List of sovereign states in the 1990s

This is a list of sovereign states in the 1990s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 1999. It contains 241 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 197 widely recognized sovereign states, 28 entities which claim an effective sovereignty but are considered de facto dependencies of other powers by the general international community, 2 associated states, 14 states which were initially unrecognized but then gained full recognition later in the decade, and 1 state which was initially widely recognized but then lost full recognition later in the decade.

Members or observers of the United Nations
{| border="0" cellpadding="0" style="text-align:left; font-size:95%; border-collapse:collapse; border'':0 solid #aaa;" ! style="width:400px;"|Name and capital city !Information on status and recognition of sovereignty
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A

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Capital: Kabul (to 26 September 1996), Mazar-i-Sharif (from 26 September 1996 to 25 May 1997), Taloqan (from 25 May 1997) Widely recognized UN member state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Afghanistan and recognized as such by the UN, but only controlled a small portion of the country after 26 September 1996.
 * valign=top|🇦🇫 → →  Afghanistan
 * valign=top|🇦🇫 → →  Afghanistan
 * Republic of Afghanistan (to 28 April 1992)
 * Islamic State of Afghanistan (from 28 April 1992)
 * colspan=2|
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇦🇱 → 
 * People's Socialist Republic of Albania (to 29 April 1991)
 * Republic of Albania (from 29 April 1991)
 * Republic of Albania (from 29 April 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇩🇿 Algeria – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
 * valign=top|🇩🇿 Algeria – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
 * colspan=2|
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Widely recognized independent state. The President of France and Bishop of Urgell were ex officio Co-Princes of Andorra. UN member state (from 28 July 1993). The defense of Andorra was the responsibility of France and Spain.
 * valign=top|🇦🇩 Andorra – Principality of Andorra
 * valign=top|🇦🇩 Andorra – Principality of Andorra
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|
 * People's Republic of Angola (to 25 August 1992)
 * Republic of Angola (from 25 August 1992)
 * Republic of Angola (from 25 August 1992)
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Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Antigua and Barbuda had two dependencies, Barbuda and Redonda.
 * valign=top|🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda
 * valign=top|🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda
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Widely recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 22 provinces, two federal territories, and one federal territory. It had a claim over Argentine Antarctica, which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. It also claimed the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, both of which were British overseas territories.
 * valign=top|🇦🇷 Argentina – Argentine Republic
 * valign=top|🇦🇷 Argentina – Argentine Republic
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De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized (from 26 December 1991). UN member state (from 2 March 1992).
 * valign=top|🇦🇲 Armenia – Republic of Armenia (from 23 September 1991)
 * valign=top|🇦🇲 Armenia – Republic of Armenia (from 23 September 1991)
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Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Australia was a federation of six states and three territories. It had sovereignty over the following external territories:
 * valign=top|🇦🇺 Australia – Commonwealth of Australia
 * valign=top|🇦🇺 Australia – Commonwealth of Australia
 * Ashmore and Cartier Islands
 * Australian Antarctic Territory (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.)
 * Christmas Island
 * Cocos (Keeling) Islands
 * Coral Sea Islands
 * Heard Island and McDonald Islands
 * 🇳🇫 Norfolk Island
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Widely recognized UN member state. EU member (from 1 January 1995). Austria was a federation of nine states.
 * valign=top|🇦🇹 Austria – Republic of Austria
 * valign=top|🇦🇹 Austria – Republic of Austria
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De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized state from 26 December 1991; UN member state from 2 March 1992. Azerbaijan had one autonomous republic, Nakhchivan. It included the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where a partially recognized breakaway republic declared independence on 6 January 1992.
 * valign=top|🇦🇿 Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan (from 30 August 1991)
 * valign=top|🇦🇿 Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan (from 30 August 1991)
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B

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Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
 * valign=top| The Bahamas – Commonwealth of the Bahamas
 * valign=top| The Bahamas – Commonwealth of the Bahamas
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇧🇭 Bahrain – State of Bahrain
 * valign=top|🇧🇭 Bahrain – State of Bahrain
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇧🇩 Bangladesh – People's Republic of Bangladesh
 * valign=top|🇧🇩 Bangladesh – People's Republic of Bangladesh
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Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
 * valign=top|🇧🇧 Barbados
 * valign=top|🇧🇧 Barbados
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Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member to 1 November 1993; EU member from 1 November 1993. Belgium was a federation of three communities and three regions.
 * valign=top|🇧🇪 Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium
 * valign=top|🇧🇪 Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium
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Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
 * valign=top| Belize
 * valign=top| Belize
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Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (seat of government) Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇧🇯 → 🇧🇯 Benin
 * valign=top|🇧🇯 → 🇧🇯 Benin
 * People's Republic of Benin (to 1 March 1990)
 * Republic of Benin (from 1 March 1990)
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Widely recognized UN member state. Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs, but effectively pursued an independent foreign policy.
 * valign=top|🇧🇹 Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan
 * valign=top|🇧🇹 Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan
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Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative) Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇧🇴 Bolivia – Republic of Bolivia
 * valign=top|🇧🇴 Bolivia – Republic of Bolivia
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De facto independent state. Claimed by Yugoslavia (to 28 April 1992). Widely recognized (from 7 April 1992). UN member state (from 22 May 1992). Much of the de jure territory of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the under control of the following self-declared entities which, although they did not claim independence, were effectively self-governing: In addition, there were three states which had declared and established de facto independence from Bosnia and Herzegovina: Republika Srpska (from 7 April 1992 to 14 December 1995) and Republic of Western Bosnia (from 26 July 1995 to 7 August 1995). After the Dayton Accords, Bosnia and Herzegovina was a federation of two constituent entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was itself a federation of ten cantons, and Republika Srpska. There was also a neutral Brčko District (from 5 March 1999).
 * valign=top|🇧🇦 →  (from 5 April 1992)
 * Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (from 5 April 1992 to 14 December 1995)
 * Bosnia and Herzegovina (from 14 December 1995)
 * Bosnia and Herzegovina (from 14 December 1995)
 * Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (from 27 September 1993 to 26 July 1995)
 * Herzeg-Bosnia (from 28 August 1993 to 18 March 1994)
 * Republika Srpska (to 7 April 1992)
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇧🇼 Botswana – Republic of Botswana
 * valign=top|🇧🇼 Botswana – Republic of Botswana
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Widely recognized UN member state; Brazil was a federation of 26 states and one federal district.
 * valign=top|🇧🇷 → 🇧🇷 Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil
 * valign=top|🇧🇷 → 🇧🇷 Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil
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Widely recognized UN member state. Brunei claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia).
 * valign=top| Brunei – State of Brunei, Abode of Peace
 * valign=top| Brunei – State of Brunei, Abode of Peace
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇧🇬 → 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
 * People's Republic of Bulgaria (to 15 November 1990)
 * Republic of Bulgaria (from 15 November 1990)
 * Republic of Bulgaria (from 15 November 1990)
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
 * valign=top|🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
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 * colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top; font-size:90%;"|Burma Myanmar
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇧🇮 Burundi – Republic of Burundi
 * valign=top|🇧🇮 Burundi – Republic of Burundi
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Widely recognized UN member state. De facto independent state that was nominally a constituent state of the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991; widely recognized from 26 December 1991.
 * valign=top| → 🇧🇾 → 🇧🇾 Byelorussia / Belarus (from 27 July 1990)
 * Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (from 27 July 1990 to 25 August 1991)
 * Republic of Belarus (from 25 August 1991)
 * Republic of Belarus (from 25 August 1991)
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C

