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    List of sovereign states in the 1940s

    From Wikipedia - Reading time: 23 min

    This is a list of sovereign states in the 1940s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1940 and 31 December 1949. It contains 106 entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 99 widely recognized sovereign states, six entities[which?] which were de facto sovereign but which were not widely recognized by other states.

    Academic datasets differ in terms of the number of states in the 1940s.[1] At the start of the 1940s, the lowest estimate of the number of states is in the mid-50s whereas the highest is in the low-70s.[1] At the end of the 1940s, the lowest estimate is in the mid-70s while the highest is in the mid-80s.[1]

    Sovereign states

    [edit]
    Name and capital city Information on status and recognition of sovereignty

    A

    [edit]
    Afghanistan – Kingdom of Afghanistan
    Capital: Kabul     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state (to 20 April 1946). UN member state (from 19 November 1946).
    →  Albania (from 20 October 1944)
    Capital: Tirana
    • Democratic Government of Albania (from 20 October 1944 to 11 January 1946)
    • People's Republic of Albania (from 11 January 1946)
    		 Widely recognized independent state under Italian occupation to 8 September 1943 and German occupation from 8 September 1943 to 29 November 1944.
    → 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.
    Argentina – Argentine Republic
    Capital: Buenos Aires     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946. UN member state from 27 December 1945. Argentina was a federation of 23 provinces and 10 federal territories.[a] It had a claim over Argentine Antarctica (from 1942). 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 independent state. Dominion of the British Empire to 9 October 1942. LON member state to 20 April 1946. UN member state from 1 November 1945. Commonwealth realm. Australia was a federation of six states and three territories.[b] It had sovereignty over the following external territories:
    • Australian Antarctic Territory
    • Heard Island and McDonald Islands (from 26 December 1947)
    • Norfolk Island

    Australia administered one League of Nations mandate/United Nations trust territory:

    • New Guinea[2] (to 6 November 1949)

    Australia administered two United Nations Trust Territories:

    • Nauru (with New Zealand and the United Kingdom)
    • Papua and New Guinea (from 6 November 1949)

    B

    [edit]
    Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium (to 17 May 1940, from 3 September 1944)
    Capital: Brussels     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946. Had a government in exile and an occupation by Germany from October 1940 to September 1944. UN member state from 27 December 1945. Belgium had sovereignty over one colony:
    • Belgian Congo

    Belgium administered one League of Nations mandate / United Nations trust territory:

    • Belgium Ruanda-Urundi (LON mandate became UN trust territory from December 13, 1946)
    Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan (from 8 August 1949)
    Capital: Punakha     		Widely recognized independent state. Bhutan was officially guided by India in its foreign affairs.
    Bolivia Bolivia – Republic of Bolivia
    Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative)     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946. UN member state from 14 November 1945.
    Brazil Brazil
    Capital: Rio de Janeiro
    • Estado Novo (to 31 January 1946)
    • Fourth Brazilian Republic (from 18 September 1946)
    		 Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from 24 October 1945. Brazil was a federation of 20 states, five territories, and one federal district.[c]
    Tsardom of Bulgaria (1908–1946) → → Bulgaria → Bulgaria Bulgaria
    Capital: Sofia
    • Kingdom of Bulgaria (to 15 September 1946)
    • People's Republic of Bulgaria (from 15 September 1946)
    		 Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946.
    Burma – Union of Burma (from 4 January 1948)
    Capital: Rangoon     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from 19 April 1948.

    C

    [edit]
    Canada – Dominion of Canada
    Capital: Ottawa     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946. UN member state from 9 November 1945. Commonwealth realm. Canada was a federation of ten provinces and two territories.[d]
    Ceylon – Dominion of Ceylon (from 4 February 1948)
    Capital: Colombo     		Widely recognized independent state. Commonwealth realm.
    Chile Chile – Republic of Chile
    Capital: Santiago     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from 24 October 1945.
    China, People's Republic of (from 1 October 1949)
    Capital: Beijing     		Partially recognized de facto independent state. The Republic of China claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China (from 1 October 1949), but only administered the mainland. 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).
    China, Republic of
    Capital: Nanking (to 2 September 1945), Chunking (from 2 September 1945 to 7 December 1949), Taipei (from 7 Dec 1949)
    • Republic of China (mainland) (to 1 October 1949)
    • Republic of China (Taiwan) (from 1 October 1949)
    		 Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946. UN member state from 24 October 1945. The Republic of China claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China (from 1 October 1949), but only administered Taiwan, Hainan, 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).
    Colombia – Republic of Colombia
    Capital: Bogotá     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946. UN member state from 5 November 1945. 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)
    Costa Rica
    Capital: San José
    • First Republic of Costa Rica (to 24 April 1948)
    • Second Republic of Costa Rica (from 24 April 1948)
    		 Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from 2 November 1945.
     Cuba – Republic of Cuba
    Capital: Havana     		Widely recognized independent state; LON member state to 20 April 1946 and UN member state from 2 November 1945. The Cuban area of Guantánamo Bay was under the total control of the United States.
    Czechoslovakia (from April 3, 1945)
    Capital: Prague
    • Third Czechoslovak Republic (from April 3, 1945 to February 25, 1948)
    • Fourth Czechoslovak Republic (from February 25, 1948)
    		 Widely recognized independent state under German occupation to 8 May 1945, also had a government in exile to 5 April 1945. UN member state from 24 October 1945.[e]

    D

    [edit]
    Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark (to 9 April 1940, from 5 May 1945)
    Capital: Copenhagen     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1940. UN member state from 24 October 1945.
    Dominican Republic Dominican Republic – Third Dominican Republic
    Capital: Santo Domingo     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 9 April 1946. UN member state from 24 October 1945.

