# List of sovereign states in the 1880s

This is a list of sovereign states in the 1880s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1880 and 31 December 1889. It contains entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes widely recognized sovereign states, entities which were de facto sovereign but which were not widely recognized by other states, and 1 state which was initially unrecognized but then gained full recognition later in the decade.

## Sovereign states

| Name and capital city | Information on status and recognition of sovereignty |
| A ||
| Abemama – Kingdom of Abemama Capital: Abemama | Widely recognized state. |
| Abuja – Abuja Emirate Capital: Abuja | Widely recognized state. |
| Agadez – Tenere Sultanate of Aïr Capital: Agadez | Widely recognized 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. |
| Angoche – Angoche Sultanate Capital: Angoche |
| Ankole – Kingdom of Ankole Capital: Mbarara | Widely recognized state. |
| Annam – Empire of Annam (to 25 August 1883) Capital: Phú Xuân | Widely recognized state to 1883. Internal imperial system within Chinese tributary to 1883. |
| Argentina – Argentine Republic Capital: Buenos Aires |
| Aro – Aro Confederacy Capital: Arochukwu | Widely recognized state. |
| Ashanti – Asante Union Capital: Kumasi | Widely recognized state. |
| Aussa – Sultanate of Aussa Capital: Aussa | Widely recognized state. |
| Austria-Hungary – Austro-Hungarian Empire Capital: Vienna (Cisleithania), Budapest (Transleithania) | Widely recognized state. |
| B ||
| Baguirmi – Kingdom of Baguirmi Capital: Massenya | Tributary state of the Bornu Empire. |
| Bali – Kingdom of Bali Capital: Klungkung | Widely recognized state. Bali was a series of kingdoms that ruled the island of Bali. |
| Baol – Kingdom of Baol Capital: Diourbel | Widely recognized state. |
| Barotseland – Kingdom of Barotseland Capital: Mongu | Widely recognized state. |
| Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium Capital: Brussels | Widely recognized state. Belgium has sovereignty over 1 corporatocracy and 1 condominium: Congo (Corporatocracy, 1 July 1885) Moresnet (Condominium sui iuris of Belgium and Prussia) |
| Benin – Kingdom of Benin Capital: Edo | Widely recognized state. |
| Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan Capital: Punakha | Widely recognized state. |
| Biu – Biu Kingdom Capital: Biu | Widely recognized state. |
| Bolivia – Republic of Bolivia Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative) | Widely recognized state. |
| Bora Bora – Kingdom of Bora Bora Capital: Nunue, Vaitape | Widely recognized state. |
| Bornu – Bornu Empire Capital: Ngazargamu | Widely recognized state. |
| Brakna – Brakna Emirate Capital: Aleg | Widely recognized state. |
| → → Brazil Capital: Rio de Janeiro Empire of Brazil (to 15 November 1889) Republic of the United States of Brazil (from 15 November 1889) | Brazil was a federation of 20 states and one federal district. |
| Brunei – Sultanate of Brunei (to 1888) Capital: Kampong Ayer | Widely recognized state to 1888. Annexed by the United Kingdom on 1888. |
| Buganda – Kingdom of Buganda Capital: Mengo | Widely recognized state. |
| Bulgaria – Principality of Bulgaria Capital: Sofia | De facto independent, and de jure vassal state under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire. |
| Bulungan – Sultanate of Bulungan (to 1880) Capital: Tanjung Palas | Widely recognized state to 1880. Vassal state of Sulu to 1880. Annexed by the Netherlands on 1880. |
| Bunyoro – Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom Capital: Hoima | Widely recognized state. |
| Burma – Kingdom of Burma (to 1885) Capital: Mandalay | Widely recognized state to 1885. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1885. |
| Burundi – Kingdom of Burundi Capital: Gitega | Widely recognized state. |
| Busoga – Kingdom of Busoga Capital: Bugembe | Widely recognized state. |
| C ||
| Canada – Dominion of Canada Capital: Ottawa | Widely recognized state. Commonwealth realm. |
