List of sovereign states in the 1980s

This is a list of sovereign states in the 1980s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1989. It contains 184 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 171 widely recognized sovereign states and 6 entities which claim an effective sovereignty (and 1 self-governing entity) but are considered de facto dependencies of other powers by the general international community.

Contents 

• Sovereign states
• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• Y
• Z

• Other entities
• See also
• Notes

Sovereign states

Name and capital city	Information on status and recognition of sovereignty
Afghanistan Capital: Kabul Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (to 30 November 1987)[1] Republic of Afghanistan (from 30 November 1987)[1]	Widely recognized UN member state.
Albania – People's Socialist Republic of Albania Capital: Tirana	Widely recognized UN member state.
Algeria – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Capital: Algiers	Widely recognized UN member state.
Andorra – Principality of Andorra Capital: Andorra la Vella	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.
Angola – People's Republic of Angola Capital: Luanda	Widely recognized UN member state.
Antigua and Barbuda Capital: St. John's Antigua (to 31 October 1981) Antigua and Barbuda (from 1 November 1981)[2]	Associated state of the United Kingdom (to 31 October 1981). Widely recognized independent state (from 1 November 1981). UN member state (from 11 November 1981). Commonwealth realm. Antigua and Barbuda had two dependencies, Barbuda and Redonda.
Argentina – Argentine Republic[3] Capital: Buenos Aires	Widely recognized UN member state. Argentina was a federation of 22 provinces and two federal territories.[4] 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.
Australia – Commonwealth of Australia Capital: Canberra	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. Australia was a federation of six states and three territories.[5] 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  Norfolk Island
Austria – Republic of Austria Capital: Vienna	Widely recognized UN member state. Austria was a federation of nine states.[6]
The Bahamas – Commonwealth of the Bahamas Capital: Nassau	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
Bahrain – State of Bahrain Capital: Manama	Widely recognized UN member state.
Bangladesh – People's Republic of Bangladesh Capital: Dhaka	Widely recognized UN member state.
Barbados Capital: Bridgetown	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium Capital: Brussels	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. After 8 August 1980, Belgium was a federation of three communities and three regions.[7]
Belize (from 21 September 1981)[8] Capital: Belmopan	Widely recognized independent state.[9] UN member state (from 25 September 1981). Commonwealth realm.
Benin – People's Republic of Benin Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (seat of government)	Widely recognized UN member state.
Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan Capital: Thimphu	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 Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative)	Widely recognized UN member state.
Bophuthatswana – Republic of Bophuthatswana Capital: Mmabatho	Nominally independent South African bantustan.[10]
Botswana – Republic of Botswana Capital: Gaborone	Widely recognized UN member state.
Brazil – Federative Republic of Brazil Capital: Brasília	Widely recognized UN member state. Brazil was a federation of 26 states, four territories, and one federal district.[11]
Brunei – State of Brunei, Abode of Peace (from 1 January 1984)[12] Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 21 September 1984). Brunei claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia).
Bulgaria – People's Republic of Bulgaria Capital: Sofia	Widely recognized UN member state.
Burkina Faso Upper Volta
Burma / Myanmar Capital: Rangoon (renamed Yangon in 1989) Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (to 18 September 1988)[13] Union of Burma (from 18 September 1988 to 18 June 1989)[13][14] Union of Myanmar (from 18 June 1989)[14]	Widely recognized UN member state.
Burundi – Republic of Burundi Capital: Bujumbura	Widely recognized UN member state.
Cambodia, State of Kampuchea, People's Republic of
Cameroon Capital: Yaoundé United Republic of Cameroon (to 4 February 1984)[15] Republic of Cameroon (from 4 February 1984)[15]	Widely recognized UN member state.
Canada Capital: Ottawa Dominion of Canada (to 17 April 1982)[16] Canada (from 17 April 1982)[16]	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. Canada was a federation of ten provinces and two territories.[17]
Cape Verde – Republic of Cape Verde Capital: Praia	Widely recognized UN member state.
Central African Republic Capital: Bangui	Widely recognized UN member state.
Chad – Republic of Chad Capital: N'Djamena	Widely recognized UN member state.
Chile – Republic of Chile Capital: Santiago	Widely recognized UN member state. It had a claim over Chilean Antarctic Territory, which is suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.
China, People's Republic of Capital: Beijing	Widely recognized UN member state.[18] The People's Republic of China had five autonomous regions: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Tibet. The People's Republic of China claimed Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, the Pratas Islands 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.
China, Republic of Capital: Taipei (seat of government), Nanjing (claimed)	Partially recognized de facto independent state.[18] The Republic of China claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China, but only administered Taiwan, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, the Pratas Islands 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); and Kachin State (administered by Myanmar).
Ciskei – Republic of Ciskei (from 4 December 1981)[19] Capital: Bisho	Nominally independent South African bantustan.[10]
Colombia – Republic of Colombia Capital: Bogotá	Widely recognized UN member state. Colombia administered Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank (disputed by Nicaragua and the United States)
Comoros – Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros Capital: Moroni	Widely recognized UN member state. The Comoros was a federation of three islands.[20] 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 – People's Republic of the Congo Capital: Brazzaville	Widely recognized UN member state.
Cook Islands Capital: Avarua	A state in free association with New Zealand. It shares a head of state with New Zealand as well as having shared citizenship.
Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica Capital: San José	Widely recognized UN member state.
Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast
Cuba – Republic of Cuba Capital: Havana	Widely recognized UN member state. The Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the permanent control of the United States.
