List of sovereign states facts for kids

Flags of the United Nations member and non-member GA observer states in front of the Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland

This article lists all the sovereign states, or countries, around the world. It also shares information about their status and how other countries recognize them.

There are 205 countries listed here. They are grouped into three main types based on if they are part of the United Nations (UN). The UN is a big organization where countries work together.

193 countries are full UN member states.
2 countries are UN General Assembly observer states. This means they can attend meetings but don't have a vote.
10 other countries are not part of the UN in these ways.

Some countries have "undisputed sovereignty," meaning everyone agrees they are independent. Others have "disputed sovereignty," which means some countries don't fully recognize them. Two countries have a "special political status" because they are closely linked with New Zealand.

It can be tricky to make a list like this. There isn't one simple rule that all countries agree on for what makes a country a "state." This list includes places that act like independent countries, even if not everyone officially agrees.

What Makes a Country a Country?
- Understanding Statehood and Recognition
List of Countries
- UN Member States and Observer States
- Other Countries Not in the UN
More to Explore
See also

What Makes a Country a Country?

Understanding Statehood and Recognition

What makes a place a country? Most people agree on a few key things, often called the declarative theory of statehood. This idea was written down in the Montevideo Convention in 1933.

For a place to be considered a country, it usually needs:

A group of people who live there all the time.
A clear area of land that belongs to it.
A government that is in charge.
The ability to make agreements and have relationships with other countries.

Some people also think that other countries need to recognize a place as a country. This is called the constitutive theory of statehood. However, the declarative theory says that a place is a country if it meets the four points above, no matter if other countries recognize it or not.

For this list, a place is included if it considers itself a country (like by declaring independence) AND either:

Most people agree it meets the four points of the declarative theory.
At least one UN member country recognizes it as a country.

Sometimes, there are disagreements about whether a place truly meets these rules. Places that don't quite fit the definition of a country are sometimes called proto-states.

Based on these rules, this list includes 205 places:

203 countries that are recognized by at least one UN member country.
1 country that meets the declarative theory rules but is only recognized by countries that are not UN members.
1 country that meets the declarative theory rules but is not recognized by any other country.

The list also mentions places that are not fully independent countries. These might be:

Places that have a special "free association" with another country.
Areas controlled by Pakistan, like Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, which are not fully independent.
Territories that are controlled by another country.
Areas within a country that have special rules because of international agreements.

List of Countries

UN Member States and Observer States

"Membership within the UN System" column legend UN member state UN General Assembly observer state

