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List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Europe is a continent with many different countries, each with its own government and rules. It's a bit tricky to say exactly where Europe begins and ends because people define it in different ways. Some definitions are based on geography (where the land is), and others are based on politics (which countries belong to certain European groups).

There are about 50 countries that are generally recognized as independent states in Europe. Some of these countries have land in both Europe and Asia. There are also a few places that act like independent countries but aren't fully recognized by everyone. Plus, there are some areas that are connected to European countries but have special political arrangements.

Where is Europe?

Natural Borders

The natural border between Europe and Asia is usually drawn along the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, and the Caspian Sea in the east. To the south, it follows the Greater Caucasus mountains, the Black Sea, and its narrow waterways, the Bosporus and the Dardanelles.

Because of these borders, some countries like Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey have land in both Europe and Asia. These are called transcontinental countries.

The island of Cyprus is actually closer to Asia, but it's often considered part of Europe and is a member of the European Union. Similarly, Armenia is in Asia but belongs to several European organizations.

Even though the Mediterranean Sea clearly separates Africa and Europe, some European islands like Malta and Sicily are actually on the African land plate. Iceland is unique because it sits on the border of two huge land plates: the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate.

Some places are geographically outside Europe but have strong ties to European countries. For example, Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but it's much closer to North America. Other examples include the French overseas regions, the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla in Africa, and the Dutch islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba in the Caribbean.

Political Borders

The political borders of Europe can change depending on which international group you're looking at. For instance, the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights include 46 countries in their definition of Europe. Other groups, like the European Olympic Committees, include 50 countries. This shows that "Europe" can mean different things to different organizations.

Independent Countries

Europe countries map en
Political map of Europe and the surrounding region

A sovereign state is an independent country that has full control over its own people and land. To be considered a state, it usually needs a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the ability to make agreements with other countries.

Countries Recognized by the United Nations

There are 50 independent countries in Europe that are widely recognized by other nations. Most of these are members of the United Nations (UN) or have a special observer status there. Almost all of them are also members of the Council of Europe, except for Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Vatican City.

Forty-four of these countries have their capital cities in Europe. As of 2022, 27 of them are members of the European Union (EU). EU countries work very closely together and share some of their decision-making power through EU organizations.

The list below shows these countries. On the maps, dark green means the country's land is in Europe. Lighter green means the country has land outside Europe. The lightest green shows other EU countries on the maps of EU members.

* = Member of the EU
Flag Map English short, formal names, and ISO
Domestic short and formal name(s)
Capital
Population 2018
Area
Currency
Flag of Albania
Map showing Albania in Europe
Albania

Republic of Albania

ALB
Albanian: Shqipëri / Shqipëria – Republika e Shqipërisë Tirana

Albanian: Tiranë
2,882,740 28,748 km2 (11,100 sq mi) Albanian lek
Flag of Andorra
Map showing Andorra in Europe
Andorra

Principality of Andorra

AND
Catalan: Andorra – Principat d'Andorra Andorra la Vella

Catalan: Andorra la Vella
77,006 468 km2 (181 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Armenia
Map showing Armenia in Europe
Armenia

Republic of Armenia

ARM
Armenian: Հայաստան – Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն (Hayastan – Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun) Yerevan

Armenian: Երևան (Yerevan)
2,951,745 29,743 km2 (11,484 sq mi) Armenian dram
Flag of Austria
Map showing Austria in Europe
Austria*

Republic of Austria

AUT
German: Österreich – Republik Österreich Vienna

German: Wien
8,891,388 83,871 km2 (32,383 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Azerbaijan
Map showing Azerbaijan in Europe
Azerbaijan

Republic of Azerbaijan

AZE
Azerbaijani: Azǝrbaycan – Azǝrbaycan Respublikası Baku

Azerbaijani: Bakı
9,949,537 86,600 km2 (33,436 sq mi) Azerbaijani manat
Flag of Belarus
Map showing Belarus in Europe
Belarus

