List of countries in the 1970s

This is a list of countries in the 1970s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1970 and 31 December 1979. It contains 191 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 166 widely-recognized sovereign states (including 4 associated states that gained full independence, 4 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), 2 constituent republics of another sovereign state that were UN members on their own right, 12 entities which claim an effective sovereignty but are considered de facto dependencies of other powers by the general international community, 4 associated states, and 7 transitional states.

Sovereign states
Name and capital cityInformation on status and recognition of sovereignty A  – Emirate of Abu Dhabi  
Transitional independent state. →  →  →  →  Afghanistan 
 Kingdom of Afghanistan 
 Republic of Afghanistan 
 Democratic Republic of Afghanistan 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Afghanistan was occupied by the Soviet Union from 27 December 1979. – State of Ajman  
Transitional independent state. Albania 
 People's Republic of Albania 
 People's Socialist Republic of Albania 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria 
Widely-recognized UN member state.23px|border →  – Principality of Andorra 
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 foreign states, in this case France and Spain. Angola – People's Republic of Angola  
Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 1 December 1976. Antigua 
Associated state of the United Kingdom. Antigua had two dependencies, Barbuda (from 23 December 1976) and Redonda. – Argentine Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 22 provinces and two federal territories.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. 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. – Commonwealth of Australia 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Australia was a federation of six states and three territories.6 States: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia. 3 Territories: Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, Northern Territory. It had sovereignty over the following external territories:
 Ashmore and Cartier Islands (from 1 July 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 15 September 1975) – Republic of Austria 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Austria was a federation of nine states.9 States: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Upper Austria, Vorarlberg, Vienna. B  – Commonwealth of the Bahamas  
Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 18 September 1973. Commonwealth realm. →  Bahrain – State of Bahrain  
Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 21 September 1971. →  – People's Republic of Bangladesh  
De facto independent state. Claimed by Pakistan (to 22 February 1974). Permanent observer at the UN (from 1973 to 17 September 1974). Widely-recognized UN member state (from 17 September 1974). 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. – Kingdom of Belgium 
Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member.Benin  Dahomey – Kingdom of Bhutan 
Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (to 21 September 1971). UN member state (from 21 September 1971). Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs, but effectively pursued an independent foreign policy starting in the 1970s. – Republic of Biafra  
Partially recognized de facto independent state; claimed by Nigeria. – Republic of Bolivia 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Republic of Bophuthatswana  
Nominally independent South African bantustan. – Republic of Botswana 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 22 states, four territories, and one federal district. →  Bulgaria – People's Republic of Bulgaria 
Widely-recognized UN member state. →  Burma 
 Union of Burma 
 Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Burundi – Republic of Burundi 
Widely-recognized UN member state. C  Cabinda – Republic of Cabinda  
De facto independent state. Claimed by Portugal (to 11 November 1975) and Angola (on 11 November 1975). →  →  →  Cambodia / Khmer Republic / Kampuchea, Democratic 
 Kingdom of Cambodia 
 Khmer Republic 
 Kampuchea (Kingdom of Cambodia) 
 Democratic Kampuchea 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Kampuchea, despite being in exile from 10 January 1979. →  
 Federal Republic of Cameroon 
 United Republic of Cameroon 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Until 2 June 1972, Cameroon was a federation of two regions.2 regions: East Cameroun and West Cameroun. – Dominion of Canada 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Canada was a federation of ten provinces and two territories.10 Provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan. 2 Territories: Northwest Territories, Yukon. – Republic of Cape Verde  
Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 16 September 1975). / Central African Empire 
 Central African Republic 
 Central African Empire 
 Central African Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state. →  Ceylon / Sri Lanka 
 Dominion of Ceylon 
 Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic of Sri Lanka 
 Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm (to 22 May 1972). – Republic of Chad 
Widely-recognized UN member state. 
 Republic of Chile (to 11 September 1973)
 Chilean Military dictatorship (from 11 September 1973)
Widely-recognized UN member state. It had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory, which is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. 
Partially recognized de facto independent state (to 25 October 1971). Widely-recognized UN member state (from 25 October 1971). 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, 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 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. 