    E

    [edit]
    Ecuador
    Capital: Quito
    • Republic of Ecuador (to 1 June 1944)
    • Republic of Ecuador (from 1 June 1944)
    		 Widely recognized independent state; LON member state to 9 April 1946 and UN member state from 21 December 1945, The country was under Peruvian occupation from July 23, 1941 to February 12, 1942.
    Kingdom of Egypt Egypt – Kingdom of Egypt
    Capital: Cairo     		Widely recognized independent state; LON member state to 9 April 1946 and UN member state from 24 October 1945.
    El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador
    Capital: San Salvador     		Widely recognized independent state; UN member state from 24 October 1945.
    Estonia Estonia – Republic of Estonia (to June 17, 1940)
    Capital: Tallinn     		Widely recognized independent state and LON member state to June 17, 1940. Conquered by a Soviet offensive but maintained a government in exile.
     Ethiopia – Ethiopian Empire (from 5 May, 1941)
    Capital: Addis Ababa     		Widely recognized independent state and LON member state to 24 October 1945; UN member state from 24 October 1945.

    F

    [edit]
    Finland – Republic of Finland
    Capital: Helsinki     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 9 April 1946.
    France
    Capital: Paris (de jure), Vichy (de facto from 22 June 1940 to 20 August 1944) Algiers (de facto from 3 June to 31 August 1944)
    • French Republic (to 22 June 1940)
    • French State (from 22 June 1940 to 20 August 1944)
    • Provisional Government of the French Republic (from 20 August 1944 to 14 October 1946)
    • French Republic (from 14 October 1946)
    		 Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 18 April 1941 and from 20 August 1944 to 9 April 1946. UN member state from 24 October 1945. France administered the foreign affairs of the following protectorate:
    • Saar (from 15 December 1947)

    G

    [edit]
     Germany (to 8 May 1945)
    Capital: Berlin
    • German Reich (to 26 June 1943)
    • Greater German Reich (from 26 June 1943 to 8 May 1945)
    		 Widely recognized independent state to 8 May 1945.
    Kingdom of Greece Greece – Kingdom of Greece (to 23 April 1941, From October 13, 1944)
    Capital: Athens     		Widely recognized independent state.[3] LON member state to April 1941, from Oct 13 1944 to 20 April 1946. Had a government in exile from April 1941 to October 1944. UN member state from 25 October 1945.
    Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala
    Capital: Guatemala City     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 21 November 1945)

    H

    [edit]
    Haiti Haiti – Republic of Haiti
    Capital: Port-au-Prince     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to April 1942. UN member state from 24 October 1945.
    Honduras → Honduras – Republic of Honduras
    Capital: Tegucigalpa     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from 17 December 1945.
    Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946) → Hungarian Republic (1946–49) → Hungarian People's Republic Hungary
    Capital: Budapest
    • Kingdom of Hungary (to 1 February 1946)
    • Hungarian Republic (from 1 February 1946 to 20 August 1949)
    • Hungarian People's Republic (from 20 August 1949)
    		 Widely recognized independent state.

    I

    [edit]
    → Iceland Iceland
    Capital: Reykjavík
    • Kingdom of Iceland (to 17 June 1944)
    • Iceland (from 17 June 1944)
    		 Widely recognized independent state. In personal union with Denmark to 17 June 1944. UN member state from 19 November 1946.
    India India – Union of India (from 15 August 1947)
    Capital: New Delhi     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state. Commonwealth realm.
    Indonesia (from 17 August 1945)
    Capital: Djakarta
    • Republic of Indonesia (from 17 August 1945 to 27 December 1949)
    • United States of Indonesia (from 27 December 1949)
    		 Widely recognized independent state.
    Iran – Imperial State of Iran
    Capital: Tehran     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from 12 November 1945. Under joint British military occupation from 30 August 1941 to 2 March 1946 and Soviet military occupation to May 1946.
    Iraq Iraq – Kingdom of Iraq
    Capital: Baghdad     		Widely recognized independent state and LON member state to 20 April 1946; UN member state from 21 December 1945. Under British military occupation from 31 May 1941 to 26 October 1947.
    Ireland
    Capital: Dublin     		Widely recognized independent state and LON member state to 20 April 1946. Commonwealth realm. (to 18 April 1949)
    Israel – State of Israel (from 14 May 1948)
    Capital: Jerusalem     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from 11 May 1949.[f]
    → Italy
    Capital: Rome (to September 1943, from February 1944), Brindisi (from September 1943 to February 1944)
    • Kingdom of Italy (to 2 June 1946)
    • Italian Republic (from 2 June 1946)
    		 Widely recognized independent state under fascism to 3 September 1943.
    • Italian Albania (to 8 September 1943)
    • Hellenic State (Italian and German puppet state from 23 April 1941 to 25 July 1943)
    • Italian Montenegro (from 3 October 1941 to 25 July 1943)
    • Italian Libya (to 13 May 1943)
    • Italian East Africa (to 27 November 1941)

    (All colonies relinquished by Italy from the Treaty of Paris on 10 February 1947.)

