List of sovereign states by date of formation
Below is a list of sovereign states with the dates of their formation (date of their independence or of their constitution), sorted by continent.
This list includes the 195 states which are currently full member states or observer states of the United Nations. This does not include extinct states, but does include several states with limited recognition.[note 1] For proposed states or various indigenous nations which consider themselves still under occupation, see list of active autonomist and secessionist movements. Micronations are not included in this list.
Nation-building is a long evolutionary process, and in most cases the date of a country's "formation" cannot be objectively determined; e.g., the fact that England and France were sovereign kingdoms on equal footing in the medieval period does not prejudice the fact that England is not now a sovereign state (having passed sovereignty to the Great Britain in 1707), while France is a Republic founded in 1792 (technically, France currently refers to the French Fifth Republic, formed in 1958).
An unambiguous measure is the date of national constitutions; but as constitutions are an entirely modern concept, all formation dates by that criterion are modern or early modern (the oldest constitution being that of San Marino, dating to 1600).
Independence dates for widely recognized states earlier than 1919 should be treated with caution, since prior to the founding of the League of Nations, there was no international body to recognize nationhood, and independence had no meaning beyond mutual recognition of de facto sovereigns (the role of the League of Nations was effectively taken over by the United Nations after the Second World War). See also: disputed territories.
Many countries have some remote (or fantastically remote) symbolic foundation date as part of their national mythology, sometimes artificially inflating a country's "age" for reasons of nationalism, sometimes merely gesturing at a long and gradual process of the formation of an ethnic identity. Such dates reflect not the formation of a state (an independent political entity), but of a nation (an ethnic or cultural grouping), terms that are often conflated in the context of nation states.
The following list contains the formation dates of countries with a short description of those events. For a more detailed description of a country's formation and history please see the main article for each country.
Africa
Country | Date of current form of government | Birth of current form of government | Date of acquisition of sovereignty | Acquisition of sovereignty | Date of territorial modification | Most recent significant territorial modification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Algeria | 1963 | Adoption of the present constitution. | 3 July 1962 | French recognition of Algerian referendum on independence held two days earlier | 5 July 1962 | Algeria gains sovereignty over the entire Algerian territory upon independence from France. |
Angola | 1975 | 11 November 1975 | Independence from Portugal | |||
Benin | 1 August 1960 | Independence from France | 15 January 1894 | Borders of French Protectorate of Dahomey set at conclusion of Second Franco-Dahomean War | ||
Botswana | 30 September 1966 | Independence from the United Kingdom | 13 December 1999 | Sedudu ruled to belong to Botswana rather than Namibia by the International Court of Justice. | ||
Burkina Faso | 5 August 1960 | Independence from France | ||||
Burundi | 28 November 1966 | Monarchy replaced by republic | 1 July 1962 | Independence from Belgium | ||
Cabo Verde | 5 July 1975 | Independence from Portugal | ||||
Cameroon | 1 January 1960 | Independence from France | 1 October 1961 | Merger of part of British Cameroons with Cameroon | ||
Central African Republic | 21 September 1979 | Monarchy replaced by republic | 13 August 1960 | Independence from France | ||
Chad | 11 August 1960 | Independence from France | 3 February 1997 | Aouzou Strip awarded to Chad | ||
Comoros | 6 July 1975 | Independence from France declared | ||||
Democratic Republic of Congo | 17 May 1997 | 30 June 1960 | Independence from Belgium | |||
Republic of Congo | 15 August 1960 | Independence from France | ||||
Cote d'Ivoire | 4 December 1958 | Autonomous republic within French Community | ||||
7 August 1960 | Independence from France | |||||
Djibouti | 27 June 1977 | Independence from France | ||||
Egypt | 18 June 1953 | Egyptian revolution of 1952, Egyptian monarchy overthrown in a military coup, republic declared | 969 | The Fatimid Caliphate conquered Egypt, which became the political, cultural, and religious center of the empire. The Fatimid Caliphate eventually developed a new and indigenous Arabic culture in Egypt. | 1925 | The eastern borders of Libya and British Egypt are changed to their present boundaries. |
28 February 1922 | The UK ends its protectorate, granting independence to Egypt | |||||
Equatorial Guinea | 12 October 1968 | Independence from Spain | ||||
Eritrea | 24 May 1993 | Independence from Ethiopia declared | 1 April 2002 | Badme ruled to be Eritrean by the Eritrea–Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC after the Eritrean–Ethiopian War). Contested by Ethiopia | ||
Eswatini (Swaziland) | 8 February 2006 | Constitution of Swaziland | 6 September 1968 | Independence from the United Kingdom | ||
Ethiopia | 21 March 1975 | Monarchy abolished and replaced by republic | 900 | Zagwe dynasty | 1 April 2002 | Badme ruled to be Eritrean by the Eritrea–Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC after the Eritrean–Ethiopian War). Contested by Ethiopia |
Gabon | 17 August 1960 | Independence from France | ||||
Gambia | 18 February 1965 | Independence from the United Kingdom | ||||
Ghana | 6 March 1957 | Independence from the United Kingdom | 13 December 1956 | Union of British Togoland with Gold Coast | ||
Guinea | 2 October 1958 | Independence from France | ||||
Guinea-Bissau | 24 September 1973 | Independence from Portugal declared | ||||
10 September 1974 | Independence from Portugal recognized | |||||
Kenya | 12 December 1963 | Independence from the United Kingdom | ||||
Lesotho | 4 October 1966 | Independence from the United Kingdom | 12 March 1868 | Area that is now Lesotho placed under British rule | ||
Liberia | 26 July 1847 | Independence from American Colonization Society | 6 January 1986 | Current constitution came into effect | ||
Libya | 4 August 2014 | House of Representatives takes power.[note 2] | 24 December 1951 | Independence from UN Trusteeship (British and French administration after Italian governance ends in 1947) | 13 February 1984 | Aouzou Strip awarded to Chad. |
Madagascar | 14 October 1958 | The Malagasy Republic was created as autonomous state within French Community | ||||
26 June 1960 | France recognizes Madagascar's independence | |||||
Malawi | 6 July 1964 | Independence from the United Kingdom | ||||
Mali | 25 November 1958 | French Sudan gains autonomy | 8 April 1960 | Senegal secedes from Mali Federation | ||
22 September 1960 | Independence from France | |||||
Mauritania | 28 November 1960 | Independence from France | 11 August 1979 | Mauritania withdraws from Tiris al-Gharbiyya (part of Western Sahara) | ||
Mauritius | 12 March 1968 | Independence from the United Kingdom | 1965 | Separation of Chagos Archipelago | ||
Morocco | 7 April 1956 | Recognition of independence by the French protectorate | 1956 | independence from France | 18 November 1955 | Protectorate abolished |
Mozambique | 25 June 1975 | Independence from Portugal | ||||
Namibia | 21 March 1990 | Independence from South African rule | 1 March 1997 | Walvis Bay integrated into Namibia | ||
Niger | 4 December 1958 | Autonomy within French Community | ||||
3 August 1960 | Independence from France | |||||
Nigeria | 1 October 1960 | Independence from the United Kingdom | 15 January 1970 | Biafra re-integrated into Nigeria | ||
1 June 1961 | Northern Cameroons integrated in Nigeria | |||||
Rwanda | 1 July 1962 | Independence from Belgium | ||||
São Tomé and Príncipe | 12 July 1975 | Independence from Portugal | ||||
Senegal | 20 August 1960 | Independence from France | ||||
Seychelles | 29 June 1976 | Independence from the United Kingdom | ||||
Sierra Leone | 27 April 1961 | Independence from the United Kingdom | ||||
Somalia | 20 August 2012 | Federal Government of Somalia established.[note 3] | 1 July 1960 | Union of Trust Territory of Somalia (former Italian Somaliland) and State of Somaliland (formerly British Somaliland) | 18 May 1991 (disputed) | Somaliland declares independence, but is not recognized by any UN state. |
South Africa | 31 May 1961 | Republic declared | 11 December 1931 | Statute of Westminster, which establishes a status of legislative equality between the self-governing dominion of the Union of South Africa and the UK | 21 March 1990 | De facto: South West Africa declares independence, forming Namibia |
4 February 1997 | The post-Apartheid Constitution of South Africa comes into effect | 31 May 1910 | Creation of the autonomous Union of South Africa from the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and Orange River | 27 April 1994 | De jure: Reincorporation of the nominally independent but unrecognised bantustans into post-apartheid South Africa | |
South Sudan | 9 July 2011 | 2011 South Sudanese independence referendum | 9 July 2011 | Separation of Southern Sudan from Sudan | ||
Sudan | 15 April 2010 | First democratic election since the Second Sudanese Civil War | 1 January 1956 | Independence from Egyptian and British joint rule | 9 July 2011 | South Sudan secedes from Sudan |
Tanzania | 1 July 1991 | Amendment to Constitution of Tanzania ends status as one-party state | 9 December 1961 | Independence of Tanganyika from the United Kingdom | 26 April 1964 | Merger of Zanzibar with Tanganyika to form Tanzania |
Togo | 30 August 1958 | Autonomy within French Union | ||||
27 April 1960 | Independence from France | |||||
Tunisia | 26 January 2014 | Constitution of Tunisia following the Tunisian Revolution | 20 March 1956 | Independence from France | ||
Uganda | 1 March 1962 | Self-government granted | ||||
9 October 1962 | Independence from the United Kingdom | |||||
Zambia | 24 October 1964 | Independence from the United Kingdom | ||||
Zimbabwe | 22 December 1987 | Robert Mugabe revises the Constitution of Zimbabwe to create an executive presidency.[note 4] | 11 November 1965 | Unilateral declaration of independence by Southern Rhodesia | 1901 | BSAC separates North-Eastern Rhodesia from Southern Rhodesia |
18 April 1980 | Recognized independence from the United Kingdom as Zimbabwe |
Americas
Country | Date of current form of government | Birth of current form of government | Date of acquisition of sovereignty | Acquisition of sovereignty | Date of territorial modification | Most recent significant territorial modification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antigua and Barbuda | 1 November 1981 | Independence from the United Kingdom | ||||
Argentina | 1 May 1853 | The current Constitution of Argentina enters in force | 25 May 1810 | May Revolution installs first local government | 18 October 1884 | Conquest of the Desert |
