List Of Socialist States
Several past and present states have declared themselves socialist states or in the process of building socialism.
The majority of self-declared socialist countries have been Marxist–Leninist or inspired by it, following the model of the Soviet Union or some form of people's or national democracy. They share a common definition of socialism and they refer to themselves as socialist states on the road to communism with a leading vanguard party structure, hence they are often called communist states. Meanwhile, the countries in the non-Marxist–Leninist category represent a wide variety of different interpretations of the term socialism and in many cases the countries do not define what they mean by it. Modern uses of the term socialism are wide in meaning and interpretation.
Because a sovereign state is a different entity from the political party that governs that state at any given time, a country may be ruled by a socialist party without the country itself claiming to be socialist or the socialist party being written into the constitution. This has occurred in both one-party and multi-party political systems. In particular, there are numerous cases of social democratic and democratic socialist parties winning elections in liberal democratic states and ruling for a number of terms until a different party wins the elections. While socialist parties have won many elections around the world and most elections in the Nordic countries, none of those countries has adopted socialism as a state ideology or written the party into the constitution.
Several countries with liberal democratic constitutions mention socialism. India is a democracy that has been governed by non-socialist parties on many occasions, but its constitution makes references to socialism. Certain other countries such as Hungary, Myanmar, and Poland have constitutions that make references to their communist and socialist past by recognizing or condemning it, but without claiming to be socialist in the present.
Overview
Self-identification is the only criterion used by the list, therefore it includes all countries that have claimed to be socialist, even if their claims are disputed. All countries that have not claimed to be socialist are excluded, even in cases where certain outside observers regarded those countries as socialist. Mao Zedong and the Communist Party of China considered the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to be a proto-communist state, although the kingdom never declared itself socialist, hence it is not included on this list. The list includes countries that assert in their constitutions that they are based on socialism, regardless of their economic or political system. It does not list countries that do not have constitutional references to socialism as socialist states, even in cases where the government is currently run by a socialist party or other left-wing (centre-left and far-left) parties. Inversely, countries that do maintain constitutional references to socialism are listed, even when those countries are governed by non-socialist parties. The list is best understood as a list of countries that explicitly claim to be socialist and it does not reflect the actual economic systems themselves.
A combined map of all countries that declared themselves socialist states under any definition at some point in their history, color-coded for the number of years they said they were socialist:
- Over 70 years
- 60–70 years
- 50–60 years
- 40–50 years
- 30–40 years
- 20–30 years
- 10–20 years
- Under 10 years
States that had communist governments in red, states that the Soviet Union believed at one point to be moving toward socialism in orange and other socialist states in yellow. Not all of the bright red states remained Soviet allies:
States that have or had a socialist government
States with constitutional references to socialism
Current socialist states
Marxist–Leninist states
| Country | Since | Duration | Form of government | Party | Head of party | Head of state | Head of government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 People's Republic of China | 1 October 1949 | 74 years, 212 days | Unitary one-party socialist republic |  Communist Party of China | Xi Jinping (since 2012) | Li Qiang (since 2023) | |
 Republic of Cuba | 24 February 1976 | 48 years, 66 days | Unitary one-party socialist republic |  Communist Party of Cuba | Miguel Díaz-Canel (since 2021) | Manuel Marrero Cruz (since 2019) | |
 Lao People's Democratic Republic | 2 December 1975 | 48 years, 150 days | Unitary one-party socialist republic |  Lao People's Revolutionary Party | Thongloun Sisoulith (since 2021) | Phankham Viphavanh (since 2021) | |
 Socialist Republic of Vietnam | 2 September 1945 | 78 years, 241 days | Unitary one-party socialist republic |  Communist Party of Vietnam | Nguyễn Phú Trọng (since 2011) | Võ Thị Ánh Xuân (acting, since 2024) | Phạm Minh Chính (since 2021) |
Non-Marxist–Leninist states
Countries with constitutional references to socialism
| Country | Since | Duration | Form of government | Constitutional statement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 People's Democratic Republic of Algeria | 3 July 1962 | 61 years, 302 days | Multi-party semi-presidential republic | Preamble (1963): "Faithful to the program adopted by the National Council of the Algerian Revolution in Tripoli, the democratic and popular Algerian Republic will direct its activities toward the construction of the country in accordance with the principles of socialism [...]". Preamble (1996–2016): "Gathered in the national movement and later within the National Front of Liberation, the Algerian people have made great sacrifices in order to assume their collective destiny in the framework of recovered freedom and cultural identity and to build authentic people's democratic constitutional institutions. The National Front of Liberation crowned the sacrifices of the best sons of Algeria during the people's war of liberation with independence and built a modern and full sovereign State". The National Front of Liberation is a political party based on Arab socialism. |