    J

    [edit]
    → Japan
    Capital: Tokyo
    • Empire of Japan (to 2 May 1947)
    • Japan (from 2 May 1947)
    		 Widely recognized independent state under Allied occupation from 2 September 1945.

    K

    [edit]
    Korea – People's Republic of Korea (from 12 September 1945 to 1948)
    Capital: Seoul
    Korea, North – Democratic People's Republic of Korea (from 9 September 1948)
    Capital: Pyongyang     		Widely recognized independent state.[g] Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.
    → →  Korea, South – Republic of Korea (from 17 August 1948)
    Capital: Seoul     		Widely recognized independent state.[h] Permanent observer at the UN. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea.

    L

    [edit]
    Latvia – Republic of Latvia (to 17 August 1940)
    Capital: Riga     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 5 August 1940 and in exile to 20 April 1946. Conquered by a Soviet offensive but maintained a government in exile.
    Lebanon – Lebanese Republic (from 22 November 1943)
    Capital: Beirut     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from October 1945.
    Liberia – Republic of Liberia
    Capital: Monrovia     		Widely recognized independent state.LON member state to 20 April 1946. UN member state from 2 November 1945.
    Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein
    Capital: Vaduz     		Widely recognized independent state.
    Lithuania Lithuania – Republic of Lithuania (to 15 June 1940)
    Capital: Vilnius     		Widely recognized independent state.LON member state to 5 August 1940 and in exile to 20 April 1946. Conquered by a Soviet offensive but maintained a government in exile.
    Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (to 10 May 1940, from 11 September 1944)
    Capital: Luxembourg City     		Widely recognized independent state; LON member state to 10 May 1940, from 11 Sept 1944 to 20 April 1946 and in exile from 10 May 1940 to 11 Sept 1944. Conquered by a German offensive but maintained a government in exile based in London and a UN member state from 24 October 1945.

    M

    [edit]
    Mexico – United Mexican States
    Capital: Mexico City     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946. UN member state from 17 November 1945.
    Monaco – Principality of Monaco
    Capital: Monaco     		Widely recognized independent state.
    Mongolia → Mongolia → Mongolia Mongolia – Mongolian People's Republic
    Capital: Ulaanbaatar     		Widely recognized independent state from January 5, 1946.
    Muscat and Oman – Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
    Capital: Muscat     		De jure independent state. De facto a British protectorate.

    N

    [edit]
    Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal
    Capital: Kathmandu     		Widely recognized independent state.
    Netherlands – Kingdom of the Netherlands (to 15 May 1940, from 5 May 1945)
    Capital: Amsterdam     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946. UN member state from 10 December 1945. Under occupation by Germany from 10 May 1940 to 5 May 1945 , also had a government in exile from 15 May 1940 to 5 May 1945.
    New Zealand New Zealand
    Capital: Wellington
    • Dominion of New Zealand (to 25 November 1947)
    • Dominion of New Zealand (from 25 November 1947)
    		 Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946. UN member state from 24 October 1945. Dominion of the British Empire until 25 Nov 1947. Commonwealth realm.
    Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua
    Capital: Managua     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 24 Oct 1945).
    Norway – Kingdom of Norway
    Capital: Oslo     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946. UN member state from 24 October 1945.

    Under occupation by Germany from 9 April 1940 to 8 May 1945.

    P

    [edit]
    Pakistan – Dominion of Pakistan (from 14 Aug 1947)
    Capital: Karachi     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 30 September 1947). Commonwealth realm.
    Panama – Republic of Panama
    Capital: Panama City     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946. UN member state from 13 November 1945.
    Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay
    Capital: Asunción     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from 24 Oct 1945.
    Peru
    Capital: Lima
    • Peruvian Republic (to October 27, 1948)
    • Peruvian Republic (from October 27, 1948)
    		 Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from 31 Oct 1945.
    Philippine Commonwealth
    Capital: Manila
    • Republic of the Philippines (from 4 Jul 1946)
    		 Widely recognized independent state from 4 Jul 1946. UN member state from 24 Oct 1945. The commonwealth was under Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945. The Philippine Government went into exile during that same time.
    Poland (from 31 December 1944)
    Capital: Warsaw
    • Provisional Government of the Republic of Poland (from 31 December 1944 to 28 June 1945)
    • Provisional Government of National Unity (from 28 June 1945 to 19 January 1947)
    • Republic of Poland (from 19 January 1947)
    		 Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946. UN member state from 24 October 1945. Poland's government was still in exile.
    Portugal – Portuguese Republic
    Capital: Lisbon     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946.

