List of sovereign states in the 1980s


This is a list of sovereign states in the 1980s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1989. It contains 188 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 171 widely-recognized sovereign states, 2 constituent republics of another sovereign state that were UN members on their own right, 2 associated states, and 13 entities which claim an effective sovereignty but are considered de facto dependencies of other powers by the general international community.

Sovereign states

A

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state. The President of France and Bishop of Urgell were ex officio Co-Princes of Andorra. The defense of Andorra was the responsibility of France and Spain.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Associated state of the United Kingdom ; widely-recognized independent state. UN member state ; Commonwealth realm. Antigua and Barbuda had two dependencies: Barbuda and Redonda.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 22 provinces and two federal territories. It had a claim over Argentine Antarctica, which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. It also claimed the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, both of which were British overseas territories.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Australia was a federation of six states and three territories. It had sovereignty over the following external territories:
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Austria was a federation of nine states.
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B

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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. EEC member. After 8 August 1980, Belgium was a federation of three communities and three regions.
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Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state ; Commonwealth realm.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs, but effectively pursued an independent foreign policy.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Nominally independent South African bantustan.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 26 states, four territories, and one federal district.
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Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state. Brunei claimed part of the Spratly Islands.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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C

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Canada was a federation of ten provinces and two territories.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. It had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory, which is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. The People's Republic of China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. The People's Republic of China claimed Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, the Pratas Islands and Itu Aba, all of which were governed by the Republic of China. It also claimed the Paracel Islands, the Spratly Islands, and South Tibet. The People's Republic of China administered Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract, which were within the disputed region of Kashmir.
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Partially-recognized de facto independent state. The Republic of China claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China, but only administered Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, the Pratas Islands and Itu Aba. The Republic of China had territorial claims over Mongolia; the Tuvan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic; the Sixty-Four Villages East of the River ; The majority of Gorno-Badakhshan ; The eastern tip of the Wakhan Corridor ; a small portion of Gilgit-Baltistan ; Aksai Chin ; eastern Bhutan; South Tibet ; and Kachin State.
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Nominally independent South African bantustan.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Colombia administered Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. The Comoros was a federation of three islands. Comoros claimed sovereignty over the French overseas territories of Mayotte and the Glorioso Islands. It also claimed Banc du Geyser.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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A state in free association with [|New Zealand]. It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. The Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the control of the United States.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Cyprus included one self-declared state which, although it did not claim independence, was de facto self-governing:
After 15 November 1983, The northeastern part of the island was the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Czechoslovakia was a federation of two republics.
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D

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Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member. The Danish Realm also included two of its constituent countries:
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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E

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Egypt included the Sinai Peninsula, which was occupied by Israel until 25 April 1982.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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F

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

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. EEC member. West Germany was a federation of ten states.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. EEC member. Greece had sovereignty over Mount Athos, an autonomous monastic state that was jointly governed by the multi-national "Holy Community" on the mountain and the Civil Governor appointed by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and spiritually came under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Grenada had one autonomous dependency, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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H

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

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. India was a federation of twenty-eight states and ten union territories. Indian sovereignty over South Tibet was disputed by China. India administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. EEC member.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Israel occupied the Gaza Strip the Golan Heights, the Israeli Security Zone in Southern Lebanon, the Sinai Peninsula, and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. These areas were not recognized as being part of Israel.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member. Italy had 5 autonomous regions and they were the Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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J

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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Until 31 July 1988, Jordan claimed West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which were Israeli-occupied territories.
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K

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Widely-recognized UN member state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Kampuchea, despite being in exile.
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Partially recognized de facto independent state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Kampuchea. The People's Republic of Kampuchea was occupied by Vietnam until 25 September 1989.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state.
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Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN; claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.
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Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN; claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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L

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Lebanon was occupied by Syria. Some of Southern Lebanon was occupied by Israel.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state. The defense of Liechtenstein was the responsibility of Switzerland.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. EEC member.
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M

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Widely-recognized UN member state. Madagascar claimed the French possessions of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands and Juan de Nova Island. It also claimed Banc du Geyser
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Malaysia was a federation of thirteen states and two federal territories. Malaysia claimed part of the Spratly Islands.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized state under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The Marshall Islands claimed the United States territory of Wake Island.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Mauritius had three dependencies: Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos and Rodrigues. It claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territory of Tromelin Island.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Mexico was a federation of 31 states and one federal district.
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Widely-recognized state under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The FSM was a federation of four states.
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Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN.The defense of Monaco was the responsibility of France.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Morocco claimed sovereignty over and controlled most of the disputed Western Sahara, which was home to the de facto independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Morocco disputed the Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla, and Peñón de Alhucemas.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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N

