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.[clarification needed]
Widely recognized UN member state.[b] 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.
Armenia – Republic of Armenia (from 23 September 1991)[f] Capital: Yerevan
De facto independent state; claimed by the Soviet Union to 26 December 1991. Widely recognized (from 26 December 1991).[g]UN member state (from 2 March 1992).
Widely recognized UN member state. Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs, but effectively pursued an independent foreign policy.
Bolivia – Republic of Bolivia Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative)
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:
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.
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).
Croatia – Republic of Croatia (from 25 June 1991)[v] Capital: Zagreb
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:
Widely recognized UN member state.[w] The northeastern part of the island was the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey.
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:
Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 28 May 1993).
Estonia – Republic of Estonia (from 20 August 1991) Capital: Tallinn
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.
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (from 22 August 1995)[ac]
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.[ad]
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.
Germany, West / Germany – Federal Republic of Germany 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.[aj]
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.
Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member to 1 November 1993. EU member from 1 November 1993. Until 1 December 1998, Ireland claimed Northern Ireland, which was controlled by the United Kingdom.[25]
Widely recognized UN member state.[ao] Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Cambodia, despite being in exile until 15 March 1992.
→ → Kazakhstan – Republic of Kazakhstan (from 16 December 1991)[26] 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.
Widely recognized independent state.[ap]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.
Widely recognized independent state.[aq]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.
Kuwait – State of Kuwait (to 8 August 1990, from 27 February 1991)[ar] Capital: Kuwait City
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.
Latvia – Republic of Latvia (from 21 August 1991)[au] Capital: Riga
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
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).
All ten bantustans were formally abolished when a new constitution took effect on 27 April 1994. South Africa administered one League of Nations mandate:
Soviet Union – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (to 26 December 1991)[bk] Capital: Moscow
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.[bq]
Widely recognized UN member state. Syria included the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel. It disputed the Turkish sovereignty over Hatay Province.
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.
Tanzania – United Republic of Tanzania 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.
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.
Widely-recognized UN member state; claimed by the Soviet Union as a constituent republic until 26 December 1991. Widely recognized (from 26 December 1991); Ukraine had one autonomous republic and it was Crimea.
→ Uzbekistan – Republic of Uzbekistan (from 31 August 1991) Capital: Tashkent
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.
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.
Widely recognized UN member state (to 22 May 1990). De facto independent state (from 7 July 1994). Claimed by Yemen. (from 7 July 1994).
Yugoslavia – Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (to 27 April 1992) Capital: Belgrade[cb]
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.
Widely recognized independent state from 27 April 1992. Serbia and Montenegro was a federation of two republics, Montenegro and Serbia. Serbia and Montenegro claimed to continue Yugoslavia's international personality, but this claim was not widely recognized. Serbia itself included two autonomous provinces, which were Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija. The latter province was under the administration of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo from 10 June 1999.
Partially-recognized de facto independent state;[cf] claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Afghanistan, but this was not recognized by the UN or most countries.
A state in free association with New Zealand, recognized by China (from 25 July 1997). The Cook Islands is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity; it shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship.
Gagauzia – Gagauz Republic (from 19 August 1990 to 14 January 1995) Capital: Comrat
De facto independent state; not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the Soviet Union until 26 December 1991 and by Moldova from 27 August 1991 to 14 January 1995.
Kosova – Republic of Kosova (from 22 September 1991 to 31 January 2000) Capital: Pristina
Partially recognized de facto independent state; only recognized by Albania. Claimed by Serbia.
Kunar – Islamic Emirate of Kunar (from January to 20 April 1991) Capital: Asadabad
De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Afghanistan.
Mindanao – Federal Republic of Mindanao (from 4 October to 6 October 1990) Capital: Cagayan de Oro (de facto)
De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the Philippines.
Mohéli – Democratic Republic of Mohéli (from 11 August 1997)[cl] Capital: Fomboni
De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the Comoros.
Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (from 7 April 1992 to 12 August 1992)[cp][cq]
Republika Srpska (from 12 August 1992 to 14 December 1995)[o][cq]
De facto independent state until 14 December 1995 not recognized by any other state; claimed by Bosnia and Herzegovina and recognized as such by the UN.
Partially recognized de facto independent state. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic claimed the disputed territory of Western Sahara, most of which was under control of Morocco. The territories under its control, the so-called Free Zone, were claimed by Morocco. Its government resided in exile at Tindouf in Algeria.
Vevčani – Republic of Vevčani (from 19 September 1991 to 8 April 1993) Capital: Vevčani
De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Macedonia.
Western Bosnia – Republic of Western Bosnia (from 26 July 1995 to 7 August 1995)[cu]
De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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.[83] These claims, which were regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, were neither recognised nor disputed by any other signatory state.[84]
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.
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.[85] The order's Constitution stated: "The Order is a subject of international law and exercises sovereign functions."[86] Although the order frequently asserted its sovereignty, it did not claim to be a sovereign state. It lacked a defined territory. Since all its members were citizens of other states, almost all of them lived in their native countries, and those who resided in the order's extraterritorial properties in Rome did so only in connection with their official duties, the order lacked the characteristic of having a permanent population.
West Berlin was a political enclave that was closely aligned with – but not actually a part of – West Germany. It consisted of three occupied sectors administered by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. West Berlin was incorporated into the reunified Germany on 3 October 1990.
^The Islamic State of Afghanistan was not recognized by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates after 26 September 1996.
