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 but remains politically outside the controlling state's integral area.
A dependent territory is commonly distinguished from a 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. 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, but are officially considered by their governing states to be an integral part of those states.
Summary The lists below include the following:
Dependent territories
Two states in free association, one dependent territory, and one Antarctic claim in the listing for New Zealand One uninhabited territory and two Antarctic claims in the 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 listing for the United Kingdom 13 unincorporated territories (five inhabited and eight uninhabited) and two claimed but uncontrolled territories in the listing for the United States
Similar entities Six external territories (three inhabited and three uninhabited) and one Antarctic claim in the listing for Australia Two special administrative regions in the listing for China Two self-governing territories with autonomy in internal affairs in the listing for Denmark One autonomous region governed according to an act and international treaties in the 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 listing for France Three constituent countries with autonomy in internal affairs in the listing for the Netherlands One internal territory with limited sovereignty in the listing for Norway
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 list of non-self-governing territories of the General Assembly of the United Nations. All claims in Antarctica are listed in italics.
New Zealand
New Zealand has two self-governing associated states, one dependent territory, and a territorial claim in Antarctica.
Associated state Administration ISO 3166 country code 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. 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 citizenship. CK 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. 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 Niue to have a separate seat at the United Nations, due to its continued use of the right of Niueans to have New Zealand citizenship. NU Dependent territory Administration ISO 3166 country code Territory of New Zealand. A UN-sponsored referendum on self-governance in February 2006 did not produce the two-thirds supermajority necessary for changing the current political status. Another one was in October 2007, which failed to reach the two-thirds margin. Appears on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories. TK Dependent territory(uninhabited, claimed) Administration ISO 3166 country code This is New Zealand's 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.New Zealand and Antarctica. NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 2010 No unique ISO 3166 country codes
Norway
Norway has one dependent territory and two Antarctic claims. Norway also possesses the inhabited islands of Svalbard where Norwegian sovereignty is limited (see below).
Dependent territory(uninhabited) Administration ISO 3166 country code Dependency administered from Oslo by the Polar Affairs Department of the Ministry of Justice and the Police. BV Dependent territory(uninhabited, claimed) Administration ISO 3166 country code Dependencies (subject to the Antarctic Treaty System) administered from Oslo by the Polar Affairs Department of the Ministry of Justice and the Police. No unique ISO 3166 country codes
United Kingdom
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.
Crown Dependency Administration ISO 3166 country code Responsibility for defence, international representation, and good government rests with the United Kingdom. GG IM JE Overseas Territory Administration ISO 3166 country code House of Assembly of Anguilla handles domestic affairs. Appears on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories. AI 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. BM House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands handles domestic affairs. Appears on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories VG Parliament of the Cayman Islands handles domestic affairs. Almost complete internal self-government. Appears on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories. KY Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands handles domestic affairs. Appears on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories. FK Gibraltar Parliament handles domestic affairs. Almost complete internal self-government. Appears on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories. GI Legislative Council of Montserrat handles domestic affairs. Appears on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories. MS 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. PN 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. SH House of Assembly of the Turks and Caicos Islands handles some domestic affairs. Appears on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories. TC Overseas Territory(Sovereign Base Areas) Administration ISO 3166 country code Two sovereign base areas administered as a single British overseas territory by the Commander of British Forces Cyprus, reporting to the Ministry of Defence. Permanent Cypriot population, as well as British military personnel and their families. No unique ISO 3166 country codes Overseas Territory(uninhabited) Administration ISO 3166 country code Administered by the Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory, reporting to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The 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. IO 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. GS Overseas Territory(uninhabited, claimed) Administration ISO 3166 country code Administered by the Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory, reporting to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The UK's Antarctic claim. No unique ISO 3166 country codes
United States
The United States has 13 "unincorporated" dependent territories under its administration and two claimed territories outside its control. 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. The U.S. Constitution does not apply in full to the insular areas.