Widely-recognized UN member state to 25 October 1971 under the name "China"; partially-recognized de facto independent state from 25 October 1971. Taiwan 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 Tuvan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic; the Sixty-Four Villages East of the River (administered by the Soviet Union); The majority of Gorno-Badakhshan (administered 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). – Republic of Colombia 
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). →  →   
 State of the Comoros 
 Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros 
De facto independent state. Claimed by France to 31 December 1975; widely-recognized state from 12 November 1975. UN member state from 12 November 1975. After 24 May 1978, the Comoros was a federation of three islands.3 Islands: Anjouan, Grande Comore, Mohéli. 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 
 Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 Republic of Zaire 
Widely-recognized UN member state. →  Congo, Republic of the / Congo 
 Republic of the Congo 
 People's Republic of the Congo 
Widely-recognized UN member state. →  →  
A state in free association with New Zealand; it shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship. – Republic of Costa Rica 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Republic of Cuba 
Widely-recognized UN member state; the Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the control of the United States. – Republic of Cyprus 
Widely-recognized UN member state. 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 February 1975) Czechoslovakia – Czechoslovak Socialist Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Czechoslovakia was a federation of two republics.2 Republics: Czech Socialist Republic, Slovak Socialist Republic. D  →  Dahomey / Benin 
 Republic of Dahomey 
 People's Republic of Benin 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Kingdom of Denmark 
Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member from 1 January 1973. The Danish Realm also included two of its constituent countries:
 Greenland (from 1 May 1979)
  – Republic of Djibouti  
Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 20 September 1977. →  
 Dominica 
 Commonwealth of Dominica 
Associated state of the United Kingdom (to 2 November 1978).
Widely-recognized independent state from 3 November 1978; UN member state from 18 December 1978. 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – State of Dubai  
Transitional independent state. E  East Timor – Democratic Republic of East Timor  
De facto independent state from 28 November 1975 to 7 December 1975; claimed by Portugal and Indonesia from 29 November 1975.border|23px Ecuador 
 Republic of Ecuador (to 10 August 1979)
 Republic of Ecuador (from 10 August 1979)
Widely-recognized UN member state.Egypt  United Arab Republic 
 Military dictatorship in El Salvador 
 Revolutionary Government Junta of El Salvador 
Widely-recognized UN member state. →  →  Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea 
Widely-recognized UN member state. →  Ethiopia 
 Ethiopian Empire 
 Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia (Derg) 
Widely-recognized UN member state. F  Fiji – Dominion of Fiji  
Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 13 October 1970. Commonwealth realm. Fiji had an autonomous dependency, Rotuma. – Republic of Finland 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Finland had a neutral and demilitarized region:
  →  – French Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member. France included five overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon (from 19 July 1976). It also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:
  Comoros (to 24 December 1976)
 French Afars and Issas (to 26 June 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 December 1976)
 New Caledonia
 Saint Pierre and Miquelon (to 19 July 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:
  (with the United Kingdom)
France also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and the Comoros). Fujairah – State of Fujairah  
Transitional independent state. G  – Gabonese Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state. 
 The Gambia 
 Republic of the Gambia 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm (to 24 April 1970). – German Democratic Republic 
Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (from 1972 to 18 September 1973). UN member state (from 18 September 1973). – Federal Republic of Germany 
Widely-recognized independent state; Permanent observer at the UN to 18 September 1973. UN member state from 18 September 1973; EEC member. West Germany was a federation of ten states.10 States: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein. – Republic of Ghana 
Widely-recognized UN member state. →  →  →  
 Kingdom of Greece 
 Hellenic Republic 
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 
 People's Revolutionary Government of Grenada 
Associated state of the United Kingdom (to 6 February 1974).
Widely-recognized independent state from 7 February 1974; UN member state from 17 September 1974. Commonwealth realm. Grenada had one autonomous dependency, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. – Republic of Guatemala 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – People's Revoultionary Republic of Guinea 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Republic of Guinea-Bissau  
De facto independent state; claimed by Portugal to 10 September 1974. Widely-recognized from 10 September 1974; UN member state from 17 September 1974. 
 Guyana 
 Co-operative Republic of Guyana 
Widely-recognized UN member state. H  – Republic of Haiti 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Haiti claimed the uninhabited United States possession of Navassa Island.Holy See  Vatican City – Republic of Honduras 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Hungary – People's Republic of Hungary 
Widely-recognized UN member state. I  – Republic of Iceland 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Republic of India 