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 * colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top; font-size:90%;"|Cambodia Kampuchea
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇨🇲 Cameroon – Republic of Cameroon
 * valign=top|🇨🇲 Cameroon – Republic of Cameroon
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Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. Canada was a federation of ten provinces and three territories.
 * valign=top|🇨🇦 Canada
 * valign=top|🇨🇦 Canada
 * colspan=2|
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇨🇻 → 🇨🇻 Cape Verde – Republic of Cape Verde
 * valign=top|🇨🇻 → 🇨🇻 Cape Verde – Republic of Cape Verde
 * colspan=2|
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇨🇫 Central African Republic
 * valign=top|🇨🇫 Central African Republic
 * colspan=2|
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇹🇩 Chad – Republic of Chad
 * valign=top|🇹🇩 Chad – Republic of Chad
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Widely recognized UN member state; it had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.
 * valign=top|🇨🇱 Chile
 * Military dictatorship (to 11 March 1990)
 * Chilean transition to democracy (11 March 1990)
 * Republic of Chile (from 11 March 1990)
 * Republic of Chile (from 11 March 1990)
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Widely recognized UN member state. The People's Republic of China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. Additionally, it had sovereignty over two special administrative regions: The People's Republic of China claimed Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and the Vereker Banks, and Itu Aba, all of which were governed by the Republic of China. It also claimed the Paracel Islands (disputed by the Republic of China and Vietnam), the Spratly Islands (disputed by the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei), and South Tibet (controlled by India). The People's Republic of China administered Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract, which were within the disputed region of Kashmir.
 * valign=top|🇨🇳 China – People's Republic of China
 * valign=top|🇨🇳 China – People's Republic of China
 * 🇭🇰 Hong Kong (from 1 July 1997)
 * Macau (from 20 December 1999)
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Widely recognized UN member state. Colombia administered Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank (disputed by Nicaragua and the United States)
 * valign=top|🇨🇴 Colombia – Republic of Colombia
 * valign=top|🇨🇴 Colombia – Republic of Colombia
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Widely recognized UN member state. The Comoros was a federation of three islands: Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan. Anjouan was a de facto independent state from 3 August 1997. Mohéli was a de facto independent state from 11 August 1997 to 1998. Comoros claimed sovereignty over the French overseas territories of Mayotte and the Glorioso Islands. It also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and France).
 * valign=top|🇰🇲 → 🇰🇲 → 🇰🇲 Comoros – Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
 * valign=top|🇰🇲 → 🇰🇲 → 🇰🇲 Comoros – Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top| → 🇨🇩 Congo / Congo, Republic of the
 * People's Republic of the Congo (to 10 June 1991)
 * Republic of the Congo (from 10 June 1991)
 * Republic of the Congo (from 10 June 1991)
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 * colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top; font-size:90%;"|Congo, Democratic Republic of the Zaire
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇨🇷 Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica
 * valign=top|🇨🇷 Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica
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 * colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top; font-size:90%;"|Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast
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De facto independent state. Claimed by Yugoslavia (to 28 April 1992). Widely recognized (from 15 January 1992). UN member state (from 22 May 1992). Croatia contained the following self-declared entities, all of which claimed to be part of Yugoslavia. Although they did not explicitly claim independence, they were de facto self-governing: On 15 January 1996, the last of these entities came under the administration of the United Nations Transitional Authority for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium. It was reintegrated into Croatia on 15 January 1998.
 * valign=top|🇭🇷 Croatia – Republic of Croatia (from 25 June 1991)
 * valign=top|🇭🇷 Croatia – Republic of Croatia (from 25 June 1991)
 * SAO Krajina (to 19 December 1991)
 * SAO Western Slavonia (from 12 August 1991 to 26 February 1992)
 * SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia (to 26 February 1992)
 * Serbian Krajina (from 19 December 1991 to 7 August 1995)
 * Republic of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia (from 7 August 1995 to 15 January 1996)
 * colspan=2|
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Widely recognized UN member state; the Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the complete control of the United States.
 * valign=top|🇨🇺 Cuba – Republic of Cuba
 * valign=top|🇨🇺 Cuba – Republic of Cuba
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Widely recognized UN member state. The northeastern part of the island was the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey.
 * valign=top|🇨🇾 Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus
 * valign=top|🇨🇾 Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus
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Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 19 January 1993).
 * valign=top|🇨🇿 Czech Republic (from 1 January 1993)
 * valign=top|🇨🇿 Czech Republic (from 1 January 1993)
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Widely recognized UN member state. Czechoslovakia was a federation of two republics.
 * valign=top| Czechoslovakia (to 31 December 1992)
 * Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (to 29 March 1990)
 * Czechoslovak Federative Republic (from 29 March 1990 to 20 April 1990)
 * Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (from 23 April 1990 to 31 December 1992)
 * Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (from 23 April 1990 to 31 December 1992)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
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D