Republic of Belarus

BLR
Belarusian: Беларусь – Рэспубліка Беларусь (Bielaruś – Respublika Bielaruś)

Russian: Беларусь – Республика Беларусь (Belarus' — Respublika Belarus')
Minsk

Belarusian: Мінск (Minsk)

Russian: Минск (Minsk)
9,452,617 207,600 km2 (80,155 sq mi) Belarusian rouble
Flag of Belgium
Map showing Belgium in Europe
Belgium*

Kingdom of Belgium

BEL
Dutch: België – Koninkrijk België

French: Belgique – Royaume de Belgique

German: Belgien – Königreich Belgien
Brussels

Dutch: Brussel

French: Bruxelles

German: Brüssel
11,482,178 30,528 km2 (11,787 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Map showing Bosnia and Herzegovina in Europe
Bosnia and Herzegovina

BIH
Bosnian: Bosna i Hercegovina

Croatian: Bosna i Hercegovina

Serbian: Босна и Херцеговина
Sarajevo

Bosnian: Sarajevo

Croatian: Sarajevo

Serbian: Сарајево
3,323,925 51,197 km2 (19,767 sq mi) Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark
Flag of Bulgaria
Map showing Bulgaria in Europe
Bulgaria*

Republic of Bulgaria

BGR
Bulgarian: България – Република България (Bulgaria – Republika Bulgaria) Sofia

Bulgarian: София (Sofia)
7,051,608 110,879 km2 (42,811 sq mi) Bulgarian lev
Flag of Croatia
Map showing Croatia in Europe
Croatia*

Republic of Croatia

HRV
Croatian: Hrvatska – Republika Hrvatska Zagreb

Croatian: Zagreb
4,156,405 56,594 km2 (21,851 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Cyprus
Map showing Cyprus in Europe
Cyprus*

Republic of Cyprus

CYP
Greek: Κύπρος – Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία (Kýpros – Kypriakí Dimokratía)

Turkish: Kıbrıs – Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti
Nicosia

Greek: Λευκωσία (Lefkosía)

Turkish: Lefkoşa
1,189,265 9,251 km2 (3,572 sq mi) Euro
Flag of the Czech Republic
Map showing the Czech Republic in Europe
Czechia*

Czech Republic

CZE
Czech: Česko – Česká republika Prague

Czech: Praha
10,665,677 78,867 km2 (30,451 sq mi) Czech koruna
Flag of Denmark
Map showing Denmark in Europe
Denmark*

Kingdom of Denmark

DNK
Danish: Danmark – Kongeriget Danmark Copenhagen

Danish: København
5,752,126 42,933 km2 (16,577 sq mi) Danish krone
Flag of Estonia
Map showing Estonia in Europe
Estonia*

Republic of Estonia

EST
Estonian: Eesti – Eesti Vabariik Tallinn

Estonian: Tallinn
1,322,920 45,228 km2 (17,463 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Finland
Map showing Finland in Europe
Finland*

Republic of Finland

FIN
Finnish: Suomi – Suomen tasavalta

Swedish: Finland – Republiken Finland
Helsinki

Finnish: Helsinki

Swedish: Helsingfors
5,522,576 338,145 km2 (130,559 sq mi) Euro
Flag of France
Map showing France in Europe
France*

French Republic

FRA
French: France – République française Paris

French: Paris
64,990,511 643,427 km2 (248,429 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Georgia
Map showing Georgia in Europe
Georgia

GEO
Georgian: საქართველო (Sakartvelo) Tbilisi / T'bilisi

Georgian: თბილისი (T'bilisi)
4,002,942 69,700 km2 (26,911 sq mi) Georgian lari
Flag of Germany
Map showing Germany in Europe
Germany*

Federal Republic of Germany

DEU
German: Deutschland – Bundesrepublik Deutschland Berlin

German: Berlin
83,124,418 357,022 km2 (137,847 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Greece
Map showing Greece in Europe
Greece*