 People's Republic of Bangladesh | 11 April 1971 | 53 years, 19 days | Multi-party parliamentary republic | Preamble: "Further pledging that it shall be a fundamental aim of the State to realise through the democratic process, a socialist society free from exploitation, a society in which the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedoms, equality and justice, political, economic and social, will be secured for all citizens". |
 State of Eritrea | 24 May 1991 | 32 years, 342 days | One-party presidential republic | Since 1991, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice, based on socialism and left-wing nationalism, has been the sole legal political party in Eritrea. |
 Republic of Guinea-Bissau | 24 September 1973 | 50 years, 219 days | Multi-party semi-presidential republic | Preamble: "The Popular National Assembly congratulates the PAIGC for the vanguard role it has always performed in conducting the fates of the Guinea nation, and congratulates itself for the courageous and timely decision that the Party of Amilcar Cabral took by overcoming the challenge of democratic opening, towards the construction of a plural, just and free society. The decision of the PAIGC follows in accordance with its historic tradition of acting at every moment as the repository for the deepest aspirations of our people." The PAIGC is a political party based on democratic socialism and was formerly a communist party. Formerly a one-party socialist republic. |
 Co-operative Republic of Guyana | 6 October 1980 | 43 years, 207 days | Multi-party presidential republic | Section 1, Article 1: "Guyana is an indivisible, secular, democratic sovereign state in the course of transition from capitalism to socialism and shall be known as the Co-operative Republic of Guyana". |
 Republic of India | 18 December 1976 | 47 years, 134 days | Multi-party parliamentary republic | Preamble: "We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens". |
 Democratic People's Republic of Korea | 9 September 1948 | 75 years, 234 days | One-party Juche socialist republic | Chapter 1, Article 1: "The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is an independent socialist State representing the interests of all the Korean people." The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a one-party republic governed by the Workers' Party of Korea – a political party based on Kimilsungism–Kimjongilism, with references to communism and Marxism–Leninism within its party rules. Formerly a Marxist–Leninist state. |
 Portuguese Republic | 25 April 1976 | 46 years, 63 days | Multi-party semi-presidential constitutional republic | Preamble: "The Constituent Assembly affirms the Portuguese people's decision to defend national independence, guarantee citizens' fundamental rights, establish the basic principles of democracy, ensure the primacy of a democratic state based on the rule of law and open up a path towards a socialist society, with respect for the will of the Portuguese people and with a view to the construction of a country that is freer, more just and more fraternal." |
 Nepal | 20 September 2015 | 8 years, 223 days | Multi-party parliamentary republic | Section 1, Article 4: "Nepal is an independent, indivisible, sovereign, secular, inclusive democratic, socialism-oriented federal democratic republican state". |
 Republic of Nicaragua | 18 July 1979 | 44 years, 287 days | Dominant-party presidential republic | Section 1, Article 5: "Liberty, justice, respect for the dignity of the human person, political and social pluralism, the recognition of the distinct identity of the indigenous peoples and those of African descent within the framework of a unitary and indivisible state, the recognition of different forms of property, free international cooperation and respect for the free self-determination of peoples, Christian values, socialist ideals, and practices based on solidarity, and the values and ideals of the Nicaraguan culture and identity, are the principles of the Nicaraguan nation. [...] The socialist ideals promote the common good over individual egoism, seeking to create an ever more inclusive, just and fair society, promoting an economic democracy which redistributes national wealth and eliminates exploitation among human beings". |
 Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka | 7 September 1978 | 45 years, 236 days | Multi-party semi-presidential republic | Preamble: "[...] to constitute Sri Lanka into a democratic socialist republic whilst ratifying the immutable republican principles of representative democracy, and assuring to all peoples freedom, equality, justice, fundamental human rights and the independence of the judiciary". |
 United Republic of Tanzania | 26 April 1964 | 60 years, 4 days | Dominant-party semi-presidential republic | Section 1, Article 3: "The United Republic is a democratic, secular and socialist state which adheres to multi-party democracy". Formerly a one-party socialist republic |
Socialist territories with limited recognition
These are territories that have claimed independence or autonomy and have declared themselves socialist under some interpretation of the term. While these territories have created stable institutions of governance that have existed for a considerable period of time, they are not widely recognized as states by the international community and officially belong to other sovereign states under international law.
