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List of sovereign states and dependent territories by continent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This is a list of sovereign states and dependent territories of the world by continent, displayed with their respective national flags, including the following entities:
- By association within the UN system:
- The 193 United Nations member states (UN).
- Vatican City (administered by the Holy See, a UN General Assembly observer state), which has diplomatic relations with 183 countries as of 7 January 2019.[1]
- Palestine (a UN General Assembly observer state), which has diplomatic relations with 147 countries as of 21 March 2025.[2]
- By Other States
- Generally this contains states with limited recognition and associated states not members of the United Nations
- Partially recognised de facto sovereign states with UN membership, such as the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of China (Taiwan)
- De facto sovereign states lacking general international recognition
- Cook Islands and Niue, two states in free association with New Zealand without UN membership
- By Dependent Territories of other UN member states:
- Generally this contains non-sovereign territories that are recognized by the UN as part of some member state.
- Dependent territories.
- Other territories often regarded as separate geographical territories even though they are integral parts of their mother countries (such as the overseas departments and regions of France).
This list divides the world using the seven-continent model, with islands grouped into adjacent continents. Variations on are noted below and discussed in the following articles: Continent, Boundaries between the continents of Earth, and List of transcontinental countries.
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Legend
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Legend "Membership within the UN System" column UN Member states
UN General Assembly observer state
Member state of a UN Specialized Agency
Observer in a UN Specialized Agency
No membership
Dependent Territory of UN member |
"Sovereignty dispute" column legend Undisputed sovereignty
Disputed sovereignty |
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Africa
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For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Africa with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Africa: territories and regions.
Geologically, Africa is connected to Eurasia by the Isthmus of Suez and forms part of Afro-Eurasia.
- Transcontinental countries in Europe and Africa, classified as Southern European countries by the United Nations Statistics Division:
Italy (Pantelleria and the Pelagie Islands), 
Malta, 
Portugal (Madeira [including the Savage Islands]), and 
Spain (Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla, Alboran Island, and Spain's plazas de soberanía). - Transcontinental country in Europe and Africa, classified as a Western European country by the United Nations Statistics Division:
France (Mayotte, and Réunion). - Transcontinental country in Asia and Africa, classified as a Western Asian country by the United Nations Statistics Division:
Yemen (Socotra).
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Asia
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For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Asia with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Asia: territories and regions.
Geologically, Asia is part of Eurasia and due to the Isthmus of Suez forms part of Afro-Eurasia.
- Transcontinental country in Africa and Asia, classified as a Northern African country by the United Nations Statistics Division:
Egypt (Sinai). - Transcontinental country in Europe and Asia, classified as an Eastern European country by the United Nations Statistics Division:
Russia (North Asia). - States mostly or entirely in West Asia, but commonly associated with Europe, and a member of the Council of Europe:
Armenia, 
Azerbaijan, 
Cyprus, 
Georgia, and 
Turkey. - States with limited recognition, entirely in West Asia, but commonly associated with Europe:
Abkhazia, 
North Cyprus, and 
South Ossetia. - Entirely in Southeast Asia, but commonly associated with Oceania, and lying east of the biogeographical Wallace Line:
East Timor. - Transcontinental country in Europe and Asia, classified as a Southern European country by the United Nations Statistics Division:
Greece (Islands in North Aegean and South Aegean). - Transcontinental country in Asia and North America, classified as a Northern American country by the United Nations Statistics Division:
United States (Little Diomede Island, Near Islands, and St. Lawrence Island).
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Europe
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For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Europe: political geography.
Geologically, Europe is part of Eurasia and due to the Isthmus of Suez forms part of Afro-Eurasia.
- Transcontinental countries in Europe and Asia, classified as West Asian countries by the United Nations Statistics Division: Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, and Turkey (all but Kazakhstan are members of the Council of Europe). - Entirely in West Asia, but commonly associated with Europe, and a member of the Council of Europe: Armenia and Cyprus.
- States with limited recognition, entirely in West Asia, but commonly associated with Europe: Abkhazia, North Cyprus, and South Ossetia.
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North America
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For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in North America with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see North America: countries and territories.
Geologically, North America is joined with South America by the Isthmus of Panama to form the Americas.
- Transcontinental countries in North America or South America (depending on the boundary definition), classified as South American countries by the United Nations Statistics Division:
Colombia (Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina) and 
Venezuela (Nueva Esparta, the Federal Dependencies of Venezuela [including Isla de Aves]). - Transcontinental countries in Europe and North America, classified as Western European countries by the United Nations Statistics Division:
Netherlands (Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius) and France (Guadeloupe and Martinique). - States partially lying on the North American Plate, but commonly associated with Europe, and a member of the Council of Europe:
Iceland, Portugal (Azores), and Russia (Commander Islands and Big Diomede).
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Oceania
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For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Oceania with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Oceania: territories and regions.
- Transcontinental country in Asia and Oceania, classified as an Eastern Asian country by the United Nations Statistics Division:
Japan (Ogasawara [also known as the Bonin Islands or as the Nanpō Islands]). - Transcontinental country in Asia and Oceania, classified as a Southeastern Asian country by the United Nations Statistics Division:
Indonesia (Maluku Islands and Western New Guinea). - Entirely in Southeast Asia, but commonly associated with Oceania, and lying east of the biogeographical Wallace Line: East Timor.
- Transcontinental country in North America and Oceania, classified as a Northern American country by the United Nations Statistics Division: United States (Hawaii).
- Transcontinental countries in Oceania and South America, classified as South American countries by the United Nations Statistics Division:
Chile (Insular Chile) and 
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands).
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South America
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For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in South America with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see South America: demographics.
Geologically, South America is joined with North America by the Isthmus of Panama to form the Americas.
- Transcontinental country in North America and South America, classified as a Central American country by the United Nations Statistics Division:
Panama (South East Panama). - Transcontinental island countries and dependencies in South America or North America (depending on the boundary definition), classified as Caribbean countries and dependencies by the United Nations Statistics Division:
Aruba, 
Curaçao, and 
Trinidad and Tobago (Only Trinidad and Tobago is an independent state). - Transcontinental countries in Europe and South America, classified as Western European countries by the United Nations Statistics Division: Netherlands (Bonaire) and France (French Guiana).
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Antarctica
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Antarctica is regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, which defines it as all land and ice shelves south of 60°S, and has no government and belongs to no country. However, the following territorial claims in Antarctica have been made:
- Argentina:
Argentine Antarctica - Australia:
Australian Antarctic Territory - Chile:
Chilean Antarctic Territory - France:
Adélie Land (part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands) - New Zealand:
Ross Dependency - Norway:
Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land - United Kingdom:
British Antarctic Territory - Terra nullius: Marie Byrd Land (unclaimed territory)
Russia and the United States have reserved the right to claim territory on Antarctica.
Subantarctic islands
Unlike Antarctica itself, other nearby Subantarctic island territories most commonly associated with the Antarctic continent, but lying north of 60°S, have had full sovereignty established over them by a governing state.
The following dependent territories are situated within the wider Antarctic region, but are not directly part of the Antarctic Treaty System:
In addition to the dependent territories listed above, the following islands are governed as a direct part of a controlling state. Thus they are fully and legally integrated within the governance structure of the respective state. They are similarly also not part of the Antarctic Treaty System.
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See also
- Boundaries between the continents of Earth
- Continental union
- Gallery of dependent territory flags
- Gallery of sovereign state flags
- List of countries by United Nations geoscheme
- List of dependent territories
- List of sovereign states
- List of sovereign states and dependent territories by continent (data file) — this data in a plain text format suitable for automated processing
- List of transcontinental countries
Notes
- This column indicates whether or not a state is a member of the United Nations.[3] It also indicates which non-member states participate in the United Nations System through membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency or one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations. All United Nations members belong to at least one specialized agency and are parties to the statute of the International Court of Justice.