    R

    [edit]
    Kingdom of Romania → → Romania
    Capital: Bucharest
    • Kingdom of Romania (to 30 Dec 1947)
    • Romanian People's Republic (from 30 Dec 1947)
    		 Widely recognized independent state under fascism from 14 September 1940 to 24 September 1944.[4]

    S

    [edit]
    San Marino – Most Serene Republic of San Marino
    Capital: City of San Marino     		Widely recognized independent state.
    Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
    Capital: Riyadh     		Widely recognized independent state; UN member state from 24 October 1945.
    Sikkim – Kingdom of Sikkim (from 15 August 1947)
    Capital: Gangtok     		Widely recognized independent state.
     South Africa – Union of South Africa
    Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from 17 November 1945. Commonwealth realm.
    Soviet Union – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
    Capital: Moscow     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from 24 October 1945. The Soviet Union was a federation of 11 (later 16) republics.[i]
    Francoist Spain → Francoist Spain Spain – Spanish State[5]
    Capital: Madrid     		Widely recognized independent state. Spain had sovereignty over the following overseas provinces:
    • → Ifni (Colony)
    • → Spanish Guinea (Colony)
    • → Spanish Sahara (Colony)
    • → Spanish West Africa (Colony from July 20, 1946)
    • Morocco Spanish Morocco (Protectorate)
    Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden
    Capital: Stockholm     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state.
     Switzerland – Swiss Confederation
    Capital: Bern     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state. Permanent observer at the UN.
    Syria – Syrian Republic (from 24 October 1945)
    Capital: Damascus     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from 24 October 1945.

    T

    [edit]
    Thailand / Siam
    Capital: Bangkok
    • Kingdom of Thailand (to 7 September 1945, from 11 May 1949)
    • Kingdom of Siam (from 7 September 1945 to 11 May 1949)
    		 Widely recognized independent state. LON member state. UN member state from 16 December 1946.
    Jordan Transjordan / Jordan (from 25 May 1946)
    Capital: Amman
    • Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan (from 25 May 1946 to April 1949)
    • Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (from 3 April 1949)
    		 Widely-recognized independent state.
    Turkey – Republic of Turkey
    Capital: Ankara     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to October 4, 1945. UN member state from October 4, 1945.

