View source for Dependent territory

{{Short description|Territory that does not possess full political independence as a sovereign state}}
{{About|external territories which have a greater degree of autonomy from their parent state and function as ''de facto'' independent political entities|subnational administrative divisions which have some degree of autonomy under the national government|Autonomous administrative division}}

{{Forms of government|expanded=Client state}}

A '''dependent territory''', '''dependent area''', or '''dependency''' (sometimes referred as an '''external territory''') is a [[territory]] that does not possess full political [[independence]] or [[sovereignty]] as a [[sovereign state]] and remains politically outside the controlling state's integral area. As such, a dependent territory includes a range of non-integrated not fully to non-independent territory types, from [[associated state]]s to [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories|non-self-governing territories]] (e.g. a [[colony]]).

A dependent territory is commonly distinguished from a [[administrative division|country subdivision]] by being considered not to be a constituent part of a sovereign state. An administrative subdivision, instead, is understood to be a division of a state proper. A dependent territory, conversely, often maintains a great degree of autonomy from its controlling state. Historically, most colonies were considered to be dependent territories. Not all autonomous entities are considered to be dependent territories.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/dppa/decolonization/en/history/international-trusteeship-system-and-trust-territories|title=International Trusteeship System and Trust Territories &#124; The United Nations and Decolonization|website=United Nations }}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=October 2020}} Most inhabited, dependent territories have their own [[ISO 3166]] country codes.

Some political entities inhabit a special position guaranteed by an international treaty or another agreement, thereby creating a certain level of autonomy (e.g. a difference in immigration rules). Those entities are sometimes considered to be, or are at least grouped with, dependent territories,<ref name="The Trusteeship System and Non-Self-Governing Territories">{{Cite web|url=http://unyearbook.un.org/1960YUN/1960_P1_SEC3_CH4.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320074502/http://unyearbook.un.org/1960YUN/1960_P1_SEC3_CH4.pdf|url-status=dead|title=United Nations General Assembly 15th Session – The Trusteeship System and Non-Self-Governing Territories (pages:509–510)|archive-date=March 20, 2012}}</ref> but are officially considered by their governing states to be an integral part of those states.<ref name="The Trusteeship System and Non-Self-Governing Territories"/> Such an example is [[Åland]], an [[Regions of Finland#Åland|autonomous region of Finland]].

==Summary==
The lists below include the following:

===Dependent territories===
[[File:Unnamed glacial canyon, northern Greenland (6993811096).jpg|thumb|Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark in North America]]

* Two states in free association, one dependent territory, and one Antarctic claim in the [[#New Zealand|listing for New Zealand]]
* One uninhabited territory and two Antarctic claims in the [[#Norway|listing for Norway]]
* 13 overseas territories (ten autonomous, two used primarily as military bases, and one uninhabited), three Crown dependencies, and one Antarctic claim in the [[#United Kingdom|listing for the United Kingdom]]
* 13 unincorporated territories (five inhabited and eight uninhabited) and two claimed but uncontrolled territories in the [[#United States|listing for the United States]]

===Similar entities===
* Six external territories (three inhabited and three uninhabited) and one Antarctic claim in the [[#Australia|listing for Australia]]
* Two special administrative regions in the [[#China|listing for China]]
* Two self-governing territories with autonomy in internal affairs in the [[#Denmark|listing for Denmark]]
* One autonomous region governed according to an act and international treaties in the [[#Finland|listing for Finland]]
* Five autonomous overseas collectivities, one ''sui generis'' collectivity, and two uninhabited overseas territories (one of which includes an Antarctic claim) in the [[#France|listing for France]]
* Three constituent countries with autonomy in internal affairs in the [[#Netherlands|listing for the Netherlands]]
* One internal territory with limited sovereignty in the [[#Norway 2|listing for Norway]]

[[File:Palm Beach, Aruba (4901990402).jpg|thumb|[[Aruba]], a Dependent territory of the Netherlands in [[Caribbean|the Caribbean]]]]
[[File:Dependent territories.svg|thumb|center|600px|Dependent territories and their sovereign states. All territories are labeled according to [[ISO 3166-1 alpha-2|ISO 3166-1]]{{refn|group=note|Each territory in the [[United States Minor Outlying Islands]] is labeled '''UM-''' followed by the first letter of its name and another unique letter if needed.}} or with numbers.{{refn|group=note|The following territories do not have [[ISO 3166-1 alpha-2|ISO 3166-1]] codes:<br>'''1''': [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia]]<br>'''2''': [[Ashmore and Cartier Islands]]<br>'''3''': [[Coral Sea Islands]]}} Coloured areas without labels are integral parts of their respective countries. [[Antarctica]] is shown as a [[condominium (international law)|condominium]] instead of [[territorial claims in Antarctica|individual claims]].]]

==Lists of dependent territories==
This list includes all territories that have not been legally incorporated into their governing state, including several territories that are not on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories|list of non-self-governing territories]] of the [[United Nations General Assembly|General Assembly of the United Nations]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories (1945-1999) |url=https://www.un.org/en/decolonization/nonselfgov.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112191222/https://www.un.org/en/decolonization/nonselfgov.shtml |archive-date=12 Jan 2017 |access-date=20 Jan 2023 |website=United Nations}}</ref> All claims in [[Antarctica]] are listed in ''italics''.