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Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member to 1 November 1993. EU member (from 1 November 1993). The Danish Realm also included two of its constituent states:
 * valign=top|🇩🇰 Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark
 * valign=top|🇩🇰 Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark
 * 🇬🇱 Greenland
 * 🇫🇴 Faroe Islands
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇩🇯 Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti
 * valign=top|🇩🇯 Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti
 * colspan=2|
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇩🇲 Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica
 * valign=top|🇩🇲 Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica
 * colspan=2|
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
 * valign=top|🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

E

 * colspan=2|
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇪🇨 Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador
 * valign=top|🇪🇨 Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador
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Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇪🇬 Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt
 * valign=top|🇪🇬 Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇸🇻 El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador
 * valign=top|🇸🇻 El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea
 * valign=top|🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea
 * colspan=2|
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Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 28 May 1993).
 * valign=top|🇪🇷 → 🇪🇷 Eritrea – State of Eritrea (from 24 May 1993)
 * valign=top|🇪🇷 → 🇪🇷 Eritrea – State of Eritrea (from 24 May 1993)
 * colspan=2|
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De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 6 September 1991. Widely recognized state from 6 September 1991; UN member state from 17 September 1991.
 * valign=top|🇪🇪 Estonia – Republic of Estonia (from 20 August 1991)
 * valign=top|🇪🇪 Estonia – Republic of Estonia (from 20 August 1991)
 * colspan=2|
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Widely recognized UN member state. The province of Eritrea was under the control of a self-governing provisional government from 29 May 1991 to 23 May 1993. After 1995, Ethiopia was a federation of nine regions and two chartered cities.
 * valign=top|🇪🇹 → →  → 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
 * People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (to 28 May 1991)
 * Transitional Government of Ethiopia (from 28 May 1991 to 22 August 1995)
 * Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (from 22 August 1995)
 * Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (from 22 August 1995)
 * colspan=2|
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 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

F

 * colspan=2|
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Widely recognized UN member state. Fiji had an autonomous dependency, Rotuma.
 * valign=top|🇫🇯 Fiji
 * Republic of Fiji (to 25 July 1990)
 * Sovereign Democratic Republic of Fiji (from 25 July 1990 to 27 July 1998)
 * Republic of the Fiji Islands (from 27 July 1998)
 * Republic of the Fiji Islands (from 27 July 1998)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. EU member (from 1 January 1995). Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region:
 * valign=top|🇫🇮 Finland – Republic of Finland
 * valign=top|🇫🇮 Finland – Republic of Finland
 * Åland
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (to 1 November 1993). EU member (from 1 November 1993). France included four overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. It also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: France also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and the Comoros).
 * valign=top|🇫🇷 France – French Republic
 * valign=top|🇫🇷 France – French Republic
 * 🇵🇫 French Polynesia, with one dependency:
 * Clipperton Island
 * French Southern and Antarctic Lands (including a claim to Adélie Land which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.)
 * 🇾🇹 Mayotte
 * New Caledonia
 * 🇵🇲 Saint Pierre and Miquelon
 * The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean, consisting of five uninhabited possessions:
 * Bassas da India (disputed by Madagascar)
 * Europa Island (disputed by Madagascar)
 * Glorioso Islands (disputed by Madagascar, Comoros, and the Seychelles)
 * Juan de Nova Island (disputed by Madagascar)
 * Tromelin Island (disputed by Mauritius and the Seychelles)
 * 🇼🇫 Wallis and Futuna
 * colspan=2|
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 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

G

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇬🇦 Gabon
 * Gabonese Republic (to 16 September 1990)
 * Gabonese Republic (from 16 September 1990)
 * Gabonese Republic (from 16 September 1990)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top| The Gambia – Republic of the Gambia
 * valign=top| The Gambia – Republic of the Gambia
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union until 26 December 1991. Widely recognized sovereign state from 26 December 1991; UN member state from 31 July 1992. Georgia had two autonomous republics: Adjara and Abkhazia. The latter republic was effectively self-governing from 30 September 1993 to 12 October 1999. After 12 October 1999, it was home to a de facto independent state. Georgia also included the disputed region of South Ossetia, where an unrecognized recognized breakaway republic declared independence on 29 May 1992.
 * valign=top| undefined (from 9 April 1991)
 * Republic of Georgia (from 9 April 1991 to 24 August 1995)
 * Georgia (from 24 August 1995)
 * Georgia (from 24 August 1995)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Capital: East Berlin (disputed) Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top| East Germany – German Democratic Republic (to 2 October 1990)
 * valign=top| East Germany – German Democratic Republic (to 2 October 1990)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Capital: Bonn (to 20 June 1991, seat of government to 1999), Berlin (official, from 20 June 1991) Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (to 1 November 1993). EU member (from 1 November 1993). Germany was a federation of sixteen states.
 * valign=top|🇩🇪 Germany, West / Germany – Federal Republic of Germany
 * valign=top|🇩🇪 Germany, West / Germany – Federal Republic of Germany
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇬🇭 Ghana – Republic of Ghana
 * valign=top|🇬🇭 Ghana – Republic of Ghana
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member (to 1 November 1993). EU member (from 1 November 1993). Greece had sovereignty over Mount Athos, an autonomous monastic state that was jointly governed by the multi-national "Holy Community" on the mountain and the Civil Governor appointed by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and spiritually came under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
 * valign=top|🇬🇷 Greece – Hellenic Republic
 * valign=top|🇬🇷 Greece – Hellenic Republic
 * colspan=2|
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Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Grenada had one autonomous dependency and it was Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
 * valign=top|🇬🇩 Grenada
 * valign=top|🇬🇩 Grenada
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇬🇹 Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala
 * valign=top|🇬🇹 Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇬🇳 Guinea – Republic of Guinea
 * valign=top|🇬🇳 Guinea – Republic of Guinea
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau – Republic of Guinea-Bissau
 * valign=top|🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau – Republic of Guinea-Bissau
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇬🇾 Guyana – Co-operative Republic of Guyana
 * valign=top|🇬🇾 Guyana – Co-operative Republic of Guyana
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

