List of sovereign states in the 1880s
This is a list of sovereign states in the 1880s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1880 and 31 December 1889. 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, and 1 state which was initially unrecognized but then gained full recognition later in the decade.
Sovereign states
A
----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 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 to 1883. Internal imperial system within Chinese tributary to 1883.
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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
----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. Belgium has sovereignty over 1 corporatocracy and 1 condominium:
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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 to 1888. Annexed by the United Kingdom on 1888.
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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 1880. Vassal state of Sulu to 1880. Annexed by the Netherlands on 1880.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 1885. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1885.
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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. Vassal state of Siam.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state. China had sovereignty over one territory:
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Widely recognized state from 1887.
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Widely recognized state.
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Sovereignty recognized on 8 November 1884. Widely recognized state from 1 July 1885.
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Widely recognized state.
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D
----Widely recognized state to 1888.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 25 August 1883. Tributary state of China to 25 August 1883. Annexed by France on 25 August 1883.
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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. Denmark had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
- Danish West Indies
- Greenland
- Iceland
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 to 1888.
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Widely recognized independent state. France had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
- Annam
- Cambodia
- Comoros
- French Algeria
- French Cochinchina
- French Congo
- French Gabon
- French Guiana
- French India
- French Indochina
- French Ivory Coast
- French Oceania - French Establishments in Oceania
- French Somaliland
- Guadeloupe
- Malagasy Protectorate
- Martinique
- Mayotte
- New Caledonia
- Obock
- Réunion
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Shanghai
- Tientsin
- Tonkin
- Tunisia
- Upper River
Widely recognized state.
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G
----Widely recognized state to 1883. Annexed by Jimma in 1883.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 1887. Annexed by the Ethiopian Empire in 1887.
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Widely recognized independent state. Germany had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
- Colinsland
- German Congo
- German East Africa
- German New Guinea
- German South West Africa
- German West Africa
- Kamerun
- Togoland
- Wituland
Widely recognized state to 1886. Annexed by the Ethiopian Empire in 1886.
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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 1885. Annexed by the Ethiopian Empire in 1885.
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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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Subject of the Khedivate of Egypt to 1884. Widely recognized state from 1884 to 1887.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 1888. Annexed by Italy in 1888.
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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 to 1884. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1884
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Widely recognized independent state. Italy had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
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J
----Widely recognized state. Japan had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
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Widely recognized state to 1884. Annexed by the Ethiopian Empire in 1884
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Widely recognized state from December 11, 1885. Recognised the United Kingdom on December 11, 1885.
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Widely recognized state to 1889. Annexed by France in 1889.
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K
----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 1885. Incorporated into Portuguese Angola in 1885.
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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 to 1880. Incorporated into French Sudan in 1880.
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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 to 1884. Incorporated into the International Association of the Congo in 1884.
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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 to 1883. Incorporated into French Congo in 1883.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 1889. Incorporated into the Congo Free State in 1889.
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Widely recognized state to 1887. Incorporated into the Chokwe Kingdom in 1887.
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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 to 7 April 1889. Annexed by Italy on 7 April 1889.
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Widely recognized state to 1887.
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Widely recognized state to 21 February 1881.
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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.
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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. The following are autonomous territories of the Ottoman Empire:
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Widely recognized state.
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P
----Widely recognized state to 8 September 1881.
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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. 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 1888. Incorporated into the British Aden Protectorate in 1888.
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R
----Widely recognized state to 19 March 1888. Annexed by France on 19 March 1888.
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Widely recognized state to 9 September 1888. Annexed by Chile on 9 September 1888.
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Widely recognized state to 1888. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1888.
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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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S
----Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state.
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Widely recognized state to 14 June 1888. Annexed by the United Kingdom on 14 June 1888.
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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:
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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 to 29 June 1880. Annexed by France on 29 June 1880.
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Widely recognized state.
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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 to 1881. Annexed by France in 1881.
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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
- Basutoland
- Barotseland
- Bechuanaland
- Bermuda
- Bights of Benin and Biafra
- British Bechuanaland
- → British Cyprus
- British Guiana
- British Honduras
- British Hong Kong
- British Jamaica
- British Leeward Islands
- British Mauritius
- British Somaliland
- British Trinidad and Tobago
- British West Africa
- British Western Pacific Territories
- → British Windward Islands
- Brunei
- Colony of Natal
- Cook Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Friendly Islands
- Gambia
- Gibraltar
- Graham Land
- Griqualand West
- Guernsey
- Hankou
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands
- Heligoland
- → British Raj - Indian Empire
- Isle of Man
- Jarvis Island
- Jiujiang
- Labuan
- → Lagos
- Maldive Islands
- Malta
- Manipur
- Mosquito Coast
- Muscat and Oman
- Nepal
- Newfoundland
- New South Wales
- New Zealand
- Niger Districts
- North Borneo
- Oil Rivers
- → British New Guinea
- Rarotonga
- Redonda
- Rhodesia
- Queensland
- Saint Helena
- Sierra Leone
- South Australia
- Straits Settlements
- Suez Canal Zone
- Tasmania
- Tientsin
- Tokelau
- Transvaal Colony
- Trinidad
- Tristan da Cunha
- Trucial States
- Unfederated Malay States
- * Kedah
- * Kelantan
- *
- *
- Union Islands
- Victoria
- Victoria Land
- Walvis Bay
- Western Australia
- Zhenjiang
- Zululand
Widely recognized state. The following are territories of the United States of America:
- Alaska
- 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.
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Widely recognized state to 1885. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1885.
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Widely recognized state.
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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 to 1887. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1887.
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States claiming sovereignty
Protectorate of the Ottoman Empire.----
Unrecognized state.
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Unrecognized state.
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Boer republic.
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Unrecognized state.
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Boer republic from 1884 to 1888.
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Unrecognized state, Provisional Government.
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Unrecognized state from 3 June 1888.
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Boer republic.
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Boer republic to June 1887. Merged into German South-West Africa
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Unrecognized state.
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Unrecognized proto-state from 1883 to 1886.
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