9 July 1816 | Argentine Declaration of Independence from Spain. | |||||
Bahamas | 7 January 1964 | Internal self-governance granted | ||||
10 July 1973 | Independence from the United Kingdom | |||||
Barbados | 30 November 1966 | Independence from the United Kingdom | ||||
Belize | 21 September 1981 | Independence from the United Kingdom | 1859 | Treaty establishes border between British Honduras and Guatemala | ||
1 January 1964 | Self-governing colony | |||||
Bolivia | 25 January 2009 | Constitution of Bolivia | 6 August 1825 | Bolivian War of Independence from Spain. | 11 November 1903 | Treaty of Petrópolis with Brazil whereby Bolivia gained lands in Mato Grosso in exchange for the territory of Acre |
21 July 1844 | Independence recognized by Spain | |||||
Brazil | 5 October 1988 | Constitution of Brazil established as the third Federative Republic | 7 September 1822 | Independence from the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves declared | 11 November 1903 | Signing of the Treaty of Petrópolis with Bolivia whereby Brazil was given the territory of Acre in exchange for lands in Mato Grosso |
29 August 1825 | Independence recognized by Portugal | |||||
15 November 1889 | Proclamation of the Federal Republic | |||||
Canada | 1 July 1867 | Granted nominal independence (Dominion status), establishing as a federation | 11 December 1931 | Statute of Westminster | 1 April 1999 | Nunavut Territory created as per native land claims act from two thirds of the area of Northwest Territories. |
17 April 1982 | Constitution Act, 1982 established | |||||
Chile | 17 August 1989 | Amendment to the Constitution of Chile ends the military dictatorship | 18 September 1810 | First Government Junta | 3 July 1929 | Chile awarded Arica district in Treaty of Lima |
1 January 1818 | Chilean Declaration of Independence from Spain | |||||
25 April 1844 | Independence recognized by Spain | |||||
Colombia | 4 July 1991 | Colombian Constitution of 1991 established as a presidential republic. | 20 July 1810 | Colombia declares independence from Spain. | 4 July 1991 | The Sovereign territory was organized under the National Constituent Assembly. |
17 December 1819 | Colombia merged with Venezuela, Panama, and Ecuador. | |||||
19 November 1831 | Gran Colombia dissolved creating a pact with Panama as the Republic of New Granada. | |||||
22 May 1858 | The Republic of New Granada was replaced to the Granadine Confederation under the 1858 constitution. | |||||
8 May 1863 | The Granadine Confederation was replaced to the United States of Colombia under the constitutional change of 1864. | |||||
30 January 1881 | Declaration of Independence recognized by Spain | |||||
8 August 1886 | Establishment of the current sovereignty of Colombia as a republic. | |||||
Costa Rica | 7 November 1949 | Constitution of Costa Rica | 15 September 1821 | Costa Rica declared independence from Spain | 25 July 1824 | Partido de Nicoya |
15 November 1838 | Independence from Federal Republic of Central America | |||||
10 May 1850 | Independence recognized by Spain | |||||
Cuba | 1 January 1959 | Cuban Revolution | 10 October 1898 | Several wars were declared against Spain from 1868 to 1898, ending with the military support of USA to the Cuban Revolution. | ||
10 December 1898 | Spain loses the war against the United States and the military occupation of Cuba by the U.S. begins. | |||||
20 May 1902 | United States military occupation ends[1] | |||||
Dominica | 3 November 1978 | Constitution of Dominica | 27 February 1967 | Became an associated state of the United Kingdom | ||
3 November 1978 | Independence from the United Kingdom | |||||
Dominican Republic | 28 November 1966 | Civilian constitution of the Dominican Republic following the Dominican Civil War.[note 5] | 27 February 1844 | The Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti | 9 May 1936 | Haiti and the Dominican Republic sign a treaty setting a definitive border. |
14 October 1874 | Independence recognized by Spain | |||||
Ecuador | 28 September 2008 | Constitution of Ecuador established. | 10 August 1809 | First declaration of Independence from Spain | 26 February 1946 | Rio Protocol ends border dispute with Peru |
24 May 1822 | Second declaration of independence from Spain of Gran Colombia, of which Ecuador is a part of | |||||
13 May 1830 | Dissolution of Gran Colombia | |||||
16 February 1840 | Declaration of Independence recognized by Spain | |||||
El Salvador | 16 December 1983 | Constitution of El Salvador established as the third Unitary presidential republic | 15 September 1821 | El Salvador becomes independent from Spain, and 9 days later becomes province in First Mexican Empire | ||
1 July 1823 | El Salvador becomes a state of Federal Republic of Central America from the First Mexican Empire | |||||
2 February 1841 | Dissolution of the Federal Republic of Central America, El Salvador becomes independent nation | |||||
18 February 1841 | El Salvador was internationally recognized. | |||||
24 June 1865 | Independence recognized by Spain | |||||
Grenada | 27 February 1967 | Associated state of the United Kingdom | ||||
7 February 1974 | Full independence from the United Kingdom | |||||
Guatemala | 31 May 1985 | Constitution of Guatemala established | 15 September 1821 | Guatemala becomes state in Federal Republic of Central America, which declared independence from Spain | ||
17 April 1839 | Independence from Federal Republic of Central America declared | |||||
29 May 1863 | Independence recognized by Spain | |||||
Guyana | 26 May 1966 | Independence from the United Kingdom | ||||
Haiti | March 1987 | Constitution of 1987 (superseded) | 1 January 1804 | The French colony Saint-Domingue gains independence as Haiti | 27 February 1844 | The Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti |
9 May 1936 | Haiti and the Dominican Republic sign a treaty setting a definitive border. | |||||
Honduras | 11 January 1982 | Constitution of Honduras. | 15 September 1821 | Honduras becomes state in Federal Republic of Central America, which declared independence from Spain | 1 September 1972 | Swan Islands returned to Honduras from United States occupation |
26 October 1838 | Independence from Federal Republic of Central America | |||||
17 November 1894 | Independence from Spain recognized | |||||
Jamaica | 6 August 1962 | Independence from the United Kingdom | ||||
Mexico | 7 February 1917 | Constitution of Mexico | 16 September 1810 | Independence from Spain declared | 30 December 1853 | Gadsden Purchase |
27 September 1821 | Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire | |||||
28 December 1836 | Declaration of Independence recognized by Spain | |||||
Nicaragua | 9 January 1987 | Constitution of Nicaragua established | 15 September 1821 | Nicaragua becomes state in Federal Republic of Central America, which declared independence from Spain | ||
5 November 1838 | Independence from Federal Republic of Central America | |||||
24 July 1850 | Independence recognized by Spain | |||||
Panama | 11 October 1972 | Constitution of Panama established | 3 November 1903 | Independence from Colombia | 31 December 1999 | Sovereignty of Panama Canal Zone transferred to Panama from the United States |
10 May 1904 | Independence from Spain recognized | |||||
Paraguay | 20 June 1992 | Democratic Constitution of Paraguay | 14 May 1811 | Independence from Spain declared | 1938 | Paraguay awarded a large portion of the Gran Chaco as a result of the Chaco War |
10 September 1880 | Independence from Spain recognized | |||||
Peru | 31 December 1993 | Constitution of Peru established | 28 July 1821 | Independence from Spain declared | 26 February 1942 | Rio Protocol ends border dispute with Ecuador |
14 August 1879 | Independence from Spain recognized | |||||
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 27 February 1967 | Associated state of the United Kingdom | 19 December 1980 | Anguilla separated from Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla | ||
19 September 1983 | Independence from the United Kingdom | |||||
Saint Lucia | 27 February 1967 | Associated statehood | ||||
22 February 1979 | Independence from the United Kingdom | |||||
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 27 October 1969 | Associated statehood | ||||
27 October 1979 | Independence from the United Kingdom | |||||
Suriname | 15 December 1954 | Self-government granted | ||||
25 November 1975 | Independence from Netherlands | |||||
Trinidad and Tobago | 31 August 1962 | Independence from the United Kingdom | ||||
United States | 4 March 1789 | United States Constitution enters into force, replacing the previous Articles of Confederation and creating a new system of government | 4 July 1776 | Independence from Great Britain declared | 21 August 1959 | United States territory: Territory of Hawaii joins the US as the State of Hawaii |
3 September 1783 | Independence from Great Britain recognized | 7 September 1981 | Insular area: The United States cedes Serrana Bank and Roncador Bank to the Republic of Colombia as a result of a treaty signed in 1972 | |||
Uruguay | 8 December 1996 | 1996 Uruguayan constitutional referendum | 25 August 1825 | Independence from Empire of Brazil declared, joined in union with United Provinces of the River Plate (current Argentina). | ||
27 August 1828 | Treaty of Montevideo signed, recognizing Uruguay's independence by Brazil | |||||
19 July 1870 | Independence recognized by Spain | |||||
Venezuela | 20 December 1999 | New Constitution of Venezuela establishes the Bolivarian Fifth Republic | 19 April 1810[2] | Independence from Spain declared | 3 October 1899 | Tribunal of Arbitration awards most of Guayana Esequiba to British Guyana. |
13 January 1830 | Dissolution of Gran Colombia | |||||
30 March 1845 | Independence recognized by Spain |
Asia
Country | Date of current form of government | Birth of current form of government | Date of acquisition of sovereignty | Acquisition of sovereignty | Date of territorial modification | Most recent significant territorial modification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | 26 January 2004 | Constitution of Afghanistan establishes Islamic Republic | 1919 | Treaty of Rawalpindi ends British control of foreign policy | 1747 Durrani Empire | 1893 Durand-Line through Pashtunistan, because of the Durand-Treaty |
Bahrain | 15 August 1971 | End of treaties with the United Kingdom | 1 July 1521 | Portuguese conquest of current territory | ||
Bangladesh | 4 November 1972 | De jure: Constitution of Bangladesh | 26 March 1971 | Independence from Pakistan declared | 31 July 2015 | India and Bangladesh exchange exclaves |
February 27, 1991 | De facto: First general election since restoration of parliamentary democracy. | |||||
Bhutan | 24 March 2008 | First elections to the National Assembly | 1885 | Ugyen Wangchuck ends period of civil war and unites Bhutan | 11 November 1865 | Treaty of Sinchula |
Brunei | 29 September 1959 | De jure: Constitution of Brunei | 1 January 1984 | Brunei regains its independence after an agreement with the British on 4 January 1979 | 18 August 1841 | Kingdom of Sarawak founded |