    U

    [edit]
    United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Capital: London     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to October 4, 1945. UN member state from October 4, 1945. The United Kingdom was composed of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom had sovereignty over:
    • Aden – Aden Colony and Protectorate (Crown colony and protectorate)
    • United Kingdom Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (Condominium of the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Egypt)
    • Bahama Islands (Crown colony)
    • Bahrain – State of Bahrain (Protectorate)
    • Barbados (Crown colony)
    • United Kingdom Basutoland – Territory of Basutoland (Crown colony)
    • United Kingdom Bechuanaland – Bechuanaland Protectorate (Protectorate)
    • Bermuda (Crown colony)
    •   Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan (Independent state under Treaty of Punakha to August 8, 1949)
    • British Guiana (Crown colony)
    • British Honduras (Crown colony)
    • British Leeward Islands – Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands (Crown colony)
    • British Somaliland – British Somaliland Protectorate (Protectorate)
    • United Kingdom British Western Pacific Territories (Crown colony)
    • British Windward Islands – Federal Colony of the Windward Islands (Crown colony)
    • Brunei – State of Brunei[6] (Protectorate to April 1, 1942, from June 14, 1945)
    • Myanmar Burma (Crown colony to 1942, from March 27, 1945 to January 4, 1948)
    • United Kingdom Canton and Enderbury Islands (Condominium of the United Kingdom and the United States)
    • Dominion of Ceylon Ceylon (Crown colony to February 4, 1948)
    • Cyprus (Crown colony)
    • United Kingdom Cyrenaica (Occupied territory from October 23, 1942)
    • United Kingdom Eritrea (Occupied territory)
    • → Falkland Islands (Crown colony)
    • Faroe Islands Faroe Islands (Occupied territory, from April 12, 1940 to September 16, 1945)
    • Federated Malay States[7] (Protectorate to February 15, 1942, from September 12, 1945 to April 1, 1946)
    • Gambia – Gambia Colony and Protectorate (Crown colony and protectorate)
    • Gibraltar (Crown colony)
    • Gilbert and Ellice Islands – Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony (Crown colony)
    • Gold Coast (Crown colony)
    • Guernsey – Bailiwick of Guernsey[8] (Crown dependency to June 9, 1940, from May 9, 1945)
    • United Kingdom Heard Island and McDonald Islands (uninhabited possession)
    • Hong Kong Hong Kong[9] (Crown colony to December 28, 1941, from August 28, 1945)
    •  India – Indian Empire (Crown colony to August 15, 1947) [UN from October 30, 1945]
    • Isle of Man (Crown dependency)
    • United Kingdom Italian Somaliland (Occupied territory from February 26, 1941)
    • Jamaica Jamaica (Crown colony)
    • Jersey – Bailiwick of Jersey[10] (Crown dependency, from May 9, 1945)
    • Johor Johor[11] – State of Johor Darul Ta'zim (Protectorate to February 16, 1942, from September 12, 1945 to April 1, 1946)
    • Kedah Kedah[12] – State of Kedah Darul Aman (Protectorate to February 16, 1942, from September 8, 1945 to April 1, 1946)
    • Kelantan[13] – State of Kelantan Darul Naim (Protectorate to February 16, 1942, from September 8, 1945 to April 1, 1946)
    • Kenya Kenya – Kenya Colony and Protectorate (Crown colony and protectorate)
    • → Kuwait – State of Kuwait (Protectorate)
    • Labuan[14] (Crown colony from April 1, 1946 to July 15, 1946)
    • Malaya (Protectorate from February 1, 1948)
    • Malayan Union (Colony from April 1, 1946 to January 31, 1948)
    • Maldive Islands – Sultanate of the Maldive Islands (Protectorate)
    • → Malta (Crown colony)
    • Mauritius Mauritius (Crown colony)
    • Muscat and Oman – Sultanate of Muscat and Oman (State under the informal protection)
    • United Kingdom Newfoundland – Dominion of Newfoundland (Crown colony, to 31 March, 1949)
    • Nigeria Nigeria – Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria (Crown colony and protectorate)
    • → North Borneo[15] (Protectorate to January 2, 1942, from September 10, 1945 until July 15, 1946 when the protectorate became a crown colony)
    • Northern Rhodesia Northern Rhodesia – Protectorate of Northern Rhodesia (Protectorate)
    • Nyasaland – Nyasaland Protectorate (Protectorate)
    • Perlis[16] – State of Perlis Indera Kayangan (Protectorate to February 16, 1942, from September 8, 1945 to April 1, 1946)
    • → Qatar – State of Qatar (Protectorate)
    • Saint Helena (Crown colony)
    • → Sarawak Sarawak – Kingdom of Sarawak[17] (Protectorate to 1941, from September 10, 1945 to April 1, 1946 when the protectorate became a crown colony)
    • Seychelles (Crown colony)
    • Sierra Leone – Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate (Crown colony and protectorate)
    • Sikkim (Independent state under the Treaty of Tumlong until August 15, 1947)
    • Singapore (Crown colony from April 1, 1946)
    • United Kingdom South Orkney Islands (Uninhabited possession)
    • Southern Rhodesia – Colony of Southern Rhodesia (Crown colony)
    • United Kingdom South Shetland Islands (Uninhabited possession)
    • Straits Settlements[18] (Crown colony to 1941, from September 12, 1945 to April 1, 1946)
    • United Kingdom Suez Canal Zone (Crown colony)
    • United Kingdom Swaziland – Swaziland Protectorate (Protectorate)
    • Terengganu[19] – State of Terengganu Darul Iman (Protectorate to 1942, from September 8, 1945 to April 1, 1946)
    • United Kingdom Tientsin (Concession until 1945)
    • Trinidad and Tobago (Crown colony)
    • United Kingdom Tripolitania (Occupied territory from October 23, 1942)
    • Emirate of Sharjah Trucial States (Protectorate)
    • Uganda Uganda (Protectorate)
    • Zanzibar – Sultanate of Zanzibar (Protectorate)
    United States – United States of America
    Capital: Washington, D.C.     		Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from October 4, 1945. The United States had sovereignty over:
    • Alaska Alaska – Alaska Territory (Territory)
    • United States American Samoa – Territory of American Samoa (Territory)
    • United States Baker Island (uninhabited territory)
    • United States Bonin Islands (Occupied territory, from September 3, 1945)
    • United States Canton and Enderbury Islands (Condominium of the United Kingdom and the United States)
    • United States Clipperton Island (Occupied territory, to 1945)
    • → Guam – Territory of Guam[20] (unincorporated territory to December 10, 1941, from August 10, 1944)
    • Hawaii Hawaii – Territory of Hawaii (unincorporated territory)
    • United States Howland Island (uninhabited territory)
    • United States Jarvis Island (uninhabited territory)
    • United States Johnston Atoll (uninhabited territory)
    • United States Kingman Reef (uninhabited territory)
    • Southern Korea (occupied territory, from 1945 to 17 August 1948)
    • United States Midway Atoll (uninhabited territory)
    • United States Navassa Island (uninhabited territory)
    • United States Palmyra Atoll (unincorporated organized territory)
    • Panama Canal Zone (Territory)
    • Philippine Commonwealth[21] (unincorporated organized commonwealth to March 12, 1942, from February 27, 1945 to July 4, 1946)
    • Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (Territory)
    • United States Ryukyu Islands – United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands (Occupied territory, from April 3, 1945)
    • United States Virgin Islands (Territory)
    • United States Volcano Islands (Occupied territory, from September 3, 1945)
    • United States Wake Island (uninhabited territory, from September 4, 1945)
    Uruguay – Oriental Republic of Uruguay
    Capital: Montevideo     		Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to December 18, 1945. UN member state from December 18, 1945.