===New Zealand===
{{Main|Realm of New Zealand}}

[[New Zealand]] has two [[political status of the Cook Islands and Niue|self-governing associated states]], one dependent territory, and a territorial claim in Antarctica.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Salesa |first1=Damon Ieremia |title=Island time : New Zealand's Pacific futures |date=2017 |publisher=Bridget Williams Books |location=Wellington, New Zealand |isbn=9781988533506 |pages=6–7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AtdBDwAAQBAJ}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=April 2024}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Associated state !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Cook Islands}} || Self-governing state in free association with New Zealand since 1965. Cook Islands' status is considered to be equivalent to independence for international law purposes, and the country exercises full sovereignty over its internal and external affairs.<ref name="justice.govt.nz">{{cite web|url=http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/publications-archived/2000/pacific-peoples-constitution-report-september-2000/documents/Bibliography.doc|title=Find a publication &#124; New Zealand Ministry of Justice|access-date=2013-11-14|archive-date=2016-04-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429042126/http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/publications-archived/2000/pacific-peoples-constitution-report-september-2000/documents/Bibliography.doc|url-status=dead}}</ref> Under the terms of the free association agreement, however, New Zealand retains some responsibility for the foreign relations and defence of the Cook Islands. These responsibilities confer no rights of control and are exercised only at the request of the Cook Islands Government. The government of New Zealand does not consider it appropriate for the Cook Islands to have a separate seat at the United Nations, due to its continued use of the right of Cook Islanders to have [[New Zealand nationality law|New Zealand citizenship]].<ref name="Cook Islands UN">{{cite web|url=http://hpr2.org/post/pacific-news-minute-cook-islands-bid-un-membership-hold|title=Pacific News Minute: Cook Islands Bid for UN Membership On Hold|first=Neal|last=Conan|publisher=Hawai'i Public Radio|date=11 August 2015|access-date=6 April 2019|archive-date=9 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209114008/http://www.hpr2.org/post/pacific-news-minute-cook-islands-bid-un-membership-hold|url-status=dead}}</ref>|| [[ISO 3166-2:CK|CK]]
|-
| {{flag|Niue}} || Self-governing state in free association with New Zealand since 1974. Niue's status is considered to be equivalent to independence for international law purposes, and the country exercises full sovereignty over its internal and external affairs.<ref name="justice.govt.nz"/> Under the terms of the free association agreement, however, New Zealand retains some responsibility for the foreign relations and defence of Niue. These responsibilities confer no rights of control and are exercised only at the request of the Government of Niue. The government of New Zealand does not consider it appropriate for the Niue to have a separate seat at the United Nations, due to its continued use of the right of Niueans to have [[New Zealand nationality law|New Zealand citizenship]].<ref name="Cook Islands UN"/> || [[ISO 3166-2:NU|NU]]
|-
! Dependent territory !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Tokelau}} || Territory of New Zealand. A UN-sponsored referendum on self-governance in [[2006 Tokelauan self-determination referendum|February 2006]] did not produce the two-thirds [[supermajority]] necessary for changing the current political status. Another one was in [[2007 Tokelauan self-determination referendum|October 2007]], which failed to reach the two-thirds margin.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Connell |first1=John |editor1-last=Baldacchino |editor1-first=Godfrey |editor2-last=Milne |editor2-first=David |title=The case for non-sovereignty : lessons from sub-national island jurisdictions |date=2009 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780415455503 |pages=157–168 |url=https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21071 |chapter=‘We are not ready’ : colonialism or autonomy in Tokelau}}</ref> Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]]. || [[ISO 3166-2:TK|TK]]
|-
! Dependent territory<br />(uninhabited, claimed) !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| ''{{flag|Ross Dependency}}'' || This is New Zealand's [[territorial claims in Antarctica|Antarctic claim]]. Unlike Tokelau and the associated states (Cook Islands and Niue), the Ross Dependency is, according to the New Zealand government, constitutionally part of New Zealand.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100522033422/http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Foreign-Relations/Antarctica/1-New-Zealand-and-Antarctica/index.php New Zealand and Antarctica]. NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 2010</ref> || No unique ISO 3166 country codes
|}

===Norway===
{{Main|Dependencies of Norway}}

[[Norway]] has one dependent territory and two Antarctic claims. Norway also possesses the inhabited islands of [[Svalbard]] where Norwegian sovereignty is limited ([[#Norway 2|see below]]).

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Dependent territory<br />(uninhabited) !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Bouvet Island}} || Dependency administered from [[Oslo]] by the Polar Affairs Department of the [[Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police|Ministry of Justice and the Police]]. || [[ISO 3166-2:BV|BV]]
|-
! Dependent territory<br />(uninhabited, claimed) !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| ''{{flag|Peter I Island}}'' || rowspan=2 | Dependencies (subject to the [[Antarctic Treaty System]]) administered from [[Oslo]] by the Polar Affairs Department of the [[Minister of Justice and the Police (Norway)|Ministry of Justice and the Police]]. || rowspan="2" | No unique ISO 3166 country codes
|-
| ''{{flag|Queen Maud Land}}''
|}

===United Kingdom===
{{Main|British Overseas Territories|Crown Dependencies}}

The [[United Kingdom]] has three "[[Crown Dependencies]]", thirteen "Overseas Territories" (ten autonomous, two used primarily as military bases, and one uninhabited), and one Antarctic claim.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Crown Dependency !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Bailiwick of Guernsey|name=Guernsey}} || rowspan="3"| Responsibility for defence, international representation, and [[good government]] rests with the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|title=Guernsey at the CIA's page|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/guernsey/|publisher=CIA|access-date=2010-07-15|author=CIA|date=2010-07-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Jersey at the CIA's page|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/jersey/|publisher=CIA|access-date=2010-07-15|author=CIA|date=2010-07-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Isle of Man at the CIA's page|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/isle-of-man/|publisher=CIA|access-date=2010-07-15|author=CIA|date=2010-07-15}}</ref>
|| [[ISO 3166-2:GG|GG]]
|-
| {{flag|Isle of Man}} || [[ISO 3166-2:IM|IM]]
|-
| {{flag|Jersey}} || [[ISO 3166-2:JE|JE]]
|-
! Overseas Territory !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Anguilla}} || [[Anguilla House of Assembly|House of Assembly of Anguilla]] handles domestic affairs. Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]]. || [[ISO 3166-2:AI|AI]]
|-
| {{flag|Bermuda}} || [[Parliament of Bermuda]] handles domestic affairs and the territory is defined by the U.K. as self-governing. Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]]. || [[ISO 3166-2:BM|BM]]
|-
| {{flag|British Virgin Islands}} || [[House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands]] handles domestic affairs. Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]] || [[ISO 3166-2:VG|VG]]
|-
| {{flag|Cayman Islands}} || [[Parliament of the Cayman Islands]] handles domestic affairs. Almost complete internal self-government. Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]]. || [[ISO 3166-2:KY|KY]]
|-
| {{flag|Falkland Islands}} || [[Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands]] handles domestic affairs. Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]]. || [[ISO 3166-2:FK|FK]]
|-
| {{flag|Gibraltar}} || [[Gibraltar Parliament]] handles domestic affairs. Almost complete internal self-government. Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]]. || [[ISO 3166-2:GI|GI]]
|-
| {{flag|Montserrat}} || [[Legislative Council of Montserrat]] handles domestic affairs. Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]]. || [[ISO 3166-2:MS|MS]]
|-
| {{flag|Pitcairn Islands}} || [[Island Council (Pitcairn)|Island Council of the Pitcairn Islands]] handles some domestic affairs, however decisions are subject to approval by the [[Governor of the Pitcairn Islands]], reporting to the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]. Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]]. || [[ISO 3166-2:PN|PN]]
|-
| {{flag|Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha}} || [[Legislative Council of Saint Helena]], [[Ascension Island Council]] and [[Tristan da Cunha Island Council]] handle domestic affairs. Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]]. || [[ISO 3166-2:SH|SH]]
|-
| {{flag|Turks and Caicos Islands}} || [[Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly|House of Assembly of the Turks and Caicos Islands]] handles some domestic affairs. Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]]. || [[ISO 3166-2:TC|TC]]
|-
! Overseas Territory<br />(Sovereign Base Areas) !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Akrotiri and Dhekelia}} || Two sovereign base areas administered as a single British overseas territory by the Commander of [[British Forces Cyprus]], reporting to the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]. Permanent Cypriot population, as well as British military personnel and their families. || No unique ISO 3166 country codes
|-
! Overseas Territory<br />(uninhabited) !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|British Indian Ocean Territory}} || Administered by the [[Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory]], reporting to the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]]. The [[Chagossians|Indigenous Chagossian population]] was removed between 1967 and 1973. Presently the territory is restricted to military personnel, principally at the joint U.K.-U.S. naval base on the atoll of [[Diego Garcia]]. Per a 2025 agreement, the territory is set to be ceded to [[Mauritius]] in the near future.<ref name="b497">{{cite web | last=Loft | first=Philip | title=2025 treaty on the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago | website=House of Commons Library | date=2025-05-31 | url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10273/ | access-date=2025-05-31}}</ref>|| [[ISO 3166-2:IO|IO]]
|-
| {{flag|South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands}} || Administered by the [[Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]] (who is also the [[Governor of the Falkland Islands]]), reporting to the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]]. || [[ISO 3166-2:GS|GS]]
|-
! Overseas Territory<br />(uninhabited, claimed) !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| ''{{flag|British Antarctic Territory}}'' || Administered by the [[Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory]], reporting to the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]]. The UK's [[territorial claims in Antarctica|Antarctic claim]]. || No unique ISO 3166 country codes
|}