| Territory | Since | Duration | Form of government | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wa State | 17 April 1989 | 38 years | One-party Maoist socialist state | Founded in 1989, Wa State is governed by the United Wa State Party, a Maoist and Wa nationalist party, reported to have good relations and a close connection with the Communist Party of China. |
 Zapatista autonomous territory | 1 January 1994 | 30 years, 3 months | Libertarian socialist confederal semi-direct democracy | Founded as the Rebel Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities; the municipalities dissolved in 2023 and were restructured into the Zapatista Autonomous Government Collectives. This autonomous region's governance is inspired by the neozapatista ideology of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation. Zapatista autonomy began with the Zapatista uprising in 1994. |
 Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria | 19 July 2012 | 11 years, 9 months | Libertarian socialist federated semi-direct democracy | Commonly called Rojava, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria's governance is inspired by democratic confederalism. Its autonomy began with the Rojava Revolution in 2012. |
Former socialist states
Marxist–Leninist states
| Country | Full name | From | Until | Duration | Ruling party | Constitutional statement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 / Afghanistan | Democratic Republic of Afghanistan | 27 April 1978 | 30 November 1987 | 9 years, 217 days | People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan | Preamble: "In the present stage, the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, as the initiator and coordinator of the policy of National Reconciliation, actively carries forward together with other political, national and democratic forces". The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan was a Marxist–Leninist party. |
| Republic of Afghanistan | 30 November 1987 | 28 April 1992 | 4 years, 150 days | |||
| Total | 27 April 1978 | 28 April 1992 | 14 years, 1 day | |||
 / Albania | Democratic Government of Albania | 29 November 1944 | 11 January 1946 | 1 year, 43 days | Party of Labour of Albania | Section 1, Article 1: "The People's Socialist Republic of Albania is a state of the dictatorship of the proletariat, which expresses and defends the interests of all the working people". |
| People's Republic of Albania | 11 January 1946 | 28 December 1976 | 30 years, 352 days | |||
| People's Socialist Republic of Albania | 28 December 1976 | 29 April 1991 | 14 years, 122 days | |||
| Republic of Albania | 29 April 1991 | 22 March 1992 | 328 days | |||
| Total | 29 November 1944 | 22 March 1992 | 47 years, 114 days | |||
 Angola | People's Republic of Angola | 11 November 1975 | 27 August 1992 | 16 years, 290 days | Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola | Section 1, Article 2: "All sovereignty is vested in the Angolan people. The MPLA, their legitimate representative constituted from a broad front including all patriotic forces engaged in the anti-imperialist struggle, is responsible for the political, economic, and social leadership of the nation". |
 Belarus | Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic | 31 July 1920 | 25 August 1991 | 71 years, 25 days | Communist Party of Byelorussia | Section 1, Article 1: "The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic is a socialist state expressing the will and interests of the workers, peasants and intelligentsia, the working people of all nationalities of the republic". |
 Benin | People's Republic of Benin | 30 November 1975 | 1 March 1990 | 14 years, 91 days | People's Revolutionary Party of Benin | The Marxist–Leninist People's Revolutionary Party of Benin became the sole legal political party on 30 November 1975. |
 Bulgaria | People's Republic of Bulgaria | 15 September 1946 | 7 December 1990 | 44 years, 83 days | Bulgarian Communist Party | Section 1, Article 1: "The People's Republic of Bulgaria is a socialist state of the working people from town and village, headed by the working class". |
 / / Cambodia | Democratic Kampuchea | 17 April 1975 | 10 January 1979 | 3 years, 268 days | Communist Party of Kampuchea | Chapter 1, Article 1: "The State of Kampuchea is a State of the people, workers, peasants, and all other Kampuchean labourers.". |
| People's Republic of Kampuchea | 10 January 1979 | 1 May 1989 | 10 years, 111 days | People's Revolutionary Party of Kampuchea | Chapter 1, Article 1: "[Kampuchea is] a democratic state [...] gradually advancing toward socialism". Cambodia was not internationally recognized by some countries following the Cambodian–Vietnamese War. | |
| State of Cambodia | 1 May 1989 | 23 October 1991 | 2 years, 175 days | |||
| Total | 17 April 1975 | 23 October 1991 | 16 years, 189 days | |||
 Congo | People's Republic of the Congo | 3 January 1970 | 15 March 1992 | 22 years, 72 days | Congolese Labor Party | Presidential oath: "I swear allegiance to the Congolese people, to the Revolution and to the Congolese Labor Party. I shall undertake, while guided by Marxist-Leninist principles, [...] to devote all my strength to the triumph of the proletarian ideals". |
 Czechoslovakia | Czechoslovak Republic | 9 June 1948 | 11 July 1960 | 12 years, 32 days | Communist Party of Czechoslovakia | Section 1, Article 1: "The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is a socialist state founded on the firm alliance of the workers, farmers and intelligentsia, with the working class as its head". From 1969 to 1990, Czechoslovakia consisted of two constituent republics. |
| Czechoslovak Socialist Republic | 11 July 1960 | 29 March 1990 | 29 years, 261 days | |||
| Total | 9 June 1948 | 29 March 1990 | 41 years, 293 days | |||
 / Ethiopia | Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia | 28 June 1974 | 22 February 1987 | 12 years, 239 days | Commission for Organizing the Party of the Working People of Ethiopia | Country declared Marxist–Leninist in 1974, with the Workers' Party of Ethiopia becoming "the formulator of the country's development process and the leading force of the state and in society" in 1987. |
| Workers' Party of Ethiopia | ||||||
| People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia | 22 February 1987 | 27 May 1991 | 4 years, 94 days | |||
| Total | 28 June 1974 | 27 May 1991 | 16 years, 333 days | |||
 East Germany | German Democratic Republic | 7 October 1949 | 3 October 1990 | 40 years, 361 days | Socialist Unity Party of Germany | Section 1, Article 1: "The German Democratic Republic is a socialist state of workers and peasants. It is the political organization of the working people of town and country under the leadership of the working class and its Marxist-Leninist party". |
 Grenada | People's Revolutionary Government | 13 March 1979 | 25 October 1983 | 4 years, 226 days | New Jewel Movement | People's Law Number Two: "The People's Revolutionary Government, PRG, is hereby established as of Tuesday 13 March 1979, in accordance with the sovereign will of the Grenadian people, and in it shall be vested of executive and legislative power". The New Jewel Movement considered themselves a Marxist–Leninist vanguard party. |
 Hungary | Hungarian People's Republic | 20 August 1949 | 23 October 1989 | 40 years, 64 days | Hungarian Working People's Party | Section 1, Article 2: "The Hungarian People's Republic is a socialist state". |
| Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party | ||||||
| North Korea | Democratic People's Republic of Korea | 9 September 1948 | 19 February 1992 | 43 years, 163 days | Workers' Party of Korea | Section 1, Article 1: "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is an independent socialist state representing the interests of all the Korean people". A non-Marxist–Leninist socialist state since 1992. |
 Madagascar | Democratic Republic of Madagascar | 30 December 1975 | 12 September 1992 | 16 years, 257 days | Vanguard of the Malagasy Revolution | Preamble: "The Malagasy people,[...] — Determined to build a State of a new type, expression of the interests of the working masses, and to build a society in conformity with the socialist principles set out in the 'Charter of the Malagasy Socialist Revolution'，" |
 / Mongolia | Mongolian People's Republic | 24 November 1924 | 12 February 1992 | 67 years, 80 days | Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party | Section 1, Article 2: "The Mongolian People's Republic is a state which exists and is developing in the form of people's democracy". |
 / Mozambique | People's Republic of Mozambique | 25 June 1975 | 1 December 1990 | 15 years, 159 days | FRELIMO | Section 1, Article 2: "Power belongs to the workers and peasants united and led by FRELIMO and organs of people's power". |
 North Vietnam | Democratic Republic of Vietnam | 2 September 1945 | 2 July 1976 | 30 years, 304 days | Communist Party of Vietnam | Section 2, Article 9: "The Democratic Republic of Vietnam is advancing step by step from people's democracy to socialism by developing and transforming the national economy along socialist lines, transforming its backward economy into a socialist economy with modern industry and agriculture and an advanced science and technology". The Indochinese Communist Party and the Workers' Party of Vietnam were the dominant parties prior to the consolidation of the Communist Party of Vietnam. |
 Poland | Republic of Poland | 28 June 1945 | 22 July 1952 | 7 years, 24 days | Polish Workers' Party | Section 1, Article 1: "The Polish People's Republic is a socialist state". |
| Polish United Workers' Party | ||||||
| Polish People's Republic | 22 July 1952 | 30 December 1989 | 37 years, 161 days | |||
| Total | 28 June 1945 | 30 December 1989 | 44 years, 185 days | |||
 Romania | Romanian People's Republic | 30 December 1947 | 21 August 1965 | 17 years, 234 days | Romanian Workers' Party | Section 1, Article 1: "Romania is a socialist republic". Section 1, Article 3: "The leading force of society in the Socialist Republic of Romania is the Romanian Communist Party". |
| Socialist Republic of Romania | 21 August 1965 | 30 December 1989 | 24 years, 131 days | Romanian Communist Party | ||
| Total | 30 December 1947 | 30 December 1989 | 42 years, 0 days | |||
 Russia/  Soviet Union | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic | 7 November 1917 | 6 November 1991 | 73 years, 364 days | Communist Party of the Soviet Union | Section 1, Article 1, Chapter 2: "Bearing in mind as its fundamental problem the abolition of the exploitation of men by men, the entire abolition of the division of the people into classes, the suppression of exploiters, the establishment of a socialist society, and the victory of socialism in all lands". Section 1, Article 1: "The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is a socialist state of the whole people, expressing the will and interests of the workers, peasants and intelligentsia, the working people of all the nations and nationalities of the country". The Soviet Union consisted of fifteen republics. |
| Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | 30 December 1922 | 6 March 1990 | 67 years, 66 days | |||
| Total | 7 November 1917 | 26 December 1991 | 74 years, 49 days | |||