H

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state; Haiti claimed the uninhabited United States possession of Navassa Island.
 * valign=top|🇭🇹 Haiti – Republic of Haiti
 * valign=top|🇭🇹 Haiti – Republic of Haiti
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top; font-size:90%;"|Holy See Vatican City
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇭🇳 Honduras – Republic of Honduras
 * valign=top|🇭🇳 Honduras – Republic of Honduras
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇭🇺 Hungary – Republic of Hungary
 * valign=top|🇭🇺 Hungary – Republic of Hungary
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

I

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇮🇸 Iceland – Republic of Iceland
 * valign=top|🇮🇸 Iceland – Republic of Iceland
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state; India was a federation of twenty-five states and seven union territories. Indian sovereignty over South Tibet was disputed by China; India administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
 * valign=top|🇮🇳 India – Republic of India
 * valign=top|🇮🇳 India – Republic of India
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.. Indonesia had three special provinces: Aceh, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta.
 * valign=top|🇮🇩 Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia
 * valign=top|🇮🇩 Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇮🇷 Iran – Islamic Republic of Iran
 * valign=top|🇮🇷 Iran – Islamic Republic of Iran
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇮🇶 → undefined
 * Iraqi Republic (until 6 January 1992)
 * Republic of Iraq (from 6 January 1992)
 * Republic of Iraq (from 6 January 1992)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member to 1 November 1993. EU member from 1 November 1993.
 * valign=top| Republic of Ireland
 * valign=top| Republic of Ireland
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip the Golan Heights, the Israeli Security Zone in Southern Lebanon, and the West Bank. These areas were not generally recognized as being part of Israel.
 * valign=top|🇮🇱 Israel – State of Israel
 * valign=top|🇮🇱 Israel – State of Israel
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely-recognized UN member state; EEC member. Italy had 5 autonomous regions and they were the Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
 * valign=top| Italy – Italian Republic
 * valign=top| Italy – Italian Republic
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Capital: Yamoussoukro (official), Abidjan (seat of government) Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top| Ivory Coast
 * valign=top| Ivory Coast
 * Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (to December 24, 1999)
 * Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (from December 24, 1999)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

J

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
 * valign=top|🇯🇲 Jamaica
 * valign=top|🇯🇲 Jamaica
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Japan claimed the Liancourt Rocks, which were controlled by South Korea.
 * valign=top|🇯🇵 → 🇯🇵 Japan
 * valign=top|🇯🇵 → 🇯🇵 Japan
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇯🇴 Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
 * valign=top|🇯🇴 Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

K

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Cambodia, despite being in exile until 15 March 1992.
 * valign=top|🇰🇭 → 🇰🇭 → 🇰🇭 Kampuchea / Cambodia
 * Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (to 3 February 1990)
 * National Government of Cambodia (from 3 February 1990 to 15 March 1992)
 * United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (from 15 March 1992 to 24 September 1993)
 * Kingdom of Cambodia (from 24 September 1993)
 * Kingdom of Cambodia (from 24 September 1993)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Capital: Alma-Ata (to 10 December 1997, renamed Almaty in 1993), Aqmola (from 10 December 1997, renamed Astana in 1998) De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized state from 26 December 1991; UN member state from 2 March 1992.
 * valign=top| → 🇰🇿 → 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan (from 16 December 1991)
 * valign=top| → 🇰🇿 → 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan (from 16 December 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇰🇪 Kenya – Republic of Kenya
 * valign=top|🇰🇪 Kenya – Republic of Kenya
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 September 1999).
 * valign=top|🇰🇮 Kiribati – Republic of Kiribati
 * valign=top|🇰🇮 Kiribati – Republic of Kiribati
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (to 17 September 1991). UN member state (from 17 September 1991). Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.
 * valign=top| → Korea, North – Democratic People's Republic of Korea
 * valign=top| → Korea, North – Democratic People's Republic of Korea
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (to 17 September 1991). UN member state (from 17 September 1991). Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. South Korea controlled the Liancourt Rocks, which were claimed by Japan.
 * valign=top| → Korea, South – Republic of Korea
 * valign=top| → Korea, South – Republic of Korea
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇰🇼 Kuwait – State of Kuwait (to 8 August 1990, from 27 February 1991)
 * valign=top|🇰🇼 Kuwait – State of Kuwait (to 8 August 1990, from 27 February 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized state from 26 December 1991; UN member state from 2 March 1992.
 * valign=top|🇰🇬 → 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan (from 31 August 1991)
 * Republic of Kyrgyzstan (from 31 August 1991 to 5 May 1993)
 * Kyrgyz Republic (from 5 May 1993)
 * Kyrgyz Republic (from 5 May 1993)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

L

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top| Laos – Lao People's Democratic Republic
 * valign=top| Laos – Lao People's Democratic Republic
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 6 September 1991; widely recognized state from 6 September 1991 and UN member state from 17 September 1991.
 * valign=top|🇱🇻 Latvia – Republic of Latvia (from 21 August 1991)
 * valign=top|🇱🇻 Latvia – Republic of Latvia (from 21 August 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Lebanon was occupied by Syria. Some of Southern Lebanon was occupied by Israel.
 * valign=top|🇱🇧 Lebanon – Lebanese Republic
 * valign=top|🇱🇧 Lebanon – Lebanese Republic
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇱🇸 Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho
 * valign=top|🇱🇸 Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇱🇷 Liberia – Republic of Liberia
 * valign=top|🇱🇷 Liberia – Republic of Liberia
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇱🇾 Libya – Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
 * valign=top|🇱🇾 Libya – Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 18 September 1990). The defense of Liechtenstein was the responsibility of Switzerland.
 * valign=top|🇱🇮 Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein
 * valign=top|🇱🇮 Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 6 September 1991. Widely recognized state from 6 September 1991; UN member state from 17 September 1991.
 * valign=top|🇱🇹 Lithuania – Republic of Lithuania (from 11 March 1990)
 * valign=top|🇱🇹 Lithuania – Republic of Lithuania (from 11 March 1990)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (to 1 November 1993). EU member (from 1 November 1993).
 * valign=top|🇱🇺 Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
 * valign=top|🇱🇺 Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

