Non-recognized nations are nations that have declared their independence, but not been acknowledged as such by the international community at large.

Present non-recognized 'countries' in existence

• South Ossetia (UDI 1992)
• Abkhazia (UDI 1992)
• Transnistria (UDI 1990)
• Nagorno-Karabakh (UDI 1991)
• North Cyprus (UDI 1983)
• Somaliland (UDI 1991)
• Taiwan (Government in exile of the Republic of China has been based here since 1949. 25 nations recognize this entity as the Republic of China.)
• Sealand (UDI 1967)
• Chechnya (UDI 1991. Resisting Russian occupation forces.)

Past non-recognized 'countries' and their period of 'independence'

• Rhodesia (1965-1979. Became Zimbabwe-Rhodesia.)
• Zimbabwe-Rhodesia (1979-1980. Now Zimbabwe.)
• Transkei (1976-1994. Now part of South Africa.)
• Bophuthatswana (1977-1994. Now part of South Africa.)
• Venda (1979-1994. Now part of South Africa.)
• Ciskei (1981-1994. Now part of South Africa.)
• Katanga (1960-1963. Now part of Congo.)
• Biafra (1967-1970. Only 12 nations recognized this entity. Now part of Nigeria.)
• Manchukuo (1932-1945. Only 6 nations recognized this entity. Now part of China.)
• Krajina (1990-1995). Now part of Croatia.)
• Carpatho-Ukraine (1938. Now part of Ukraine.)
• Confederate States of America (1861-1865. Now part of USA.)
• Taliban Afghanistan (1996-2001. Only 3 nations recognized this entity. Now I.R. Afghanistan.)

Aspirant nations (wanting to declare independence)

• Kurdistan (Portions in Turkey, Iraq, and Iran.)
• Basque Country (ETA currently trying to break off Basque Country from Spain.)
• Tibet (Annexed by China in 1955; government in exile is based in India.)
• West Papua (Indonesian province of Irian Jaya.)