Cyprus – Republic of Cyprus Capital: Nicosia	Widely recognized UN member state.[21] Cyprus included one self-declared state which, although it did not claim independence, was de facto self-governing: Turkish Federated State of Cyprus (to 15 November 1983) After 15 November 1983, The northeastern part of the island was the de facto independent state of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey.
Czechoslovakia – Czechoslovak Socialist Republic Capital: Prague	Widely recognized UN member state.[22] Czechoslovakia was a federation of two republics.[23]
Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark Capital: Copenhagen	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. The Danish Realm also included two constituent countries:  Greenland  Faroe Islands
Derg Ethiopia
Djibouti – Republic of Djibouti Capital: Djibouti	Widely recognized UN member state.
Dominica – Commonwealth of Dominica Capital: Roseau	Widely recognized UN member state.
Dominican Republic Capital: Santo Domingo	Widely recognized UN member state.
Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador Capital: Quito	Widely recognized UN member state.
Egypt – Arab Republic of Egypt Capital: Cairo	Widely recognized UN member state. Egypt included the Sinai Peninsula, which was occupied by Israel until 25 April 1982.
El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador Capital: San Salvador	Widely recognized UN member state.
Equatorial Guinea – Republic of Equatorial Guinea Capital: Malabo	Widely recognized UN member state.
Ethiopia Capital: Addis Ababa Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia (Derg or Socialist Ethiopia) (to 22 February 1987)[24] People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (from 22 February 1987)[24]	Widely recognized UN member state.
Fiji Capital: Suva Dominion of Fiji (to 7 October 1987)[25] Republic of Fiji (from 7 October 1987)[25]	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm (to 7 October 1987). Fiji had an autonomous dependency, Rotuma.
Finland – Republic of Finland Capital: Helsinki	Widely recognized UN member state. Finland had a neutral and demilitarised region:  Åland
France – French Republic Capital: Paris	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. France included five overseas departments: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon (to 11 June 1985). It also had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:  French Polynesia, with one dependency: Clipperton Island French Southern and Antarctic Lands (including a claim to Adélie Land which was suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.)  Mayotte New Caledonia  New Hebrides (to 29 July 1980, jointly with the United Kingdom)  Saint Pierre and Miquelon (from 11 June 1985) The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean, consisting of five uninhabited possessions: 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)  Wallis and Futuna France also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Madagascar and the Comoros).
Gabon – Gabonese Republic Capital: Libreville	Widely recognized UN member state.
The Gambia – Republic of the Gambia Capital: Banjul	Widely recognized UN member state.
Germany, East – German Democratic Republic Capital: East Berlin (disputed)	Widely recognized UN member state.
Germany, West – Federal Republic of Germany Capital: Bonn	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. West Germany was a federation of ten states.[26]
Ghana – Republic of Ghana Capital: Accra	Widely recognized UN member state.
Greece – Hellenic Republic Capital: Athens	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (from 1 January 1981). 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.
Grenada Capital: St. George's	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. Grenada had one autonomous dependency, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala Capital: Guatemala City	Widely recognized UN member state.
Guinea – Republic of Guinea Capital: Conakry	Widely recognized UN member state.
Guinea-Bissau – Republic of Guinea-Bissau Capital: Bissau	Widely recognized UN member state.
Guyana – Co-operative Republic of Guyana Capital: Georgetown	Widely recognized UN member state.
Haiti – Republic of Haiti Capital: Port-au-Prince	Widely recognized UN member state. Haiti claimed the uninhabited United States possession of Navassa Island.
Holy See Vatican City
Honduras – Republic of Honduras Capital: Tegucigalpa	Widely recognized UN member state.
Hungary Capital: Budapest People's Republic of Hungary (to 23 October 1989)[27] Republic of Hungary (from 23 October 1989)[27]	Widely recognized UN member state.
Iceland – Republic of Iceland Capital: Reykjavík	Widely recognized UN member state.
India – Republic of India Capital: New Delhi	Widely recognized UN member state. India was a federation of twenty-eight states and ten union territories.[28] Indian sovereignty over South Tibet was disputed by the People's Republic of China. India administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia Capital: Jakarta	Widely recognized UN member state. Indonesia had three special provinces: Aceh, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta
Iran – Islamic Republic of Iran Capital: Tehran	Widely recognized UN member state.
Iraq – Republic of Iraq Capital: Baghdad	Widely recognized UN member state.
Ireland[29] Capital: Dublin	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member.
Israel – State of Israel Capital: Jerusalem	Widely recognized UN member state.[30] Israel occupied the Gaza Strip the Golan Heights, the Israeli Security Zone in Southern Lebanon (from 6 June 1982), the Sinai Peninsula (to 25 April 1982), and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. These areas were not recognized as being part of Israel.
Italy – Italian Republic Capital: Rome	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. Italy had 5 autonomous regions: Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
Ivory Coast Capital: Yamoussoukro (official, from 21 March 1983), Abidjan (seat of government) Republic of Ivory Coast (to 12 October 1985)[31] Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (from 12 October 1985)[31]	Widely recognized UN member state.
Jamaica Capital: Kingston	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
Japan Capital: Tokyo	Widely recognized UN member state.
Jordan – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Capital: Amman	Widely recognized UN member state. Until 31 July 1988, Jordan claimed West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which were Israeli-occupied territories.
Kampuchea, Democratic Capital: Phnom Penh Democratic Kampuchea (to 22 June 1982)[32] Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (from 22 June 1982)[32]	Widely recognized UN member state.[33] Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Kampuchea, despite being in exile.
