List of sovereign states in the 1970s

This is a list of sovereign states in the 1970s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1970 and 31 December 1979. It contains 185 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 169 widely recognized sovereign states, 12 entities which were de facto sovereign but which were not widely recognized by other states, 3 states which were initially unrecognized but then gained full recognition later in the decade, and 1 state which was initially widely recognized but then lost full recognition later in the decade.

Contents
Sovereign states A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z Other entities See also Notes

Sovereign states

Name and capital city	Information on status and recognition of sovereignty

A

Abu Dhabi – Emirate of Abu Dhabi (from 1 Dec 1971 to 2 Dec 1971)^[1] Capital: Abu Dhabi	Widely recognized independent state.

Afghanistan Capital: Kabul Kingdom of Afghanistan (to 17 Jul 1973)^[2] Republic of Afghanistan (from 17 Jul 1973 to 30 Apr 1978)^[2]^[3] Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (from 30 Apr 1978)^[3]	Widely recognized UN member state. Afghanistan was occupied by the Soviet Union from 27 Dec 1979.

Ajman – Emirate of Ajman (from 1 Dec 1971 to 2 Dec 1971)^[1] Capital: Ajman	Widely recognized independent state.

Albania Capital: Tirana People's Republic of Albania (to 28 Dec 1976)^[4] Socialist People's Republic of Albania (from 28 Dec 1976)^[4]	Widely recognized UN member state.

Algeria – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Capital: Algiers	Widely recognized UN member state.

Andorra – Principality of Andorra Capital: Andorra la Vella	Widely recognized independent state. The President of France and Bishop of Urgell were ex officio Co-Princes of Andorra. The defense of Andorra was the responsibility of France and Spain.

Angola – People's Republic of Angola (from 11 Nov 1975)^[5] Capital: Luanda	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 1 Dec 1976).

Argentina – Argentine Republic^[6] Capital: Buenos Aires	Widely recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 22 provinces and two federal territories.^[7] It had a claim over Argentine Antarctica, which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. It also claimed the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, both of which were British overseas territories.

Australia – Commonwealth of Australia Capital: Canberra	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. Australia was a federation of six states and three territories.^[8] It had sovereignty over the following external territories: Ashmore and Cartier Islands (from 1 Jul 1978) Australian Antarctic Territory (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.) Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Coral Sea Islands Heard Island and McDonald Islands Norfolk Island Australia administered one United Nations Trust Territory: Papua and New Guinea (to 16 Sep 1975)

Austria – Republic of Austria Capital: Vienna	Widely recognized UN member state. Austria was a federation of nine states.^[9]

B

The Bahamas – Commonwealth of the Bahamas (from 10 Jul 1973)^[10] Capital: Nassau	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 18 Sep 1973). Commonwealth realm.

Bahrain – State of Bahrain (from 15 Aug 1971)^[11] Capital: Manama	Widely recognized UN member state.

Bangladesh – People's Republic of Bangladesh (from 26 Mar 1971)^[12] Capital: Dhaka	De facto independent state. Claimed by Pakistan (to 22 Feb 1974). Widely recognized UN member state (from 17 Sep 1974).

Barbados Capital: Bridgetown	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm.

Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium Capital: Brussels	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member.

Benin Dahomey

Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan Capital: Thimphu	Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (to 21 Sep 1971). UN member state (from 21 Sep 1971). Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs, but effectively pursued an independent foreign policy starting in the 1970s.

Biafra – Republic of Biafra (to 12 Jan 1970)^[13] Capital: Enugu	Partially recognized de facto independent state.^[14] Claimed by Nigeria.

Bolivia – Republic of Bolivia Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative)	Widely recognized UN member state.

Bophuthatswana – Republic of Bophuthatswana (from 6 Dec 1977)^[15] Capital: Mmabatho	Nominally independent South African bantustan.^[16]

Botswana – Republic of Botswana Capital: Gaborone	Widely recognized UN member state.

Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil Capital: Brasília	Widely recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 22 states, five territories, and one federal district.^[17]

Bulgaria – People's Republic of Bulgaria Capital: Sofia	Widely recognized UN member state.

Burma Capital: Rangoon Union of Burma (to 3 Jan 1974)^[18] Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (from 3 Jan 1974)^[18]	Widely recognized UN member state.

Burundi – Republic of Burundi Capital: Bujumbura	Widely recognized UN member state.

C

Cabinda – Republic of Cabinda (from 1 Aug 1975 to 11 Nov 1975)^[19] Capital: Cabinda	De facto independent state. Claimed by Portugal (to 11 Nov 1975) and Angola (on 11 Nov 1975).

Cambodia / Khmer Republic / Kampuchea, Democratic Capital: Phnom Penh Kingdom of Cambodia (to 9 Oct 1970)^[20] Khmer Republic (from 9 Oct 1970 to 17 Apr 1975)^[20]^[21] Democratic Kampuchea (from 17 Apr 1975)^[21]	Widely recognized UN member state.^[22] Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Kampuchea, despite being in exile from 10 Jan 1979.

Cameroon Capital: Yaoundé Federal Republic of Cameroon (to 2 Jun 1972)^[23] United Republic of Cameroon (from 2 Jun 1972)^[23]	Widely recognized UN member state. Until 2 Jun 1972, Cameroon was a federation of two regions.^[24]

Canada – Dominion of Canada Capital: Ottawa	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. Canada was a federation of ten provinces and two territories.^[25]

Cape Verde – Republic of Cape Verde (from 5 Jul 1975)^[26] Capital: Praia	Widely recognized UN member state.

Central African Republic / Central African Empire Capital: Bangui Central African Republic (to 4 Dec 1976)^[27] Central African Empire (from 4 Dec 1976 to 20 Sep 1979)^[27]^[28] Central African Republic (from 20 Sep 1979)^[28]	Widely recognized UN member state.

Ceylon / Sri Lanka and Oranka Capital: Colombo (to 1978), Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte (from 1978) Dominion of Ceylon (to 22 May 1972)^[29] Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic of Sri Lanka (from 22 May 1972 to 7 Sep 1978)^[29]^[30] Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (from 7 Sep 1978)^[30]	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm (to 22 May 1972).

Chad – Republic of Chad Capital: N'Djamena	Widely recognized UN member state.

Chile – Republic of Chile Capital: Santiago	Widely recognized UN member state. It had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory, which is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.

China, People's Republic of Capital: Beijing	Partially recognized de facto independent state (to 25 Oct 1971). Widely recognized UN member state (from 25 Oct 1971).^[31] The People's Republic of China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. The People's Republic of China claimed Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, the Pratas Islands and Itu Aba, all of which were governed by the Republic of China. It also claimed the Paracel Islands (disputed by the Republic of China and Vietnam), the Spratly Islands (disputed by the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia), and South Tibet (controlled by India). The People's Republic of China administered Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract, which were within the disputed region of Kashmir.

China, Republic of Capital: Taipei (seat of government), Nanjing (claimed)	Widely recognized UN member state (to 25 Oct 1971). Partially recognized de facto independent state (from 25 Oct 1971).^[31] The Republic of China claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China, but only administered Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, the Pratas Islands and Itu Aba. The Republic of China had territorial claims over Mongolia; the Tuvan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic; the Sixty-Four Villages East of the River (administered by the Soviet Union); The majority of Gorno-Badakhshan (adminsitered by the Soviet Union); The eastern tip of the Wakhan Corridor (administered by Afghanistan); a small portion of Gilgit-Baltistan (administered by Pakistan and part of the disputed Kashmir region); Aksai Chin (administered by the People's Republic of China and part of the disputed Kashmir region); eastern Bhutan; South Tibet (controlled by India); and Kachin State (administered by Burma).

