List of sovereign states in the 1890s

This is a list of sovereign states in the 1890s, giving an overview of states around the world during the period between 1 January 1890 and 31 December 1899. It contains entries, arranged alphabetically, with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty. It includes widely recognized sovereign states, and entities which were de facto sovereign but which were not widely recognized by other states.

Sovereign states by year
List of sovereign states in 1889	Events of 1890	List of sovereign states in 1891

Sovereign states

Name and capital city	Information on status and recognition of sovereignty
A
Abuja – Abuja Emirate Capital: Abuja	Widely recognized state.
Acre – Republic of Acre (from July 14, 1899) Capital: Cidade do Acre	De facto independent state from July 14, 1899.^[1]
Agadez – Tenere Sultanate of Aïr Capital: Agadez	Widely recognized state.^[2]
Andorra – Principality of Andorra Capital: Andorra la Vella	Widely recognized state.^[3]
Angoche – Angoche Sultanate Capital: Angoche	Widely recognized state.
Ankole – Kingdom of Ankole Capital: Mbarara	Widely recognized state.^[4]
Argentina – Argentine Republic Capital: Buenos Aires	Widely recognized state.^[5]
Aro – Aro Confederacy Capital: Arochukwu	Widely recognized state.
Ashanti – Asante Union Capital: Kumasi	Widely recognized state.^[6]
Aussa – Sultanate of Aussa Capital: Aussa	Widely recognized state.
Austria-Hungary – Austro-Hungarian Empire Capital: Vienna (Cisleithania), Budapest (Transleithania)	Widely recognized state.^[7]
B
Baguirmi – Kingdom of Baguirmi (to September 20, 1897) Capital: Massenya (to 1893), Chekna (from 1893 to 1897)	Widely recognized state. Tributary state of the Bornu Empire. Annexed by France on September 20, 1897.^[8]
Bali – Kingdom of Bali Capital: Klungkung	Widely recognized state. Bali was a series of kingdoms that ruled the island of Bali.
Baol – Kingdom of Baol (to 1895) Capital: Diourbel	Widely recognized state. Annexed by France in 1895.^[9]
Barotseland – Kingdom of Barotseland (to 1899) Capital: Mongu	Unrecognized state. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1899.^[10]
Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium Capital: Brussels	Widely recognized state.^[11]
Benin – Kingdom of Benin (to February 18, 1897) Capital: Edo	Widely recognized state. Annexed by the United Kingdom on February 18, 1897.
Bhutan – Kingdom of Bhutan Capital: Punakha	Widely recognized state.
Biu – Biu Kingdom Capital: Biu	Widely recognized state.
Bolivia – Republic of Bolivia Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative)	Widely recognized state.
Bora Bora – Kingdom of Bora Bora (to September 21, 1895) Capital: Nunue, Vaitape	Widely recognized state. Annexed by France on September 21, 1895.^[12]
Bornu – Bornu Empire (to 1893) Capital: Ngazargamu	Widely recognized state. Annexed by France in 1893.^[13]
Brakna – Brakna Emirate Capital: Aleg	Widely recognized state.
Brazil – Republic of the United States of Brazil Capital: Rio de Janeiro	Widely recognized state. Brazil was a federation of 20 states, one territory, and one federal district.^[a]
Buganda – Kingdom of Buganda (to 1894) Capital: Mengo, Uganda	Widely recognized state. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1894.
Bulgaria – Principality of Bulgaria Capital: Sofia	De facto independent, and de jure vassal state under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire.
Bunyoro – Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom (to 1899) Capital: Hoima	Widely recognized state. Annexed by the United Kingdom in 1899.
Burundi – Kingdom of Burundi (to July 1, 1890) Capital: Gitega, Bujumbura	Widely recognized state. Annexed by Germany on July 1, 1890.
Busoga – Kingdom of Busoga Capital: Bugembe	Widely recognized state.
C
Canada – Dominion of Canada Capital: Ottawa	Widely recognized state.
→   Central America Capital: Amapala Greater Republic of Central America (from September 15, 1895 to November 1, 1898) United States of Central America (from November 1 to November 21, 1898)	Widely recognized state. Political union between El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua until November 21, 1898.^[14]
Champasak – Kingdom of Champasak (from 1899) Capital: Champasak	Widely recognized state. Vassal state of Siam.
Chile Capital: Santiago Liberal Republic of Chile (to September 18, 1891) Parliamentary Era in Chile (from September 18, 1891)	Widely recognized state.
China – Great Qing Empire Capital: Beijing	Widely recognized state.
Chokwe – Chokwe Kingdom Capital: Not specified	Widely recognized state.
Colombia – Republic of Colombia Capital: Bogota	Widely recognized state.
Congo – Congo Free State Capital: Boma	Widely recognized state. State in personal union with the Kingdom of Belgium.
Costa Rica – Republic of Costa Rica Capital: San Jose	Widely recognized state.
Crete – Cretan State (from December 9, 1898) Capital: Chania	Autonomous state of the Ottoman Empire.
Cuba – Republic of Cuba (to April 4, 1899) Capital: Havana	Widely recognized state. Annexed by the United States on April 4, 1899.
