Information on regions with disputed or special status

by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 17 May 2026

International reporting areas used for statistical compilations on this website represent de facto statistical reporting areas: in other words, they are determined by availability of statistics from whatever source is able to report them in a practical sense. Listings of areas do not necessarily constitute endorsements of occupations, unilateral annexations, declarations of independence, and the like. In particular, with regard to demographic and abortion statistics:

The Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia have not been under control of the central government since 1993 and 1992, respectively, which is prior to the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008. Georgia has not been able to report statistics for these regions since 1992-1993.
The occupation and annexation of the Ukrainian regions of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia in 2014 is not generally recognized by the international community. Ukraine has not been able to report statistics for these regions since 2014 but Russia does report such statistics.
Some regions of eastern Ukraine have been occupied by Russia since the Russian invasion of 2022. Russian has declared several regions annexed (Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporozhye) but this is not recognized internationally and Russian-Ukrainian conflict continues in these areas. Neither Ukraine nor Russia has reported statistics for these regions since the war began.
The Transnistria region of Moldova was proclaimed the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in 1991; this is not generally recognized by the international community with many countries considering Transnistria to be under Russian occupation. Moldova has not been able to report statistics for Transnistria since 1991, whereas some statistics are reported by the self-proclaimed Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.
The region of Nagarno-Karabakh was an ethnic Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan which declared independence from Azerbaijan in 1992 during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. The international community largely did not recognize its independence, instead generally recognizing it as part of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan was unable to report statistics for this region since the early 1990s, whereas the self-proclaimed Nagarno-Karabakh authorities did report statistics. Following the third Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2023, nearly the entire Armenian population fled and the claimed republic was dissolved.
Northern Cyprus claimed independence from Cyprus in 1983. Though this region remains outside control of the Cyprus government, independence of Northern Cyprus is generally not recognized.
Though the regions of Gaza and the West Bank have proclaimed themselves the independent state of Palestine, this is not fully recognized by the international community. The Palestinian Authority has reported some joint statistics for these regions but this has been hindered by lack of joint control as Gaza has been controlled by Hamas for some time. Following the Hamas-led war on Israel in 2023 and subsequent partial occupation of Gaza by Israel, statistical reporting is likely to be compromised.
Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 but has only limited recognition in the international community to date.
Western Sahara has been claimed annexed by Morocco but this is not fully recognized.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) is de facto a national government and authoritative source for statistics for this country.
The occupation and annexation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania by the U.S.S.R. in 1940 was never recognized by the United States. Statistics for these regions were reported by the U.S.S.R. until its dissolution.
Regarding dissolution of the U.S.S.R. and Yugoslavia, regions are excluded from former nations when de facto independence (or other status change) occurred.