Colombia – Republic of Colombia Capital: Bogotá	Widely recognized UN member state. Colombia claimed Quita Sueño Bank, Roncador Bank, and Serrana Bank (disputed by the United States); Bajo Nuevo Bank (disputed by Jamaica, Nicaragua and the United States); and Serranilla Bank (disputed by Nicaragua and the United States)

Comoros Capital: Moroni State of the Comoros (from 6 Jul 1975 to 1 Oct 1978)^[32]^[33] Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros (from 1 Oct 1978)^[33]	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 12 Nov 1975). After 24 May 1978, the Comoros was a federation of three islands.^[34] Comoros claimed sovereignty over the French overseas territories of Mayotte and the Glorioso Islands. It also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and France).

Congo, Democratic Republic of the / Zaire Capital: Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo (to 27 Oct 1971)^[35] Republic of Zaire (from 27 Oct 1971)^[35]	Widely recognized UN member state.

Congo, Republic of the / Congo, People's Republic of / Congo Capital: Brazzaville Republic of the Congo (to 3 Jan 1970)^[36] People's Republic of Congo (from 3 Jan 1970)^[36]	Widely recognized UN member state.

Cook Islands Capital: Avarua	A state in free association with New Zealand. It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship.

Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica Capital: San José	Widely recognized UN member state.

Cuba – Republic of Cuba Capital: Havana	Widely recognized UN member state. The Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the permanent control of the United States.

Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus Capital: Nicosia	Widely recognized UN member state.^[37] Cyprus included one self-declared state which, although it did not claim independence, was de facto self governing: Turkish Federated State of Cyprus (from 13 Feb 1975)

Czechoslovakia – Czechoslovak Socialist Republic Capital: Prague	Widely recognized UN member state.^[38] Czechoslovakia was a federation of two republics.^[39]

D

Dahomey / Benin Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (seat of government) Republic of Dahomey (to 30 Nov 1975)^[40] People's Republic of Benin (from 30 Nov 1975)^[40]	Widely recognized UN member state.

Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark Capital: Copenhagen	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (from 1 Jan 1973). The Kingdom of Denmark also included two autonomous countries: Greenland (from 1 May 1979) Faroe Islands

Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti (from 27 Jun 1977)^[41] Capital: Djibouti	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 Sep 1977).

Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica (from 3 Nov 1978)^[42] Capital: Roseau	Widely recognized UN member state.

Dominican Republic Capital: Santo Domingo	Widely recognized UN member state.

Dubai – Emirate of Dubai (from 1 Dec 1971 to 2 Dec 1971)^[1] Capital: Dubai	Widely recognized independent state.

E

East Timor – Democratic Republic of East Timor (from 28 Nov 1975 to 7 Dec 1975)^[43] Capital: Dili	De facto independent state. Claimed by Portugal and Indonesia (from 29 Nov 1975).

Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador Capital: Quito	Widely recognized UN member state.

Egypt United Arab Republic

El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador Capital: San Salvador	Widely recognized UN member state.

Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea Capital: Malabo	Widely recognized UN member state.

Ethiopia / Derg Capital: Addis Ababa Empire of Ethiopia (to 12 Sep 1974) ^[44] Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia (Derg) (from 12 Sep 1974)^[44]	Widely recognized UN member state.

F

Fiji – Dominion of Fiji (from 10 Oct 1970)^[45] Capital: Suva	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state. Commonwealth realm. Fiji had an autonomous dependency, Rotuma.

Finland – Republic of Finland Capital: Helsinki	Widely recognized UN member state. Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region: Åland

France – French Republic Capital: Paris	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. France included five overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon (from 19 Jul 1976). It also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: Comoros (to 24 Dec 1976)^[46] French Afars and Issas (to 27 Jun 1977) French Polynesia, with one dependency: Clipperton Island French Southern and Antarctic Lands (including a claim to Adélie Land which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.) Mayotte (from 24 Dec 1976)^[46] New Caledonia Saint Pierre and Miquelon (to 19 Jul 1976) The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean, consisting of five uninhabited possessions: Bassas da India (disputed by Madagascar) Europa Island (disputed by Madagascar) Glorioso Islands (disputed by Madagascar, Comoros, and the Seychelles) Juan de Nova Island (disputed by Madagascar) Tromelin Island (disputed by Mauritius and the Seychelles) Wallis and Futuna It also co-administered one condominium: New Hebrides (with the United Kingdom) France also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and the Comoros).

Fujairah – Emirate of Fujairah (from 1 Dec 1971 to 2 Dec 1971)^[1] Capital: Fujairah	Widely recognized independent state.

G

Gabon – Gabonese Republic Capital: Libreville	Widely recognized UN member state.

The Gambia Capital: Banjul The Gambia (to 24 Apr 1970)^[47] Republic of The Gambia (from 24 Apr 1970)^[47]	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm (to 24 Apr 1970).

Germany, East – German Democratic Republic Capital: East Berlin (disputed)	Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (from 1972 to 18 Sep 1973). UN member state (from 18 Sep 1973).

Germany, West – Federal Republic of Germany Capital: Bonn	Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (to 18 Sep 1973). UN member state (from 18 Sep 1973). EEC member. West Germany was a federation of ten states.^[48]

Ghana – Republic of Ghana Capital: Accra	Widely recognized UN member state.

Greece Capital: Athens Kingdom of Greece (to 1 Jun 1973)^[49] Hellenic Republic (from 1 Jun 1973)^[49]	Widely recognized UN member state. Greece had sovereignty over Mount Athos, an autonomous monastic state that was jointly governed by the multi-national "Holy Community" on the mountain and the Civil Governor appointed by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and spiritually came under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Grenada (from 7 Feb 1974)^[50] Capital: St. George's	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 17 Sep 1974). Commonwealth Realm. Grenada had one autonomous dependency, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala Capital: Guatemala City	Widely recognized UN member state.

Guinea – Republic of Guinea Capital: Conakry	Widely recognized UN member state.

Guinea-Bissau – Republic of Guinea-Bissau (from 24 Sep 1973)^[51] Capital: Madina do Boe (to 10 Sep 1974), Bissau (from 10 Sep 1974)	De facto independent state. Claimed by Portugal (to 10 Sep 1974). Widely recognized (from 10 Sep 1974). UN member state (from 17 Sep 1974).

Guyana Capital: Georgetown Guyana (to 23 Feb 1970)^[52] Co-operative Republic of Guyana (from 23 Feb 1970)^[52]	Widely recognized UN member state.

H

Haiti – Republic of Haiti Capital: Port-au-Prince	Widely recognized UN member state. Haiti claimed the uninhabited United States possession of Navassa Island.

Holy See Vatican City

Honduras – Republic of Honduras Capital: Tegucigalpa	Widely recognized UN member state.

Hungary – People's Republic of Hungary Capital: Budapest	Widely recognized UN member state.

I

Iceland – Republic of Iceland Capital: Reykjavík	Widely recognized UN member state.