==={{Anchor|United States}} United States===
{{Main|Territories of the United States}}
{{Further|Insular area|United States Minor Outlying Islands}}

The [[United States]] has 13 "[[Territories of the United States#Incorporated versus unincorporated territories|unincorporated]]" dependent territories under its administration and two claimed territories outside its control.<ref name="GAO">{{cite web |url=https://www.gao.gov/archive/1998/og98005.pdf |title=U.S. Insular Areas Application of the U.S. Constitution |publisher=United States General Accounting Office |date=November 1997 |access-date=24 November 2020 |archive-date=29 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229153648/https://www.gao.gov/archive/1998/og98005.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The uninhabited [[Palmyra Atoll]] is administered similarly to some of these territories, and is usually included on lists of U.S. overseas territories, but it is excluded from this list because it is classified in U.S. law as an incorporated territory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doi.gov/oia/islands/politicatypes |title=Definitions of Insular Area Political Organizations |date=12 June 2015 |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior |access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref> The [[Constitution of the United States|U.S. Constitution]] does not apply in full to the insular areas.<ref name="GAO hrd 91-18">{{cite web |url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/hrd-91-18.pdf |title=U.S. Insular Areas Applicability of Relevant Provisions of the U.S. Constitution  |publisher=United States General Accounting Office |location=Washington, D.C. |page=4|date=June 20, 1991 |access-date=August 14, 2021}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Unincorporated organized territory !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Guam}} || [[Territories of the United States#Incorporated versus unincorporated territories|Unincorporated]] [[Territories of the United States#Organized vs. unorganized territories|organized territory]] of the U.S.; policy relations conducted through the [[Office of Insular Affairs]] of the [[United States Department of the Interior|Department of the Interior]]. Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]] || [[ISO 3166-2:GU|GU]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:US|US-GU]]
|-
| {{flag|Northern Mariana Islands}} || Unincorporated organized territory of the U.S. with [[Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)|Commonwealth]] status; federal funding administered by the Office of Insular Affairs of the Department of the Interior || [[ISO 3166-2:MP|MP]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:US|US-MP]]
|-
| {{flag|Puerto Rico}} || Unincorporated organized territory of the U.S. with Commonwealth status; policy relations conducted through the [[Executive Office of the President of the United States|Executive Office of the President]] || [[ISO 3166-2:PR|PR]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:US|US-PR]]
|-
| {{flag|U.S. Virgin Islands}} || Unincorporated organized territory of the U.S. Policy relations conducted by the Office of Insular Affairs of the Department of the Interior. Appears on the [[United States Department of the Interior|Department of the Interior]] || [[ISO 3166-2:VI|VI]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:US|US-VI]]
|-
! Unincorporated unorganized territory !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|American Samoa}} || Unincorporated unorganized territory administered by the Office of Insular Affairs of the Department of the Interior. Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]] || [[ISO 3166-2:AS|AS]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:US|US-AS]]
|-
! Unincorporated unorganized territory<br />(uninhabited){{refn|group=note|[[Midway Atoll]] and [[Wake Island]] have a few people, but these territories are not permanently inhabited.}} !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Baker Island}} || rowspan="6" | Unincorporated unorganized territories of the U.S. administered by the [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service|Fish and Wildlife Service]] of the Department of the Interior || [[ISO 3166-2:UM|UM-81]]
|-
| {{flag|Howland Island}}
| [[ISO 3166-2:UM|UM-84]]
|-
| {{flag|Jarvis Island}}
| [[ISO 3166-2:UM|UM-86]]
|-
| {{flag|Johnston Atoll}}
| [[ISO 3166-2:UM|UM-67]]
|-
| {{flag|Kingman Reef}}
| [[ISO 3166-2:UM|UM-89]]
|-
| {{flag|Midway Atoll}}
| [[ISO 3166-2:UM|UM-71]]
|-
| {{flag|Navassa Island}} || Unincorporated unorganized territory of the U.S. administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior from the [[Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge]] in [[Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico|Cabo Rojo]], [[Puerto Rico]]
| [[ISO 3166-2:UM|UM-76]]
|-
| {{flag|Wake Island|local}} || Unincorporated unorganized territory of the U.S. administered by the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] under an agreement with the Department of the Interior
| [[ISO 3166-2:UM|UM-79]]
|-
! Unincorporated unorganized territory<br />(uninhabited, claimed) !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{noflag|''[[Bajo Nuevo Bank]]''}}
| Administered by [[Colombia]]. Claimed by the United States (under the Guano Islands Act) and [[Jamaica]]. A claim by [[Nicaragua]] was resolved in 2012 in favor of Colombia by the [[International Court of Justice]], although the U.S. was not a party to that case and does not recognize the court's compulsory jurisdiction.<ref name=ICJ/>
| 
|-
| {{noflag|''[[Serranilla Bank]]''}}
| Administered by [[Colombia]]; site of a naval garrison. Claimed by the United States (since 1879 under the Guano Islands Act) and [[Jamaica]]. A claim by [[Nicaragua]] was resolved in 2012 in favor of Colombia by the International Court of Justice, although the United States was not a party to that case and does not recognize the court's compulsory jurisdiction.<ref name=ICJ>{{cite web | url=https://www.icj-cij.org/case/124 | title=Territorial and maritime dispute (Nicaragua vs Colombia) | year=2012 | access-date=May 27, 2023 | author=[[International Court of Justice]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501224316/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/124/17162.pdf | archive-date=May 1, 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref> A claim by [[Honduras]] was settled in a 1986 treaty over maritime boundaries with Colombia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/PDFFILES/TREATIES/COL-HND1986MD.PDF |title=Maritime Delimitation Treaty between Colombia and Honduras |date=August 2, 1986 |website=U.N. Delimitation Treaties InfoBase |access-date=May 27, 2023 |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523123750/https://www.un.org/Depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/PDFFILES/TREATIES/COL-HND1986MD.PDF |url-status=live }}</ref>
| 
|}

