# List of sovereign states in the 1990s

This is a list of sovereign states in the 1990s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 1999. It contains 241 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 197 widely recognized sovereign states, 28 entities which claim an effective sovereignty but are considered de facto dependencies of other powers by the general international community, 2 associated states, 14 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.[clarification needed]
* Members or observers of the United Nations
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* Q
* R
* S
* T
* U
* V
* Y
* Z
* Non-UN members or observers
* Other entities
* See also
* Notes

## Members or observers of the United Nations

| Name and capital city | Information on status and recognition of sovereignty |
| A ||
| → → Afghanistan Capital: Kabul (to 26 September 1996), Mazar-i-Sharif (from 26 September 1996 to 25 May 1997), Taloqan (from 25 May 1997) Republic of Afghanistan (to 28 April 1992) Islamic State of Afghanistan (from 28 April 1992) | Widely recognized UN member state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Afghanistan and recognized as such by the UN, but only controlled a small portion of the country after 26 September 1996. |
| → Albania Capital: Tirana People's Socialist Republic of Albania (to 29 April 1991) Republic of Albania (from 29 April 1991) | 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. UN member state (from 28 July 1993). The defense of Andorra was the responsibility of France and Spain. |
| Angola Capital: Luanda People's Republic of Angola (to 25 August 1992) Republic of Angola (from 25 August 1992) | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Antigua and Barbuda Capital: St. John's | Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Antigua and Barbuda had two dependencies, Barbuda and Redonda. |
| Argentina – Argentine Republic Capital: Buenos Aires | Widely recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 22 provinces, two federal territories, and one federal territory. 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. |
| Armenia – Republic of Armenia (from 23 September 1991) Capital: Yerevan | De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized (from 26 December 1991). UN member state (from 2 March 1992). |
| Australia – Commonwealth of Australia Capital: Canberra | Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Australia was a federation of six states and three territories. It had sovereignty over the following external territories: Ashmore and Cartier Islands Australian Antarctic Territory (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.) Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Coral Sea Islands Heard Island and McDonald Islands  Norfolk Island |
| Austria – Republic of Austria Capital: Vienna | Widely recognized UN member state. EU member (from 1 January 1995). Austria was a federation of nine states. |
| Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan (from 30 August 1991) Capital: Baku | De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized state from 26 December 1991; UN member state from 2 March 1992. Azerbaijan had one autonomous republic, Nakhchivan. It included the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where a partially recognized breakaway republic declared independence on 6 January 1992. |
| B ||
| The Bahamas – Commonwealth of the Bahamas Capital: Nassau | Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. |
| Bahrain – State of Bahrain Capital: Manama | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Bangladesh – People's Republic of Bangladesh Capital: Dhaka | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Barbados Capital: Bridgetown | Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. |
| Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium Capital: Brussels | Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member to 1 November 1993; EU member from 1 November 1993. Belgium was a federation of three communities and three regions. |
| Belize Capital: Belmopan | Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. |
| → Benin Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (seat of government) People's Republic of Benin (to 1 March 1990) Republic of Benin (from 1 March 1990) | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan Capital: Thimphu | Widely recognized UN member state. Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs, but effectively pursued an independent foreign policy. |
| Bolivia – Republic of Bolivia Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative) | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| → Bosnia and Herzegovina (from 5 April 1992) Capital: Sarajevo Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (from 5 April 1992 to 14 December 1995) Bosnia and Herzegovina (from 14 December 1995) | De facto independent state. Claimed by Yugoslavia (to 28 April 1992). Widely recognized (from 7 April 1992). UN member state (from 22 May 1992). Much of the de jure territory of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the under control of the following self-declared entities which, although they did not claim independence, were effectively self-governing: Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (from 27 September 1993 to 26 July 1995)  Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia (from 28 August 1993 to 18 March 1994) Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (to 7 April 1992) In addition, there were three states which had declared and established de facto independence from Bosnia and Herzegovina: Republika Srpska (from 7 April 1992 to 14 December 1995) Republic of Western Bosnia (from 26 July 1995 to 7 August 1995) After the Dayton Accords, Bosnia and Herzegovina was a federation of two constituent entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was itself a federation of ten cantons, and Republika Srpska. There was also a neutral Brčko District (from 5 March 1999). |
| 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 26 states and one federal district. |
| Brunei – State of Brunei, Abode of Peace Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan | Widely recognized UN member state. Brunei claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia). |