India – Republic of India Capital: New Delhi	Widely recognized UN member state. India was a federation of twenty-two states and twelve union territories.^[53] India had sovereignty over one protectorate: Sikkim (to 16 May 1975) Indian sovereignty over South Tibet, administered as part of North-East Frontier Agency and then Arunachal Pradesh from 1972 was disputed by the People's Republic of China. India administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia Capital: Djakarta (renamed Jakarta in 1972)	Widely recognized UN member state. Indonesia had three special provinces: Aceh, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta.

Iran Capital: Tehran Imperial State of Iran (to 11 Feb 1979)^[54] Iran (from 11 Feb 1979 to 1 Apr 1979)^[54] Islamic Republic of Iran (from 1 Apr 1979)^[54]	Widely recognized UN member state.

Iraq – Republic of Iraq Capital: Baghdad	Widely recognized UN member state.

Ireland^[55] Capital: Dublin	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (from 1 Jan 1973).

Israel – State of Israel Capital: Jerusalem	Widely recognized UN member state.^[56] Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip the Golan Heights, the Sinai Peninsula, and the West Bank. These areas were not generally recognized as being part of Israel.

Italy – Italian Republic Capital: Rome	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. Italy had 5 autonomous regions: Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.

Ivory Coast – Republic of Ivory Coast Capital: Abidjan	Widely recognized UN member state.

J

Jamaica Capital: Kingston	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm.

Japan Capital: Tokyo	Widely recognized UN member state.

Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Capital: Amman	Widely recognized UN member state. Jordan claimed the Israeli-occupied territories of West Bank and East Jerusalem.

K

Kampuchea, Democratic Cambodia

Kampuchea, People's Republic of (from 10 Jan 1979)^[57] Capital: Phnom Penh	Partially recognized de facto independent state.^[22] Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Kampuchea. The People's Republic of Kampuchea was occupied by Vietnam.

Kenya – Republic of Kenya Capital: Nairobi	Widely recognized UN member state.

Khmer Republic Cambodia

Kiribati – Republic of Kiribati (from 12 Jul 1979)^[58] Capital: South Tarawa	Widely recognized independent state.

Korea, North – Democratic People's Republic of Korea Capital: Pyongyang	Widely recognized independent state.^[59] Permanent observer at the UN (from 1973). Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.

Korea, South – Republic of Korea Capital: Seoul	Widely recognized independent state.^[60] Permanent observer at the UN. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.

Kuwait – State of Kuwait Capital: Kuwait City	Widely recognized UN member state.

L

Laos Capital: Vientiane Kingdom of Laos (to 2 Dec 1975)^[61] Lao People's Democratic Republic (from 2 Dec 1975)^[61]	Widely recognized UN member state.

Lebanon – Lebanese Republic Capital: Beirut	Widely recognized UN member state. Lebanon was occupied by Syria (from 2 Nov 1975).

Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho Capital: Maseru	Widely recognized UN member state.

Liberia – Republic of Liberia Capital: Monrovia	Widely recognized UN member state.

Libya Capital: Tripoli Libyan Arab Republic (to 2 Mar 1977)^[62] Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (from 2 Mar 1977)^[62]	Widely recognized UN member state. Federation of Arab Republics member (from 17 Apr 1971 to Nov 1977).

Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein Capital: Vaduz	Widely recognized independent state.^[38] The defense of Liechtenstein was the responsibility of Switzerland.

Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Capital: Luxembourg	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member.

M

Malagasy Republic / Madagascar Capital: Antananarivo Malagasy Republic (to 30 Dec 1975)^[63] Democratic Republic of Madagascar (from 30 Dec 1975)^[63]	Widely recognized UN member state. Madagascar claimed the French possessions of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands and Juan de Nova Island. It also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Comoros and France)

Malawi – Republic of Malawi Capital: Lilongwe	Widely recognized UN member state.

Malaysia Capital: Kuala Lumpur	Widely recognized UN member state. Malaysia was a federation of thirteen states and one federal territory.^[64] After 21 Dec 1979, Malaysia claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, and the Philippines).

Maldives – Republic of Maldives Capital: Malé	Widely recognized UN member state.

Mali – Republic of Mali Capital: Bamako	Widely recognized UN member state.

Malta Capital: Valetta State of Malta (to 13 Dec 1974)^[65] Republic of Malta (from 13 Dec 1974)^[65]	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm (to 13 Dec 1974).

Mauritania – Islamic Republic of Mauritania Capital: Nouakchott	Widely recognized UN member state. From 26 Feb 1976 to 11 Aug 1979, Mauritania claimed sovereignty over and controlled a portion of the disputed Western Sahara. The territory was home to the de facto independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic from 27 Feb 1976.

Mauritius Capital: Port Louis	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. Mauritius had three dependencies: Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos and Rodrigues. It claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territory of Tromelin Island.

Mexico – United Mexican States Capital: Mexico City	Widely recognized UN member state. Mexico was a federation of 31 states, two territories, and one federal district.^[66]

Monaco – Principality of Monaco Capital: Monaco	Widely recognized independent state. The defense of Monaco was the responsibility of France.

Mongolia – Mongolian People's Republic Capital: Ulaanbaatar	Widely recognized UN member state.

Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco Capital: Rabat	Widely recognized UN member state. After 26 Feb 1976, Morocco claimed sovereignty over and controlled most of the disputed Western Sahara. The territory was home to the de facto independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic from 27 Feb 1976. Morocco disputed the Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla, and Peñón de Alhucemas.

Mozambique – People's Republic of Mozambique (from 25 Jun 1975)^[67] Capital: Maputo	Widely recognized UN member state.

Muscat and Oman / Oman Capital: Muscat, Oman Sultanate of Muscat and Oman (to 9 Aug 1970) Sultanate of Oman (from 9 Aug 1970)	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 7 Oct 1971). Under the informal protection of the United Kingdom until 1971.

N

Nauru – Republic of Nauru Capital: Yaren (unofficial)	Widely recognized independent state. The defense of Nauru was the responsibility of Australia.

Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal Capital: Kathmandu	Widely recognized UN member state.

Netherlands – Kingdom of the Netherlands Capital: Amsterdam (official), The Hague (seat of government)	Widely recognized UN member state. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consisted of three autonomous countries: Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Suriname (to 25 Nov 1975) The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole was a member of the EEC, but Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles were not.

New Zealand – Dominion of New Zealand Capital: Wellington	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. New Zealand had responsibilities for the two free associated states of: Cook Islands Niue (from 19 Oct 1974) It also had sovereignty over three dependent territories: Niue (to 19 Oct 1974) Ross Dependency (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty) Tokelau Islands (renamed Tokelau on 9 Dec 1976) The government of Tokelau Islands(Tokelau) claimed Swains Island, part of American Samoa (a U.S. dependence).

Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua Capital: Managua	Widely recognized UN member state.

Niger – Republic of Niger Capital: Niamey	Widely recognized UN member state.

Nigeria – Federal Republic of Nigeria Capital: Lagos	Widely recognized UN member state. Nigeria was a federation of 23 states and one federal territory.^[68]

North Solomons – Republic of the North Solomons (from 1 Sep 1975 to 7 Aug 1976)^[69] Capital: Kieta	De facto independent state. Claimed by Australia (to 16 Sep 1975) and Papua New Guinea (from 16 Sep 1975).

