Dependent territory
A dependent territory, dependent area or dependency is a territory that does not possess full political independence or sovereignty as a State, and remains politically outside of the controlling states integral area.[1]
A dependency is commonly distinguished from other subnational entities in that they are not considered to be part of the integral territory of the governing State. A subnational entity typically represents a division of the State proper, while a dependent territory often maintains a great degree of autonomy from the controlling State. Historically most colonies were considered to be dependencies of their controlling State. Most of these have either become independent or assimilated into the conquering state, the dependencies that remain generally maintain a very high degree of political autonomy. Although dependencies retain a degree of autonomy, not all autonomous entities are considered to be dependencies.
A number of political entities have a special position recognized by international treaty or agreement resulting in a certain level of autonomy or differences in immigration rules. These are sometimes considered dependencies[2], but they are considered by their controlling states to be integral parts of the state. These include:
Lists of dependent territories
World map of dependent territories
Dependency claims without general international recognition, including all claims in Antarctica, are listed in italics. Uninhabited territories or territories with no permanent population are marked with hash/number symbols (#). The list includes several territories that are not included in the list of non-self-governing territories [1] listed by the General Assembly of the United Nations and not legally classified as dependencies by that polity.
Although all territories of Australia are considered to be fully integrated in its federative system, and the official status of an external territory does not differ largely from that of a mainland territory, debate remains as to whether the external territories are integral parts of Australia, due to their not being part of Australia in 1901, when it's constituent stated federated. [3] They are often listed separately for statistical purposes. The external territories of Norfolk Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands are considered to be integral parts of the Commonwealth of Australia.[4][5]
| Division |
Administration |
 Faroe Islands |
Self-governing overseas administrative division since 1948. Part of the Kingdom of Denmark but not of the European Union. |
 Greenland |
Self-governing overseas administrative division since 1979. Part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Left the European Union in 1986. |
The integral area of France is referred to as Metropolitan France, while the collective dependent territories are often called DOMTOMs.
| In free association |
Administration |
 Cook Islands |
Self-governing state in free association with New Zealand since 1965. The Cook Islands are fully responsible for their internal affairs; New Zealand, in consultation, retains some responsibility for external affairs and defence. As of 2005, the Cook Islands have diplomatic relations in their own name with eighteen countries. |
 Niue |
Self-governing state in free association with New Zealand since 1974. Niue is fully responsible for its internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defence. New Zealand's responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised at the request of the Government of Niue. |
| Territory |
Administration |
 Tokelau |
Self-administering territory of New Zealand. As it moves toward free association with New Zealand, Tokelau and New Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution. A UN-sponsored referendum on self-governance in February 2006 did not produce the two-thirds supermajority necessary for changing the current political status. Another one was in October 2007, which failed to reach the 2/3 margin. |
 Ross Dependency # |
New Zealand's Antarctic claim. |
| Dependency |
Administration |
 Bouvet Island # |
Dependency administered from Oslo by the Polar Affairs Department of the Ministry of Justice and the Police. |
| Peter I Island # |
Dependencies (subject to the Antarctic Treaty System) administered from Oslo by the Polar Affairs Department of the Ministry of Justice and the Police. |
| Queen Maud Land # |
In contrast, Svalbard is fully a part of Norway. Svalbard is subject to several special laws, but it not partially indepentent and does not decide laws on its own.
| Territory |
Administration |
 American Samoa |
Unincorporated and unorganized territory administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. |
 Baker Island # |
Unorganized and unincorporated territory administered from Washington, D.C. by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States Department of the Interior. |
| Bajo Nuevo Bank # |
Unincorporated territory of the U.S. administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Also claimed by Colombia, Jamaica and Nicaragua. |
 Guam |
Unincorporated organized territory; policy relations between Guam and the U.S. conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. |
| Howard Island # |
Unorganized and unincorporated territory administered from Washington, D.C. by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States Department of the Interior. |
| Jarvis Island # |
Unorganized and unincorporated territory administered from Washington, D.C. by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States Department of the Interior. |
| Johnston Atoll # |
Unorganized and unincorporated territory administered from Washington, D.C. by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States Department of the Interior. |
| Kingman Reef # |
Unorganized and unincorporated territory administered from Washington, D.C. by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States Department of the Interior. |
| Midway Island # |
Unorganized and unincorporated territory administered from Washington, D.C. by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States Department of the Interior. |
| Navassa Island # |
Unincorporated territory of the U.S. administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior from the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boquerón, Puerto Rico. Claimed by Haiti and privately via the Guano Islands Act. |
 Northern Mariana Islands |
Commonwealth in political union with the U.S.; federal funding administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. |
 Puerto Rico |
Unincorporated organized territory of the U.S. with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the U.S. conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President. |
| Serranilla Bank # |
Unincorporated territory of the U.S. administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Also claimed by Colombia and Nicaragua. Beacon Cay is occupied by Colombia. |
 U.S. Virgin Islands |
Unincorporated organized territory; policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the U.S. conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. |
| Wake Island # |
Supervised by the U.S. Air Force, administered from Washington, D.C. by the U.S. Department of the Interior, and is claimed by the Marshall Islands. |
See also
References
- George Drower, Britain's Dependent Territories, Dartmouth, 1992
- George Drower, Overseas Territories Handbook, TSO, 1998
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the CIA World Factbook.
External links
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Defunct and historical
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Åland in 
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Palestine in 
Israel
Ashmore and Cartier Islands #
Christmas Island
Clipperton Island #
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Mayotte
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