12 December 1962 | De facto: Martial law declared during the Brunei Revolt, suspending democratic elections indefinitely. | |||||
Cambodia | 21 September 1963 | Constitution of Cambodia | 9 September 1953 | France grants Cambodia independence | ||
26 September 1989 | Becomes free from Vietnamese occupation; it gets back its name instead of the People's Republic of Kampuchea | |||||
/ China[Asia 1] | 25 December 1947 | The Republic of China adopted its constitution during the National Assembly on 25 December 1947, with further revisions and amendments since 1991 | 221 BC | In 221 BC, Qin Shi Huang conquered the various warring states and created for himself the title of Huangdi or "emperor" of the Qin, marking the beginning of imperial China. | 20 January 1955 | Loss of Yijiangshan Islands, which forms the current free area of the Republic of China |
4 December 1982 | The People's Republic of China adopted its constitution during the 5th National People's Congress on 4 December 1982, with further revisions about every five years | 6 October 2011 | Tajikistan ceded 1158 square kilometers of land to China | |||
India | 26 January 1950 | De jure: Constitution of India | 15 August 1947 | Independence from the British Empire | 31 July 2015 | India and Bangladesh exchange exclaves |
Iran | 11 February 1979 | Iranian Revolution ends monarchism and establishes an Islamic Republic | 609 BC | After the fall of Assyria between 616 BC and 609 BC, a unified Median state was formed, which together with Babylonia, Lydia, and ancient Egypt became one of the four major powers of the ancient Near East. | 10 February 1828 | Signing of the Treaty of Turkmenchay, whereby the territories that now constitute Armenia, Azerbaijan (the remaining part which hadn't been lost by the Treaty of Gulistan (1813), and Igdir are ceded to Russia) |
Iraq | 15 October 2005 | Constitution of Iraq following the Iraq War[note 6] | 762 | The Abbasid Caliphate built the city of Baghdad along the Tigris in the 8th century as its capital, and the city became the leading metropolis of the Arab and Muslim world for five centuries | 28 February 1991 | Kuwait liberated.[note 6] |
3 October 1932 | Kingdom of Iraq | |||||
Israel | 14 May 1948 | Democratic state of Israel. Reading of the Declaration of Independence of Israel | 110 BC | From 110 BCE, with the Seleucid Empire disintegrating, the dynasty became fully independent, expanded into the neighboring regions of Samaria, Galilee, Iturea, Perea, and Idumea, and the rulers took the title "basileus". Some modern scholars refer to this period as an independent kingdom of Israel | 12 September 2005 | Completion of Israel's unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip |
Japan | 3 May 1947 | Coming into force of the current Constitution of Japan, whereby the emperor was deprived of his powers and a liberal democracy was established | 4th century CE | During the subsequent Kofun period, most of Japan gradually unified under a single kingdom | 15 May 1972 | Return of the Ryukyu Islands to Japan and abolition of the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands |
Jordan | 1 January 1952 | Constitution of Jordan | 25 May 1946 | End of the British Mandate for Palestine | 26 October 1997 | Signing of the Israel–Jordan Treaty of Peace, whereby most of the disputed 400 square-kilometer area in the Arabah was handed back to Jordan |
12 June 2011 | The Cabinet of Jordan is made an elected body[3] | |||||
North Korea | 9 September 1948 | Kim Il-sung declared Premier of North Korea, establishing the still-ruling Kim dynasty. Independence declared from the Soviet Union. | 9 September 1948 | Declaration of the creation of North Korea | 12 October 1962 | Signing of border treaty with the People's Republic of China |
25 December 1972 | The Constitution of North Korea replaced Communism with Juche as North Korea's governing philosophy.[note 7] | |||||
South Korea | 29 October 1987 | Current Sixth Republic of South Korea founded, ending military rule | 15 August 1945 | Japanese rule of Korea ends | 27 July 1953 | Cease-fire in the Korean War creates the northern border along the Military Demarcation Line |
15 August 1948 | First Republic of Korea established, Independence declared from the United States. | |||||
Kuwait | 11 November 1962 | Constitution of Kuwait | 1752 | Establishment of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait | 18 December 1969 | Formal division of Saudi-Kuwaiti neutral zone |
Kyrgyzstan | 10 June 2010 | Constitution of Kyrgyzstan introduces parliamentary system. | 31 August 1991 | Independence from the Soviet Union[4] | 5 December 1936 | Establishment of the Kirghiz SSR |
Laos | 2 December 1975 | Lao PDR formed | 22 October 1953 | Independence from France | ||
Lebanon | 23 May 1926 | Lebanese Republic formed | 26 November 1941 | Independence from France declared | 1 September 1920 | France establishes State of Greater Lebanon with current boundaries |
22 November 1943 | Independence from France recognized | |||||
Malaysia | 16 September 1963 | Formation of Malaysia[5][6] | 31 August 1957 | Malayan Independence[7] from the United Kingdom was declared in Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) | 9 August 1965 | Singapore expelled from the Federation of Malaysia[8][9][10] |
16 September 1963 | Malaysia was formed by the federation of North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore with the existing States of the Federation of Malaya.[5][11] | |||||
Maldives | 11 November 1968 | Declaration of Republic | 26 July 1965 | Independence from the United Kingdom | ||
Mongolia | 12 February 1992 | Constitution of Mongolia declares the country a parliamentary democracy. | 1206 | Mongol Empire formed | ||
29 December 1911 | Proclamation of Mongolian independence from Manchu's Qing Dynasty | |||||
Myanmar | 30 March 2011 | The military junta is replaced by an elected government | 4 January 1948 | Myanmar (Burma) declares independence from the British Empire | 1956 | Signing of border treaty with the People's Republic of China |
Nepal | 28 May 2008 | Formation of Republic | 25 September 1768 | Nepali unification | 2 December 1815 | Sugauli Treaty ends the Gurkha War |
Oman | 10 June 1749 | Beginning of the Al Said dynasty, current absolute monarchical line of Oman. | 26 January 1956 | Expulsion of the Portuguese | 8 December 1958 | Gwadar sold to Pakistan |
1996 | Basic Law of Oman | |||||
Pakistan | 14 August 1973 | Constitution of Pakistan | 14 August 1947 | Independence from British India in the Partition | ||
Palestine[Asia 2] | 4 May 1994 | Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area | 15 November 1988 | Palestinian Declaration of Independence | 15 June 2007 | Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip |
Philippines[Asia 3] | 30 November 1935 | The Commonwealth of the Philippines was established through provisions of the Tydings–McDuffie Act. | 12 June 1898 | The evolving revolutionary movement in the Philippines declares itself independent from the Spanish Empire.[12][13][14] | 2012[15][16] | In 2012, the United Nations approved a 2009 claim by the Philippines to the Benham Rise.[16] |
4 July 1946 | The United States recognizes independence under the provisions of the Treaty of Manila (1946). The 1935 Constitution remained in effect until 1973, when the Marcos regime promulgated a newer one, in turn replaced by the present 1987 Constitution. | |||||
Qatar | 18 December 1878 | Independence from the Ottoman Empire | ||||
Saudi Arabia | 23 September 1923 | Regions of al-Hasa, Qatif, Nejd and Hejaz unified to become Saudi Arabia | 1744 | Establishment of the First Saudi State [17] | 12 June 2000 | Border with Yemen finalized by Treaty of Jeddah (2000) |
Singapore | 9 August 1965[8] | Singapore ceased to be a state of Malaysia | 3 June 1959 | Self-government under the United Kingdom | 9 August 1965 | Establishment of Singapore as an independent sovereign state[10] |
9 August 1965 | separate from and independent of Malaysia[8][9] | |||||
Sri Lanka | 22 May 1972 | Constitution of Sri Lanka | 4 February 1948 | Independence from United Kingdom | 14 February 1815 | De jure: The Kandyan Kingdom is annexed by British Ceylon |
18 May 2009 | De facto: The Sri Lankan government regains control of the whole island following the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War. | |||||
Syria | 27 February 2012 | Constitution of Syria[note 8] | 28 September 1961 | End of the United Arab Republic | 8 November 1941 | Lebanon declares independence from the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon[note 8] |
Tajikistan | 9 September 1991 | Independence from the Soviet Union[4] | 5 December 1929 | Establishment of the Tajik SSR | ||
Thailand | 6 April 2017 | Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2017 | 6 November 1767 | Salvage independence by Great king Taksin consist of Expulsion of Burmese and Establish a new kingdom together with reunification of Thailand | 10 March 1909 | Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 |
Timor-Leste | 20 May 2002 | Constitution of East Timor | 28 November 1975 | East Timor declares its independence but was suppressed by the Indonesian invasion | 1914 | The borders of Portuguese Timor are agreed.[18] |
20 May 2002 | Independence was recognized by the international community following the UN-sponsored act of self-determination of 1999 | |||||
Turkmenistan | 28 September 2008 | Constitution of Turkmenistan | 27 October 1991 | Independence from the Soviet Union[4] | 7 August 1921 | Establishment of the Turkmen SSR |
United Arab Emirates | 2 December 1971 | End of treaty relationship with the United Kingdom | 11 February 1972 | Ras al-Khaimah joins the UAE | ||
Uzbekistan | 31 August 1991 | Independence from the Soviet Union declared[4] | 24 October 1924 | Establishment of the Uzbek SSR | ||
Vietnam | 31 December 1959 | North Vietnam declared a socialist republic | 2 September 1945 | Withdrawal of the Japanese after World War II | 2 July 1976 | Reunification of North Vietnam and South Vietnam as Socialist Republic of Vietnam |
1 January 2014 | Current Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | |||||
Yemen | 22 May 1990 | Unification of North Yemen and South Yemen | 1 November 1918 | North Yemen independence from the Ottoman Empire | 21 September 2014 | Houthis seized control of the bulk of the former North Yemen territory and its capital Sana'a |
30 November 1967 | South Yemen independence from the United Kingdom | 26 April 2020 | Southern Transitional Council declares self-governance of Socotra and some areas controlled by the former PDR Yemen. |
- Table notes
- China: For some clarification and more detail including the sovereignty status of the Republic of China, see the following articles: History of China, Cross-Strait relations, One-China policy and Political status of Taiwan.
- Palestinian National Authority: For some clarification and more detail, see History of the State of Palestine.
- Philippines: For some clarification and more detail, see Timeline of Philippine Sovereignty and Sovereignty of the Philippines.
