List of sovereign states in the 1960s

This is a list of sovereign states in the 1960s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1960 and 31 December 1969. It contains 165 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 143 widely-recognized sovereign states, 2 constituent republics of another sovereign state that were UN members on their own right, 7 associated states, and 11 entities which were de facto sovereign (and 1 nominally independent puppet state) but which were not widely-recognized by other states.

Sovereign states Name and capital cityInformation on status and recognition of sovereignty A Afghanistan – Kingdom of Afghanistan Widely-recognized UN member state. Albania – People's Republic of Albania Widely-recognized UN member state. Algerian State (from 5 July 1962 to 25 September 1962)Algeria became independent from France on 5 July 1962 and declared itself to be a People's Democratic Republic on 25 September 1962. People's Democratic Republic of Algeria (from 25 September 1962) Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 8 October 1962). Andorra – 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. → Anguilla – Republic of Anguilla (from 12 July 1967 to 19 March 1969)Anguilla declared independence from the United Kingdom on 12 July 1967. British rule was restored on 19 March 1969. De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by the United Kingdom as part of the associated state of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla. Antigua (from 27 February 1967) Associated state of the United Kingdom. Antigua had a dependency, Redonda. – Argentine RepublicThe name "Argentine Nation" was also used for the purposes of legislation. Widely-recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 22 provinces and two federal territories.23 Provinces: Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquén, Río Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán. 2 Territories: Buenos Aires, Tierra del Fuego. 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.6 States: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia. 3 Territories: Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, Northern Territory. It had sovereignty over the following external territories: Australian Antarctic Territory (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.) Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Coral Sea Islands (from 30 September 1969) Heard Island and McDonald Islands Norfolk Island Australia administered two United Nations Trust Territories: Nauru (to 30 January 1968, with New Zealand and the United Kingdom) Papua and New Guinea – Republic of Austria Widely-recognized UN member state. Austria was a federation of nine states.9 States: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Upper Austria, Vorarlberg, Vienna. B (from 30 November 1966)Barbados gained independence from the United Kingdom on 30 November 1966. Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 9 December 1966). Commonwealth realm. – Kingdom of Belgium Widely-recognized UN member state. EEC member. Belgium had sovereignty over one colony: (to 29 June 1960) Belgium administered one United Nations trust territory: Ruanda-Urundi (to 30 June 1962), consisting of two autonomous states: Rwanda (from 18 October 1960) Burundi (from 21 December 1961) Benin – Republic of Benin (from 19 September 1967 to 20 September 1967)Benin declared independence from Nigeria on 19 September 1967 and was overrun the following day Nominally independent puppet state of Biafra. Claimed by Nigeria. → – Kingdom of Bhutan Widely-recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (from 1968). Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs. – Republic of Biafra (from 30 May 1967)Biafra declared independence from Nigeria on 30 May 1967 Partially recognized de facto independent state.Recognized by Gabon, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, and Zambia. Claimed by Nigeria. Bolivia Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative) Republic of Bolivia Republic of Bolivia Widely-recognized UN member state. – Republic of Botswana (from 30 September 1966)Botswana gained independence from the United Kingdom on 30 September 1966. Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 17 October 1966). → → Brazil Capital: Rio de Janeiro (to 21 April 1960), Brasília (from 21 April 1960) Republic of the United States of Brazil (to 15 March 1967)Brazil was renamed the Federative Republic of Brazil on 15 March 1967 Federative Republic of Brazil (from 15 March 1967) Widely-recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 22 states, four territories, and one federal district. → Bulgaria – People's Republic of Bulgaria Widely-recognized UN member state. Burma Union of Burma (until 2 March 1962) Union of Burma (from 2 March 1962) Widely-recognized UN member state. → → → Burundi Kingdom of Burundi (from 1 July 1962 to 28 November 1966)Burundi declared independence from Belgium