M

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

De facto independent state claimed by Yugoslavia to 28 April 1992. Widely recognized UN member state from 8 April 1993.
 * valign=top| → 🇲🇰 → Macedonia – Republic of Macedonia (from 8 September 1991)
 * valign=top| → 🇲🇰 → Macedonia – Republic of Macedonia (from 8 September 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Madagascar claimed the French possessions of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands and Juan de Nova Island. It also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Comoros and France).
 * valign=top|
 * Democratic Republic of Madagascar (to 19 August 1992)
 * Republic of Madagascar (from 19 August 1992)
 * Republic of Madagascar (from 19 August 1992)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇲🇼 Malawi – Republic of Malawi
 * valign=top|🇲🇼 Malawi – Republic of Malawi
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Capital: Kuala Lumpur (official), Putrajaya (administrative, from 1999) Widely recognized UN member state. Malaysia was a federation of thirteen states and two federal territories. Malaysia claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei).
 * valign=top|🇲🇾 Malaysia
 * valign=top|🇲🇾 Malaysia
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇲🇻 Maldives – Republic of Maldives
 * valign=top|🇲🇻 Maldives – Republic of Maldives
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇲🇱 Mali
 * Republic of Mali (to 26 March 1991)
 * Republic of Mali (from 26 March 1991)
 * Republic of Mali (from 26 March 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇲🇹 Malta – Republic of Malta
 * valign=top|🇲🇹 Malta – Republic of Malta
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized state under a Compact of Free Association with the United States; UN member state (from 17 September 1991). The Marshall Islands claimed the United States territory of Wake Island.
 * valign=top|🇲🇭 Marshall Islands – Republic of the Marshall Islands
 * valign=top|🇲🇭 Marshall Islands – Republic of the Marshall Islands
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇲🇷 Mauritania – Islamic Republic of Mauritania
 * valign=top|🇲🇷 Mauritania – Islamic Republic of Mauritania
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm (to 12 March 1992). Mauritius had three dependencies: Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos and Rodrigues. It claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territory of Tromelin Island.
 * valign=top|
 * Mauritius (to 12 March 1992)
 * Republic of Mauritius (from 12 March 1992)
 * Republic of Mauritius (from 12 March 1992)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Mexico was a federation of 31 states and one federal district.
 * valign=top|🇲🇽 Mexico – United Mexican States
 * valign=top|🇲🇽 Mexico – United Mexican States
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized state under Compact of Free Association with the United States. UN member state (from 17 September 1991). The FSM was a federation of four states.
 * valign=top| Federated States of Micronesia – Federated States of Micronesia
 * valign=top| Federated States of Micronesia – Federated States of Micronesia
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991; widely recognized state from 26 December 1991 and UN member state from 2 March 1992. Moldova had two autonomous territorial units and they were Gagauzia and Transnistria. Both units (only Transnistria after 14 January 1995) were home to de facto independent statelets.
 * valign=top| Moldova – Republic of Moldova (from 27 August 1991)
 * valign=top| Moldova – Republic of Moldova (from 27 August 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (to 28 May 1993). UN member state (from 28 May 1993). The defense of Monaco was the responsibility of France.
 * valign=top|🇲🇨 Monaco – Principality of Monaco
 * valign=top|🇲🇨 Monaco – Principality of Monaco
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇲🇳 → 🇲🇳 Mongolia
 * Mongolian People's Republic (to 12 February 1992)
 * Mongolia (from 12 February 1992)
 * Mongolia (from 12 February 1992)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Morocco claimed sovereignty over and controlled most of the disputed Western Sahara, which was home to the de facto independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Morocco disputed the Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla, and Peñón de Alhucemas.
 * valign=top|🇲🇦 Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco
 * valign=top|🇲🇦 Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇲🇿 Mozambique
 * People's Republic of Mozambique (to 30 November 1990)
 * Republic of Mozambique (from 30 November 1990)
 * Republic of Mozambique (from 30 November 1990)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇲🇲 Myanmar – Union of Myanmar
 * valign=top|🇲🇲 Myanmar – Union of Myanmar
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

N

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 23 April 1990).
 * valign=top|🇳🇦 Namibia – Republic of Namibia (from 21 March 1990)
 * valign=top|🇳🇦 Namibia – Republic of Namibia (from 21 March 1990)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Capital: Yaren (unofficial) Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 September 1999). The defense of Nauru was the responsibility of Australia.
 * valign=top|🇳🇷 Nauru – Republic of Nauru
 * valign=top|🇳🇷 Nauru – Republic of Nauru
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇳🇵 Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal
 * valign=top|🇳🇵 Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Capital: Amsterdam (official), The Hague (seat of government) Widely recognized UN member state. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consisted of three autonomous countries: The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole was a member of the EEC (to 1 November 1993) and the EU (from 1 November 1993), but Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles were not.
 * valign=top| Kingdom of the Netherlands – Kingdom of the Netherlands
 * valign=top| Kingdom of the Netherlands – Kingdom of the Netherlands
 * 🇦🇼 Aruba
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands
 * Netherlands Antilles
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. New Zealand had responsibilities for the two free associated states of: It also had sovereignty over two dependent territories: The government of Tokelau claimed Swains Island, part of American Samoa (a U.S. dependence). New Zealand did not recognize this claim.
 * valign=top|🇳🇿 New Zealand
 * valign=top|🇳🇿 New Zealand
 * 🇨🇰 Cook Islands
 * 🇳🇺 Niue
 * Ross Dependency (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty)
 * Tokelau
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇳🇮 Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua
 * valign=top|🇳🇮 Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇳🇪 Niger – Republic of Niger
 * valign=top|🇳🇪 Niger – Republic of Niger
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Capital: Lagos (to 12 December 1991), Abuja (from 12 December 1991) Widely recognized UN member state. Nigeria was a federation of 36 states and one federal territory.
 * valign=top|🇳🇬 Nigeria
 * valign=top|🇳🇬 Nigeria
 * Military dictatorship (to 17 November 1993)
 * Third Republic of Nigeria (from 17 November 1993 to 29 May 1999)
 * Fourth Republic of Nigeria (from 29 May 1999)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

