A sovereign state is when there is sovereignty over an area of land and population which is not dependent on , or subject to any other power or state . A sovereign state is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty , a permanent population , a government , independence from other states and powers , and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states . It is also normally understood to be a state which is not dependent on , or subject to any other power or state .