 Somalia | Somali Democratic Republic | 21 October 1969 | 26 January 1991 | 21 years, 97 days | Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party | Section 1, Article 1: "The Somali Democratic Republic is a socialist state led by the working class and is an integral part of the Arab and African entities". |
 / Tuva | Tannu Tuvan People's Republic | 14 August 1921 | 24 November 1926 | 5 years, 102 days | Tuvan People's Revolutionary Party | Chapter 1: "[...] in international affairs, the state acts under the auspices of Soviet Russia". In October 1944, the country was annexed by the Soviet Union at the request of Tuva's parliament. |
| Tuvan People's Republic | 24 November 1926 | 11 October 1944 | 17 years, 322 days | |||
| Total | 14 August 1921 | 11 October 1944 | 23 years, 58 days | |||
 Ukraine | Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic | 10 March 1919 | 24 August 1991 | 72 years, 167 days | Communist Party of Ukraine | Section 1, Article 1: "The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic is the whole peoples state that expresses the will and interests of the workers, peasants and intellectuals, workers of the republic of all nationalities". |
 South Yemen | People's Republic of South Yemen | 30 November 1967 | 1 December 1970 | 3 years, 1 day | National Liberation Front | Section 1, Article 3: "The Yemeni Socialist Party, armed with the Scientific Socialism theory, is the leader and guide of society and state". |
| People's Democratic Republic of Yemen | 1 December 1970 | 22 May 1990 | 19 years, 172 days | Yemeni Socialist Party | ||
| Total | 30 November 1967 | 22 May 1990 | 22 years, 173 days | |||
 / Yugoslavia | Democratic Federal Yugoslavia | 29 November 1943 | 29 November 1945 | 2 years, 0 days | League of Communists of Yugoslavia | Section 1, Article 2: "The socialist system in Yugoslavia is based on relations between people acting as free and equal producers and creators, whose work serves exclusively to satisfy their personal and common needs". Yugoslavia consisted of six constituent socialist republics. |
| Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia | 29 November 1945 | 7 April 1963 | 17 years, 129 days | |||
| Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | 7 April 1963 | 22 January 1990 | 26 years, 290 days | |||
| Total | 29 November 1943 | 22 January 1990 | 46 years, 54 days |
Non-Marxist–Leninist states
| Country | Full name | From | Until | Duration | Constitutional statement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Burma | Union of Burma | 2 March 1962 | 3 January 1974 | 11 years, 307 days | Chapter XVI General Provisions: "In order to overcome this deterioration and to build Socialism, the Revolutionary Council of the Union of Burma assumed responsibility as a historical mission, adopted the Burmese Way to Socialism and also formed the Burma Socialist Programme Party". |
| Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma | 3 January 1974 | 18 September 1988 | 14 years, 259 days | ||
| Total | 2 March 1962 | 18 September 1988 | 26 years, 200 days | ||
 Cape Verde | Republic of Cape Verde | 5 July 1975 | 22 September 1992 | 17 years, 79 days | Chapter 1, Article 1: "Cape Verde is a sovereign, democratic, laic, unitary, anti-colonialist and anti-imperialist state". It was a one-party state ruled by the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde, whose goal was the construction of a socialist society and which received support from other socialist states. |
 Chad | Republic of Chad | 16 April 1962 | 13 April 1975 | 12 years, 362 days | From 1962 to 1975, the African socialist Chadian Progressive Party was the sole legal political party in Chad. |
 Congo | Republic of Congo | 16 August 1963 | 4 September 1968 | 5 years, 9 days | From 1963 to 1968, the socialist National Movement of the Revolution was the sole legal political party in the Republic of Congo. |
 Djibouti | Republic of Djibouti | 24 October 1981 | 3 October 1992 | 10 years, 345 days | Law on National Mobilization Part 2, Article 4: "During the National Mobilization the People's Rally for Progress guarantees the formation and expression of popular consensus and the national will for economic and social transformation. It brings to the President of the Republic, guarantor of national unity, the support of its organization and the action of its activists. It ensures within it the democratic debate between the various social, cultural, economic and regional components of the national community as well as their equitable representation, their free expression and right of proposal. Its statutes must promote a broad development of internal democracy as well as broad popular support for the various institutions of the Republic". The People's Rally for Progress is a socialist party. |
 Egypt | Republic of Egypt | 18 June 1953 | 22 February 1958 | 4 years, 249 days | Neither 1953 constitutional declaration, 1956 Egyptian Constitution nor the Provisional Constitution of the United Arab Republic used the word 'socialist' or 'socialism', but the sole legal parties – the Liberation Rally and the National Union – were socialist. |
| United Arab Republic | 22 February 1958 | 28 September 1961 | 3 years, 218 days | ||
| Arab Republic of Egypt | 28 September 1961 | 26 March 2007 | 45 years, 179 days | Article One of 1964 constitution of Egypt, then known as the United Arab Republic, directly mentioned socialism: "The United Arab Republic is a democratic, socialist State based on the alliance of the working powers of the people"
"The Arab Republic of Egypt is a Socialist Democratic State based on the alliance of the working forces of the people."
| |
| Total | 18 June 1953 | 26 March 2007 | 53 years, 281 days | ||
 Equatorial Guinea | Republic of Equatorial Guinea | 7 July 1970 | 3 August 1979 | 9 years, 27 days | See the 1973 Equatorial Guinean constitutional referendum. Preamble: "The United National Workers' Party of Equatorial Guinea (PUNT), draws up the general policy of the nation, and coordinates and controls it through the State organs". The United National Workers' Party was a political party based on African socialism. |
 Ghana | Republic of Ghana | 1 July 1960 | 24 February 1966 | 5 years, 238 days | Part 1, Article 2: "In the confident expectation of an early surrender of sovereignty to a union of African states and territories, the people now confer on Parliament the power to provide for the surrender of the whole or any part of the sovereignty of Ghana". See the 1960 Ghanaian constitutional referendum. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana, is mentioned in the 1960 constitution. Nkrumah and his party, the Convention People's Party, were African socialists, whose party constitution stated: "To establish a socialist state in which all men and women shall have equal opportunity and where there shall be no capital[ist] exploitation". Ghana's Seven Year Development plan included the task to "[e]mbark upon the socialist transformation of the economy through the rapid development of state and co-operative sectors". |
 Guinea | Republic of Guinea | 2 October 1958 | 3 April 1984 | 25 years, 184 days | From 1958 to 1984, the African socialist Democratic Party of Guinea – African Democratic Rally was the sole legal political party in Guinea. |
 / Iraq | Iraqi Republic | 14 July 1958 | 8 February 1963 | 4 years, 209 days | From 1958 to 1963, the Iraqi Communist Party held significant power within the progressive military government of General Abd al-Karim Qasim. See the 14 July Revolution. |
| 8 February 1963 | 17 July 1968 | 5 years, 160 days | From 1963 to 1968, the Arab Socialist Union was the sole legal political party in Iraq. | ||
| Iraqi Republic | 17 July 1968 | 7 April 2005 | 36 years, 264 days | Chapter 1, Article 1: "Its [the country's] basic objective is the realization of one Arab State and the build-up of the socialist system". | |
| Total | 14 July 1958 | 7 April 2005 | 46 years, 267 days | ||
 / Libya | Libyan Arab Republic | 1 September 1969 | 2 March 1977 | 7 years, 182 days | Section 1, Article 6: "The aim of the state is the realization of socialism through the application of social justice which forbids any form of exploitation". |
| Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya | 2 March 1977 | 15 April 1986 | 9 years, 44 days | ||
| Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya | 15 April 1986 | 23 October 2011 | 25 years, 191 days | ||
| Total | 1 September 1969 | 23 October 2011 | 42 years, 52 days | ||
 Mali | Republic of Mali | 20 June 1960 | 26 March 1991 | 30 years, 251 days | From 1960 to 1968, the African socialist Sudanese Union – African Democratic Rally was the sole legal political party in Mali. The 1974 Malian constitution provided for a one-party system which was ruled by the socialist Democratic Union of the Malian People. |
 Mauritania | Islamic Republic of Mauritania | 25 December 1961 | 10 December 1984 | 16 years, 197 days | Chapter 1, Article 9: "The popular will is expressed through the democratically organized State Party. The Mauritanian People's Party, born from the merger of the national parties existing on December 25, 1961, is recognized as the only party of the State". The Mauritanian People's Party was a political party based on Islamic socialism. |
 Senegal | Republic of Senegal | 20 August 1960 | 24 April 1981 | 20 years, 247 days | From 1960 to 1975, the African socialist Senegalese Progressive Union (UPS) was the sole legal political party in Senegal and until 1981 there were only three parties allowed a socialist party (UPS), a liberal party and a communist party. |
 Seychelles | Republic of Seychelles | 5 June 1977 | 27 December 1991 | 14 years, 205 days | Preamble: "Seychelles is declared to be a sovereign socialist republic". |
 Sierra Leone | Republic of Sierra Leone | 12 July 1978 | 1 October 1991 | 13 years, 81 days | Chapter X, Article 176: "The All People's Congress established and in being immediately prior to the commencement of this Constitution shall continue in being thereafter and be deemed to be the One Party officially recognised in Sierra Leone". The All People's Congress is a political party based on African socialism. |
 Sudan | Democratic Republic of the Sudan | 25 May 1969 | 10 October 1985 | 16 years, 138 days | Preamble: "In the belief of our pursuit of freedom, socialism and democracy to achieve the society of sufficiency, justice and equality". |
 / Syria | Syrian Arab Republic | 8 March 1963 | 27 February 2012 | 48 years, 356 days | Section 1, Article 8: "The leading party in the society and the state is the Socialist Arab Ba'ath Party. It leads a patriotic and progressive front seeking to unify the resources of the people's masses and place them at the service of the Arab nation's goals". |
 Tunisia | Republic of Tunisia | 22 October 1964 | 27 February 1988 | 23 years, 128 days | From 1964 to 1988, the Socialist Destourian Party was the sole legal political party in Tunisia. |
 Zambia | Republic of Zambia | 25 August 1973 | 24 August 1991 | 17 years, 364 days | Section 1, Article 4: "There shall be one and only one political party or organization in Zambia, namely, the United National Independence Party". The United National Independence Party is a political party based on African socialism. |
Ephemeral socialist states and polities
These are short-lived political entities that emerged during wars, revolutions, or unrest and declared themselves socialist under some interpretation of the term, but which did not survive long enough to create a stable government or achieve international recognition.