Europe
Country | Date of current form of government | Birth of current form of government | Date of acquisition of sovereignty | Acquisition of sovereignty | Date of territorial modification | Most recent significant territorial modification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | 29 April 1991 | Socialist People's Republic of Albania was replaced by the Republic of Albania. | 1190 c. | Principality of Arbër was established by archon Progon. | 1945 | Occupied Kosovo, west Macedonia and border region of Montenegro returned to Yugoslavia |
28 November 1912 | Declaration of independence from Ottoman Empire | |||||
28 November 1944 | Albanian state re-established after Italian/German occupation | |||||
Andorra | 28 April 1993 | Current Constitution of Andorra entered force | 1813 | Reversal of annexation of Andorra by the Napoleonic Empire, through the Peninsular War | 28 August 2001 | The Andorra–France border is adjusted to allow Andorra to construct the Envalira Tunnel access bridge |
Austria | 12 November 1918 | Declaration of the Republic of German-Austria | 15 May 1955 | Austrian Independence Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state | 14 December 1921 | City of Sopron, and 8 other towns moved to Hungary after plebiscite |
17 September 1156 | Privilegium Minus: Sovereignty from Duchy of Bavaria as a Duchy of the Holy Roman Empire | |||||
11 August 1804 | Proclamation of the Austrian Empire | |||||
Belarus | 28 November 1996 | Constitutional amendment abolishes the Supreme Soviet and establishes the National Assembly | 27 July 1990 | Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic | 1945 | Western border with Poland: modification of the Curzon Line determined at the 1945 Yalta Conference |
25 August 1991 | Independence recognized by Soviet Union[4] | |||||
Belgium | 21 July 1831 | King Leopold I of Belgium swears allegiance to the constitution making the country a constitutional monarchy | 4 October 1830 | Independence was proclaimed by the provisonial government | 28 June 1919 | Belgian proper: Treaty of Versailles and annexation of the East Cantons |
1 July 1962 | Belgian colonial empire: Ruanda-Urundi declares independence and split within two countries: Rwanda and Burundi. | |||||
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3 March 1992 | Independence declared from the SFR Yugoslavia[note 9] | 1154 | Formation of the Banate of Bosnia | 25 November 1943 | Establishment of SR Bosnia in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
Bulgaria | 10 November 1989 | People's Republic of Bulgaria was replaced by the Republic of Bulgaria | 632 | Formation of Old Great Bulgaria | 7 September 1940 | Under the First and Second Vienna Awards, Southern Dobruja was returned to Kingdom of Bulgaria |
681 | First Bulgarian Empire formed | |||||
1185 | Second Bulgarian Empire formed | |||||
13 July 1878 | Autonomy within Ottoman Empire recognized internationally by the Treaty of Berlin | |||||
22 September 1908 | Independence from Ottoman Empire | |||||
Croatia | 8 October 1991 | Independence from SFR Yugoslavia[note 9] | 626 | Formation of Duchy of Croatia[19][20][21][22][23] | 10 February 1947 | Annexation of most of Istria to SR Croatia as a result of signing the 1947 Paris Peace Treaties |
925 | Formation of Kingdom of Croatia by King Tomislav | |||||
Czech Republic | 1 January 1993 | Dissolution of Czechoslovakia, creating Czech Republic and Slovakia | 895 | Independence from Great Moravia | ||
Denmark | 5 June 1953 | Constitutional Act of Denmark | 777 (or prior) | Various Danish kings are mentioned throughout the 8th century. | ||
15 June 1920 | Denmark proper: Sønderjylland was recovered from Germany.[note 10] | |||||
Estonia | 24 February 1918 | Estonian Declaration of Independence, whereby a republic was declared[Europe 1] | 24 February 1918 | Independence declared from the Russian Empire | 1 July 1920 | De jure: Signing of the Estonia–Latvia Border Treaty whereby Valga proper was ceded to Estonia |
20 August 1991 | Independence (from the Soviet Union) reasserted, end of occupation[note 11] | 1 January 1945 | De facto: Eastern coast of Narva river and most of Petseri County were transferred to Russian SFSR | |||
Finland | 29 March 1809 | Diet of Porvoo, birth of Finland as an autonomous state entity within Russian Empire | 6 December 1917 | Independence from Russian Empire declared | 26 January 1956 | Porkkala returned from Soviet control |
3 January 1918 | Independence from Russia recognized by the highest Soviet executive body, VTsIK | |||||
France | 4 October 1958 | Establishment of the current semi-presidential system known as the Fifth Republic | 481 then 843 |
First creation with (Clovis), king of the Franks
Creation of the Kingdom of France (West Francia), Treaty of Verdun |
10 February 1947 | Metropolitan France: Annexation of Tende, La Brigue and other villages formerly in Italy.[note 12][note 13] |
5 July 1962 | Overseas France: Loss of the French departments in Algeria following the latter's independence. | |||||
Germany | 23 May 1949 | The Basic Law of Germany comes into effect. | 843 then
962 |
Creation of East Francia
East Francia becomes the Holy Roman Empire (with the Kingdom of Germany as a main part of the empire) |
3 October 1990 | Reunification of West Germany and East Germany |
1815 | German Confederation founded | |||||
18 January 1871 | German Empire founded | |||||
1954 | German Democratic Republic (commonly referred to at the time as East Germany) declared fully sovereign | |||||
5 May 1955 | Federal Republic of Germany (commonly referred to at the time as West Germany) declared fully sovereign | |||||
15 May 1991 | Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany ends the Four Power occupation. | |||||
Greece | 11 June 1975 | Third Hellenic Republic | 25 March 1821 (Traditional)
23 February 1821 (Actual) |
Greek Revolution starts, various regional administrations established during 1821 | 10 February 1947 | Peace treaty with Italy awards the Dodecanese to Greece |
1 January 1822 | First Hellenic Republic proclaimed | |||||
3 February 1830 | Independence recognised by the London Protocol as Kingdom of Greece. | |||||
Hungary | 23 October 1989 | People's Republic of Hungary was replaced by the Republic of Hungary. | 895 | Principality of Hungary formed | 10 February 1947 | With the Paris Peace Treaty, Hungary loses all territories that were regained with the First and Second Vienna Awards and during World War II, thus it returns to the 1937 borders (except for three villages in the northwest given to Czechoslovakia). |
1 January 2012 | The Basic Law of Hungary comes into effect. | 1000 | Formation of the Kingdom of Hungary by Stephen I of Hungary. | |||
Iceland | 930 | The Icelandic Commonwealth established and first meeting held of the Althingi (Parliament). | 1 December 1918 | Iceland becomes sovereign and independent from Denmark as the Kingdom of Iceland but retains a personal union with the King of Denmark. | 1 September 1972 | No territorial changes on land have taken place, however the expansion of the Exclusive Economic Zone was such an important change in territory for Iceland that it merits a special inclusion here. |
1 July 1845 | The Althingi resumes meeting after hiatus since 1799. | 17 June 1944 | Kingdom of Iceland becomes a Republic. | |||
Ireland | 21 January 1919 | Elected Irish Parliament Dáil Éireann unilaterally declares Ireland's independence from the United Kingdom | 1542 | Foundation of the Kingdom of Ireland | ||
6 December 1922 | Irish Free State secedes from United Kingdom by agreement in accordance with the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty but remains a dominion of the British Empire | 8 December 1922 | De facto: Northern Ireland secedes from the Irish Free State and rejoins the United Kingdom in accordance with the Irish Free State Constitution Act 1922 | |||
11 December 1931 | Statute of Westminster confers legislative independence from the United Kingdom | |||||
29 December 1937 | Constitution of Ireland establishes the roles of Taoiseach and President, and replaces the Irish Free State (or Saorstat Eireann in Irish language) with a new state named Ireland (or Éire in Irish language). | 18 April 1949 | Republic of Ireland Act 1948 terminates the functions of the British King in Ireland's diplomatic relations; domestic United Kingdom law purports that Ireland was one of the King's dominions until this date; Irish law does not accept this interpretation. | 2 December 1999 | De jure: Amendment to the Irish constitution removes irredentist claims to Northern Ireland.[note 14] | |
Italy | 1 January 1948 | Constitution of Italy creating the Italian Republic | 17 March 1861 | Italian unification | ||
23 August 476 | Establishment of the Kingdom of Italy, an independent successor state created after the Fall of the Western Roman Empire | |||||
2 January 888 c. | Sovereignty of the Kingdom of Italy, an independent successor state of the dissolved Carolingian Empire | |||||
25 April 1945 | Disestablishment of the German-backed Italian Social Republic, whereby the unity and independence of the Italian state was restored | 1 January 1948 | The Peace treaty with Italy officially determines the boundaries of the Republic of Italy. The Italian Constitution of 1948 implements it at articles 10 and 117. | |||
Latvia | 7 November 1922 | Constitution of Latvia enforced[Europe 1] | 18 November 1918 | Independence declared from Russia | 1944 | Abrene district ceded to Russian SFSR (modern Russia) |
4 May 1990 | Independence (from Soviet Union) reasserted[note 11] | |||||