| Champasak – Kingdom of Champasak Capital: Champasak | Widely recognized state. Vassal state of Siam. |
| Chile – Liberal Republic of Chile Capital: Santiago | Widely recognized state. |
| → China – Great Qing Empire Capital: Beijing | Widely recognized state. China had sovereignty over one territory: Lanfang Republic (Vassal state) Sikkim (Protectorate)  Tibet (Protectorate) |
| Chokwe – Chokwe Kingdom (from 1887) Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state from 1887. |
| Colombia Capital: Bogota United States of Colombia (to 1886) Republic of Colombia (from 1886) | Widely recognized state. |
| Congo – Congo Free State (from July 1, 1885) Capital: Boma International Association of the Congo (to 1 July 1885) Congo Free State (from 1 July 1885) | Sovereignty recognized on 8 November 1884. Widely recognized state from 1 July 1885. |
| Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica Capital: San Jose | Widely recognized state. |
| D ||
| Dagbon – Kingdom of Dagbon (to 1888) Capital: Yendi | Widely recognized state to 1888. |
| Dahomey – Kingdom of Dahomey Capital: Abomey | Widely recognized state. |
| Dai Nam – Dai Nam Realm (to 25 August 1883) Capital: Phú Xuân | Widely recognized state to 25 August 1883. Tributary state of China to 25 August 1883. Annexed by France on 25 August 1883. |
| Damagaram – Sultanate of Damagaram Capital: Zinder | Widely recognized state. |
| Dar al Kuti – Sultanate of Dar Al Kuti Capital: N'Délé | Widely recognized state. Vassal state of Dar Runga. |
| Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark Capital: Copenhagen | Widely recognized state. Denmark had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: Danish West Indies (Colony) Greenland (Territory) Iceland (Dependency) |
| Dhala – Emirate of Dhala Capital: Dhale | Widely recognized state. |
| Dominican Republic – Second Republic Capital: Santo Domingo | Widely recognized state. |
| Dosso – Dosso Kingdom Capital: Dosso | Widely recognized state. |
| E ||
| Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador Capital: Quito | Widely recognized state. |
| El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador Capital: San Salvador | Widely recognized state. |
| Ethiopia – Ethiopian Empire Capital: Addis Ababa | Widely recognized state. |
| F ||
| Fadhli – Fadhli Sultanate (to 1888) Capital: Shuqrah | Widely recognized state to 1888. |
| France – French Republic Capital: Paris | Widely recognized independent state. France had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: Annam (Protectorate from 1883 to 1887) Cambodia (Protectorate to 1887) Comoros (Protectorate from April 21, 1886) French Algeria (de jure Department of Metropolitan France, de facto Colony) French Cochinchina (Colony to 1887) French Congo (Colony from 1882) French Guiana (Colony) French India (Colony) French Indochina (Colony from 1887) French Ivory Coast (Protectorate) French Oceania - French Establishments in Oceania (Colony) French Somaliland (Colony from 1883) Guadeloupe (Colony) Malagasy Protectorate (Protectorate from 1882) Martinique (Colony) Mayotte (Colony) New Caledonia (Colony) Obock (Colony) Réunion (Colony) Saint Barthélemy (Colony) Saint Martin (Colony) Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Colony) Shanghai (Concession) Tientsin (Concession) Tonkin (Protectorate from 1883 to 1887) Tunisia (Protectorate from 1881) Upper River (Colony from 1880) Wallis and Futuna (Protectorate from 5 April 1887) |
| Futa Jallon – Imamate of Futa Jallon Capital: Timbo | Widely recognized state. |
| G ||
| Garo – Kingdom of Garo (to 1883) Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state to 1883. Annexed by Jimma in 1883. |
| Gaza – Gaza Empire Capital: Manjacaze | Widely recognized state. |
| Geledi – Sultanate of the Geledi Capital: Afgooye | Widely recognized state. |
| Gera – Kingdom of Gera (to 1887) Capital: Chala | Widely recognized state to 1887. Annexed by the Ethiopian Empire in 1887. |