Paris Commune (18 March 1871 – 28 May 1871)- Republic of Guria (May 1902 – 10 January 1906)
Strandzha Commune (18 August 1903 – 8 September 1903)- Chita Republic (22 November 1905 – 22 January 1906)
Ukrainian People's Republic (1917–1921)- Harbin Soviet (September 1917 – December 1918)
Executive Committee of the Soviet of Workers, Soldiers, and the Landless in Latvia (21 November 1917 – 3 March 1918)
Crimean People's Republic (1917–1918)
Soviet Republic of Soldiers and Fortress-Builders of Naissaar (December 1917 – February 1918)
Belarusian People's Republic (1918–1919)- West Ukrainian People's Republic (1918–1919)
- Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic (28 January 1918 – 29 April 1918)
- Odessa Soviet Republic (31 January 1918 – 13 March 1918)
- Donetsk–Krivoy Rog Soviet Republic (12 February 1918 – May 1918)
Baku Commune (13 April 1918 – 25 July 1918)
Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic (22 April 1918 – 28 May 1918)
Democratic Republic of Georgia (May 1918 – February 1921)- Banat Republic (31 October 1918 – 20 February 1919)
- Republic of Tarnobrzeg (6 November 1918 – Spring 1919)
- People's State of Bavaria (8 November 1918 – 6 April 1919)
- Free Socialist Republic of Germany (9 November 1918 – 11 August 1919)
- Alsace-Lorraine Soviet Republic (10 November 1918 – 22 November 1918)
Commune of the Working People of Estonia (29 November 1918 – 5 June 1919)
Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic (17 December 1918 – 13 January 1920)
Hungarian People's Republic (16 November 1918 – 21 March 1919)
Makhnovshchina (27 November 1918 – 28 August 1921)- Würzburg Soviet Republic (1919)
- Bremen Soviet Republic (10 January 1919 – 4 February 1919)
Lithuanian–Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (27 February 1919 – 25 August 1919)- Republic of Councils in Hungary (21 March 1919 – 6 August 1919)
- Mughan Soviet Republic (March 1919 – June 1919)
- Bavarian Soviet Republic (6 April 1919 – 3 May 1919)
- Limerick Soviet (14 April 1919 – 17 April 1919)
- Crimean Socialist Soviet Republic (28 April 1919 – 26 June 1919)
- Bessarabian Soviet Socialist Republic (May 1919 – September 1919; 15 September 1924 – 18 September 1924)
- Slovak Soviet Republic (16 June 1919 – 7 July 1919)
Far Eastern Republic (6 April 1920 – 15 November 1922)
Provisional People's Government of Mongolia (1921–1924)
Persian Socialist Soviet Republic (9 June 1920 – September 1921)
Galician Soviet Socialist Republic (8 July 1920 – 21 September 1920)
Labin Republic (2 March 1921 – 8 April 1921)- Serbian–Hungarian Baranya–Baja Republic (14 August 1921 – 20 August 1921)
Soviet Zone (1927–1937) 
Hunan Soviet (September 1927 – October 1927)- Guangzhou Soviet Government (12 December 1927 – 13 December 1927)
Central Revolutionary Base Area (1931–1934)
Korean People's Association in Manchuria (1929–1931)
Nghệ-Tĩnh Soviet (1930–1931)
Chinese Soviet Republic (7 November 1931 – 22 September 1937)
Socialist Republic of Chile (4 June 1932 – 2 October 1932)
People's Revolutionary Government of the Republic of China (22 November 1933 – 13 January 1934)
Xinjiang Clique (1934–1941)- Asturian Socialist Republic (October 1934)
Regional Defence Council of Aragon (1936–1937)
Revolutionary Catalonia (1936–1939)
Sovereign Council of Asturias and León (6 September 1936 – 21 October 1937)
Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region (1937–1946)
Finnish Democratic Republic (December 1939 – March 1940)
Republic of Užice (28 July 1941–1 December 1941)- Bihać Republic (4 November 1942–29 January 1943)
Political Committee of National Liberation (10 March 1944 – 9 October 1944)
Inner Mongolian People's Republic (9 September 1945 – 6 November 1945)
East Turkestan Republic (12 November 1944 – 27 June 1946)
People's Republic of Korea (1945–1946)
Soviet Civil Administration (1945–1949)
Liberated Zone (1946–1949)
Azerbaijan People's Government (November 1945 – December 1946)
Republic of Mahabad (22 January 1946 – 15 December 1946)
