Ecuador (Galápagos Islands).
South America
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in South America with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see South America: demographics.
Geologically, South America is joined with North America by the Isthmus of Panama to form the Americas.
| Common and formal names | Membership within the UN System | Sovereignty dispute | Further information on status and recognition of sovereignty |
|---|---|---|---|
| ↓ UN member states and General Assembly observer states ↓ | |||
| Argentina – Argentine Republic | UN member state | None | Argentina is a federation of 23 provinces and one autonomous city. |
| Bolivia – Plurinational State of Bolivia | UN member state | None | |
| Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil | UN member state | None | Brazil is a federation of 26 states and one federal district. |
| Chile – Republic of Chile | UN member state | None | |
| Colombia – Republic of Colombia | UN member state | None | |
| Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador | UN member state | None | |
| Guyana – Co-operative Republic of Guyana | UN member state | None | |
| Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay | UN member state | None | |
| Peru – Republic of Peru | UN member state | None | |
| Suriname – Republic of Suriname | UN member state | None | |
| Uruguay – Oriental Republic of Uruguay | UN member state | None | |
| Venezuela – Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela | UN member state | None | Venezuela is a federation of 23 states, one capital district, and federal dependencies. |
| ↑ UN member states and General Assembly observer states ↑ | |||
| ↓ Dependent Territories ↓ | |||
| Bouvet Island | Norwegian Dependent Territory | None | |
| Falklands – Falkland Islands | British Overseas Territory | Claimed by Argentina | |
| French Guiana – Guiana | French Overseas Department and Region | None | |
| Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | British Overseas Territory | None | |
| South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | British Overseas Territory | Claimed by Argentina | |
| ↑ Dependent Territories ↑ | |||
- Transcontinental country in North America and South America, classified as a Central American country by the United Nations Statistics Division: Panama (South East Panama).
- Transcontinental island countries and dependencies in South America or North America (depending on the boundary definition), classified as Caribbean countries and dependencies by the United Nations Statistics Division: Aruba, Curaçao, and Trinidad and Tobago (Only Trinidad and Tobago is an independent state).
- Transcontinental countries in Europe and South America, classified as Western European countries by the United Nations Statistics Division: Netherlands (Bonaire) and France (French Guiana).
Antarctica
Antarctica is regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, which defines it as all land and ice shelves south of 60°S, and has no government and belongs to no country. However, the following territorial claims in Antarctica have been made:
- Argentina: Argentine Antarctica
- Australia: Australian Antarctic Territory
- Chile: Chilean Antarctic Territory
- France: Adélie Land (part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands)
- New Zealand: Ross Dependency
- Norway: Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land
- United Kingdom: British Antarctic Territory
- Terra nullius: Marie Byrd Land (unclaimed territory)
Russia and the United States have reserved the right to claim territory on Antarctica.
Subantarctic islands
Unlike Antarctica itself, other nearby Subantarctic island territories most commonly associated with the Antarctic continent, but lying north of 60°S, have had full sovereignty established over them by a governing state.
The following dependent territories are situated within the wider Antarctic region, but are not directly part of the Antarctic Treaty System:
| Flag | Name | Status | Region | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bouvet Island | Dependency of Norway | Atlantic Ocean | — | |
| French Southern and Antarctic Lands | Overseas territory of France | Indian Ocean | Alfred Faure (Crozet Islands) Port-aux-Français (Kerguelen Islands,largest settlement) Martin-de-Viviès (Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands,unofficial) | |
| Heard Island and McDonald Islands | External territory of Australia | Indian Ocean | None(Atlas Cove is the largest settlement)) | |
| South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | British overseas territory | Atlantic Ocean | King Edward Point |
In addition to the dependent territories listed above, the following islands are governed as a direct part of a controlling state. Thus they are fully and legally integrated within the governance structure of the respective state. They are similarly also not part of the Antarctic Treaty System.
| Administering Country | Name | Status | Region | Subdivisions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Macquarie Island | Part of the State of Tasmania. | Oceania | — |
| New Zealand | New Zealand Subantarctic Islands | Governed directly, not within local municipal structure. | Oceania | The Antipodes Islands, the Auckland Islands, the Bounty Islands, the Campbell Islands, and the Snares Islands. |
| South Africa | Prince Edward Islands | Part of the City of Cape Town. | Africa | Prince Edward Island and Marion Island. |
See also
- Boundaries between the continents of Earth
- Continental union
- Gallery of dependent territory flags
- Gallery of sovereign state flags
- List of countries by United Nations geoscheme
- List of dependent territories
- List of sovereign states
- List of sovereign states and dependent territories by continent (data file) — this data in a plain text format suitable for automated processing
- List of transcontinental countries
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