Countries that Still Have Colonies
In an era where globalization is the buzzword and the world is connected more than ever, one might be surprised to know that there are still territories under other countries’ jurisdiction. Often referred to as ‘colonies’ or ‘dependencies,’ these regions are administered by a separate sovereign state. This article explores the question: Which countries still have colonies?
A Glance at Modern-Day Colonies
There are 61 colonies or territories in the world today, maintained by eight countries. These countries are:
- Australia, with 6 territories
- Denmark, with 2 territories
- Netherlands, with 2 territories
- France, with 16 territories
- New Zealand, with 3 territories
- Norway, with 3 territories
- The United Kingdom, with 15 territories
- United States, with 14 territories
Delving Deeper: Territories under Each Country’s Jurisdiction
Under Australian Jurisdiction (6):
- Ashmore and Cartier Islands
- Christmas Island
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Coral Sea Islands
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands
- Norfolk Island
Under Danish Jurisdiction (2):
- Faroe Islands
- Greenland
Under Dutch Jurisdiction (2):
- Aruba
- Netherlands Antilles
Under French Jurisdiction (16):
- Bassas da India
- Clipperton Island
- Europa Island
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- French Southern and Antarctic Lands
- Glorioso Islands
- Guadeloupe
- Juan de Nova Island
- Martinique
- Mayotte
- New Caledonia
- Réunion
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Tromelin Island
- Wallis and Futuna
Under New Zealand Jurisdiction (3):
- Cook Islands
- Niue
- Tokelau
Under Norwegian Jurisdiction (3):
- Bouvet Island
- Jan Mayen
- Svalbard
Under UK Jurisdiction (15):
- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Guernsey
- Jersey
- Isle of Man
- Montserrat
- Pitcairn Islands
- Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Turks and Caicos Islands
Under U.S. Jurisdiction (14):
- American Samoa
- Baker Island
- Guam
- Howland Island
- Jarvis Island
- Johnston Atoll
- Kingman Reef
- Midway Islands
- Navassa Island
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Palmyra Atoll
- Puerto Rico
- Virgin Islands
- Wake Island
Territories with Disputed Status
Apart from the established territories, there are also areas with disputed jurisdiction. These include:
- Antarctica
- Bajo Nuevo Bank (Petrel Islands)
- Gaza Strip
- Paracel Islands
- Serranilla Bank
- Spratly Islands
- West Bank
- Western Sahara
These regions have multiple countries staking claims, and the dispute is often a result of historical, political, or strategic reasons.
What did we learn today?
While most nations have moved past the era of colonial expansion, the remnants of this period still persist in the form of these territories and colonies. Understanding which countries still have colonies is essential in appreciating the complex tapestry of geopolitics and international relations in the present day.