Liechtenstein | 16 March 2003 | The 2003 Liechtenstein constitutional referendum increases the Prince's powers and makes the country an absolute monarchy[25] | 19 October 1813 | Dissolution of the Confederation of the Rhine | 23 January 1719 | Purchase of Vaduz |
Lithuania | 11 March 1990 | Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania independence (from the Soviet Union) reasserted, end of occupation[note 11][Europe 1] | 1253 | Coronation of King Mindaugas (state established some time earlier, perhaps in the 1230s) | 27 October 1939 and 3 August 1940 |
Western part (approximately half) of Vilnius Region ceded to Lithuania |
16 February 1918 | Independence declared from Germany and Russia | |||||
Luxembourg | 23 November 1890 | Separates from union with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, becomes Grand Duchy in its own right | 1945 | End of German occupation during World War II | 19 April 1839 | Partition of Luxembourg under the Treaty of London |
Malta | 13 December 1974 | The State of Malta became a republic | 21 September 1964 | Independence from United Kingdom | 20 August 1801 | Gozo rejoined Malta |
Moldova | 27 August 1997 | Constitution of Moldova (1997) | 27 August 1991 | Independence from Soviet Union[4] | 2 August 1940 | De jure: Moldavian SSR formed |
2 September 1990 | De facto: Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic declares independence. The government is not recognized by any UN member, but has de facto control over the Transnistria region. | |||||
Monaco | 17 December 1962 | Amendment to Constitution of Monaco curtails the power of the prince and establishes the modern National Council | 1861 | Franco-Monegasque Treaty confirms Monaco's sovereignty (formerly a protectorate of the Kingdom of Sardinia) | 1848 | Secession of Menton and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. |
Montenegro | 22 October 2007 | Constitution of Montenegro | 1077 | Formation of Kingdom of Duklja/Zeta by King Mihajlo I | 25 November 1943 | Establishment of SR Montenegro |
13 July 1878 | Independence officially confirmed by Ottoman Empire internationally by the Treaty of Berlin other countries recognized earlier. | |||||
3 June 2006 | Declaration of independence from Serbia and Montenegro. | |||||
Netherlands | 24 August 1815 | Adoption of the constitution of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. | 26 July 1581 | Plakkaat van Verlatinghe signed, independence from Spain | 16 March 1839 | European Netherlands: The United Kingdom of the Netherlands divided under the Treaty of London (1839). |
15 December 1954 | Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed | 5 May 1945 | Surrender of Nazi forces occupying the Netherlands | 25 November 1975 | Kingdom of the Netherlands: Suriname declares independence. | |
North Macedonia (until 2019 Republic of Macedonia) |
17 November 1991 | Constitution of North Macedonia | 8 September 1991 | After a referendum, the Socialist Republic of Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia[note 9] | 2 August 1944 | Establishment of SR Macedonia |
Norway | 1814 | Constitution of Norway | 872 | King Harald I of Norway unifies the Petty kingdoms of Norway. | 27 February 1930 | Jan Mayen was made part of the Kingdom of Norway. |
1814 | Dissolution of the union between Norway and Denmark. | |||||
7 June 1905 | Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden. | |||||
8 May 1945 | German occupying forces surrender. | |||||
Poland | 4 June 1989 | The first partially free Parliament's vote after 45-year-long Soviet domination | 966 | adoption of Christianity by the first historically documented Polish ruler Mieszko I. | 15 February 1951 | Polish-Soviet border adjustment treaty |
1025 | formation of the Kingdom of Poland by Mieszko's son Bolesław I Chrobry. | |||||
Portugal | 2 April 1976 | Constitution of Portugal | 26 July 1139 | County of Portugal becomes independent from the Kingdom of León after the Battle of Ourique as part of the Reconquista. Recognized by León in 1143 and by the Pope in 1179. | 6 June 1801 | Continental Portugal: Spain occupies the present day border town of Olivença since the War of the Oranges. |
20 December 1999 | Portuguese Overseas: De facto: Portuguese Macau transferred to the People's Republic of China | |||||
20 May 2002 | Portuguese Overseas: De jure: Portuguese Timor, occupied by Indonesia since 1975, officially dissolved to form the independent state of East Timor.[note 15] | |||||
Romania | 22 December 1989 | Romanian Revolution of 1989 | 24 January 1859 | Autonomous Principality of Romania founded; becomes kingdom in 1866 and achieved independence 1878 Ottoman Empire | 10 February 1947 | Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina |
13 July 1878 | International recognition by the Treaty of Berlin. | |||||
San Marino | 1600 | Constitution of San Marino | 1243 | The people of San Marino established the positions of Captains Regent ('Capitani Reggenti') as a joint heads of state | 1463 | Added Fiorentino, Montegiardino, Serravalle, and Faetano |
Serbia | 27 April 1992 | Independence from SFR Yugoslavia, forming the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.[note 9] | 650 then 768[26] | 7th century-Creation of the Principality of Serbia in the Southeastern Europe. | 17 February 2008 (disputed)[27] | The region of Kosovo declared independence unilaterally on 17 February 2008, and is recognized by 108 UN states. Serbia recognizes the government of Kosovo but claims its territory as an Autonomous Province. |
8 June 2006 | Republic of Serbia declared legal successor to Serbia and Montenegro, ending the process of the dissolution of Yugoslavia. | |||||
Slovakia | 1 January 1993 | Dissolution of Czechoslovakia | 1 January 1993 | Dissolution of Czechoslovakia, creating Slovakia and Czech Republic | ||
Slovenia | 13 December 1991 | Constitution of Slovenia | 25 June 1991 | Declaration of independence from Yugoslavia[note 9] | 19 February 1945 | Formation of SR Slovenia |
Spain | 6 December 1978 | Spanish Constitution | 1479 | Dinastical unification of the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon by the Catholic Monarchs. The governments, institutions, and legal traditions of each kingdom remained independent of each other; alien laws (Leyes de extranjeria) determined that the national of one kingdom was a foreigner in the other Crowns/States.[28] | 26 February 1976 | Spanish Sahara is lost following the Madrid Accords. |
1707~1716 | De jure by the Nueva Planta decrees | |||||
1831 | Dissolution of crowns and kingdoms and creation de jure, of the unified Kingdom of Spain. | |||||
Sweden | 1 January 1974 | Instrument of Government | 970 (Or prior) | Eric the Victorious, the first king of Sweden about whom anything definite is known, becomes king. | 29 March 1809 | Loss of Finland to Imperial Russia. |
6 June 1523 | Gustav Vasa elected King of Sweden and marking a definite secession from the Kalmar Union. | |||||
Switzerland | 12 November 1848 | Foundation of the federal state after Sonderbund war | 1291 | Traditional founding | 1815 | The cantons of Valais, Neuchâtel and Geneva join the Swiss Confederation. |
7 August 1815 | Restoration of the Ancien Régime (federalism), reverting the changes imposed by Napoleon Bonaparte. | |||||
Ukraine | 24 August 1991 | Independence from Soviet Union | 882 | Formation of the Kievan Rus' | 18 March 2014 | Annexation of Crimea by Russia |
22 January 1918 | Independence of Ukrainian People's Republic from Russian Republic declared. | |||||
24 August 1991 | Independence of former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic from Soviet Union declared.[4] | |||||
United Kingdom | 1 January 1801 | The Acts of Union united the two kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland[29][30][31] | 519 then 927 |
Kingdom of Wessex Kingdom of England United with Scotland in 1707 |
6 December 1922 then 8 December 1922 |
Irish Free State secedes from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland by agreement in accordance with the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the Irish Free State Constitution Act 1922, and Northern Ireland opts to exclude itself from the Free State two days later.[note 12] |
843 | Kingdom of Scotland
United with England in 1707 (Devolved Parliament since 1999) | |||||
1 May 1707 | Kingdom of Great Britain | 1 July 1997 | British Overseas Territories: Hong Kong was transferred to the People's Republic of China in 1997. | |||
1171 then 1542 |
Lordship of Ireland Kingdom of Ireland | |||||
1216 | Principality of Wales
United with or annexed to England in 1542 (Devolved Assembly since 1999) | |||||
Vatican City | 1274 | Birth of current form of government the Papal conclave in 1274 | 7 June 1929 | Ratification of the Lateran Treaty, making the Vatican City a sovereign state | 11 February 1929 | Signing of the Lateran Treaty |
- Table notes
- The date of formation of the current Baltic states is subject to an international dispute. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania all maintain that they were illegally occupied by the Soviet Union, and that the current states are direct continuations of the pre-WWII states, which continued to exist through governments-in-exile. Russia maintains that the current Baltic States are legally distinct entities newly created after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. All three states were admitted the UN as independent nations, not successor states of the USSR. For more information, see State continuity of the Baltic states.
