International Recognition of Palestine

The international recognition of the State of Palestine is the process by which countries around the world have recognized a sovereign Palestine, following the declaration of independence by the Palestine Liberation Organization on November 15, 1988. This process of recognition gained momentum, particularly after 1988, and as of 2025, has included 147 United Nations member states.

Countries Recognizing Palestine as of 2025 - (World Population Review)

History and Beginnings of Recognition (1988–1999)

On November 15, 1988, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Chairman Yasser Arafat declared the independence of the State of Palestine in Algiers. This declaration sparked a swift wave of diplomatic recognition, particularly among Asian, African, and Arab countries. On the day of the declaration and in the following weeks, 13 countries, including Turkey, Algeria, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia, Tunisia, and Yemen, announced their recognition of Palestine.

On November 16, 1988, another 13 countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cuba, Jordan, Madagascar, Malta, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, and Zambia, declared their recognition. In the days that followed, Albania, Brunei, Djibouti, Mauritius, and Sudan also joined the list of recognizing states. Most of these recognitions during this period came from countries in Asia and Africa.

Within the first four days following Palestine's declaration of independence, a total of 46 countries had announced their recognition. Among these were Egypt, India, Nigeria, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Belarus, Namibia, Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam, China, and Burkina Faso. Some of the recognizing countries were from Eastern Europe, with several recognitions occurring before the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

By the end of 1988, the number of countries recognizing the State of Palestine had reached 83. The timing of these recognitions coincided with Palestine's declaration of independence and received broad diplomatic support, especially from the Arab League and African Union member states. Throughout 1989, several African nations, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Benin, and Equatorial Guinea, announced their recognition.

In the 1990s, newly independent states from Central Asia and Eastern Europe joined the recognition process. In 1991, Swaziland (now Eswatini) recognized Palestine, followed by Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan extended recognition in 1994, while Papua New Guinea, South Africa, and Kyrgyzstan followed in 1995. By 1998, Malawi and several other African countries had also joined.

By the end of 1999, the total number of countries recognizing the State of Palestine had reached 103. However, Western European countries had not made any formal recognition statements during this period.

Recognitions Between 2000–2012 and the Role of Latin America

Between 2000 and 2012, the international recognition of the State of Palestine expanded significantly, particularly through the efforts of Latin American countries. During this period, Venezuela (2009), the Dominican Republic (2009), Brazil (2010), Argentina (2010), Bolivia (2010), Ecuador (2010), Chile (2011), Guyana (2011), Peru (2011), Suriname (2011), Paraguay (2011), and Uruguay (2011) officially recognized Palestine as an independent state.

Beyond Latin America, recognitions were also declared by other regions. In 2011, several Caribbean nations, including Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Grenada, announced their recognition of Palestine. In the same year, Lesotho and Liberia from Africa, as well as Syria from the Middle East, joined the list of countries recognizing Palestine.

In 2012, Thailand became one of the Asian countries to recognize Palestine. Furthermore, in November 2012, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 67/19, upgrading Palestine's status to that of a "non-member observer state." The resolution passed with 138 votes in favor, 9 against, and 41 abstentions.

While this decision did not directly alter the diplomatic recognition process, it enabled Palestine to gain broader representation within international organizations. Following the UN resolution, political support for Palestinian statehood increased; however, many Western European countries refrained from taking formal steps toward recognition during this period.

By the end of 2011, the vast majority of African nations, with the exceptions of Eritrea and Cameroon, had recognized Palestine. From Europe, Iceland officially recognized Palestine in 2011. Eastern European countries such as Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania had already declared recognition between 1988 and 1990. Thus, in Europe, Palestine’s recognition followed a more limited and gradual trajectory.

During this period, recognition decisions were often coordinated within Latin America's political blocs, with regional actors such as Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina setting examples for other nations. By 2012, the number of countries recognizing the State of Palestine had reached 133.

Recognition Decisions Between 2013–2024

As of 2013, the Holy See (Vatican) officially joined the list of countries recognizing the State of Palestine. As the administrative center of the Catholic Church and a non-member observer at the United Nations, the Vatican formally expressed its diplomatic support for Palestine's statehood. In the same year, Guatemala and Haiti also declared their recognition.

In 2014, Sweden became the first Western European country to recognize the State of Palestine. The Swedish government announced this decision as a turning point in the European Union’s policy on Palestine. In 2015, Saint Lucia followed suit, with the Vatican and several other small island nations supporting this recognition process.

Colombia declared its recognition in 2018, followed by Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2019. By 2023, Mexico had also joined the group of countries recognizing Palestine.

In 2024, four Caribbean nations formally announced their recognition of the State of Palestine: Barbados on April 20, Jamaica on April 24, Trinidad and Tobago on May 3, and the Bahamas on May 8.

Later that year, Norway, Ireland, and Spain jointly announced their recognition of Palestine on May 22. These three countries based their decision on the framework of a two-state solution, recognizing the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state. Following these declarations, Slovenia enacted a similar recognition decision on June 4, 2024, while Armenia announced its recognition on June 21, 2024.

With the recognitions during this period, the number of countries officially recognizing the State of Palestine rose to 147. Some of these recognitions were also confirmed in proceedings at the United Nations. The majority of recognizing states came from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In Western Europe, only Sweden, Ireland, Norway, and Spain had taken official steps toward recognition. Among the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Russia, China, and France have formally recognized Palestine.

Countries Recognizing Palestine in 2025 and the Current Status

Number and Distribution of Recognitions Among UN Member States

As of 2025, 147 out of the 193 United Nations member states have officially recognized the State of Palestine as an independent and sovereign state. These recognizing countries acknowledge East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. The group includes almost all African nations, the majority of Latin American countries, the Arab world, Southeast Asian states, and several European nations.

Among the countries that have not recognized Palestine are the United States, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, representing the majority of G7 members. However, 10 of the G20 member states have formally recognized Palestine. Within NATO, 14 out of 32 member countries have taken official steps toward recognition.

Countries Signaling Recognition of Palestine in 2025

Throughout 2025, several countries have issued official statements signaling their intent to recognize the State of Palestine. These declarations have largely been made in response to Israel's blockade and military operations in the Gaza Strip.

• France: President Emmanuel Macron announced on July 24, 2025, that France would recognize Palestine, with the formal declaration scheduled for the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.
• United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that if Israel fails to accept a ceasefire in Gaza and does not take concrete steps toward a two-state solution, the United Kingdom would recognize Palestine during the UN General Assembly in September 2025.
• Canada: Prime Minister Mark Carney declared that Canada would recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September 2025, linking this decision to the Palestinian Authority’s reform efforts.
• Australia: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a statement made in July 2025, expressed readiness to recognize Palestine once the necessary conditions for a two-state solution are met, emphasizing that such a recognition would be a one-time formal declaration.
• Portugal: During the UN High-Level Conference on Palestine held between July 28–30, 2025, the Portuguese government expressed its intention to recognize Palestine. It announced that consultations with the president and parliament had commenced, aiming for formal recognition in September 2025.

Multilateral Appeals and Joint Declarations

"New York Appeal" and the Joint Statement by 15 Countries (July 2025)

On July 30, 2025, the foreign ministers of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, and Spain issued a joint statement titled the “New York Appeal.”

In the statement, recognizing the State of Palestine was described as “a fundamental step” in advancing the two-state solution process. The issuing countries called upon all states that have not yet recognized Palestine or have not expressed a positive assessment toward recognition to join this initiative.

The text reaffirmed the commitment to a vision in which Israel and Palestine coexist side by side as two democratic states with secure and internationally recognized borders, in line with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. It also emphasized the importance of unifying the West Bank and Gaza Strip under the administration of the Palestinian Authority.

The joint appeal welcomed the pledges made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on June 10, 2025, regarding his commitment to a two-state solution. The statement was released following coordination meetings held with the European Union, the Arab League, and other regional organizations.