Norway – Kingdom of Norway Capital: Oslo	Widely recognized UN member state. Norway had two integral overseas areas: Jan Mayen and Svalbard. The latter of area had a special status due to the Spitsbergen Treaty. Norway had sovereignty over the following dependencies: Bouvet Island Peter I Island (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty) Queen Maud Land (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty)

O

Oman Muscat and Oman

P

Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan Capital: Islamabad	Widely recognized UN member state. Pakistan was a federation of six provinces and four territories. It administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the territories of Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.^[70]

Panama – Republic of Panama Capital: Panama City	Widely recognized UN member state.

Papua New Guinea – Independent State of Papua New Guinea (from 16 Sep 1975)^[71] Capital: Port Moresby	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 10 Oct 1975). Commonwealth realm.

Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay Capital: Asunción	Widely recognized UN member state.

Peru – Peruvian Republic Capital: Lima	Widely recognized UN member state.

Philippines – Republic of the Philippines Capital: Quezon City (official, to 24 Jun 1976) Manila (official, from 24 Jun 1976), Baguio (summer, to 24 Jun 1976)	Widely recognized UN member state. The Philippines administered the Scarborough Shoal and Macclesfield Bank, both of which were disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China. It also claimed sovereignty over the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, and Malaysia) and the Malaysian territory of Sabah.

Poland – People's Republic of Poland Capital: Warsaw	Widely recognized UN member state.

Portugal – Portuguese Republic Capital: Lisbon	Widely recognized UN member state. Portugal had two autnonomous regions: the Azores (from 27 Aug 1976) and Madeira (from 27 Aug 1976). Portugal had sovereignty over the following overseas provinces: Angola (to 11 Nov 1975) Cape Verde Islands (to 5 Jul 1975) Macau (to 17 Feb 1976) Mozambique (to 25 Jun 1975) Portuguese Guinea (to 10 Sep 1974) Portuguese Timor São Tomé and Príncipe (to 12 July 1975) It also had one Chinese territory which it administered as a dependency: Macau (from 17 Feb 1976) Portugal continued to claim sovereignty over Portuguese Timor after its unilateral declaration of independence on 28 Nov 1975 and its annexation by Indonesia on 7 Dec 1975. It claimed the former overseas province of Portuguese India, which had been annexed by India, until 31 Dec 1974. It also claimed the Spanish municipalities of Olivenza and Táliga.

Q

Qatar – State of Qatar (from 3 Sep 1971)^[72] Capital: Doha	Widely recognized UN member state.

R

Ras al-Khaimah – Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah (from 1 Dec 1971 to 11 Feb 1972)^[73] Capital: Ras al-Khaimah	Widely recognized independent state.

Rhodesia / Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Capital: Salisbury Rhodesia (to 2 Mar 1970)^[74] Republic of Rhodesia (from 2 Mar 1970 to 1 Jun 1979)^[74]^[75] Republic of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia (from 1 Jun 1979 to 12 Dec 1979)^[75]^[76]	De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the United Kingdom.

Romania – Socialist Republic of Romania Capital: Bucharest	Widely recognized UN member state.

Rwanda – Rwandese Republic^[77] Capital: Kigali	Widely recognized UN member state.

Rwenzururu – Kingdom of Rwenzururu Capital: Kasese	De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Uganda.

S

Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (from 27 Feb 1976) ^[78] Capital: Bir Lehlou (official), Rabouni (seat of government-in-exile), El Aaiún (claimed)	Partially recognized de facto independent state. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic claimed the disputed territory of Western Sahara, most of which was under control of Morocco and (to 11 Aug 1979) Mauritania. The territory under its control, the so-called Free Zone, was claimed by Morocco and Mauritania. Its government resided in exile in Tindouf, Algeria.

Saint Lucia (from 22 Feb 1979)^[79] Capital: Castries	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 18 Sep 1979). Commonwealth realm.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (from 27 Oct 1979)^[80] Capital: Kingstown	Widely recognized independent state. Commonwealth realm.

San Marino – Republic of San Marino Capital: San Marino	Widely recognized independent state.

São Tomé and Príncipe – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (from 12 Jul 1975)^[81] Capital: São Tomé	Widely recognized UN member state.

Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Capital: Riyadh	Widely recognized UN member state.

Senegal – Republic of Senegal Capital: Dakar	Widely recognized UN member state.

Seychelles – Republic of Seychelles (from 29 Jun 1976)^[82] Capital: Victoria	Widely recognized UN member state (from 21 Sep 1976). The Seychelles claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territories of Tromelin Island and the Glorioso Islands.

Sharjah – Emirate of Sharjah (from 1 Dec 1971 to 2 Dec 1971)^[1] Capital: Sharjah	Widely recognized independent state.

Sierra Leone Capital: Freetown Sierra Leone (to 19 Apr 1971)^[83] Republic of Sierra Leone (from 19 Apr 1971)^[83]	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm (to 19 Apr 1971).

Singapore – Republic of Singapore Capital: Singapore	Widely recognized UN member state.

Solomon Islands (from 7 Jul 1978)^[84] Capital: Honiara	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 21 Sep 1976). Commonwealth realm.

Somalia – Somali Democratic Republic Capital: Mogadishu	Widely recognized UN member state.

South Africa – Republic of South Africa Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)	Widely recognized UN member state. South Africa had eight autonomous bantustans: Bophuthatswana (from 1 Jun 1972 to 6 Dec 1977), Ciskei (from 1 Aug 1972) Gazankulu (from 1 Feb 1973), KwaZulu (from 1 Feb 1977), Lebowa (from 2 Oct 1972), Transkei (to 26 Oct 1976), QwaQwa (from 1 Nov 1974), and Venda (from 1 Feb 1973 to 13 Sep 1979). There were also three bantustans which were nominally independent: Bophuthatswana (from 6 Dec 1977), Transkei (from 26 Oct 1976), and Venda (from 13 Sep 1979). South Africa administered one League of Nations mandate: South-West Africa

Soviet Union – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Capital: Moscow	Widely recognized UN member state. The Soviet Union was a federation of 15 republics, two of which (Byelorussia and Ukraine) were UN members in their own right.^[85]

Spain Capital: Madrid Spanish State (to 29 Dec 1978)^[86] Kingdom of Spain (from 29 Dec 1978)^[86]	Widely recognized UN member state. Spain included two autonomous communities.^[87] Spain had sovereignty over one overseas province: Spanish Sahara (to 26 Feb 1976) Its sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla and Peñón de Alhucemas was disputed by Morocco. Its sovereignty over Olivenza and Táliga was disputed by Portugal. It claimed the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.

Sri Lanka Ceylon

Sudan – Democratic Republic of the Sudan Capital: Khartoum	Widely recognized UN member state.

Suriname – Republic of Suriname (from 25 Nov 1975)^[88] Capital: Paramaribo	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 4 Dec 1975).

Swaziland – Kingdom of Swaziland Capital: Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal and legislative)	Widely recognized UN member state.

Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden Capital: Stockholm	Widely recognized UN member state.

Switzerland – Swiss Confederation Capital: Bern	Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. Switzerland was a federation of 26 cantons.^[89]

Syria – Syrian Arab Republic Capital: Damascus	Widely recognized UN member state. Federation of Arab Republics member (from 17 Apr 1971 to Nov 1977). Syria included the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel. It disputed the Turkish sovereignty over Hatay Province.