Oceania
Country | Date of current form of government | Birth of current form of government | Date of acquisition of sovereignty | Acquisition of sovereignty | Date of territorial modification | Most recent significant territorial modification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 1 January 1901 | Commonwealth of Australia established as federation. | 1 January 1901 | Independence from United Kingdom. | 16 September 1975 | Papua New Guinea becomes formally independent of Australia |
11 December 1931 | Statute of Westminster | |||||
3 March 1986 | Australia Act 1986 | |||||
Fiji | 10 October 1970 | Independence from the United Kingdom | ||||
Kiribati | 12 July 1979 | Independence from United Kingdom | 1 October 1975 | Separation of the Gilbert Islands (later Kiribati) and the Ellice Islands (later Tuvalu) | ||
Marshall Islands | 1 May 1979 | Constitution and local government established | 21 October 1986 | Compact of Free Association with the United States | ||
Federated States of Micronesia | 10 May 1979 | Constitution ratified | 3 November 1986 | Compact of Free Association with the United States | 10 May 1979 | Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae unite to form the Federated States of Micronesia |
Nauru | 31 January 1968 | Independence from UN Trusteeship (Australian, British and New Zealand administration ends) | ||||
New Zealand | 6 February 1840 | Treaty of Waitangi between the British Crown and the indigenous Māori tribes cedes kawanatanga of New Zealand to Queen Victoria. | 17 January 1853 | Self-Government | 1 June 1962 | Samoa becomes fully independent from New Zealand. It is also the first small-island country in the Pacific to become independent. |
18 April 1856 | Responsible Government | |||||
26 September 1907 | Granted nominal independence (Dominion status). | |||||
25 October 1926 | Balfour Declaration of 1926 — Great Britain and the Dominions are “autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs” | |||||
27 July 1938 | Governor-General ceases to represent the British Government and becomes the personal representative of the King. | |||||
25 November 1947 | Statute of Westminster adopted — Britain loses the power to legislate for New Zealand except by request | |||||
10 December 1947 | Full power to amend own constitution | |||||
1 December 1967 | Governor-General becomes a New Zealand appointment | |||||
Palau | 1 January 1981 | Republic of Palau created upon adoption of constitution | 1 October 1994 | Emerged from United Nations trusteeship (administered by the United States). | ||
Papua New Guinea | 1 December 1973 | Self-governing territory | ||||
16 September 1975 | Independence from Australia | |||||
Samoa | 1 June 1962 | Independence from New Zealand | ||||
Solomon Islands | 2 January 1976 | Self-government granted by United Kingdom | ||||
7 July 1978 | Independence from the United Kingdom | |||||
Tonga | 4 July 1970 | Independence from United Kingdom | 4 December 1845 | Unification of what is now the islands of Tonga by George Tupou I of Tonga | ||
Tuvalu | 1 October 1975 | Separation of Gilbert Islands (later Kiribati) and Ellice Islands (later Tuvalu) | 1 October 1978 | Independence from United Kingdom | 7 February 1979 | Treaty with United States recognizing Tuvaluan control over Funafuti, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, and Niulakita atolls |
Vanuatu | 30 July 1980 | Independence from joint British-French condominium[32] |
Transcontinental states
Country | Date of current form of government | Birth of current form of government | Date of acquisition of sovereignty | Acquisition of sovereignty | Date of territorial modification | Most recent significant territorial modification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armenia | 21 September 1991 | 2015 Armenian constitutional referendum creates a parliamentary republic | 880 | Evolving as a feudal kingdom in the ninth century, Armenia experienced a brief cultural, political and economic renewal under the Bagratuni dynasty. | 5 December 1936 | Establishment of the Armenian SSR |
21 September 1991 | Independence recognized by the Soviet Union | |||||
Azerbaijan | 18 October 1991 | Declaration of independence from the Soviet Union | 28 May 1918 | Establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.[4] | 28 April 1920 | Establishment of the Azerbaijan SSR |
Colombia | 4 August 1886 | Creation of the Republic of Colombia | 20 July 1810 | Independence declared from Spain | 3 November 1903 | Separation of Panama from Colombia |
7 August 1819 | Independence recognized by Spain | |||||
1830 | Dissolution of Gran Colombia | |||||
Cyprus | 16 August 1960 | Constitution of Cyprus establishes consocial government. Consociationalism de facto suspended in 1963.[33][34][35] | 16 August 1960 | Independence from United Kingdom | 23 July 1974 | Establishment of the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus |
15 November 1983 (disputed) | Northern Cyprus declares independence. The government has de facto control of the northern part of the island, but is only recognized by Turkey | |||||
Egypt | 23 July 1952 | Egyptian Revolution of 1952 | 28 February 1922 | Unilateral recognition of independence by the United Kingdom but continued British military occupation | 25 April 1982 | Withdrawal of last Israeli troops and settlers from Sinai as agreed upon in the peace treaty with Israel |
18 January 2014 | New Egyptian constitution enters force following the 2013 Egyptian coup d'état | 18 June 1956 | Withdrawal of last British troops from the Suez Canal Zone | |||
28 September 1961 | De facto disestablishment of the United Arab Republic following a military coup in Damascus | |||||
Georgia | 9 April 1991 | Independence from the Soviet Union declared | 1008 | Establishment of the Kingdom of Georgia | 23 July 1992 | Abkhazia unilaterally declared independence |
26 May 1918 | Establishment of Democratic Republic of Georgia[4] | 28 November 1991 | South Ossetia unilaterally declared independence | |||
Indonesia | 18 August 1945 | Ratification of the Constitution of Indonesia by the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence | 17 August 1945 | Indonesian Declaration of Independence from Netherlands | 20 May 2002 | Independence of East Timor, formerly administered as a province of Indonesia |
27 December 1949 | Independence from the Netherlands recognized | |||||
Kazakhstan | 30 August 1995 | Constitution of Kazakhstan | 16 December 1991 | Independence declared from the Soviet Union[4] | 5 December 1936 | Establishment of the Kazakh SSR |
30 March 1993 (disputed) | Baikonur Cosmodrome and surrounding areas leased to Russia.[note 16] | |||||
Panama | 3 November 1903 | Separation of Panama from Colombia, independence from Spain | 1 October 1979 | Panama Canal Zone | ||
Russia | 25 December 1993 | 1993 Russian constitutional referendum replaces the Supreme Soviet with the Federal Assembly and increases presidential power. | 882 | Formation of the Kievan Rus' | 18 March 2014 (disputed) | Annexation of Crimea by Russia |
12 June 1990 | Russian SFSR declares sovereignty over its own territory[4] | |||||
Spain | 6 December 1978 | Spanish Constitution | 1479 | Dinastical unification of the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon by the Catholic Monarchs. The governments, institutions, and legal traditions of each kingdom remained independent of each other; alien laws (Leyes de extranjeria) determined that the national of one kingdom was a foreigner in the other Crowns/States.[37] | 26 February 1976 | Spanish Sahara is lost following the Madrid Accords. |
1707~1716 | De jure by the Nueva Planta decrees | |||||
1831 | Dissolution of crowns and kingdoms and creation de jure, of the unified Kingdom of Spain. | |||||
Turkey | 29 October 1923 | Turkey transitions into a republic from empire. | 1299 | The foundation of the Turkish State of the Ottoman Empire. | 29 June 1939 | Turkey annexes the once Syrian province of Hatay. |
Sortable list
In this list, "date of last subordination" refers to the last date of control by an external government. The list shows large groupings associated with the dates of independence from decolonization (e.g. 41 current states gained control of sovereignty from United Kingdom and France between 1956 and 1966) or dissolution of a political union (e.g. 18 current states gained control of sovereignty from Soviet Union and Yugoslavia between 1990 and 1992). In other cases, a sovereign state submitted to foreign military occupation or political subjugation for a period of time and later regained its independence (e.g. 6 current states gained control of sovereignty from Nazi Germany between 1944 and 1945).
Dates refer to de facto rule or occupation of the major territory, whether or not legitimized by international recognition.
In a union such as Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union, or the Kalmar Union, one of the constituents can be considered the dominant power – generally where the seat of government was located. The United Kingdom is a particularly complicated case. If England is viewed as the dominant member, then history can be traced from Roman conquest, Saxon invasions, 10th century unification, and the 1066 Norman Conquest before the union of England and Scotland in 1707. However, if viewed from a Scottish perspective, an unbroken history of sovereignty can be traced from unification in 843 through the 1707 union with England (with a brief annexation by England from 1657 to 1660). Some Scots view the 1707 union as a ceding of sovereignty to England.[38]
Country | Continent | First acquisition of sovereignty |
Date of last subordination |
Previous governing power | Historical Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | Asia | 1709 | 1796 | Afsharid Empire | 2004–Present: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan 2002–2004: Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan 1996-2001: Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan 1987-1992: Republic of Afghanistan |
Albania | Europe | 28 Nov 1912 | Nov 1944[39] | Germany | 1992–present: Republic of Albania
1944-46: Democratic Government of Albania 1943-44: Part of Germany as the Albanian Kingdom 1939-43: Part of Italy as the Kingdom of Albania |
Algeria | Africa | 1962 | 3 July 1962[41] | France | 1962–present: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria (via Évian Accords) 1830–1962: Part of French Colonial Empire (as the integral territory) |
Andorra | Europe | 7 Sep 1278[43][44] | Nov 1944[45] | France | 1278–present: Principality of Andorra (via Paréage of Andorra; occupied by France 1812–13, 1870, 1914, 1936, 1939, 1944)987-1278: Part of France
843-987: Part of West Francia 481-843: Part of Francia 395-481: Part of the Western Roman Empire 27 BCE-481: Part of the Roman Empire 197 BCE - 27 BCE: Part of the Roman Republic |
Angola | Africa | 11 Nov 1975[46] | 11 Nov 1975 | Portugal | 1992–present: Republic of Angola 1975–1992: People's Republic of Angola (via the Alvor Agreement) 1972–1975: State of Angola (part of the Portuguese Empire) 1951–1972: Overseas Province of Angola (part of the Portuguese Empire) 1575–1951: State of West Africa (part of the Portuguese Empire) The territory of Angola has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Era, hosting a wide variety of ethnic groups, tribes and kingdoms (like the kingdoms of Kongo, Ndongo and Matamba). |