Provisional People's Committee for North Korea (1946–1947)- People's Committee of North Korea (1947–1948)
- Provisional Democratic Government (1947–1949)
Marquetalia Republic (1948–1964)
Government of the National Front of the Region of Madiun (18 September 1948 – 19 December 1948)
People's Republic of Zanzibar (1964)
Republic of South Vietnam (8 June 1969 – 2 June 1976)
People's Provisional Government (1977–1979)
Junta of National Reconstruction (18 July 1979 – 10 January 1985)
National Revolutionary Council (30 July 1981 – 5 August 1981)
Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (22 June 1982 – 24 September 1993)
National Council for the Revolution (1984–1987)
Republic of Kuwait (4 August 1990 – 28 August 1990)
Democratic Republic of Yemen (21 May 1994 – 7 July 1994)- Provisional Government of National Union and National Salvation of Cambodia (11 July 1994 – 22 June 1998)
Non-socialist states with governing socialist parties
There are multiple states with socialist parties leading the government, sometimes together. Such states are not considered to be communist or socialist states because the countries themselves do not provide a constitutional role for their ruling socialist/communist parties or deem socialism a state ideology. This does not include socialist parties following social democracy, which have governed most of the Western world, much of Latin America, and other regions as part of the mainstream centre-left.
Examples of previous direct communist or socialist party rule in non-socialist multi-party democracies include:
Australia (Australian Labor Party, 1904)
Republic of San Marino (Sammarinese Communist Party, 1945–1957)- Indonesia (Socialist Party, 1945–1948)
Union of Burma (Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League, 1948–1962)
Israel (Mapai Socialist Party, 1948–1977)
Republic of Uganda (Uganda People's Congress, 1960–1971; 1980–1985)
Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Pakistan Peoples Party, 1970–1977; 1988–1990; 1993–1996; 2008–2013)
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor, 1975; 2002–2006; 2007; 2015–2018)
Republic of Senegal (Socialist Party of Senegal, 1975–2000)
Republic of Vanuatu (Vanua'aku Pati, 1980–1994; 2009–2014)- Burkina Faso (Organization for Popular Democracy – Labour Movement and Congress for Democracy and Progress, 1987–1996; 1996–2014)
Republic of Tunisia (Democratic Constitutional Rally, 1988–2011, Nidaa Tounes 2014–2019)
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Communist Party of the Soviet Union, 1990–1991)
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, 1991–2019)
Republic of Seychelles (Seychelles People's Progressive Front, People's Party and United Seychelles, 1991–2009; 2009–2018; 2018–2020)
Republic of Mali (Alliance for Democracy in Mali and Rally for Mali, 1992–2002; 2012–2013; 2013–2020)
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Socialist Party of Serbia, 1992–2000)
Republic of Chad (Chadian Action for Unity and Socialism, 1993)
Kingdom of Nepal/Nepal/Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and Nepal Communist Party, 1994–1998; 2008–2013; 2015–2017)
Republic of Madagascar (Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar, 1997–2002)
Russian Federation (Communist Party of the Russian Federation, 1998–1999)
Republic of Moldova (Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova, 2001–2009)
Federative Republic of Brazil (Workers' Party, 2002–2016)
Oriental Republic of Uruguay (Socialist Party of Uruguay, 2005–2010; 2015–2020 and Movement of Popular Participation 2010–2015)
Republic of Sierra Leone (All People's Congress, 2007–2018)
Republic of Cyprus (Progressive Party of Working People, 2008–2013)
Republic of El Salvador (Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, 2009–2019)
Republic of Suriname (National Democratic Party, 2010–2020)
Peru (Perú Libre, 2021-2022)
See also
Notes
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