==Lists of similar entities==
The following entities are, according to the law of their state, integral parts of the state but exhibit many characteristics of dependent territories. This list is generally limited to entities that are either subject to an international treaty on their status, uninhabited, or have a unique level of autonomy and are largely self-governing in matters other than international affairs. It generally does not include entities with no unique autonomy, such as the [[overseas departments and regions of France|five overseas departments and regions]] ([[French Guiana]], [[Guadeloupe]], [[Martinique]], [[Mayotte]], and [[Réunion]]) of France; the [[Caribbean Netherlands|BES islands]] ([[Bonaire]], [[Sint Eustatius]], and [[Saba (island)|Saba]]) of the Netherlands; [[Jan Mayen]] of Norway; and [[Palmyra Atoll]] of the United States.

Entities with only limited unique autonomy, such as [[Barbuda]] of Antigua and Barbuda; [[Sabah]] and [[Sarawak]] of Malaysia; the [[Autonomous Regions of Portugal|two autonomous regions]] (the [[Azores]] and [[Madeira]]) of Portugal; [[Nevis]] of Saint Kitts and Nevis; the [[Canary Islands]] and the [[Autonomous communities of Spain#Autonomous cities|two autonomous cities]] ([[Ceuta]] and [[Melilla]]) of Spain; [[Northern Ireland]] of the United Kingdom; and entities with non-recognized unique autonomy, such as [[Kurdistan Region|Kurdistan]] of Iraq; [[Wa State|Wa]] of Myanmar; [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]] of Palestine; [[Puntland]] of Somalia; [[Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria|Rojava]] of Syria; and [[Zanzibar]] of Tanzania are also not included. All claims in Antarctica are listed in ''italics''.

===Australia===
{{Main|States and territories of Australia#External territories {{!}}States and territories of Australia § External territories}}

[[Australia]] has six external territories in its administration and one Antarctic claim.

Debate remains as to whether the external territories are integral parts of Australia,{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} due to their not being part of Australia in 1901, when its constituent states federated (with the exception of the [[Coral Sea Islands]], which was a part of [[Queensland]]).<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Carney
  | first = Gerard
  | title = The constitutional systems of the Australian states and territories
  | publisher = Cambridge University Press
  | year = 2006
  | location = Canberra
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=6Pd8F1mFp1oC
  | isbn = 978-0-521-86305-6 }}</ref> Norfolk Island was self-governing from 1979 to 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/rearvision/the-end-of-self-government-on-norfolk-island/7530806 |title=The end of Norfolk Island's self-government |work=ABC |last=Phillips |first=Keri |date=23 June 2016 |access-date=11 November 2020}}</ref> The external territories are often grouped separately from Australia proper for statistical purposes.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! External territory !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Christmas Island}} || rowspan=3 | Administered from [[Canberra]] by the [[Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts]]<ref name="DITRDC">{{cite web |title=Territories of Australia |url = https://www.regional.gov.au/territories/ |publisher=The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications |date=2020-02-28 |access-date=2020-04-25 |quote=The Australian Government, through the department, administers the Indian Ocean Territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island, the Jervis Bay Territory, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and the Coral Sea Islands. The department also manages the Government's interests in the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory.}}</ref> || [[ISO 3166-2:CX|CX]]
|-
| {{flag|Cocos (Keeling) Islands}} || [[ISO 3166-2:CC|CC]]
|-
| {{flag|Norfolk Island}} || [[ISO 3166-2:NF|NF]]
|-
! External territory<br />(uninhabited) !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Ashmore and Cartier Islands}} || rowspan=2 | Administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts<ref name="DITRDC" /> || rowspan="2" | No unique ISO 3166 country codes
|-
| {{flag|Coral Sea Islands}}{{NoteTag|[[Willis Island]] is permanently staffed and occupied by a small team of meteorologists.}}
|-
| {{flag|Heard Island and McDonald Islands|Heard Island <br/>and McDonald Islands}} || Administered from Canberra by the [[Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment]]<ref name="DITRDC" /> || [[ISO 3166-2:HM|HM]]
|-
! External territory<br />(uninhabited, claimed) !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| ''{{flag|Australian Antarctic Territory}}'' || Administered from Canberra by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment<ref name="DITRDC" /> || No unique ISO 3166 country codes
|}

===China===
{{Main|Special administrative regions of China}}

The [[China|People's Republic of China]] (PRC) has two special administrative regions (SARs) that are governed according to the [[Constitution of the People's Republic of China|constitution]] and respective basic laws. The SARs greatly differ from [[Mainland China]] in administrative, economic, legislative, and judicial terms including by currency, [[left- and right-hand traffic|left-hand versus right-hand traffic]], official languages, and immigration control. Although the PRC does claim sovereignty over [[Taiwan Province, People's Republic of China|Taiwan]] (governed by the [[Taiwan|Republic of China]]), it is not listed here as the PRC government does not have ''de facto'' control of the territory.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Special administrative region !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Hong Kong}}|| Former [[British Hong Kong|British colony]]. Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China since 1997 according to the [[Sino-British Joint Declaration]], an international [[treaty]] registered with the [[United Nations]]. The ''[[Hong Kong Basic Law]]'' purports to provide for the territory to enjoy a "high degree" of autonomy per the "[[one country, two systems]]" model under the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|central government of China]]. Although the territory is not part of mainland China, it is officially considered an integral part of the People's Republic of China.<ref>[http://www.gov.cn/gzdt/2007-01/17/content_498423.htm 广电总局批准31个境外频道在涉外宾馆等申请接收]. Gov.cn (2006-12-30). Retrieved on 2013-07-12.</ref><ref>[http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20110428_402722232.htm 2010年第六次全国人口普查主要数据公报（第1号）] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618152810/http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/t20110428_402722232.htm |date=2012-06-18 }}. Stats.gov.cn. Retrieved on 2013-07-12.</ref><ref>[http://big5.huaxia.com/sw/cjzx/jjdt/00265648.html 項懷誠：香港是社保基金境外投資的首選地之一] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617170730/http://big5.huaxia.com/sw/cjzx/jjdt/00265648.html |date=2013-06-17 }}. Big5.huaxia.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-12.</ref>|| [[ISO 3166-2:HK|HK]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:CN|CN-HK]]
|-
| {{flag|Macau}}|| Former [[Portuguese Macau|Portuguese colony]]. Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China since 1999 according to the [[Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration]], an international treaty registered with the United Nations. The ''[[Macao Basic Law]]'' provides for the territory to enjoy a high degree of autonomy per the "one country, two systems" model under the central government of China. Although the territory is not part of mainland China, it is officially considered an integral part of the People's Republic of China.|| [[ISO 3166-2:MO|MO]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:CN|CN-MO]]
|}

===Denmark===
{{Main|Danish Realm}}

The [[Danish Realm|Kingdom of Denmark]] contains two autonomous territories with their own governments and legislatures, and input into foreign affairs.<ref name="Rakitskaya">{{cite journal |last1=Rakitskaya |first1=Inna A. |last2=Molchakov |first2=Nikita Y. |title=Democratization of territorial constitution : current trends and the constitutional experience of Denmark |journal=International Journal of Economics and Business Administration |date=2019 |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=166–172 |url=https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/45623 |access-date=11 November 2020 |publisher=Eleftherios Thalassinos |issn=2241-4754}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Autonomous territory !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Faroe Islands}}|| Autonomous since 1948.<ref name="Rakitskaya"/> A constituent part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but not of the [[European Union]]. Although it is not part of metropolitan [[Denmark]], it is officially considered an integral part of the [[Kingdom of Denmark]].|| [[ISO 3166-2:FO|FO]]
|-
| {{flag|Greenland}}|| Autonomous since 1979.<ref name="Rakitskaya"/> A constituent part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but withdrew from the [[European Economic Community]] in 1985. Although it is not part of metropolitan [[Denmark]], it is officially considered an integral part of the [[Kingdom of Denmark]].|| [[ISO 3166-2:GL|GL]]
|}

===Finland===
{{Main|Regions of Finland}}
{{Further|Administrative divisions of Finland|Åland Islands dispute}}
{{See also||Special territories of members of the European Economic Area#Åland}}

[[Finland]] has one [[Regions of Finland#Åland|autonomous region]] that is also subject to international treaties.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Autonomous region !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Åland}}|| Åland is governed according to the ''[[Åland convention|Act on the Autonomy of Åland]]'' and international treaties. These laws guarantee the islands' autonomy in Finland, which has ultimate sovereignty over them, as well as a demilitarised status. || [[ISO 3166-2:AX|AX]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:FI|FI-01]]
|}

===France===
{{Main|Overseas France}}
{{Further|Overseas collectivity|Overseas territory (France)}}
{{See also|Overseas country of France}}

[[France]] has overseas six autonomous collectivities and two uninhabited territories (one of which includes an Antarctic claim). This does not include its "standard" [[overseas departments and regions of France|overseas regions]] (which are also overseas [[departments of France|departments]]) of [[French Guiana]], [[Guadeloupe]], [[Martinique]], [[Mayotte]], and [[Réunion]]. Although also located overseas, they have the same status as the regions of [[metropolitan France]]. Nonetheless, all of France's overseas territory is considered an integral part of the [[French Fifth Republic|French Republic]].

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Overseas collectivity !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|French Polynesia}} || [[Overseas collectivity]] since 2003; [[overseas country of France|overseas country]] since 2004. Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]] || [[ISO 3166-2:PF|PF]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:FR|FR-PF]]
|-
| {{flag|Saint Barthélemy|local}} || Seceded from [[Guadeloupe]] to become an overseas collectivity in 2007 || [[ISO 3166-2:BL|BL]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:FR|FR-BL]]
|-
| {{flag|Saint Martin|local}} || Seceded from Guadeloupe to become an overseas collectivity in 2007. It is the only overseas collectivity that is fully part of the European Union. || [[ISO 3166-2:MF|MF]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:FR|FR-MF]]
|-
| {{flag|Saint Pierre and Miquelon|local}} || [[Territorial collectivity]] since 1985. Overseas collectivity since 2003 || [[ISO 3166-2:PM|PM]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:FR|FR-PM]]
|-
| {{flag|Wallis and Futuna|local}} || Overseas territory since 1961. Overseas collectivity since 2003 || [[ISO 3166-2:WF|WF]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:FR|FR-WF]]
|-
! ''Sui generis'' collectivity !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|New Caledonia|local}} || "''[[Sui generis]]''" collectivity<ref name="Outre-mer">{{cite web|url=http://www.outre-mer.gouv.fr/?presentation-nouvelle-caledonie.html&artpage=3-3|title=Nouvelle-Calédonie Présentation|website=Outre-Mer.gouv.fr|publisher=[[Minister of the Overseas (France)|Ministre des Outre-mer]]|language=fr|trans-title=New Caledonia Presentation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521094530/http://www.outre-mer.gouv.fr/?presentation-nouvelle-caledonie.html&artpage=3-3|archive-date=21 May 2013|access-date=24 November 2020|df=dmy-all}}</ref> since 1998.<ref name="Dependency Status">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/dependency-status/|title=Field Listing :: Dependency Status|website=[[The World Factbook|CIA.gov/Library/Publications/Resources/The-World-Factbook/]]|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|access-date=7 April 2019|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Appears on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]] || [[ISO 3166-2:NC|NC]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:FR|FR-NC]]
|-
! Overseas state private property<br />(uninhabited) !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Clipperton Island}} || The island is administered under the direct authority of the French government<ref name="LegiF">{{cite web|url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000000879815/2020-11-24/|title=Loi n° 55-1052 du 6 août 1955 portant statut des Terres australes et antarctiques françaises et de l'île de Clipperton|website=LegiFrance.gouv.fr|publisher=[[Légifrance]]|language=fr|trans-title=Law n° 55-1052 of 6 August 1955 relating to the statute of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and of the island of Clipperton|date=6 August 1955|access-date=24 November 2020|df=dmy-all}}</ref> by the French [[Minister of the Overseas]]. || [[ISO 3166-2:FR|FR-CP]]
|-
! Overseas territory<br />(uninhabited) !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|French Southern and Antarctic Lands}} || TAAF (''[[French Southern and Antarctic Lands|Terres australes et antartiques françaises]]'') is an [[overseas territory (France)|overseas territory]] since 1955, administered from [[Paris]] by an ''Administrateur Supérieur''. The territory includes the Antarctic claim of ''[[Adélie Land]]''<ref name="FactbookFS">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/french-southern-and-antarctic-lands/|title=Antarctica :: French Southern and Antarctic Lands|website=[[The World Factbook|CIA.gov/Library/Publications/The-World-Factbook]]|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]|date=20 May 2020|access-date=3 June 2020|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and several islands in the [[Indian Ocean]], including [[Crozet Islands]], [[Kerguelen Islands]], [[Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands]] and [[Scattered Islands]] || [[ISO 3166-2:TF|TF]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:FR|FR-TF]]{{refn|group=note|The Antarctic claim of ''[[Adélie Land]]'' (a district of the [[French Southern and Antarctic Lands|TAAF]])<ref name="FactbookFS"/> is not included within the ISO 3166 designation. The ISO designates the remainder of the TAAF the "French Southern Territories".<ref name="ISOTF">{{cite web|url=https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:code:3166:TF|title=French Southern Territories|website=[[iso.org|ISO.org]]|publisher=[[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]]|date=26 November 2018|access-date=3 June 2020|df=dmy-all}}</ref>}}
|}

===Netherlands===
{{Main|Kingdom of the Netherlands}}
{{Further|Dutch Caribbean}}

The Kingdom of the Netherlands comprises three autonomous "constituent countries" in the Caribbean (listed below) and one constituent country, the [[Netherlands]], with most of its area in Europe but also encompassing three [[Caribbean Netherlands|overseas Caribbean municipalities]]—[[Bonaire]], [[Sint Eustatius]], and [[Saba (island)|Saba]] (these three [[special municipality (Netherlands)|Caribbean municipalities]] are excluded here because they are directly administered by the [[Netherlands#Government and politics|Government of the Netherlands]]<ref>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/s/inr/rls/10543.htm Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty], U.S. Department of State. "Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius now fall under the direct administration of the Netherlands". Retrieved 17 June 2016.</ref>). All citizens of the Dutch Kingdom share the same nationality and are thus [[European Union citizenship|citizens of the European Union]], but only the European portion of the Kingdom is a part of the territory of the Union, the [[European Union Customs Union|Customs Union]], and the [[Eurozone]] while other areas have [[special territories of members of the European Economic Area|overseas countries and territory]] status.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Constituent country !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
|{{flag|Aruba}}|| Defined as a "country" ("''land''") within the Kingdom by the [[Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands|Statute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands]], Aruba obtained full autonomy in internal affairs upon separation from the [[Netherlands Antilles]] in 1986. Part of the Kingdom but not in Europe, its [[Dutch nationality law|citizenship]] nonetheless includes status as citizens of the European Union (the Kingdom government coincides almost exactly with the [[Politics of the Netherlands|Government of the Netherlands]], and is responsible for defence, foreign affairs, and nationality law).|| [[ISO 3166-2:AW|AW]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:NL|NL-AW]]
|-
|{{flag|Curaçao}}
| rowspan="2" |Defined as a "country" ("''land''") within the Kingdom by the Statute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Curaçao and Sint Maarten were part of the Netherlands Antilles until it was dissolved in October 2010. Part of the Kingdom but not in Europe, their citizenship nonetheless includes status as citizens of the European Union (the Kingdom government coincides almost exactly with the Government of the Netherlands, and is responsible for defence, foreign affairs, and nationality law).|| [[ISO 3166-2:CW|CW]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:NL|NL-CW]]
|-
|{{flag|Sint Maarten}}|| [[ISO 3166-2:SX|SX]] ''or''
[[ISO 3166-2:NL|NL-SX]]
|}

===Norway===
{{Main|List of possessions of Norway}}
{{Further|Svalbard and Jan Mayen}}

[[Norway]] has, in the Arctic, one inhabited archipelago with restrictions placed on Norwegian sovereignty — [[Svalbard]].<ref name="SpitsTreaty">{{cite web|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Spitsbergen_Treaty#Article_3.|title=Spitsbergen Treaty|publisher=[[Wikisource]]|date=9 February 1920|access-date=16 November 2020|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="GovSval">{{cite web|url=http://www.sysselmannen.no/hovedEnkel.aspx?m=45301|title=The Svalbard Treaty|publisher=[[Governor of Svalbard]]|date=9 April 2008|access-date=24 March 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723003932/http://www.sysselmannen.no/hovedEnkel.aspx?m=45301|archive-date=23 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Unlike the country's dependent territory ([[Bouvet Island]]) and Antarctic claims ([[#Norway|see above]]), Svalbard is a part of the Kingdom of Norway.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Skagestad |first1=Odd Gunnar |editor1-last=Skreslet |editor1-first=Stig |title=Jan Mayen Island in Scientific Focus |date=2004 |publisher=Springer Netherlands |isbn=978-1-4020-2955-4 |page=272 |url=http://www.ogskagestad.info/attachments/File/JanMayenSciFocus04.pdf |access-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104210815/http://www.ogskagestad.info/attachments/File/JanMayenSciFocus04.pdf |archive-date=4 January 2014 |chapter=The Scope for Norwegian Commitments Related to International Research on Jan Mayen Island}}</ref> Norway also has one uninhabited remote archipelago located in the Arctic, [[Jan Mayen]], but it is excluded in this list as the island is directly administered by the [[Nordland County Municipality]] and none of the considerations established for Svalbard Treaty are attributed to it.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Territory !! Administration !! ISO 3166 country code
|-
| {{flag|Svalbard}}|| This Arctic archipelago is the northernmost permanent civilian settlement in the world. Not incorporated into any county, it is administered by a [[Governor of Svalbard|governor]] appointed by the Norwegian government. Since 2002, its main settlement of [[Longyearbyen]] has [[Longyearbyen Community Council|elected a local government]]. Other settlements include the Russian mining community of [[Barentsburg]], the research station of [[Ny-Ålesund]], and the mining outpost of [[Sveagruva]]. The [[Svalbard Treaty]] of 1920 recognises Norwegian sovereignty (administered since 1925 as a sovereign part of the Kingdom of Norway) but established Svalbard as a [[free economic zone]]<ref name="SpitsTreaty"/> and a [[demilitarized zone|demilitarised zone]]. ||| [[ISO 3166-2:SJ|SJ]] ''or''<br>[[ISO 3166-2:NO|NO-21]]
|}

==Description==
[[File:Bora Bora ISS006.jpg|thumb|[[Bora Bora]] Island, [[French Polynesia]]]]
[[File:DG Ariel Plantation.jpg|thumb|Diego Garcia Island, [[British Indian Ocean Territory]]]]

Three [[Crown Dependencies]] are in a form of association with the United Kingdom. They are independently administrated jurisdictions, although the [[Government of the United Kingdom|British Government]] is solely responsible for defence and international representation and has ultimate responsibility for ensuring good government. They do not have diplomatic recognition as independent states, but neither are they integrated into the UK. The [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]] retains the ability to legislate for the crown dependencies even without the agreement of their legislatures. No crown dependency has representation in the UK Parliament.

Although they are [[British Overseas Territories]], [[Bermuda]] and [[Gibraltar]] have similar relationships to the UK as do the Crown Dependencies. While the United Kingdom is officially responsible for their defence and international representation, these jurisdictions maintain their own militaries and have been granted limited diplomatic powers, in addition to having internal self-government.

New Zealand and its dependencies share the same [[Governor-General of New Zealand|governor-general]] and constitute one monarchic [[Realm of New Zealand|realm]]. The [[Cook Islands]] and [[Niue]] are officially termed [[associated state]]s.

