List of Sovereign States

A sovereign state is a political entity with defined geographical boundaries, a permanent population, a centralized government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. It possesses sovereignty, which entails the exclusive authority to make and enforce laws within its territory.

Sovereign states engage in international relations, maintaining control over domestic and foreign affairs. Key attributes include a defined legal system, currency, military, and the ability to conduct diplomatic relations.

The concept of sovereignty emphasizes independence and self-governance, allowing states to pursue their interests and shape their destinies. In the contemporary international system, sovereign states form the foundational units, contributing to the complex web of global interactions and governance. The international community includes over 200 sovereign states, most represented in the United Nations, who interact in international relations and establish rules, procedures, and institutions for diplomacy between recognized states.

List of Sovereign States

The following is the list of Sovereign States UN member states and General Assembly observer states:

State	Membership within the UN System	Sovereignty Dispute
Afghanistan	Yes	None
Albania	Yes	None
Algeria	Yes	None
Andorra	Yes	None
Angola	Yes	None
Antigua and Barbuda	Yes	None
Argentina	Yes	None
Armenia	Yes	Not recognised by Pakistan
Australia	Yes	None
Austria	Yes	None
Azerbaijan	Yes	None
Bahamas	Yes	None
Bahrain	Yes	None
Bangladesh	Yes	None
Barbados	Yes	None
Belarus	Yes	None
Belgium	Yes	None
Belize	Yes	None
Benin	Yes	None
Bhutan	Yes	None
Bolivia	Yes	None
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Yes	None
Botswana	Yes	None
Brazil	Yes	None
Brunei	Yes	None
Bulgaria	Yes	None
Burkina Faso	Yes	None
Burundi	Yes	None
Cambodia	Yes	None
Cameroon	Yes	None
Canada	Yes	None
Cape Verde	Yes	None
Central African Republic	Yes	None
Chad	Yes	None
Chile	Yes	None
China	Yes	Partially unrecognized
Colombia	Yes	None
Comoros	Yes	None
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Yes	None
Republic of the Congo	Yes	None
Costa Rica	Yes	None
Croatia	Yes	None
Cuba	Yes	None
Cyprus	Yes	Not recognized by Turkey
Czech Republic	Yes	None
Denmark	Yes	None
Djibouti	Yes	None
Dominica	Yes	None
Dominican Republic	Yes	None
East Timor	Yes	None
Ecuador	Yes	None
Egypt	Yes	None
El Salvador	Yes	None
Equatorial Guinea	Yes	None
Eritrea	Yes	None
Estonia	Yes	None
Eswatini	Yes	None
Ethiopia	Yes	None
Fiji	Yes	None
Finland	Yes	None
France	Yes	None
Gabo	Yes	None
Gambia	Yes	None
Georgia	Yes	None
Germany	Yes	None
Ghana	Yes	None
Greece	Yes	None
Grenada	Yes	None
Guatemala	Yes	None
Guinea	Yes	None
Guinea-Bissau	Yes	None
Guyana	Yes	None
Haiti	Yes	None
Honduras	Yes	None
Hungary	Yes	None
Iceland	Yes	None
India	Yes	None
Indonesia	Yes	None
Iran	Yes	None
Iraq	Yes	None
Ireland	Yes	None
Israel	Yes	Partially Unrecognized
Italy	Yes	None
Ivory Coast	Yes	None
Jamaica	Yes	None
Japan	Yes	None
Jordan	Yes	None
Kazakhstan	Yes	None
Kenya	Yes	None
Kiribati	Yes	None
Kuwait	Yes	None
Kyrgyzstan	Yes	None
Laos	Yes	None
Latvia	Yes	None
Lebanon	Yes	None
Lesotho	Yes	None
Liberia	Yes	None
Libya	Yes	None
Liechtenstein	Yes	None
Lithuania	Yes	None
Luxembourg	Yes	None
Madagascar	Yes	None
Malawi	Yes	None
Malaysia	Yes	None
Maldives	Yes	None
Mali	Yes	None
Malta	Yes	None
Marshall Islands	Yes	None
Mauritania	Yes	None
Mauritius	Yes	None
Mexico	Yes	None
Micronesia	Yes	None
Moldova	Yes	None
Monaco	Yes	None
Mongolia	Yes	None
Montenegro	Yes	None
Morocco	Yes	None
Mozambique	Yes	None
Myanmar	Yes	None
Namibia	Yes	None
Nauru	Yes	None
Nepal	Yes	None
Netherlands	Yes	None
New Zealand	Yes	None
Nicaragua	Yes	None
Niger	Yes	None
Nigeria	Yes	None
North Korea	Yes	Claimed by South Korea
North Macedonia	Yes	None
Norway	Yes	None
Oman	Yes	None
Pakistan	Yes	None
Palau	Yes	None
Palestine	UN General Assembly observer state; member of two UN specialized agencies	Partially Unrecognized
Panama	Yes	None
Papua New Guinea	Yes	None
Paraguay	Yes	None
Peru	Yes	None
Phillipines	Yes	None
Poland	Yes	None
Portugal	Yes	None
Qatar	Yes	None
Romania	Yes	None
Russia	Yes	None
Rwanda	Yes	None
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Yes	None
Saint Lucia	Yes	None
Saint Vincent	Yes	None
Samoa	Yes	None
San Marino	Yes	None
Sao Tome and Principe	Yes	None
Saudi Arabia	Yes	None
Senegal	Yes	None
Serbia	Yes	None
Seychelles	Yes	None
Sierra Leone	Yes	None
Singapore	Yes	None
Slovakia	Yes	None
Slovenia	Yes	None
Solomon Islands	Yes	None
Somalia	Yes	None
South Africa	Yes	None
South Korea	Yes	Claimed by North Korea
South Sudan	Yes	None
Spain	Yes	None
Sri Lanka	Yes	None
Sudan	Yes	None
Suriname	Yes	None
Sweden	Yes	None
Switzerland	Yes	None
Syria	Yes	None
Tajikistan	Yes	None
Tanzania	Yes	None
Thailand	Yes	None
Togo	Yes	None
Tonga	Yes	None
Trinidad and Tobago	Yes	None
Tunisia	Yes	None
Turkey	Yes	None
Turkmenistan	Yes	None
Tuvalu	Yes	None
Uganda	Yes	None
Ukraine	Yes	None
UAE	Yes	None
UK	Yes	None
US	Yes	None
Uruguay	Yes	None
Uzbekistan	Yes	None
Vanuatu	Yes	None
Vatican City	UN General Assembly observer state under the designation of “Holy See”; member of three UN specialized agencies	None
Venezuela	Yes	None
Vietnam	Yes	None
Yemen	Yes	None
Zambia	Yes	None
Zimbabwe	Yes	None