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:
 * valign=top|🇳🇴 Norway – Kingdom of Norway
 * valign=top|🇳🇴 Norway – Kingdom of Norway
 * Bouvet Island
 * Peter I Island (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty)
 * Queen Maud Land (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

O

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇴🇲 → 🇴🇲 Oman – Sultanate of Oman
 * valign=top|🇴🇲 → 🇴🇲 Oman – Sultanate of Oman
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

P

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Pakistan was a federation of four provinces and four territories; it administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the territories of Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.
 * valign=top|🇵🇰 Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan
 * valign=top|🇵🇰 Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized state under Compact of Free Association with the United States; UN member state from 15 December 1994.
 * valign=top|🇵🇼 Palau – Republic of Palau (from 1 October 1994)
 * valign=top|🇵🇼 Palau – Republic of Palau (from 1 October 1994)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇵🇦 Panama – Republic of Panama
 * valign=top|🇵🇦 Panama – Republic of Panama
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
 * valign=top|🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea – Independent State of Papua New Guinea
 * valign=top|🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea – Independent State of Papua New Guinea
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇵🇾 → 🇵🇾 Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay
 * valign=top|🇵🇾 → 🇵🇾 Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇵🇪 Peru – Republic of Peru
 * valign=top|🇵🇪 Peru – Republic of Peru
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. The Philippines had one autonomous region: Muslim Mindanao. The Philippines administered Scarborough Shoal, which was disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China. It also claimed sovereignty over the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia) and the Malaysian territory of Sabah.
 * valign=top|🇵🇭 → 🇵🇭 Philippines – Republic of the Philippines
 * valign=top|🇵🇭 → 🇵🇭 Philippines – Republic of the Philippines
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Poland's government was still in exile until 22 December 1990.
 * valign=top| 🇵🇱 Poland – Republic of Poland
 * valign=top| 🇵🇱 Poland – Republic of Poland
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (to 1 November 1993). EU member (from 1 November 1993). Portugal had two autonomous regions: the Azores and Madeira. Portugal had one Chinese territory which it administered as a dependency: Portugal claimed sovereignty over the former colony of Portuguese Timor (which had been annexed by Indonesia) until 25 October 1999. It also claimed the Spanish municipalities of Olivenza and Táliga.
 * valign=top|🇵🇹 Portugal – Portuguese Republic
 * valign=top|🇵🇹 Portugal – Portuguese Republic
 * Macau (to 19 December 1999)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

Q

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇶🇦 Qatar – State of Qatar
 * valign=top|🇶🇦 Qatar – State of Qatar
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

R

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top| → 🇷🇴 Romania
 * valign=top| → 🇷🇴 Romania
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state from 26 December 1991. Russia was a federation of 21 republics, 49 oblasts, 6 krais, 2 federal cities, 1 autonomous oblast, and 10 autonomous okrugs. One of those republics, Tatarstan, declared state sovereignty on 6 November 1992 and was effectively self-governing until 15 February 1994.
 * valign=top|🇷🇺 → 🇷🇺 Russia – Russian Federation (from 26 December 1991)
 * valign=top|🇷🇺 → 🇷🇺 Russia – Russian Federation (from 26 December 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇷🇼 Rwanda – Rwandese Republic
 * valign=top|🇷🇼 Rwanda – Rwandese Republic
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

S

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Saint Kitts and Nevis was a federation of fourteen parishes within two islands. Nevis (which was one of the islands) had autonomy.
 * valign=top|🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis – Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
 * valign=top|🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis – Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm.
 * valign=top| Saint Lucia
 * valign=top| Saint Lucia
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
 * valign=top|🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
 * valign=top|🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top; font-size:90%;"|Samoa Western Samoa
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized independent state; UN member state from 2 March 1992.
 * valign=top|🇸🇲 San Marino – Republic of San Marino
 * valign=top|🇸🇲 San Marino – Republic of San Marino
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state; São Tomé and Príncipe had one autonomous province and it was Príncipe (from 29 April 1995).
 * valign=top| São Tomé and Príncipe – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
 * valign=top| São Tomé and Príncipe – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
 * valign=top|🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇸🇳 Senegal – Republic of Senegal
 * valign=top|🇸🇳 Senegal – Republic of Senegal
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state; the Seychelles claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territories of Tromelin Island and the Glorioso Islands.
 * valign=top|🇸🇨 → 🇸🇨 Seychelles
 * Republic of Seychelles (to 27 December 1991)
 * Third Republic of Seychelles (from 27 December 1991)
 * Third Republic of Seychelles (from 27 December 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇸🇱 Sierra Leone – Republic of Sierra Leone
 * valign=top|🇸🇱 Sierra Leone – Republic of Sierra Leone
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇸🇬 Singapore – Republic of Singapore
 * valign=top|🇸🇬 Singapore – Republic of Singapore
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 19 January 1993).
 * valign=top|🇸🇰 Slovakia – Slovak Republic (from 1 January 1993)
 * valign=top|🇸🇰 Slovakia – Slovak Republic (from 1 January 1993)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

De facto independent state claimed by Yugoslavia (to 28 April 1992). Widely recognized (from 15 January 1992); UN member state (from 22 May 1992).
 * valign=top|🇸🇮 Slovenia – Republic of Slovenia (from 25 June 1991)
 * valign=top|🇸🇮 Slovenia – Republic of Slovenia (from 25 June 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
 * valign=top|🇸🇧 Solomon Islands
 * valign=top|🇸🇧 Solomon Islands
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Somalia's internationally recognized government did not exercise full control over the country from 26 January 1991 to 18 November 1991. After 18 November 1991, Somalia did not have any recognized central government. Many areas of the country had no effective government at all or were ruled by local clans. During this period, Somalia included one state which was de facto self-governing (although it did not claim independence from Somalia): In addition, there were two states which had declared and established de facto independence from Somalia: Puntland (from 1 August 1998), and Somaliland (from 18 May 1991).
 * valign=top|🇸🇴 Somalia
 * Somali Democratic Republic (to 26 January 1991)
 * Interim Government of Somalia (from January 1991 to January 1997)
 * Somalia (from January 1997)
 * Somalia (from January 1997)
 * Jubaland (from 3 September 1998 to 11 June 1999)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial) Widely recognized UN member state. South Africa had six autonomous "bantustans": Gazankulu, KaNgwane, KwaNdebele, KwaZulu, Lebowa, and QwaQwa. There were also four bantustans which were nominally independent: Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, and Venda. All ten bantustans were formally abolished when a new constitution took effect on 27 April 1994. South Africa administered one League of Nations mandate:
 * valign=top|🇿🇦 → 🇿🇦 South Africa – Republic of South Africa
 * valign=top|🇿🇦 → 🇿🇦 South Africa – Republic of South Africa
 * South-West Africa (to 20 March 1990)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