[[Puerto Rico]] (since 1952) and the [[Northern Mariana Islands]] (since 1986) are non-independent states freely associated with the United States. The mutually negotiated Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in Political Union with the United States was approved in 1976. The covenant was fully implemented on November 3, 1986, under Presidential Proclamation no. 5564, which conferred [[Citizenship of the United States|U.S. citizenship]] on legally qualified CNMI residents.<ref>{{cite web|title=Northern Mariana Islands at the CIA's page|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/northern-mariana-islands/|publisher=CIA|access-date=2010-07-15|author=CIA|date=2010-07-15}}</ref> Under the [[Constitution of Puerto Rico]], Puerto Rico is described as a Commonwealth and Puerto Ricans have a degree of [[autonomous administrative division|administrative autonomy]] similar to that of a citizen of a [[U.S. state]]. Puerto Ricans "were collectively made [[Citizenship of the United States#Birthright citizenship|U.S. citizens]]" in 1917, as a result of the [[Jones–Shafroth Act]].<ref>The Louisiana Purchase and American Expansion: 1803–1898. By Sanford Levinson and Bartholomew H. Sparrow. New York: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers. 2005. Page 166, 178. "U.S. citizenship was extended to residents of Puerto Rico under the Jones Act, chap. 190, 39 Stat. 951 (1971) (codified at 48 U.S.C. § 731 (1987)")</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Puerto Rico at the CIA's page|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/puerto-rico/|publisher=CIA|access-date=2010-07-15|author=CIA|date=2010-07-15}}</ref> The commonly used name in Spanish of the [[Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)|Commonwealth]] of Puerto Rico, ''Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico'', literally "Associated Free State of Puerto Rico", which sounds similar to "free association" particularly when loosely used in Spanish, is sometimes erroneously interpreted to mean that Puerto Rico's relationship with the United States is based on a [[Compact of Free Association]] and at other times is erroneously held to mean that Puerto Rico's relationship with the U.S. is based on an [[Interstate compact]]. This is a constant source of ambiguity and confusion when trying to define, understand, and explain Puerto Rico's political relationship with the United States. For various reasons [[Politics of Puerto Rico|Puerto Rico's political status]] differs from that of the Pacific Islands that entered into Compacts of Free Association with the United States. As sovereign states, these islands have the full right to conduct their foreign relations, while the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has territorial status subject to U.S. congressional authority under the Constitution's Territory Clause, "to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory… belonging to the United States."<ref name="FinalReport">{{Cite web|url=http://www.prfaa.com/eng/PuertoRicoBookletFinal.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326093201/http://www.prfaa.com/eng/PuertoRicoBookletFinal.pdf|url-status=dead|title=December 2005 report of the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status|archive-date=March 26, 2009}}</ref> Puerto Rico does not have the right to unilaterally declare independence, and at the last referendum (1998), the narrow majority voted for "none of the above", which was a formally undefined alternative used by commonwealth supporters to express their desire for an "enhanced commonwealth" option.<ref name="FinalReport"/>

This kind of relationship can also be found in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which is termed a [[federacy]]. The European [[Netherlands|continental part]] is organised like a unitary state. However, the status of its "constituent countries" in the Caribbean ([[Aruba]], [[Curaçao]], and [[Sint Maarten]]) can be considered akin to dependencies<ref name="FactbookNL">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/netherlands/|title=Europe :: Netherlands|website=[[The World Factbook|CIA.gov/Library/Publications/The-World-Factbook]]|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]|date=10 June 2020|access-date=13 July 2020|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="StaveGov">{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/dependencies-and-areas-of-special-sovereignty/|title=Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty|website=[[State.gov]]|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|date=7 March 2017|access-date=13 July 2020|df=dmy-all}}</ref> or "associated non-independent states."

The Kingdom of Denmark also operates similarly, akin to another federacy. The [[Faroe Islands]] and [[Greenland]] are two self-governing territories or regions within the Kingdom. The relationship between Denmark proper and these two territories is semi-officially termed the ''[[Danish Realm|Rigsfællesskabet]]'' ("Unity of the Realm").

