This is a list of sovereign states in the 1980s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1989. It contains 188 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 171 widely recognized sovereign states, 2 constituent republics of another sovereign state that were UN members on their own right, 2 associated states, and 13 entities that claim an effective sovereignty but are considered de facto dependencies of other powers by the general international community.
Sovereign states Name and capital cityInformation on status and recognition of sovereignty A → → Afghanistan Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Republic of Afghanistan Widely recognized UN member state. Afghanistan was occupied by the Soviet Union (to 15 February 1989). Albania – People's Socialist Republic of Albania Widely recognized UN member state. – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Widely recognized UN member state. – Principality of Andorra Widely recognized independent state. The President of France and Bishop of Urgell were ex officio Co-Princes of Andorra. The defense of Andorra was the responsibility of France and Spain. Angola – People's Republic of Angola Widely recognized UN member state. Antigua Antigua and Barbuda Associated state of the United Kingdom (to 31 October 1981); widely recognized independent state (from 1 November 1981). UN member state (from 11 November 1981); Commonwealth realm. Antigua and Barbuda had two dependencies: Barbuda and Redonda. – Argentine Republic Widely recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 22 provinces and two federal territories. 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. – Commonwealth of Australia 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: 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 – Republic of Austria Widely recognized UN member state. Austria was a federation of nine states. B – Commonwealth of the Bahamas Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Bahrain – State of Bahrain Widely recognized UN member state. – People's Republic of Bangladesh Widely recognized UN member state. Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. – Kingdom of Belgium Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. Belize Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 25 September 1981); Commonwealth realm. Benin – People's Republic of Benin Widely recognized UN member state. – Kingdom of Bhutan Widely recognized UN member state. Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs, but effectively pursued an independent foreign policy. Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of Bophuthatswana Nominally independent South African bantustan. – Republic of Botswana Widely recognized UN member state. – Federative Republic of Brazil Widely recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 26 states, four territories (none from 1 January 1989), and one federal district. – State of Brunei, Abode of Peace Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 21 September 1984). Brunei claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia). Bulgaria – People's Republic of Bulgaria Widely recognized UN member state.Burkina Faso Upper Volta Burma / Myanmar Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma Union of Burma Union of Myanmar Widely recognized UN member state. → – Republic of Burundi Widely recognized UN member state. C Cambodia, State of Kampuchea, People's Republic of United Republic of Cameroon Republic of Cameroon Widely recognized UN member state. Dominion of Canada (to 17 April 1982) Canada (from 17 April 1982) Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Canada was a federation of ten provinces and two territories. – Republic of Cape Verde Widely recognized UN member state. Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of Chad Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of Chile Widely recognized UN member state. It had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory, which is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. Widely recognized UN member state. The People's Republic of China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. 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. Partially recognized de facto independent state but de jure widely recognized UN member state. The Republic of China claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China, but only administered Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and Itu Aba. The Republic of China had territorial claims over Mongolia; the Tuvan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic; the Sixty-Four Villages East of the River (administered by the Soviet Union); The majority of Gorno-Badakhshan (administered by the Soviet Union); The eastern tip of the Wakhan Corridor (administered by Afghanistan); a small portion of Gilgit-Baltistan (administered by Pakistan and part of the disputed Kashmir region); Aksai Chin (administered by the People's Republic of China and part of the disputed Kashmir region); eastern Bhutan; South Tibet (controlled by India); and Kachin State (administered by Myanmar). – Republic of Ciskei Nominally independent South African bantustan. – Republic of Colombia Widely recognized UN member state. Colombia administered Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank (disputed by Nicaragua and the United States). – Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros Widely recognized UN member state. The Comoros was a federation of three islands. 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). Congo – People's Republic of the Congo Widely recognized UN member state. A state in free association with New Zealand. It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship. – Republic of Costa Rica Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of Cuba Widely recognized UN member state. The Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the control of the United States. – Republic of Cyprus Widely recognized UN member state. Cyprus included one self-declared state which, although it did not claim independence, was de facto self-governing: Turkish Federated State of Cyprus (to 15 November 1983) After 15 November 1983, The northeastern part of the island was the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey. Czechoslovakia – Czechoslovak Socialist Republic Widely recognized UN member state. Czechoslovakia was a federation of two republics. D – Kingdom of Denmark Widely recognized UN member state; EEC member. The Danish Realm also included two of its constituent countries:
Derg Ethiopia – Republic of Djibouti Widely recognized UN member state. → → Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica Widely recognized UN member state. Widely recognized UN member state. E – Republic of Ecuador Widely recognized UN member state. → Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt Widely recognized UN member state. Egypt included the Sinai Peninsula, which was occupied by Israel until 25 April 1982. Revolutionary Government Junta Republic of El Salvador Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of Equatorial Guinea Widely recognized UN member state. → Ethiopia Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia (Derg or Socialist Ethiopia) People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Widely recognized UN member state. F Dominion of Fiji Republic of Fiji Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm (to 7 October 1987). Fiji had an autonomous dependency, Rotuma. – Republic of Finland Widely recognized UN member state. Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region: Fizi – Maquis of Fizi (to 1 July 1986) Unrecognized breakaway state in Zaire. Claimed by Zaire. – French Republic Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. France included five overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon (to 11 June 1985). It also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: , with one dependency: Clipperton Island French Southern and Antarctic Lands (including a claim to Adélie Land which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.)
New Caledonia (to 29 July 1980, jointly with the United Kingdom) (from 11 June 1985) 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)
France also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and the Comoros). G – Gabonese Republic Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of the Gambia Widely recognized UN member state. – German Democratic Republic Widely recognized UN member state. – Federal Republic of Germany Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. West Germany was a federation of ten states. – Republic of Ghana Widely recognized UN member state. – Hellenic Republic Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (from 1 January 1981). 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. People's Revolutionary Government of Grenada Grenada Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Grenada had one autonomous dependency, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala Widely recognized UN member state. Guinea People's Revolutionary Republic of Guinea (to 25 May 1984) Republic of Guinea (from 25 May 1984) Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of Guinea-Bissau Widely recognized UN member state. – Co-operative Republic of Guyana Widely recognized UN member state. H → – Republic of Haiti Duvalier dynasty (to 7 February 1986) Third Haitian Republic (from 7 February 1986) Widely recognized UN member state. Haiti claimed the uninhabited United States possession of Navassa Island.Holy See Vatican City Republic of Honduras (to January 27, 1982) Republic of Honduras (from January 27, 1982) Widely recognized UN member state. People's Republic of Hungary Republic of Hungary Widely recognized UN member state. I – Republic of Iceland Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of India Widely recognized UN member state. India was a federation of twenty-eight states and ten 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. – Republic of Indonesia