| → Bulgaria Capital: Sofia People's Republic of Bulgaria (to 15 November 1990) Republic of Bulgaria (from 15 November 1990) | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Burkina Faso Capital: Ouagadougou | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Burma → Myanmar ||
| Burundi – Republic of Burundi Capital: Bujumbura | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| → → Byelorussia / Belarus (from 27 July 1990) Capital: Minsk Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (from 27 July 1990 to 25 August 1991) Republic of Belarus (from 25 August 1991) | Widely recognized UN member state. De facto independent state that was nominally a constituent state of the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991; widely recognized from 26 December 1991. |
| C ||
| Cambodia → Kampuchea ||
| Cameroon – Republic of Cameroon Capital: Yaoundé | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Canada Capital: Ottawa | Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. Canada was a federation of ten provinces and three territories. |
| → Cape Verde – Republic of Cape Verde Capital: Praia | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Central African Republic Capital: Bangui | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Chad – Republic of Chad Capital: N'Djamena | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Chile Capital: Santiago Military dictatorship (to 11 March 1990) Chilean transition to democracy (11 March 1990) Republic of Chile (from 11 March 1990) | Widely recognized UN member state; it had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. |
| China – People's Republic of China Capital: Beijing | Widely recognized UN member state. The People's Republic of China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. Additionally, it had sovereignty over two special administrative regions:  Hong Kong (from 1 July 1997)  Macau (from 20 December 1999) The People's Republic of China claimed Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and the Vereker Banks, 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, Malaysia and Brunei), 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. |
| Colombia – Republic of Colombia Capital: Bogotá | Widely recognized UN member state. Colombia administered Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank (disputed by Nicaragua and the United States) |
| → → Comoros – Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros Capital: Moroni | Widely recognized UN member state. The Comoros was a federation of three islands: Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan. Anjouan was a de facto independent state from 3 August 1997. Mohéli was a de facto independent state from 11 August 1997 to 1998. 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 / Congo, Republic of the Capital: Brazzaville People's Republic of the Congo (to 10 June 1991) Republic of the Congo (from 10 June 1991) | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Congo, Democratic Republic of the → Zaire ||
| Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica Capital: San José | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Côte d'Ivoire → Ivory Coast ||
| Croatia – Republic of Croatia (from 25 June 1991) Capital: Zagreb | De facto independent state. Claimed by Yugoslavia (to 28 April 1992). Widely recognized (from 15 January 1992). UN member state (from 22 May 1992). Croatia contained the following self-declared entities, all of which claimed to be part of Yugoslavia. Although they did not explicitly claim independence, they were de facto self-governing: SAO Krajina (to 19 December 1991) SAO Western Slavonia (from 12 August 1991 to 26 February 1992) SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia (to 26 February 1992) → Republic of Serbian Krajina (from 19 December 1991 to 7 August 1995) → Republic of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia (from 7 August 1995 to 15 January 1996) On 15 January 1996, the last of these entities came under the administration of the United Nations Transitional Authority for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium. It was reintegrated into Croatia on 15 January 1998. |
| Cuba – Republic of Cuba Capital: Havana | Widely recognized UN member state; the Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the complete control of the United States. |
| Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus Capital: Nicosia | Widely recognized UN member state. The northeastern part of the island was the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey. |
| Czech Republic (from 1 January 1993) Capital: Prague | Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 19 January 1993). |
| Czechoslovakia (to 31 December 1992) Capital: Prague Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (to 29 March 1990) Czechoslovak Federative Republic (from 29 March 1990 to 20 April 1990) Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (from 23 April 1990 to 31 December 1992) | Widely recognized UN member state. Czechoslovakia was a federation of two republics. |
| D ||
| Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark Capital: Copenhagen | Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member to 1 November 1993. EU member (from 1 November 1993). The Danish Realm also included two of its constituent states:  Greenland  Faroe Islands |
| Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti Capital: Djibouti | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| → Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica Capital: Roseau | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Dominican Republic Capital: Santo Domingo | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| E ||
| Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador Capital: Quito | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt Capital: Cairo | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| 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. |
| → Eritrea – State of Eritrea (from 24 May 1993) Capital: Asmara | Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 28 May 1993). |
| Estonia – Republic of Estonia (from 20 August 1991) Capital: Tallinn | De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 6 September 1991. Widely recognized state from 6 September 1991; UN member state from 17 September 1991. |
