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.
Members or observers of the United Nations Name and capital cityInformation on status and recognition of sovereignty A → → Afghanistan Republic of Afghanistan Islamic State of Afghanistan Widely recognized UN member state. 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. → People's Socialist Republic of Albania 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. UN member state (from 28 July 1993). The defense of Andorra was the responsibility of France and Spain. People's Republic of Angola Republic of Angola Widely recognized UN member state. Widely recognized UN member state; 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, two federal territories, and one federal territory. 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 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). – 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. EU member (from 1 January 1995). Austria was a federation of nine states. – Republic of Azerbaijan 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. Azerbaijan had one autonomous republic, Nakhchivan. It included the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where a partially recognized breakaway republic declared independence on 6 January 1992. 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 to 1 November 1993; EU member from 1 November 1993. After 5 May 1993, Belgium was a federation of three communities and three regions. Belize Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. → People's Republic of Benin 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. Bolivia – Republic of Bolivia Widely recognized UN member state. → Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina 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: Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (from 27 September 1993 to 26 July 1995) (from 28 August 1993 to 18 March 1994) Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (to 7 April 1992) In addition, there were three states which had declared and established de facto independence from Bosnia and Herzegovina: Republika Srpska (from 7 April 1992 to 14 December 1995) Republic of Western Bosnia (from 26 July 1995 to 7 August 1995) After the Dayton Accords, 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 (from 5 March 1999). – 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 the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia). → People's Republic of Bulgaria Republic of Bulgaria Widely recognized UN member state. Burkina Faso Widely recognized UN member state.Burma Myanmar – Republic of Burundi Widely recognized UN member state. → → Byelorussia / Belarus Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic Republic of Belarus 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. C Cambodia Kampuchea – Republic of Cameroon Widely recognized UN member state. Widely recognized UN member state. 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; it had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty. – People's Republic of China Widely recognized UN member state. The People's Republic of China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. Additionally, it had sovereignty over two special administrative regions: (from 1 July 1997) (from 20 December 1999) 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. – 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: 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). → Congo / Congo, Republic of the People's Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Widely recognized UN member state.Congo, Democratic Republic of the Zaire → – Republic of Costa Rica Widely-recognized UN member state.Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast – Republic of Croatia 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: SAO Krajina (to 19 December 1991) SAO Western Slavonia (from 12 August 1991 to 26 February 1992) SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia (to 26 February 1992) → Republic of Serbian Krajina (from 19 December 1991 to 7 August 1995) → Republic of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia (from 7 August 1995 to 15 January 1996) On 15 January 1996, the last of these entities came under the administration of the United Nations Transitional Authority for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium. It was reintegrated into Croatia on 15 January 1998. – Republic of Cuba Widely recognized UN member state; the Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the complete control of the United States. – Republic of Cyprus Widely recognized UN member state. The northeastern part of the island was the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey. Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 19 January 1993). Czechoslovakia Czechoslovak Socialist Republic Czechoslovak Federative Republic Czech and Slovak Federative Republic Widely recognized UN member state. Czechoslovakia was a federation of two republics. D – Kingdom of Denmark 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:
– Republic of Djibouti Widely recognized UN member state. → – 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. – Republic of El Salvador Widely recognized UN member state. – Republic of Equatorial Guinea Widely recognized UN member state. → – State of Eritrea Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 28 May 1993). – Republic of Estonia 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. → → Ethiopia People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Transitional Government of Ethiopia Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia 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. F Republic of Fiji Sovereign Democratic Republic of Fiji 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 (from 1 January 1995). Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region: – French Republic Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (to 1 November 1993). EU member (from 1 November 1993). France included four overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. 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
The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean, consisting of five uninhabited possessions: