List of sovereign states in the 1950s


This is a list of sovereign states in the 1950s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1950 and 31 December 1959. It contains 108 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 102 widely recognized sovereign states, 5 entities which were de facto sovereign but which were not widely recognized by other states, and 1 state which was initially unrecognized but then gained full recognition later in the decade.

Sovereign states

A

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state. 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 independent state. The Arab Federation occupied West Bank but these areas were not generally recognized as being part of the Arab Federation.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 23 provinces and 10 federal territories. It had a claim over Argentine Antarctica. 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:
Australia administered two United Nations Trust Territories:
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Widely recognized state under Allied occupation. Independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. UN member state. Austria was a federation of nine states.
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B

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Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. Belgium had sovereignty over one colony:
Belgium administered one United Nations trust territory:
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Widely recognized independent state. Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 20 states, five territories, and one federal district.
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Widely recognized independent state. UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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C

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Widely recognized independent state. 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 independent state. UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
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Widely recognized UN member state. It had a claim over the Chilean Antarctic Territory.
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Partially recognized de facto independent state. The People's Republic of China had four autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang. The People's Republic of China claimed Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and the Vereker Banks, 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.
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Widely recognized UN member state. The Republic of China claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China, but only administered Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island, Itu Aba, and portions of Yunnan Province. 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 ; part of the disputed Kashmir region; eastern Bhutan; South Tibet ; and Kachin State.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Colombia claimed Quita Sueño Bank, Roncador Bank, and Serrana Bank ; Bajo Nuevo Bank ; and Serranilla Bank
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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 permanent control of the United States.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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D

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De facto independent state. Claimed by Portugal.
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Widely recognized UN member state. The Danish Realm also included one autonomous region:
Denmark had one colony:
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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 occupied Gaza Strip. Egypt administered one condominium:
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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 independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. UN member state. Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region:
  • →
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Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. France included 21 overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, and multiple departments in French Algeria The French Union contained the following autonomous associated states:
The French Community consisted of the following autonomous republics:
France administered the foreign affairs of the following protectorates:
France also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
It also co-administered one condominium:
France administered two United Nations Trust Territories:
France administered one occupied territory:
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G

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Widely recognized state under Soviet occupation. Independent state.
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Widely-recognized state under Allied occupation until 5 May 1955; independent state from 5 May 1955. Permanent observer at the UN. EEC member. West Germany was a federation of thirteen states.
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Widely recognized independent state. UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
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Widely recognized UN member state. 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.
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Widely recognized independent state. 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 independent state. 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. Commonwealth realm. From 26 January 1950 to 1 November 1956, India was a federation of ten Part A states, eight Part B states, nine Part C states, and four Part D Territories. After 1 November 1956, India was a federation of fourteen states and seven union territories. India had partial sovereignty over one protectorate:
Indian sovereignty over South Tibet, administered as part of its North-East Frontier Agency, was disputed by the People's Republic of China. India administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
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Widely recognized independent state. UN member state. Until 17 August 1950, Indonesia was a federation of fourteen states. Indonesia had two special provinces: Aceh and Yogyakarta.
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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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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized independent state. UN member state. Italy had 5 autonomous regions: Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. EEC member. Italy administered one United Nations Trust Territory:
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J

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Widely recognized state under United States occupation until 28 April 1952. Full sovereignty restored on 28 April 1952. Permanent observer at the UN. UN member state. Japan had residual sovereignty over the Ryukyu Islands and the Bonin-Volcano Islands, which were occupied and administered by the United States.
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Widely recognized independent state. UN member state. Jordan occupied West Bank but these areas were not generally recognized as being part of Jordan.
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K

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Widely recognized independent state. 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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L

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Widely recognized independent state. 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. UN member state. Libya was a federation of three provinces.
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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 independent state. UN member state. Malaya was a federation of eleven states.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Mexico was a federation of 29 states, three territories, and one federal district.
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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 independent state.
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  • Sherifian Empire
  • Kingdom of Morocco
Widely recognized independent state. UN member state. Morocco disputed the Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla and Peñón de Alhucemas.
To 1 March 1956, de jure sovereign state under French protectorate
Moroccan rule restored over the Spanish zone of Northern Morocco on 7 April 1956.
Moroccan rule restored over the Tangier International Zone on 29 October 1956.
Moroccan rule restored over Cape Juby on 2 April 1958.
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Widely recognized independent state under the informal protection of the United Kingdom. Muscat and Oman contained one self-governing territory, The Imamate of Oman.
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N