"Sovereignty dispute" column legend Undisputed sovereignty Disputed sovereignty

Country Name	UN System Membership	Sovereignty Status	More Information
Afghanistan	A UN member state	A None	The current government, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is not recognized by any country. The United Nations still recognizes the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as the official government.
Albania – Republic of Albania	A UN member state	A None
Algeria – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria	A UN member state	A None
Andorra – Principality of Andorra	A UN member state	A None	Andorra has two heads of state: the French president and a bishop from Spain.
Angola – Republic of Angola	A UN member state	A None
Antigua and Barbuda	A UN member state	A None	Antigua and Barbuda is a Commonwealth realm and has one special region called Barbuda.
Argentina – Argentine Republic	A UN member state	A None	Argentina is a federation made of 23 provinces and one main city.
Armenia – Republic of Armenia	A UN member state	Not recognized by Pakistan.	Pakistan does not recognize Armenia due to a conflict over Artsakh.
Australia – Commonwealth of Australia	A UN member state	A None	Australia is a Commonwealth realm and a federation of states and territories. It has six states, three internal territories, and six external territories.
Austria – Republic of Austria	A UN member state	A None	Member of the European Union. Austria is a federation of nine states.
Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan	A UN member state	A None	Azerbaijan has one special region called Nakhchivan.
Bahamas, The – Commonwealth of The Bahamas	A UN member state	A None	The Bahamas is a Commonwealth realm.
Bahrain – Kingdom of Bahrain	A UN member state	A None
Bangladesh – People's Republic of Bangladesh	A UN member state	A None
Barbados	A UN member state	A None
Belarus – Republic of Belarus	A UN member state	A None	Many countries stopped recognizing President Alexander Lukashenko after the disputed 2020 election. Lithuania now recognizes another group as the true government.
Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU. Belgium is a federation with three language communities and three regions.
Belize	A UN member state	A None	Belize is a Commonwealth realm.
Benin – Republic of Benin	A UN member state	A None
Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan	A UN member state	A None
Bolivia – Plurinational State of Bolivia	A UN member state	A None
Bosnia and Herzegovina	A UN member state	A None	Bosnia and Herzegovina has two main parts: Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska. It also has a special self-governing area called Brčko District.
Botswana – Republic of Botswana	A UN member state	A None
Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil	A UN member state	A None	Brazil is a federation of 26 states and one federal district.
Brunei – Brunei Darussalam	A UN member state	A None
Bulgaria – Republic of Bulgaria	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Burkina Faso	A UN member state	A None
Burundi – Republic of Burundi	A UN member state	A None
Cambodia – Kingdom of Cambodia	A UN member state	A None
Cameroon – Republic of Cameroon	A UN member state	A None
Canada	A UN member state	A None	Canada is a Commonwealth realm and a federation of ten provinces and three territories.
Cape Verde – Republic of Cabo Verde	A UN member state	A None
Central African Republic	A UN member state	A None
Chad – Republic of Chad	A UN member state	A None
Chile – Republic of Chile	A UN member state	A None	Chile has one special territory, Easter Island.
China – People's Republic of China	A UN member state	Partially unrecognized. Claimed by the Republic of China	China has five special regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Tibet, and Xinjiang. It also controls the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao. China claims Taiwan, but Taiwan is governed by a different group. Some UN members do not recognize China, instead recognizing Taiwan.
Colombia – Republic of Colombia	A UN member state	A None
Comoros – Union of the Comoros	A UN member state	A None	Comoros is a federation of three islands.
Congo, Democratic Republic of the	A UN member state	A None
Congo, Republic of the	A UN member state	A None
Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica	A UN member state	A None
Croatia – Republic of Croatia	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Cuba – Republic of Cuba	A UN member state	A None
Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus	A UN member state	Not recognized by Turkey	Member of the EU. The northern part of the island is controlled by Northern Cyprus. Turkey does not recognize Cyprus.
Czech Republic	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU. The Kingdom of Denmark includes two self-governing territories: Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti	A UN member state	A None
Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica	A UN member state	A None
Dominican Republic	A UN member state	A None
East Timor – Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste	A UN member state	A None
Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador	A UN member state	A None
Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt	A UN member state	A None
El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador	A UN member state	A None
Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea	A UN member state	A None
Eritrea – State of Eritrea	A UN member state	A None
Estonia – Republic of Estonia	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Eswatini – Kingdom of Eswatini	A UN member state	A None
Ethiopia – Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia	A UN member state	A None	Ethiopia is a federation of eleven regions and two main cities.
Fiji – Republic of Fiji	A UN member state	A None	Fiji has one special region called Rotuma.
Finland – Republic of Finland	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU. Åland is a neutral and self-governing region of Finland.
France – French Republic	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU. France has five overseas regions and several overseas territories.
Gabon – Gabonese Republic	A UN member state	A None
Gambia, The – Republic of The Gambia	A UN member state	A None
Georgia	A UN member state	A None	Georgia has two self-governing republics, Adjara and Abkhazia. However, Abkhazia and South Ossetia are currently controlled by separate governments.
Germany – Federal Republic of Germany	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU. Germany is a federation of 16 states.
Ghana – Republic of Ghana	A UN member state	A None