- The member states of the European Union have transferred part of their sovereignty in the form of legislative, executive, and judicial powers to the institutions of the EU, which is an example of supranational union. The EU has 27 member states.[53]
- Information is included on:
- The extent to which a state's sovereignty is recognised internationally. More information can be found at List of states with limited recognition,
- Membership in the European Union,[c] where applicable,
- Any dependencies, if applicable, which are generally not part of the territory of the sovereign state,
- federal structure of the state, where applicable. More information can be found at Federated state,
- Any autonomous areas inside the territory of the sovereign state,
- Any situations where one person is the Head of State of more than one state,
- Any governments in exile recognised by at least one state.
- The government of Cape Verde declared "Cabo Verde" to be the official English name of the country in 2013.[4]
- More information on more or less federal structures can be found at a List of federations.[5]
- Also known as Congo-Kinshasa. Formerly referred to as Zaire, its official name from 1971 to 1997.
- For more information on divisions with a high degree of autonomy, see the List of autonomous areas by country.[67]
- This column indicates whether or not a state is a member of the United Nations.[3] It also indicates which non-member states participate in the United Nations System through membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency or one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations. All United Nations members belong to at least one specialized agency and are parties to the statute of the International Court of Justice.
- Information is included on:
- The extent to which a state's sovereignty is recognised internationally. More information can be found at List of states with limited recognition,
- Membership in the European Union,[c] where applicable,
- Any dependencies, if applicable, which are generally not part of the territory of the sovereign state,
- federal structure of the state, where applicable. More information can be found at Federated state,
- Any autonomous areas inside the territory of the sovereign state,
- Any situations where one person is the Head of State of more than one state,
- Any governments in exile recognised by at least one state.
- The People's Republic of China (PRC) is commonly referred to as "China", while the Republic of China (ROC) is commonly referred to as "Taiwan". The ROC is also occasionally known diplomatically as Chinese Taipei, or by another alternative name.
- In 1949, the Republic of China government led by the Kuomintang (KMT) lost the Chinese Civil War to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and set up a provisional capital in Taipei. The CCP established the PRC. As such, the political status of the ROC and legal status of Taiwan (alongside the territories under ROC jurisdiction) are in dispute. In 1971, the United Nations gave the China seat to the PRC. In the view of the United Nations, no member of the organisation withdrew as a consequence of this but the ROC representatives declared that they were withdrawing. Most states recognise the PRC to be the sole legitimate representative of all China, and the UN classifies Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China". The ROC has de facto relations with most sovereign states. A significant political movement within Taiwan advocates Taiwan independence.
- The country's official name of Myanmar, adopted in 1989, has been mixed and controversial, with the former name Burma still being used in many cases. See Names of Myanmar.
- Formerly known as Ceylon until 1972.
- This column indicates whether or not a state is a member of the United Nations.[3] It also indicates which non-member states participate in the United Nations System through membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency or one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations. All United Nations members belong to at least one specialized agency and are parties to the statute of the International Court of Justice.
- Information is included on:
- The extent to which a state's sovereignty is recognised internationally. More information can be found at List of states with limited recognition,
- Membership in the European Union,[c] where applicable,
- Any dependencies, if applicable, which are generally not part of the territory of the sovereign state,
- federal structure of the state, where applicable. More information can be found at Federated state,
- Any autonomous areas inside the territory of the sovereign state,
- Any situations where one person is the Head of State of more than one state,
- Any governments in exile recognised by at least one state.
- A simpler official short name has been encouraged by the Czech government, "Czechia". This variant remains uncommon, but has been adopted by several companies and organisations. See Name of the Czech Republic.
- Åland was demilitarised by the Treaty of Paris in 1856, which was later affirmed by the League of Nations in 1921, and in a somewhat different context reaffirmed in the treaty on Finland's admission to the European Union in 1995.