T

Taiwan China, Republic of

Tanna – Tanna Nation (from 24 Mar 1974 to 29 Jun 1974)^[90] Capital: Lénakel	De facto independent state. Claimed by the Anglo-French New Hebrides Condominium.

Tanzania – United Republic of Tanzania Capital: Dar es Salaam	Widely recognized UN member state. Tanzania had one autonomous region: Zanzibar.

Thailand – Kingdom of Thailand Capital: Bangkok	Widely recognized UN member state.

Togo – Togolese Republic Capital: Lomé	Widely recognized UN member state.

Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga (from 4 Jun 1970)^[91] Capital: Nukuʻalofa	Widely recognized independent state.

Transkei – Republic of Transkei (from 26 Oct 1976)^[92] Capital: Umtata	Nominally independent South African bantustan.^[16]

Trinidad and Tobago Capital: Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago (to 1 Mar 1976)^[93] Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (from 1 Mar 1976)^[93]	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm (to 1 Mar 1976).

Tunisia – Tunisian Republic Capital: Tunis	Widely recognized UN member state.

Turkey – Republic of Turkey Capital: Ankara	Widely recognized UN member state.

Tuvalu (from 1 Oct 1978)^[94] Capital: Funafuti	Widely recognized independent state. Commonwealth realm.

U

Uganda – Republic of Uganda Capital: Kampala	Widely recognized UN member state.

Umm al-Quwain – Emirate of Umm al-Quwain (from 1 Dec 1971 to 2 Dec 1971)^[1] Capital: Umm al-Quwain	Widely recognized independent state.

United Arab Emirates (from 2 Dec 1971)^[1] Capital: Abu Dhabi	Widely recognized UN member state. The United Arab Emirates was a federation of seven emirates.^[95]

United Arab Republic / Egypt Capital: Cairo United Arab Republic (to 11 Sep 1971)^[96] Arab Republic of Egypt (from 11 Sep 1971)^[96]	Widely recognized UN member state. Federation of Arab Republics member (from 17 Apr 1971 to Nov 1977). to The United Arab Republic consisted of one state: Egypt. It included the Sinai Peninsula, which was occupied by Israel.

United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Capital: London	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (from 1 Jan 1973). The United Kingdom was composed of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom had responsibilities for the following self-governing free associated states: Antigua, with two dependencies Barbuda (from 23 Dec 1976) Redonda Dominica (to 3 Nov 1978) Grenada (to 7 Feb 1974) Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla Saint Lucia (to 22 Feb 1979) Saint Vincent (to 27 Oct 1979) The United Kingdom administered the foreign affairs of the following protected states: Bahrain (to 16 Dec 1971) Brunei Qatar (to 3 Sep 1971) Tonga (to 4 Jun 1970) Trucial States (to 1 Dec 1971), consisting of seven protected states: Abu Dhabi Ajman Dubai Fujairah Ras al-Khaimah Sharjah Umm al-Quwain The United Kingdom co-administered the following condominiums: Canton and Enderbury Islands (to 1 Jan 1975, with the United States)^[97] New Hebrides (with France) It also had sovereignty over the following crown colonies and protectorates: Bahama Islands (to 10 Jul 1973) Bermuda British Antarctic Territory (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty) British Honduras (renamed Belize on 1 Jun 1973) British Indian Ocean Territory (disputed by Mauritius and the Seychelles) British Solomon Islands (from 2 Jan 1976 to 7 Jul 1978) British Virgin Islands British Western Pacific Territories (to 2 Jan 1976), consisting of two territories Gilbert and Ellice Islands (to Jul 1971) British Solomon Islands (to 2 Jan 1976) Cayman Islands Ellice Island (from 1 Jan 1976 to 1 Oct 1978) Falkland Islands (disputed by Argentina), with one dependency Falkland Islands Dependencies Fiji (to 10 Oct 1970), with one dependency Rotuma Gibraltar Gilbert and Ellice Islands (from Jul 1971 to 1 Jan 1976) Gilbert Islands (from 1 Jan 1976 to 12 Jul 1979) Hong Kong Montserrat Pitcairn Islands Saint Helena, with two dependencies Ascension Island Tristan da Cunha Seychelles (to 29 Jun 1976) Southern Rhodesia (from 12 Dec 1979) Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Turks and Caicos Islands In addition, the British Monarch had direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies: Guernsey, with two dependencies: Alderney Sark Isle of Man Jersey

United States – United States of America Capital: Washington, D.C.	Widely recognized UN member state. The United States was a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and one incorporated territory.^[98] It asserted sovereignty over the following inabited unincorporated territories: American Samoa (including Swains Island, disputed by Tokelau) Guam Panama Canal Zone (to 30 Sep 1979) Puerto Rico United States Virgin Islands It also asserted sovereignty over fifteen uninhabited unincorporated territories^[99]: Bajo Nuevo Bank (claimed by Colombia and Nicaragua) Baker Island Birnie Island (to 20 Sep 1979, claimed by United Kingdom)) Caroline Island (to 20 Sep 1979, claimed by United Kingdom)) Christmas Island (to 20 Sep 1979, claimed by United Kingdom)) Corn Islands (to 25 Apr 1971) Howland Island Jarvis Island Johnston Atoll Kingman Reef Midway Atoll Navassa Island (claimed by Haiti) Quita Sueño Bank (claimed by Colombia) Roncador Bank (claimed by Colombia) Serrana Bank (claimed by Colombia) Serranilla Bank (claimed by Colombia, Jamaica, and Nicaragua) Swan Islands (to 1 Sep 1972) Wake Island (claimed by the Marshall Islands) The United States co-administered the following condominium: Canton and Enderbury Islands (to 20 Sep 1979, with the United Kingdom)^[97] The United States administered one territory under the residual sovereignty of Japan: Ryukyu Islands (to 14 May 1972) In addition, the United States administered one United Nations Trust Territory: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, including three territories: Marshall Islands (from 1 May 1979) Federated States of Micronesia (from 10 May 1979) Northern Mariana Islands (from 9 Jan 1978)

Upper Volta – Republic of Upper Volta Capital: Ouagadougou	Widely recognized UN member state.

Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay Capital: Montevideo	Widely recognized UN member state.

V

Vatican City – Vatican City State Capital: Vatican City	Widely recognized independent state. Vatican City was administered by the Holy See, a sovereign entity recognized by a large number of countries and a Permanent observer at the United Nations. The Holy See also administered a number of extraterritorial properties in Italy. The Pope was the ex officio head of state of Vatican City.

Venda – Republic of Venda (from 13 Sep 1979)^[100] Capital: Thohoyandou	Nominally independent South African bantustan.^[16]

Venezuela – Republic of Venezuela Capital: Caracas	Widely recognized UN member state. Venezuela was a federation of 20 states, two territories, one federal dependency, and one federal district.^[101]

Vietnam – Socialist Republic of Vietnam (from 2 Jul 1976)^[102] Capital: Hanoi	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 Sep 1977). Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China) and Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, the Philippines, and Malaysia).

Vietnam, North – Democratic Republic of Vietnam (to 2 Jul 1976)^[102] Capital: Hanoi	Widely recognized independent state.

Vietnam, South Capital: Saigon Republic of Vietnam (to 30 Apr 1975)^[103] Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam (from 30 Apr 1975 to 2 Jul 1976)^[102]^[103]	Widely recognized independent state. South Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China) and Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, and the Philippines).

W

Western Samoa – Independent State of Western Samoa Capital: Apia	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 15 Dec 1976)

Y

Yemen, North – Yemen Arab Republic Capital: Sana'a	Widely recognized UN member state.

Yemen, South People's Republic of Yemen (to 1 Dec 1970)^[104] People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (from 1 Dec 1970)^[104]	Widely recognized UN member state.

Yugoslavia – Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Capital: Belgrade	Widely recognized UN member state. Yugoslavia was a federation of six republics.^[105]

Z

Zaire Congo, Democratic Republic of

Zambia – Republic of Zambia Capital: Lusaka	Widely recognized UN member state.

Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Rhodesia

Other entities

Excluded from the list above are the following noteworthy entities which either were not fully sovereign or did not claim to be independent:

Antarctica as a whole had no government and no permanent population. Seven states claimed portions of Antarctica and five of these had reciprocally recognised one another's claims.^[106] These claims, which were regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, were neither recognised nor disputed by any other signatory state.^[107]
Estonia was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940, but the legality of the annexation was not widely recognized. The Baltic diplomatic services in the West continued to be recognised as representing the de jure state.
Latvia was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940, but the legality of the annexation was not widely recognized. The Baltic diplomatic services in the West continued to be recognised as representing the de jure state.
Lithuania was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940, but the legality of the annexation was not widely recognized. The Baltic diplomatic services in the West continued to be recognised as representing the de jure state.
The Saudi–Iraqi neutral zone was a strip of neutral territory between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta was an entity claiming sovereignty. The order had bi-lateral diplomatic relations with a large number of states, but had no territory other than extraterritorial areas within Rome.^[108] The order's Constitution stated: "The Order is a subject of international law and exercises sovereign functions." ^[109] Although the order frequently asserted its sovereignty, it did not claim to be a sovereign state. It lacked a defined territory. Since all its members were citizens of other states, almost all of them lived in their native countries, and those who resided in the order's extraterritorial properites in Rome did so only in connection with their official duties, the order lacked the characteristic of having a permanent population.
West Berlin was a political enclave that was closely aligned with – but not actually a part of – West Germany. It consisted of three occupied sectors administered by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, and Fujairah became fully independent states when the British Protectorate over the Trucial States came to an end on 1 Dec 1971. The next day, they united to form the United Arab Emirates. [1]
^ ^a ^b Mohammed Daoud Khan overthrew Mohammed Zahir Shah on 17 Jul 1973 and proclaimed a new Republic of Afghanistan. [2]
^ ^a ^b Following a coup on 27 Apr 1978, the Revolutionary Council of Afghanistan declared a new Democratic Republic of Afghanistan with Nur Muhammad Taraki as its president. [3]
^ ^a ^b Albania adopted a new constitution on 28 Dec 1976
^ Angola gained independence from Portugal on 11 Nov 1975
^ The name "Argentine Nation" was also used for the purposes of legislation.
^ 23 Provinces: Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquén, Río Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán. 2 Territories: Buenos Aires, Tierra del Fuego.
^ 6 States: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia. 3 Territories: Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, Northern Territory.
^ 9 States: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Upper Austria, Vorarlberg, Vienna.
^ The Bahamas gained independence from the United Kingdom on 10 Jul 1973
^ Bahrain declared independence from the United Kingdom on 15 Aug 1971. The United Kingdom's protectorate over Bahrain formally came to an end on 16 Dec 1971 [4]
^ Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan on 26 Mar 1971
^ Biafra surrendered to Nigeria on 12 Jan 1970
^ Recognized by Gabon, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, and Zambia.
^ Bophuthatswana was declared independent on 6 Dec 1977
^ ^a ^b ^c The nominally independent bantustans of Bophuthatswana, Transkei, and Venda were only recognized by South Africa and by each other. The rest of the world regarded them as part of South Africa.
^ 23 States: Acre, Alagoas, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Guanabara (to 15 Mar 1975), Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul (from 1 Jan 1979), Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe. 5 Territories: Amapá, Fernando de Noronha, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins. 1 Federal District: Brazilian Federal District.
^ ^a ^b Burma adopted a new constitution on 3 Jan 1974
^ Cabinda declared independence from the Portuguese overseas province Angola on 1 Aug 1975. It was annexed by the independent state of Angola on 11 Nov 1975. [5]
^ ^a ^b The Cambodian monarchy was abolished on 9 Oct 1970
^ ^a ^b Democratic Kampuchea was established on 17 April 1975
^ ^a ^b Although the People's Republic of Kampuchea had near total control over the territory of Cambodia from 10 Jan 1979 on, the majority of the states in the world recognized the former government of Democratic Kampuchea, which retained Cambodia's UN membership. The People's Republic of Kampuchea was mainly recognized by Vietnam and states within the Soviet sphere of influence.
^ ^a ^b Cameroon adopted its constitution on 2 Jun 1972
^ 2 Regions: East Cameroun, West Cameroun.
^ 10 Provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan. 2 Territories: Northwest Territories, Yukon.
^ Cape Verde attained independence from Portugal on 5 Jul 1975
^ ^a ^b The Central African Empire was declared on 4 Dec 1976
^ ^a ^b The Central African Empire was restored on 20 Sep 1979
^ ^a ^b Ceylon was declared a republic on 22 May 1972
^ ^a ^b A new Constitution of Sri Lanka came into effect on 7 Sep 1978
^ ^a ^b The People's Republic of China and the Republic of China did not recognize each other, as both states claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China. The following states recognized the PRC instead of the ROC: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina (from 19 Feb 1972), Australia (from 21 Dec 1972), Austria (from 28 May 1971), Bangladesh (from 4 Oct 1975), Barbados (from 30 May 1977), Belgium (from 25 Oct 1971), Botswana (from 6 Jan 1975), Brazil (from 15 Aug 1974), Bulgaria, Burma, Burundi (from 13 Oct 1971), Cambodia, Canada (from 13 Oct 1970), Cape Verde (from 25 Apr 1976), Central African Republic, Chad (from 28 Nov 1972), Chile (from 15 Dec 1970), Comoros (from 13 Nov 1975), Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cuba, Cyprus (from 14 Dec 1972), Czechoslovakia, Dahomey (from 29 Dec 1972), Denmark, Djibouti (from 8 Jan 1979), Egypt, Equatorial Guinea (from 15 Oct 1970), Ethiopia (from 24 Nov 1970), Fiji (from 5 Nov 1975), Finland, France, Gabon (from 20 Apr 1974), The Gambia (from 14 Dec 1974), East Germany, West Germany (from 11 Oct 1972), Ghana, Greece (from 5 Jun 1972), Guinea, Guinea-Bissau (from 15 Mar 1974), Guyana (from 27 Jun 1972), Hungary, Iceland (from 8 Dec 1971), India, Indonesia, Iran (from 16 Aug 1971), Iraq, Ireland (from 22 Jun 1979), Italy (from 6 Nov 1970), Jamaica (from 21 Nov 1972), Japan (from 29 Sep 1972), Jordan (from 7 Apr 1977), Kenya, North Korea, Kuwait (from 22 Mar 1971), Laos, Lebanon (from 9 Nov 1971), Liberia (from 17 Feb 1977), Libya (from 9 Aug 1978), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg (from 16 Nov 1972), Madagascar (from 6 Nov 1972), Malaysia (from 31 May 1974), Maldives (from 14 Oct 1972), Mali, Malta (from 31 Jan 1972), Mauritania, Mauritius (from 15 Apr 1972), Mexico (from 14 Feb 1972), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique (from 25 Jun 1975), Nepal, Netherlands (recognition accepted on 18 Mar 1972), New Zealand (from 22 Dec 1972), Niger (from 20 Jul 1974), Nigeria (from 10 Feb 1970), Norway, Oman (from 25 May 1978), Pakistan, Papua New Guinea (from 12 Oct 1976), Peru (from 2 Nov 1971), Philippines (from 9 Jun 1975), Poland, Portugal (from 8 Feb 1979), Romania, Rwanda (from 12 Nov 1971), Samoa (from 6 Nov 1975), San Marino (from 6 May 1971), São Tomé and Príncipe (from 21 Jul 1975), Senegal (from 7 Dec 1971), Seychelles (from 30 Jun 1976), Sierra Leone (from 29 Jul 1971), Somalia, the Soviet Union, Spain (from 9 Mar 1973), Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname (from 28 May 1976), Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand (from 1 Jul 1975), Togo (from 19 Sep 1972), Trinidad and Tobago (from 20 Jun 1974), Tunisia, Turkey (from 4 Aug 1971) Uganda, the United Kingdom (recognition accepted on 13 Mar 1972), the United States (from 1 Jan 1979), Upper Volta (from 15 Sep 1973), Venezuela (from 28 Jun 1974), North Vietnam, North Yemen, South Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.
^ The Comoros became independent from France on 6 Jul 1975
^ ^a ^b The Comoros enacted a new constitution on 1 Oct 1978
^ 3 Islands: Anjouan, Grande Comore, Mohéli.
^ ^a ^b The Democratic Republic of Congo was renamed Zaire on 27 Oct 1961
