Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter defines a non-self-governing territory (NSGT) as a territory "whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government". Chapter XI of the UN Charter also includes a "Declaration on Non-Self-Governing Territories" that the interests of the occupants of dependent territories are paramount and requires member states of the United Nations in control of such territories to submit annual information reports concerning the development of those territories. Since 1946, the UNGA has maintained a list of non-self governing territories under member states' control. Since its inception, dozens of territories have been removed from the list, typically when they attained independence or internal self-government, while other territories have been added as new administering powers joined the United Nations or the UN General Assembly (UNGA) reassessed their status.

Since 1961 the list has been maintained by the Special Committee on Decolonization.

History

Chapter XI of the UN Charter contains a Declaration Concerning Non-Self-Governing Territories. Article 73(e) requires UN member states to report to the United Nations annually on the development of NSGTs under their control. From the initial reports provided by eight member states (Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States), a list was compiled in 1946 listing 72 NSGTs. In several instances, administering powers were later allowed to remove dependent territories from the list, either unilaterally (as in the case of French overseas territories such as French Polynesia), or by a vote of the General Assembly (as in the cases of Puerto Rico, Greenland, the Netherlands Antilles and Suriname).

The list draws its origins from the period of colonialism and the Charter's concept of non-self-governing territories. As an increasing number of formerly colonized countries became UN members, the General Assembly increasingly asserted its authority to place additional territories on the list and repeatedly declared that only the General Assembly had the authority to authorize a territory's being removed from the list upon attainment of any status other than full independence. For example, when Portugal joined the United Nations it contended that it did not control any non-self-governing territory, claiming that areas such as Angola and Mozambique were an integral part of the Portuguese state, but the General Assembly rejected this position. Similarly, Western Sahara was added in 1963 when it was a Spanish colony. As with Namibia, which was seen, due to its former status as a League of Nations mandate territory, as a vestige of German colonial legacy in Africa, until it was removed in 1990 upon its independence. A set of criteria for determining whether a territory is to be considered "non-self-governing" was established in General Assembly Resolution 1541 (XV) of 1960.i.e. extenuating circumstance, historical control, longstanding/stagnated issue, etc. Also in 1960, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 1514 (XV), promulgating the "Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples", which declared that all remaining non-self-governing territories and trust territories were entitled to self-determination and independence. The following year, the General Assembly established the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (sometimes referred to as the Special Committee on Decolonization, or the "Committee of 24" because for much of its history the committee was composed of 24 members), which reviews the situation in non-self-governing territories each year and reports to the General Assembly. A revised list in 1963 listed 64 NSGTs.

Resolutions adopted

1946

UNGA Resolution 64(I) regarding the Establishment of the Trusteeship Council.United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64(I) UNGA Resolution 66(I) regarding Transmission of information under Article 73 e of the Charter.United Nations General Assembly Resolution 66(I)

1947

UNGA Resolution 142(II) regarding Standard form for the guidance of Members in the preparation of information to be transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter. UNGA Resolution 143(II) regarding Supplemental documents relating to information transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter. UNGA Resolution 144(II) regarding Voluntary transmission of information regarding the development of self-governing institutions in the Non-Self-Governing Territories. UNGA Resolution 145(II) regarding Collaboration of the specialized agencies in regard to Article 73 e of the Charter. UNGA Resolution 146(II) regarding Creation of a special committee on information transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter.

1960

UNGA Resolution 1514 (XV) Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples. UNGA regarding Principles which should guide members in determining whether or an obligation exists to transmit the information called for under Article 73e of the Charter.

1961

UNGA Resolution 1654 (XVI) regarding the situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples.

1966

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted by the UNGA on 16 December 1966. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted by the UNGA on 19 December 1966.

1990–2000

UNGA Resolution A/RES/43/45 regarding Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. UNGA Resolution A/RES/43/46 regarding Dissemination of information on decolonization. UNGA Resolution A/RES/43/47 regarding International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.

2001–2010

UNGA Resolution 55/145 regarding Dissemination of information on decolonization. UNGA Resolution 55/146 regarding 2nd International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. UNGA Resolution 55/147 regarding Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Resolution 2007/25 regarding Support to Non-Self-Governing Territories by the specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations.

2011–present

UNGA Resolution 65/116 regarding Dissemination of information on decolonization. UNGA Resolution 65/117 regarding Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. UNGA Resolution 65/118 regarding Fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. UNGA Resolution 65/119 regarding 3rd International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.

Current entries

The following 17 territories are currently included in the list.

+ Overview of non-self-governing territories Territory Administering power Domestic legal status Other claimant(s) Population Area Referendum(s) See also Unincorporated unorganized territory 55,519 No official referendum has been held. Politics of American Samoa Overseas territory 14,108 No official referendum has been held. Politics of Anguilla Overseas territory 62,000 A 1995 Bermudian independence referendum was held. 74% of votes cast were against independence. Politics of Bermuda Overseas territory 28,103 No official referendum has been held. Politics of the British Virgin Islands Overseas territory 55,500 No official referendum has been held. Foreign relations of the Cayman Islands Overseas territory 3,662 Two referendums have been held in 1986 and 2013 on whether the Falklands should join Argentina. On both occasions, voters overwhelmingly chose continued British control. Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute Overseas country 271,000 No official referendum has been held. Politics of French Polynesia Overseas territory 29,752 There were referendums in 1967 and in 2002, both returning an overwhelming victory for the pro-British side. Status of Gibraltar Unincorporated organized territory 159,358 Three status referendums have been held, one in 1976 and two in 1982 (one in January and the other in September), with all three of them supporting an improved Commonwealth status under US control. Politics of Guam Overseas territory 5,000 No official referendum has been held. Government of Montserrat Sui generis collectivity 252,000 There were referendums in 1987, 2018, 2020, and 2021, all deciding against independence. The 2021 referendum was boycotted, and unrest broke out in the middle of 2024 from constitutional changes proposed from the 2021 vote. Politics of New Caledonia Overseas territory 50 No official referendum has been held. Politics of the Pitcairn Islands Overseas territory 5,396 No official referendum has been held. Politics of Saint Helena Territory 1,411 There were two referendums on self-determination in Tokelau in 2006 and 2007, with both coming just shy of the required two-thirds "yes" margin. Politics of Tokelau Overseas territory 31,458 No official referendum has been held. Politics of the Turks and Caicos Islands Unincorporated organized territory 106,405 A 1993 United States Virgin Islands status referendum was held. The status quo was widely preferred among voters, but the result was invalidated because of the low turnout.United States Virgin Islands, 11 October 1993: Status Direct Democracy Politics of the United States Virgin IslandsWestern Sahara DisputedDisputed619,060 The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara has attempted to organize a referendum since 1991, but none has been held so far.Political status of Western Sahara

Notes

Former entries

The following territories were originally listed by UN General Assembly Resolution 66 (I) of 14 December 1946 as Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territory. The dates show the year of independence or other change in a territory's status which led to their removal from the list, after which information was no longer submitted to the United Nations.

Change in status by administering power