Greece – Hellenic Republic	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU. Greece has one special self-governing area, Mount Athos.
Grenada	A UN member state	A None	Grenada is a Commonwealth realm.
Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala	A UN member state	A None
Guinea – Republic of Guinea	A UN member state	A None
Guinea-Bissau – Republic of Guinea-Bissau	A UN member state	A None
Guyana – Co-operative Republic of Guyana	A UN member state	A None
Haiti – Republic of Haiti	A UN member state	A None
Honduras – Republic of Honduras	A UN member state	A None
Hungary	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Iceland	A UN member state	A None
India – Republic of India	A UN member state	A None	India is a federation of 28 states and eight union territories.
Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia	A UN member state	A None	Indonesia has nine special provinces, including Aceh and Jakarta.
Iran – Islamic Republic of Iran	A UN member state	A None
Iraq – Republic of Iraq	A UN member state	A None	Iraq is a federation of 19 governorates. Four of these make up the self-governing Kurdistan Region.
Ireland	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Israel – State of Israel	A UN member state	Partially unrecognized	Israel controls much of the land claimed by Palestine. It has taken over East Jerusalem, but most countries do not recognize this. Israel is not recognized by 28 UN members and the Vatican City.
Italy – Italian Republic	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU. Italy has 5 self-governing regions, including Sicily and Sardinia.
Ivory Coast – Republic of Côte d'Ivoire	A UN member state	A None
Jamaica	A UN member state	A None	Jamaica is a Commonwealth realm.
Japan	A UN member state	A None
Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan	A UN member state	A None
Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan	A UN member state	A None
Kenya – Republic of Kenya	A UN member state	A None
Kiribati – Republic of Kiribati	A UN member state	A None
Kuwait – State of Kuwait	A UN member state	A None
Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyz Republic	A UN member state	A None
Laos – Lao People's Democratic Republic	A UN member state	A None
Latvia – Republic of Latvia	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Lebanon – Republic of Lebanon	A UN member state	A None
Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho	A UN member state	A None
Liberia – Republic of Liberia	A UN member state	A None
Libya – State of Libya	A UN member state	A None
Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein	A UN member state	A None
Lithuania – Republic of Lithuania	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Madagascar – Republic of Madagascar	A UN member state	A None
Malawi – Republic of Malawi	A UN member state	A None
Malaysia	A UN member state	A None	Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories.
Maldives – Republic of Maldives	A UN member state	A None
Mali – Republic of Mali	A UN member state	A None
Malta – Republic of Malta	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Marshall Islands – Republic of the Marshall Islands	A UN member state	A None	Has a special agreement with the United States.
Mauritania – Islamic Republic of Mauritania	A UN member state	A None
Mauritius – Republic of Mauritius	A UN member state	A None	Mauritius has a self-governing island called Rodrigues.
Mexico – United Mexican States	A UN member state	A None	Mexico is a federation of 31 states and one main city.
Micronesia, Federated States of	A UN member state	A None	Has a special agreement with the United States. Micronesia is a federation of four states.
Moldova – Republic of Moldova	A UN member state	A None	Moldova has special regions like Gagauzia. Another region, the Left Bank of the Dniester, is controlled by Transnistria.
Monaco – Principality of Monaco	A UN member state	A None
Mongolia	A UN member state	A None
Montenegro	A UN member state	A None
Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco	A UN member state	A None	Part of the Western Sahara is claimed by Morocco but controlled by the partially recognized Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
Mozambique – Republic of Mozambique	A UN member state	A None
Myanmar – Republic of the Union of Myanmar	A UN member state	A None	Wa State acts as a self-governing state within Myanmar. The UN does not recognize Myanmar's current government.
Namibia – Republic of Namibia	A UN member state	A None
Nauru – Republic of Nauru	A UN member state	A None
Nepal – Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal	A UN member state	A None	Nepal is a federation of 7 provinces.
Netherlands – Kingdom of the Netherlands	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU. The Kingdom of the Netherlands includes four self-governing areas: Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten.
New Zealand	A UN member state	A None	New Zealand is a Commonwealth realm. It has one dependent territory, Tokelau. New Zealand also has special relationships with two self-governing states: Cook Islands and Niue.
Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua	A UN member state	A None	Nicaragua has two self-governing regions: Atlántico Sur and Atlántico Norte.
Niger – Republic of the Niger	A UN member state	A None
Nigeria – Federal Republic of Nigeria	A UN member state	A None	Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and one federal territory.
North Korea – Democratic People's Republic of Korea	A UN member state	Claimed by South Korea	North Korea is not recognized by South Korea, which claims to be the only true government of Korea.
North Macedonia – Republic of North Macedonia	A UN member state	A None
Norway – Kingdom of Norway	A UN member state	A None	Norway has two special areas in Europe: Svalbard and Jan Mayen. It also has one dependent territory, Bouvet Island.
Oman – Sultanate of Oman	A UN member state	A None
Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan	A UN member state	A None	Pakistan is a federation of four provinces and one capital territory. It controls parts of Kashmir, which are divided into two areas: Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. These areas are not considered fully independent countries.
Palau – Republic of Palau	A UN member state	A None	Has a special agreement with the United States.
Palestine – State of Palestine	A UN General Assembly observer state; member of two UN specialized agencies	Partially unrecognized.	The State of Palestine was declared in 1988. It is not recognized by Israel, but many countries do recognize it. It does not have clear borders or full control over its claimed land.
Panama – Republic of Panama	A UN member state	A None
