This is a list of sovereign states in the 1920s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1920 and 31 December 1929. It contains entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes 90 widely recognized sovereign states, and entities which were de facto sovereign but which were not widely recognized by other states.
| Name and capital city | Information on status and recognition of sovereignty | |
|---|---|---|
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A | ||
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 Abkhazia – Socialist Soviet Republic of Abkhazia (from March 31, 1921 to December 16, 1921) Capital: Sukhumi |
Recognized independent state. It was subordinate to the Georgian SSR from December 16, 1921.[a] | |
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 →  →  →  →  → →  →  Afghanistan Capital: Kabul
|
Reign of Amanullah Khan, Inayatullah Khan, and Mohammed Nadir Shah: Widely-recognized independent state. Reign of Habibullāh Kalakāni,[4] Ali Ahmad Khan and Abd-al Karim: Not recognized by any state. | |
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 →  →  →  Albania Capital: Tirana
|
Widely-recognized independent state. De facto Italian protectorate to August 2, 1920. LON member state from December 17, 1920. | |
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 Andorra – Principality of Andorra Capital: Andorra La Vella |
Widely-recognized independent state. | |
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 Argentina – Argentine Republic Capital: Buenos Aires |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 →  Armenia (to March 12, 1922) Capital: Yerevan
|
Widely-recognized independent state. Became part of the Transcaucasian SFSR from March 12, 1922. | |
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 Asir – Idrisid Emirate of Asir (to October 21, 1926) Capital: Sabya |
Widely-recognized independent state. Vassal state of Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd from October 21, 1926. | |
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 Asir, Upper – Sheikdom of Upper Asir (to August 30, 1920) Capital: Abha |
Widely-recognized independent state. Partitioned between Sultanate of Nejd and Idrisid Emirate of Asir from August 30, 1920. | |
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 Aussa – Sultanate of Aussa Capital: Aussa |
Widely recognized state. | |
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 Australia – Commonwealth of Australia Capital: Melbourne (to 9 May, 1927), Canberra (from 9 May, 1927) |
Widely-recognized independent state after 15 November, 1926. LON founding member state from 10 January, 1920. Australia had two external territories:
Australia administered two League of Nations mandates:
| |
|
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 Austria – Republic of Austria Capital: Vienna |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from December 15, 1920. | |
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 →  →  Azerbaijan (to March 12, 1922) Capital: Baku
|
Widely-recognized independent state. Became part of the Transcaucasian SFSR from March 12, 1922. Azerbaijan had one protectorate:
| |
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B | ||
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 Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium Capital: Brussels |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. Belgium had sovereignty over one colony and one concession:
Belgium administered one League of Nations mandate:
| |
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 Bolivia Capital: Sucre
|
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 Brazil – Republic of the United States of Brazil Capital: Rio de Janeiro |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920; withdrew in June 14, 1926. Brazil was a federationof20 states, one territory, and one federal district.[b] | |
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 Bulgaria – Kingdom of Bulgaria Capital: Sofia |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from December 16, 1920. | |
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C | ||
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 →  Canada – Dominion of Canada Capital: Ottawa |
Widely-recognized independent state after November 15, 1926. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 Chile Capital: Santiago
|
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 →  China – Republic of China
|
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 Colombia – Republic of Colombia Capital: Bogotá |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica Capital: San José |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from December 16, 1920; withdrew in January 22, 1925. | |
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 Cuba – Republic of Cuba Capital: Havana |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 →  Czechoslovakia Capital: Prague
|
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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D | ||
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 Danzig – Free City of Danzig (from November 15, 1920) Capital: Danzig |
Widely-recognized independent. Under League of Nations protection. | |
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 Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark Capital: Copenhagen |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 Dominican Republic – Third Dominican Republic Capital: Santo Domingo |
Widely-recognized independent state under United States military occupation to 18 September 1924. LON member state from September 28, 1924. | |
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E | ||
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 Ecuador Capital: Quito
|
Widely-recognized independent state. | |
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 Egypt – Kingdom of Egypt (from February 28, 1922) Capital: Cairo |
Widely-recognized independent state. | |
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 El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador Capital: San Salvador |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 Estonia – Republic of Estonia Capital: Tallinn |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from September 22, 1921. | |
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 Ethiopia – Ethiopian Empire Capital: Addis Ababa |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from September 28, 1923. | |
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F | ||
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 Finland – Republic of Finland Capital: Helsinki |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from December 16, 1920. | |
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 Fiume – Free State of Fiume (from November 12, 1920 to February 22, 1924) Capital: Fiume |
Widely-recognized independent. Annexed by Italy from February 22, 1924. | |
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 France – French Republic Capital: Paris |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. France administered the foreign affairs of the following protectorates:
France administered the following League of Nations mandates:
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G | ||
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 →  →  Georgia (to March 12, 1922)Capital: Tiflis
|
Widely-recognized independent state. Georgian SSR had one autonomous republic (from July 16, 1921): Adjarian ASSR. Became part of the Transcaucasian SFSR from March 12, 1922.
