This is a list of sovereign states in the 2000s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2009. It contains 213 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 194 widely recognized sovereign states, 2 associated states, and 17 entities which claim an effective sovereignty but are considered de facto dependencies of other powers by the general international community.
Members or observers of the United Nations Name and capital city Status and recognition of sovereignty
A → → → Islamic State of Afghanistan Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Widely recognized UN member state. Claimed to be and was widely recognized as the sole legitimate government of Afghanistan, however in effect it only controlled a small portion of the country until 13 November 2001. → – Republic of Albania Widely recognized UN member state. – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Widely recognized UN member state. – Principality of Andorra Widely recognized UN member 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. – Republic of Angola Widely recognized UN member state. Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. Antigua and Barbuda had two dependencies, Barbuda and Redonda. Argentina – Argentine Republic Widely recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city. 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. – Republic of Armenia Widely recognized UN member state.Armenia was not recognized by Pakistan. – 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.)
Coral Sea Islands Heard Island and McDonald Islands → Austria – Republic of Austria Widely recognized UN member state; EU member. Austria was a federation of nine states. Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan Widely recognized UN member state. Azerbaijan had one autonomous republic, Nakhchivan. It included the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where a partially recognized breakaway republic had declared independence. B – Commonwealth of the Bahamas Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. → State of Bahrain Kingdom of Bahrain Widely recognized UN member state. – People's Republic of Bangladesh Widely recognized UN member state. Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. – Republic of Belarus Widely recognized UN member state. – Kingdom of Belgium Widely recognized UN member state; EU member. Belgium was a federation of three communities and three regions. Belize Widely recognized UN member state; Commonwealth realm. – 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. The Indo-Bhutanese Friendship Treaty was revised on 8 February 2007, confirming Bhutan's full independence in this area. Republic of Bolivia Bolivia enacted a new constitution on 7 February 2009, changing the official name of the state. Plurinational State of Bolivia Widely recognized UN member state. Widely recognized UN member state. Bosnia and Herzegovina was a federation of two constituent entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was itself a federation of ten cantons, and Republika Srpska. There was also a neutral Brčko District. – Republic of Botswana Widely recognized UN member state. – Federative Republic of Brazil Widely recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 26 states and one federal district. – State of Brunei, Abode of Peace Widely recognized UN member state. Brunei claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia). – Republic of Bulgaria Widely recognized UN member state; EU member (from 1 January 2007). Burkina Faso Widely recognized UN member state. Burma Myanmar – Republic of Burundi Widely recognized UN member state. C – Kingdom of Cambodia Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of Cameroon Widely recognized UN member state. Widely recognized UN member state and Commonwealth realm; Canada was a federation of ten provinces and three 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. Chile had two special territories after 30 July 2007, Easter Island and the Juan Fernández Islands. It had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory, which is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. – People's Republic of China Widely recognized UN member 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 ROC instead of the PRC: Belize, Burkina Faso, Chad (to 6 August 2006), Costa Rica (to 1 June 2007), Dominica (to 31 March 2004), Dominican Republic, El Salvador, the Gambia, Guatemala, Grenada (to 20 January 2005), Haiti, Honduras, Kiribati (from 29 November 2003), Malawi (to 28 December 2007), Marshall Islands, Nauru (to 21 July 2002 and then again from 31 May 2005), Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia (5 May 2007), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal (to 25 October 2005), Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Tuvalu, and Vatican City. Until 11 October 2003, Liberia recognized both the ROC and the PRC, which led to the PRC severing diplomatic relations. After 11 October 2003, Liberia only recognized the PRC. China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. Additionally, it had sovereignty over two special administrative regions:
China claimed Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Pratas Island and the Vereker Banks, and Itu Aba, all of which were governed by Taiwan. 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. – Republic of Colombia Widely recognized UN member state. Colombia administered Serranilla Bank and claimed Bajo Nuevo Bank (disputed by Nicaragua and the United States) → Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros .za/hr_docs/constitutions/docs/ComorosC%20(english%20summary)(rev).doc The Comoros adopted a new constitution on 23 December 2001 Union of the Comoros Widely recognized UN member state. The Comoros was a federation of three islands (autonomous islands since 23 December 2001): Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan. Anjouan and Mohéli were de facto independent states until 10 March 2002. Comoros also claimed sovereignty over the French overseas territories of Mayotte and the Glorioso Islands. Comoros also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and France). → → – Democratic Republic of the Congo Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of the Congo Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of Costa Rica Widely recognized UN member state. Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast – Republic of Croatia 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. EU member (from 1 May 2004). The northeastern part of the island was the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey. Widely recognized UN member state.Owing to a dispute over lands seized during World War II, Liechtenstein did not recognize the Czech Republic or Slovakia, and neither country recognized Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein established diplomatic relations with the Czech Republic on 13 July 2009 and with Slovakia on 9 December 2009. EU member (from 1 May 2004). D – Kingdom of Denmark Widely recognized UN member state; EU member. The Danish Realm also included two of its constituent countries:
– Republic of Djibouti Widely recognized UN member state. – Commonwealth of Dominica Widely recognized UN member state. Widely recognized UN member state.
E Timor-Leste declared independence from United Nations administration on 20 May 2002. Democratic Republic of East Timor Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Widely recognized independent state; UN member state (from 27 September 2002). → – Republic of Ecuador Widely recognized UN member state. Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of El Salvador Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of Equatorial Guinea Widely recognized UN member state. – State of Eritrea Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of Estonia Widely recognized UN member state; EU member (from 1 May 2004). → – Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Widely recognized UN member state; Ethiopia was a federation of nine regions and two chartered cities. F – Republic of the Fiji Islands Widely recognized UN member state. Fiji had an autonomous dependency, Rotuma. – Republic of Finland Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region: – French Republic Widely recognized UN member state. EU member. France included four overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. It also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories: Clipperton Island (from 22 February 2007) , with one dependency Clipperton Island (to 22 February 2007) (including a claim to Adélie Land which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.)
New Caledonia (from 21 February 2007) Saint Martin (from 21 February 2007)
The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean, consisting of five uninhabited possessions, all of which were incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands on 21 February 2007: 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. → Widely recognized UN member state. Georgia had two autonomous republics: Adjara and Abkhazia. The latter republic was home to a de facto independent state. Georgia also included the disputed region of South Ossetia, where a partially recognized breakaway republic had declared independence. – Federal Republic of Germany Widely recognized UN member state; EU member. Germany was a federation of sixteen states. – Republic of Ghana Widely recognized UN member state. – Hellenic Republic Widely recognized UN member state; EU member. 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.