Kampuchea, People's Republic of / Cambodia, State of Capital: Phnom Penh People's Republic of Kampuchea (to 1 May 1989)[34] State of Cambodia (from 1 May 1989)[34]	Partially recognized de facto independent state.[33] Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Kampuchea. The People's Republic of Kampuchea was occupied by Vietnam until 25 September 1989.
Kenya – Republic of Kenya Capital: Nairobi	Widely recognized UN member state.
Kiribati – Republic of Kiribati Capital: South Tarawa	Widely recognized independent state.
Korea, North – Democratic People's Republic of Korea Capital: Pyongyang	Widely recognized independent state.[35] Permanent observer at the UN. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.
Korea, South – Republic of Korea Capital: Seoul	Widely recognized independent state.[36] Permanent observer at the UN. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.
Kuwait – State of Kuwait Capital: Kuwait City	Widely recognized UN member state.
Laos – Lao People's Democratic Republic Capital: Vientiane	Widely recognized UN member state.
Lebanon – Lebanese Republic Capital: Beirut	Widely recognized UN member state. Lebanon was occupied by Syria. Some of Southern Lebanon was occupied by Israel (from 6 June 1982).
Lesotho – Kingdom of Lesotho Capital: Maseru	Widely recognized UN member state.
Liberia – Republic of Liberia Capital: Monrovia	Widely recognized UN member state.
Libya Capital: Tripoli Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (to 15 April 1986)[37] Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (from 15 April 1986)[37]	Widely recognized UN member state.
Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein Capital: Vaduz	Widely recognized independent state.[22] The defense of Liechtenstein was the responsibility of Switzerland.
Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Capital: Luxembourg	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member.
Madagascar – Democratic Republic of Madagascar Capital: Antananarivo	Widely recognized UN member state. Madagascar claimed the French possessions of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands and Juan de Nova Island. It also claimed Banc du Geyser (disputed by Comoros and France)
Malawi – Republic of Malawi Capital: Lilongwe	Widely recognized UN member state.
Malaysia Capital: Kuala Lumpur	Widely recognized UN member state. Malaysia was a federation of thirteen states and two federal territories.[38] Malaysia claimed part of the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei).
Maldives – Republic of Maldives Capital: Malé	Widely recognized UN member state.
Mali – Republic of Mali Capital: Bamako	Widely recognized UN member state.
Malta – Republic of Malta Capital: Valletta	Widely recognized UN member state.
Marshall Islands – Republic of the Marshall Islands (from 21 October 1986)[39] Capital: Majuro	Widely recognized state under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The Marshall Islands claimed the United States territory of Wake Island.
Mauritania – Islamic Republic of Mauritania Capital: Nouakchott	Widely recognized UN member state.
Mauritius Capital: Port Louis	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. Mauritius had three dependencies: Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos and Rodrigues. It claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territory of Tromelin Island.
Mexico – United Mexican States Capital: Mexico City	Widely recognized UN member state. Mexico was a federation of 31 states and one federal district.[40]
Federated States of Micronesia (from 3 November 1986)[41] Capital: Kolonia (to 1989) Palikir (from 1989)	Widely recognized state under Compact of Free Association with the United States. The FSM was a federation of four states.[42]
Monaco – Principality of Monaco Capital: Monaco	Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN.The defense of Monaco was the responsibility of France.
Mongolia – Mongolian People's Republic Capital: Ulaanbaatar	Widely recognized UN member state.
Morocco – Kingdom of Morocco Capital: Rabat	Widely recognized UN member state. Morocco claimed sovereignty over and controlled most of the disputed Western Sahara, which was home to the de facto independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Morocco disputed the Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla, and Peñón de Alhucemas.
Mozambique – People's Republic of Mozambique Capital: Maputo	Widely recognized UN member state.
Myanmar Burma
Nauru – Republic of Nauru Capital: Yaren (unofficial)	Widely recognized independent state. The defense of Nauru was the responsibility of Australia.
Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal Capital: Kathmandu	Widely recognized UN member state.
Netherlands – Kingdom of the Netherlands Capital: Amsterdam (official), The Hague (seat of government)	Widely recognized UN member state. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consisted of three autonomous countries:  Aruba (from 1 January 1986)  Netherlands  Netherlands Antilles The Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole was a member of the EEC, but Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles were not.
New Zealand Capital: Wellington Dominion of New Zealand (to 1 January 1987)[43] New Zealand (from 1 January 1987)[43]	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm. New Zealand had responsibilities for the two free associated states of:  Cook Islands  Niue It also had sovereignty over two dependent territories: Ross Dependency (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty) Tokelau The government of Tokelau claimed Swains Island, part of American Samoa (a U.S. dependence). New Zealand did not recognize this claim since 25 March 1981.
Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua Capital: Managua	Widely recognized UN member state. Nicaragua had two autonomous regions: Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte (from 1987) and Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur (from 1987).
Niger – Republic of Niger Capital: Niamey	Widely recognized UN member state.
Nigeria – Federal Republic of Nigeria Capital: Lagos	Widely recognized UN member state. Nigeria was a federation of 21 states and one federal territory.[44]
Niue Capital: Alofi	A state in free association with New Zealand. Niue is a member of multiple UN agencies with full treaty making capacity. It had shared citizenship with New Zealand.
Northern Cyprus – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (from 15 November 1983)[45] Capital: Lefkoşa	Partially recognized de facto independent state.[46] Claimed by the Republic of Cyprus.