    V

    [edit]
    Vatican City – Vatican City State
    Capital: Vatican City     		Widely recognized independent state.
    Venezuela – United States of Venezuela
    Capital: Caracas     		Widely recognized independent state.

    Y

    [edit]
    Yemen Yemen – Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen
    Capital: Sana'a     		Widely recognized independent state.
    Kingdom of Yugoslavia → Democratic Federal Yugoslavia → Yugoslavia (to April 6, 1941, from November 29, 1943)
    Capital: Belgrade
    • Kingdom of Yugoslavia (to April 6, 1941)
    • Democratic Federal Yugoslavia (from November 29, 1943 to November 29, 1945)
    • Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia (from November 29, 1945)
    		 Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from October 24, 1945. Under occupation by Nazi Germany from April 6, 1941 to May 25, 1945. A government in exile was regarded as the legitimate government by the Allies.

    Other entities

    [edit]

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

    Name and capital city Information on status and recognition of sovereignty
    Azad Hind – Provisional Government of Free India (from 21 October 1943 to 18 August 1945)
    Capital: New Delhi (claimed), Singapore (de facto), Port Blair (provisional)     		Organized and recognized by Indian nationalists in-exile during the Japanese occupation of Singapore. Recognized by Axis powers member states.
    Azerbaijan People's Government (from 20 November 1945 to 12 December 1946)
    Capital: Tabriz     		Unrecognized satellite state of the Soviet Union during the Iran crisis. Claimed by Iran.
    Myanmar Burma – State of Burma (from 1 August 1943 to 19 August 1945)
    Capital: Rangoon     		Organized and recognized by Japanese military during the Japanese occupation. Recognized by Axis powers member states.
    → Taiwan China, National Government of – National Government of the Republic of China (from 30 March 1940 to 16 August 1945)
    Capital: Nanjing     		Organized and recognized by Japanese military, combined Reformed Government and Provisional Government together. Recognized by Axis powers member states.
    China, Provisional Government of – Provisional Government of the Republic of China (to 30 March 1940)
    Capital: Beijing     		Organized and recognized by Japanese military authority during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
    China, Reformed Government of – Reformed Government of the Republic of China (to 30 March 1940)
    Capital: Nanjing     		Organized and recognized by Japanese military authority during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
    Croatia – Independent State of Croatia (from 10 April 1941 to 25 May 1945)
    Capital: Zagreb     		Organized and recognized by German military authority during the invasion of Yugoslavia. Recognized by Axis powers member states.
    Cyrenaica Cyrenaica – Emirate of Cyrenaica (from 1 March 1949)
    Capital: Benghazi     		Unilaterally proclaimed independent Senussi emirate from 1 March 1949, backed by the United Kingdom.
    Democratic Finland – Finnish Democratic Republic (to 12 March 1940)
    Capital: Helsinki (official), Terijoki (de facto)     		Partially recognized socialist republic. Puppet state of the Soviet Union.
    East Indonesia (from 24 December 1946 to 27 December 1949)
    Capital: Makassar
    • State of the Great East (from 24 December 1946 to 27 December 1946)
    • State of East Indonesia (from 27 December 1946 to 27 December 1949)
    		 Puppet state established by the Netherlands during the Indonesian National Revolution. Joined the United States of Indonesia as part of a peace deal on 27 December 1949.
    East Java – State of East Java (from 26 November 1948 to 27 December 1949) Puppet state established by the Netherlands during the Indonesian National Revolution. Joined the United States of Indonesia as part of a peace deal on 27 December 1949.
    East Sumatra – State of East Sumatra (from 25 December 1947 to 27 December 1949)
    Capital: Medan     		Established by the Netherlands after the reoccupation of North Sumatra in July 1947. Joined the United States of Indonesia as part of a peace deal on 27 December 1949.
     East Turkestan – East Turkestan Republic (from 12 November 1944 to 22 December 1949)
    Capital: Ghulja     		Satellite state of the Soviet Union from November 12, 1944 to December 22, 1949, when it was conquered by China.
    Germany, East – German Democratic Republic (from 7 October 1949)
    Capital: East Berlin (disputed)     		Widely recognized state under Soviet occupation.
    Germany, West – Federal Republic of Germany (from 23 May 1949)
    Capital: Bonn     		Widely-recognized state under Allied occupation. West Germany was a federation of eleven states.[22]
    • West Berlin (from 23 May 1949) 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.
    Hyderabad State Hyderabad – State of Hyderabad (from 15 August 1947 to 17 December 1948)
    Capital: Hyderabad     		Unrecognized de-facto independent state.
    Indonesia Indonesia – Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (from 19 December 1948 to 13 July 1949)
    Capital: Bidar Alam     		Organized and recognized by Indonesian Republicans after the Netherlands occupied the at the time capital city of Yogyakarta in Central Java, the location of the temporary Republican capital during the Indonesian National Revolution.