- France's claimed Antarctic territory of Adélie Land (Terre Adélie) is one of five constituent districts of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
- While sometimes referred to as the "Republic of Iceland"[59][60] and sometimes its counterpart Lýðveldið Ísland in Icelandic, the official name of the country is simply "Iceland".[61] One example of the former is the name of the Constitution of Iceland, which in Icelandic is Stjórnarskrá lýðveldisins Íslands and literally means "the Constitution of the republic of Iceland". However, note that in this usage "republic" is not capitalised.
- "Ireland" is the official name of the country in English. "Republic of Ireland" (the official description in English) and "Éire" (the official name in Irish) have sometimes been used unofficially to distinguish the state from the larger island of Ireland, however, this is officially deprecated.[62] See names of the Irish state.
- The designation "Netherlands" can refer either to metropolitan Netherlands or to the entire Kingdom (e.g. in international organizations).
- Formerly known constitutionally as the Republic of Macedonia from 1991 to 2019 and under the international designation of "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM) from 1993 to 2019 due to the Macedonia naming dispute with Greece. Following the Prespa agreement going into effect in February 2019, the country was renamed to North Macedonia.
- Spain holds several small overseas territories scattered along the Mediterranean coast bordering Morocco, known as the Plazas de soberanía.
- The UK formally withdrew from the European Union on 31 January 2020. The state saw a provisional transition period out of the supranational union in 2020, see Brexit, Post-Brexit relations.
- Commonwealth realms are members of the Commonwealth of Nations in which the head of state is Queen Elizabeth II. The realms are sovereign states; see Relationship of the realms.
- This column indicates whether or not a state is a member of the United Nations.[3] It also indicates which non-member states participate in the United Nations System through membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency or one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations. All United Nations members belong to at least one specialized agency and are parties to the statute of the International Court of Justice.
- Information is included on:
- The extent to which a state's sovereignty is recognised internationally. More information can be found at List of states with limited recognition,
- Membership in the European Union,[c] where applicable,
- Any dependencies, if applicable, which are generally not part of the territory of the sovereign state,
- federal structure of the state, where applicable. More information can be found at Federated state,
- Any autonomous areas inside the territory of the sovereign state,
- Any situations where one person is the Head of State of more than one state,
- Any governments in exile recognised by at least one state.
- The legal name for Canada is the sole word; an officially sanctioned, though disused, name is Dominion of Canada (which includes its legal title); see: Name of Canada, Dominion.
- This column indicates whether or not a state is a member of the United Nations.[3] It also indicates which non-member states participate in the United Nations System through membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency or one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations. All United Nations members belong to at least one specialized agency and are parties to the statute of the International Court of Justice.
- Information is included on:
- The extent to which a state's sovereignty is recognised internationally. More information can be found at List of states with limited recognition,
- Membership in the European Union,[c] where applicable,
- Any dependencies, if applicable, which are generally not part of the territory of the sovereign state,
- federal structure of the state, where applicable. More information can be found at Federated state,
- Any autonomous areas inside the territory of the sovereign state,
- Any situations where one person is the Head of State of more than one state,
- Any governments in exile recognised by at least one state.
- This column indicates whether or not a state is a member of the United Nations.[3] It also indicates which non-member states participate in the United Nations System through membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency or one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations. All United Nations members belong to at least one specialized agency and are parties to the statute of the International Court of Justice.
- Information is included on:
- The extent to which a state's sovereignty is recognised internationally. More information can be found at List of states with limited recognition,
- Membership in the European Union,[c] where applicable,
- Any dependencies, if applicable, which are generally not part of the territory of the sovereign state,
- federal structure of the state, where applicable. More information can be found at Federated state,
- Any autonomous areas inside the territory of the sovereign state,
- Any situations where one person is the Head of State of more than one state,
- Any governments in exile recognised by at least one state.
- Argentina's claimed Antarctic territory of Argentine Antarctica (Antártida Argentina) is one of five constituent departments of the province Tierra del Fuego.[77]
- Chile's claimed Antarctic territory of the Chilean Antarctic (Antártica Chilena) is a commune of the Antártica Chilena Province of the Magallanes Region.
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References
External links
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