| Germany – German Empire Capital: Berlin | Widely recognized independent state. Germany had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: Colinsland (Colony from 1884 to 1885) German Congo (Colony from 1884 to 1885) German East Africa (Colony from 27 February 1885) German New Guinea (Colony from 3 November 1884) German South West Africa (Colony from 7 August 1884) German West Africa (Colony from 1884) Kamerun (Colony from 17 August 1884) Togoland (Protectorate from 5 July 1884) Wituland (Protectorate from 1885) |
| Gomma – Kingdom of Gomma (to 1886) Capital: Agaro | Widely recognized state to 1886. Annexed by the Ethiopian Empire in 1886. |
| Gowa – Sultanate of Gowa Capital: Jongaya | Widely recognized state. |
| Greece – Kingdom of Greece Capital: Athens | Widely recognized state. |
| Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala Capital: Guatemala City | Widely recognized state. |
| Gumma – Kingdom of Gumma (to 1885) Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state to 1885. Annexed by the Ethiopian Empire in 1885. |
| Gyaaman – State of Gyaaman Capital: Sampa, Drobo | Widely recognized state. |
| H ||
| Ha'il – Emirate of Jabal Shammar Capital: Ha'il | Widely recognized state. |
| Haiti – Republic of Haiti Capital: Port-au-Prince | Widely recognized state. |
| → Harar – Emirate of Harar (to 1887) Capital: Ge | Subject of the Khedivate of Egypt to 1884. Widely recognized state from 1884 to 1887. |
| Hawaii – Kingdom of Hawaii Capital: Honolulu | Widely recognized state. |
| Hobyo – Sultanate of Hobyo (to 1888) Capital: Hobyo | Widely recognized state to 1888. Annexed by Italy in 1888. |
| Honduras – Republic of Honduras Capital: Tegucigalpa | Widely recognized state. |
| Huahine – Kingdom of Huahine Capital: Huahine | Widely recognized state. |
| Hunza – State of Hunza Capital: Baltit | Widely recognized state. |
| I ||
| Igala – Igala Kingdom Capital: Idah | Widely recognized state. |
| Igara – Kingdom of Igara Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state. |
| Ilé-Ifẹ̀ – Ilé-Ifẹ̀ Kingdom Capital: Ilé-Ifẹ̀ | Widely recognized state. |
| Isaaq – Isaaq Sultanate (to 1884) Capital: Hargeisa | Widely recognized state to 1884. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1884 |
| Italy – Kingdom of Italy Capital: Rome | Widely recognized independent state. Italy had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: Italian Eritrea (Colony from 1882) Italian Somaliland (Colony from 1889) |
| J ||
| Japan – Empire of Japan Capital: Tokyo City | Widely recognized state. Japan had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: Hokkaido (Colony) Kuril Islands (Colony) Ryukyu Islands (Colony) |
| Jimma – Kingdom of Jimma (to 1884) Capital: Jiren | Widely recognized state to 1884. Annexed by the Ethiopian Empire in 1884 |
| Johor – Sultanate of Johor (from December 11, 1885) Capital: Singapore | Widely recognized state from December 11, 1885. Recognised the United Kingdom on December 11, 1885. |
| Jolof – Jolof Kingdom (to 1889) Capital: Ouarkhokh | Widely recognized state to 1889. Annexed by France in 1889. |
| K ||
| Kaarta – Kingdom of Kaarta Capital: Diangounté, Nioros | Widely recognized state. |
| Kaffa – Kingdom of Kaffa Capital: Bonga, Anderaccha | Widely recognized state. |
| Kajara – Kajara Kingdom Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state. |
| Kakongo – Kingdom of Kakongo (to 1885) Capital: Kinguele | Widely recognized state to 1885. Incorporated into Portuguese Angola in 1885. |
| Kano – Emirate of Kano Capital: Takai | Widely recognized state. Vassal of the Sokoto Caliphate |
| Kasanje – Jaga Kingdom Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state. |
| Kathiri – Hadhrami Kathiri Dynasty in Seiyun Capital: Seiyun | Widely recognized state. |
| Kebbi – Kebbi Emirate Capital: Argungu | Widely recognized state. |
| Kénédougou – Kénédougou Kingdom Capital: Sikasso | Widely recognized state. |
| Khasso – Kingdom of Khasso (to 1880) Capital: Médine | Widely recognized state to 1880. Incorporated into French Sudan in 1880. |