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.
 * valign=top| Soviet Union – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (to 26 December 1991)
 * valign=top| Soviet Union – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (to 26 December 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member (to 1 November 1993). EU member (from 1 November 1993); Spain was divided into seventeen autonomous communities and two autonomous cities. Its sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla and Peñón de Alhucemas was disputed by Morocco. Its sovereignty over Olivenza and Táliga was disputed by Portugal. It claimed the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.
 * valign=top|🇪🇸 Spain – Kingdom of Spain
 * valign=top|🇪🇸 Spain – Kingdom of Spain
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇱🇰 Sri Lanka – Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
 * valign=top|🇱🇰 Sri Lanka – Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. After 1991, Sudan was a federation of 30 states.
 * valign=top|🇸🇩 Sudan – Republic of the Sudan
 * valign=top|🇸🇩 Sudan – Republic of the Sudan
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇸🇷 Suriname – Republic of Suriname
 * valign=top|🇸🇷 Suriname – Republic of Suriname
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Capital: Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal and legislative) Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇸🇿 Swaziland – Kingdom of Swaziland
 * valign=top|🇸🇿 Swaziland – Kingdom of Swaziland
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. EU member (from 1 January 1995).
 * valign=top|🇸🇪 Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden
 * valign=top|🇸🇪 Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. Switzerland was a federation of 26 cantons.
 * valign=top|🇨🇭 Switzerland – Swiss Confederation
 * valign=top|🇨🇭 Switzerland – Swiss Confederation
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Syria included the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel. It disputed the Turkish sovereignty over Hatay Province.
 * valign=top| Syria – Syrian Arab Republic
 * valign=top| Syria – Syrian Arab Republic
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

T

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized (from 26 December 1991). UN member state (from 2 March 1992). Tajikistan had one autonomous province: Gorno-Badakhshan.
 * valign=top|🇹🇯 → 🇹🇯 Tajikistan – Republic of Tajikistan (from 9 September 1991)
 * valign=top|🇹🇯 → 🇹🇯 Tajikistan – Republic of Tajikistan (from 9 September 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Capital: Dar es Salaam (to February 1996, seat of government from February 1996), Dodoma (official, from February 1996) Widely recognized UN member state; Tanzania had one autonomous region and it was Zanzibar.
 * valign=top|🇹🇿 Tanzania – United Republic of Tanzania
 * valign=top|🇹🇿 Tanzania – United Republic of Tanzania
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top| Thailand – Kingdom of Thailand
 * valign=top| Thailand – Kingdom of Thailand
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇹🇬 Togo – Togolese Republic
 * valign=top|🇹🇬 Togo – Togolese Republic
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized independent state; UN member state (from 14 September 1999).
 * valign=top|🇹🇴 Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga
 * valign=top|🇹🇴 Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state; Trinidad and Tobago had one autonomous island and it was Tobago.
 * valign=top|🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago – Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
 * valign=top|🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago – Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇹🇳 → 🇹🇳 Tunisia – Tunisian Republic
 * valign=top|🇹🇳 → 🇹🇳 Tunisia – Tunisian Republic
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇹🇷 Turkey – Republic of Turkey
 * valign=top|🇹🇷 Turkey – Republic of Turkey
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991; widely recognized state from 26 December 1991 and UN member state from 2 March 1992.
 * valign=top| → → 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan (from 27 October 1991)
 * valign=top| → → 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan (from 27 October 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

U

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇺🇬 Uganda – Republic of Uganda
 * valign=top|🇺🇬 Uganda – Republic of Uganda
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state; constituent republic within the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized (from 26 December 1991); Ukraine had one autonomous republic and it was Crimea.
 * valign=top| → →  Ukraine (from 16 July 1990)
 * Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic(from 16 July 1990 to 24 August 1991)
 * Ukraine (from 24 August 1991)
 * Ukraine (from 24 August 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. The United Arab Emirates was a federation of seven emirates.
 * valign=top|🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
 * valign=top|🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member (to 1 November 1993) and EU member (from 1 November 1993). The United Kingdom was composed of four constituent countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It had sovereignty over 16 dependent territories: The following are.. In addition, the British Monarch had direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies:
 * valign=top|🇬🇧 United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
 * valign=top|🇬🇧 United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
 * 🇦🇮 Anguilla
 * 🇧🇲 → 🇧🇲 Bermuda
 * → British Antarctic Territory (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty)
 * 🇮🇴 British Indian Ocean Territory (disputed by Mauritius and the Seychelles)
 * British Virgin Islands
 * 🇰🇾 → 🇰🇾 Cayman Islands
 * → Falkland Islands (disputed by Argentina)
 * 🇬🇮 Gibraltar
 * 🇭🇰 Hong Kong (to 30 June 1997)
 * → 🇲🇸 Montserrat
 * Pitcairn Islands
 * Saint Helena, with two dependencies
 * Ascension Island
 * Tristan da Cunha
 * → South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (disputed by Argentina)
 * Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia
 * → 🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands
 * 🇬🇬 Guernsey, with two dependencies:
 * Alderney
 * Sark
 * Herm
 * 🇮🇲 Isle of Man
 * 🇯🇪 Jersey
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. The United States was a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and one incorporated territory. It asserted sovereignty over the following inhabited insular areas: The United States administered one United Nations Trust Territory:
 * valign=top|🇺🇸 United States – United States of America
 * valign=top|🇺🇸 United States – United States of America
 * 🇦🇸 American Samoa (including Swains Island, disputed by Tokelau)
 * 🇬🇺 Guam
 * 🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands
 * 🇵🇷 → 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico
 * United States Virgin Islands
 * Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (to 30 September 1994), consisting of one territory
 * 🇵🇼 Palau
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇺🇾 Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay
 * valign=top|🇺🇾 Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

