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This includes recent recognitions by Portugal, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia—marking a shift among Western powers toward support for Palestinian statehood. However, Israel and the United States continue to oppose these moves, each maintaining that recognition must come through negotiations, not unilateral declarations.

How Many Countries Have Recognized the State of Palestine? | Full List and Reactions from Israel and the U.S.
A boy holds a Palestinian flag on top of a mound of rubble in the central Gaza Strip

Portugal Joins UK, Canada, and Australia

In a historic move on September 21, 2025, Portugal officially recognized the State of Palestine, aligning itself with the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia—three major Western allies that announced their recognitions earlier the same week. These recognitions follow growing international condemnation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and continued settlement expansion in the West Bank.

This coordinated shift by traditionally pro-Israel nations signals increased diplomatic pressure on Israel to reengage in peace talks and acknowledge the legitimacy of Palestinian aspirations for statehood.

How Many Countries Recognize Palestine as a Sovereign State?

As of the latest count:

  • 147 out of 193 UN member states have recognized the State of Palestine.

  • This figure includes nearly all African, Arab, and Asian nations, as well as most of Latin America.

  • In Europe, recognition was previously limited to countries like Sweden, Ireland, and Norway. The inclusion of the UK, Portugal, and others in 2025 marks a notable expansion among Western democracies.

Recognizing Countries Include:

  • All Arab League members, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Morocco.

  • Major African nations, such as South Africa, Nigeria, and Algeria.

  • Asian powers including China, India, and Indonesia.

  • Latin American countries, such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.

  • European nations, now including Spain, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, the UK, Portugal, and others.

  • Recent additions in 2025: United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal.

Countries That Have Not Recognized Palestine

While the majority of the world acknowledges Palestine's statehood, several key countries still withhold official recognition:

Non-Recognizing Countries (as of 22/09/2025):

  • United States

  • Israel

  • Germany

  • Italy

  • Finland

  • South Korea

  • Japan

  • Greece

  • Switzerland

  • New Zealand

These countries typically argue that recognition should come as part of a negotiated peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, rather than through unilateral declarations or symbolic diplomacy.

How Many Countries Have Recognized the State of Palestine? | Full List and Reactions from Israel and the U.S.

Why Recognition Matters

Recognition of statehood is more than symbolic—it carries real diplomatic and legal weight:

  • It strengthens Palestine’s position in international negotiations and forums.

  • It enables wider participation in treaties, organizations, and potential legal actions in international courts.

  • It adds pressure on Israel to halt settlement expansion and return to negotiations.

  • It reflects a global shift in perception of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, especially after recent escalations in Gaza.

Israel's Response

Israel has strongly opposed the latest wave of recognitions, calling them "politically motivated" and "detrimental to peace efforts."

  • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the recognitions as a "reward for terrorism", referencing the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023.

  • The Israeli government maintains that no Palestinian state can be created west of the Jordan River without direct negotiations.

  • Israel has warned of unilateral measures, including further settlement expansion and potential annexation of parts of the West Bank, in response to the international pressure.

United States Position

The U.S. remains firm in its refusal to recognize the State of Palestine outside a comprehensive peace agreement:

  • Washington argues that unilateral recognition undermines the two-state solution, as it reduces the incentive for Palestinians to negotiate directly with Israel.

  • While the U.S. supports the idea of a Palestinian state in theory, it insists that recognition must be earned through diplomatic talks, not declarations.

  • In private, American officials have expressed concern that the wave of recognitions could destabilize peace efforts and strengthen hardline factions on both sides.

Recognition vs. UN Membership

It’s important to distinguish between state recognition and UN membership:

  • Palestine is currently recognized as a non-member observer state at the UN.

  • Recognition by individual countries does not automatically grant Palestine full UN member status, which would require approval by the UN Security Council.

  • The United States has consistently used its veto power to block Palestinian membership efforts at the Security Council level.

Conclusion

As of September 22, 2025, the State of Palestine has been recognized by 147 countries worldwide, reflecting growing international momentum toward acknowledging Palestinian statehood. The recent endorsements by the UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal are a diplomatic turning point and signal a broader shift even among long-time Israeli allies.

However, Israel and the United States remain firmly opposed, arguing that statehood must result from negotiated peace, not unilateral decisions. The next phase of this geopolitical struggle will likely play out not only in diplomatic halls but also in the realities on the ground in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

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