List of sovereign states in the 1940s

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(Redirected from
List of sovereign states in 1949
)

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

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

Name and capital city Information on status and recognition of sovereignty

A


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 Albania (from 20 October 1944)
Capital: Tirana
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 . The defense of Andorra was the responsibility of France and Spain.

 Argentina – Argentine Republic
Capital: Buenos Aires
Widely recognized independent state.
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:

Australia administered one

United Nations trust territory
:

Australia administered two

United Nations Trust Territories
:


B


 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. UN member state from 27 December 1945. Belgium had sovereignty over one colony:

Belgium administered one

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.

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
Widely recognized independent state.
20 states, five territories, and one federal district.[c]

Kingdom of BulgariaBulgaria Bulgaria
Capital: Sofia
Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 20 April 1946.

Rangoon
Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from 19 April 1948.

C


 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.

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
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)
Widely recognized independent state.
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
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
Widely recognized independent state under
German occupation to 8 May 1945. UN member state from 24 October 1945.[e]

D


 
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


Ecuador
Capital: Quito
Widely recognized independent state; LON member state to 9 April 1946 and UN member state from 21 December 1945.

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 SalvadorRepublic 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
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


 Finland – Republic of Finland
Capital: Helsinki
Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to 9 April 1946.

France
Capital: Paris (de jure from 22 June 1940 to 20 August 1944), Vichy (de facto from 22 June 1940 to 20 August 1944)
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


 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.

 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 twelve states.[2]

Kingdom of Greece GreeceKingdom of Greece (to 23 April 1941, From October 13, 1944)
Capital: Athens
Widely recognized independent state. LON member state to April 1941, from Oct 13 1944 to 20 April 1946. 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


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 HondurasRepublic 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
Widely recognized independent state.

Hyderabad State Hyderabad – State of Hyderabad (from 15 August 1947 to 17 December 1948)
Capital: Hyderabad

I


Iceland
Capital: Reykjavík
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.

 
Djakarta
Widely recognized independent state.

Iran – Imperial State of Iran
Capital: Tehran
Widely recognized independent state. UN member state (from 12 November 1945)

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.

 Ireland
Capital: Dublin
Widely recognized independent state and LON member state to 20 April 1946.

 Israel – State of Israel (from 14 May 1948)
Capital: Jerusalem
Widely-recognized
UN member state from 11 May 1949.[f]

Italian Social Republic (from September 1943 to May 1945)
Capital: Salò
Puppet state of Germany, independent to the Kingdom of Italy.

Italy
Capital: Rome (to September 1943, from February 1944), Brindisi (from September 1943 to February 1944)
Widely recognized independent state under fascism to 3 September 1943.

J


 Japan
Capital: Tokyo
Widely recognized independent state under Allied occupation from 2 September 1945.

K


Kalat – Khanate of Kalat from (15 August 1947 until 27 March 1948)
Capital: Kalat, Balochistan


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.
UN. Claimed to be the sole legitimate government of Korea
.

L


 Latvia – Republic of Latvia (to 17 August 1940)
Capital: Riga
Widely recognized independent state.
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 – 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


 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.

MongoliaMongoliaMongolia Mongolia – Mongolian People's Republic
Capital: Ulaanbaatar
Widely recognized independent state from January 5, 1946.

N


Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal
Capital: Kathmandu
Widely recognized independent state.

 NetherlandsKingdom 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.

New Zealand New Zealand
Capital: Wellington
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


 PakistanDominion 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 – Peruvian Republic
Capital: Lima
Widely recognized independent state. UN member state from 31 Oct 1945.

 Philippine Commonwealth
Capital: Manila
Widely recognized independent state from 4 Jul 1946. UN member state from 24 Oct 1945.

 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.

Poland
Capital: Warsaw
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


Kingdom of RomaniaSocialist Republic of Romania Romania
Capital: Bucharest
Widely recognized independent state.

S


 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 15) republics.[i]

Francoist SpainFrancoist Spain Spain – Spanish State
Capital: Madrid
Widely recognized independent state. Spain had sovereignty over the following overseas provinces:

 Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden
Capital: Stockholm
Widely recognized independent state. UN member state.

  
Swiss Confederation
Capital: Bern
Widely recognized independent state. LON member state. Permanent observer at the UN.

Syria – Syrian Republic (from January 1 1944)
Capital: Damascus
Widely recognized independent state.

T

 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.

Tibet
Capital: Lhasa
De facto independent state. Claimed by the
People's Republic of China
.

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.

 Trieste – Free Territory of Trieste (from May 25, 1946)
Capital: Trieste
Widely recognized independent state.

Tripura – Kingdom of Tripura (to September 9, 1949)
Capital: Agartala
Widely recognized independent state.[citation needed]

 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


 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:

 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:

 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


 Vatican City – Vatican City State
Capital: Vatican City
Widely recognized independent state.

Venezuela – United States of Venezuela
Capital: Caracas
Widely recognized independent state.

Y


Sana'a
Widely recognized independent state.

Kingdom of YugoslaviaDemocratic Federal Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (to April 6, 1941, from November 29, 1943)
Capital: Belgrade
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

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

Notes

  1. Tierra del Fuego
    .
  2. .
  3. 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, 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. 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. Estonian SSR
    (from August 6, 1940).

References