In international law three categories of Political status are usually recognized:

There are, furthermore, several unrecognized countries and independence, secessionist, autonomy and nationalist movements throughout the world. See list of unrecognized countries.

Political status in Northern Ireland

Political Status was an alternative name for Special Category Status.

Political status around the world

The political status of Crimea is the subject of a political and territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine and the majority of international governments consider both Crimea and Sevastopol as administrative divisions of Ukraine, whereas Russia and some other countries consider both to be under a Russian federal district. The dispute came into being after the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol merged as a single united state under the name of Republic of Crimea and then, following a snap referendum on joining Russia that official results showed backed the proposal, unilaterally declared their independence from Ukraine. This state was then annexed by Russia, where it became the aforementioned federal district, whereas the Autonomous Republic became the "Republic of Crimea" as a Russian republic and Sevastopol became a Russian federal city. However, Ukraine and the majority of the international community do not consider the merge, the independence, the referendum, nor the annexation legitimate and still consider both entities as divisions of Ukraine. Despite international opinion however, the currency, tax and legal system are all operational under Russian jurisdiction.