List of states with limited recognition facts for kids
A number of places have said they are independent countries and want other countries to recognize them. But not everyone agrees that they are truly independent. These places often control their own land, even if they aren't fully recognized.
There are two main ideas about how a country becomes real. The declarative theory says a country is real if it has:
- A clear piece of land.
- People who live there all the time.
- A government.
- The ability to make deals with other countries.
With this idea, a place is a country whether others recognize it or not. The constitutive theory, however, says a place is only a country if other countries that are already part of the world community recognize it.
Places with limited recognition often use one or both of these ideas to prove they are countries. For example, some places have their own land, people, and government, but no other country recognizes them. This often happens because of fights with other countries that claim the same land. Sometimes, two partially recognized countries might both claim the same land, like Taiwan and China. Places recognized by only a few countries usually point to the declarative theory to show they are real.
Sometimes, a foreign army being present in a place makes it hard for others to see it as truly independent. This can make it seem like a "puppet state," where another country is really in charge.
There are also places that don't control any land but are still recognized as independent by at least one other country. The Holy See (Vatican City) and Palestine are examples of this. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is another example.
Contents
What Makes a Country?
To be included on this list, a place must say it is independent and not be recognized by at least one UN member country. It also needs to either:
- Meet the rules of the declarative theory (has land, people, government, can deal with others).
- Be recognized as a country by at least one UN member country.
Background Information
There are 193 United Nations (UN) member countries. The Holy See and Palestine are observer states at the UN. Some UN members are still on this list because one or more other countries don't recognize them. This is often due to land claims or other conflicts.
Some countries have unofficial ways of talking to places they don't formally recognize. Taiwan (the Republic of China) is an example. It has "Economic and Cultural Offices" in many countries. These offices act like embassies and help with trade and travel. This lets Taiwan have economic ties even with countries that don't officially recognize it. Many countries, including Germany and the United States, have unofficial offices in Taiwan. Other places like Kosovo, Northern Cyprus, and Palestine also have unofficial ways of dealing with other countries.
Countries in the United Nations System
These are countries that are part of the United Nations, either as full members or observer states, but are not recognized by everyone.
UN Member States Not Fully Recognized
These are countries that are full members of the UN but are not recognized by at least one other UN member.
| Name | Started | What's the Situation? | Who Else Claims This Land? | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Armenia |
1991 | Armenia became independent in 1991. One UN member, Pakistan, does not recognize it. Pakistan supports Azerbaijan because of a past conflict. | None | Foreign relations |
 China |
1949 | The People's Republic of China (PRC) started in 1949. It is the more widely recognized of the two governments claiming to be China. The other is Taiwan (the Republic of China). The UN recognized Taiwan as China until 1971, then switched to the PRC. The PRC and Taiwan do not recognize each other. They both have a "One China" rule, meaning no country can recognize both at the same time. |  Taiwan (the Republic of China) believes it is the only true government of all of China. |
Foreign relations |
 Cyprus |
1960 | The Republic of Cyprus became independent in 1960. One UN member (Turkey) and one non-UN member (Northern Cyprus) do not recognize it. This is because of an ongoing conflict on the island. Turkey calls it the "Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus." |  Northern Cyprus claims the northeastern part of the island of Cyprus. |
Foreign relations |
 Israel |
1948 | Israel was founded in 1948. 28 UN members do not recognize it. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) recognized Israel in 1993. |  Palestine believes it is the rightful government of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  Syria claims the Golan Heights, which Israel controls. |
Foreign relations |
 North Korea |
1948 | North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) became independent in 1948. One UN member, South Korea, does not recognize it. |  South Korea believes it is the only true government of Korea. |
Foreign relations |
| South Korea |
1948 | South Korea (Republic of Korea) became independent in 1948. One UN member, North Korea, does not recognize it. | North Korea believes it is the only true government of Korea. |
Foreign relations |
UN General Assembly Observer States Not Fully Recognized
These are states that have observer status at the UN, but are not full members, and are not recognized by all UN members.
| Name | Started | What's the Situation? | Who Else Claims This Land? | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palestine |
1988 | Israel took control of the Palestinian territories in 1967. The State of Palestine was declared in 1988 by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The PLO is recognized by most UN members as the voice of the Palestinian people. Israel has moved its forces out of some areas, but still controls much of the land. Palestine is recognized by most UN members. The UN calls the Palestinian territories "occupied" by Israel. Palestine is a non-member observer state at the UN. | Israel sees the land claimed by Palestine as "disputed," meaning it doesn't legally belong to any state. |
Foreign relations |
UN Specialized Agency Member States Not Fully Recognized
These are states that are members of some UN agencies, but not fully recognized by all UN members.