Norway – Kingdom of Norway Capital: Oslo	Widely recognized UN member state. Norway had two integral overseas areas: Jan Mayen and Svalbard. The latter of area had a special status due to the Spitsbergen Treaty. Norway had sovereignty over the following dependencies: Bouvet Island Peter I Island (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty) Queen Maud Land (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty)
Oman – Sultanate of Oman Capital: Muscat	Widely recognized UN member state.
Pakistan – Islamic Republic of Pakistan Capital: Islamabad	Widely recognized UN member state. Pakistan was a federation of four provinces and four territories. It administered part of the disputed region of Kashmir as the territories of Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.[47]
Palestine – State of Palestine(from 15 November 1988)[48][49][50] (non-sovereign, non-UN member nation) Capital: Ramallah (administrative), Gaza City (administrative), Jerusalem (claimed)	Disputed region consisting of two occupied territories: the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The declared State of Palestine, which claimed independence for all the Palestinian territories from 15 November 1988, was recognized by a large number of countries. In foreign relations, Palestine was represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, which was a permanent observer at the United Nations.
Panama – Republic of Panama Capital: Panama City	Widely recognized UN member state.
Papua New Guinea – Independent State of Papua New Guinea Capital: Port Moresby	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay Capital: Asunción	Widely recognized UN member state.
Peru Capital: Lima Peruvian Republic (to 28 July 1980)[51] Republic of Peru (from 28 July 1980)[51]	Widely recognized UN member state.
Philippines – Republic of the Philippines Capital: Manila	Widely recognized UN member state. The Philippines had one autonomous region: Muslim Mindanao (from 1 August 1989). The Philippines administered Scarborough Shoal, which was disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China. It also claimed sovereignty over the Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia) and the Malaysian territory of Sabah.
Poland Capital: Warsaw Polish People's Republic (to 29 December 1989)[52] Republic of Poland (to 29 December 1989)[52]	Widely recognized UN member state.
Portugal – Portuguese Republic Capital: Lisbon	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (from 1 January 1986). Portugal had two autonomous regions: the Azores and Madeira. Portugal had one Chinese territory which it administered as a dependency: Macau Portugal claimed sovereignty over the former colony of Portuguese Timor, which had been annexed by Indonesia. It also claimed the Spanish municipalities of Olivenza and Táliga.
Qatar – State of Qatar Capital: Doha	Widely recognized UN member state.
Romania Capital: Bucharest Socialist Republic of Romania (to 22 December 1989)[53] Romania (from 22 December 1989)[53]	Widely recognized UN member state.
Rwanda – Rwandese Republic[54] Capital: Kigali	Widely recognized UN member state.
Rwenzururu – Kingdom of Rwenzururu (to 15 August 1982)[55] Capital: Kasese	De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state. Claimed by Uganda.
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Capital: Bir Lehlou (official), Rabouni (seat of government-in-exile), El Aaiún (claimed)	Partially recognized de facto independent state. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic claimed the disputed territory of Western Sahara, most of which was under control of Morocco. The territories under its control, the so-called Free Zone, were claimed by Morocco. Its government resided in exile in Tindouf, Algeria.
Saint Kitts and Nevis Capital: Basseterre Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla (to 19 December 1980) Saint Christopher and Nevis (from 19 December 1980 to 18 September 1983) Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis (from 19 September 1983)[56]	Associated state of the United Kingdom (to 18 September 1983). Widely recognized independent state (from 19 September 1983). UN member state (from 23 September 1983). Commonwealth realm. Saint Kitts and Nevis was a federation of fourteen parishes within two islands.[57] Nevis (which was one of the islands) had autonomy.
Saint Lucia Capital: Castries	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Capital: Kingstown	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 16 September 1980). Commonwealth realm.
San Marino – Republic of San Marino Capital: San Marino	Widely recognized independent state.
São Tomé and Príncipe – Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe Capital: São Tomé	Widely recognized UN member state.
Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Capital: Riyadh	Widely recognized UN member state.
Senegal – Republic of Senegal Capital: Dakar	Widely recognized UN member state.
Seychelles – Republic of Seychelles Capital: Victoria	Widely recognized UN member state. The Seychelles claimed the British Indian Ocean Territory and the French territories of Tromelin Island and the Glorioso Islands.
Sierra Leone – Republic of Sierra Leone Capital: Freetown	Widely recognized UN member state.
Singapore – Republic of Singapore Capital: Singapore	Widely recognized UN member state.
Solomon Islands Capital: Honiara	Widely recognized UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
Somalia – Somali Democratic Republic Capital: Mogadishu	Widely recognized UN member state.
South Africa – Republic of South Africa Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)	Widely recognized UN member state. South Africa had seven autonomous bantustans: Ciskei (to 4 December 1981), Gazankulu, KaNgwane (from 31 August 1984), KwaNdebele (from 1 April 1981), KwaZulu, Lebowa, and QwaQwa. There were also four bantustans which were nominally independent: Bophuthatswana, Ciskei (from 4 December 1981), Transkei, and Venda. South Africa administered one League of Nations mandate: South-West Africa
Soviet Union – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Capital: Moscow Byelorussia - Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic Capital: Minsk Ukraine - Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Capital: Kiev	Widely recognized UN member state. The Soviet Union was a federation of 15 republics, two of which (Byelorussia and Ukraine) were UN members in their own right.[58]
Spain – Kingdom of Spain Capital: Madrid	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member (from 1 January 1986). Spain consisted of seventeen autonomous communities.[59] Its sovereignty over Ceuta, Isla de Alborán, Isla Perejil, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla and Peñón de Alhucemas was disputed by Morocco. Its sovereignty over Olivenza and Táliga was disputed by Portugal. It claimed the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.