| Kong – Kong Empire Capital: Kong | Widely recognized state. |
| Kongo – Kingdom of Kongo Capital: Mbanza-Kongo | Vassal of the Kingdom of Portugal. |
| → → → → → → Korea – Kingdom of Great Joseon Capital: Seoul | Widely recognized state. |
| Koya Temne – Kingdom of Koya Capital: Grand Cape Mount | Widely recognized state. |
| Kuba – Kingdom of Kuba (to 1884) Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state to 1884. Incorporated into the International Association of the Congo in 1884. |
| L ||
| Lafia Beri-Beri – Lafia Beri-Beri Kingdom Capital: Lafia | Widely recognized state. |
| Liberia – Republic of Liberia Capital: Monrovia | Widely recognized state. |
| Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein Capital: Vaduz | Widely recognized state. |
| Limmu-Ennarea – Kingdom of Limmu-Ennarea Capital: Saqqa | Widely recognized state. |
| Loango – Kingdom of Loango (to 1883) Capital: Buali | Widely recognized state to 1883. Incorporated into French Congo in 1883. |
| Lower Yafa – Sultanate of Lower Yafa Capital: Jaʿār | Widely recognized state. |
| Luba – Luba Empire (to 1889) Capital: Mwibele | Widely recognized state to 1889. Incorporated into the Congo Free State in 1889. |
| Lunda – Luba Empire (to 1887) Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state to 1887. Incorporated into the Chokwe Kingdom in 1887. |
| Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Capital: Luxembourg City | Widely recognized state. |
| M ||
| Maguindanao – Sultanate of Maguindanao Capital: Kuta Watu | Widely recognized state. |
| Mahra – Sultanate of Mahra Capital: Qishn | Widely recognized state. |
| Majeerteen Sultanate – Majeerteen Kingdom (to 7 April 1889) Capital: Alula | Widely recognized state to 7 April 1889. Annexed by Italy on 7 April 1889. |
| Maldives – Sultanate of Maldive Islands (to 1887) Capital: Malé | Widely recognized state to 1887. |
| Mangareva – Kingdom of Mangareva (to 21 February 1881) Capital: Mangareva | Widely recognized state to 21 February 1881. |
| Manipur – Kingdom of Manipur Capital: Imphal | Widely recognized state. |
| Maravi – Kingdom of Maravi Capital: Manthimba | Widely recognized state. |
| Matabeleland – Matabele Kingdom Capital: Bulawayo | Widely recognized state. |
| Mbunda – Mbunda Kingdom Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state. |
| Merina – Kingdom of Imerina Capital: Antananarivo | Widely recognized state. |
| Mexico – United Mexican States Capital: Mexico City | Widely recognized state. |
| Monaco – Principality of Monaco Capital: Monaco | Widely recognized state. |
| Montenegro – Principality of Montenegro Capital: Cetinje | Widely recognized state. |
| Morocco – Sultanate of Morocco Capital: Fes | Widely recognized state. |
| Mossi Kingdoms – Mossi Empire Capital: Multiple capitals | Widely recognized independent state. The following are a number of different kingdoms that make up the Mossi Empire:  Gurunsi  Gwiriko  Liptako  Nungu  Wogodogo  Yatenga |
| Mthwakazi – Kingdom of Mthwakazi Capital: Bulawayo | Widely recognized state. |
| Muscat and Oman – Sultanate of Muscat and Oman Capital: Muscat | De jure independent state. De facto a British protectorate. |
| Mutayr – Emirate of Mutayr Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state. |
| N ||
| Negeri Sembilan Capital: Seremban | Widely recognized state. |
| Nejd – Emirate of Nejd Capital: Riyadh | Widely recognized state. |
| Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal Capital: Kathmandu | Widely recognized state. |
| Netherlands – Kingdom of The Netherlands Capital: Amsterdam | Widely recognized state. |
| → Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua Capital: Managua | Widely recognized state. |
| Niue – Kingdom of Niue-Fekai Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state. |
| Nri – Kingdom of Nri Capital: Igbo-Ukwu | Widely recognized state. |
| Nshenyi – Nshenyi Kingdom Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state. |
| O ||