Widely-recognized UN member state. India was a federation of 22 states and 11 union territories.22 States: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh (from 25 January 1971), Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur (from 21 January 1972), Meghalaya (from 21 January 1972), Mysore (renamed Karnataka 1 November 1973), Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim (from 16 May 1975), Tamil Nadu, Tripura (from 21 January 1972), Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal. 11 Union Territories: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, National Capital Territory of Delhi, Goa, Daman and Diu, Himachal Pradesh (to 25 January 1971), Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands, Manipur (to 21 January 1972), Pondicherry, Tripura (to 21 January 1972). India had sovereignty over one protectorate:
  (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. – Republic of Indonesia
Widely-recognized UN member state. Indonesia's sovereignty over Timor Timur from 17 July 1976 was disputed and not widely recognized. Iran 
 Imperial State of Iran 
 Interim Government of Iran 
 Islamic Republic of Iran 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Iraqi Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state. 
Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member from 1 January 1973. – State of Israel 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Israel occupied the Gaza Strip the Golan Heights, the Sinai Peninsula, and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. These areas were not recognized as being part of Israel. Italy – Italian Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member. Italy had 5 autonomous regions: Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. – Republic of Ivory Coast 
Widely-recognized UN member state. J  
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Jordan claimed the Israeli-occupied territories of West Bank, including East Jerusalem. K Kampuchea, Democratic  Cambodia Kampuchea, People's Republic of  
Partially recognized de facto independent state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Kampuchea; the People's Republic of Kampuchea was occupied by Vietnam from December 1978. – Republic of Kenya 
Widely-recognized UN member state.Khmer Republic  Cambodia – Republic of Kiribati  
Widely-recognized independent state. – Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN from 1973; claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. Korea, South – Republic of Korea 
 Third Republic 
 Fourth Republic 
Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN; claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. – State of Kuwait 
Widely-recognized UN member state. L  →  
 Kingdom of Laos 
 Lao People's Democratic Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Lebanese Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Lebanon was occupied by Syria from 2 November 1975. – Kingdom of Lesotho 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Republic of Liberia 
Widely-recognized UN member state. →  →  Libya 
 Libyan Arab Republic 
 Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Federation of Arab Republics member from 17 April 1971 to November 1977. Liechtenstein 
Widely-recognized independent state. The defense of Liechtenstein was the responsibility of Switzerland. – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 
Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member. M  Malagasy Republic / Madagascar 
 Malagasy Republic 
 Democratic Republic of Madagascar 
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, which was disputed by Comoros and France. – Republic of Malawi 
Widely-recognized UN member state. 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Malaysia was a federation of thirteen states and one federal territory.13 States: Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu. 1 Federal Territory: Kuala Lumpur (from 1 February 1974). – Republic of Maldives 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Republic of Mali 
Widely-recognized UN member state. 
 State of Malta 
 Republic of Malta 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm (to 13 December 1974). – Islamic Republic of Mauritania 
Widely-recognized UN member state. From 26 February 1976 to 11 August 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 February 1976. Mauritius 
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. – United Mexican States 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Mexico was a federation of 31 states, two territories, and one federal district.31 States: Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur (from 8 October 1974), Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo (from 8 October 1974), San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatán, Zacatecas. 2 Territories: Baja California Sur (to 8 October 1974), Quintana Roo (to 8 October 1974). 1 Federal District: Federal District – Principality of Monaco 
Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. The defense of Monaco was the responsibility of France. Mongolia – Mongolian People's Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Kingdom of Morocco 
Widely-recognized UN member state. After 26 February 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 February 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  
Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 16 September 1975. →  Muscat and Oman / Oman 
 Sultanate of Muscat and Oman 
 Sultanate of Oman 
Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 7 October 1971). Under the informal protection of the United Kingdom until 1971. N  – Republic of Nauru 
Widely-recognized independent state; the defense of Nauru was the responsibility of Australia. Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Kingdom of the Netherlands 
Widely-recognized UN member state. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consisted of three autonomous countries:


  (to 24 November 1975)
The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole was a member of the EEC. – Dominion of New Zealand 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. New Zealand had responsibilities for the two free associated states of:
  → 
  (from 19 October 1974)
It also had sovereignty over three dependent territories:
 Niue (to 19 October 1974)
 Ross Dependency (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty)
 Tokelau Islands (renamed Tokelau on 9 December 1976)
The government of Tokelau Islands(Tokelau) claimed Swains Island, part of American Samoa (a US dependency). →  – Republic of Nicaragua 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Republic of Niger 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Federal Republic of Nigeria 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Nigeria was a federation of 23 states and one federal territory.23 States: Anambra (from 3 February 1976), Bauchi (from 3 February 1976), Mid-Western (renamed Bendel on 3 February 1976), Benue (from 3 February 1976), Benue-Plateau (to 3 February 1976), Borno (from 3 February 1976), South-Eastern (renamed Cross-River on 3 February 1976), East Central (to 3 February 1976), Gongola (from 3 February 1976), Imo (from 3 February 1976), Kano, Kwara, Lagos, North-Eastern State (to 3 February 1976), Northwestern State (renamed Kaduna on 3 February 1976), Niger (from 3 February 1976), Ogun (from 3 February 1976), Ondo (from 3 February 1976), Oyo (from 3 February 1976), Plateau (from 3 February 1976), Rivers, Sokoto (from 3 February 1976), Western (to 3 February 1976). 1 Federal Territory: Federal Capital Territory (from 3 February 1976). 
A state in free association with New Zealand; Niue was a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity and it had shared citizenship with New Zealand. North Solomons – Republic of the North Solomons  
De facto independent state. Claimed by Australia (to 16 September 1975) and Papua New Guinea (from 16 September 1975). – Kingdom of Norway 
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  – Islamic Republic of Pakistan 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Pakistan was a federation of six provinces and three territories. It administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the territories of Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.6 Provinces: Balochistan (from 1 July 1970), East Pakistan (to 16 December 1971), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (from 1 July 1970), Punjab (from 1 July 1970), Sindh (from 1 July 1970), West Pakistan (to 1 July 1970). 3 Territories: Azad Kashmir (from 1 July 1970), Northern Areas (from 1 July 1970), Islamabad Capital Territory – Republic of Panama 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Independent State of Papua New Guinea  
Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 10 October 1975. Commonwealth realm. Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Peruvian Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Republic of the Philippines 
Widely-recognized UN member state. The Philippines administered Scarborough Shoal, which was disputed by China and Taiwan. It also claimed sovereignty over the Spratly Islands (disputed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Malaysia) and the Malaysian territory of Sabah. Poland – Polish People's Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Portugal 
 Second Portuguese Republic 
 Third Portuguese Republic  
Widely-recognized UN member state. Portugal had two autnonomous regions: the Azores (from 27 August 1976) and Madeira (from 27 August 1976). Portugal had sovereignty over the following overseas provinces:
 Angola (to 10 November 1975)
 Cape Verde Islands (to 19 December 1974)
 Macau (to 17 February 1976)
  Mozambique (to 24 June 1975)
 Portuguese Guinea (to 10 September 1974)
 Portuguese Timor
 São Tomé and Príncipe (to 11 July 1975)
It had one autonomous republic:
 Republic of Cape Verde (from 19 December 1974 to 4 July 1975)
It also had one Chinese territory which it administered as a dependency:
 Macau (from 17 February 1976)
Portugal continued to claim sovereignty over Portuguese Timor after its unilateral declaration of independence on 28 November 1975 and its occupation by Indonesia on 7 December 1975. It claimed the former overseas province of Portuguese India, which had been annexed by India, until 31 December 1974. It also claimed the Spanish municipalities of Olivenza and Táliga. Q  – State of Qatar 
Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 21 September 1971. R  – State of Ras al-Khaimah  
Transitional independent state. →  Rhodesia / Zimbabwe Rhodesia 
 Rhodesia 
 Republic of Rhodesia 
 Republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia 
De facto independent state; not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the United Kingdom. Romania – Socialist Republic of Romania 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Rwandese Republic
Widely-recognized UN member state. Rwenzururu – Kingdom of Rwenzururu 
De facto independent state; not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Uganda. S  
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 August 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. 
Associated state of the United Kingdom. →  Saint Lucia 
Associated state of the United Kingdom (to 21 February 1979).