Sri Lanka – Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Capital: Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte	Widely recognized UN member state.
Sudan Capital: Khartoum Democratic Republic of the Sudan (to 10 October 1985)[60] Republic of the Sudan (from 10 October 1985)[60]	Widely recognized UN member state.
Suriname – Republic of Suriname Capital: Paramaribo	Widely recognized UN member state.
Swaziland – Kingdom of Swaziland Capital: Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal and legislative)	Widely recognized UN member state.
Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden Capital: Stockholm	Widely recognized UN member state.
Switzerland – Swiss Confederation Capital: Bern	Widely recognized independent state. Permanent observer at the UN. Switzerland was a federation of 26 cantons.[61]
Syria – Syrian Arab Republic Capital: Damascus	Widely recognized UN member state. Syria included the Golan Heights, which were occupied by Israel. It disputed the Turkish sovereignty over Hatay Province.
Tafea – Nation of Tafea (15 February 1980 to 26 May 1980)[62] Capital: Isangel	De facto independent state. Claimed by the Anglo-French New Hebrides Condominium.
Taiwan China, Republic of
Tamil Eelam (from 23 July 1983) Capital: Trincomalee	Unrecognized de facto self-governing entity. Claimed by Sri Lanka.
Tanzania – United Republic of Tanzania Capital: Dar es Salaam	Widely recognized UN member state. Tanzania had one autonomous region: Zanzibar.
Thailand – Kingdom of Thailand Capital: Bangkok	Widely recognized UN member state.
Togo – Togolese Republic Capital: Lomé	Widely recognized UN member state.
Tonga – Kingdom of Tonga Capital: Nukuʻalofa	Widely recognized independent state.
Transkei – Republic of Transkei Capital: Umtata	Nominally independent South African bantustan.[10]
Trinidad and Tobago – Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Capital: Port of Spain	Widely recognized UN member state. Trinidad and Tobago had one autonomous island: Tobago (from 23 September 1980).
Tunisia – Tunisian Republic Capital: Tunis	Widely recognized UN member state.
Turkey – Republic of Turkey Capital: Ankara	Widely recognized UN member state.
Tuvalu Capital: Funafuti	Widely recognized independent state. Commonwealth realm.
Uganda – Republic of Uganda Capital: Kampala	Widely recognized UN member state.
United Arab Emirates Capital: Abu Dhabi	Widely recognized UN member state. The United Arab Emirates was a federation of seven emirates.[63]
United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Capital: London	Widely recognized UN member state. EEC member. The United Kingdom was composed of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom had responsibilities for the following self-governing free associated states: Antigua (to 31 October 1981), with two dependencies Barbuda Redonda  Saint Christopher and Nevis (from 19 December 1980 to 18 September 1983)  Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla (to 19 December 1980) The United Kingdom administered the foreign affairs of the following protected states:  Brunei (to 31 December 1983)  New Hebrides (to 29 July 1980, jointly with France) It also had sovereignty over the following crown colonies (dependent territories after 1 January 1983): Anguilla (from 19 December 1980) Belize (to 20 September 1981)  Bermuda British Antarctic Territory (suspended under the Antarctic Treaty) British Indian Ocean Territory (disputed by Mauritius and the Seychelles)  British Virgin Islands  Cayman Islands Falkland Islands (disputed by Argentina), with one dependency Falkland Islands Dependencies (to 3 October 1985)  Gibraltar Hong Kong Montserrat  Pitcairn Islands  Saint Helena, with two dependencies Ascension Island Tristan da Cunha South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (from 3 October 1985, disputed by Argentina)  Southern Rhodesia (to 17 April 1980) Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Turks and Caicos Islands In addition, the British Monarch had direct sovereignty over three self-governing Crown dependencies:  Guernsey, with three dependencies:  Alderney  Sark  Herm  Isle of Man  Jersey
United States – United States of America Capital: Washington, D.C.	Widely recognized UN member state. The United States was a federation of 50 states, one federal district, and one incorporated territory.[64] It asserted sovereignty over the following inhabited insular areas:  American Samoa (including Swains Island, disputed by Tokelau)  Guam  Northern Mariana Islands (from 4 November 1986)  Puerto Rico  United States Virgin Islands It also asserted sovereignty over thirteen uninhabited unincorporated territories:[65] Bajo Nuevo Bank (claimed by Colombia and Nicaragua) Baker Island Howland Island Jarvis Island Johnston Atoll Kingman Reef Midway Atoll Navassa Island (claimed by Haiti) Quita Sueño Bank (to 17 September 1981, claimed by Colombia) Roncador Bank (to 17 September 1981, claimed by Colombia) Serrana Bank (to 17 September 1981, claimed by Colombia) Serranilla Bank (claimed by Colombia, Jamaica, and Nicaragua) Wake Island (claimed by the Marshall Islands) In addition, the United States administered one United Nations Trust Territory:  Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, consisting of four territories:  Marshall Islands (to 20 October 1986)  Federated States of Micronesia (to 2 November 1986) Northern Mariana Islands (to 3 November 1986)  Palau (from 1 January 1981) The United States ceded Roncador Bank and Serrana Bank to Colombia and abandoned its claim to Quita Sueño Bank on 17 September 1981, but it did not explicitly renounce its claims to Serranilla Bank or Bajo Nuevo Bank. According to some government sources, these islands are still considered to be unincorporated territories of the United States.
