In Public International Law, state territory refers to the geographical area over which a state exercises sovereignty, while territorial jurisdiction means the legal authority of a state within that territory. The types are explained below in a clear, exam-oriented manner.
This includes the mainland and all islands permanently attached to the state. It forms the core area of state sovereignty.
Internal Waters
These are waters on the landward side of the baseline, such as rivers, lakes, canals, harbours, and bays. The state exercises complete sovereignty over these waters.
Territorial Sea
This is the belt of sea adjacent to the coast, extending up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline. The coastal state has sovereignty here, subject to the right of innocent passage of foreign ships.
Airspace
A state has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its land territory and territorial waters.
Subsoil
This includes the earth beneath land territory and seabed under territorial waters, over which the state has sovereign rights to exploit natural resources.
The state has jurisdiction over all persons, property, and acts within its territory, regardless of nationality.
Maritime Jurisdiction
This includes jurisdiction over:
Territorial Sea (up to 12 nautical miles)
Contiguous Zone (up to 24 nautical miles, for customs, fiscal, immigration, and sanitary laws)
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (up to 200 nautical miles, for resource exploitation)
Continental Shelf (for exploration and exploitation of seabed resources)
Aerial Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction over aircraft flying above the state’s territory and territorial waters.
Personal Jurisdiction (Nationality Principle)
A state may exercise jurisdiction over its nationals even when they are outside its territory.
Protective Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction over acts committed outside the territory that threaten the state’s security or vital interests.
Universal Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction over certain grave international crimes (e.g., piracy, genocide, war crimes), regardless of where they are committed or the nationality of the offender.
Types of State Territories
Land TerritoryThis includes the mainland and all islands permanently attached to the state. It forms the core area of state sovereignty.
Internal Waters
These are waters on the landward side of the baseline, such as rivers, lakes, canals, harbours, and bays. The state exercises complete sovereignty over these waters.
Territorial Sea
This is the belt of sea adjacent to the coast, extending up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline. The coastal state has sovereignty here, subject to the right of innocent passage of foreign ships.
Airspace
A state has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its land territory and territorial waters.
Subsoil
This includes the earth beneath land territory and seabed under territorial waters, over which the state has sovereign rights to exploit natural resources.
Types of Territorial Jurisdictions
Territorial JurisdictionThe state has jurisdiction over all persons, property, and acts within its territory, regardless of nationality.
Maritime Jurisdiction
This includes jurisdiction over:
Territorial Sea (up to 12 nautical miles)
Contiguous Zone (up to 24 nautical miles, for customs, fiscal, immigration, and sanitary laws)
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (up to 200 nautical miles, for resource exploitation)
Continental Shelf (for exploration and exploitation of seabed resources)
Aerial Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction over aircraft flying above the state’s territory and territorial waters.
Personal Jurisdiction (Nationality Principle)
A state may exercise jurisdiction over its nationals even when they are outside its territory.
Protective Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction over acts committed outside the territory that threaten the state’s security or vital interests.
Universal Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction over certain grave international crimes (e.g., piracy, genocide, war crimes), regardless of where they are committed or the nationality of the offender.