US Trends

which countries don't recognise palestine

At least 40–50 UN member states still do not recognise Palestine as a sovereign state as of 2025–2026, including the US, Israel, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea and several others.

Quick Scoop: Big Picture

Most of the world now recognises Palestine (around 145 of 193 UN members), but a significant minority still withhold formal recognition. These are concentrated among:

  • The US and close Western allies
  • Several European Union/NATO states
  • A handful of Asian and Pacific countries
  • A small number of African and Latin American states

Key Countries That Don’t Recognise Palestine

Different sources use slightly different groupings, but they broadly agree on the core set of non-recognising states.

Major Western powers

  • United States
  • Germany
  • Italy

These governments usually say they support a “two‑state solution” but argue that recognition should come only after a negotiated peace deal.

Other European states often listed as non-recognisers

  • Austria
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • Andorra
  • Czech Republic
  • Estonia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Netherlands

Some of these have no formal recognition yet but are under internal debate or political pressure to shift their stance.

Asia–Pacific states commonly cited

  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Singapore
  • Australia (status has been evolving; timelines and recognition pledges around UN sessions matter)
  • New Zealand (planning or timing‑linked recognition rather than full recognition already in force)

Japan and South Korea are often highlighted as key US-aligned Asian states that still do not recognise Palestine.

Africa, Latin America, and Oceania

  • Cameroon (Africa)
  • Panama (Latin America)
  • Several Pacific/Oceania states with no recognition or no formal position, such as Nauru, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu and Fiji, are frequently listed as non-recognisers or “no announcement yet”.

Many non-recognisers in Oceania are small island states that tend to align diplomatically with the US or other larger partners.

Why Lists Differ (And Why It’s Messy)

There is no single “official” global list that all outlets use; instead, journalists and researchers piece it together from diplomatic statements, UN voting patterns and recognition announcements.

Several reasons the numbers and country lists can vary:

  • Evolving policy: In 2024–2025, countries like the UK, Australia, Canada, Portugal, Belgium and France moved toward or announced recognition, changing their status.
  • Ambiguous positions: Some states say they “support Palestinian statehood” but stop short of formal legal recognition. Others maintain relations with the Palestinian Authority without calling Palestine a “state”.
  • Upcoming recognitions: A few governments publicly state they intend to recognise Palestine at a particular UN General Assembly session, so their status depends on the exact date you’re looking at.

Most recent estimates put the number of non-recognising countries at around 45–50 out of 193 UN members, but the exact composition shifts as new recognitions are announced.

Mini Forum-Style Take: Why It’s a Trending Topic

“Why do some countries still refuse to recognise Palestine when so many others already have?”

Common viewpoints you’ll see in discussions:

  • Pro-recognition argument:
    • Recognition is seen as a way to give Palestinians leverage in negotiations, affirm their right to self‑determination, and balance a diplomatic field long tilted toward Israel.
  • Anti- or delayed-recognition argument:
    • Some governments argue that recognising Palestine before a final peace deal could “prejudge” borders or undermine negotiations, or that security conditions and governance issues need to be resolved first.
  • Geopolitical angle:
    • Alignment with the US (and historically with Israel) is a strong predictor of not recognising Palestine, especially among NATO members and Pacific allies.

Because of the Gaza war and a wave of new recognitions in 2024–2025, “which countries don’t recognise Palestine” keeps resurfacing as a trending search and forum topic, with maps and lists frequently updated or debated.

Note: Exact line-ups can change with new diplomatic decisions, so for the very latest list it’s worth checking a recent news explainer from a reputable outlet or a current foreign-ministry summary.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.