| Obwera – Obwera Kingdom Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state. |
| Onitsha – Onitsha Kingdom Capital: Onitsha | Widely recognized state. |
| Orange Free State Capital: Bloemfontein | Widely recognized state. |
| Oron – Oron Nation Capital: Oron | Widely recognized state. |
| Ottoman Empire – Sublime Ottoman State Capital: Constantinople | Widely recognized state. The following are autonomous territories of the Ottoman Empire: Egypt (De jure Autonomous vassal under de facto British occupation) Kuwait (Vassal state) Mecca (Non-sovereign state) Qatar (De facto autonomous Kazak) Samos (Autonomous state) Tunis (Vassal state; De facto Independent state to 1881) |
| Oyo – Oyo Empire Capital: Oyo-Ile | Widely recognized state. |
| P ||
| Pahang – Sultanate of Pahang (to 8 September 1881) Capital: Pekan | Widely recognized state to 8 September 1881. |
| Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay Capital: Asunción | Widely recognized state. |
| Pattani – Sultanate of Patani Capital: Patani | Widely recognized state. |
| Persia – Sublime State of Persia Capital: Tehran | Widely recognized state. |
| → Peru Capital: Lima Chilean occupation of Peru (to 29 October 1883) Peruvian Republic (to 27 August 1884) National Reconstruction (from 27 August 1884) | Widely recognized state. |
| Portugal – Kingdom of Portugal Capital: Lisbon | Widely recognized state. The following are colonies, vassal state and possession of Portugal: Portuguese Cape Verde (Colony) Portuguese East Africa (Colony) Portuguese Guinea (Colony) Portuguese India (Colony) Portuguese Macau (Colony) Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe (Colony) Portuguese Timor (Colony) Portuguese West Africa (Colony) Fort of São João Baptista de Ajudá (Possession) |
| Potiskum – Potiskum Emirate Capital: Potiskum | Widely recognized state. |
| Q ||
| Qu'aiti – Qu'aiti Sultanate of Shihr and Mukalla (to 1888) Capital: Al-Shihr | Widely recognized state 1888. Incorporated into the British Aden Protectorate in 1888. |
| R ||
| → Raiatea – Kingdom of Raiatea (to 19 March 1888) Capital: Uturoa | Widely recognized state to 19 March 1888. Annexed by France on 19 March 1888. |
| Rapa Nui – Kingdom of Rapa Nui (to 9 September 1888) Capital: Anakena | Widely recognized state to 9 September 1888. Annexed by Chile on 9 September 1888. |
| → Rarotonga – Kingdom of Rarotonga (to 1888) Capital: Anakena | Widely recognized state to 1888. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1888. |
| Romania Capital: Bucharest United Principalities of Romania (to 15 March 1881) Kingdom of Romania (from 15 March 1881) | Widely recognized state. |
| Rujumbura – Rujumbura Kingdom Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state. |
| Rukiga – Rukiga Kingdom Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state. |
| Russia – Russian Empire Capital: Saint Petersburg | Widely recognized state. |
| Rwanda – Kingdom of Rwanda Capital: Nyanza | Widely recognized state. |
| S ||
| Samoa – Kingdom of Samoa Capital: Apia | Widely recognized state. |
| San Marino – Most Serene Republic of San Marino Capital: San Marino | Widely recognized state. |
| Sarawak – Kingdom of Sarawak (to 14 June 1888) Capital: Kuching | Widely recognized state to 14 June 1888. Annexed by the United Kingdom on 14 June 1888. |
| → Serbia Capital: Belgrade Principality of Serbia (to 6 March 1882) Kingdom of Serbia (from 6 March 1882) | Widely recognized state. |
| Setul Mambang Segara – Kingdom of Setul Mambang Segara Capital: Kota Mambang Segara | Widely recognized state. |
| Siam – Kingdom of Siam Capital: Bangkok | Widely recognized state. The following are vassal states of Siam: Kedah (Vassal state) Luang Phrabang (Vassal state) Perlis (Vassal state) |
| Sokoto – Sokoto Caliphate Capital: Sokoto | Widely recognized state. |
| Spain – Kingdom of Spain Capital: Madrid | Widely recognized state. Spain had three colonies, and two possessions: Elobey, Annobón and Corisco (Colony) Fernando Po (Colony) Río Muni (Colony) Spanish North Africa (Possession)  Spanish Sahara (Possession, from 26 December 1884) |