| Name | Started | What's the Situation? | Who Else Claims This Land? | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cook Islands |
1965 | The Cook Islands became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand in 1965. This means they manage their own affairs, but their citizens are also New Zealand citizens. The Monarch of New Zealand is their head of state. They have diplomatic ties with over 50 UN member states. The UN calls them a "non-member state." | State in free association with  New Zealand. Some believe it has no full independence. |
Foreign relations |
 Kosovo |
2008 | Kosovo declared its independence in 2008. It is recognized by many UN members, but not all. The UN has helped manage the area since 1999. Kosovo is a member of some UN agencies like the International Monetary Fund. |  Serbia claims Kosovo as part of its own land. |
Foreign relations |
 Niue |
1974 | Niue became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand in 1974. Like the Cook Islands, its citizens are also New Zealand citizens, and the Monarch of New Zealand is their head of state. Niue has diplomatic ties with over 25 UN member states. The UN also calls Niue a "non-member state." | State in free association with New Zealand. Some believe it has no full independence. |
Foreign relations |
Countries Not in the United Nations System
These are places that claim to be independent countries but are not members of the United Nations.
Non-UN Member States Recognized by at Least One UN Member
These places are not in the UN, but at least one UN member country recognizes them as independent.
| Name | Started | What's the Situation? | Who Else Claims This Land? | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Abkhazia |
1999 | Abkhazia declared its independence in 1999. It is recognized by 5 UN member states, including Russia and Syria. Some other UN members recognized it but later changed their minds. |  Georgia claims Abkhazia as part of its land. |
Foreign relations |
| Northern Cyprus |
1983 | Northern Cyprus declared independence in 1983. Only one UN member, Turkey, recognizes it. The UN Security Council has said that Northern Cyprus's declaration of independence is not valid. | Cyprus claims Northern Cyprus as part of its land. |
Foreign relations |
 Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic |
1976 | Morocco took over most of Western Sahara in 1975. In 1976, the Polisario Front declared Western Sahara's independence as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The SADR is mostly a government-in-exile in Algeria. It is recognized by many UN member states. The SADR is a member of the African Union. |  Morocco claims all of Western Sahara as its land. |
Foreign relations |
 South Ossetia |
1992 | South Ossetia declared its independence in 1992. It is recognized by 5 UN member states, including Russia and Syria. One UN member recognized it but later changed its mind. | Georgia claims South Ossetia as part of its land. |
Foreign relations |
| Taiwan |
1912/1949 | Taiwan (Republic of China) was once widely recognized as the government of China. But in the 1970s, most countries switched their recognition to the People's Republic of China (PRC). Taiwan is currently recognized by a few UN members and the Holy See. The PRC claims Taiwan as its land. Taiwan has tried to join the UN under different names, like "Taiwan." | The People's Republic of China believes it is the only true government of all of China, including Taiwan. |
Foreign relations |
Non-UN Member States Recognized Only by Other Non-UN Members
These places are not in the UN, and only other non-UN members recognize them as independent.
| Name | Started | What's the Situation? | Who Else Claims This Land? | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Somaliland |
1991 | Somaliland declared its independence in 1991. It says it is the legal successor to a short-lived state from 1960. Only Taiwan recognizes Somaliland as a country. Somaliland is not officially recognized by any UN member state, but it has unofficial ties with some. |  Somalia claims Somaliland as part of its land. |
Foreign relations |
 Transnistria |
1990 | Transnistria declared its independence in 1990. It is recognized by two other non-UN members: Abkhazia and South Ossetia. |  Moldova claims Transnistria as part of its land. |
Foreign relations |
Other Entities with Limited Recognition
Some groups are recognized as having a special sovereign status, even if they don't claim to be a country or have their own land.
Political Entities Recognized as Sovereign by at Least One UN Member
| Name | Started | What's the Situation? | Who Else Claims This Land? | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sovereign Military Order of Malta |
1113 | The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) is a very old group. It doesn't claim to be a country or have its own land. But it is seen as a sovereign (independent) entity under international law. It has diplomatic relations with over 100 UN member states. It also participates in the UN as an observer. Italy's highest court has said that SMOM is a sovereign international subject, like a foreign state. | None | Foreign relations |
What's Not Included Here?
This list does not include:
- Areas that act like independent states but don't officially say they are, like Puntland in Somalia.
- Rebel groups that have declared independence but are not yet seen as sovereign states.
- Places in active civil wars where the situation is changing too quickly.
- Groups that claim land but don't meet the rules for being a state or aren't recognized by any other state.
- Micronations, which are very small, self-proclaimed entities that usually don't have real control over their claimed land and are not important in world politics.
- Groups of people who live without a state structure.
- New UN member states that some countries just haven't gotten around to recognizing yet, without any real dispute.
See Also
- Diplomatic recognition
- Separatism
- Territorial disputes
- Unilateral declaration of independence
Images for kids
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Women in Somaliland wearing the colors of the Somaliland flag
