List of sovereign states in the 1990s

This is a list of sovereign states in the 1990s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 1999. It contains 241 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 197 widely recognized sovereign states, 28 entities which claim an effective sovereignty but are considered de facto dependencies of other powers by the general international community, 2 associated states, 14 states which were initially unrecognized but then gained full recognition later in the decade, and 1 state which was initially widely recognized but then lost full recognition later in the decade.

Members or observers of the United Nations

A

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Widely recognized UN member state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Afghanistan and recognized as such by the UN, but only controlled a small portion of the country after 26 September 1996.
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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. UN member state. The defense of Andorra was the responsibility of France and Spain.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized 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, two federal territories, and one federal territory. 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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De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized. UN member state.
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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. EU member. Austria was a federation of nine states.
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De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized state from 26 December 1991; UN member state from 2 March 1992. Azerbaijan had one autonomous republic, Nakhchivan. It included the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where a partially recognized breakaway republic declared independence on 6 January 1992.
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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 to 1 November 1993; EU member from 1 November 1993. Belgium was a federation of three communities and three regions.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
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People's Republic of Benin
Republic of Benin

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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De facto independent state. Claimed by Yugoslavia. Widely recognized. UN member state. Much of the de jure territory of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the under control of the following self-declared entities which, although they did not claim independence, were effectively self-governing:

In addition, there were three states which had declared and established de facto independence from Bosnia and Herzegovina:

After the Dayton Accords, Bosnia and Herzegovina was a federation of two constituent entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was itself a federation of ten cantons, and Republika Srpska. There was also a neutral Brčko District.
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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 and one federal district.
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Widely recognized 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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Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
Republic of Belarus

Widely recognized UN member state. De facto independent state that was nominally a constituent state of the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991; widely recognized from 26 December 1991.
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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 three 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 was 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. Additionally, it had sovereignty over two special administrative regions:
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. 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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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: Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan. Anjouan was a de facto independent state from 3 August 1997. Mohéli was a de facto independent state from 11 August 1997 to 1998. 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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Widely-recognized UN member state.
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De facto independent state. Claimed by Yugoslavia. Widely recognized. UN member state. Croatia contained the following self-declared entities, all of which claimed to be part of Yugoslavia. Although they did not explicitly claim independence, they were de facto self-governing:

On 15 January 1996, the last of these entities came under the administration of the United Nations Transitional Authority for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium. It was reintegrated into Croatia on 15 January 1998.
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Widely recognized UN member state; the Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the complete control of the United States.
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Widely recognized UN member state. 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 independent state. UN member state.
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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 to 1 November 1993. EU member. The Danish Realm also included two of its constituent 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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E

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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. UN member state.
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De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 6 September 1991. Widely recognized state from 6 September 1991; UN member state from 17 September 1991.
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Widely recognized UN member state. The province of Eritrea was under the control of a self-governing provisional government from 29 May 1991 to 23 May 1993. After 1995, Ethiopia was a federation of nine regions and two chartered cities.
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F

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Widely recognized UN member state. Fiji had an autonomous dependency, Rotuma.
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Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region:
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Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. EU member. France included four overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. It also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:

, with one dependency:
* Clipperton Island
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
New Caledonia
The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean, consisting of five uninhabited possessions:
* Bassas da India
* Europa Island
* Glorioso Islands
* Juan de Nova Island
* Tromelin Island

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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Republic of Georgia
Georgia

De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union until 26 December 1991. Widely recognized sovereign state from 26 December 1991; UN member state from 31 July 1992. Georgia had two autonomous republics: Adjara and Abkhazia. The latter republic was effectively self-governing from 30 September 1993 to 12 October 1999. After 12 October 1999, it was home to a de facto independent state. Georgia also included the disputed region of South Ossetia, where an unrecognized recognized breakaway republic declared independence on 29 May 1992.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. EU member. Germany was a federation of sixteen states.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member. EU 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 and it was 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-five states and seven 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. Indonesia had three special provinces: Aceh, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Iraqi Republic
Republic of Iraq

Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member to 1 November 1993. EU member from 1 November 1993. Until 1 December 1998, Ireland claimed Northern Ireland, which was controlled by the United Kingdom.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip the Golan Heights, the Israeli Security Zone in Southern Lebanon, and the West Bank. These areas were not generally 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. Japan claimed the Liancourt Rocks, which were controlled by South Korea.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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K

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Widely recognized UN member state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Cambodia, despite being in exile until 15 March 1992.
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De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized state from 26 December 1991; UN member state from 2 March 1992.
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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. Permanent observer at the UN. UN member state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.
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Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. UN member state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. South Korea controlled the Liancourt Rocks, which were claimed by Japan.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Republic of Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyz Republic

De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized state from 26 December 1991; UN member state from 2 March 1992.
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L

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Widely recognized UN member state.
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De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 6 September 1991; widely recognized state from 6 September 1991 and UN member state from 17 September 1991.
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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. UN member state. The defense of Liechtenstein was the responsibility of Switzerland.
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De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 6 September 1991. Widely recognized state from 6 September 1991; UN member state from 17 September 1991.
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Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. EU member.
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M

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De facto independent state claimed by Yugoslavia to 28 April 1992. Widely recognized UN member state from 8 April 1993.
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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 a Compact of Free Association with the United States; UN member state. 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. UN member state. The FSM was a federation of four states.
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De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991; widely recognized state from 26 December 1991 and UN member state from 2 March 1992. Moldova had two autonomous territorial units and they were Gagauzia and Transnistria. Both units were home to de facto independent statelets.
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Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. UN member state. The defense of Monaco was the responsibility of France.
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Mongolian People's Republic
Mongolia

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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People's Republic of Mozambique
Republic of Mozambique

Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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N

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Widely recognized independent state. UN member state.
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Widely recognized independent state. UN member 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 and the EU, 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.
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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. Nigeria was a federation of 36 states and one federal territory.
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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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Widely recognized state under Compact of Free Association with the United States; UN member state from 15 December 1994.
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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. Poland's government was still in exile until 22 December 1990.
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Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. EU member. Portugal had two autonomous regions: the Azores and Madeira. Portugal had one Chinese territory which it administered as a dependency:

Macau

Portugal claimed sovereignty over the former colony of Portuguese Timor until 25 October 1999. 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 from 26 December 1991. Russia was a federation of 21 republics, 49 oblasts, 6 krais, 2 federal cities, 1 autonomous oblast, and 10 autonomous okrugs. One of those republics, Tatarstan, declared state sovereignty on 6 November 1992 and was effectively self-governing until 15 February 1994.
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Widely recognized UN member state.
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S

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Widely recognized 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 UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
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Widely recognized independent state; UN member state from 2 March 1992.
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Widely recognized UN member state; São Tomé and Príncipe had one autonomous province and it was Príncipe.
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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 independent state. UN member state.
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De facto independent state claimed by Yugoslavia. 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. Somalia's internationally recognized government did not exercise full control over the country from 26 January 1991 to 18 November 1991. After 18 November 1991, Somalia did not have any recognized central government. Many areas of the country had no effective government at all or were ruled by local clans. During this period, Somalia included one state which was de facto self-governing :

Jubaland

In addition, there were two states which had declared and established de facto independence from Somalia: Puntland, and Somaliland.
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Widely recognized UN member state. South Africa had six autonomous bantustans:
There were four bantustans which were nominally independent:
All ten bantustans were formally abolished when a new constitution took effect on 27 April 1994. South Africa administered one League of Nations mandate:

South-West Africa

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Widely recognized UN member state. The Soviet Union was a federation of 15 republics, two of which were UN members in their own right.
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Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member. EU member ; Spain was divided into seventeen autonomous communities and two autonomous cities. 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. After 1991, Sudan was a federation of 30 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. EU member.
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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 Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized. UN member state. Tajikistan had one autonomous province: Gorno-Badakhshan.
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Widely recognized UN member state; Tanzania had one autonomous region and it was 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; UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state; Trinidad and Tobago had one autonomous island and it was Tobago.
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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 claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991; widely recognized state from 26 December 1991 and UN member state from 2 March 1992.
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U

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Widely recognized UN member state.
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Widely recognized UN member state; claimed by the Soviet Union as a constituent republic until 26 December 1991. Widely recognized ; Ukraine had one autonomous republic and it was Crimea.
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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 and EU member. The United Kingdom was composed of four constituent countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It had sovereignty over 16 dependent territories and they were:

→ Anguilla
→
→
→ British Indian Ocean Territory
→
→
Hong Kong
→
, with two dependencies
* Ascension Island
* Tristan da Cunha
→
Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia
→

In addition, the British Monarch had direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies:

, with two 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:

The United States administered one United Nations Trust Territory:

, consisting of one territory
*

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Widely recognized UN member state.
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De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991; widely recognized state from 26 December 1991 and UN member state from 2 March 1992. Uzbekistan had one autonomous region, Karakalpakstan.
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V

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Widely recognized 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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Widely recognized UN member state. Venezuela was a federation of 23 states, three territories, one federal dependency, and one federal district.
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Widely recognized UN member state. Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands.
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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. De facto independent state. Claimed by Yemen..
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Widely recognized independent state and UN member state to 27 April 1992. Yugoslavia was a federation of six republics, four of which declared independence in 1991 and 1992. The two remaining republics, Montenegro and Serbia, established the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 27 April 1992. It claimed to continue Yugoslavia's international personality, but this claim was not widely recognized.
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Z

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Republic of Zaire
Democratic Republic of the Congo

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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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:' as a whole had no government and no permanent population. Seven states claimed portions of Antarctica and five of these had reciprocally recognised one another's claims. These claims, which were regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, were neither recognised nor disputed by any other signatory state.

' was occupied and administered by Indonesia until October 1999 as Timor Timur, but this was not recognized by the United Nations, which considered it to be Portuguese territory under Indonesian occupation. In October 1999, Indonesia relinquished control over the territory to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, which took over responsibility for it.' was a part of the Soviet Union until August 1991, but its annexation was not widely recognized. A government in exile claimed independence for Estonia until 15 September 1992, but aside from its embassies in the West it controlled no territory.
The European Union was a sui generis supranational organisation which had 12 member states. It was established on 1 November 1993. The member states had transferred a measure of their legislative, executive, and judicial powers to the institutions of the EU, and as such the EU had some elements of sovereignty, without generally being considered a sovereign state. The European Union did not claim to be a sovereign state and had only limited capacity for relations with other states.Kosovo was a territory that was nominally part of Serbia and Montenegro, but after 10 June 1999 came under United Nations administration as part of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.
' was a part of the Soviet Union until 1991, but its annexation was not widely recognized. A government in exile claimed independence for Latvia until 21 August 1991, but aside from its embassies in the West it controlled no territory. was a part of the Soviet Union until 1990, but its annexation was not widely recognized. Stasys Lozoraitis Jr. claimed independence for Lithuania until 6 September 1991, but aside from its embassies in the West it controlled no territory.
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta was an entity claiming sovereignty and a United Nations observer. The order had bi-lateral diplomatic relations with a large number of states, but had no territory other than extraterritorial areas within Rome. The order's Constitution stated: "The Order is a subject of international law and exercises sovereign functions." 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.
The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor was a transitional non-independent territory governed by the United Nations. It was neither sovereign nor under the sovereignty of any other state. It was established on 25 October 1999, following the end of the Indonesian occupation of East Timor.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. West Berlin was incorporated into the reunified Germany on 3 October 1990.