This is a list of sovereign states in the 1950s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1950 and 31 December 1959. It contains 108 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 102 widely recognized sovereign states, 5 entities which were de facto sovereign but which were not widely recognized by other states, and 1 state which was initially unrecognized but then gained full recognition later in the decade.
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 independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955) → 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. – Arab Federation of Iraq and Jordan (from 14 February 1958 to 14 July 1958)Jordan and Iraq united to form the Arab Federation on 14 February 1958. It was dissolved on July 14 following the overthrow of the Hashemite monarchy in Iraq. Widely-recognized independent state. The Arab Federation occupied West Bank but these areas were not generally recognized as being part of the Arab Federation.Only the United Kingdom recognized the West Bank, including East Jerusalem as being part of the Arab Federation. – Argentine RepublicThe name "Argentine Nation" was also used for the purposes of legislation. Widely-recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 23 provinces and 10 federal territories.23 Provinces: Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chubut (from 15 June 1955), Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Formosa (from 15 June 1955), Jujuy, La Pampa (renamed Eva Perón from 29 January 1952 to 27 April 1956), La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones (from 1953), Neuquén (from 15 June 1955), Presidente Juan Perón (from 10 August 1951, renamed Chaco on 27 April 1956), Río Negro (from 15 June 1955), Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz (from 1957), Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán. 10 Territories: Buenos Aires, Chaco (to 10 August 1951, renamed Presidente Juan Perón on 1950), Chubut (to 15 June 1955), Formosa (to 15 June 1955), Misiones (to 1953), Neuquén (to 15 June 1955), Río Negro (to 15 June 1955), Santa Cruz (to 1957), Tierra del Fuego. It had a claim over Argentine Antarctica. 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 Christmas Island (from 1 October 1958) Cocos (Keeling) Islands (from 23 November 1955) Heard Island and McDonald Islands Norfolk Island Australia administered two United Nations Trust Territories: Nauru (with New Zealand and the United Kingdom) Papua and New Guinea – Republic of Austria Widely recognized state under Allied occupation. Independent state (from 27 July 1955). Permanent observer at the UN (from 1952 to 14 December 1955). UN member state (from 14 December 1955). Austria was a federation of nine states.9 States: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Upper Austria, Vorarlberg, Vienna. B – Kingdom of Belgium Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (from 25 March 1957). Belgium had sovereignty over one colony:
Belgium administered one United Nations trust territory: Ruanda-Urundi → – Kingdom of Bhutan Capital: Punakha (to 1955), Thimphu (from 1955) Widely recognized independent state. Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs. Bolivia – Republic of Bolivia Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative) Widely recognized UN member state. Brazil – Republic of the United States of Brazil Widely recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 20 states, five territories, and one federal district. Bulgaria – People's Republic of Bulgaria Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). Burma – Union of Burma Widely recognized UN member state. C – Kingdom of Cambodia (from 9 November 1953)Cambodia gained independence from France on 9 November 1953 Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). → – 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. → – Dominion of Ceylon Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 14 December 1955). Commonwealth realm. – Republic of Chile Widely recognized UN member state. It had a claim over the Chilean Antarctic Territory. – People's Republic of China 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 (from 20 January 1955), Albania, Algeria (from 20 December 1958), Bulgaria, Burma (from 8 June 1950), Cambodia (from 19 July 1958), Ceylon (from 7 February 1957), Czechoslovakia, Denmark (from 11 May 1950), Egypt (from 30 May 1956), Finland (from 28 October 1950), East Germany, Guinea (from 4 October 1959), Hungary, India (from 1 April 1950), Indonesia (from 13 April 1930), Iraq (from 25 August 1958), North Korea, Liechtenstein (from 14 September 1950), Mongolia, Morocco (from 1 November 1958), Nepal (from 1 August 1955), Norway (from 5 October 1954), Pakistan (from 21 May 1951), Poland, Romania, the Soviet Union, Sudan (from 4 February 1959), Sweden (from 9 May 1950), Switzerland (from 14 September 1950), Syria (from 1 August 1956), North Vietnam (from 18 January 1950), North Yemen (from 24 September 1956), Yugoslavia (from 2 January 1955). The United Kingdom recognized the PRC on 6 January 1950, but this recognition was not initially accepted. The People's Republic of China had four autonomous regions: Guangxi (from 5 March 1958), Inner Mongolia, Ningxia (from 25 October 1958), Xinjiang (from 1 October 1955). 