D
Dahomey – Kingdom of Dahomey (to January 20, 1894) Capital: Abomey	Widely recognized state. Annexed by France on January 20, 1894.
Darfur – Sultanate of Darfur (from 1898) Capital: Al Fashir	Widely recognized state from 1898.
Dendi – Dendi Kingdom Capital: Lulami	Widely recognized state.
Denmark – Kingdom of Denmark Capital: Copenhagen	Widely recognized state. Denmark had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:   Danish West Indies (Colony)   Greenland (Colony)   Iceland (Dependency)
Dhala – Emirate of Dhala Capital: Dhale	Widely recognized state.
Dominican Republic – Second Republic Capital: Santo Domingo	Widely recognized state.
E
Ecuador – Republic of Ecuador Capital: Quito	Widely recognized independent state.
El Salvador – Republic of El Salvador (to September 15, 1896 from November 21, 1898) Capital: San Salvador	Widely recognized independent state.
→   Ethiopia – Ethiopian Empire Capital: Addis Ababa	Widely recognized independent state.
F
France – French Republic Capital: Paris	Widely recognized independent state. France had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:   Comoros Protectorate)   French Algeria (de jure Department of Metropolitan France, de facto Colony)   French Guiana (Colony)   French India (Colony)   French Indochina (Colony)   French Madagascar (Colony from February 28, 1897)   French Oceania - French Establishments in Oceania (Colony)   French Somaliland (Colony)   French West Africa (Federation of colonies from October 27, 1895)   Guadeloupe (Colony)   Guangzhouwan (Leased territory of France from May 29, 1898)   Martinique (Colony)   Mayotte (Colony)   New Caledonia (Colony)   Tunisia - Tunisian Realm (Protectorate)
Futa Jallon – Imamate of Futa Jallon (to November 18, 1896) Capital: Timbo	Widely recognized independent state.
G
Gaza – Gaza Empire (to 1895) Capital: Manjacaze	Widely recognized independent state until 1895.
Geledi – Sultanate of the Geledi Capital: Afgooye	Widely recognized independent state.
Germany – German Empire Capital: Berlin	Widely recognized independent state. Germany had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:   German East Africa (Colony)   German New Guinea (Colony)   German South West Africa (Colony)   German West Africa (Colony)   Kiautschou Bay (Concession from March 6, 1898)   Wituland (Protectorate to 1890)
Greece – Kingdom of Greece Capital: Athens	Widely recognized independent state.
Guatemala – Republic of Guatemala Capital: Guatemala City	Widely recognized independent state.
Gyaaman – State of Gyaaman Capital: Sampa, Drobo	Widely recognized independent state.
H
Ha'il – Emirate of Jabal Shammar Capital: Ha'il	Widely recognized independent state.
Haiti – Republic of Haiti Capital: Port-au-Prince	Widely recognized independent state.
Hawaii Capital: Honolulu Kingdom of Hawaii (to January 17, 1893) Provisional Government of Hawaii (from January 17, 1893 to July 4, 1894) Republic of Hawaii (from July 4, 1894 to August 12, 1898)	Widely recognized independent state.
Honduras – Republic of Honduras (to September 15, 1896 from November 21, 1898) Capital: Tegucigalpa	Widely recognized independent state.
Huahine – Kingdom of Huahine (to September 15, 1895) Capital: Huahine	Widely recognized independent state.
I
Italy – Kingdom of Italy Capital: Rome	Widely recognized independent state. Italy had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:   Italian Eritrea (Colony)   Italian Somaliland (Colony)
J
Janjero – Kingdom of Janjero (to 1894) Capital: Fofa	Widely recognized independent state.
Japan – Empire of Japan Capital: Tokyo City	Widely recognized independent state. Japan had sovereignty over the following overseas territories:   Hokkaido (Colony)   Kuril Islands (Colony)   Minami-Tori-shima (Colony from 1898)   Nanpō Islands (Colony from 1891)   Ryukyu Islands (Colony)   Taiwan (Colony from April 17, 1895)
K
Kaffa – Kingdom of Kaffa (to September 11, 1897) Capital: Bonga, Anderaccha	Widely recognized independent state.
Kano – Emirate of Kano Capital: Takai	Vassal state of the Sokoto Caliphate.
Kénédougou – Kénédougou Kingdom (to May 1, 1898) Capital: Sikasso	Widely recognized independent state.
Kong – Kong Empire (to 1895) Capital: Kong	Widely recognized independent state.
Kongo – Kingdom of Kongo Capital: Mbanza-Kongo	Widely recognized independent state. Vassal of the Kingdom of Portugal.
→   Korea Capital: Hanseong Kingdom of Great Joseon (to October 12, 1897) Korean Empire (from October 12, 1897)	Tributary state of the Qing dynasty to 1894. Widely recognized independent state from October 12, 1897.
Koya Temne – Kingdom of Koya (to August 31, 1896) Capital: Grand Cape Mount	Widely recognized independent state.
L
Liberia – Republic of Liberia Capital: Monrovia	Widely recognized independent state.
Liechtenstein – Principality of Liechtenstein Capital: Vaduz	Widely recognized independent state.
Limmu-Ennarea – Kingdom of Limmu-Ennarea (to 1891) Capital: Saqqa	Widely recognized independent state until 1891.