Hellenic Republic

GRC
Greek: Ελλάδα – Ελληνική Δημοκρατία (Elláda – Ellinikí Dimokratía) Athens

Greek: Αθήνα (Athína)
10,522,246 131,957 km2 (50,949 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Hungary
Map showing Hungary in Europe
Hungary*

HUN
Hungarian: Magyarország Budapest

Hungarian: Budapest
9,707,499 93,028 km2 (35,918 sq mi) Hungarian forint
Flag of Iceland
Map showing Iceland in Europe
Iceland

ISL
Icelandic: Ísland – Lýðveldið Ísland Reykjavík

Icelandic: Reykjavík
336,713 103,000 km2 (39,769 sq mi) Icelandic króna
Flag of Ireland
Map showing Ireland in Europe
Ireland*

IRL
English: Ireland

Irish: Éire
Dublin

Irish: Baile Átha Cliath
4,818,690 70,273 km2 (27,133 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Italy
Map showing Italy in Europe
Italy*

Italian Republic

ITA
Italian: Italia – Repubblica Italiana Rome

Italian: Roma
60,627,291 301,340 km2 (116,348 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Kazakhstan
Map showing Kazakhstan in Europe
Kazakhstan

Republic of Kazakhstan

KAZ
Kazakh: Қазақстан – Қазақстан Республикасы (Qazaqstan – Qazaqstan Respūblīkasy)

Russian: Казахстан – Республика Казахстан (Kazakhstan – Respublika Kazakhstan)
Astana

Kazakh: Астана (Astana)

Russian: Астана (Astana)
18,319,618 2,724,900 km2 (1,052,090 sq mi) Kazakhstani tenge
Flag of Latvia
Map showing Latvia in Europe
Latvia*

Republic of Latvia

LVA
Latvian: Latvija – Latvijas Republika Riga

Latvian: Rīga
1,928,459 64,589 km2 (24,938 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Liechtenstein
Map showing Liechtenstein in Europe
Liechtenstein

Principality of Liechtenstein

LIE
German: Liechtenstein – Fürstentum Liechtenstein Vaduz

German: Vaduz
37,910 160 km2 (62 sq mi) Liechtenstein franc
Flag of Lithuania
Map showing Lithuania in Europe
Lithuania*

Republic of Lithuania

LTU
Lithuanian: Lietuva – Lietuvos Respublika Vilnius

Lithuanian: Vilnius
2,801,264 65,300 km2 (25,212 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Luxembourg
Map showing Luxembourg in Europe
Luxembourg*

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

LUX
German: Luxemburg – Großherzogtum Luxemburg

French: Luxembourg – Grand-Duché de Luxembourg

Luxembourgish: Lëtzebuerg - Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg
Luxembourg

German: Luxemburg

French: Luxembourg

Luxembourgish: Lëtzebuerg
604,245 2,586 km2 (998 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Malta
Map showing Malta in Europe
Malta*

Republic of Malta

MLT
English: Malta – Republic of Malta

Maltese: Malta – Repubblika ta' Malta
Valletta

Maltese: Valletta
439,248 316 km2 (122 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Moldova
Map showing Moldova in Europe
Moldova

Republic of Moldova

MDA
Romanian: Moldova – Republica Moldova Chișinău

Romanian: Chișinău
33,851 km2 (13,070 sq mi) Moldovan leu
Flag of Monaco
Map showing Monaco in Europe
Monaco

Principality of Monaco

MCO
French: Monaco – Principauté de Monaco Monaco

French: Monaco
38,682 2 km2 (0.8 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Montenegro
Map showing Montenegro in Europe
Montenegro

MNE
Montenegrin: Црна Гора (Crna Gora) Podgorica

Montenegrin: Подгорица (Podgorica)
627,809 13,812 km2 (5,333 sq mi) Euro
Flag of the Netherlands
Map showing the Netherlands in Europe
Netherlands*