^ abAlbania adopted a temporary basic law on 29 April 1991, changing the name of the country to "Republic of Albania". This change was confirmed in the constitution of 1998.[2]
^The name "Argentine Nation" was also used for the purposes of legislation.
^The Armenian people voted for succession from the Soviet Union in a referendum on 21 September 1991. The parliament of Armenia ratified the result on 23 September 1991.[4]
^ abA Sovereign National Conference was held in the People's Republic of Congo from 25 February 1991 to 10 June 1991, during which the country was renamed.[10]
^ abCroatia and Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia on 25 June 1991.[11]
^Cyprus was not recognized by Turkey or Northern Cyprus.
^ abcCzechoslovakia was dissolved on midnight of 31 December 1992. From the start of 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovakia were independent countries.[12]
^ abcdOwing to a dispute over lands seized during World War II, Liechtenstein and Czechoslovakia did not recognize each other. This dispute continued with Czechoslovakia's successor states.
^ abFollowing the Velvet Revolution, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was replaced by the Czechoslovak Federative Republic.[13]
^ abAfter a naming dispute, the name of Czechoslovakia was changed to "Czech and Slovak Federative Republic"[14]
^ abAlthough the State of Cambodia had near total control over the territory of Cambodia, the majority of the states in the world recognized the former government of Democratic Kampuchea, which retained Cambodia's UN membership. The State of Cambodia was mainly recognized by Vietnam and states within the Soviet sphere of influence.
^Kyrgyzstan declared independence from the Soviet Union on 31 August 1991.[29]
^ abKyrgyzstan adopted a new constitution on 5 May 1993.[30]
^Latvia declared independence from the Soviet Union on 21 August 1991.[31]
^Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union on 11 March 1990.[32]
^Provisionally referred to by the UN and a number of countries and international organizations as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", see Macedonia naming dispute.
^Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia on 8 September 1991.[33]
^Palau's United Nations trusteeship ended on 1 October 1994.[43]
^From 25 December 1993, Russia had two equally official longform names and they were "Russia" and "Russian Federation".[44]
^ abThe Soviet Union effectively ceased to exist on 12 December 1991 and officially ceased to exist on 26 December 1991 when the Supreme Soviet dissolved itself; Russia was recognized as its successor state by the UN.[52][53]
^Rwanda's official French name was "République rwandaise".[45][46] It could be translated into English as "Rwandese Republic",[47] "Rwandan Republic",[48] or "Republic of Rwanda".[49]
^ abSomalia was renamed after Siad Barre's overthrow on 26 January 1991.[50]
^ abPresident Ali Mahdi Muhammad of Somalia was ousted on 18 November 1991, although he continued to claim the title of President from exile. After this, there was no widely-recognized central government in the country.[51]
^The Republic of Bougainville declared independence on 17 May 1990.[67] After a lengthy peace process started in 1997, the Bougainville Interim Government agreed to give up their self-declared independence and establish a reconciliation government on 24 December 1998.[68]
^ abThe Chechen Republic of Ichkeria enacted its constitution on 12 March 1992.[71]
Mendes, Errol (30 March 2010), Statehood and Palestine for the purposes of Article 12 (3) of the ICC Statute(PDF), 30 March 2010, pp. 28, 33, retrieved 2011-04-17: "...the Palestinian State also meets the traditional criteria under the Montevideo Convention..."; "...the fact that a majority of states have recognized Palestine as a State should easily fulfill the requisite state practice".
McDonald, Avril (Spring 2009), "Operation Cast Lead: Drawing the Battle Lines of the Legal Dispute", Human Rights Brief, 25, Washington College of Law, Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, retrieved 2011-04-17: "Whether one applies the criteria of statehood set out in the Montevideo Convention or the more widely accepted constitutive theory of statehood, Palestine might be considered a state."
^Puntland declared temporary independence from Somalia on 1 August 1998.[75]
^The Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence on 7 April 1992.[76]
^ abThe name Republika Srpska was adopted on 12 August 1992.[77]
^Transkei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994, when South Africa's interim constitution took effect.
^Transnistria had declared its independence from Moldova (but within the Soviet Union) on 2 September 1990. The Soviet Union did not recognize that declaration, leading to Transnistria's full declaration of independence on 25 August 1991.[81]
^Venda ceased to exist on 27 April 1994, when South Africa's interim constitution took effect.[72]
^"Ústavný zákon 101/1990 Zb. z 20. apríla 1990 o zmene názvu Česko-slovenskej federatívnej republiky" [Constitutional law about the change of the name of the Czecho-Slovak Federative Republic]. Česká a Slovenská Federatívna Republika, Zbierka zákonov č. 21/1990 (in Slovak). 20 April 1990. p. 404.
^"The Amendments VII and VIII to the Constitution of the Republika Srpska". Official Gazette of the Republika Srpska (in Serbian). 1 (15): 569. 29 September 1992.)
^Radan, Peter (2002). The break-up of Yugoslavia and international law. Routledge. p. 192. ISBN978-0-415-25352-9.
^Rogan-Finnemore, Michelle (2005). "What Bioprospecting Means for Antarctica and the Southern Ocean". In Von Tigerstrom, Barbara (ed.). International Law Issues in the South Pacific. Ashgate Publishing. p. 204. ISBN0-7546-4419-7. "Australia, New Zealand, France, Norway and the United Kingdom reciprocally recognize the validity of each other's claims."
^"Antarctica". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2008-01-19 – via CIA.gov.
