This list of states with limited recognition gives an overview of contemporary geopolitical entities, that wish to be recognized as sovereign states but do not have complete worldwide diplomatic recognition.

These mostly fall into two categories. Firstly, there are entities with complete or partial control over their claimed territory which are de facto self-governing and have stated a desire for full independence: most times, the existence of these entities is seen by general international community as a consequence of violations of article 11 of Montevideo Convention^[1] and, more generally, of article 2.4 of the Charter of the United Nations which nowadays corresponds to customary international law.^[2]

Secondly, there are entities which do not have complete control over their claimed territory, so contradicting article 1 of the cited Convention, but have been recognized as having a de jure claim to that territory by at least one other generally recognized nation. Some countries on this list, such as Cyprus and the Republic of Korea, are recognized by the large majority of other nations and are members of the United Nations, but appear here because a small number of nations have withheld recognition.

See list of historical unrecognized countries for similar entities, that have existed in the past. See list of governments in exile for unrecognized governments without control over the territory claimed. This list may include microstates, but does not include any micronations, for a complete list, see list of micronations.

There are 192 United Nations (UN) member states. The Holy See is generally recognized as sovereign in international law, but is not a member of the United Nations (it has, however, observer state status within the organization).^[3]

Contents 1 Present geopolitical entities by level of recognition 1.1 Not recognized by any state 1.2 Recognized by UN non-members only 1.3 UN non-members recognized by at least one UN member 1.4 UN member states, not recognized by at least one other state 2 See also 3 References

[edit] Present geopolitical entities by level of recognition

[edit] Not recognized by any state

Name	Disputed since	Recognition	Other claimants	Further information	References
Nagorno-Karabakh	1991	No state regards Nagorno-Karabakh as de jure independent.	Azerbaijan (claims Nagorno-Karabakh as part of its sovereign territory)	Foreign relations of Nagorno-Karabakh	[4]
Somaliland	1991	No state regards Somaliland as de jure independent.	Somalia (claims Somaliland as part of its sovereign territory)	Foreign relations of Somaliland	[5]

[edit] Recognized by UN non-members only

Name	Disputed since	Recognition	Other claimants	Further information	References
Transnistria	1990	Transnistria's independence is recognized by two UN non-members: Abkhazia and South Ossetia.	Moldova (claims Transnistria as part of its sovereign territory)	Disputed status of Transnistria	[6]

[edit] UN non-members recognized by at least one UN member

Name	Disputed since	Recognition	Other claimants	Further information	References
Abkhazia	1992	Abkhazia's independence is recognized by three UN member-states, Russia, Nicaragua and Venezuela, and two UN non-member states, South Ossetia and Transnistria.[7]	Georgia (claims Abkhazia as part of its sovereign territory)	Foreign relations of Abkhazia, International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia	[8][9][10]
Republic of China (Taiwan)	1949	Both the Republic of China (ROC; commonly known as "Taiwan") and the People's Republic of China (PRC) claim sovereignty over the whole of China, stating China is de jure a single sovereign entity encompassing both the area currently controlled by the PRC and the area currently controlled by the ROC. The ROC is currently recognized as a state by 22 UN members and the Holy See. All other UN member states do not officially recognize the ROC as a state; some of them regard its controlled territory as de jure part of the PRC while some others have used careful diplomatic language to avoid taking a position as to whether the current territory of the ROC is part of the PRC.	People's Republic of China (claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory)	Political status of Taiwan, Foreign relations of the Republic of China	[11]
Kosovo	2008	Kosovo's independence is recognized by 63 UN members and one UN non-member state, the Republic of China (Taiwan). The United Nations have administered the territory since 1999 through the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, with cooperation from the European Union since 2008. According to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, Kosovo remains a part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (to which Serbia is the successor state), pending a political settlement to determine its final status[12].	Serbia (claims Kosovo as part of its sovereign territory)	Foreign relations of Kosovo, International recognition of Kosovo	[13]
Northern Cyprus	1983	Northern Cyprus's independence is recognized by one UN member, Turkey. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference has granted Northern Cyprus observer status. United Nations Security Council Resolution 541 defines the declaration of independence of Northern Cyprus as legally invalid [14].	Cyprus (claims Northern Cyprus as part of its sovereign territory)	Foreign relations of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus	[15]
State of Palestine	1988	The State of Palestine is recognized by 93 UN member states,[16] the Holy See, the Arab League, and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, after the Palestinian Declaration of Independence made by the Palestine Liberation Organization. Israel does not recognize the State of Palestine and controls territory claimed by it. As a result of the Oslo Accords and the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement, however, the Israeli government has transferred certain powers and responsibilities of self-government to the Palestinian National Authority, which are in effect in the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank. The UN recognizes Palestine as a non-member entity with observer status.	Israel (considers the West Bank and Gaza to be 'disputed territory')	Foreign relations of the Palestinian National Authority	[17]
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)	1976	Both the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and Morocco claim sovereignty over the territory of Western Sahara. Western Sahara's independence under SADR sovereignty is recognized by 49 UN members and the African Union. Western Sahara is regarded as de jure part of Morocco by 25 UN members and the Arab League. It has been listed on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories since it was added in the 1960s as Spanish Sahara.	Morocco (claims Western Sahara as part of its sovereign territory)	Foreign relations of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	[18]
South Ossetia	1991	South Ossetia's independence is recognized by three UN member-states, Russia, Nicaragua and Venezuela and two non-UN member states, Abkhazia and Transnistria.[7]	Georgia (claims South Ossetia as part of its sovereign territory)	Foreign relations of South Ossetia, International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia	[9][10][19]