| |
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 Germany – German Realm Capital: Berlin |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from September 8, 1926. | |
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 → Greece Capital: Athens
|
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala Capital: Guatemala City |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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H | ||
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 →  Ha'il / Jabal Shammar – Emirate of Ha'il (to November 2, 1921) Capital: Ha'il |
Widely-recognized independent state. It was completely conquered by Saudi forces from November 2, 1921 and subsequently incorporated into the Sultanate of Nejd. | |
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 Haiti – Republic of Haiti Capital: Port-au-Prince |
Widely-recognized independent state under United States occupation. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 →  Hejaz – Hashemite Kingdom of Hejaz (to January 8, 1926) Capital: Mecca |
Widely-recognized independent state. Annexed by Sultanate of Nejd, creating the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd from January 8, 1926. | |
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 Honduras – Republic of Honduras Capital: Tegucigalpa |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 → Hungary Capital: Budapest
|
Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from September 18, 1922. | |
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I | ||
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 Iceland – Kingdom of Iceland Capital: Reykjavik |
Widely-recognized independent state. | |
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 Ireland – Irish Free State (from December 6, 1922) Capital: Dublin |
Widely-recognized independent state after November 15, 1926. LON member state from September 10, 1923. | |
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 Italy – Kingdom of Italy Capital: Rome |
Widely-recognized independent state under fascism from 31 October 1922. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. Italy had four colonies and three concessions:
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J | ||
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 Japan – Empire of Japan Capital: Tokyo |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. Japan had sovereignty over the following dependencies and concessions:
Japan administered one League of Nations mandate: | |
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L | ||
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 &  Latvia (disputed between two governments to January 13, 1920) Capital: Riga
|
Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from September 22, 1921. | |
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 Liberia – Republic of Liberia Capital: Monrovia |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 →  Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein Capital: Vaduz |
Widely-recognized independent state. | |
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 Lithuania – Republic of Lithuania Capital: Vilnius |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from September 22, 1921. | |
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 Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Capital: Luxembourg City |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON member state from December 16, 1920. | |
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M | ||
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 Mexico – United Mexican States Capital: Mexico City |
Widely-recognized independent state. | |
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 Monaco – Principality of Monaco Capital: Monaco City |
Widely-recognized independent state. | |
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 Mountain Republic - Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus (to January 20, 1921) Capital: Temir-Khan-Shura |
Widely-recognized independent state. Incorporated into the Russian SFSR as the Mountain ASSR from January 20, 1921. | |
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 Muscat and Oman – Sultanate of Muscat and Oman Capital: Muscat |
De jure independent state. De facto a British protectorate. | |
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N | ||
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 →  Nejd (to January 8, 1926) Capital: Riyadh
|
Widely-recognized independent state. Nejd annexed Hejaz, creating the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd from January 8, 1926. | |
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 Hejaz and Nejd – Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd (Personal Union, from January 8, 1926)
Capital: Mecca (Hejaz), Riyadh (Nejd)
|
Widely-recognized independent state. Nejd and Hejaz had one protectorate:
| |
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 Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal (from December 21, 1923) Capital: Kathmandu |
Widely-recognized independent state. | |
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 Netherlands – Kingdom of the Netherlands Capital: Amsterdam |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. The Netherlands had sovereignty over three colonies: | |
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 Newfoundland – Dominion of Newfoundland Capital: St. John's |
Widely-recognized independent state after November 15, 1926. | |
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 New Zealand – Dominion of New Zealand Capital: Wellington |
Widely-recognized independent state after November 15, 1926. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. The following are territories of New Zealand:
New Zealand administered one League of Nations mandate:
| |
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 Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua Capital: Managua |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 Norway – Kingdom of Norway Capital: Oslo |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. Norway had sovereignty over two uninhabited possessions:
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O | ||
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 Ottoman Empire – Sublime Ottoman State (to November 1, 1922) Capital: Constantinople |
Widely-recognized independent state. Ottoman Empire had one protectorate:
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P | ||
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 Panama – Republic of Panama Capital: Panama City |
Widely-recognized independent state. | |
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 Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay Capital: Asunción |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 →  Persia Capital: Tehran
|
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 Peru – Peruvian Republic Capital: Lima |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 →  Poland – Republic of Poland Capital: Warsaw |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 Portugal Capital: Lisbon
|
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. The following are colonies and possession of Portugal:
| |
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R | ||
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 Romania – Kingdom of Romania Capital: Bucharest |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 Russia – Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (to December 30, 1922) Capital: Moscow |
Widely-recognized independent state. Became part of the Soviet Union from December 30, 1922. Russia had three protectorates and one concession: | |
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S | ||
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 San Marino – Most Serene Republic of San Marino Capital: City of San Marino |
Widely-recognized independent state. | |
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 Serbs, Croats and Slovenes / Yugoslavia Capital: Belgrade
|
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 Siam – Kingdom of Siam Capital: Bangkok |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 →  South Africa – Union of South Africa
Capital: Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, and Pietermaritzburg |
Widely-recognized independent state after November 15, 1926. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. South Africa administered one League of Nations mandate:
| |
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 →  →  Soviet Union – Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (from December 30, 1922) Capital: Moscow |
Widely-recognized independent state. The Soviet Union was a federation of four (later seven) republics.[i] | |
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 Spain – Kingdom of Spain Capital: Madrid |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. Spain had sovereignty over the following colonies, possessions and protectorate:
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 Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden Capital: Stockholm |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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 Switzerland – Swiss Confederation Capital: Bern |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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T | ||
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 Tibet Capital: Lhasa |
De facto independent state. Claimed by the Republic of China. | |
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 Transcaucasia – Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (from March 12 to December 30, 1922) Capital: Tiflis |
Widely-recognized independent state. The Transcaucasian SFSR was a federation constituted by the Armenian SSR, the Azerbaijan SSR and the Georgian SSR. Became part of the Soviet Union from December 30, 1922. | |
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 Turkey (from November 1, 1922) Capital: Ankara
|
Widely-recognized independent state. | |
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U | ||
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 United Kingdom Capital: London
|
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. The following were colonies, concessions, and territories of the United Kingdom:
United Kingdom administered the following League of Nations mandates:
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 United States – United States of America Capital: Washington, D.C. |
Widely-recognized independent state. The following were territories of the United States of America:
| |
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 Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay Capital: Montevideo |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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V | ||
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 Vatican City – Vatican City State (from February 1, 1929; effective from June 7, 1929) Capital: Vatican City |
Widely recognized independent state. Vatican City is administered by the Holy See. | |
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 Venezuela – United States of Venezuela Capital: Caracas |
Widely-recognized independent state. LON founding member state from January 10, 1920. | |
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Y | ||
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 Yemen – Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen Capital: Sana`a |
Widely-recognized independent state. | |
States claiming sovereignty | ||