Antigua and Barbuda | The Americas | 1 Nov 1981[47] | 1 Nov 1981 | United Kingdom | 1981–present: Antigua and Barbuda 1632–1981: Part of the British Empire as its West Indies (interrupted by France in 1666) |
Argentina | The Americas | 25 May 1810 | 9 July 1816[48] | Spain | 1861–present: Argentine Republic (a Federal state; originally the federation had 14 federated states [ Provinces of Argentina ], after the Conquest of the Desert, federal territories was established in Patagonia, the last territory, Tierra del Fuego, became the Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands and joined the federation in 1990. Currently Argentina has 23 provinces) 1831–1861: Argentine Confederation |
Armenia | Transcontinental – Asia/Europe | 880 c. | 23 Sep 1991[49] | Soviet Union | 1991–present: Republic of Armenia 1920–1991: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, federated state of the Soviet Union |
Australia | Australia | 1 Jan 1901 (Not completelly sovereign) | 9 Oct 1942 (Full sovereignty. Adoption of the Statute of Westminster 1931) | United Kingdom | 1942–present: Commonwealth of Australia, a Federal state, (consisted of six states, three internal territories, and seven external territories, via Constitution of Australia[50]) and a monarchy in personal union with the United Kingdom 1901-1942: Commonwealth of Australia, a federation with a Dominion status within the British Empire) |
Austria | Europe | 1806 | 15 May 1955[51] | World War II Allies (Allied-occupied Austria) | 1955–present: Republic of Austria, a Federal state (via Austrian State Treaty) 1945–55: Allied-occupied Austria 1938–45: Annexed by Nazi Germany 1934–38: Federal State of Austria (client state of Italy) 1919–34: First Republic of Austria (via Treaty of Saint Germain) 1918–19: Republic of German-Austria (via Proclamation of Charles I) 1867–1918: Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, a dual monarchy with Hungary (via Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867) 1866: Austrian Empire 1815–1866: Austrian Empire (In union with other 38 states in the German Confederation) 1806–1815: Austrian Empire 1804–1806: Austrian Empire (State of the Holy Roman Empire) 1457–1804: Archduchy of Austria (State of the Holy Roman Empire) 1156–1457: Duchy of Austria (state of the Holy Roman Empire) |
Azerbaijan | Transcontinental – Asia/Europe | 28 May 1918 | 30 Aug 1991 | Soviet Union | 1995–present: Republic of Azerbaijan (independence from Soviet Union declared 1991; constitution adopted 1995)
1920–1995: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, federated state of the Soviet Union 1918–1920: Azerbaijan Democratic Republic |
Bahamas | The Americas | 10 July 1973[52] | 10 July 1973 | United Kingdom | 1973–present: Commonwealth of the Bahamas (Self-government gained from the United Kingdom in 1964; independence gained on 10 July 1973) 1718–1973: Part of the British Empire as its West Indies 1492–1718: Part of the Spanish Empire 500 to 800–1492: Inhabited by the Lucayans (a Taino people) |
Bahrain | Asia | 16 Dec 1971 | 16 Dec 1971 | United Kingdom | 1971–present: Kingdom of Bahrain 1861–1971: Protectorate of the British Empire by way of the Perpetual Truce of Peace and Friendship |
Bangladesh | Asia | 590 | 16 Dec 1971 | Pakistan | 1972–present: People's Republic of Bangladesh 1971–1972: Provisional Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh |
Barbados | The Americas | 30 Nov 1966 | 30 Nov 1966 | United Kingdom | 1966–present: Barbados 1625–1966: Part of the British Empire as its West Indies |
Belarus | Europe | 1918 | 25 Aug 1991 | Soviet Union | 1990–present: Republic of Belarus
1943–1990: Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, a federated state of the Soviet Union (USSR) |
Belgium | Europe | 4 Oct 1830 | 1945 | Germany | 1830–present: Kingdom of Belgium (a Federal state, consisted of three regions and three communities) 1813–1830: Part of the Netherlands 1795–1813: Ruled by France 1713–1795: Austrian Netherlands (collective name of States of the Holy Roman Empire in the Low Countries, held by the Habsburg Monarchy) 1581–1714: Spanish Netherlands (collective name of States of the Holy Roman Empire in the Low Countries, held in personal union by the Spanish Crown) |
Belize | The Americas | 21 Sep 1981[54] | 21 Sep 1981 | United Kingdom | 1981–present: Belize 1716–1973: Part of the British Empire |
Benin | Africa | 1600 (approx.) | 1 Aug 1960 | France | 1990–present: Republic of Benin 1975–1990: People's Republic of Benin 1958–1975: Republic of Dahomey (French self-governing colony) |
Bhutan | Asia | 1634 | 1634 | (none) | Autonomous since at least the 10th century.[55] Unified 1634, after the Battle of Five Lamas. Early history is sketchy, but may have been part of Kamarupa kingdom, and may have been occupied by Tibetan-Mongol forces ca. 10th century.[56] |
Bolivia | The Americas | 6 Aug 1825 | 6 Aug 1825 | Spain | 2009–present: Plurinational State of Bolivia 1839–2009: Republic of Bolivia |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Europe | 1377 | 3 Mar 1992 | Yugoslavia | 1997–present: Bosnia and Herzegovina (a Federal state)
1992–1997: Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Botswana | Africa | 30 Sep 1966[57] | 30 Sep 1966 | United Kingdom | 1966–present : Republic of Botswana 1885–1966: Part of the British Empire as Bechuanaland Protectorate |
Brazil | The Americas | 7 Sep 1822[58] | 29 Aug 1825 (Treaty of Rio de Janeiro) | United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves | 1985–Present: Federative Republic of Brazil (Sixth Brazilian Republic) (a federal state, the federation have 26 federated states and 1 federal district) 1964–1985: Brazilian Military Dictatorship (Fifth Brazilian Republic) (a federal state, the federation had 22 federated states, 1 federal district and 4 federal territories) |
Brunei | Asia | 1368 | 1 Jan 1984 | United Kingdom | 1984–present: Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace
1945–1984: Part of the British Empire |
Bulgaria | Europe | 681[59] | 5 Oct 1908 | Ottoman Empire | 1990–present: Republic of Bulgaria 1946–1990: People's Republic of Bulgaria |
Burkina Faso | Africa | 5 Aug 1960[61] | 5 Aug 1960 | France | 1984–present: Burkina Faso 1960–1984:Republic of Upper Volta (independent) |
Burundi | Africa | 1680 (approx.) | 1 July 1962 | Belgium | 1966–present: Republic of Burundi 1962–1966: Kingdom of Burundi (independent) |
Cambodia | Asia | 50 / 68 | 9 Nov 1953[62] | France | 1993–present: Kingdom of Cambodia
1992–1993: United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia |
Cameroon | Africa | 1 Jan 1960 | 1 Oct 1961 | United Kingdom | Republic of Cameroon
French Cameroons gained independence in 1960; added British Southern Cameroons in 1961. |
Canada | The Americas | 1 July 1867 (Not completelly sovereign. The British Empire still had control of the foreign affairs of Canada) | 11 Dec 1931 (Canada becomes completely sovereign, having consulates and embassies in other countries) | United Kingdom | 1931–present: Dominion of Canada, a federal state and monarchy in personal union with the United Kingdom (Statute of Westminster in 1931. [63]) 1867–1931: Dominion of Canada (By the 1st of July 1867, Canada has been established as a federation with a Dominion status within the British Empire) |
Cape Verde | Africa | 5 July 1975 | 5 July 1975[65] | Portugal | Republic of Cabo Verde 1460–1975: Part of the Portuguese Empire |
Central African Republic | Africa | 13 Aug 1960 | 13 Aug 1960 | France | Central African Republic 1903–1960: Ubangi-Shari, part of the French Equatorial Africa, federation of colonial possessions of the French Empire |
Chad | Africa | 11 Aug 1960 | 11 Aug 1960 | France | 1960–present: Republic of Chad
1900–1960: French Chad, part of the French Equatorial Africa, federation of colonial possessions of the French Empire |
Chile | The Americas | 18 Sep 1810 | 12 Feb 1818 | Spain | 1990–Present: Republic of Chile (Democracy Restored) 1973–1990: Chilean Military Dictatorship |
China | Asia | 1600 BC | 9 February 1945 | Japan |
1949–present: People's Republic of China Note: Although the Mongol's Yuan dynasty and the Manchu's Qing dynasty were considered foreign by many Han Chinese in their times, current Chinese official position considers these two dynasties as Chinese, as they were established by Chinese ethnic minorities and had their capitals in present-day Beijing. The PRC government considers itself the successor of the Republic of China (1912–49) which legally inherited the whole of China from the Qing Empire. |
Colombia | The Americas | 20 July 1820 | 7 Aug 1819 | Spain | 1886–present: Republic of Colombia (unitary state)
1863–1886: United States of Colombia (federal state) |
Comoros | Africa | 6 July 1975 | 6 July 1975 | France | 2001–present:Union of the Comores (a Federal state) 1975–2001: Federal and Islamic Republic of Comoros |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | Africa | 1885 | 30 June 1960 | Belgium |
1997–present: Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Congo, Republic of the | Africa | 15 Aug 1960 | 15 Aug 1960 | France |
1992–present: Republic of the Congo |
Costa Rica | The Americas | 15 Sep 1821 | 1838 | Federal Republic of Central America | 1948–present: Republic of Costa Rica (Second) 1848–1948: First Costa Rican Republic |
Côte d'Ivoire | Africa | 7 Aug 1960 | 7 Aug 1960 | France | 1960–present Republic of Côte d'Ivoire 1886–1962: Part of the French Empire as French Ivory Coast, part of the Western Africa |
Croatia | Europe | 626[66][67][68][69][70] | 8 Oct 1991 | Yugoslavia | 1991–present: Republic of Croatia 1945–1991: Federated state of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as SR Croatia |
Cuba | The Americas | 20 May 1902 | 2 February 1909 | United States | 1959–present: Republic of Cuba, sovereign communist state 1934–1959: Republic of Cuba, sovereign capitalist state |
Cyprus | Europe | 1960 | 16 Aug 1960 | United Kingdom | 1960–present: Republic of Cyprus 1878–1960: Part of the British Empire as crown colony |
Czechia | Europe | 870 | 1 Jan 1993 | Czechoslovakia | 1993–present: Czech Republic 1945–1993: Part of the Czechoslovakia (interrupted by Warsaw Pact armies in 1968) |
Denmark | Europe | 714[72] | 5 May 1945 | Germany | 2014: Denmark submits a claim for the North Pole to the UN 2009: Greenlandic Self-Governance after a referendum |
Djibouti | Africa | 27 June 1977 | 27 June 1977 | France | 1977–present: Republic of Djibouti 1894–1977: Part of the French Colonial Empire as French Somaliland |
Dominica | The Americas | 3 Nov 1978 | 3 Nov 1978 | United Kingdom | 1978–present: Commonwealth of Dominica 1763–1978: Part of the British Empire as its West Indies |
Dominican Republic | The Americas | 1821 ( Republic of Spanish Haiti) | 27 Feb 1844 | Haiti | 1844–present: Dominican Republic 1822–1844: Part of the Republic of Haiti |
Ecuador | The Americas | 24 May 1822 | 13 May 1830 | Gran Colombia | 1830–present: Republic of Ecuador 1824-1830: Divided in Azuay, Guayaquil and Ecuador, federated states of the Gran Colombia |
Egypt | Transcontinental – Africa/Asia | 3150 BC | 28 Feb 1922 | United Kingdom | 1971–present: Arab Republic of Egypt 1958–1971: United Arab Republic (In union with Syria) Since 598,000 BC humans have been settled starting within a 30-metre (100 ft) terrace, with primitive Acheulean and Abbevillian (Chellean).[73] |