Definition of a state

A state is a centralized political organization that enforces rules over a population within a territory, maintaining a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence. It does not exclude the existence of stateless societies like the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Most human populations have existed within a state system for millennia, with modern nation states being the predominant form.

Definition of an independent state

An independent state is a political community with its own government, complete control over its internal affairs, and is recognized by countries like the United States. It has the power to make laws, conduct foreign relations, and defend its borders. Part-sovereign states, like Puerto Rico, have some external sovereignty but are limited in their external sovereignty. Both have complete control over their internal and external affairs.

Characteristics of Sovereign States

• Defined Territory: Sovereign states have clearly defined borders, establishing the geographical area over which they exercise authority. This territorial integrity is fundamental to their identity and governance.
• Permanent Population: A sovereign state consists of a stable and resident population, forming the social foundation for its political and economic structures. This population contributes to the state’s identity and continuity.
• Centralized Government: Sovereign states maintain a centralized authority responsible for formulating and enforcing laws, policies, and regulations. This government ensures order and provides essential services to its citizens.
• Sovereignty: States possess supreme and exclusive authority over their internal and external affairs. Sovereignty grants them the power to make independent decisions without undue interference from external entities.
• Capacity for Foreign Relations: Sovereign states engage in diplomatic relations with other states, enabling them to negotiate treaties, form alliances, and participate in international organizations. This capacity reflects their status as independent actors on the global stage.
• Legal System: States establish legal frameworks that define rights, obligations, and consequences within their territory. A functioning legal system ensures order, justice, and the protection of individual and collective rights.
• Currency: Sovereign states often issue and regulate their currency, a symbol of economic independence. A national currency facilitates economic transactions and reflects the state’s monetary policies.

List of Sovereign States – FAQs

1. Can a state lose its sovereignty?

In some cases, states can lose their sovereignty through conquest, colonization, or by voluntarily entering into supranational organizations, which may limit their autonomy.

2. What are the essential characteristics of a sovereign state?

The key characteristics of a sovereign state include defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

3. How does a state gain sovereignty?

Sovereignty is usually gained through a combination of historical factors, recognition by other states, and the ability to maintain control over a defined territory. It can also be achieved through processes like decolonization.

4. What is called sovereign state?

A sovereign state is a political entity with defined geographical boundaries, a permanent population, a centralized government, and the exclusive authority to make and enforce laws within its territory. It operates independently and interacts with other states on the international stage.

5. How many sovereign states are there in India?

India is a single sovereign state. It is a federal parliamentary democratic republic with 28 states and 8 Union Territories, forming a unified political entity.

6. Why India is called a sovereign state?

India is called a sovereign state because it possesses independent authority over its internal and external affairs. It has a defined territory, a permanent population, a centralized government, and the ability to engage in foreign relations, making it self-governing and autonomous.

7. How many states are sovereign?

The term “sovereign state” is applicable to all countries that meet the criteria of having defined territory, a stable population, a functioning government, and the ability to conduct foreign relations.

8. What are the 4 parts of a sovereign state?

The four essential parts of a sovereign state are:

• Defined Territory: Clearly defined borders.
• Permanent Population: A stable and resident populace.
• Centralized Government: An established authority responsible for governance.
• Sovereignty: Supreme and exclusive authority over internal and external affairs.