The word colony is rarely used in modern law, but the reality people mean is still here: states administering territories beyond their mainland.
The cleanest modern yardstick is the UN’s Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGTs) list.
This guide shows which countries still “have colonies” in today’s terms, what counts under the UN system, and what gets mislabeled.
In the UN system, the closest modern “colonies” are Non-Self-Governing Territories. As of 2026, 17 territories remain on that list, mainly linked to the UK, the US, France, and New Zealand. Western Sahara is also listed, with its final status unresolved.
How to use this article: If you want the shortest correct answer, read the UN NSGT section (and the FAQ if you’re still unsure). If you’re researching “colonies” broadly (overseas territories, autonomous regions, free association), start with the table, then go to Other countries. For common confusion, see Disputed/occupied areas.
What “colony” means today (and why terminology matters)
After the big 20th-century decolonization wave, most governments stopped using the term colony. The UN framework focuses on Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGTs): territories whose people have not yet reached “a full measure of self-government.”
Separate from NSGTs, many places have other legal statuses: overseas departments/regions (integral parts of a state), overseas territories/dependencies (varying autonomy), and free association (self-governing states linked by treaty). Readers often search “colonies” for all of these, so naming the category is the whole point.
The world at a glance
This snapshot separates UN-listed NSGTs from other overseas arrangements that people commonly label “colonies.” It’s a map of categories, not an exhaustive legal index.
| Administering state | What they administer | Examples (not exhaustive) | UN NSGT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 14 Overseas Territories; some are on the UN list | Bermuda, Gibraltar, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos, Anguilla, Montserrat, British Virgin Islands | Yes (10) |
| United States | Territories (inhabited + uninhabited) | Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands | Yes (3) |
| France | Overseas departments/regions & collectivities | Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion, Mayotte; French Polynesia; New Caledonia | Yes (2) |
| New Zealand | One UN-listed territory; also free association | Tokelau (NSGT); Cook Islands & Niue (free association) | Yes (1) |
| Australia | External territories (not on UN NSGT list) | Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island | No |
| Denmark | Autonomous territories in the Danish Realm | Greenland, Faroe Islands | No |
| Kingdom of the Netherlands | Constituent countries + Caribbean public bodies | Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten; Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba | No |
| Norway | Special-status territories/dependencies | Svalbard, Jan Mayen, Bouvet Island | No |
Next, we’ll list the UN NSGTs by administering state. That’s the most standardized “modern colonies” answer you’ll find.
Countries administering UN-listed Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGTs)
The UN list currently contains 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories. In practice, the territories on that list are associated with four administering states (UK, US, France, New Zealand), plus Western Sahara, which is listed with an unresolved final status.
United Kingdom (10 NSGTs)
- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
- Gibraltar
- Montserrat
- Pitcairn (Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie & Oeno)
- Saint Helena, Ascension & Tristan da Cunha
- Turks and Caicos Islands
The UK has 14 Overseas Territories in total. Only some appear on the UN NSGT list, which is why “UK overseas territories” and “UK colonies” are not the same thing.
United States (3 NSGTs)
- American Samoa
- Guam
- United States Virgin Islands
The US also has other territories that are widely called “colonies” in everyday debate (especially Puerto Rico), but they are not on the UN NSGT list. If you’re researching US status labels, one useful reference point is that Palmyra Atoll is treated as the only incorporated US territory in modern practice.
France (2 NSGTs)
- New Caledonia
- French Polynesia
France also has overseas departments/regions and other collectivities that are constitutionally part of France. Those arrangements can look “colonial” to readers, but they aren’t all categorized as NSGTs by the UN.
New Zealand (1 NSGT)
- Tokelau
In contrast, the Cook Islands and Niue are commonly described as self-governing in free association with New Zealand. That’s why they are usually discussed separately from “colonies.”
Western Sahara (special case on the UN list)
Western Sahara remains on the UN NSGT list, with its final status unresolved. Morocco administers most of the territory in practice, while the Polisario Front claims independence. The UN continues to support a negotiated political process, and UN missions/mandates are renewed periodically.
Other countries with overseas territories (not classed as UN “colonies”)
Many countries maintain overseas territories that are not on the UN NSGT list. These matter for geography, law, and travel, but they aren’t treated as “colonies” in the UN decolonization framework.
Australia. External territories include Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island, and several remote islands. Australia also has an Antarctic claim that sits within the Antarctic Treaty system.
Denmark. The Kingdom of Denmark includes Denmark plus two autonomous territories: Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Both are self-governing in many domestic matters.
Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Netherlands Antilles was dissolved in 2010. Today, the Kingdom consists of four countries—Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands—plus three Caribbean public bodies of the Netherlands: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.
Norway. Svalbard and Jan Mayen have special regimes, and Bouvet Island is an uninhabited dependency. Norway also has Antarctic territorial claims, which are treated separately from “colonies.”
France (rest of “Outre-mer”). Beyond its two UN-listed NSGTs, France’s overseas map includes overseas departments/regions (often treated as integral parts of France) and other collectivities with different autonomy levels.
United Kingdom (important note). The UK’s Crown Dependencies—Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man—are not Overseas Territories. They are self-governing possessions of the Crown, and they are not on the UN NSGT list.
Disputed/occupied areas & Antarctic claims vs. “colonies”
Some readers lump disputed or occupied territories into “colonies.” These categories don’t match. Western Sahara is the standout example of a dispute that appears on the UN decolonization list.
Other disputes—such as the Occupied Palestinian Territory (a term used in UN contexts for the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip), or contested features in the South China Sea—are typically handled under different legal and diplomatic frameworks, not as NSGTs. Likewise, Antarctic claims exist, but the Antarctic Treaty system limits new claims and governs activity there.
FAQ
Is there a single, exact number of “colonies” left?
For UN purposes, the core list is the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories. Beyond that, totals vary because many territories are integral parts of their state or have different constitutional setups. Be cautious with viral lists that claim one universal “final number.”
Did the “Netherlands Antilles” still exist?
No. The Netherlands Antilles was dissolved in 2010. Curaçao and Sint Maarten became constituent countries, and Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba became special municipalities (“Caribbean Netherlands”).
Are Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man UK colonies?
No. They are Crown Dependencies—self-governing possessions of the Crown. They are not UK Overseas Territories, and they are not on the UN NSGT list.
Which countries administer the most territories on the UN list?
On the UN NSGT list, the UK is linked to the largest number (10), followed by the US (3), France (2), and New Zealand (1). Western Sahara is listed as a special case with an unresolved final status.
Is Puerto Rico a “colony”?
Puerto Rico is a US territory but it is not on the UN NSGT list. It has its own local government, and its long-running status debate (statehood, enhanced autonomy, or other options) is usually discussed separately from NSGTs.
Do Antarctic claims count as colonies?
Antarctic claims exist, but the Antarctic Treaty system limits new claims and governs use of the continent. In most “who still has colonies?” conversations, Antarctica is a separate category.
What Did We Learn Today?
- The UN’s most standardized “modern colonies” category is the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories (as of 2026).
- Those NSGTs are mainly associated with the UK, US, France, and New Zealand; Western Sahara is listed as a special case.
- Many other overseas territories exist, but they are not automatically “colonies” under the UN framework.
- UK Crown Dependencies are not Overseas Territories and are not UN-listed colonies.
- Disputed/occupied areas and Antarctic claims sit under different legal regimes than NSGTs.
When you separate NSGT, overseas territory, and free association, the “who still has colonies?” question becomes much easier to answer clearly.
Sources & Data Notes
This topic gets messy fast because people use “colony” to mean different things. So I grounded the core list in the UN’s Non-Self-Governing Territories framework (that’s the closest modern equivalent you’ll find in a standardized, global system). For everything outside that list—overseas territories, overseas departments/regions, autonomies, and free-association setups—I leaned on official government descriptions and constitutional status pages, because labels change and the fine print matters. I also avoided hard “total numbers” beyond the UN list, since those counts depend on definitions (and definitions are political). For places with contested status—especially Western Sahara—I kept the wording process-based and careful, sticking to what’s broadly acknowledged rather than pretending there’s a clean final answer.