Lower Yafa – Sultanate of Lower Yafa (to 1895) Capital: Jaʿār	Widely recognized independent state until 1895.
Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Capital: Luxembourg City	Widely recognized independent state.
M
Maguindanao – Sultanate of Maguindanao (to October 30, 1898) Capital: Kuta Watu	Widely recognized independent state.
Mahdist Sudan – Mahdist State (to September 2, 1898) Capital: Omdurman	Unrecognized state.
Manipur – Kingdom of Manipur (to 1891) Capital: Imphal	Widely recognized independent state until 1891.
Maravi – Kingdom of Maravi (to 1891) Capital: Manthimba	Widely recognized independent state until 1891.
Matabeleland – Matabele Kingdom Capital: Bulawayo	Widely recognized independent state.
Merina – Kingdom of Imerina (to 1897) Capital: Antananarivo	Widely recognized independent state.
Mexico – United Mexican States Capital: Mexico City	Widely recognized independent state.
Monaco – Principality of Monaco Capital: Monaco	Widely recognized independent state.
Montenegro – Principality of Montenegro Capital: Cetinje	Widely recognized independent state.
Morocco – Sultanate of Morocco Capital: Fes	Widely recognized independent state.
Mossi Kingdoms – Mossi Empire (to 1896) Capital: Multiple capitals	Widely recognized independent state. The following are a number of different kingdoms that make up the Mossi Empire:   Gurunsi (to 1899) Capital: Sati   Gwiriko (to 1897) Capital: Bobo-Dioulasso   Liptako (to 1897) Capital: Dori   Nungu (to 1895) Capital: Not specified   Wogodogo (to 1897) Capital: Wogodogo   Yatenga (to 1895) Capital: Not specified
N
Negeri Sembilan (to 1895) Capital: Seremban	Widely recognized independent state to 1895. Federated in to the Federated Malay States from 1895.
Nepal – Kingdom of Nepal Capital: Kathmandu	Widely recognized independent state.
Netherlands – Kingdom of The Netherlands Capital: Amsterdam	Widely recognized independent state.
Nicaragua – Republic of Nicaragua (to September 15, 1896; from November 21, 1898) Capital: Managua	Widely recognized independent state to September 15, 1896, and from November 21, 1898)
Norway – Kingdom of Norway Capital: Christiania	Widely recognized independent state. In personal union between Sweden until December 15, 1899. Union badge removed on December 15, 1899
O
Orange Free State Capital: Bloemfontein	Widely recognized independent state. Independent Boer sovereign republic under the British suzerainty in South Africa.
Ottoman Empire – Sublime Ottoman State Capital: Constantinople	Widely recognized independent state.
P
Paraguay – Republic of Paraguay Capital: Asunción	Widely recognized independent state.
→   Persia – Sublime State of Persia Capital: Tehran	Widely recognized independent state.
Peru – Peruvian Republic Capital: Lima	Widely recognized independent state.
Portugal – Kingdom of Portugal Capital: Lisbon	Widely recognized independent state.
R
Romania – Kingdom of Romania Capital: Bucharest	Widely recognized independent state.
Russia – Russian Empire Capital: Saint Petersburg	Widely recognized independent state.
S
Samoa – Kingdom of Samoa Capital: Apia	Widely recognized independent state.
San Marino – Most Serene Republic of San Marino Capital: San Marino	Widely recognized independent state.
Serbia – Kingdom of Serbia Capital: Belgrade	Widely recognized independent state.
Setul Mambang Segara – Kingdom of Setul Mambang Segara Capital: Kota Mambang Segara	Widely recognized independent state.
Siam – Kingdom of Siam Capital: Bangkok	Widely recognized independent state. The following are vassal states of Siam:   Luang Phrabang (Vassal state, to 1893)
Sokoto – Sokoto Caliphate Capital: Sokoto	Widely recognized independent state.
Spain – Kingdom of Spain Capital: Madrid	Widely recognized independent state.
Sulu – Sultanate of Sulu Capital: Maimbung	Widely recognized independent state.
Sweden – Kingdom of Sweden Capital: Stockholm	Widely recognized independent state. In personal union between Norway until December 15, 1899.
Switzerland – Swiss Confederation Capital: Bern	Widely recognized independent state.
T
Tonga - Kingdom of Tonga Capital: Nuku'alofa	Widely recognized independent state.
Toro – Toro Kingdom (from August 14, 1891) Capital: Kabarole	Widely recognized independent state from August 14, 1891.
Toucouleur – Toucouleur Empire (to 1890) Capital: Segou	Widely recognized independent state until 1890.
Transvaal – South African Republic Capital: Pretoria	Widely recognized independent state.
Tui Manuʻa – Tui Manuʻa Empire Capital: Fitiuta	Widely recognized independent state.
U
United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Capital: London	Widely recognized independent state.
→   United States – United States of America Capital: Washington D.C.	Widely recognized independent state.
Upper Aulaqi Sultanate Capital: Nişāb	Widely recognized independent state.
Upper Aulaqi Sheikhdom Capital: Sa'id	Widely recognized independent state.
Upper Yafa – State of Upper Yafa Capital: Mahjaba	Widely recognized independent state.
Uruguay – Eastern Republic of Uruguay Capital: Montevideo	Widely recognized independent state.