on 1 July 1962 and became a republic on 28 November 1966. Republic of Burundi (from 28 November 1966) Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 18 September 1962). C – Kingdom of Cambodia Widely-recognized UN member state. → / Cameroon Republic of Cameroun (from 1 January 1960 to 1 October 1961)Cameroun became independent from France on 1 January 1960. It united with British Cameroons on 1 October 1961. Federal Republic of Cameroon (from 1 October 1961) Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). After 1 October 1961, Cameroon was a federation of two regions.2 Regions: East Cameroun, West Cameroun. → – Dominion of Canada Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Canada was a federation of ten provinces and two territories.10 Provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan. 2 Territories: Northwest Territories, Yukon. (from 13 August 1960)The Central African Republic declared independence from France on 13 August 1960. Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). – Dominion of Ceylon Widely-recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. – Republic of Chad (from 11 August 1960)Chad declared independence from France on 11 August 1960 Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). – Republic of Chile Widely-recognized UN member state. It had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory, which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. Partially recognized de facto independent state.The People's Republic of China and the Republic of China did not recognize each other, as both states claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China. The following states recognized the PRC instead of the ROC: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, Burma, Burundi (from 21 December 1963 to 29 January 1965), Cambodia, Central African Republic (from 29 September 1964), Democratic Republic of Congo (from 20 February 1961), Republic of Congo (from 22 February 1964), Cuba (from 28 September 1960), Czechoslovakia, Dahomey (from 12 November 1964 to April 1966), Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France (from 27 January 1964), East Germany, Ghana (from 5 July 1960), Guinea, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya (from 14 December 1963), North Korea, Laos (from 25 April 1961), Liechtenstein, Mali (from 25 October 1960), Mauritania (from 19 July 1965), Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Somalia (from 14 December 1960), the Soviet Union, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanganyika (from 9 December 1961 to 26 April 1964), Tanzania (from 26 April 1964), Tunisia (from 10 January 1964), Uganda (from 18 October 1962), North Vietnam, North Yemen, South Yemen (from 31 January 1968), Yugoslavia, Zambia (from 29 October 1964), Zanzibar (from 11 December 1963 to 26 April 1964). The People's Republic of China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet (from 9 September 1965). 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, South Vietnam, and the Philippines), and South Tibet (controlled by India's North-East Frontier Agency). The People's Republic of China administered Aksai Chin (from 21 November 1962) and the Trans-Karakoram Tract (from 3 March 1963), which were within the disputed region of Kashmir. Capital: Taipei (seat of government), Nanjing (claimed) Widely-recognized UN member state under the name "China". 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's North-East Frontier Agency); and Kachin State (administered by Burma). – Republic of Colombia Widely-recognized UN member state. Colombia claimed Quita Sueño Bank, Roncador Bank, and Serrana Bank (disputed by the United States); Bajo Nuevo Bank (disputed by Jamaica, Nicaragua and the United States); and Serranilla Bank (disputed by Nicaragua and the United States) / Congo, Republic of the Republic of the Congo (from 15 August 1960)Congo-Brazzaville gained independence from France on 15 August 1960 Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). → → Congo (Léopoldville) / Congo, Democratic Republic of the Capital: Léopoldville (renamed Kinshasa in 1966) Republic of the Congo (from 30 June 1960 to 1 August 1964)The Republic of the Congo gained independence from Belgium on 30 June 1960 and was renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo on 1 August 1964. Democratic Republic of the Congo (from 1 August 1964) Widely-recognized independent state. UN member state (from 20 September 1960). Congo (Léopoldville) contained one self-declared state which, although it did not claim independence, was de facto self-governing: South Kasai (from 8 August 1960 to 30 December 1961). Congo (Stanleyville) / Congo, Free Republic of the – Free Republic of the Congo (from 13 December 1960 to 5 August 1961) Rival state set up during the Congo Crisis. Recognized by 21 states. Claimed by Congo (Léopoldville). Cook Islands (from 4 August 1965) 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