Hutt River
The Principality of Hutt River, which sits on 75 sq km of farmland in western Australia, first began in 1970. Leonard George Casley wanted to sell a lot more than the 99 acres the government would allow him, so he took advantage of an obscure tort law that allowed British colonies to secede in similar circumstances. His Royal Highness Prince Leonard presides over a standing army (consisting of his children and grandchildren) and issues stamps, passports and coins. He even claims that about 18,000 citizens “live abroad”, owing to the fact that anyone can apply for citizenships for a small fee on their website. Despite all of this, neither the Aussie government nor any other nation recognises them.
Pitcairn Island
Officially the smallest democracy in the world, Pitcairn Island (in the South Pacific) was founded by mutineers who wished to return to Tahiti instead of England in 1789 (overpowering Captain William Bligh). Several descendants of those mutineers still live on the small island near Tahiti. Though not considered a nation – as it has a population of roughly 50 people – they are considered an unincorporated territory. They also elect their very own mayor every four years.
Nation of Celestial Space
Thomas Mangan wrote to his local board of deeds and titles back in January 1949 in order to acquire unclaimed territory: the entire universe (minus earth). Mangan called it the Nation of Celestial Space and even had coins, bills and postage stamps printed for his new “country”. He even went so far as to send a letter of complaints to both the US and Russia when they began flying high-altitude aircraft, claiming that their flights were infringing on his territorial claim without his permission.