Non-Self-Governing Territories: A Look at Definition, Duties, and Current Status

 Non-Self-Governing Territories: A Look at Definition, Duties, and Current Status

By Tahir Ali Shah

This article explores the definition, obligations, and current status of Non-Self-Governing Territories, a topic of international significance being observed by the UN every year during the week of May 25th to 31st, 2025.

The United Nations (UN) says a Non-Self-Governing Territory (NSGT) is any place where the people haven't fully achieved self-rule. According to the UN Charter, countries that control these territories have a "sacred trust" to put the people's interests first. This means they must help the territory's politics, economy, society, and education growth, respect the local culture, and protect people from harm. They should also consider what the people want politically and help them build their own governments. Every year, these controlling countries must send information to the UN about how things are in each NSGT. This means they have an international duty to help these places become self-governing according to the UN rules.

How It Started and the 1946 List

When the UN was created, countries with colonies said 72 places under their control were not self-governing. This list from 1946 came from eight countries; Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These territories were in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. Over time, many of these places became independent or got a different status, and the UN only changes the list itself. For example, Namibia was taken off the list when it became free in 1990. French Polynesia and Puerto Rico were also removed after gaining more independence (Puerto Rico was removed by a UN vote in 1953). By the early 1960s, the UN had made important rules about ending colonialism. UN Resolution 1514 (XV) in 1960 said all remaining NSGTs and Trust Territories had the right to self-determination and independence. Resolution 1541 (XV) in 1960 explained the options for "full self-government": becoming independent, freely joining another country, or fully integrating with another country. The Special Committee on Decolonization (called the "Committee of 24") was set up in 1961 to watch how these rules were being followed. A UN report says that the number of NSGTs went down from 72 in 1946 to only 17 today, showing how much decolonization has happened in the last century.

Here's a list of the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories recognized by the UN in 2025, with their estimated populations and locations:

Territory	Administering Power	Estimated Population	Continent/Region
1. Western Sahara	Disputed (Morocco/Polisario); Spain listed	~600,000	Africa (Northwest)
2. Anguilla	United Kingdom	~15,000	North America (Caribbean)
3. Bermuda	United Kingdom	~63,000	North America (Atlantic)
4. British Virgin Islands	United Kingdom	~31,000	North America (Caribbean)
5. Cayman Islands	United Kingdom	~68,000	North America (Caribbean)
6. Falkland Islands (Malvinas)	United Kingdom (disputed)	~3,600	South America (South Atlantic)
7. Gibraltar	United Kingdom (disputed)	~32,000	Europe (Southern)
8. Montserrat	United Kingdom	~5,000	North America (Caribbean)
9. Saint Helena, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha	United Kingdom	~5,500 (combined)	Africa (South Atlantic)
10. Turks and Caicos Islands	United Kingdom	~44,000	North America (Caribbean)
11. United States Virgin Islands	United States	~87,000	North America (Caribbean)
12. American Samoa	United States	~45,000	Oceania (South Pacific)
13. Guam	United States	~170,000	Oceania (Western Pacific)
14. New Caledonia	France	~270,000	Oceania (Southwest Pacific)
15. French Polynesia	France	~280,000	Oceania (South Pacific)
16. Tokelau	New Zealand	~1,500	Oceania (South Pacific)
17. Pitcairn Islands	United Kingdom	~50	Oceania (South Pacific)

 

Notes:

• Western Sahara is the only territory without a clear administering power recognized by the UN. Morocco controls most of it, while the Polisario Front controls some areas in the east.
• Population numbers are rough estimates from recent data (2023–2024).
• Some territories have a lot of self-government or are moving towards it (like New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Tokelau), while the administering power more directly controls others.

What Countries Controlling These Territories Must Do (Under International Law)

Chapter XI of the UN Charter and other UN rules say that countries in charge of NSGTs have important duties. Because it's a "sacred trust," they must put the people's well-being first. Article 73(a) specifically says they need to help the territory's culture and progress, making sure the people get good treatment, are protected from harm, and see progress in their politics, economy, society, and education. Article 73(b) talks about helping the territory become self-governing. The controlling country must consider what the people want politically and help them build their own institutions. Other parts of Article 73 say they should work towards international peace and security (73(c)) and work with UN agencies to improve things like health, the economy, and science in the territory.

Basically, countries in charge of NSGTs need to:

• Help them grow and be well: Improve the economy and society, and protect people's rights.
• Help them govern themselves: Talk with local leaders, listen to what the people want, and help them create their own governments.
• Work with the world: Team up with other UN countries and groups to help the territory develop and do research for its benefit.
• Share information: Send statistics and other details about the territory to the UN.

These duties are part of international law. Because of the UN Charter, all countries controlling NSGTs must follow them. The UN General Assembly and the Special Committee on Decolonization check if they are doing this. If a country doesn't do these things (like ignoring development or forcing people to move in), the UN could say it's breaking the rules. In fact, the UN often tells these controlling countries to avoid doing things (like military exercises or taking too many resources) that hurt the territory's people.

Natural Resources and the Right to Decide Their Own Future

One big issue now is what happens with the natural resources in NSGTs. The UN says that people have the right to control their own natural wealth (GA Res. 1803 (XVII) of 1962), and this connects to their right to self-determination. The UN General Assembly has said many times that any work with these resources must be done with the people of the territory and for their benefit. In recent resolutions (like A/RES/71/103 from 2016), the UN said that foreign investments are good if they work with the people of the NSGTs and respect their wishes. However, it also showed concern about any actions that take natural resources that belong to the people of these territories, especially if it hurts them or stops them from being able to use these resources themselves. So, the UN doesn't allow taking NSGT resources unfairly without considering the people's rights, but it doesn't stop all investment. The important thing is that economic projects should help the territory and respect what the people want, which fits with the UN Charter's idea of promoting economic progress.