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 South 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). – Republic of China 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, Itu Aba, and portions of Yunnan Province. 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); 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) – Republic of Costa Rica Widely recognized UN member state. → Cuba Cuban First Republic Cuban Second Republic Widely recognized UN member state. The Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the permanent control of the United States. Czechoslovakia – Czechoslovak Republic Widely recognized UN member state.Owing to a dispute over lands seized during World War II, Liechtenstein and Czechoslovakia did not recognize each other. D Dadra / Dadra and Nagar Haveli Capital: Dadra (to 2 August 1954), Silvassa (from 2 August 1954) Free Dadra (from 22 July 1954 to 15 August 1954)Dadra was liberated from Portuguese Rule on 22 July 1954. and Nagar Haveli was liberated 2 August 1954. On 15 August 1954 the territory was renamed "Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli", and became effectively independent under a local administration. It was entirely surrounded by and closely allied with India, which sent an official to help administer the state. Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli (from 15 August 1954) De facto independent state.Dadra and Nagar Haveli was recognized only by India Claimed by Portugal. – Kingdom of Denmark Widely recognized UN member state. The Danish Realm also included one autonomous region:
Denmark had one colony: Greenland (from 1950 to 5 June 1953) Dominican Republic – Third Dominican Republic Widely recognized UN member state. E Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador Widely recognized UN member state. → Kingdom of Egypt (to 19 June 1953)The Egyptian Republic was declared on 19 June 1953 Republic of Egypt (from 19 June 1953 to 1 February 1958)Egypt and Syria united to form the United Arab Republic on 1 February 1958. Widely recognized UN member state. Egypt occupied Gaza Strip. Egypt administered one condominium: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (to 31 December 1955, with the United Kingdom) – Republic of El Salvador Widely recognized UN member state. Ethiopia – Ethiopian Empire Widely recognized UN member state. F – Republic of Finland Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN (from 1952 to 14 December 1955). UN member state (from 14 December 1955). Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region: → France Fourth Republic Fifth Republic Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (from 25 March 1957). France included 21 overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, and multiple departments in French Algeria (three departments to 1955, four departments from 1955 to 1957, fourteen departments from 1957 to 1958, and seventeen departments from 1958 on.) The French Union contained the following autonomous associated states: Cambodia (to 9 November 1953) Laos (to 22 October 1953) Vietnam (to 21 July 1954) The French Community consisted of the following autonomous republics: Central African Republic (from 1 December 1958) → Chad (from 28 November 1958) → Congo (from 28 November 1958) → Dahomey (from 4 December 1958) → Gabon (from 28 November 1958) → Ivory Coast (from 4 December 1958) Malagasy Republic (from 14 October 1958) Mali Federation (from 4 April 1959) → Mauritania (from 28 November 1958) → Niger (from 19 December 1958) Senegal (from 25 November 1958 to 4 April 1959) Sudanese Republic (from 24 November 1958 to 4 April 1959) Upper Volta (from 11 December 1958) France administered the foreign affairs of the following protectorates: Morocco (to 2 March 1956) Tunisia (to 20 March 1956) (to 1 January 1957) France also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: Adélie Land (to 6 August 1955) Comoros French Equatorial Africa, consisting of four territories: Chad (to 28 November 1958) Gabon (to 28 November 1958) Middle Congo (to 28 November 1958) Ubangi-Shari (to 1 December 1958) French India (to 21 July 1954)