V

•   Venezuela – United States of Venezuela

W

•  Wadai – Wadai Empire
•   Wahidi Haban – Wahidi Sultanate of Haban
•   Wassoulou – Wassoulou Empire (to September 29, 1898)
•  Welayta – Kingdom of Welayta (to November 1894)

Y

•  Yeke – Yeke Kingdom (to 1891)

Z

•   Zabarma – Zabarma Emirate (to 1897)
•   Zamboanga – Republic of Zamboanga (from May 18 to November 16, 1898)

States claiming sovereignty

•   Aceh – Sultanate of Aceh
•   Biak-na-Bato – Philippine Republic (from November 1 to December 15, 1897)
•   Counani – Republic of Independent Guiana (to 1891)
•   Formosa – Republic of Formosa (from May 24 to October 23, 1895)
•   Franceville – Independent Commune of Franceville (to 1890)
•   Lado – Lado District
•   Negros – Republic of Negros (from November 27, 1898)
•   Swaziland – Kingdom of Swaziland (from 1894)
•   Tagalog Republic – Sovereign Tagalog Nation (from August 29, 1896, to March 22, 1897)
•   Trinidad – Principality of Trinidad (from 1893 to 1895)

Notes

1. 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. 1 Territory: Acre (from April 30, 1904). 1 Federal District: Federal District.

References

1. "Acre and its Robber; Cause of the Establishment of the New Republic. The Conflicting Interests of Brazil and Bolivia -- Millions Involved -- Population Not Over 10,000". The New York Times. 1900-11-25. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
2. James B. Minahan (2016). Encyclopedia of Stateless Nations: Ethnic and National Groups around the World, 2nd Edition. ABC-CLIO. p. 418. ISBN 978-1-61069-954-9.
3. "Andorra", The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, November 3, 2021, retrieved 2021-11-17
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5. "Argentina", The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 2021-11-16, retrieved 2021-11-19
6. "Asante empire". www.britannica.com. Retrieved December 1, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
7. McCarthy, Justin (1880). A History of Our Own Times, from 1880 to the Diamond Jubilee. New York, United States of America: Harper & Brothers, Publishers. pp. 475–476.
8. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bagirmi" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 201.
9. Institut fondamental d'Afrique noire, Bulletin: Sciences humaines, Volume 38 (1976), pp. 452-458
10. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Barotse and Barotseland" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 424–425.
11. "Belgium", The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 2022-01-21, retrieved 2022-02-06
12. "Bora-Bora". www.britannica.com. Retrieved March 6, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
13. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bornu" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 265.
14. Slade, William F. (1917). "The Federation of Central America". The Journal of Race Development. 8 (2): 210–215. doi:10.2307/29738239. hdl:2027/inu.30000056731338. JSTOR 29738239.