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Widely recognized independent state. 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 Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles were not. The Kingdom of the Netherlands had sovereignty over the following colonies:
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Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. New Zealand had sovereignty over four dependent territories:
The government of Tokelau Islands claimed Swains Island, part of American Samoa.
New Zealand administered two United Nations Trust Territories:
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Norway had two integral overseas areas: Jan Mayen and Svalbard. The latter area had a special status due to the Spitsbergen Treaty. Norway had sovereignty over the following dependencies:
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P

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Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. Pakistan was a federation of eight provinces, thirteen princely states, and one territory. It administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir.
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Partially recognized de facto independent state; recognized by six Arab League states.
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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. Poland's government was still in exile.
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Widely recognized independent state. UN member state. Portugal had sovereignty over the following colonies :
It also had sovereignty over one possession:
Portugal claimed the Spanish municipalities of Olivenza and Táliga.
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R

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Widely recognized independent state. UN member state.
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S

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Widely recognized independent state.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely-recognized independent state under the informal protection of India.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. South Africa administered one League of Nations mandate:
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De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Indonesia.
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Widely recognized UN member state. The Soviet Union was a federation of 16 (later 15) republics, two of which were UN members in their own right.
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Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. UN member state. Spain had sovereignty over the following overseas provinces:
Spain administered the foreign affairs of one protectorate:
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 independent state. UN member state.
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De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the United Kingdom.
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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 25 cantons.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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T

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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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De facto independent state. Recognized by no other sovereign state. Claimed by the Republic of China and by the People's Republic of China.
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Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state from 12 November 1956.
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Widely recognized state under occupation of the United Kingdom, United States, and Yugoslavia.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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U

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Widely-recognized UN member state. United Arab States member. The United Arab Republic consisted of two states: Syria and Egypt. The United Arab Republic occupied the Gaza Strip, but this area was not generally recognized as being part of the UAR.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. The United Arab States consisted of two states : The United Arab Republic, North Yemen, and later Syria.
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Widely-recognized UN member state. The United Kingdom was composed of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom administered the foreign affairs of the following protected states:
The United Kingdom co-administered the following condominiums:
It also had sovereignty over the following crown colonies and protectorates:
In addition, the British Monarch had direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies:
The United Kingdom administered four United Nations Trust Territories:
The United Kingdom administered four occupied territories:
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Widely recognized UN member state. The United States was a federation of 48 (later 50) states, one federal district, and two (later one) incorporated territories. It asserted sovereignty over the following inhabited unincorporated territories:
It also asserted sovereignty over fifteen uninhabited unincorporated territories:
The United States co-administered the following condominium:
After 28 April 1952, the United States administered two territories under the residual sovereignty of Japan:
In addition, the United States administered one United Nations Trust Territory:
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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V

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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. 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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Widely recognized UN member state. Venezuela was a federation of 20 states, two territories, one federal dependency, and one federal district.
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De facto independent state. Claimed by France. Widely recognized.
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Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. South Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands.
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Y

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Widely recognized UN member state. United Arab States member.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Yugoslavia was a federation of six republics.
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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: Estonia was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940, but the legality of the annexation was not widely recognized. The Baltic diplomatic services in the West continued to be recognised as representing the de jure state. Latvia was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940, but the legality of the annexation was not widely recognized. The Baltic diplomatic services in the West continued to be recognised as representing the de jure state. Lithuania was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940, but the legality of the annexation was not widely recognized. The Baltic diplomatic services in the West continued to be recognised as representing the de jure state. Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic was the government-in-exile of the Algerian National Liberation Front during the latter part of the Algerian War of Independence beginning in 1958.
  • The Saudi–Iraqi neutral zone was a strip of neutral territory between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
  • The Saudi–Kuwaiti neutral zone was a strip of neutral territory between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
  • The Sovereign Military Order of Malta was an entity claiming sovereignty. The order had bi-lateral diplomatic relations with a large number of states, but had no territory other than extraterritorial areas within Rome. Although the order frequently asserted its sovereignty, it did not claim to be a sovereign state. It lacked a defined territory. Since all its members were citizens of other states, almost all of them lived in their native countries, and those who resided in the order's extraterritorial properties in Rome did so only in connection with their official duties, the order lacked the characteristic of having a permanent population.Tangier was an international zone under the joint administration of France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal and Belgium. It was reintegrated into Morocco on 29 October 1956.
  • → West Berlin was a political enclave that was closely aligned with – but not actually a part of – West Germany. It consisted of three occupied sectors administered by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.