Upper Volta / Burkina Faso Capital: Ouagadougou Republic of Upper Volta (to 4 August 1984)[66] Burkina Faso (from 4 August 1984)[66]	Widely recognized UN member state.
Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay Capital: Montevideo	Widely recognized UN member state.
Vanuatu – Republic of Vanuatu (from 30 July 1980)[67] Capital: Port Vila	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 15 September 1981).
Vatican City – Vatican City State Capital: Vatican City	Widely recognized independent state. Vatican City was administered by the Holy See, a sovereign entity recognized by a large number of countries and a Permanent observer at the United Nations. The Holy See also administered a number of extraterritorial properties in Italy. The Pope was the ex officio head of state of Vatican City.
Vemerana – Republic of Vemerana (from 27 May 1980 to 24 July 1980)[68] Capital: Luganville	De facto independent state. Not recognized by any other state.[69] Claimed by the Anglo-French New Hebrides Condominium.
Venda – Republic of Venda Capital: Thohoyandou	Nominally independent South African bantustan.[10]
Venezuela – Republic of Venezuela Capital: Caracas	Widely recognized UN member state. Venezuela was a federation of 20 states, two territories, one federal dependency, and one federal district.[70]
Vietnam – Socialist Republic of Vietnam Capital: Hanoi	Widely recognized UN member state. Vietnam claimed sovereignty over the Paracel Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China) and Spratly Islands (disputed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, Brunei, the Philippines, and Malaysia).
Western Samoa – Independent State of Western Samoa Capital: Apia	Widely recognized UN member state.
Yemen, North – Yemen Arab Republic Capital: Sana'a	Widely recognized UN member state.
Yemen, South – People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Capital: Aden	Widely recognized UN member state.
Yugoslavia – Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Capital: Belgrade	Widely recognized UN member state. Yugoslavia was a federation of six republics.[71]
Zaire – Republic of Zaire Capital: Kinshasa	Widely recognized UN member state.
Zambia – Republic of Zambia Capital: Lusaka	Widely recognized UN member state.
Zimbabwe – Republic of Zimbabwe (from 18 April 1980)[72] Capital: Salisbury (renamed Harare in 1982)	Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 25 August 1980).

Other entities

Excluded from the list above are the following noteworthy entities which either were not fully sovereign or did not claim to be independent:

• Antarctica as a whole had no government and no permanent population. Seven states claimed portions of Antarctica and five of these had reciprocally recognised one another's claims.^[73] These claims, which were regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, were neither recognised nor disputed by any other signatory state.^[74]
•  Estonia was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940, but the legality of the annexation was not widely recognized. The Baltic diplomatic services in the West continued to be recognised as representing the de jure state.
•  Latvia was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940, but the legality of the annexation was not widely recognized. The Baltic diplomatic services in the West continued to be recognised as representing the de jure state.
•  Lithuania was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940, but the legality of the annexation was not widely recognized. The Baltic diplomatic services in the West continued to be recognised as representing the de jure state.
• The Saudi–Iraqi neutral zone was a strip of neutral territory between Iraq and Saudi Arabia (to 26 December 1981).
• The Sovereign Military Order of Malta was an entity claiming sovereignty. The order had bi-lateral diplomatic relations with a large number of states, but had no territory other than extraterritorial areas within Rome.^[75] The order's Constitution stated: "The Order is a subject of international law and exercises sovereign functions." ^[76] Although the order frequently asserted its sovereignty, it did not claim to be a sovereign state. It lacked a defined territory. Since all its members were citizens of other states, almost all of them lived in their native countries, and those who resided in the order's extraterritorial properties in Rome did so only in connection with their official duties, the order lacked the characteristic of having a permanent population.
• West Berlin was a political enclave that was closely aligned with – but not actually a part of – West Germany. It consisted of three occupied sectors administered by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

See also

• List of sovereign states
• List of sovereign states by year
• 1980s
• List of state leaders in 1980
• List of state leaders in 1981
• List of state leaders in 1982
• List of state leaders in 1983
• List of state leaders in 1984
• List of state leaders in 1985
• List of state leaders in 1986
• List of state leaders in 1987
• List of state leaders in 1988
• List of state leaders in 1989

Notes

1. A new constitution of Afghanistan was enacted by loya jirga on 30 November 1987.
2. Antigua and Barbuda gained independence from the United Kingdom on 1 November 1981
3. The name "Argentine Nation" was also used for the purposes of legislation.
4. 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.
5. 6 States: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia. 3 Territories: Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, Northern Territory.
6. 9 States: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Upper Austria, Vorarlberg, Vienna.
7. 3 Communities: Flemish Community, French Community, German-speaking Community (from 31 December 1983). 3 Regions: Brussels-Capital Region (from 12 January 1989), Flemish Region, Walloon Region.
8. Belize gained independence from the United Kingdom on 21 Sep 1981
9. Belize was not recognized by Guatemala
10. The nominally independent bantustans of Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, and Venda were only recognized by South Africa and by each other. The rest of the world regarded them as part of South Africa.
11. 26 States: Acre, Alagoas, Amapá (from 1 January 1989), Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Rondônia (from 22 December 1981), Roraima (from 1 January 1989), Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins (from 1 January 1989). 4 Territories: Amapá (to 1 January 1989), Fernando de Noronha (to 1 January 1989), Rondônia (to 22 December 1981), Roraima (to 1 January 1989). 1 Federal District: Brazilian Federal District.
