List of unrecognized countries: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Several countries in the world have no general international recognition, but are de facto independent. Most are subnational regions that broke off from their home country.

• Abkhazia is situated between the Caucasus and the Black Sea, recognized as a part of northwestern Georgia. The USSR forcefully merged Abkhazia with Georgia in 1931. The Abkhazian Soviet proclaimed independence from Georgia in 1990. A military conflict started in 1992, officially there is now a cease-fire.

• South Ossetia is recognized as a part of northern Georgia. It had found itself merged with Georgia as a result of the Russian Civil War. It proclaimed independence from Georgia in 1991, and a ceasefire was declared in 1992.

• The civil war in Somalia has left no centralized organization governing the entire country. The leading independent, though unrecognized, nations in Somalia are Somaliland and Puntland.

• Kosovo although not recognized as an independent entity has functioned under the United Nations independently of Serbia and Montenegro since 1999.

• The Republic of China, with control only of Taiwan and some other small islands since losing the Chinese Civil War, lost most of its diplomatic recognition and UN seat to the People's Republic of China in the 1970s and is officially recognized by only 26 countries. See political status of Taiwan).

• Transnistria is the part of Moldova east of the river Dniestr. It has a majority Slavic population, as opposed to majority Romanian which Moldova has. It has broken away and has de facto independence, although no international recognition.

• The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was set up in northern Cyprus after an invasion by Turkish forces, and has declared independence. It is a functioning state, but recognised only by Turkey.

• Western Sahara is a territory that has been occupied by Morocco since the 1970s. The United Nations has attempted to oversee an independence referendum, but has so far had little success. However, Western Sahara is still recognised by a number of African countries, and is a member of the African Union.