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Widely-recognized independent state. The defense of Nauru was the responsibility of Australia.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consisted of three autonomous countries:
The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole was a member of the EEC, but Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles were not.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. New Zealand had responsibilities for the two free associated states of:
It also had sovereignty over two dependent territories:
The government of Tokelau claimed Swains Island, part of American Samoa. New Zealand did not recognize this claim since 25 March 1981.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Nicaragua had two autonomous regions: Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte and Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Nigeria was a federation of 21 states and one federal territory.
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A state in free association with New Zealand. Niue is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity. It had shared citizenship with New Zealand.
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Partially recognized de facto independent state. Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Norway had two integral overseas areas: Jan Mayen and Svalbard. The latter of area had a special status due to the Spitsbergen Treaty. Norway had sovereignty over the following dependencies:
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O

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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P

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Widely-recognized UN member state. Pakistan was a federation of four provinces and four territories; it administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the territories of Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.
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Disputed region consisting of two occupied territories: the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The declared State of Palestine, which claimed independence for all the Palestinian territories from 15 November 1988, was recognized by a large number of countries. In foreign relations, Palestine was represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, which was a permanent observer at the United Nations.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. The Philippines had one autonomous region: Muslim Mindanao. The Philippines administered Scarborough Shoal, which was disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China. It also claimed sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and the Malaysian territory of Sabah.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. EEC member. Portugal had two autonomous regions: the Azores and Madeira. Portugal had one Chinese territory which it administered as a dependency:
Portugal claimed sovereignty over the former colony of Portuguese Timor, which had been annexed by Indonesia. It also claimed the Spanish municipalities of Olivenza and Táliga.
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Q

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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R

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Uganda.
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S

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Partially recognized de facto independent state. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic claimed the disputed territory of Western Sahara, most of which was under control of Morocco. The territories under its control, the so-called Free Zone, were claimed by Morocco. Its government resided in exile in Tindouf, Algeria.
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Associated state of the [|United Kingdom] ; widely-recognized independent state. UN member state ; Commonwealth realm. Saint Kitts and Nevis was a federation of fourteen parishes within two islands. Nevis had autonomy.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state ; Commonwealth realm.
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Widely-recognized independent state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; the Seychelles claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territories of Tromelin Island and the Glorioso Islands.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. South Africa had seven autonomous bantustans: Ciskei, Gazankulu, KaNgwane, KwaNdebele, KwaZulu, Lebowa, and QwaQwa. There were also four bantustans which were nominally independent: Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, and Venda. South Africa administered one League of Nations mandate:
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Widely-recognized UN member state. The Soviet Union was a federation of 16 republics, two of which were UN members in their own right.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member. Spain consisted of seventeen autonomous communities. Its sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla and Peñón de Alhucemas was disputed by Morocco. Its sovereignty over Olivenza and Táliga was disputed by Portugal. It claimed the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state; permanent observer at the UN. Switzerland was a federation of 26 cantons.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Syria included the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel. It disputed the Turkish sovereignty over Hatay Province.
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T

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De facto independent state. Claimed by the Anglo-French New Hebrides Condominium.
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Unrecognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Sri Lanka.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Tanzania had one autonomous region: Zanzibar.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state.
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Nominally independent South African bantustan.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Trinidad and Tobago had one autonomous island: Tobago.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state; Commonwealth realm.
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U

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state; the United Arab Emirates was a federation of seven emirates.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. EEC member. The United Kingdom was composed of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom had responsibilities for the following self-governing free associated states:
The United Kingdom administered the foreign affairs of the following protected states:
It also had sovereignty over the following crown colonies :
In addition, the British Monarch had direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies:
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Widely-recognized UN member state; the United States was a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and one incorporated territory. It asserted sovereignty over the following inhabited insular areas:
In addition, the United States administered one United Nations Trust Territory:
The United States ceded Roncador Bank and Serrana Bank to Colombia and abandoned its claim to Quita Sueño Bank on 17 September 1981, but it did not explicitly renounce its claims to Serranilla Bank or Bajo Nuevo Bank. According to some government sources, these islands are still considered to be unincorporated territories of the United States.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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V

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Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state. Vatican City was administered by the Holy See, a sovereign entity recognized by a large number of countries and a Permanent observer at the United Nations. The Holy See also administered a number of extraterritorial properties in Italy. The Pope was the ex officio head of state of Vatican City.
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W

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Y

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

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state.
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Other entities

Excluded from the list above are the following noteworthy entities which either were not fully sovereign or did not claim to be independent: