🧭 World

Disputed Regions of the World

A neutral overview of current control, claims, and international status
Reading the data

Separate current control, claims, and legal status

This page does not reduce disputed regions to a single conclusion. It separates who currently controls an area, who claims what, and how the region is treated by the international community and legal processes.

How to read it

For disputed regions, actual control, asserted rights, and international legal treatment can differ from one another. This page is structured so you read control, claims, and status separately instead of treating them as one conclusion.

What this page shows
  • Region name, alternate names, representative location, region group, and tension level
  • Current control, claiming parties, related parties, international recognition, and legal status
  • Representative location map, region cards, search, and region/type filters
Data basis

Entries distinguish names, control, claims, and legal status based on public references.

Map markers are representative locations only and do not determine boundaries, sovereignty, control lines, EEZs, or maritime claim areas.

Feedback and correction requests Objections, correction requests, and addition requests may be sent to info@durumis.com. Entries marked FIX are locked after internal review and do not accept additional objections or correction requests.
Regions 22
Map markers 22
Regions covered 7
High tension 11
Representative location map
22 markers
Map limitation Representative location markers only; this map does not determine boundaries, sovereignty, control lines, EEZs, front lines, or claim areas.
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🧭 Region summaries
22 regions

Dokdo

Takeshima, Liancourt Rocks

Tension: Medium FIX
East Asia Territorial dispute
FIX notice This entry is internally marked FIX. Additional correction requests or objections are not accepted for this entry.
Current control
South Korea exercises effective administration.
Claiming parties
Japan maintains a sovereignty claim.
International recognition / legal status
The status has not been settled by an international court; the parties maintain opposing positions.
Parties noted
South Korea, Japan
Reference basis
CRS · Japan MOFA · Internal research note

Crimea

Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol

Tension: Very high Review requests accepted
Europe and Caucasus Occupation/control dispute Annexation non-recognition War or armed conflict
Current control
Russia exercises de facto control, while the war and sanctions context continues.
Claiming parties
Ukraine regards the area as its territory and does not recognize Russia's annexation.
International recognition / legal status
The UN General Assembly and many states maintain that Crimea is part of Ukraine's internationally recognized territory.
Parties noted
Ukraine, Russia
Reference basis
UN · Reuters · Internal research note

Falkland Islands

Islas Malvinas

Tension: Medium Review requests accepted
Americas Territorial dispute Decolonization/self-determination
Current control
The islands are administered as a British Overseas Territory.
Claiming parties
Argentina maintains a sovereignty claim.
International recognition / legal status
The islands remain part of UN decolonization discussions, with islander self-determination and sovereignty claims treated separately.
Parties noted
United Kingdom, Argentina, islanders
Reference basis
UN Decolonization · Internal research note

South China Sea

Spratly Islands, Scarborough Shoal, and related features

Tension: High Review requests accepted
East Asia Maritime dispute Territorial dispute
Current control
Multiple parties occupy some features or maintain maritime operations.
Claiming parties
Overlapping claims exist over features and maritime zones.
International recognition / legal status
Legal findings including the PCA award are relevant, while some parties reject or dispute them.
Parties noted
China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and others
Reference basis
PCA · CIA World Factbook · Internal research note

Taiwan

Taiwan Strait, Republic of China, Cross-Strait

Tension: High Review requests accepted
East Asia Partial recognition Territorial dispute
Current control
Taiwan's government exercises self-rule.
Claiming parties
China claims sovereignty over Taiwan.
International recognition / legal status
Formal recognition and diplomatic relations are limited, and one-China policies vary by state.
Parties noted
Taiwan, China, the United States, and others
Reference basis
CRS · CFR · Internal research note

Western Sahara

Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Moroccan Sahara

Tension: Medium Review requests accepted
Africa Decolonization/self-determination Territorial dispute Partial recognition
Current control
Morocco controls most of the territory, with Polisario-influenced areas existing separately.
Claiming parties
Morocco claims sovereignty, while the Polisario Front claims self-determination and independence.
International recognition / legal status
The UN treats the final status as unresolved in the context of a non-self-governing territory.
Parties noted
Morocco, Polisario Front, Sahrawi people
Reference basis
UN · Internal research note

Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Aksai Chin

Tension: Very high Review requests accepted
South and Southeast Asia Territorial dispute Separatist/autonomy conflict War or armed conflict
Current control
India, Pakistan, and China each administer or control parts of the wider region.
Claiming parties
India and Pakistan maintain broad claims, and China-related boundary issues are also connected.
International recognition / legal status
Ceasefire/control lines and boundary disputes overlap, and final status remains unresolved.
Parties noted
India, Pakistan, China
Reference basis
CFR · Internal research note

Palestine/Israel-related areas

Gaza Strip, West Bank, East Jerusalem

Tension: Very high Review requests accepted
Middle East Occupation/control dispute War or armed conflict Territorial dispute
Current control
Military control, self-administration, blockade, and war impacts differ by area.
Claiming parties
Israeli and Palestinian claims over territory, capital status, and security conflict with one another.
International recognition / legal status
UN resolutions, occupation debates, settlements, and civilian protection issues are all relevant.
Parties noted
Israel, Palestinian Authority, Hamas, residents, neighboring states, and international bodies
Reference basis
UN OCHA · UNSCO · Internal research note

Kosovo

Kosova, Serbia-Kosovo dispute

Tension: Medium Review requests accepted
Europe and Caucasus Partial recognition Territorial dispute
Current control
Kosovo authorities govern as an independent state, while tensions recur especially in the north.
Claiming parties
Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's independence.
International recognition / legal status
Kosovo is partially recognized: some states recognize it, while others do not.
Parties noted
Kosovo, Serbia, EU, NATO/KFOR
Reference basis
NATO KFOR · EU · Internal research note

Nagorno-Karabakh

Artsakh

Tension: Medium Review requests accepted
Europe and Caucasus Territorial dispute Separatist/autonomy conflict
Current control
Azerbaijan has exercised full control since 2023.
Claiming parties
Former Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh authorities claimed self-rule or independence, and displacement of ethnic Armenians remains central.
International recognition / legal status
The area has widely been treated internationally as Azerbaijani territory, while displacement, rights, and peace agreement issues continue.
Parties noted
Azerbaijan, Armenia, Karabakh Armenians
Reference basis
CRS · CFR · Internal research note

Senkaku Islands

Diaoyu, Diaoyutai

Tension: High Review requests accepted
East Asia Territorial dispute Maritime dispute
Current control
Japan exercises administrative control, while tensions involving Chinese maritime forces recur nearby.
Claiming parties
China and Taiwan also maintain sovereignty claims.
International recognition / legal status
The United States refers to Japanese administration and treaty coverage while stating that it does not take a position on ultimate sovereignty.
Parties noted
Japan, China, Taiwan
Reference basis
CRS · CFR · Internal research note

Scarborough Shoal

Huangyan Dao, Panatag Shoal

Tension: High Review requests accepted
East Asia Maritime dispute Territorial dispute
Current control
Chinese coast guard and maritime forces are reported to exert strong on-site access control.
Claiming parties
The Philippines asserts rights including an EEZ basis, while China and Taiwan also assert claims.
International recognition / legal status
The shoal is tied to South China Sea legal issues and the PCA award context, but on-site control and legal entitlement should be shown separately.
Parties noted
China, the Philippines, Taiwan
Reference basis
Reuters · AP · Internal research note

Aksai Chin

Eastern highland area linked to the Kashmir dispute

Tension: High Review requests accepted
South and Southeast Asia Territorial dispute
Current control
China controls the area and operates road and military infrastructure.
Claiming parties
India claims the area as connected to Ladakh/Kashmir.
International recognition / legal status
It remains one part of the unsettled India-China boundary and the wider Kashmir context.
Parties noted
China, India
Reference basis
CFR · Reuters graphics · Internal research note

Golan Heights

Golan Heights

Tension: High Review requests accepted
Middle East Occupation/control dispute Annexation non-recognition Territorial dispute
Current control
Israel controls the area and applies Israeli law there.
Claiming parties
Syria maintains that the area is its territory.
International recognition / legal status
The UN Security Council has taken the position that Israel's annexation measure has no international legal effect.
Parties noted
Israel, Syria, UN
Reference basis
UNSC Resolution 497 · Security Council Report · Internal research note

Eastern and southern Ukraine

Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson

Tension: Very high Review requests accepted
Europe and Caucasus War or armed conflict Occupation/control dispute Annexation non-recognition
Current control
Front lines continue to shift, and Russia militarily controls parts of these regions.
Claiming parties
Ukraine regards these oblasts as its territory, while Russia claims annexation of parts of them.
International recognition / legal status
Many states do not recognize Russia's annexation claims and maintain that the areas are part of Ukraine's internationally recognized territory.
Parties noted
Ukraine, Russia
Reference basis
Russia Matters · Reuters · Internal research note

Transnistria

Pridnestrovie

Tension: Medium Review requests accepted
Europe and Caucasus Separatist/autonomy conflict Partial recognition
Current control
De facto Transnistrian authorities have maintained self-rule for decades, with Russian forces present.
Claiming parties
Moldova maintains internationally recognized territorial sovereignty.
International recognition / legal status
It is generally treated internationally as Moldovan territory, with the OSCE and others involved in negotiation formats.
Parties noted
Moldova, de facto Transnistrian authorities, Russia, OSCE
Reference basis
CSIS · OSCE · Internal research note

Abkhazia

Abkhazia

Tension: Medium Review requests accepted
Europe and Caucasus Separatist/autonomy conflict Partial recognition Occupation/control dispute
Current control
De facto Abkhaz authorities maintain self-rule under strong Russian political and military influence.
Claiming parties
Georgia regards it as its territory and raises issues of Russian effective control or occupation.
International recognition / legal status
Russia and a few states recognize it, while many states support Georgia's territorial integrity.
Parties noted
Georgia, de facto Abkhaz authorities, Russia
Reference basis
EU EEAS · Internal research note

South Ossetia

Tskhinvali Region

Tension: Medium Review requests accepted
Europe and Caucasus Separatist/autonomy conflict Partial recognition Occupation/control dispute
Current control
De facto South Ossetian authorities maintain separate rule under Russian military and political influence.
Claiming parties
Georgia regards the Tskhinvali region as its territory and raises the issue of Russian occupation.
International recognition / legal status
Russia and a few states recognize it, while many states regard it as Georgian territory.
Parties noted
Georgia, de facto South Ossetian authorities, Russia
Reference basis
EU EEAS · Internal research note

Cyprus/Northern Cyprus

Cyprus, Northern Cyprus, TRNC, UN buffer zone

Tension: Medium Review requests accepted
Europe and Caucasus Partial recognition Occupation/control dispute Territorial dispute
Current control
The south is governed by the Republic of Cyprus; the north is governed by authorities recognized only by Turkiye, with a UN buffer zone between them.
Claiming parties
The Republic of Cyprus claims international sovereignty over the island, while northern authorities claim separate status.
International recognition / legal status
Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Turkiye, and a UN peacekeeping mission maintains the buffer zone.
Parties noted
Republic of Cyprus, Turkish Cypriot authorities, Turkiye, UN
Reference basis
UNFICYP · UN Peacekeeping · Internal research note

Essequibo

Guayana Esequiba

Tension: High Review requests accepted
Americas Territorial dispute
Current control
Guyana administers the area.
Claiming parties
Venezuela maintains a territorial claim.
International recognition / legal status
Proceedings at the ICJ continue, with resource development and security tensions also prominent.
Parties noted
Guyana, Venezuela, ICJ
Reference basis
ICJ · AP · Internal research note

Chagos Archipelago

Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory

Tension: Medium Review requests accepted
Maritime and Polar Decolonization/self-determination Territorial dispute
Current control
A UK-Mauritius sovereignty transfer agreement and long-term Diego Garcia base arrangements are treated together.
Claiming parties
Mauritius has asserted sovereignty, while Chagossian rights and return issues remain separate concerns.
International recognition / legal status
It is a changing legal-status case involving decolonization, treaty arrangements, military base use, and displaced residents' rights.
Parties noted
United Kingdom, Mauritius, Chagossians, United States
Reference basis
GOV.UK treaty · AP · Internal research note

Antarctica territorial claims

Antarctic Treaty System

Tension: Low Review requests accepted
Maritime and Polar Territorial dispute
Current control
The Antarctic Treaty System manages existing and new-claim issues around peaceful and scientific use.
Claiming parties
Several states maintain existing territorial claims, while the treaty system limits escalation.
International recognition / legal status
The treaty neither cancels nor recognizes existing claims and effectively freezes new or expanded claims.
Parties noted
Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom, and others
Reference basis
Antarctic Treaty Secretariat · CIA World Factbook · Internal research note
Sources and licenses

Data sources and terms of use

This page is based on public data from the original providers below. Each dataset follows the original provider's license or terms of use.

Source Dataset/API Terms Onul Works processing
United Nations UN references and resolutions Terms Summarizes dispute-status descriptions by reference basis and should not be used as a legal determination.
ICJ / PCA International court and arbitration references Terms Summarizes dispute-status descriptions by reference basis and should not be used as a legal determination.
CRS / CFR Policy and conflict background references Terms Summarizes dispute-status descriptions by reference basis and should not be used as a legal determination.
Reuters News and status references Terms Summarizes dispute-status descriptions by reference basis and should not be used as a legal determination.
Associated Press News and status references Terms Summarizes dispute-status descriptions by reference basis and should not be used as a legal determination.

Normalization, translation, merging, caching, or unit conversion by Onul Works does not imply warranty or endorsement by the original providers.