Kingdom of the Netherlands

NLD
Dutch: Nederland – Koninkrijk der Nederlanden Amsterdam (capital)

Dutch: Amsterdam

The Hague (seat of government)

Dutch: 's-Gravenhage / Den Haag
17,059,560 41,543 km2 (16,040 sq mi) Euro
Flag of North Macedonia
Map showing North Macedonia in Europe
North Macedonia

Republic of North Macedonia

MKD
Macedonian: Северна Македонија – Република Северна Македонија (Severna Makedonija – Republika Severna Makedonija) Skopje

Macedonian: Скопје (Skopje)
2,082,957 25,713 km2 (9,928 sq mi) Macedonian denar
Flag of Norway
Map showing Norway in Europe
Norway

Kingdom of Norway

NOR
Bokmål: Norge – Kongeriket Norge

Nynorsk: Noreg – Kongeriket Noreg
Oslo

Norwegian: Oslo
5,337,962 323,802 km2 (125,021 sq mi) Norwegian krone
Flag of Poland
Map showing Poland in Europe
Poland*

Republic of Poland

POL
Polish: Polska – Rzeczpospolita Polska Warsaw

Polish: Warszawa
37,921,592 312,685 km2 (120,728 sq mi) Polish złoty
Flag of Portugal
Map showing Portugal in Europe
Portugal*

Portuguese Republic

PRT
Portuguese: Portugal – República Portuguesa Lisbon

Portuguese: Lisboa
10,256,193 92,090 km2 (35,556 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Romania
Map showing Romania in Europe
Romania*

ROU
Romanian: România Bucharest

Romanian: București
19,506,114 238,391 km2 (92,043 sq mi) Romanian leu
Flag of Russia
Map showing Russia in Europe
Russia

Russian Federation

RUS
Russian: Россия – Российская Федерация (Rossija – Rossijskaja Federacija) Moscow

Russian: Москва (Moskva)
17,098,242 km2 (6,601,668 sq mi) Russian rouble
Flag of San Marino
Map showing San Marino in Europe
San Marino

Republic of San Marino

SMR
Italian: San Marino – Repubblica di San Marino San Marino

Italian: San Marino
33,785 61 km2 (24 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Serbia
Map showing Serbia in Europe
Serbia

Republic of Serbia

SRB
Serbian: Србија – Република Србија (Srbija – Republika Srbija) Belgrade

Serbian: Београд (Beograd)
8,802,754 88,361 km2 (34,116 sq mi) Serbian dinar
Flag of Slovakia
Map showing Slovakia in Europe
Slovakia*

Slovak Republic

SVK
Slovak: Slovensko – Slovenská republika Bratislava

Slovak: Bratislava
5,453,014 49,035 km2 (18,933 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Slovenia
Map showing Slovenia in Europe
Slovenia*

Republic of Slovenia

SVN
Slovene: Slovenija – Republika Slovenija Ljubljana

Slovene: Ljubljana
2,077,837 20,273 km2 (7,827 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Spain
Map showing Spain in Europe
Spain*

Kingdom of Spain

ESP
Spanish: España – Reino de España Madrid

Spanish: Madrid
46,692,858 505,370 km2 (195,124 sq mi) Euro
Flag of Sweden
Map showing Sweden in Europe
Sweden*

Kingdom of Sweden

SWE
Swedish: Sverige – Konungariket Sverige Stockholm

Swedish: Stockholm
9,971,638 450,295 km2 (173,860 sq mi) Swedish krona
Flag of Switzerland
Map showing Switzerland in Europe
Switzerland

Swiss Confederation

CHE
German: Schweiz – Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft

French: Suisse – Confédération suisse

Italian: Svizzera – Confederazione Svizzera

Romansh: Svizra – Confederaziun svizra
Bern / Berne

German: Bern

French: Berne

Italian and Romansh: Berna
8,525,611 41,277 km2 (15,937 sq mi) Swiss franc
Flag of Turkey
Map showing Turkey in Europe
Turkey

