List of unrecognized countries

     No international recognition      Limited recognition      Majority recognition      Territories whose status is disputed, with a government body, that has limited recognition

These lists of unrecognized or partially recognized countries give an overview of contemporary geopolitical entities, that wish to be recognized as sovereign states under the Montevideo Convention, which do not enjoy worldwide diplomatic recognition. The entries listed here have control over their claimed territory and are self-governing with a desire for full independence, or if they lack such control over their territory, are recognized by at least one other recognized nation.

See list of historical unrecognized countries for similar entities, that have existed in the past. See list of governments in exile for unrecognized governments without control over the territory claimed.

There are 192 United Nations (UN) member states. The Holy See is generally recognized as sovereign in international law, but is not a full member of the United Nations.[1]

Contents

Present geopolitical entities by level of recognition

No recognition by any state

Name Disputed since UN recognition Further information References
Flag of Nagorno-Karabakh.svg Nagorno-Karabakh 1991 Nagorno-Karabakh is not independent from Azerbaijan, according to the UN. Foreign relations of Nagorno-Karabakh [2]
Flag of Somaliland.svg Somaliland 1991 Somaliland is not independent from Somalia, according to the UN. Foreign relations of Somaliland [3]

Recognized by non-UN members only

Name Disputed since UN Recognition Further information References
Flag of Transnistria.svg Transnistria 1990 Transnistria is not independent from Moldova, according to the UN; its sovereignty is recognized though by Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Foreign relations of Transnistria [4]

Recognized by at least one UN member

Name Disputed since UN Recognition Further information References
Flag of Abkhazia.svg Abkhazia 1992 Abkhazia is not independent from Georgia, according to the UN; its sovereignty though is recognized by Russia, Nicaragua; two non-UN member states, South Ossetia, Transnistria[5] and the Hamas government in Gaza.[6] Foreign relations of Abkhazia, International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia [7][8]
Flag of Kosovo.svg Kosovo 2008 Kosovo is not independent from Serbia, according to the UN; its sovereignty though is recognised by 53 UN members and one former UN member, Republic of China (Taiwan).I According to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, Kosovo is de jure part of Serbia. Foreign relations of Kosovo, International reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence [9]
Flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.svg Northern Cyprus 1983 The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is not independent from Cyprus, according to the UN; its sovereignty though is recognized by Turkey, the supranational Islamic Conference and Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, a subunit of that republic. Foreign relations of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [10]
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Republic of China (Taiwan) 1949 According to the UN, the area currently controlled by the Republic of China (commonly known as "Taiwan") is part of China and the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government of China. The sovereignty of the ROC as sole legitimate government of China though is recognized by 23 UN members, including the Holy See, an observer state of the UN.II The ROC is a former member of the UN, representing China. Besides the land the ROC currently controls, the ROC claims land controlled by Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Japan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and the PRC. Many nations have unofficial relations with the ROC. Political status of Taiwan, Foreign relations of the Republic of China [11]
Flag of Western Sahara.svg Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) 1976 Western Sahara is on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories; its soveignty though as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is recognized by 49 UN members and the African Union, but not by Morocco, which claims the entirety of its territory. De facto sovereignty is limited to the Free Zone, the remainder is under Moroccan military occupation. The SADR also controls a number of refugee camps in southwestern Algeria. Foreign relations of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic [12]
Flag of South Ossetia.svg South Ossetia 1991 South Ossetia is not independent from Georgia, according to the UN; its sovereignty though is recognized by Russia, Nicaragua; two non-UN states, Abkhazia and Transnistria and the Hamas government in Gaza. Its independence movement aspires to join Russia.[13] Foreign relations of South Ossetia, International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia [14][8][15]

Substantial recognition, but no UN recognition

Name Disputed since Recognition Further information References
Palestinian flag Palestine 1988 Palestine is recognized as independent by 96 UN member states and by the Holy See and missions of the PLO (considered representative of the Palestinian people) having diplomatic or special status in 12 other countries. It is not recognized by Israel, the United States, most Western European and Latin American countries, among others. The Palestinian Authority governing the claimed Palestinian territory is not fully controlled by the PLO and has not declared independence so far. Foreign relations of the Palestinian National Authority [16]