| → → → Ethiopia Capital: Addis Ababa People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (to 28 May 1991) Transitional Government of Ethiopia (from 28 May 1991 to 22 August 1995) Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (from 22 August 1995) | Widely recognized UN member state. The province of Eritrea was under the control of a self-governing provisional government from 29 May 1991 to 23 May 1993. After 1995, Ethiopia was a federation of nine regions and two chartered cities. |
| F ||
| Fiji Capital: Suva Republic of Fiji (to 25 July 1990) Sovereign Democratic Republic of Fiji (from 25 July 1990 to 27 July 1998) Republic of the Fiji Islands (from 27 July 1998) | Widely recognized UN member state. Fiji had an autonomous dependency, Rotuma. |
| Finland – Republic of Finland Capital: Helsinki | Widely recognized UN member state. EU member (from 1 January 1995). Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region:  Åland |
| France – French Republic Capital: Paris | Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (to 1 November 1993). EU member (from 1 November 1993). France included four overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. It also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:  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 New Caledonia  Saint Pierre and Miquelon 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 France also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and the Comoros). |
| G ||
| Gabon Capital: Libreville Gabonese Republic (to 16 September 1990) Gabonese Republic (from 16 September 1990) | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| The Gambia – Republic of the Gambia Capital: Banjul | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Georgia (from 9 April 1991) Capital: Tbilisi Republic of Georgia (from 9 April 1991 to 24 August 1995) Georgia (from 24 August 1995) | De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union until 26 December 1991. Widely recognized sovereign state from 26 December 1991; UN member state from 31 July 1992. Georgia had two autonomous republics: Adjara and Abkhazia. The latter republic was effectively self-governing from 30 September 1993 to 12 October 1999. After 12 October 1999, it was home to a de facto independent state. Georgia also included the disputed region of South Ossetia, where an unrecognized recognized breakaway republic declared independence on 29 May 1992. |
| Germany, East – German Democratic Republic (to 2 October 1990) Capital: East Berlin (disputed) | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Germany, West / Germany – Federal Republic of Germany Capital: Bonn (to 20 June 1991, seat of government to 1999), Berlin (official, from 20 June 1991) | Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (to 1 November 1993). EU member (from 1 November 1993). Germany was a federation of sixteen states. |
| Ghana – Republic of Ghana Capital: Accra | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Greece – Hellenic Republic Capital: Athens | Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member (to 1 November 1993). EU member (from 1 November 1993). 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 Capital: St. George's | Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Grenada had one autonomous dependency and it was 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 Capital: Bissau | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Guyana – Co-operative Republic of Guyana Capital: Georgetown | 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 – 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-five states and seven union territories. Indian sovereignty over South Tibet was disputed by China; India administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the state of Jammu and Kashmir. |
| Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia Capital: Jakarta | Widely recognized UN member state. Indonesia had three special provinces: Aceh, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta. |
| Iran – Islamic Republic of Iran Capital: Tehran | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| → Iraq Capital: Baghdad Iraqi Republic (until 6 January 1992) Republic of Iraq (from 6 January 1992) | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Ireland Capital: Dublin | Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member to 1 November 1993. EU member from 1 November 1993. Until 1 December 1998, Ireland claimed Northern Ireland, which was controlled by the United Kingdom. |
| Israel – State of Israel Capital: Jerusalem | Widely recognized UN member state. Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip the Golan Heights, the Israeli Security Zone in Southern Lebanon, 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 and they were the Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. |
| Ivory Coast Capital: Yamoussoukro (official), Abidjan (seat of government) Republic of Ivory Coast (to 24 December 1999) Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (from 24 December 1999) | Widely-recognized UN member state. |
| J ||
| Jamaica Capital: Kingston | Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. |
| → Japan Capital: Tokyo | Widely recognized UN member state. Japan claimed the Liancourt Rocks, which were controlled by South Korea. |
| Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Capital: Amman | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| K ||
| → → Kampuchea / Cambodia Capital: Phnom Penh State of Cambodia (to 15 March 1992) United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (from 15 March 1992 to 24 September 1993) Kingdom of Cambodia (from 24 September 1993) | Widely recognized UN member state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Cambodia, despite being in exile until 15 March 1992. |
| → → Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan (from 16 December 1991) Capital: Alma-Ata (to 10 December 1997, renamed Almaty in 1993), Aqmola (from 10 December 1997, renamed Astana in 1998) | De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized state from 26 December 1991; UN member state from 2 March 1992. |
| Kenya – Republic of Kenya Capital: Nairobi | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Kiribati – Republic of Kiribati Capital: South Tarawa | Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 September 1999). |
| → Korea, North – Democratic People's Republic of Korea Capital: Pyongyang | Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (to 17 September 1991). UN member state (from 17 September 1991). Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. |
| → Korea, South – Republic of Korea Capital: Seoul | Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (to 17 September 1991). UN member state (from 17 September 1991). Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. South Korea controlled the Liancourt Rocks, which were claimed by Japan. |
| Kuwait – State of Kuwait (to 8 August 1990, from 27 February 1991) Capital: Kuwait City | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| → Kyrgyzstan (from 31 August 1991) Capital: Bishkek Republic of Kyrgyzstan (from 31 August 1991 to 5 May 1993) Kyrgyz Republic (from 5 May 1993) | De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized state from 26 December 1991; UN member state from 2 March 1992. |
| L ||
| Laos – Lao People's Democratic Republic Capital: Vientiane | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Latvia – Republic of Latvia (from 21 August 1991) Capital: Riga | De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 6 September 1991; widely recognized state from 6 September 1991 and UN member state from 17 September 1991. |
| → Lebanon – Lebanese Republic Capital: Beirut | Widely recognized UN member state. Lebanon was occupied by Syria. Some of Southern Lebanon was occupied by Israel. |
| Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho Capital: Maseru | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Liberia – Republic of Liberia Capital: Monrovia | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Libya – Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Capital: Tripoli | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein Capital: Vaduz | Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 18 September 1990). The defense of Liechtenstein was the responsibility of Switzerland. |
| Lithuania – Republic of Lithuania (from 11 March 1990) Capital: Vilnius | De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 6 September 1991. Widely recognized state from 6 September 1991; UN member state from 17 September 1991. |
| Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Capital: Luxembourg | Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (to 1 November 1993). EU member (from 1 November 1993). |
| M ||
| → → Macedonia – Republic of Macedonia (from 8 September 1991) Capital: Skopje | De facto independent state claimed by Yugoslavia to 28 April 1992. Widely recognized UN member state from 8 April 1993. |
| Madagascar Capital: Antananarivo Democratic Republic of Madagascar (to 19 August 1992) Republic of Madagascar (from 19 August 1992) | 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 (official), Putrajaya (administrative, from 1999) | Widely recognized UN member state. Malaysia was a federation of thirteen states and two federal territories. Malaysia claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei). |
| Maldives – Republic of Maldives Capital: Malé | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Mali Capital: Bamako Republic of Mali (to 26 March 1991) Republic of Mali (from 26 March 1991) | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Malta – Republic of Malta Capital: Valletta | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Marshall Islands – Republic of the Marshall Islands Capital: Majuro | Widely recognized state under a Compact of Free Association with the United States; UN member state (from 17 September 1991). The Marshall Islands claimed the United States territory of Wake Island. |
| Mauritania – Islamic Republic of Mauritania Capital: Nouakchott | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Mauritius Capital: Port Louis Mauritius (to 12 March 1992) Republic of Mauritius (from 12 March 1992) | Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm (to 12 March 1992). 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 and one federal district. |
| Micronesia – Federated States of Micronesia Capital: Palikir | Widely recognized state under Compact of Free Association with the United States. UN member state (from 17 September 1991). The FSM was a federation of four states. |
| Moldova – Republic of Moldova (from 27 August 1991) Capital: Chișinău | De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991; widely recognized state from 26 December 1991 and UN member state from 2 March 1992. Moldova had two autonomous territorial units and they were Gagauzia and Transnistria. Both units (only Transnistria after 14 January 1995) were home to de facto independent statelets. |
| Monaco – Principality of Monaco Capital: Monaco | Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (to 28 May 1993). UN member state (from 28 May 1993). The defense of Monaco was the responsibility of France. |
| → Mongolia Capital: Ulaanbaatar Mongolian People's Republic (to 12 February 1992) Mongolia (from 12 February 1992) | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco Capital: Rabat | Widely recognized UN member state. Morocco claimed sovereignty over and controlled most of the disputed Western Sahara, which was home to the de facto independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Morocco disputed the Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla, and Peñón de Alhucemas. |
| Mozambique Capital: Maputo People's Republic of Mozambique (to 30 November 1990) Republic of Mozambique (from 30 November 1990) | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Myanmar – Union of Myanmar Capital: Yangon | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| N ||
| Namibia – Republic of Namibia (from 21 March 1990) Capital: Windhoek | Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 23 April 1990). |
| Nauru – Republic of Nauru Capital: Yaren (unofficial) | Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 September 1999). 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:  Aruba  Netherlands  Netherlands Antilles The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole was a member of the EEC (to 1 November 1993) and the EU (from 1 November 1993), but Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles were not. |
| 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 It also had sovereignty over two dependent territories: Ross Dependency (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty) Tokelau The government of Tokelau claimed Swains Island, part of American Samoa (a U.S. dependence). New Zealand did not recognize this claim. |
| Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua Capital: Managua | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Niger – Republic of Niger Capital: Niamey | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Nigeria Capital: Lagos (to 12 December 1991), Abuja (from 12 December 1991) Military dictatorship (to 17 November 1993) Third Republic of Nigeria (from 17 November 1993 to 29 May 1999) Fourth Republic of Nigeria (from 29 May 1999) | Widely recognized UN member state. Nigeria was a federation of 36 states and one federal territory. |
| 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 – Sultanate of Oman Capital: Muscat | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| P ||
| Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan Capital: Islamabad | Widely recognized UN member state. Pakistan was a federation of four provinces and four territories; it administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the territories of Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas. |
| Palau – Republic of Palau (from 1 October 1994) Capital: Koror | Widely recognized state under Compact of Free Association with the United States; UN member state from 15 December 1994. |
| Panama – Republic of Panama Capital: Panama City | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Papua New Guinea – Independent State of Papua New Guinea Capital: Port Moresby | Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. |
| → Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay Capital: Asunción | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Peru – Republic of Peru Capital: Lima | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| → Philippines – Republic of the Philippines Capital: Manila | Widely recognized UN member state. The Philippines had one autonomous region: Muslim Mindanao. The Philippines administered Scarborough Shoal, which was 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, Brunei, and Malaysia) and the Malaysian territory of Sabah. |
| Poland – Republic of Poland Capital: Warsaw | Widely recognized UN member state. Poland's government was still in exile until 22 December 1990. |
| Portugal – Portuguese Republic Capital: Lisbon | Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (to 1 November 1993). EU member (from 1 November 1993). Portugal had two autonomous regions: the Azores and Madeira. Portugal had one Chinese territory which it administered as a dependency: Macau (to 19 December 1999) Portugal claimed sovereignty over the former colony of Portuguese Timor (which had been annexed by Indonesia) until 25 October 1999. It also claimed the Spanish municipalities of Olivenza and Táliga. |
| Q ||
| Qatar – State of Qatar Capital: Doha | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| R ||
| → Romania Capital: Bucharest | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| → Russia – Russian Federation (from 26 December 1991) Capital: Moscow | Widely recognized UN member state from 26 December 1991. Russia was a federation of 21 republics, 49 oblasts, 6 krais, 2 federal cities, 1 autonomous oblast, and 10 autonomous okrugs. One of those republics, Tatarstan, declared state sovereignty on 6 November 1992 and was effectively self-governing until 15 February 1994. |
| Rwanda – Rwandese Republic Capital: Kigali | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| S ||
| Saint Kitts and Nevis – Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis Capital: Basseterre | Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Saint Kitts and Nevis was a federation of fourteen parishes within two islands. Nevis (which was one of the islands) had autonomy. |
| Saint Lucia Capital: Castries | Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Capital: Kingstown | Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. |
| Samoa → Western Samoa ||
| San Marino – Republic of San Marino Capital: San Marino | Widely recognized independent state; UN member state from 2 March 1992. |
| São Tomé and Príncipe – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe Capital: São Tomé | Widely recognized UN member state; São Tomé and Príncipe had one autonomous province and it was Príncipe (from 29 April 1995). |
| 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 Capital: Victoria Republic of Seychelles (to 27 December 1991) Third Republic of Seychelles (from 27 December 1991) | Widely recognized UN member state; the Seychelles claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territories of Tromelin Island and the Glorioso Islands. |
| Sierra Leone – Republic of Sierra Leone Capital: Freetown | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Singapore – Republic of Singapore Capital: Singapore | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Slovakia – Slovak Republic (from 1 January 1993) Capital: Bratislava | Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 19 January 1993). |
| Slovenia – Republic of Slovenia (from 25 June 1991) Capital: Ljubljana | De facto independent state claimed by Yugoslavia (to 28 April 1992). Widely recognized (from 15 January 1992); UN member state (from 22 May 1992). |
| Solomon Islands Capital: Honiara | Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. |
| Somalia Capital: Mogadishu Somali Democratic Republic (to 26 January 1991) Interim Government of Somalia (from January 1991 to January 1997) Somalia (from January 1997) | Widely recognized UN member state. Somalia's internationally recognized government did not exercise full control over the country from 26 January 1991 to 18 November 1991. After 18 November 1991, Somalia did not have any recognized central government. Many areas of the country had no effective government at all or were ruled by local clans. During this period, Somalia included one state which was de facto self-governing (although it did not claim independence from Somalia): Jubaland (from 3 September 1998 to 11 June 1999) In addition, there were two states which had declared and established de facto independence from Somalia: Puntland (from 1 August 1998), and Somaliland (from 18 May 1991). |