 Alash – Alash Autonomy (to August 26, 1920) Capital: Alash-Qala |
Unrecognized state.[8] | |
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 Ararat – Republic of Ararat (from October 28, 1927) Capital: Kurdava |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Armenia, Mountainous (from April 26 to July 13, 1921) Capital: Tabriz |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Azadistan (from April to September 13, 1920) Capital: Goris |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Baranya–Baja – Serbian–Hungarian Baranya–Baja Republic (from 14 to 25 August 1921) Capital: Pécs |
Unrecognized state. | |
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| Bottleneck – Free State of Bottleneck (to February 23, 1923) Capital: Lorch |
Quasi-state. Unoccupied territory within post-World War I Germany. | |
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 Bukhara (from October 8, 1920 to October 27, 1924) Capital: Bukhara
|
Soviet state. | |
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 Byelorussia – Byelorussian Socialist Soviet Republic (from July 31, 1920 to December 30, 1922) Capital: Minsk |
Soviet state. Became part of the Soviet Union from December 30, 1922. | |
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 Carnaro – Italian Regency of Carnaro (from September 8 to December 30, 1920) Capital: Fiume |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Central Lithuania – Republic of Central Lithuania (from October 12, 1920) Capital: Vilnius |
Puppet state of the Second Polish Republic. | |
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 Don – Don Republic (to 1920) Capital: Novocherkassk |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Far Eastern Republic (from April 6, 1920 to November 15, 1922) Capital: Verkhneudinsk (to October 1920), Chita (from October 1920) |
Puppet state/Buffer stateofSoviet Russia. | |
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 Galicia – Galician Socialist Soviet Republic (from July 8 to September 21, 1920) Capital: Ternopil |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Gilan – Persian Socialist Soviet Republic (from June 1920 to September 1921) Capital: Rasht |
Unrecognized state. | |
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| Ireland – Irish Republic (to December 6, 1922) Capital: Dublin |
Unrecognized state. | |
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Karelia
|
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Khorasan – Autonomous Government of Khorasan (from April 2, 1921 to October 6, 1921) Capital: Mashhad |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Khorezm (from April 26, 1920 to October 27, 1924) Capital: Khiva
|
Soviet state. | |
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 Korea, Provisional Government of – Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea Capital-in-exile: Shanghai |
Partially recognized Korean government-in-exile. | |
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 Kuban – Kuban People's Republic (to March 17, 1920) Capital: Yekaterinodar |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Kurdistan – Kingdom of Kurdistan (from September 1921 to July 1925) Capital: Sulaymaniyah |
Unrecognized state. | |
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| Labin – Labin Republic (from March 2 to April 8, 1921) Capital: Labin |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Leitha – Banate of Leitha (from October 4 to November 10, 1921) Capital: Oberwart |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Lemko Republic – Lemko-Rusyn People's Republic (to March 1920) Capital: Florynka |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Mirdita – Republic of Mirdita (from July 17 to November 20, 1921) Capital: Prizren |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 →  →  Mongolia (from February 21, 1921) Capital: Niislel Khüree (renamed Ulaanbaatar in 1924)
|
Partially recognized socialist republic. Under Soviet intervention from 1921 to 1924. Satellite state of the Soviet Union from November 26, 1924. | |
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 North Ingria – Republic of North Ingria (to December 5, 1920) Capital: Kirjasalo |
Unrecognized state. | |
| Raqqa – Independent State of Raqqa (from August 10, 1920 to December 17, 1921) Capital: Raqqa |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Rhineland – Rhenish Republic (from October 21, 1923 to November 26, 1924) Capital: Aachen |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Rif – Confederal Republic of the Tribes of the Rif (from September 18, 1921 to May 27, 1926) Capital: Ajdir |
Unrecognized state. | |
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| Southern Karelia – Olonets Government of Southern Karelia (from May to December 20, 1920) | Unrecognized state. | |
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 Syria – Arab Kingdom of Syria (to July 25, 1920) Capital: Damascus |
De facto independent state not recognized by any other state.[9] | |
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 →  Tannu Tuva (from August 14, 1921) Capital: Khem-Beldyr
|
Partially recognized socialist republic. Satellite state of the Soviet Union. | |
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 Uhtua – Republic of Uhtua (to December 19, 1920) Capital: Uhtua |
Unrecognized state. | |
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 Ukraine, Soviet – Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic (to December 30, 1922) Capital: Kharkov |
Soviet proto-state. Became part of the Soviet Union from December 30, 1922. | |
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The capture of the Arg on October 13, 1929 marked the end of the Tajik regime
Nadir received word of the victory in Ali Khayl and immediately set out for the capital, arriving in the city on the 15th.