Papua New Guinea – Independent State of Papua New Guinea	A UN member state	A None	Papua New Guinea is a Commonwealth realm with one self-governing region, Bougainville.
Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay	A UN member state	A None
Peru – Republic of Peru	A UN member state	A None
Philippines – Republic of the Philippines	A UN member state	A None	The Philippines has one self-governing region, Bangsamoro.
Poland – Republic of Poland	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Portugal – Portuguese Republic	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU. Portugal has two self-governing regions: the Azores and Madeira.
Qatar – State of Qatar	A UN member state	A None
Romania	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Russia – Russian Federation	A UN member state	A None	Russia is a federation of 83 parts, including republics and regions.
Rwanda – Republic of Rwanda	A UN member state	A None
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis	A UN member state	A None	Saint Kitts and Nevis is a Commonwealth realm and a federation of two islands: St. Kitts and Nevis.
Saint Lucia	A UN member state	A None	Saint Lucia is a Commonwealth realm.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	A UN member state	A None	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a Commonwealth realm.
Samoa – Independent State of Samoa	A UN member state	A None
San Marino – Republic of San Marino	A UN member state	A None
São Tomé and Príncipe – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe	A UN member state	A None	São Tomé and Príncipe has one self-governing province, Príncipe.
Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia	A UN member state	A None
Senegal – Republic of Senegal	A UN member state	A None
Serbia – Republic of Serbia	A UN member state	A None	Serbia has two self-governing regions: Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija. Kosovo and Metohija is currently controlled by Kosovo.
Seychelles – Republic of Seychelles	A UN member state	A None
Sierra Leone – Republic of Sierra Leone	A UN member state	A None
Singapore – Republic of Singapore	A UN member state	A None
Slovakia – Slovak Republic	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Slovenia – Republic of Slovenia	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Solomon Islands	A UN member state	A None	Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm.
Somalia – Federal Republic of Somalia	A UN member state	A None	Somalia is a federation of six states. Two, Puntland and Galmudug, have declared themselves self-governing. One, Somaliland, acts as an independent country.
South Africa – Republic of South Africa	A UN member state	A None
South Korea – Republic of Korea	A UN member state	B Claimed by Georgia Claimed by North Korea	South Korea has one self-governing region, Jeju Province. South Korea is not recognized by North Korea, which claims to be the only true government of Korea.
South Sudan – Republic of South Sudan	A UN member state	A None	South Sudan is a federation of 10 states and three administrative areas. The Abyei Area is a special zone shared by South Sudan and Sudan.
Spain – Kingdom of Spain	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU. Spain is divided into 17 self-governing communities and two special cities.
Sri Lanka – Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka	A UN member state	A None
Sudan – Republic of the Sudan	A UN member state	A None	Sudan is a federation of 18 states. The Abyei Area is a special zone shared by South Sudan and Sudan.
Suriname – Republic of Suriname	A UN member state	A None
Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden	A UN member state	A None	Member of the EU.
Switzerland – Swiss Confederation	A UN member state	A None	Switzerland is a federation of 26 cantons.
Syria – Syrian Arab Republic	A UN member state	A None	During the Syrian civil war, some groups have formed an interim government. Syria has one self-declared self-governing region: Rojava.
Tajikistan – Republic of Tajikistan	A UN member state	A None	Tajikistan has one self-governing region, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province.
Tanzania – United Republic of Tanzania	A UN member state	A None	Tanzania has one self-governing region, Zanzibar.
Thailand – Kingdom of Thailand	A UN member state	A None
Togo – Togolese Republic	A UN member state	A None
Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga	A UN member state	A None
Trinidad and Tobago – Republic of Trinidad and Tobago	A UN member state	A None	Trinidad and Tobago has one self-governing region, Tobago.
Tunisia – Republic of Tunisia	A UN member state	A None
Turkey – Republic of Türkiye	A UN member state	A None
Turkmenistan	A UN member state	A None
Tuvalu	A UN member state	A None	Tuvalu is a Commonwealth realm.
Uganda – Republic of Uganda	A UN member state	A None
Ukraine	A UN member state	A None	Ukraine has one self-governing region, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, which is controlled by Russia. Other areas of Ukraine are also under Russian control.
United Arab Emirates	A UN member state	A None	The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates.
United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	A UN member state	A None	The United Kingdom is a Commonwealth realm made of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It also has 13 overseas territories and three self-governing Crown Dependencies.
United States – United States of America	A UN member state	A None	The United States is a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and many territories. Five of these territories are inhabited: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Three independent countries have special agreements with the United States: Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau.
Uruguay – Oriental Republic of Uruguay	A UN member state	A None
Uzbekistan – Republic of Uzbekistan	A UN member state	A None	Uzbekistan has one self-governing region, Karakalpakstan.
Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu	A UN member state	A None
Vatican City – Vatican City State	A UN General Assembly observer state under the designation of "Holy See"; member of three UN specialized agencies	A None	Vatican City is governed by the Holy See, which is a sovereign entity. The Pope is the head of Vatican City.
Venezuela – Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela	A UN member state	A None	Venezuela is a federation of 23 states, one capital district, and federal dependencies.
Vietnam – Socialist Republic of Vietnam	A UN member state	A None
Yemen – Republic of Yemen	A UN member state	A None
Zambia – Republic of Zambia	A UN member state	A None
Zimbabwe – Republic of Zimbabwe	A UN member state	A None