| → South Africa – Republic of South Africa Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial) | Widely recognized UN member state. South Africa had six autonomous bantustans:  Gazankulu  KaNgwane  KwaNdebele  KwaZulu  Lebowa  QwaQwa There were four bantustans which were nominally independent:  Bophuthatswana  Ciskei  Transkei  Venda All ten bantustans were formally abolished when a new constitution took effect on 27 April 1994. South Africa administered one League of Nations mandate: South-West Africa (to 20 March 1990) |
| Soviet Union – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (to 26 December 1991) 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. |
| Spain – Kingdom of Spain Capital: Madrid | Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member (to 1 November 1993). EU member (from 1 November 1993); Spain was divided into seventeen autonomous communities and two autonomous cities. 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 – Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Capital: Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Sudan – Republic of the Sudan Capital: Khartoum | Widely recognized UN member state. After 1991, Sudan was a federation of 30 states. |
| Suriname – Republic of Suriname Capital: Paramaribo | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| 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. EU member (from 1 January 1995). |
| Switzerland – Swiss Confederation Capital: Bern | Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. Switzerland was a federation of 26 cantons. |
| Syria – Syrian Arab Republic Capital: Damascus | Widely recognized UN member state. Syria included the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel. It disputed the Turkish sovereignty over Hatay Province. |
| T ||
| → Tajikistan – Republic of Tajikistan (from 9 September 1991) Capital: Dushanbe | De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized (from 26 December 1991). UN member state (from 2 March 1992). Tajikistan had one autonomous province: Gorno-Badakhshan. |
| Tanzania – United Republic of Tanzania Capital: Dar es Salaam (to February 1996, seat of government from February 1996), Dodoma (official, from February 1996) | Widely recognized UN member state; Tanzania had one autonomous region and it was 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 Capital: Nukuʻalofa | Widely recognized independent state; UN member state (from 14 September 1999). |
| Trinidad and Tobago – Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Capital: Port of Spain | Widely recognized UN member state; Trinidad and Tobago had one autonomous island and it was Tobago. |
| → Tunisia – Tunisian Republic Capital: Tunis | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Turkey – Republic of Turkey Capital: Ankara | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| → → Turkmenistan (from 27 October 1991) Capital: Ashgabat | De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991; widely recognized state from 26 December 1991 and UN member state from 2 March 1992. |
| U ||
| Uganda – Republic of Uganda Capital: Kampala | Widely-recognized UN member state. |
| → → Ukraine (from 24 August 1991) Capital: Kiev | Widely-recognized UN member state; claimed by the Soviet Union as a constituent republic until 26 December 1991. Widely recognized (from 26 December 1991); Ukraine had one autonomous republic and it was Crimea. |
| United Arab Emirates Capital: Abu Dhabi | Widely-recognized UN member state. The United Arab Emirates was a federation of seven emirates. |
| United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Capital: London | Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member (to 1 November 1993) and EU member (from 1 November 1993). The United Kingdom was composed of four constituent countries: England, Northern Ireland (disputed by Ireland until 1 December 1998), Scotland, and Wales. It had sovereignty over 16 dependent territories and they were: → Anguilla → Bermuda → British Antarctic Territory (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty) → British Indian Ocean Territory (disputed by Mauritius and the Seychelles)  British Virgin Islands → Cayman Islands → Falkland Islands (disputed by Argentina)  Gibraltar Hong Kong (to 30 June 1997) → Montserrat  Pitcairn Islands  Saint Helena, with two dependencies Ascension Island Tristan da Cunha → South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (disputed by Argentina) 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  Herm  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. It asserted sovereignty over the following inhabited insular areas:  American Samoa (including Swains Island, disputed by Tokelau)  Guam  Northern Mariana Islands → Puerto Rico  United States Virgin Islands The United States administered one United Nations Trust Territory:  Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (to 30 September 1994), consisting of one territory  Palau |
| Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay Capital: Montevideo | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| → Uzbekistan – Republic of Uzbekistan (from 31 August 1991) Capital: Tashkent | De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991; widely recognized state from 26 December 1991 and UN member state from 2 March 1992. Uzbekistan had one autonomous region (or "republic"), Karakalpakstan. |
| V ||
| Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu Capital: Port Vila | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| 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. |
| Venezuela Capital: Caracas Republic of Venezuela (to 20 December 1999) Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (from 20 December 1999) | Widely recognized UN member state. Venezuela was a federation of 23 states, three territories, one federal dependency, and one federal district. |
| Vietnam – Socialist Republic of Vietnam Capital: Hanoi | Widely recognized UN member state. Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands (disputed by China and Taiwan) and Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Brunei, the Philippines, and Malaysia). |
| W ||