12. The British Protectorate over Brunei came to an end on 1 Jan 1984
13. The State Law and Order Restoration Council suspended the constitution of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma on 18 September 1988.
14. The State Law and Order Restoration Council renamed Burma to Myanmar on 18 June 1989. This change was not internationally recognized, and the country's common name in English remained "Burma".
15. Cameroon was renamed when its new constitution came into effect on 4 February 1984.
16. The Canadian Constitution Act, 1982 came into effect on 17 April 1982, officially removing the phrase "Dominion of Canada" from use.
17. 10 Provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan. 2 Territories: Northwest Territories, Yukon.
18. 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: Bahamas (from 1989), Belize (from 11 October 1989), Bolivia (to 9 July 1985), Colombia (to 7 February 1980), Costa Rica, Dominica (from 1983), Dominican Republic, Ecuador (to 2 January 1980), El Salvador, Guatemala, Grenada (from 19 July 1989), Haiti, Honduras, South Korea, Lesotho (30 April 1983), Liberia (from 9 October 1989), Malawi, Monaco, Nauru (from 1980), Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (from 1981), Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands (from 1983), South Africa, Swaziland, Tonga, Tuvalu, the United Arab Emirates (from 1 November 1984), Uruguay (to 3 February 1988), and Vatican City.
19. Ciskei was proclaimed independent on 4 Dec 1981
20. 3 Islands: Anjouan, Grande Comore, Mohéli.
21. Cyprus was not recognized by Turkey or Northern Cyprus
22. Owing to a dispute over lands seized during World War II, Liechtenstein and Czechoslovakia did not recognize each other.
23. 2 Republics: Czech Socialist Republic, Slovak Socialist Republic.
24. Ethiopia enacted a new constitution on 22 Feb 1987
25. Following a military coup, Fiji was declared a republic on 7 October 1987.
26. 10 States: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein.
27. The name "People's Republic of Hungary" was abandoned on 23 Oct 1989
28. 25 States: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh (from 20 February 1987), Assam, Bihar, Goa (from 30 May 1987), Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram (from 1986), Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal. 10 Union Territories: Arunachal Pradesh (to 20 February 1987), Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu (from 30 May 1987), Goa, Daman and Diu (to 30 May 1987), Lakshadweep, Mizoram (to 1986), National Capital Territory of Delhi, Pondicherry.
29. Ireland also had the legal description of "Republic of Ireland", although this was not its constitutional name.
30. Israel was not recognized by Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Chad, Cuba, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, or Yemen.
31. The official French name of Ivory Coast had been "République de Côte d'Ivoire" since its independence in 1960, but English sources typically translated the name as "Republic of Ivory Coast". On 12 October 1985, the Ivorian government officially requested that the name be translated as "Republic of Côte d'Ivoire".
32. The Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea was established on 22 June 1982. (Source: Carney, Timothy. Kampuchea in 1982: Political and Military Escalation. p. 76)
33. Although the People's Republic of Kampuchea had near total control over the territory of Cambodia, the majority of the states in the world recognized the former government of Democratic Kampuchea, which retained Cambodia's UN membership. The People's Republic of Kampuchea was mainly recognized by Vietnam and states within the Soviet sphere of influence.
34. The People's Republic of Kampuchea renamed itself to State of Cambodia on 1 May 1989.
35. North Korea was not recognized by Estonia, France, Japan, or South Korea.
36. South Korea was not recognized by the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China, or North Korea.
37. Following an American air strike against Libya, the word "Great" was added to Libya's official name.
38. 13 States: Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu. 2 Federal Territories: Kuala Lumpur, Labuan (from 16 April 1984).
39. The UN Trusteeship over the Marshall Islands came to an end on 21 October 1986.
40. 31 States: Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatán, Zacatecas. 1 Federal District: Federal District
41. The UN Trusteeship over Micronesia came to an end on
42. 4 States: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap.
43. The Constitution Act 1986 came into force on 1 January 1987, officially removing the phrase "Dominion of New Zealand" from use.
44. 21 States: Akwa Ibom (from 23 September 1987), Anambra, Bauchi, Bendel, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Gongola, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina (from 23 September 1987), Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto. 1 Federal Territory: Federal Capital Territory
45. The Turkish Federated State of Cyprus declared independence from Cyprus as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on 15 November 1983.
46. Northern Cyprus was recognized only by Turkey.
47. 4 Provinces: Balochistan, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh. 4 Territories: Azad Kashmir, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Islamabad Capital Territory, Northern Areas.
48. The State of Palestine was declared on 15 November 1988.
49. State was recognised by over 90 states by the end of 1989. See: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Executive Board (12 May 1989). "Hundred and thirty-first Session: Item 9.4 of the provisional agenda, Request for the Admission of the State of Palestine to UNESCO as a Member State" (PDF). United Nations. pp. 18, Annex II. Retrieved 2010-11-15. The list contains 92 entries, including a number of states which no longer exist.
50. See the following on statehood criteria:
    • Mendes, Errol (30 March 2010), Statehood and Palestine for the purposes of Article 12 (3) of the ICC Statute (PDF), 30 March 2010, pp. 28, 33, retrieved 2011-04-17: "...the Palestinian State also meets the traditional criteria under the Montevideo Convention..."; "...the fact that a majority of states have recognized Palestine as a State should easily fulfill the requisite state practice".