| Sulu – Sultanate of Sulu Capital: Maimbung | Widely recognized state. |
| Sweden and Norway – United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway Capital: Stockholm, Christiania | Personal union of the separate kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. |
| Switzerland – Swiss Confederation Capital: Bern | Widely recognized state. Switzerland was a federation of 25 cantons. |
| T ||
| Tagant – Emirate of Tagant Capital: Tidjikja | Widely recognized state. |
| Tahiti – Kingdom of Tahiti (to 29 June 1880) Capital: Tidjikja | Widely recognized state to 29 June 1880. Annexed by France on 29 June 1880. |
| Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga Capital: Nuku'alofa | Widely recognized state. |
| Toucouleur – Toucouleur Empire Capital: Segou | Widely recognized state. |
| Transvaal – South African Republic Capital: Pretoria | Boer republic. |
| Trarza – Emirate of Trarza Capital: Mederdra | Widely recognized state. |
| Tuggurt – Sultanate of Tuggurt (to 1881) Capital: Tuggurt | Widely recognized state to 1881. Annexed by France in 1881. |
| U ||
| United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Capital: London | Widely recognized state. The following are colonies, territories, dependencies and protectorates of the United Kingdom: Aden (Protectorate) Afghanistan (Protectorate under Treaty of Gandamak) Amoy (Concession) Ascension Island (Possession) Bahama Islands (Crown colony) Bahrain (Protectorate) Baker Island (Uninhabited possession)  Barbados (Crown colony from 1885) Basutoland (Crown colony from March 18, 1884) Barotseland (Protectorate) Bechuanaland (Protectorate from March 31, 1885) Bermuda (Crown colony) British Bechuanaland (Crown colony from September 30, 1885)  British Ceylon (Crown colony) → British Cyprus (Protectorate) British Guiana (Colony) British Honduras (Crown colony) British Hong Kong (Crown colony) British Jamaica (Crown colony) British Leeward Islands (Federal colony) British Mauritius (Crown colony) British Somaliland (Crown colony from 1884) British Trinidad and Tobago (Crown colony from 1888) British West Africa (Crown colony until November 28, 1888) British Western Pacific Territories (Crown colony) → British Windward Islands (Crown colony) Brunei (Protectorate from September 17, 1888)  Cape Colony (Colony) Colony of Natal (Colony) Cook Islands (Protectorate from September 20, 1888) Falkland Islands (Crown colony) Friendly Islands (Tripartite protectorate) Gambia (Crown colony and protectorate from 1889) Gibraltar (Crown colony)  Gold Coast (Crown colony) Graham Land (Uninhabited possession) Griqualand West (Colony to 1880) Guernsey (Crown dependency) Hankou (Concession) Heard Island and McDonald Islands (Uninhabited possession) Heligoland (Protectorate) → British Raj - Indian Empire (Crown colony) Isle of Man (Crown dependency) Jarvis Island (Uninhabited possession)  Jersey (Crown dependency) Jiujiang (Concession) Labuan (Protectorate) → Lagos (Colony) Maldive Islands (Protectorate) Malta (Crown colony) Manipur (Protectorate) Muscat and Oman (Protectorate) Nepal (Protectorate) Newfoundland (Crown colony) New South Wales (Colony) New Zealand (Colony) Niger Districts (Protectorate) North Borneo (Protectorate from May 12, 1888) Oil Rivers (Protectorate from 1884) British New Guinea (Colony from 1884) Rarotonga (Protectorate from 1888) Rhodesia (Company Rule by British South Africa Company from 1888) Queensland (Colony) Saint Helena (Crown colony)  Sarawak (Protectorate from June 14, 1888) Sierra Leone (Crown colony from 1889) South Australia (Colony) Straits Settlements (Crown colony) Suez Canal Zone (Crown colony from 1882) Tasmania (Colony) Tientsin (Concession) Tokelau (Protectorate from June 1889) Tristan da Cunha (Crown colony) Trucial States (Protectorate) Unfederated Malay States Kedah (Protectorate) Kelantan (Protectorate)  Perlis (Protectorate)  Terengganu (Protectorate) Union Islands (Protectorate from June 1889) Victoria (Colony) Victoria Land (Uninhabited possession) Walvis Bay (Protectorate until 1884) Western Australia (Colony) Zhenjiang (Concession) |