Republic of Turkey

TUR
Turkish: Türkiye – Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Ankara

Turkish: Ankara
82,340,088 783,562 km2 (302,535 sq mi) Turkish lira
Flag of Ukraine
Map showing Ukraine in Europe
Ukraine

UKR
Ukrainian: Украïна (Ukraïna)
Kyiv

Ukrainian: Київ (Kyiv)
44,246,156 603,550 km2 (233,032 sq mi) Ukrainian hryvnia
Flag of the United Kingdom
Map showing the UK in Europe
United Kingdom

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

GBR
English: United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland London 67,141,684 243,610 km2 (94,058 sq mi) Sterling
Flag of the Vatican City
Map showing Vatican City in Europe
Vatican City

Vatican City State

VAT
Italian: Città del Vaticano – Stato della Città del Vaticano

Latin: Status Civitatis Vaticanae
Vatican City

Italian: Città del Vaticano
801 0.44 km2 (0.17 sq mi) Euro

Countries with Limited Recognition

The following five areas in Europe act like independent countries, but not all UN member states agree that they are fully independent. Some are recognized by a few countries, while others are not recognized by any UN member states. None of them are members of the UN, the Council of Europe, or the EU.

Flag Map English common and formal names Status Domestic common and formal names Capital Population Area
Flag of Abkhazia
Map showing Abkhazia in Europe
Abkhazia

Republic of Abkhazia
Georgia claims this area. Five UN member states recognize Abkhazia as independent. Abkhaz: Аҧсны - Аԥсны Аҳәынҭқарра (Apsny - Apsny Ahwyntqarra)

Russian: Абхазия - Республика Абхазия (Abhaziya - Respublika Abkhaziya)
Sukhumi

Abkhaz: Аҟəа (Akwa)

Russian: Суху́м(и) (Sukhum(i))
250,000 8,660 km2 (3,344 sq mi)
Flag of Kosovo
Map showing Kosovo in Serbia
Kosovo

Republic of Kosovo
Serbia claims this area. However, 102 UN member states recognize Kosovo as an independent country. Albanian: Kosova / Kosovë – Republika e Kosovës

Serbian: Косово – Република Косово (Kosovo – Republika Kosovo)
Pristina

Albanian: Prishtina, Prishtinë

Serbian: Приштина (Priština)
1,836,529 10,887 km2 (4,203 sq mi)
Flag of Northern Cyprus
Map showing Northern Cyprus in Europe
Northern Cyprus

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
The Republic of Cyprus claims this area. Only Turkey recognizes Northern Cyprus as an independent country. Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs – Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti North Nicosia

Turkish: Lefkoşa
294,906 3,355 km2 (1,295 sq mi)
Flag of South Ossetia
Map showing South Ossetia in Europe
South Ossetia

Republic of South Ossetia
Georgia claims this area. Five UN member states recognize South Ossetia as independent. Ossetian: Хуссар Ирыстон – Республикӕ Хуссар Ирыстон (Khussar Iryston – Respublikæ Khussar Iryston)

Russian: Южная Осетия – Республика Южная Осетия (Yuzhnaya Osetiya – Respublika Yuzhnaya Osetiya)
Tskhinvali

Ossetian: Цхинвал or Чъреба (Chreba)

Russian: Цхинва́л(и) (Tskhinvál(i))
56,000 3,900 km2 (1,506 sq mi)
Flag of Transnistria
Map showing Transnistria in Moldova
Transnistria / Trans-Dniester

Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
Moldova claims this area. It acts as an independent state but is only recognized by three non-UN states. Romanian: Transnistria – Republica Moldovenească Nistreană

Russian: Приднестровье – Приднестровская Молдавская Республика (Pridnestrov'ye – Pridnestrovskaya Moldavskaya Respublika)

Ukrainian: Придністров'я – Придністровська Молдавська Республіка (Prydnistrovia – Pridnistrovska Moldavska Respublika)
Tiraspol

Romanian: Tiraspol

Russian: Тираcполь (Tiraspol')

Ukrainian: Тирасполь (Tyraspol)
347,251 3,500 km2 (1,351 sq mi)

Areas Not Fully Independent

Some areas in Europe are not independent countries. They are either dependent territories or have special political arrangements with a sovereign state.