    • McKinney, Kathryn M. (1994), "The Legal Effects of the Israeli-PLO Declaration ofPrinciples: Steps Toward Statehood for Palestine", Seattle University Law Review (Seattle University) 18 (93): 97, retrieved 2011-04-17: "It is possible, however, to argue for Palestinian statehood based on the constitutive theory".
    • McDonald, Avril (Spring 2009), "Operation Cast Lead: Drawing the Battle Lines of the Legal Dispute", Human Rights Brief (Washington College of Law, Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law) 25, retrieved 2011-04-17: "Whether one applies the criteria of statehood set out in the Montevideo Convention or the more widely accepted constitutive theory of statehood, Palestine might be considered a state."
51. Peru enacted a new constitution on 28 Jul 1980
52. Poland's constitution was amended on 29 December 1989, changing the official name of the state from "People's Republic of Poland" to "Republic of Poland".
53. Nicolae Ceauşescu was forced out of power on 22 December 1989.
54. Rwanda's official French name was "République rwandaise". . It could be translated into English as "Rwandese Republic" s:CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Rwanda, "Rwandan Republic" , or "Republic of Rwanda" .
55. Rwenzururu willingly renounced its independence on 15 Aug 1982
56. Saint Kitts and Nevis gained independence from the United Kingdom on 19 September 1983
57. 2 Islands: Saint Kitts, Nevis.14 parishes: Christ Church Nichola Town (Saint Kitts), Saint Anne Sandy Point (Saint Kitts), Saint George Basseterre (Saint Kitts), Saint George Gingerland (Nevis), Saint James Windward (Nevis), Saint John Capesterre (Saint Kitts), Saint John Figtree (Nevis), Saint Mary Cayon (Saint Kitts), Saint Paul Capisterre (Saint Kitts), Saint Paul Charlestown (Nevis), Saint Peter Basseterre (Saint Kitts), Saint Thomas Lowland (Nevis), Saint Thomas Middle Island (Saint Kitts), Trinity Palmetto Point (Saint Kitts)
58. 15 Republics: Armenian SSR, Azerbaijan SSR, Byelorussian SSR, Estonian SSR, Georgian SSR, Kazakh SSR, Kirghiz SSR, Latvian SSR, Lithuanian SSR, Moldavian SSR, Russian SFSR, Tajik SSR, Turkmen SSR, Ukrainian SSR, Uzbek SSR.
59. 17 Autonomous Communities: Andalusia (from 11 January 1982), Aragon (from 16 August 1982), Asturias (from 11 January 1982), Balearic Islands (from 1 March 1983), Basque Country, Canary Islands (from 16 August 1982), Cantabria (from 11 January 1982), Castile-La Mancha (from 16 August 1982), Castile and León (from 2 March 1983), Catalonia, Extremadura (from 26 February 1983), Galicia (from 28 April 1981), Madrid (from 1 March 1983), Murcia (from 19 June 1982), Navarre (from 16 August 1982), La Rioja (from 19 June 1982), Valencian Community (from 10 July 1982).
60. The constitution of the Democratic Republic of Sudan was suspended on 6 April 1985. An interim constitution was adopted on 10 October 1985, renaming the country to "Republic of the Sudan"
61. 26 Cantons: Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Glarus, Graubünden, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zürich
62. The Tafea Nation declared independence from Vanuatu on 15 February 1980. On 26 May 1980, the movement was put down by the colonial authorities.
63. 7 Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Qaiwain.
64. 50 States: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. 1 Federal District: District of Columbia. 1 Incorporated Territory: Palmyra Atoll.
65. Before 1981, these islands were sometimes designated for statistical purposes as the United States Miscellaneous Caribbean Islands and the United States Miscellaneous Pacific Islands. After 1981, they were designated as the United States Minor Outlying Islands.
66. President Thomas Sankara of Upper Volta renamed his country Burkina Faso on 4 August 1984.
67. Vanuatu became independent from an Anglo-French condominium on 30 July 1980.
68. The Republic of Vemerana declared independence on 27 May 1980. (Source: MacQueen, Norman (1988). "Beyond Tok Win: The Papua New Guinea Intervention in Vanuatu, 1980". Pacific Affairs (University of British Columbia) 61 (2): 235–252. doi:10.2307/2759303.) Condominium, with the aid of troops from Papua New Guinea authorities seized Luganville on 24 July 1980.
69. President Jimmy Stevens of Vemerana was backed by the American-based Phoenix Foundation.
70. 20 States: Anzoátegui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolívar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Falcón, Guárico, Lara, Mérida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Táchira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia. 2 Territories: Amazonas, Delta Amacuro. 1 Federal District: Federal District. 1 Federal Dependency: Federal Dependencies.
71. 6 Republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia.
72. Zimbabwe attained independence from the United Kingdom on 18 Apr 1980
73. Rogan-Finnemore, Michelle (2005), "What Bioprospecting Means for Antarctica and the Southern Ocean", in Von Tigerstrom, Barbara, International Law Issues in the South Pacific, Ashgate Publishing, p. 204, ISBN 0-7546-4419-7 "Australia, New Zealand, France, Norway and the United Kingdom reciprocally recognize the validity of each other's claims."
74. CIA – the World Factbook – Antarctica – accessed 19 January 2008
75. Bilateral relations with countries, Retrieved 22 December 2009
76. Chapter General of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta (12 January 1998). Constitutional Charter and Code of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta, promulgated 27 June 1961, revised by the Extraordinary Chapter General 28–30 April 1997, Article 3 "Sovereignty," Paragraph 1. (PDF). Rome: Tipografia Arte della Stampa. p. 11.