Other Countries Not in the UN

"Membership within the UN System" column legend Member state of a UN Specialized Agency No membership

"Sovereignty dispute" column legend Undisputed sovereignty Disputed sovereignty

Country Name	UN System Membership	Sovereignty Status	More Information
Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia	D No membership	B Claimed by Georgia	Recognized by Russia and a few other countries. Georgia claims Abkhazia as its own territory.
Cook Islands	D Member of eight UN specialized agencies	A None (See political status)	This country has a special "free association" with New Zealand. It has diplomatic ties with many countries and is recognized as sovereign by some. It shares a head of state and citizenship with New Zealand.
Kosovo – Republic of Kosovo	D Member of two UN specialized agencies	Claimed by Serbia	Kosovo declared independence in 2008. Many UN member countries recognize it, but Serbia still claims it. Kosovo controls most of its territory.
Niue	D Member of five UN specialized agencies	A None (See political status)	This country has a special "free association" with New Zealand. It has diplomatic ties with many countries and is recognized as sovereign by some. It shares a head of state and citizenship with New Zealand.
Northern Cyprus – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus	D No membership	Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus	Only recognized by Turkey. It is an observer in some international groups. The Republic of Cyprus claims all of Northern Cyprus.
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	D No membership	Claimed by Morocco	This country has been recognized by many UN member countries at some point, but some have since changed their minds. It is a founding member of the African Union. Morocco claims the territory it controls. Its government is currently in exile in Algeria.
Somaliland – Republic of Somaliland	D No membership	Claimed by Somalia	Somaliland acts as an independent country but is not officially recognized by any other country. Somalia claims all of Somaliland.
South Ossetia – Republic of South Ossetia–the State of Alania	D No membership	B Claimed by Georgia	This country acts as an independent state and is recognized by Russia and a few other countries. Georgia claims all of South Ossetia.
Taiwan – Republic of China	D Was a UN member state until 1971, now no membership	Partially unrecognized. Claimed by the People's Republic of China	Taiwan has been in a long-standing dispute with the People's Republic of China (PRC) over who is the true government of China. Taiwan controls its island and some smaller ones. It is recognized by a few UN member countries and the Vatican City. Taiwan also has unofficial relationships with many other countries. The PRC claims all of Taiwan. Taiwan participates in international organizations under different names, like "Chinese Taipei".
Transnistria – Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic	D No membership	Claimed by Moldova Claimed by Mali Claimed by Spain	This country acts as an independent state but is only recognized by Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Moldova claims all of Transnistria.