List of sovereign states in the 1870s
This is a list of sovereign states in the 1870s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1870 and 31 December 1879. It contains entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes widely recognized sovereign states, entities which were de facto sovereign but which were not widely recognized by other states.
Sovereign states
A
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized independent state to 24 May 1879. De-jure British protected state from 24 May 1879.
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Widely recognized 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 state.
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Widely recognized state. Internal imperial system within Chinese tributary.
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Widely recognized state to 1875. Annexed by France in 1875.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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B
----Widely recognized state to 18 January 1871. State of the North German Confederation to 18 January 1871. Became part of the German Empire on 18 January 1871.
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Tributary state of the Bornu Empire.
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Widely recognized state. Bali was a series of kingdoms that ruled the island of Bali.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 18 January 1871. State of the North German Confederation to 18 January 1871. Became part of the German Empire on 18 January 1871.
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Widely recognized state. Belgium has sovereignty over 1 condominium:
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Widely recognized state to 1872. Annexed by France in 1872.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Brazil was a federation of 20 states and one federal district.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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De facto independent, and de jure vassal state under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire.
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Widely recognized state to 1873. Annexed by Russia in 1873.
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Widely recognized state. Vassal state of Sulu.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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C
----Widely recognized state. Commonwealth realm.
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Widely recognized state to 1879. Incorporated to French West Africa in 1879.
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Widely recognized state. Vassal state of Siam.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state. China had sovereignty over the following territories:
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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D
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state. Tributary state of China.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state. Vassal state of Dar Runga.
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Widely recognized state to 1874. Conquered by Mahdist Sudan in 1874
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Widely recognized state. Denmark had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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E
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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F
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 1874. Incorporated into the Gold Coast in 1874.
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Widely recognized independent state. France had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
- Cambodia
- French Algeria
- French Cochinchina
- French Gabon
- French Guiana
- French India
- French Ivory Coast
- French Oceania – French Establishments in Oceania
- Guadeloupe
- Martinique
- Mayotte
- New Caledonia
- Obock
- Réunion
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Shanghai
- Tientsin
Widely recognized state.
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G
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state from 18 January 1871. The German Empire consisted of 25 constituent states and an imperial territory.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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H
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 1875. Client state of the Khedivate of Egypt from 1875.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 18 January 1871. State of the North German Confederation to 18 January 1871. Became part of the German Empire on 18 January 1871.
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Widely recognized state from 1878.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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I
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized independent state.
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J
----Widely recognized state. Japan had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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K
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 12 October 1879.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 1875. Incorporated to British India in 1875.
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Widely recognized state. Vassal of the Sokoto Caliphate
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 12 August 1873. Annexed by Russia on 12 August 1873.
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Widely recognized state to 19 February 1876.
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Widely recognized state.
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Vassal of the Kingdom of Portugal.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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L
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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M
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized independent state. The following are a number of different kingdoms that make up the Mossi Empire:
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Widely recognized state.
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De jure independent state. De facto a British protectorate.
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Widely recognized state.
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N
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 18 January 1871. Incorporated to the German Empire on 18 January 1871.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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O
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 1873. Annexed by France in 1873.
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Widely recognized state. The following are autonomous territories of the Ottoman Empire:
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Widely recognized state.
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P
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state. Annexed by the Kingdom of Italy on 20 September 1870.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state. Annexed by the United Kingdom on 20 January 1874.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 2 November 1879. De facto independent state from 2 November 1879.
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Widely recognized state. The following are colonies, vassal state and possession of Portugal:
- Portuguese Cape Verde
- Portuguese East Africa
- Portuguese Guinea
- Portuguese India
- Portuguese Macau
- Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe
- Portuguese Timor
- Portuguese West Africa
- Fort of São João Baptista de Ajudá
Widely recognized state.
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Q
----Widely recognized state.
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R
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 13 March 1879. Annexed by Japan on 27 March 1879
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S
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 1875. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1875.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state. The following are vassal states of Siam:
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state. Spain had three colonies, and two possessions:
- → → Elobey, Annobón and Corisco
- → → Fernando Po
- → → Río Muni
- → → Spanish North Africa
Widely recognized state.
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Personal union of the separate kingdoms of Sweden and Norway.
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Widely recognized state. Switzerland was a federation of 25 cantons.
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T
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 1876. Absorbed by Bunyoro-Kitara in 1876
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Widely recognized state.
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Boer republic.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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U
----Widely recognized state. The following are colonies, territories, dependencies and protectorates of the United Kingdom:
- Aden
- Afghanistan
- Amoy
- Ascension Island
- Bahama Islands
- Bahrain
- Baker Island
- Barotseland
- Bermuda
- Bights of Benin and Biafra
- →
- British Columbia
- British Cyprus
- → British Guiana
- → British Honduras
- → → British Hong Kong
- → British Jamaica
- → British Leeward Islands
- British Mauritius
- British West Africa
- British Western Pacific Territories
- → British Windward Islands
- Cocos Islands
- → Colony of Natal
- Dominica
- Falkland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Graham Land
- Griqualand East
- Griqualand West
- Guernsey
- Hankou
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands
- Heligoland
- British Raj - Indian Empire
- Isle of Man
- Jarvis Island
- Lagos
- Maldive Islands
- → Malta
- Manipur
- Mosquito Coast
- Muscat and Oman
- Nepal
- → Newfoundland
- → → New South Wales
- New Zealand
- Niger Districts
- Nova Scotia
- → → Queensland
- Redonda
- → Saint Helena
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent
- → → South Australia
- → Straits Settlements
- → → Tasmania
- Tientsin
- Transvaal Colony
- Trinidad
- Tristan da Cunha
- Trucial States
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- → → Victoria
- Victoria Land
- Walvis Bay
- → Western Australia
Widely recognized state. The following are territories of the United States of America:
- → Arizona
- → Bajo Nuevo Bank
- → Dakota
- → Idaho
- → Indian Territory
- → Johnston Atoll
- → Kingman Reef
- → Middlebrook Island
- → Midway Atoll
- → Montana
- → Navassa Island
- → New Mexico
- → Quita Sueño Bank
- → Roncador Bank
- → Serrana Bank
- → Serranilla Bank
- → Swan Islands
- → Tientsin
- → Utah
- → Washington
- → Wyoming
Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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V
----Widely recognized state.
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W
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state from 1878.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state up to 18 January 1871. Became part of the German Empire on 18 January 1871.
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Y
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Z
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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States claiming sovereignty
Protectorate of the Ottoman Empire.----
Unrecognized state, Provisional Government. Claimed by the Dominion of Canada.
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Unrecognized state. Claimed by the First Spanish Republic.
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Unrecognized state.
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Unrecognized state. Claimed by the United Kingdom on 10 October 1874.
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Unrecognized state.
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Unrecognized state. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1874.
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Unrecognized state. Claimed by the First Spanish Republic.
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Unrecognized state. Claimed by the French Republic.
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Unrecognized state. Self-governing administrative structure of the Pomaks.
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Unrecognized state. Claimed by the First Spanish Republic.
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Unrecognized state.
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Unrecognized state. Vassal of the Ottoman Empire from 1873 to 18 December 1877.
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