About ten territories function today as states (a government, a currency, sometimes an army) without a seat at the UN. International recognition among them is very uneven: around a hundred countries for some, a single one or none for others. The ten cases below set out where each one stands.
1. Taiwan (recognized by about a dozen states)
Around 23 million inhabitants, its own government since 1949, a currency and an army. Taiwan is recognized by only about a dozen UN member states. China considers it one of its provinces.
2. Kosovo (recognized by about a hundred countries)
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Around a hundred countries recognize it, but it is not a UN member. Serbia still considers it part of its territory.
3. Palestine (UN observer state)
Palestine has been a non-member observer state at the UN since 2012. Around 150 countries recognize it as a state. Its borders and final status remain the subject of unresolved negotiations.
4. Western Sahara (unresolved status)
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is a member of the African Union. The territory is mostly administered by Morocco, which claims it. The status of Western Sahara remains unresolved at the UN.
5. Northern Cyprus (recognized only by Turkey)
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was proclaimed in 1983, in the north of an island divided since 1974. It is recognized only by Turkey. The rest of the international community considers the area part of the Republic of Cyprus.
6. Somaliland (recognized by no UN member state)
Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991. It has its own institutions, its own currency, and holds regular elections. No UN member state recognizes it.
7. Transnistria (de facto secession)
A strip of land between Moldova and Ukraine, in de facto secession since 1992. Transnistria has its own government, currency and documents. The international community considers it part of Moldova.
8. Abkhazia (limited recognition)
Abkhazia has been recognized by Russia and a handful of states since 2008, following the conflict between Russia and Georgia. The international community considers it part of Georgia. In practice it operates with its own institutions.
9. South Ossetia (limited recognition)
South Ossetia’s situation has been similar to Abkhazia’s since 2008: recognized by Russia and a few states, considered Georgian by the rest of the international community. The territory has around 50,000 inhabitants.
10. Nagorno-Karabakh (dissolved in 2024)
The self-proclaimed republic of Artsakh, populated mostly by Armenians, was officially dissolved on January 1, 2024, after Azerbaijan retook the territory in 2023. It is the most recent case of a de facto state that ceased to exist.
Unrecognized countries at a glance
| Territory | Since | Recognized by (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | 1949 | about a dozen UN member states |
| Kosovo | 2008 | about a hundred countries |
| Palestine | 1988 | around 150 countries |
| Western Sahara | 1976 | around 40 countries |
| Northern Cyprus | 1983 | 1 (Turkey) |
| Somaliland | 1991 | no UN member state |
| Transnistria | 1992 | no UN member state |
| Abkhazia | 2008 | around 5 countries |
| South Ossetia | 2008 | around 5 countries |
| Nagorno-Karabakh | 1991-2024 | dissolved in 2024 |
The disappearance of a state is a related case, covered in the countries that no longer exist. The European microstates, by contrast, are fully recognized despite their tiny size, and the strangest borders in the world show other lines inherited from history.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries are not recognized by the UN?
About ten territories function as states without being UN members. Their degree of recognition varies widely: around 150 countries for Palestine, about a hundred for Kosovo, a single one for Northern Cyprus, none for Somaliland.
Why is Taiwan not a member of the UN?
In 1971, UN Resolution 2758 assigned China’s seat to the People’s Republic of China, and Taiwan lost its own. Since then, China has considered Taiwan one of its provinces and opposes any membership. Taiwan remains recognized by about a dozen UN member states.
Which country is recognized by absolutely no one?
Somaliland is recognized by no UN member state. Yet it has functioned as a state since 1991, with its own institutions, its own currency and regular elections.
Is Kosovo a country?
Kosovo has been recognized as a state by around a hundred countries since its declaration of independence in 2008, but it is not a UN member. Serbia still considers it part of its territory, and both positions coexist on the international stage.