De facto independent state claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991; widely recognized state from 26 December 1991 and UN member state from 2 March 1992. Uzbekistan had one autonomous region (or "republic") and it was Karakalpakstan.
 * valign=top| → 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan – Republic of Uzbekistan (from 31 August 1991)
 * valign=top| → 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan – Republic of Uzbekistan (from 31 August 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

V

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇻🇺 Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu
 * valign=top|🇻🇺 Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

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.
 * valign=top|🇻🇦 Vatican City – Vatican City State
 * valign=top|🇻🇦 Vatican City – Vatican City State
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Venezuela was a federation of 23 states, three territories, one federal dependency, and one federal district.
 * valign=top|
 * Republic of Venezuela (to 20 December 1999)
 * Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (from 20 December 1999)
 * Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (from 20 December 1999)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state. Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands (disputed by China and Taiwan) and Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Brunei, the Philippines, and Malaysia).
 * valign=top| Vietnam – Socialist Republic of Vietnam
 * valign=top| Vietnam – Socialist Republic of Vietnam
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

W

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top| Western Samoa / Samoa
 * Independent State of Western Samoa (to 4 July 1997)
 * Independent State of Samoa (from 4 July 1997)
 * Independent State of Samoa (from 4 July 1997)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

Y

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇾🇪 Yemen – Republic of Yemen (from 22 May 1990)
 * valign=top|🇾🇪 Yemen – Republic of Yemen (from 22 May 1990)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top| North Yemen – Yemen Arab Republic (to 22 May 1990)
 * valign=top| North Yemen – Yemen Arab Republic (to 22 May 1990)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state (to 22 May 1990). De facto independent state (from 7 July 1994). Claimed by Yemen. (from 7 July 1994).
 * valign=top| South Yemen
 * People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (to 22 May 1990)
 * Democratic Republic of Yemen (from 21 May 1994 to 7 July 1994)
 * Democratic Republic of Yemen (from 21 May 1994 to 7 July 1994)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized independent state and UN member state to 27 April 1992. Yugoslavia was a federation of six republics, four of which (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Slovenia) declared independence in 1991 and 1992. The two remaining republics, Montenegro and Serbia, established the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 27 April 1992. It claimed to continue Yugoslavia's international personality, but this claim was not widely recognized.
 * valign=top| Yugoslavia – Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (to 27 April 1992)
 * valign=top| Yugoslavia – Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (to 27 April 1992)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * colspan=3|
 * colspan=3|

Z

 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top| → Zaire / Congo, Democratic Republic of the
 * Republic of Zaire (to 17 May 1997)
 * Democratic Republic of the Congo (from 17 May 1997)
 * Democratic Republic of the Congo (from 17 May 1997)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇿🇲 → 🇿🇲 Zambia
 * Republic of Zambia (to 1991)
 * Republic of Zambia (from 1991)
 * Republic of Zambia (from 1991)
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|

Widely recognized UN member state.
 * valign=top|🇿🇼 Zimbabwe – Republic of Zimbabwe
 * valign=top|🇿🇼 Zimbabwe – Republic of Zimbabwe
 * colspan=2|
 * colspan=2|


 * }

Other entities
Excluded from the list above are the following noteworthy entities which either were not fully sovereign or did not claim to be independent:
 * 🇦🇶 Antarctica as a whole had no government and no permanent population. Seven states claimed portions of Antarctica and five of these had reciprocally recognised one another's claims. These claims, which were regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, were neither recognised nor disputed by any other signatory state.
 *  East Timor was occupied and administered by Indonesia until October 1999 as Timor Timur, but this was not recognized by the United Nations, which considered it to be Portuguese territory under Indonesian occupation. In October 1999, Indonesia relinquished control over the territory to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, which took over responsibility for it.
 * 🇪🇪 Estonia was a part of the Soviet Union until August 1991, but its annexation was not widely recognized. A government in exile claimed independence for Estonia until 15 September 1992, but aside from its embassies in the West it controlled no territory.
 * 🇪🇺 The European Union was a sui generis supranational organisation which had 12 (later 15) member states. It was established on 1 November 1993. The member states had transferred a measure of their legislative, executive, and judicial powers to the institutions of the EU, and as such the EU had some elements of sovereignty, without generally being considered a sovereign state. The European Union did not claim to be a sovereign state and had only limited capacity for relations with other states.
 * 🇺🇳 Kosovo was a territory that was nominally part of Serbia and Montenegro, but after 10 June 1999 came under United Nations administration as part of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.
 * 🇱🇻 Latvia was a part of the Soviet Union until 1991, but its annexation was not widely recognized. A government in exile claimed independence for Latvia until 21 August 1991, but aside from its embassies in the West it controlled no territory.
 * 🇱🇹 Lithuania was a part of the Soviet Union until 1990, but its annexation was not widely recognized. Stasys Lozoraitis Jr. claimed independence for Lithuania until 6 September 1991, but aside from its embassies in the West it controlled no territory.
 * The Sovereign Military Order of Malta was an entity claiming sovereignty and (from 24 August 1994) a United Nations observer. The order had bi-lateral diplomatic relations with a large number of states, but had no territory other than extraterritorial areas within Rome. The order's Constitution stated: "The Order is a subject of international law and exercises sovereign functions." Although the order frequently asserted its sovereignty, it did not claim to be a sovereign state. It lacked a defined territory. Since all its members were citizens of other states, almost all of them lived in their native countries, and those who resided in the order's extraterritorial properties in Rome did so only in connection with their official duties, the order lacked the characteristic of having a permanent population.
 * 🇺🇳 The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor was a transitional non-independent territory governed by the United Nations. It was neither sovereign nor under the sovereignty of any other state. It was established on 25 October 1999, following the end of the Indonesian occupation of East Timor.
 * West Berlin was a political enclave that was closely aligned with – but not actually a part of – West Germany. It consisted of three occupied sectors administered by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. West Berlin was incorporated into the reunified Germany on 3 October 1990.