Dependent Territories

These six European areas are considered dependent territories. This means they are governed by another country.

* = Part of the EU, although there may be special arrangements
Flag Map English common and formal names Legal status Domestic common and formal names Capital Population Area
Flag of the United Kingdom, as used in Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Map showing Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Europe
Akrotiri and Dhekelia

Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia
A British Overseas Territory. English: Akrotiri and Dhekelia – Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Episkopi Cantonment 15,700 254 km2 (98 sq mi)
Flag of the Faroe Islands
Map showing the Faroe Islands in Europe
Faroe Islands / Faeroe Islands A constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark. Faroese: Føroyar

Danish: Færøerne
Tórshavn

Faroese: Tórshavn

Danish: Thorshavn
54,000 1,393 km2 (538 sq mi)
Flag of Gibraltar
Map showing Gibraltar in Europe
Gibraltar A British Overseas Territory. English: Gibraltar Gibraltar 29,185 6.5 km2 (2.5 sq mi)
Flag of Guernsey
Map showing Guernsey in relation to the United Kingdom
Guernsey

Bailiwick of Guernsey
A Crown Dependency of the British Crown. English: Guernsey – Bailiwick of Guernsey

French: Guernesey – Bailliage de Guernesey

Guernésiais: Guernési – Bailliage de Guernési
Saint Peter Port

French: Saint Pierre Port

Guernésiais: Saint Pierre Port
65,849 78 km2 (30 sq mi)
Flag of the Isle of Man
Map showing the Isle of Man in Europe
Isle of Man A Crown Dependency of the British Crown. English: Isle of Man

Manx: Mannin – Ellan Vannin
Douglas

Manx: Doolish
86,866 572 km2 (221 sq mi)
Flag of Jersey
Map showing Jersey in Europe
Jersey

Bailiwick of Jersey
A Crown Dependency of the British Crown. English: Jersey – Bailiwick of Jersey

French: Jersey – Bailliage de Jersey

Jèrriais: Jèrri – Bailliage de Jèrri
Saint Helier

French: Saint-Hélier

Jèrriais: Saint Hélyi
96,513 118 km2 (46 sq mi)

Areas with Special Arrangements

These places are considered part of their main country, but they have special political rules. These rules were often decided through international agreements.

* = A part of the EU, although there may be some special arrangements.
Flag Map English common and formal names Legal status Domestic common and formal names Capital Population Area
Flag of Åland
Map showing Åland in Europe
Åland*

Åland Islands
This is a self-governing area of Finland. It has a lot of independence because of an agreement called the Åland crisis. Swedish: Åland – Landskapet Åland Mariehamn

Swedish: Mariehamn
27,500 6,787 km2 (2,620 sq mi)
Flag of the United Kingdom, as Northern Ireland hasn't had an official flag, since 1972
Map showing Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom and Europe
Northern Ireland This is a part of the United Kingdom. Its local government was set up by the Good Friday Agreement. English: Northern Ireland

Irish: Tuaisceart Éireann

Scots: Norlin Airlann
Belfast 1,810,863 14,130 km2 (5,456 sq mi)
Flag of Norway, as used in Svalbard
Map showing Svalbard in Europe
Svalbard This is a special territory of Norway. Its status was decided by the Svalbard Treaty. Norwegian: Svalbard Longyearbyen

Norwegian: Longyearbyen
2,019 62,045 km2 (23,956 sq mi)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:División política de Europa para niños

  • International organisations in Europe
  • Lists of European countries:
  • List of former sovereign states in Europe
  • Predecessors of sovereign states in Europe
  • Regions of Europe
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List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.