    Inner Mongolia – Inner Mongolian People's Republic (from 9 September 1945 to 6 November 1945)
    Capital: Sonid Right Banner     		Unrecognized de-facto independent state.
    Italian Social Republic Italian Social Republic (from 23 September 1943 to 2 May 1945)
    Capital: Salò     		Puppet state of Germany, independent to the Kingdom of Italy.
    Lokot Autonomy (from 15 November 1941 to 26 August 1944)
    Capital: Lokot     		Autonomous republic in the occupied territories of the Bryansk, Oryol and Kursk Oblasts of the Soviet Union formed by German troops.
    Kampuchea – Kingdom of Kampuchea (from 9 March 1945 to 16 October 1945)
    Capital: Phnom Penh     		Organized and recognized by Japan military authority during the Japanese coup d'etat in French Indochina. Recognized by Axis powers member states.
    Korea, Provisional Government of – Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (to 8 September 1945)
    Capital-in-exile: Qijiang (to 1940), Chongqing (from 1940)     		Partially recognized Korean government-in-exile.
    Laos Lao Issara – Kingdom of Laos (from 12 October 1945 to 24 April 1946)
    Capital: Vientiane     		Unrecognized de-facto independent state.
    Luang Prabang – Kingdom of Luang Prabang (from 9 March 1945 to 12 October 1945)
    Capital: Luang Prabang     		Organized and recognized by Japan military authority during the Japanese coup d'etat in French Indochina. Recognized by Axis powers member states.
    Madura – State of Madura (from 23 January 1948 to 27 December 1949) Puppet state established by the Netherlands during the Indonesian National Revolution. Joined the United States of Indonesia as part of a peace deal on 27 December 1949.
    Mahabad – Republic of Mahabad (from 22 January 1946 to 15 December 1946)
    Capital: Mahabad     		Unrecognized satellite state of the Soviet Union established during the Iran crisis. Claimed by Iran.
    Manchukuo – Empire of Great Manchuria (to 17 August 1945)
    Capital: Changchun (to 9 August 1945), Tonghua (from 9 August 1945)     		Organized and recognized by Japanese military authority after the Mukden incident. Recognized by Axis powers member states and several neutral states.
    Manipur – Kingdom of Manipur (from 14 August 1947 to 15 October 1949)
    Capital: Imphal     		Unrecognized de-facto independent state.
    Mengjiang – Mongolian Autonomous State (to 19 August 1945)
    Capital: Zhangbei
    • Menjiang United Autonomous Government (to 4 August 1941)
    • Mongolian Autonomous State (from 4 August 1941)
    		 Organized and recognized by Japan military authority during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Recognized by Axis powers member states.
    Palestine – All-Palestine Protectorate (from 1 October 1948)
    Capital: Jerusalem (claimed), Gaza City (until December 1948, provisional), Cairo (from December 1948, provisional)     		Partially recognized de facto independent state. Recognized by six Arab League states.
    → Pasundan (from 4 May 1947 to July 1947, from 26 February 1948 to 27 December 1949)
    Capital: Bandoeng
    • Pasundan Republic (from 4 May 1947 to July 1947)
    • State of Pasundan (from 26 February 1948 to 27 December 1949)
    		 Puppet state established by the Netherlands during the Indonesian National Revolution. Joined the United States of Indonesia as part of a peace deal on 27 December 1949.
    Second Philippine Republic Philippines – Second Philippine Republic (from 14 October 1943 to 17 August 1945)
    Capital: Manila (from 14 October 1943 to 3 March 1945), Baguio (from 3 March 1945)     		De facto independent state; considered to be a puppet state of Japan.
    Slovakia Slovakia – Slovak Republic (to 4 April 1945)
    Capital: Bratislava     		Organized and recognized by German military after the Munich Agreement. Recognized by Axis powers member states and several neutral states.
    South Sumatra – State of South Sumatra (from 30 August 1948 to 27 December 1949)
    Capital: Palembang     		Puppet state established by the Netherlands during the Indonesian National Revolution. Joined the United States of Indonesia as part of a peace deal on 27 December 1949.
    → → Tannu Tuva – Tuvan People's Republic (to 1 November 1944)
    Capital: Kyzyl     		Partially recognized satellite state of the Soviet Union. Absorbed into the Soviet Union on 1 November 1944.
    Tibet
    Capital: Lhasa     		Partially recognized de facto independent state. Claimed by the Republic of China and by the People's Republic of China.
    Trieste – Free Territory of Trieste (from 10 February 1947)
    Capital: Trieste     		Independent territory under direct responsibility of the United Nations Security Council.
    Tripura – Kingdom of Tripura (from 13 August 1947 to September 9, 1949)
    Capital: Agartala     		Unrecognized de-facto independent state.
    → Vietnam – Empire of Vietnam (from 11 March 1945 to 25 August 1945)
    Capital: Huế     		Organized and recognized by Japan military authority during the Japanese coup d'etat in French Indochina. Recognized by Axis powers member states.
    Vietnam, Democratic Republic of – Democratic Republic of Vietnam (from 2 September 1945)
    Capital: Hanoi     		Partially recognized independent state.
    Vietnam, State of – State of Vietnam (from 2 July 1949)
    Capital: Saigon-Cholon
    • Provisional Central Government of Vietnam (from 27 May 1948 to 2 July 1949)
    		 Organized and recognized by France during the First Indochina War.

    Entities not claiming independence

    [edit]
    • Allied-occupied Austria (from 27 April 1945) was divided into four zones of occupation by France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union.
    • Allied-occupied Germany (from 5 June 1945 to 7 October 1949) was divided into four zones of occupation by France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union.
    • 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 Arabian–Iraqi neutral zone was a strip of neutral territory between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
    • The Saudi Arabian–Kuwaiti neutral zone was a strip of neutral territory between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
    • Sovereign Military Order of Malta 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.[23] 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.
    • Tangier was an international zone under the joint administration of France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal and Belgium. Under Spanish occupation from 14 June 1940 to 11 October 1945.

    Notes

    [edit]
    1. ^ 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 in 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.
    2. ^ 6 States: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia. 3 Territories: Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, Northern Territory.
    3. ^ 20 states: Alagoas, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe. 5 territories: Acre, Amapá (from September 13, 1943), Fernando de Noronha (from February 9, 1942), Iguaçu (from September 13, 1943 to September 18, 1946), Ponta Porã (from September 13, 1943 to September 18, 1946), Guaporé (from September 13, 1943), Rio Branco (from September 13, 1943). 1 federal district: Federal District.
    4. ^ 10 Provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland (from 31 March 1949), Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan. 2 Territories: Northwest Territories, Yukon.
    5. ^ Owing to a dispute over lands seized during World War II, Liechtenstein and Czechoslovakia did not recognize each other.
    6. ^ Israel was not recognized by Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Jordan, Lebanon, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen.
    7. ^ North Korea was not recognized by the Estonian exile government, France, Japan, or South Korea.
    8. ^ South Korea was not recognized by the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China, Romania or North Korea.
    9. ^ Byelorussian SSR, Russian SFSR, Ukrainian SSR, Uzbek SSR, Turkmen SSR, Tajik SSR, Armenian SSR, Azerbaijan SSR, Georgian SSR, Kazakh SSR, Kirghiz SSR, Karelo-Finnish SSR (from March 31, 1940), Moldavian SSR (from August 2, 1940), Lithuanian SSR (from August 3, 1940), Latvian SSR (from August 5, 1940), Estonian SSR (from August 6, 1940).

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ a b c Butcher, Charles R.; Griffiths, Ryan D. (2020-03-03). "States and their international relations since 1816: introducing version 2 of the International System(s) Dataset (ISD)". International Interactions. 46 (2): 301. doi:10.1080/03050629.2020.1707199. ISSN 0305-0629.
    2. ^ New Guinea was under Japanese occupation from January 1941 to August 15, 1945.
    3. ^ The Kingdom of Greece had a fascist regime called the 4th of August Regime disestablished on April 23, 1941.
    4. ^ The Kingdom of Romania had a totalitarian fascist regime called the National Legionary State established on September 14, 1940 and ended on February 14, 1941.
    5. ^ The Kingdom of Spain had a government in exile.
    6. ^ Brunei was under Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945.
    7. ^ The Federated Malay States were under Japanese occupation from February 15, 1942 to September 12, 1945.
    8. ^ Guernsey is part of the Channel Islands and was under German occupation from June 9, 1940 until it was liberated on May 9, 1945.
    9. ^ Hong Kong was under Japanese occupation from December 28, 1941 to August 28, 1945.
    10. ^ Jersey is part of the Channel Islands and was under German occupation from June 9, 1940 until it was liberated on May 9, 1945.
    11. ^ Johor was part of the Unfederated Malay States and was under Japanese occupation from February 16, 1942 to September 2, 1945.
    12. ^ Kedah was part of the Unfederated Malay States and was under Japanese occupation from February 16, 1942 to September 2, 1945.
    13. ^ Kelantan was part of the Unfederated Malay States and was under Japanese occupation from February 16, 1942 to September 2, 1945.
    14. ^ Labuan was under Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945.
    15. ^ North Borneo was under Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945.
    16. ^ Perlis was part of the Unfederated Malay States and was under Japanese occupation from February 16, 1942 to September 2, 1945.
    17. ^ Sarawak was under Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945.
    18. ^ The Straits Settlements were under Japanese occupation from February 15, 1942 to September 12, 1945.
    19. ^ Terenggaru was part of the Unfederated Malay States and was under Japanese occupation from February 16, 1942 to September 2, 1945.
    20. ^ Guam was under Japanese occupation from December 10, 1941 to August 10, 1944.
    21. ^ The Philippines were under Japanese occupation from 1942 to August 21, 1945, The commonwealth also had a government in exile during that same time.
    22. ^ 11 States: Baden, Bavaria, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Schleswig-Holstein, Württemberg-Baden, Württemberg-Hohenzollern.
    23. ^ Bilateral relations with countries Archived 2008-06-26 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 2009-12-22
    This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
    Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List of sovereign states in the 1940s
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