Widely-recognized independent state from 22 February 1979; UN member state from 18 September 1979. Commonwealth realm. →  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 Saint Vincent 
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
Associated state of the United Kingdom to 26 October 1979. Widely-recognized independent state from 27 October 1979; Commonwealth realm. – Republic of San Marino 
Widely-recognized independent state. – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe  
Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 16 September 1975). →  – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Republic of Senegal 
Widely-recognized UN member state. →  – Republic of Seychelles  
Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 21 September 1976). The Seychelles claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territories of Tromelin Island and the Glorioso Islands. – State of Sharjah  
Transitional independent state. 
 Sierra Leone 
 Republic of Sierra Leone 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm (to 19 April 1971). – Republic of Singapore 
Widely-recognized UN member state.  
Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 19 September 1978). Commonwealth realm. Somalia – Somali Democratic Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Republic of South Africa 
Widely-recognized UN member state. South Africa had eight autonomous bantustans: Bophuthatswana (from 1 June 1972 to 6 December 1977), Ciskei (from 1 August 1972) Gazankulu (from 1 February 1973), KwaZulu (from 1 February 1977), Lebowa (from 2 October 1972), Transkei (to 26 October 1976), QwaQwa (from 1 November 1974), and Venda (from 1 February 1973 to 13 September 1979). There were also three bantustans which were nominally independent: Bophuthatswana (from 6 December 1977), Transkei (from 26 October 1976), and Venda (from 13 September 1979). South Africa administered one League of Nations mandate:
 South-West Africa – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 
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.15 Republics: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Byelorussia, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Russian SFSR, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. →  
 Spanish State 
 Transitional Spanish Kingdom 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Spain included two autonomous communities. Spain had sovereignty over one overseas province:
 Spanish Sahara (to 26 February 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 →  – Democratic Republic of the Sudan 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Republic of Suriname  
Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 4 December 1975. – Kingdom of Swaziland 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Kingdom of Sweden 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Swiss Confederation 
Widely-recognized independent state; permanent observer at the UN. Switzerland was a federation of 26 cantons.26 Cantons: Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Glarus, Graubünden, Jura (from 1 January 1979), Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zürich →  – Syrian Arab Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Federation of Arab Republics member from 17 April 1971 to November 1977. Syria included the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and disputed Turkey's sovereignty over Hatay Province. T  Tanna – Tanna Nation  
De facto independent state; claimed by the Anglo-French New Hebrides Condominium. – United Republic of Tanzania 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Tanzania had one autonomous region: Zanzibar. Thailand – Kingdom of Thailand 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Togolese Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Kingdom of Tonga  
Widely-recognized independent state. – Republic of Transkei  
Nominally independent South African bantustan. 
 Trinidad and Tobago 
 Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm (to 1 August 1976). – Tunisian Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Republic of Turkey 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Tuvalu  
Widely-recognized independent state; Commonwealth realm. U  
 First Republic of Uganda (to 25 January 1971)
 Second Republic of Uganda (from 25 January 1971 to 13 April 1979)
 Third Republic of Uganda (from 13 April 1979)
Widely-recognized UN member state. – State of Umm al-Quwain  
Transitional independent state.  
Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 9 December 1971. The United Arab Emirates was a federation of seven emirates.7 Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain. →  United Arab Republic / Egypt 
 United Arab Republic 
 Arab Republic of Egypt 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Federation of Arab Republics member from 17 April 1971 to November 1977. to The United Arab Republic consisted of one state: Egypt. It included the Sinai Peninsula, which was occupied by Israel. – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 
Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member from 1 January 1973. The United Kingdom was composed of four constituent 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 December 1976)
 Redonda
  (to 2 November 1978)
  Grenada (to 6 February 1974)