| United States – United States of America Capital: Washington D.C. | Widely recognized state. The following are territories of the United States of America: Alaska (Department until May 17, 1884 and District from May 17, 1884) Arizona (Territory) Bajo Nuevo Bank (Uninhabited territory) Dakota (Territory to November 2, 1889) Idaho (Territory) Indian Territory (Territory) Johnston Atoll (Uninhabited territory) Kingman Reef (Uninhabited territory) Middlebrook Island (Uninhabited territory) Midway Atoll (Uninhabited territory) Montana (Territory to November 8, 1889) Navassa Island (Uninhabited territory) New Mexico (Territory) Quita Sueño Bank (Uninhabited territory) Roncador Bank (Uninhabited territory) Serrana Bank (Uninhabited territory) Serranilla Bank (Uninhabited territory) Swan Islands (Uninhabited territory) Tientsin (Concession) Washington (Territory to November 11, 1889) Wyoming (Territory) Utah (Territory) |
| Upper Aulaqi Sultanate Capital: Nişāb | Widely recognized state. |
| Upper Aulaqi Sheikhdom Capital: Sa'id | Widely recognized state. |
| Upper Yafa – State of Upper Yafa Capital: Mahjaba | Widely recognized state. |
| Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay Capital: Montevideo | Widely recognized state. |
| V ||
| Venezuela – United States of Venezuela Capital: Caracas | Widely recognized state. |
| W ||
| Wadai – Wadai Empire Capital: Abéché | Widely recognized state. |
| Wahidi Balhaf – Wahidi Sultanate of Balhaf Capital: Balhaf | Widely recognized state. |
| Wahidi Haban – Wahidi Sultanate of Haban Capital: Habban | Widely recognized state. |
| Wajoq – Kingdom of Wajoq Capital: Tosora | Widely recognized state. |
| Wassoulou – Wassoulou Empire Capital: Bissandugu | Widely recognized state. |
| Wituland – Witu Sultanate (to November 1885) Capital: Witu | Widely recognized state to 1885. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1885. |
| Wolaita – Kingdom of Wolaita (to November 1884) Capital: Lasho, Dalbo, Sodo | Widely recognized state. |
| Y ||
| Yamma – Kingdom of Yamma Capital: Fofa | Widely recognized state. |
| Yeke – Yeke Kingdom Capital: Bunkeya | Widely recognized state. |
| Z ||
| Zabarma – Zabarma Emirate Capital: Not specified | Widely recognized state. |
| Zanzibar – Sultanate of Zanzibar Capital: Stone Town | Widely recognized state. |
| Zululand – Kingdom of Zulu (to 1887) Capital: Bulawayo | Widely recognized state to 1887. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1887. |
| States claiming sovereignty ||
| Aceh – Sultanate of Aceh Capital: Kutaraja | Protectorate of the Ottoman Empire. |
| Counani – Republic of Independent Guiana (from 23 July 1886) Capital: Counani | Unrecognized state. |
| Cuba – Republic of Cuba Capital: Havana | Unrecognized state. |
| Franceville – Independent Commune of Franceville (from 9 August 1889) Capital: None | Unrecognized state. |
| Goshen – State of Goshen (from 24 October 1882 to 6 August 1883) Capital: Rooigrond | Boer republic. |
| Goust – Republic of Goust Capital: None | Unrecognized state. |
| Nieuwe Republiek – New Republic (from 1884 to 1888) Capital: Vryheid | Boer republic from 1884 to 1888. |
| Saskatchewan – Provisional Government of Saskatchewan (from 19 March 1885 to 20 May 1885) Capital: Batoche | Unrecognized state, Provisional Government. |
| Sedang – Kingdom of Sedang (from 3 June 1888) Capital: Kon Gung | Unrecognized state from 3 June 1888. |
| → Stellaland – Republic of Stellaland (from 26 July 1882, to 30 September 1885) Capital: Vryburg | Boer republic. |
| Upingtonia – Republic of Upingtonia (from 20 October 1885, to June 1887) Capital: Grootfontein | Boer republic to June 1887. Merged into German South-West Africa |
| Xibei San Ma Capital: None | Unrecognized state. |
| Zheltuga – Zheltuga Republic (from 1883 to 1886) Capital: None | Unrecognized proto-state from 1883 to 1886. |