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
- Political Borders
Independent Countries
- Countries Recognized by the United Nations
- Countries with Limited Recognition
Areas Not Fully Independent
- Dependent Territories
- Areas with Special Arrangements
See also

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

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

English short, formal names, and ISO	Domestic short and formal name(s)	Capital	Population 2018	Area	Currency
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
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
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
Austria* Republic of Austria AUT	German: Österreich – Republik Österreich	Vienna German: Wien	8,891,388	83,871 km² (32,383 sq mi)	Euro
Azerbaijan Republic of Azerbaijan AZE	Azerbaijani: Azǝrbaycan – Azǝrbaycan Respublikası	Baku Azerbaijani: Bakı	9,949,537	86,600 km² (33,436 sq mi)	Azerbaijani manat
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
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
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
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
Croatia* Republic of Croatia HRV	Croatian: Hrvatska – Republika Hrvatska	Zagreb Croatian: Zagreb	4,156,405	56,594 km² (21,851 sq mi)	Euro
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
Czechia* Czech Republic CZE	Czech: Česko – Česká republika	Prague Czech: Praha	10,665,677	78,867 km² (30,451 sq mi)	Czech koruna
Denmark* Kingdom of Denmark DNK	Danish: Danmark – Kongeriget Danmark	Copenhagen Danish: København	5,752,126	42,933 km² (16,577 sq mi)	Danish krone
Estonia* Republic of Estonia EST	Estonian: Eesti – Eesti Vabariik	Tallinn Estonian: Tallinn	1,322,920	45,228 km² (17,463 sq mi)	Euro
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
France* French Republic FRA	French: France – République française	Paris French: Paris	64,990,511	643,427 km² (248,429 sq mi)	Euro
Georgia GEO	Georgian: საქართველო (Sakartvelo)	Tbilisi / T'bilisi Georgian: თბილისი (T'bilisi)	4,002,942	69,700 km² (26,911 sq mi)	Georgian lari
Germany* Federal Republic of Germany DEU	German: Deutschland – Bundesrepublik Deutschland	Berlin German: Berlin	83,124,418	357,022 km² (137,847 sq mi)	Euro
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
Hungary* HUN	Hungarian: Magyarország	Budapest Hungarian: Budapest	9,707,499	93,028 km² (35,918 sq mi)	Hungarian forint
Iceland ISL	Icelandic: Ísland – Lýðveldið Ísland	Reykjavík Icelandic: Reykjavík	336,713	103,000 km² (39,769 sq mi)	Icelandic króna
Ireland* IRL	English: Ireland Irish: Éire	Dublin Irish: Baile Átha Cliath	4,818,690	70,273 km² (27,133 sq mi)	Euro
Italy* Italian Republic ITA	Italian: Italia – Repubblica Italiana	Rome Italian: Roma	60,627,291	301,340 km² (116,348 sq mi)	Euro
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
Latvia* Republic of Latvia LVA	Latvian: Latvija – Latvijas Republika	Riga Latvian: Rīga	1,928,459	64,589 km² (24,938 sq mi)	Euro
Liechtenstein Principality of Liechtenstein LIE	German: Liechtenstein – Fürstentum Liechtenstein	Vaduz German: Vaduz	37,910	160 km² (62 sq mi)	Liechtenstein franc
Lithuania* Republic of Lithuania LTU	Lithuanian: Lietuva – Lietuvos Respublika	Vilnius Lithuanian: Vilnius	2,801,264	65,300 km² (25,212 sq mi)	Euro
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
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
Moldova Republic of Moldova MDA	Romanian: Moldova – Republica Moldova	Chișinău Romanian: Chișinău		33,851 km² (13,070 sq mi)	Moldovan leu
Monaco Principality of Monaco MCO	French: Monaco – Principauté de Monaco	Monaco French: Monaco	38,682	2 km² (0.8 sq mi)	Euro
Montenegro MNE	Montenegrin: Црна Гора (Crna Gora)	Podgorica Montenegrin: Подгорица (Podgorica)	627,809	13,812 km² (5,333 sq mi)	Euro
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
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
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
Poland* Republic of Poland POL	Polish: Polska – Rzeczpospolita Polska	Warsaw Polish: Warszawa	37,921,592	312,685 km² (120,728 sq mi)	Polish złoty
Portugal* Portuguese Republic PRT	Portuguese: Portugal – República Portuguesa	Lisbon Portuguese: Lisboa	10,256,193	92,090 km² (35,556 sq mi)	Euro
Romania* ROU	Romanian: România	Bucharest Romanian: București	19,506,114	238,391 km² (92,043 sq mi)	Romanian leu
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
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
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
Slovakia* Slovak Republic SVK	Slovak: Slovensko – Slovenská republika	Bratislava Slovak: Bratislava	5,453,014	49,035 km² (18,933 sq mi)	Euro
Slovenia* Republic of Slovenia SVN	Slovene: Slovenija – Republika Slovenija	Ljubljana Slovene: Ljubljana	2,077,837	20,273 km² (7,827 sq mi)	Euro
Spain* Kingdom of Spain ESP	Spanish: España – Reino de España	Madrid Spanish: Madrid	46,692,858	505,370 km² (195,124 sq mi)	Euro
Sweden* Kingdom of Sweden SWE	Swedish: Sverige – Konungariket Sverige	Stockholm Swedish: Stockholm	9,971,638	450,295 km² (173,860 sq mi)	Swedish krona
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
Turkey Republic of Turkey TUR	Turkish: Türkiye – Türkiye Cumhuriyeti	Ankara Turkish: Ankara	82,340,088	783,562 km² (302,535 sq mi)	Turkish lira
Ukraine UKR	Ukrainian: Украïна (Ukraïna)	Kyiv Ukrainian: Київ (Kyiv)	44,246,156	603,550 km² (233,032 sq mi)	Ukrainian hryvnia
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
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.

English common and formal names	Status	Domestic common and formal names	Capital	Population	Area
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)
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)
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)
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)
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

English common and formal names	Legal status	Domestic common and formal names	Capital	Population	Area
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)
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)
Gibraltar	A British Overseas Territory.	English: Gibraltar	Gibraltar	29,185	6.5 km² (2.5 sq mi)
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)
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)
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.

English common and formal names	Legal status	Domestic common and formal names	Capital	Population	Area
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)
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)
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)