[edit] UN member states, not recognized by at least one other state

Name	Disputed since	Recognition	Other claimants	Further information	References
Armenia	1991	Armenia is not recognized by one UN member, Pakistan, as this country has a position of supporting Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.		Foreign relations of Armenia	[20][21]
People's Republic of China (PRC)	1949	The People's Republic of China (PRC) is not recognized by one UN non-member, the Republic of China (ROC, commonly known as 'Taiwan'). The PRC does not accept diplomatic relations with states that recognize the ROC (currently 22 UN member states and the Holy See). None of these states officially recognize the PRC as a state, though certain governments have made statements expressing an interest in official relations with both the PRC and the ROC.[22] According to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, the PRC is the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations.	Republic of China (considers itself sole legal government of China; claim not actively pursued at present)	PRC's diplomatic relations, Foreign relations of the PRC	[23]
Cyprus	1974	Cyprus is not recognized by one UN member, Turkey[24] and one UN non-member, Northern Cyprus, as they do not accept that the Turkish military presence on Cyprus is an 'occupying force'. Both Turkey and Northern Cyprus refer to the Republic of Cyprus as "Güney Kıbrıs Rum Kesimi", Greek Part of Southern Cyprus.		Foreign relations of Cyprus	[25][26][27]
Israel	1948	Israel is not recognized by 20 UN members and one UN non-member, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, because of the Arab-Israeli conflict[28]. It is recognized by the Palestine Liberation Organization, who claims the right to set up a state in territory currently controlled by Israel.		Foreign relations of Israel	[29][30]
North Korea	1948	North Korea is not recognized by two UN members: Japan and South Korea.[31]	South Korea (both North Korea and South Korea claim to be the sole legitimate government of Korea).	Foreign relations of North Korea.	[31][32][33]
South Korea	1948	South Korea is not recognized by one UN member, North Korea.	North Korea (both South Korea and North Korea claim to be the sole legitimate government of Korea).	Foreign relations of South Korea	[34][35]
Liechtenstein	1993	Liechtenstein and Slovakia do not recognize each other because of a dispute on the applicability of the Beneš decrees.		Foreign relations of Liechtenstein	[36][37][38]
Slovakia	1993	Slovakia and Liechtenstein do not recognize each other because of a dispute on the applicability of the Beneš decrees.		Foreign relations of Slovakia	[36][38]

[edit] See also

• Micronation
• List of historical unrecognized countries
• List of active autonomist and secessionist movements
• List of historical autonomist and secessionist movements
• Government in exile
• List of territorial disputes
• Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
• United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories
• Flags of unrecognized and partially recognized states

[edit] References