==Overview of inhabited dependent territories==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name
! Population <small>(2016)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/population/country-comparison/|title=Country Comparison :: Population |publisher=CIA|date=July 2016}}</ref>
! Area (km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/area/|title=Field Listing :: Area |publisher=CIA}}</ref>
! Area (mi<sup>2</sup>)<ref name=":0" />
! width=80| [[United Nations geoscheme|UN region]]
! width=100| [[List of countries and territories by the United Nations geoscheme|UN subregion]]
! [[Sovereign state]]
! Legal status<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/dependency-status/|title=Field Listing :: Dependency Status |publisher=CIA}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Akrotiri and Dhekelia}}
| 15,700 
| 254
| 98
| [[Asia]]
| [[West Asia|Western Asia]]
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| [[British Overseas Territories|Overseas territory]]<br />([[Military base|Sovereign Base Areas]])
|-
| {{flag|Åland}}
| 29,013 
| 1,580
| 610
| [[Europe]]
| [[Northern Europe]]
| {{flagcountry|Finland}}
| [[Regions of Finland#Åland|Autonomous region]]
|-
| {{flag|American Samoa}}
| 54,194
| 199
| 77
| [[Oceania]]
| [[Polynesia]]
| {{flagcountry|United States}}
| [[Insular area#Unincorporated unorganized territories|Unincorporated unorganized territory]]
|-
| {{flag|Anguilla}}
| 15,100
| 91
| 35
| [[Americas]]
| [[Caribbean]]
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| Overseas territory
|-
| {{flag|Aruba}}
| 113,648
| 178.91
| 69.08
| Americas
| Caribbean
| {{flagcountry|Kingdom of the Netherlands}}
| [[Kingdom of the Netherlands#Constituent countries|Constituent country]]
|-
| {{flag|Bermuda}}
| 70,537
| 53.2
| 20.5
| Americas
| [[Northern America]]
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| Overseas territory
|-
| {{flag|British Virgin Islands}}
| 34,232
| 153
| 59
| Americas
| Caribbean
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| Overseas territory
|-
| {{flag|Cayman Islands}}
| 57,268
| 264
| 101.9
| Americas
| Caribbean
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| Overseas territory
|-
| {{flag|Christmas Island}}
| 2,205
| 135
| 52
| Oceania
| [[Australasia|Australia and New Zealand]]
| {{flagcountry|Australia}}
| [[States and territories of Australia#External territories|External territory]]
|-
| {{flag|Cocos (Keeling) Islands}}
| 596
| 14
| 5.4
| Oceania
| Australia and New Zealand
| {{flagcountry|Australia}}
| External territory
|-
| {{flag|Cook Islands}}
| 18,100
| 240
| 93
| Oceania
| Polynesia
| {{flagcountry|New Zealand}}
| [[Associated state]]
|-
| {{flag|Curaçao}}
| 158,986
| 444
| 171
| Americas
| Caribbean
| {{flagcountry|Kingdom of the Netherlands}}
| Constituent country
|-
| {{flag|Falkland Islands}}
| 2,931
| 12,173
| 4,700
| Americas
| [[South America]]
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| Overseas territory
|-
| {{flag|Faroe Islands}}
| 49,188
| 4,167
| 540
| Europe
| Northern Europe
| {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Denmark}}
| [[Danish Realm#Home rule and self rule|Autonomous territory]]
|-
| {{flag|French Polynesia}}
| 285,735
| 1,399
| 1,609
| Oceania
| Polynesia
| {{flagcountry|France}}
| [[Overseas collectivity]]<br />([[Overseas country of France|Overseas country]])
|-
| {{flag|Gibraltar}}
| 29,328
| 6.5
| 2.5
| Europe
| [[Southern Europe]]
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| Overseas territory
|-
| {{flag|Greenland}}
| 56,483
| 2,166,086
| 836,330
| Americas
| Northern America
| {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Denmark}}
| Autonomous territory
|-
| {{flag|Guam}}
| 162,742
| 544
| 210
| Oceania
| [[Micronesia]]
| {{flagcountry|United States}}
| [[Insular area#Unincorporated organized territories|Unincorporated organized territory]]
|-
| {{flag|Bailiwick of Guernsey|name=Guernsey}}
| 63,026
| 65
| 25
| Europe
| Northern Europe
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| [[Crown Dependencies|Crown Dependency]]
|-
| {{flag|Hong Kong}}
| 7,374,000
| 2,755
| 1,064
| Asia
| [[East Asia|Eastern Asia]]
| {{flagcountry|China}}
| [[Special administrative regions of China|Special administrative region]]
|-
| {{flag|Isle of Man}}
| 88,195
| 572
| 221
| Europe
| Northern Europe
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| Crown Dependency
|-
| {{flag|Jersey}}
| 98,069
| 118.2
| 45.6
| Europe
| Northern Europe
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| Crown Dependency
|-
| {{flag|Macau}}
| 650,900
| 115.3
| 44.5
| Asia
| Eastern Asia
| {{flagcountry|China}}
| Special administrative region
|-
| {{flag|Montserrat}}
| 5,267
| 101
| 39
| Americas
| Caribbean
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| Overseas territory
|-
| {{flag|New Caledonia|local}}
| 275,355
| 18,576
| 7,172
| Oceania
| [[Melanesia]]
| {{flagcountry|France}}
| [[Overseas France#Sui generis collectivity|''Sui generis'' collectivity]]
|-
| {{flag|Niue}}
| 1,190
| 261.46
| 100.95
| Oceania
| Polynesia
| {{flagcountry|New Zealand}}
| Associated state
|-
| {{flag|Norfolk Island}}
| 2,210
| 34.6
| 13.4
| Oceania
| Australia and New Zealand
| {{flagcountry|Australia}}
| External territory
|-
| {{flag|Northern Mariana Islands}}
| 53,467
| 464
| 179
| Oceania
| Micronesia
| {{flagcountry|United States}}
| Unincorporated organized territory<br />([[Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)|Commonwealth]])
|-
| {{flag|Pitcairn Islands}}
| 57
| 43
| 17
| Oceania
| Polynesia
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| Overseas territory
|-
| {{flag|Puerto Rico}}
| 3,411,307
| 9,104
| 3,515
| Americas
| Caribbean
| {{flagcountry|United States}}
| Unincorporated organized territory<br />(Commonwealth)
|-
| {{flag|Saint Barthélemy|local}}
| 7,209
| 25
| 9.7
| Americas
| Caribbean
| {{flagcountry|France}}
| Overseas collectivity
|-
| {{flag|Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha}}
| 5,633
| 394
| 152
| [[Africa]]
| [[West Africa|Western Africa]]
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| Overseas territory
|-
| {{flag|Saint Martin|local}}
| 31,949
| 53.2
| 20.5
| Americas
| Caribbean
| {{flagcountry|France}}
| Overseas collectivity
|-
| {{flag|Saint Pierre and Miquelon|local}}
| 5,595
| 242
| 93
| Americas
| Northern America
| {{flagcountry|France}}
| Overseas collectivity
|-
| {{flag|Sint Maarten}}
| 41,486
| 37
| 14
| Americas
| Caribbean
| {{flagcountry|Kingdom of the Netherlands}}
| Constituent country
|-
| {{flag|Svalbard}}
| 2,667
| 61,022
| 23,561
| Europe
| Northern Europe
| {{flagcountry|Norway}}
| [[List of possessions of Norway#Current overseas territories|Unincorporated area]]
|-
| {{flag|Tokelau}}
| 1,499
| 10
| 3.9
| Oceania
| Polynesia
| {{flagcountry|New Zealand}}
| [[Realm of New Zealand#Tokelau|Dependent territory]]
|-
| {{flag|Turks and Caicos Islands}}
| 51,430
| 430
| 166
| Americas
| Caribbean
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| Overseas territory
|-
| {{flag|U.S. Virgin Islands}}
| 102,951
| 346.36
| 133.73
| Americas
| Caribbean
| {{flagcountry|United States}}
| Unincorporated organized territory
|-
| {{flag|Wallis and Futuna|local}}
| 15,664
| 142
| 55
| Oceania
| Polynesia
| {{flagcountry|France}}
| Overseas collectivity
|}

==See also==
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Colonisation]]
* [[Colony]]
** [[Self-governing colony]]
* [[Domestic dependent nations]]
* [[Gallery of flags of dependent territories]]
* [[Independence referendum]]
** [[Independence referendum#Past independence referendums|Past independence referendums]]
* [[List of administrative divisions by country]]
* [[List of autonomous areas by country]]
* [[List of countries by United Nations geoscheme]]
* Lists of former colonies, possessions, protectorates, and territories
** [[:Category:Former colonies]]
** [[Protectorate]]
** [[Timeline of national independence]]
* [[List of leaders of dependent territories]]
* [[List of sovereign states]]
* [[List of sovereign states and dependent territories by continent]]
* [[Suzerainty]]
* [[Vassal state]]
{{Div col end}}

==Notes==
{{NoteFoot}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
* {{CIA World Factbook}}
{{refend}}

==Bibliography==
* George Drower, ''Britain's Dependent Territories'', Dartmouth, 1992
* George Drower, ''Overseas Territories Handbook'', TSO, 1998

{{Autonomous types of first-tier administration}}
{{Colonialism}}
{{Terms for types of administrative territorial entities}}
{{United Nations list of non-self-governing territories}}

[[Category:Dependent territories| ]]
[[Category:Lists of countries]]
[[Category:Territories]]
[[Category:Self-governance]]
[[Category:Sovereignty]]