^ ^a ^b Congo became a People's Republic on 3 Jan 1970
^ Cyprus was not recognized by Turkey.
^ ^a ^b Owing to a dispute over lands seized during World War II, Liechtenstein and Czechoslovakia did not recognize each other.
^ 2 Republics: Czech Socialist Republic, Slovak Socialist Republic.
^ ^a ^b Dahomey was renamed Benin on 30 Nov 1975
^ The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas gained independence as Djibouti on 27 Jun 1977. [6]
^ Dominica gained independence from the United Kingdom on 3 Nov 1978
^ East Timor declared independence from Portugal on 28 Nov 1975. It was annexed by Indonesia on 7 Dec 1975. [7]
^ ^a ^b Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia was deposed by the Derg on 12 Sep 1974. [8]
^ Fiji gained independence from the United Kingdom on 10 Oct 1970
^ ^a ^b Comoros declared independence on 6 Jul 1975 and was recognized by France on 31 Dec 1975, but the island of Mayotte remained under French administration. A separate administration for Mayotte was not formally established until 24 Dec 1976.
^ ^a ^b The Gambia became a republic on 24 Apr 1970
^ 10 States: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein.
^ ^a ^b King Constantine II of Greece was deposed by the Regime of the Colonels on 1 Jun 1973. [9] The end of the monarchy was confirmed by plebiscite on 8 Dec 1974 and a new Republican constitution was enacted on 11 June 1975
^ Grenada became independent from the United Kingdom on
^ Guinea-Bissau unilaterally declared independence from Portugal on 24 Sep 1973. [10]
^ ^a ^b Guyana became a republic on 23 Feb 1970
^ 22 States: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh (from 25 Jan 1971), Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur (from 21 Jan 1972), Meghalaya (from 20 Jan 1972), Mysore (renamed Karnataka on 1 Nov 1973), Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim (from 16 May 1975), Tamil Nadu, Tripura (from 21 Jan 1972), Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal. 12 Union Territories: Arunachal Pradesh (from 20 Jan 1972), Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Goa, Daman and Diu, Himachal Pradesh (to 25 Jan 1971), Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands (renamed Lakshadweep on 1 Nov 1973), Manipur (from 21 Jan 1972), Mizoram (from 20 Jan 1972), National Capital Territory of Delhi, Pondicherry, Tripura (to 21 Jan 1972).
^ ^a ^b ^c The Monarchy of Iran was abolished on 11 Feb 1979. The Islamic Republic was proclaimed on 1 Apr 1979. [11]
^ Ireland also had the legal description of "Republic of Ireland", although this was not its constitutional name.
^ Israel was not recognized by Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Chad, Cuba, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, or Yemen.
^ The People's Republic of Kampuchea was declared on 10 Jan 1979
^ Kiribati gained independence from the United Kingdom on 12 July 1979
^ North Korea was not recognized by Estonia, France, Japan, or South Korea.
^ South Korea was not recognized by the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China, or North Korea.
^ ^a ^b Savang Vatthana abdicated his throne on 2 Dec 1975. [12]
^ ^a ^b The Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya was declared on 2 Mar 1977. [13]
^ ^a ^b Madagascar adopted a new constitution on 30 Dec 1975
^ 13 States: Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu. 1 Federal Territories: Kuala Lumpur (from 1 Feb 1974).
^ ^a ^b Malta became a republic on 13 Dec 1974
^ 31 States: Aguascalientes, Baja California (from 8 Oct 1974), Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo (from 8 Oct 1974), San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatán, Zacatecas. 2 Territories: Baja California Sur (to 8 Oct 1974), Quintana Roo (to 8 Oct 1974). 1 Federal District: Federal District
^ Mozambique declared independence from Portugal on 25 Jun 1975
^ 23 States: Anambra (from 3 Feb 1976), Bauchi (from 3 Feb 1976), Mid-Western (renamed Mid-Western Bendel on 3 Feb 1976), Benue (from 3 Feb 1976), Benue-Plateau (to 3 Feb 1976), Borno (from 3 Feb 1976), South-Eastern (renamed Cross River on 3 Feb 1976), East Central (to 3 Feb 1976), Gongola (from 3 Feb 1976), Imo (from 3 Feb 1976), Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Niger (from 3 Feb 1976), North-Eastern State (to 3 Feb 1976), Ogun (from 3 Feb 1976), Ondo (from 3 Feb 1976), Oyo (from 3 Feb 1976), Plateau (from 3 Feb 1976), Rivers, Sokoto, Western (to 3 Feb 1976). 1 Federal Territory: Federal Capital Territory (from 3 Feb 1976)
^ The Republic of the North Solomons declared independence from the Australian-administered Trust Territory of Papua and New Guinea on 1 Sep 1975. [14] The North Solomons gave up their claim of independence on 7 Aug 1976. [15]
^ 6 Provinces: Balochistan (from 1 Jul 1970), East Pakistan (to 16 Dec 1971), North-West Frontier Province (from 1 Jul 1970), Punjab (from 1 Jul 1970), Sindh (from 1 Jul 1970), West Pakistan (to 1 Jul 1970). 4 Territories: Azad Kashmir (from 1 Jul 1970), Federally Administered Tribal Areas (from 1 Jul 1970), Islamabad Capital Territory (from 1 Jul 1970), Northern Areas (from 1 Jul 1970).
^ Papua New Guinea gained independence from an Australian-administered UN Trusteeship on 16 Sep 1975. [16]
^ Qatar gained independence from the United Kingdom on 3 Sep 1971
^ Ras al-Khaimah became fully independent when the British Protectorate over the Trucial States came to an end on 1 Dec 1971. On 11 Feb 1972 it joined the United Arab Emirates. [17]
^ ^a ^b Rhodesia became a republic on 2 Mar 1970
^ ^a ^b The interim state of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia was established on 1 Jun 1979
^ [18] Zimbabwe Rhodesia reverted to British rule on 12 Dec 1979.
^ Rwanda's official French name was "République rwandaise". [19] [20]. It could be translated into English as "Rwandese Republic" s:CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Rwanda, "Rwandan Republic" [21], or "Republic of Rwanda" [22].
^ The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic declared independence on
^ Saint Lucia gained independence from the United Kingdom on 22 Feb 1979
^ Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gained independence from the United Kingdom on 27 Oct 1979. [23]
^ São Tomé and Príncipe gained independence from Portugal on 12 Jul 1975
^ The Seychelles gained independence from the United Kingdom on 29 Jun 1976. [24]
^ ^a ^b Sierra Leone became a Republic on 19 Apr 1971
^ The Solomon Islands gained independence from the United Kingdom on 7 Jul 1978. [25]
^ 15 Republics: Armenian SSR, Azerbaijan SSR, Byelorussian SSR, Estonian SSR, Georgian SSR, Kazakh SSR, Kirghiz SSR, Latvian SSR, Lithuanian SSR, Moldavian SSR, Russian SFSR, Tajik SSR, Turkmen SSR, Ukrainian SSR, Uzbek SSR.
^ ^a ^b Spain enacted a new constitution on 29 Dec 1978
^ 2 Autonomous Communities: Basque Country (from 25 Oct 1979), Catalonia (from 31 Dec 1979).
^ Suriname gained independence from the Netherlands on 25 Nov 1975
^ 26 Cantons: Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Glarus, Graubünden, Jura (from 1 Jan 1979), Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zürich
^ Tanna declared independence from the New Hebrides on 24 Mar 1974. The rebellion was put down on 29 Jun 1974. [26]
^ Tonga gained independence from the United Kingdom on 4 Jun 1970
^ The South African bantustan of Transkei was declared independent on 26 Oct 1976. [27]
^ ^a ^b Trinidad and Tobago became a republic on 1 Mar 1976
^ Tuvalu became independent from the United Kingdom on 1 Oct 1978
^ 7 Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah (from 11 Feb 1972), Sharjah, and Umm al-Qaiwain.
^ ^a ^b The United Arab Republic was officially dissolved on 11 Sep 1971, when Egypt adopted a new constitution. [28]
^ ^a ^b The United Kingdom considered the Canton and Enderbury Islands to be part of its Gilbert Islands colony from 1 Jan 1975. The United States continued to claim the islands until 20 Sep 1979.
^ 50 States: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. 1 Federal District: District of Columbia. 1 Incorporated Territory: Palmyra Atoll.
^ These islands were sometimes designated for statistical purposes as the United States Miscellaneous Caribbean Islands and the United States Miscellaneous Pacific Islands.
^ Venda gained nominal independence in 13 Sep 1979
^ 20 States: Anzoátegui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolívar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Falcón, Guárico, Lara, Mérida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Táchira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia. 2 Territories: Amazonas, Delta Amacuro. 1 Federal District: Federal District. 1 Federal Dependency: Federal Dependencies.
^ ^a ^b ^c North Vietnam and South Vietnam united to form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on 2 Jul 1976. [29]
^ ^a ^b Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese on 30 Apr 1975, leading to the establishment of the Republic of South Vietnam. [30]
^ ^a ^b Yemen was renamed on 1 Dec 1970
^ 6 Republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia.
^ Rogan-Finnemore, Michelle (2005), "What Bioprospecting Means for Antarctica and the Southern Ocean", in Von Tigerstrom, Barbara, International Law Issues in the South Pacific, Ashgate Publishing, p. 204, ISBN 0-7546-4419-7 "Australia, New Zealand, France, Norway and the United Kingdom reciprocally recognize the validity of each other's claims."
^ CIA – the World Factbook – Antarctica – accessed 19 January 2008
^ Bilateral relations with countries, Retrieved 2009-12-22
^ Chapter General of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta (1998-01-12). Constitutional Charter and Code of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta, promulgated 27 June 1961, revised by the Extraordinary Chapter General 28–30 April 1997, Article 3 "Sovereignty," Paragraph 1.. Rome: Tipografia Arte della Stampa. pp. 11. http://www.orderofmalta.org/site/pdf/Constit._Charter_and_code.pdf.