This rule about resources is important in some current disagreements (like the phosphate mines and fishing areas in Western Sahara). The UN Legal Counsel said in 2002 about Western Sahara that contracts for minerals or fish are not automatically illegal. But, if these resources are used "without considering the interests and wishes of the people," it would break international law for NSGTs. To sum up, recent UN resolutions support the right to self-determination and also say that any use of natural resources must be in line with what the people want and need.

Current Examples and Discussions

Some territories on the UN list are still politically sensitive, showing how difficult it is to finish decolonization today. Western Sahara is a major example. It used to be a Spanish colony and was added to the UN list in 1963. When Spain left in 1975, Morocco and Mauritania tried to take over the territory. At the same time, the Polisario Front (representing the Sahrawi people) said they were an independent country called the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Since then, the UN has considered Western Sahara as a "territory under colonization" and wants a referendum to let the people decide their future. A UN plan for this and a peacekeeping mission were created in 1991, but the vote never happened because of disagreements about who could vote. The African Union and most countries see Western Sahara as the world’s "last colony." The UN General Assembly and Fourth Committee always say that the Sahrawi people have a right to decide their own future and become independent. The International Court of Justice also said in 1975 that any use of resources in Western Sahara must benefit its people. Today, talks are still happening with the UN's help, but Western Sahara is still an NSGT with an uncertain future.

In the Pacific, New Caledonia (a part of France overseas) shows a path towards decolonization through talks. New Caledonia was originally on the list of non-self-governing territories (its status changed at times after 1946), but since the Nouméa Accord in 1998, it has gained more and more independence. People there have voted three times (2018, 2020, 2021) on whether to become independent, and each time a large majority voted to stay with France. According to the Accord, if the third vote had been for independence, it would have happened. Since it wasn't, France will remain in control, but discussions are still going on to meet the demands of the Kanak people (the original inhabitants). The UN Special Committee continues to watch New Caledonia's status. In 2023, people from New Caledonia told the UN decolonization meeting that they are looking forward to a "free and prosperous future" based on the Nouméa Accord and promised to work with the UN's decolonization process. So, New Caledonia is still on the UN list while waiting for a final decision, even though it has a lot of its own self-rule.

The Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory) is another area of current conflict. In 1965–68, the UK separated Chagos from Mauritius (which was also under British rule at the time) and forced the local people to leave so they could build a military base (now used jointly by the UK and US on Diego Garcia). Mauritius has long argued that this violated their right to self-determination. In 2019, the International Court of Justice said that the UK's continued control is illegal and must end, calling for quick decolonization. The UN General Assembly (in resolution 73/295) then demanded that the UK leave unconditionally by a certain date. In its reporting, the UN said that the UK's control of Chagos "was not done in a way that respected the right to self-determination" and that continuing to control it was "wrongful". As of 2025, the UK and Mauritius have been in talks led by the UN to put these decisions into action and allow the people of Chagos to return.

Other NSGTs also cause debate. For example, Anguilla, Bermuda, the Falklands/Malvinas, Gibraltar, Guam, Puerto Rico (which was taken off the list in 1953), U.S. Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, and others are still on the list. Some have had votes on their status (like Bermuda in 1995 and the Falklands in 2013) and have mostly chosen to stay under their current administering power. Sometimes there are disagreements (like Argentina's claim over the Falklands/Malvinas), but the UN generally respects that native or long-established populations have a right to self-determination. For instance, the Falklands held two referendums (in 1986 and 2013) where the vast majority voted to remain under British rule. Meanwhile, Tokelau (New Zealand) narrowly voted against independence in referendums in 2006–07. In all these cases, the Special Committee on Decolonization reviews the status of these territories every year. In recent UN Fourth Committee discussions, member countries reaffirmed that the remaining NSGTs represent "generations of Indigenous Peoples whose inalienable right to self-determination and the exercise of their sovereignty" should not be delayed.

International law sets out two main duties, to help each territory become self-governing and to protect the right of its people to decide their own future. The last "decade" focused on decolonization (2011–2020) ended without fully resolving the status of the 17 NSGTs. In 2023, UN representatives stressed that new effort and political will are needed to complete this work. Countries in charge of these territories are constantly being watched. UN resolutions and reports regularly urge them not to take actions that hinder decolonization (like building up military presence, changing the population, or taking too many resources) and to respect the choices of the people in these territories.

In short, Non-Self-Governing Territories are still an important issue in international politics. The UN Charter's definition and duties (in Article 73) have been key for over 75 years. The history, going from 72 territories in 1946 to 17 today, shows both progress and that decolonization is not yet finished. Recent UN resolutions and discussions continue to emphasize that any use of a territory's wealth must benefit its people, and that their right to decide their own future must be fully respected. Current events in Western Sahara, New Caledonia, Chagos, and other places show the complex mix of law, politics, and history in making these principles a reality. For policymakers and researchers, the issue of NSGTs highlights ongoing questions about sovereignty, human rights, and global justice in the time after colonialism.

Sources:

UN Charter (Art. 73)  Link

UNGA Resolutions 1514 (1960), 1541 (1960), and 71/103 (2016) Link

UN Special Committee on Decolonization reports; UN Press releases on Fourth Committee debates and resolutions Link

International Court of Justice advisory opinions (e.g. Western Sahara, Chagos) Link

Academic analyses on NSGT status and resource rights Link.

About the Author: Tahir Ali Shah is a humanitarian professional with over 20 years of experience managing protection and development programs across South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. He has worked extensively in refugee response, child protection, and humanitarian advocacy. He can be reached at tshaha@gmail.com