| Western Samoa / Samoa Capital: Apia Independent State of Western Samoa (to 4 July 1997) Independent State of Samoa (from 4 July 1997) | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Y ||
| Yemen – Republic of Yemen (from 22 May 1990) Capital: Sana'a | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Yemen, North – Yemen Arab Republic (to 22 May 1990) Capital: Sana'a | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Yemen, South Capital: Aden People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (to 22 May 1990) Democratic Republic of Yemen (from 21 May 1994 to 7 July 1994) | Widely recognized UN member state (to 22 May 1990). De facto independent state (from 7 July 1994). Claimed by Yemen. (from 7 July 1994). |
| Yugoslavia – Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (to 27 April 1992) Capital: Belgrade | Widely recognized independent state and UN member state to 27 April 1992. Yugoslavia was a federation of six republics, four of which (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Slovenia) declared independence in 1991 and 1992. The two remaining republics, Montenegro and Serbia, established the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 27 April 1992. It claimed to continue Yugoslavia's international personality, but this claim was not widely recognized. |
| Z ||
| → Zaire / Congo, Democratic Republic of the Capital: Kinshasa Republic of Zaire (to 17 May 1997) Democratic Republic of the Congo (from 17 May 1997) | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| → Zambia Capital: Lusaka | Widely recognized UN member state. |
| Zimbabwe – Republic of Zimbabwe Capital: Harare | Widely recognized UN member state. |

## Non-UN members or observers
### Widely-recognized

| Name and capital city | Information on status and recognition of sovereignty |
| Serbia and Montenegro – Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (from 27 April 1992) Capital: Belgrade | Widely recognized independent state from 27 April 1992. Serbia and Montenegro was a federation of two republics, Montenegro and Serbia. Serbia and Montenegro claimed to continue Yugoslavia's international personality, but this claim was not widely recognized. Serbia itself included two autonomous provinces, which were Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija. The latter province was under the administration of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo from 10 June 1999. |
| → → → Tuvalu Capital: Funafuti | Widely recognized independent state and Commonwealth realm. |

### Others

| Name and capital city | Information on status and recognition of sovereignty |
| Abkhazia – Republic of Abkhazia (from 25 August 1990) Capital: Sukhumi | De facto independent state not recognized by any other state; claimed by Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia. |
| → Afghanistan, Islamic Emirate of (from 26 September 1996) Capital: Kabul | Partially-recognized de facto independent state; claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Afghanistan, but this was not recognized by the UN or most countries. |
| Anjouan – State of Anjouan (from 3 August 1997) Capital: Mutsamudu | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the Comoros. |
| Bophuthatswana – Republic of Bophuthatswana (to 13 March 1994) Capital: Mmabatho | Nominally independent South African bantustan. |
| Bougainville – Republic of Bougainville (from 17 May 1990 to 24 December 1998) Capital: Arawa | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Papua New Guinea. |
| Cambodia, State of (to 15 March 1992) Capital: Phnom Penh | Partially recognized de facto independent state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Cambodia. |
| Chechnya (from 1 November 1991) Capital: Grozny (renamed Dzhokhar-Ghala in 1996) Chechen Republic (from 1 November 1991 to 12 March 1992) Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (from 12 March 1992) | Partially recognized de facto independent state; claimed by Russia as the Republic of Chechnya. |
| Ciskei – Republic of Ciskei (to 13 March 1994) Capital: Bisho | Nominally independent South African bantustan. |
| Cook Islands Capital: Avarua | A state in free association with New Zealand, recognized by China (from 25 July 1997). The Cook Islands is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity; it shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship. |
| Gagauzia – Gagauz Republic (from 19 August 1990 to 14 January 1995) Capital: Comrat | De facto independent state; not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the Soviet Union until 26 December 1991 and by Moldova from 27 August 1991 to 14 January 1995. |
| Kosova – Republic of Kosova (from 22 September 1991 to 31 January 2000) Capital: Pristina | Partially recognized de facto independent state; only recognized by Albania. Claimed by Serbia. |
| Kunar – Islamic Emirate of Kunar (from January 1991 to 20 April 1991) Capital: Asadabad | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Afghanistan. |
| Mindanao – Federal Republic of Mindanao (from 4 October to 6 October 1990) Capital: Cagayan de Oro (de facto) | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the Philippines. |
| Mohéli – Democratic Republic of Mohéli (from 11 August 1997) Capital: Fomboni | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the Comoros. |
| Nagorno-Karabakh – Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (from 6 January 1992) Capital: Stepanakert | De facto independent state; not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Azerbaijan. |
| Niue Capital: Alofi | A state in free association with New Zealand. Niue is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity. It had shared citizenship with New Zealand. |
| Northern Cyprus – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Capital: Lefkoşa | Partially recognized de facto independent state, recognized only by Turkey. Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus. |
| Palestine – State of Palestine Capital: Ramallah (administrative), Gaza City (administrative), Jerusalem (claimed) | Disputed region consisting of three occupied territories: the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. The declared State of Palestine, which claimed independence for all the Palestinian territories, was recognized by a large number of countries. In foreign relations, Palestine was represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, which was a permanent observer at the United Nations. The Palestinian National Authority (established on 4 May 1994) was an interim administrative body that exercised limited control over parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. |