  Saint Lucia (to 21 February 1979)
  Saint Vincent (to 26 October 1979)
The United Kingdom administered the foreign affairs of the following protected states:
  Bahrain (to 15 August 1971)

  →  (to 3 September 1971)
  (to 3 June 1970)
  Trucial States (to 1 December 1971), consisting of seven protected states:



  Fujairah



The United Kingdom co-administered the following condominiums:
 Canton and Enderbury Islands (to 1 January 1975, with the United States)
  (with France)
It also had sovereignty over the following crown colonies and protectorates:
  (to 9 July 1973)

  British Antarctic Territory (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty)
  (renamed Belize on 1 June 1973)
 British Indian Ocean Territory (disputed by Mauritius and the Seychelles)
  British Solomon Islands (from 2 January 1976 to 6 July 1978)

 British Western Pacific Territories (to 2 January 1976), consisting of two territories
  Gilbert and Ellice Islands (to July 1971)
  British Solomon Islands (to 2 January 1976)

  Ellice Island (from 1 January 1976 to 30 September 1978)
  Falkland Islands (disputed by Argentina), with one dependency
 Falkland Islands Dependencies
  Fiji (to 9 October 1970), with one dependency
 Rotuma

  Gilbert and Ellice Islands (from July 1971 to 1 January 1976)
  Gilbert Islands (from 1 January 1976 to 11 July 1979)
  Hong Kong
  Montserrat
 Pitcairn Islands
 , with two dependencies
 Ascension Island
 Tristan da Cunha
  Seychelles (to 28 June 1976)
 Southern Rhodesia (from 12 December 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:
 , with two dependencies:



  – United States of America 
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 unincorporated territories: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.
  (including Swains Island, disputed by Tokelau)

  (to 30 September 1979)



The United States co-administered the following condominium:
 Canton and Enderbury Islands (to 20 September 1979, with the United Kingdom)
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:
 , including three territories:
  (from 1 May 1979)
  (from 10 May 1979)
  →  Northern Mariana Islands (from 9 January 1978) – Republic of Upper Volta 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Eastern Republic of Uruguay 
Widely-recognized UN member state. V  – Vatican City State 
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. – Republic of Venda  
Nominally independent South African bantustan. Venezuela – Republic of Venezuela 
Widely-recognized UN member state. Venezuela was a federation of 20 states, two territories, one federal dependency, and one federal district.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. – Socialist Republic of Vietnam  
Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (from 2 July 1976 to 20 September 1977). UN member state (from 20 September 1977). Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands (disputed by China and Taiwan) and Spratly Islands (disputed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Malaysia). – Democratic Republic of Vietnam  
Widely-recognized independent state; permanent observer at the UN from 30 April 1975 to 2 July 1976. →  Vietnam, South 
 Republic of Vietnam 
 Republic of South Vietnam 
Widely-recognized independent state to 30 April 1975; permanent observer at the UN to 30 April 1975. South Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands (disputed by China and Taiwan) and Spratly Islands (disputed by China, Taiwan, and the Philippines). W  – Independent State of Western Samoa 
Widely-recognized independent state; UN member state from 15 December 1976. Y  – Yemen Arab Republic 
Widely-recognized UN member state. 
 People's Republic of South Yemen 
 People's Democratic Republic of Yemen 
Widely-recognized UN member state. – Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 
Widely-recognized UN member state; Yugoslavia was a federation of six republics.6 Republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia. Z Zaire  Congo, Democratic Republic of Zambia – Republic of Zambia 
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. "Australia, New Zealand, France, Norway and the United Kingdom reciprocally recognize the validity of each other's claims." These claims, which were regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, were neither recognised nor disputed by any other signatory state.CIA – the World Factbook – Antarctica – accessed 19 January 2008
  Estonia was occupied and administered by the Soviet Union, 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.
  was occupied and administered by the Soviet Union, 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.
  was occupied and administered by the Soviet Union, 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.Bilateral relations with countries , Retrieved 2009-12-22 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.
  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

References

Category:1970s
Category:Lists of countries in the 20th century