UN member state, not recognized by a limited number of states

Name Disputed since Recognition Further information References
Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus 1974 Cyprus is not recognized by Turkey and Northern Cyprus.
Calling as "Güney Kıbrıs Rum Kesimi" (Greek Part of Southern Cyprus) by Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.		 Foreign relations of Cyprus [17][18]
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic 1993 The Czech Republic is not recognized by Liechtenstein due to a dispute over the applicability of the Beneš decrees. Foreign relations of the Czech Republic [19]
Flag of Israel.svg Israel 1948 Israel has no diplomatic relations with 34 countries. It is not recognized by 26 countries and the partially recognized Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.III Foreign relations of Israel [20]
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg Liechtenstein 1993 Liechtenstein is recognized by neither the Czech Republic nor Slovakia due to Liechtenstein's refusal to recognize them. Foreign relations of Liechtenstein [19]
Flag of North Korea.svg North Korea 1948 North Korea is not recognized by Japan and South Korea.[21] Foreign relations of North Korea [22][23]
Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea 1948 South Korea is not recognized by North Korea. Foreign relations of South Korea [24][25]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg People's Republic of China (PRC) 1949 The People's Republic of China is not recognized by the Republic of China (Taiwan). Because of the One-China policy, the PRC is not recognized by the 23 UN member states that recognize the ROC. PRC's diplomatic relations, Foreign relations of the PRC [26]
Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia 1993 Slovakia is not recognized by Liechtenstein due to a dispute over the applicability of the Beneš decrees. Foreign relations of Slovakia [19]

See also

Footnotes

References

  1. ↑ Non-member State
  2. ↑ The Nagorno Karabakh Republic (2006-12-10). "Constitution of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic"". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  3. ↑ Gettleman, Jeffrey (2007-03-07). "Somaliland is an overlooked African success story". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  4. ↑ "Abkhazia: Ten Years On". BBC 2 (2001). Retrieved on 2008-06-16.
  5. ↑ South Ossetia opens embassy in Abkhazia The Tiraspol Times
  6. ↑ Russian troops leave Georgian posts
  7. ↑ Clogg, Rachel (2001). "Abkhazia: Ten Years On". Conciliation Resources. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Russia recognises Georgian rebels - BBC, 2008-08-26[1]
  9. ↑ "Kosovo MPs proclaim independence". BBC News (2008-02-17). Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  10. ↑ Hadar, Leon (2005-11-16). "In Praise of 'Virtual States'". AntiWar. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  11. ↑ Lewis, Joe (2002-08-04). "Taiwan Independence". Digital Freedom Network. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  12. ↑ Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (1976-02-27). "Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic". Western Sahara Online. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  13. ↑ South Ossetia opens embassy in Abkhazia The Tiraspol Times
  14. ↑ Stojanovic, Srdjan (2003-09-23). "OCHA Situation Report". Center for International Disaster Information. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  15. ↑ Russian troops leave Georgian posts
  16. ↑ "3.10 - How many countries recognize Palestine as a state?". Institute for Middle East Understanding (2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  17. ↑ CIA World Factbook (2008-02-28). "Cyprus". Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  18. ↑ "Cyprus exists without Turkey's recognition: president". XINHUA (2005-10-01). Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 MFA of Czech Republic. "Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic - Liechtenstein". Retrieved on 2008-03-13.
  20. ↑ Government of Israel (1948-05-14). "Declaration of Israel's Independence 1948". Yale University. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  21. ↑ "Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea". Retrieved on 27 october 2008.
  22. ↑ "Declaration of Independence". TIME (1966-08-19). Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  23. ↑ Scofield, David (2005-01-04). "Seoul's double-talk on reunification". Asia Times. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  24. ↑ US Library of Congress (2000-10-07). "World War II and Korea". Country Studies. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  25. ↑ Sterngold, James (1994-09-03). "China, Backing North Korea, Quits Armistice Commission". The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  26. ↑ "Constitution of the People's Republic of China". International Human Rights Treaties and Documents Database. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.

External links