| Puntland – Puntland State of Somalia (from 1 August 1998) Capital: Garowe | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Somalia. |
| Republika Srpska (from 7 April 1992 to 14 December 1995) Capital: Banja Luka Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (from 7 April 1992 to 12 August 1992) Republika Srpska (from 12 August 1992 to 14 December 1995) | De facto independent state until 14 December 1995 not recognized by any other state; claimed by Bosnia and Herzegovina and recognized as such by the UN. |
| Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic 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. The territories under its control, the so-called Free Zone, were claimed by Morocco. Its government resided in exile at Tindouf in Algeria. |
| → Somaliland – Republic of Somaliland (from 18 May 1991) Capital: Hargeisa | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Somalia. |
| South Ossetia – Republic of South Ossetia (from 29 May 1992) Capital: Tskhinvali | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Georgia. |
| Taiwan – Republic of China Capital: Taipei (seat of government), Nanjing (claimed, to late 1990s) | Partially recognized de facto independent state. The Republic of China claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China, but only administered Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and Itu Aba. The Republic of China had territorial claims over Mongolia; the Russian republic of Tuva; the Sixty-Four Villages East of the River (administered by Russia); The majority of Gorno-Badakhshan (administered by Tajikistan); 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 Myanmar). |
| Tamil Eelam Capital: Trincomalee | Unrecognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Sri Lanka. |
| Tatarstan – Tatar Soviet Socialist Republic (from 6 November 1992 to 15 February 1994) Capital: Kazan | De facto independent state. De facto part of the Russian Federation since 15 February 1994. De jure since March 2002. |
| Transkei – Republic of Transkei (to 27 April 1994) Capital: Umtata | Nominally independent South African bantustan (until 27 April 1994). |
| Transnistria (from 25 August 1991) Capital: Tiraspol Pridnestrovian Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic (from 25 August 1991 to 5 November 1991) Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (from 5 November 1991) | De facto independent state not recognized by any other country; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991 and Moldova from 27 August 1991. |
| Venda – Republic of Venda (to 27 April 1994) Capital: Thohoyandou | Nominally independent South African bantustan. |
| Vevčani – Republic of Vevčani (from 19 September 1991 to 8 April 1993) Capital: Vevčani | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Macedonia. |
| Western Bosnia – Republic of Western Bosnia (from 26 July 1995 to 7 August 1995) | De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Bosnia and Herzegovina. |

## 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. These claims, which were regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, were neither recognised nor disputed by any other signatory state.
* East Timor was occupied and administered by Indonesia until October 1999 as Timor Timur, but this was not recognized by the United Nations, which considered it to be Portuguese territory under Indonesian occupation. In October 1999, Indonesia relinquished control over the territory to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, which took over responsibility for it.
* Estonia was a part of the Soviet Union until August 1991, but its annexation was not widely recognized. A government in exile claimed independence for Estonia until 15 September 1992, but aside from its embassies in the West it controlled no territory.
* The European Union was a sui generis supranational organisation which had 12 (later 15) member states. It was established on 1 November 1993. The member states had transferred a measure of their legislative, executive, and judicial powers to the institutions of the EU, and as such the EU had some elements of sovereignty, without generally being considered a sovereign state. The European Union did not claim to be a sovereign state and had only limited capacity for relations with other states.
* Kosovo was a territory that was nominally part of Serbia and Montenegro, but after 10 June 1999 came under United Nations administration as part of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.
* Latvia was a part of the Soviet Union until 1991, but its annexation was not widely recognized. A government in exile claimed independence for Latvia until 21 August 1991, but aside from its embassies in the West it controlled no territory.
* Lithuania was a part of the Soviet Union until 1990, but its annexation was not widely recognized. Stasys Lozoraitis Jr. claimed independence for Lithuania until 6 September 1991, but aside from its embassies in the West it controlled no territory.
* The Sovereign Military Order of Malta was an entity claiming sovereignty and (from 24 August 1994) a United Nations observer. The order had bi-lateral diplomatic relations with a large number of states, but had no territory other than extraterritorial areas within Rome. The order's Constitution stated: "The Order is a subject of international law and exercises sovereign functions." 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 properties in Rome did so only in connection with their official duties, the order lacked the characteristic of having a permanent population.
* The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor was a transitional non-independent territory governed by the United Nations. It was neither sovereign nor under the sovereignty of any other state. It was established on 25 October 1999, following the end of the Indonesian occupation of East Timor.
* 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. West Berlin was incorporated into the reunified Germany on 3 October 1990.