Lists of sovereign states by year

AD (CE)

Current
2010s · 2000s · 1990s · 1980s · 1970s · 1960s · 1950s ·
1949 · 1948 · 1947 · 1946 · 1945 · 1944 · 1943 · 1942 · 1941 · 1940 · 1939 · 1938 · 1937 · 1936 · 1935 · 1934 · 1933 · 1932 · 1931 · 1930 · 1929 · 1928 · 1927 · 1926 · 1925 · 1924 · 1923 · 1922 · 1921 · 1920 · 1919 · 1918 · 1917 · 1916 · 1915 · 1914 · 1913 · 1912 · 1911 · 1910 · 1909 · 1908 · 1907 · 1906 · 1905 · 1904 · 1903 · 1902 · 1901 · 1900 · 1899 · 1898 · 1897 · 1896 · 1895 · 1894 · 1893 · 1892 · 1891 · 1890 · 1889 · 1888 · 1887 · 1886 · 1885 · 1884 · 1883 · 1882 · 1881 · 1880 · 1879 · 1878 · 1877 · 1876 · 1875 · 1874 · 1873 · 1872 · 1871 · 1870 · 1869 · 1868 · 1867 · 1866 · 1865 · 1864 · 1863 · 1862 · 1861 · 1860 · 1859 · 1858 · 1857 · 1856 · 1855 · 1854 · 1853 · 1852 · 1851 · 1850 · 1849 · 1848 · 1847 · 1846 · 1845 · 1844 · 1843 · 1842 · 1841 · 1840 · 1839 · 1838 · 1837 · 1836 · 1835 · 1834 · 1833 · 1832 · 1831 · 1830 · 1829 · 1828 · 1827 · 1826 · 1825 · 1824 · 1823 · 1822 · 1821 · 1820 · 1819 · 1818 · 1817 · 1816 · 1815 · 1814 · 1813 · 1812 · 1811 · 1810 · 1809 · 1808 · 1807 · 1806 · 1805 · 1804 · 1803 · 1802 · 1801 · 1800
1776 · 1769 · 1768 · 1661 · 1660 · 1648 · 1528 · 1496 · 1494 · 1400 · 1143 · 1000 · 820 · 661 · 632 · 1

BC (BCE)

100 BC Centuries: 1st BC · 2nd BC · 3rd BC · 4th BC · 5th BC · 6th BC · 7th BC · 8th BC · 9th BC · 10th BC · 11th BC · Before 11th BC

List of sovereign states in the 1970s

Sovereign states

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y

Z

Other entities

See also

Notes