El Salvador | The Americas | 15 Sep 1815 | 21 Jan 1922 | Federal Republic of Central America |
1982–present: Republic of El Salvador |
Equatorial Guinea | Africa | 12 Oct 1968 | 12 Oct 1968 | Spain | 1968–present: Republic of Equatorial Guinea 1778–1968: Part of the Spanish Empire |
Eritrea | Africa | 1137 | 24 May 1993 | Ethiopia | 1993–present: State of Eritrea 1952–1993: Part of Ethiopia |
Estonia | Europe | 24 Feb 1918[74] | 20 Aug 1991 | Soviet Union | 1991–present: Republic of Estonia 1940–1991: Occupation by the Soviet Union (1940–1941), Germany (1941–1944) and again by the Soviet Union (1944–1991) |
Eswatini | Africa | 6 Sep 1968 | 6 Sep 1968 | United Kingdom | 2018–present: Kingdom of Eswatini 1968–2018: Kingdom of Swaziland |
Ethiopia | Africa | 80 BC | 5 May 1941 | Italy | 1995–present: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (a Federal state, constituted by 10 regional states and 2 chartered cities) 1991–1995: Transitional Government of Ethiopia |
Fiji | Australia | 1871 | 10 Oct 1970 | United Kingdom | 1987–present: Republic of Fiji 1970–1987: Dominion of Fiji |
Finland | Europe | 6 Dec 1917 | 4 Jan 1918 | Russia | 1919–present: Republic of Finland 1918–1919: Kingdom of Finland |
France | Europe | 481 | 1944 | Germany | 1958—Present: French Republic (Fifth; consisted of integral regions (five being overseas regions) and severall overseas collectivities) 1946–1958: French Fourth Republic Note: The French Colonial Empire was founded by the order of Francis I of France. In 1534, Francis sent Jacques Cartier to explore the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. |
Gabon | Africa | 17 Aug 1960 | 17 Aug 1960 | France | 1960–present: Gabonese Republic 1910–1960: Part of the French Equatorial Africa, federation of colonial possessions of the French Empire |
Gambia | Africa | 18 Feb 1965 | 18 Feb 1965 | United Kingdom | 1970–present: Republic of The Gambia 1965–1970: Gambia (monarchy) |
Georgia | Transcontinental – Asia/Europe | 978 | 8 Apr 1991 | Soviet Union | 1991–Present: Republic of Georgia 1921–1991: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, a federated state of the Soviet Union 1918–1921 : Democratic Republic of Georgia 1801–1918: Part of the Russian Empire 1490–1801 Fragmentized into three independent kingdoms – Kartli, Kakheti, and Imereti and five semi-independent principalities – Odishi, (Mingrelia), Guria, Abkhazia, Svaneti, and Samtskhe 978–1490: Kingdom of Georgia |
Germany | Europe | Aug 843 | 15 Mar 1991 | West Germany East Germany West Berlin |
1990–Present: Federal Republic of Germany (Become fully sovereign reunification on 15 March 1991 after the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany came into effect). 1949–1990: Divided between Federal Republic of Germany and German Democratic Republic ( West Berlin was an exclave of West Germany). |
Greece | Europe | 338 BC | 1945 | Bulgaria Nazi Germany Italy |
1974–Present: Third Hellenic Republic 1967–1974: : Greek Dictatorship |
Ghana | Africa | 6 May 1957 | 6 May 1957 | United Kingdom | 1957–Present: Republic of Ghana 1867–1957: British Gold Coast |
Grenada | The Americas | 7 Feb 1974 | 7 Feb 1974 | United Kingdom | 1974–present: Grenada 1783–1974: Part of the British Empire, as its West Indies |
Guatemala | The Americas | 15 Sep 1815 | 21 Jan 1822 | Federal Republic of Central America | 1922–present: Republic of Guatemala 1921–1922: Federated state of the Federal Republic of Central America |
Guinea | Africa | 2 Oct 1958 | 2 Oct 1958 | France | 1958–present: Republic of Guinea 1894–1958: French Guinea, part of the French West Africa, part of the French Empire |
Guinea-Bissau | Africa | 24 Sep 1973 | 10 Sep 1974 | Portugal | 1974–present: Republic of Guinea-Bissau 1474–1974: Portuguese Guinea |
Guyana | The Americas | 26 May 1966 | 26 May 1966 | United Kingdom | 1970–present: Co-operative Republic of Guyana 1966–1970: Guyana (monarchy) |
Haiti | The Americas | 1 Jan 1804 | 1 Jan 1804 | France | 1859–present: Republic of Haiti 1849–1859: Second Empire of Haiti |
Honduras | The Americas | 15 Sep 1821 | 21 Jan 1922 | Federal Republic of Central America | 1922–present: Republic of Honduras 1921–1922: Federated state of the Federal Republic of Central America |
Hungary | Europe | 895 | 1918 | Austria-Hungary | 1989–present: Hungary Third Republic 1949–1989: Hungarian People's Republic |
Iceland | Europe | 930 | 1 Dec 1918 | Denmark | 1945-present: Republic of Iceland
1944-1945: Republic of Iceland (occupied by the United States)
1918-1944: Kingdom of Iceland, with a personal union with Denmark (Occupied by the United Kingdom and Canada in 1940 and 1941 and by the United States in 1941–1944)
1814-1918: Part of the Kingdom of Denmark
1523-1814: Part of Denmark-Norway, a real union between the kingdoms of Norway and Denmark |
India | Asia | 15 Aug 1947 | 15 Aug 1947 | United Kingdom | 1950–present: Republic of India (a federal state. The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 reorganised the states based on linguistic lines. Currently the Indian Union is comprised of 28 states and 8 union territories) 1947–1950: Dominion of India, a monarchy in personal union with the United Kingdom(a federal state. Between 1947 and 1950 the territories of the princely states were politically integrated into the Indian Union.) Since 2.2 million BC, India has been settled starting with Hominins who were from Africa by the expansion of civilization with the Madrasian and Soanian cultures. [79][80][81] |
Indonesia | Asia | 17 Aug 1945 | 27 Dec 1949 | Netherlands | 1949–present: Republic of Indonesia
1945–1949: Indonesian Struggle for Independence |
Iran | Asia | 678 BC | 17 Oct 1941 | United Kingdom/ Soviet Union Anglo-Soviet withdrawal from Tehran |
1980–present: Islamic Republic of Iran
1979–1980: Under a Interim Government |
Iraq | Asia | 1932 | 1 May 2003 | United Kingdom United Kingdom | 2003–present: Republic of Iraq (a federal state, consisting of 19 governorates, four of which make up the autonomous Kurdistan Region) 2003: American Invasion[82] |
Ireland | Europe | 18 Oct 1171 | 11 Dec 1931 (Statute of Westminster adoption) | United Kingdom | 1937–Present: Ireland (additionally described as the Republic of Ireland) (Constitution of Ireland (1937): name change to "Ireland" (Irish: Éire), the country still was a monarchy in a personal union with Great Britain) (Republic of Ireland Act 1948: Ireland becomes a republic, ending the monarchy). 1931–1937: Irish Free State, monarchic state in a personal union with the United Kingdom |
Israel | Asia | 110 BC | 14 May 1948 | United Kingdom | The 12 tribes conquer the holy land under the leadership of Joshua, then Israel goes through "The period of the judges" leading to the Kingdom of Israel unified under King Saul, c. 1020 BC, divided into separate kingdoms of Israel and Judea, which fall to Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian empires in 722 and 586 BC, respectively. In the 2nd century BC, Judea re-gains independence as Hasmonean kingdom after revolt against the Hellenist Seleucid Empire. Conquered by Pompey of the Roman Empire in 63 BC, and subsequently falls to Byzantine, Umayyad, Abbasid, Crusader, Mamluk, Ottoman Turkish, and British rule, before regaining independence as the State of Israel in 1948. |
Italy | Europe | 17 May 1861 | 17 May 1861 | Sardinia Lombardy–Venetia Kingdom of the Two Sicilies Papal States United Provinces of Central Italy |
1946–present: Italian Republic 1945–1946: Kingdom of Italy |
Jamaica | The Americas | 6 Aug 1962 | 6 Aug 1962 | United Kingdom | 1962–present: Jamaica 1707–1962: Part of the British Empire |
Japan | Asia | 400 c. | 28 Apr 1952 | Allied occupation of Japan | 1952–present: Japan (after the Treaty of San Francisco ended postwar occupation). 1945–1952: Allied-occupation of Japan with the United States and the United Kingdom in the post-war period. |
Jordan | Asia | 330 BC | 2 Aug 1958 | Arab Federation | 1958–present: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Feb–Aug 1958: Federated state of the Arab Federation, governed from Baghdad, Iraq. |
Kazakhstan | Transcontinental – Asia/Europe | 1465 | 16 Dec 1991 | Soviet Union | 1991–present: Republic of Kazakhstan 1936–1991: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, federated state of the Soviet Union 1920–1936: Part of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, federated state of the Soviet Union 1918–1920: Alash Autonomy 1731–1917: Part of the Russian Empire 1465–1731: Kazakh Khanate 1240s–1456: Part of the Golden Horde 1220s–1240s: Part of the Mongol Empire The territory of Kazakhstan has historically been inhabited by nomadic groups and empires. In antiquity, the nomadic Scythians have inhabited the land and the Persian Achaemenid Empire expanded towards the southern territory of the modern country. Turkic nomads who trace their ancestry to many Turkic states such as the First Turkic Khaganate etc. have inhabited the country throughout its history. |
Kenya | Africa | 12 Dec 1963 | 12 Dec 1963 | United Kingdom | 1964–present: Republic of Kenya
1963–1964: Kenya (monarchy) |
Kiribati | Australia | 12 July 1979 | 12 July 1979 | United Kingdom | 1979–present: Republic of Kiribati 1892–1976: Gilbert and Ellice Islands, part of the British Empire |
North Korea | Asia | 9 Sep 1948 | 9 Sep 1948 | Soviet Union | 1948–present: Democratic People's Republic of Korea 1945–1948: Occupied by the Soviet Union under the Provisional People's Committee, and later the People's Committee. |
South Korea | Asia | 15 Aug 1948 | 15 Aug 1948 | United States | 1987–present: Republic of Korea (Sixth) 1981–1987: Fifth Republic of Korea |
Kuwait | Asia | 1752 | Feb 1991 | Iraq | 1991–present: State of Kuwait 1990–1991: Kuwait Governorate, governorate of Iraq |
Kyrgyzstan | Asia | 31 Aug 1991 | 31 Aug 1991 | Soviet Union | 1991–present: Kyrgyz Republic (the name "Republic of Kyrgyzstan" was adopted in 1990, changed to current in 1993) 1936–1991: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic, federated state of the Soviet Union |
Laos | Asia | 1354 | 22 Oct 1953 | France | 1975–present: Lao People's Democratic Republic
1953–1975: Kingdom of Laos, independent state |
Latvia | Europe | 18 Nov 1918[89] | 4 May 1990 | Soviet Union | 1991–present: Republic of Latvia 1940–1991: Occupation by Germany (1940–1944) and later by the Soviet Union (1944–1991) |
Lebanon | Asia | 22 Nov 1943 | 31 Dec 1946 | France | Lebanese Republic (1943–present)
1920–1943: State of Greater Lebanon (constituent of the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon) |
Lesotho | Africa | 1822 | 4 Oct 1966 | United Kingdom | 1966–present: Kingdom of Lesotho (resumed)
1884–1966: Basutoland, Part of the British Empire |
Liberia | Africa | 26 July 1847 | 26 July 1847 | American Colonization Society | 1847–present: Republic of Liberia 1821–1847: Settled but not claimed by United States[90] |
Libya | Africa | 24 Dec 1951 | 24 Dec 1951 | Cyrenaica Emirate France United Kingdom |
2011–present: State of Libya (Sometimes refer to as Libya)
1977–2011: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (before 1986 without the word "Great" in the full name of the country) |
Liechtenstein | Europe | 1806 | 1806 | Holy Roman Empire | 1866–present: Principality of Liechtenstein 1815–1866: Principality of Liechtenstein, in union with other 37 states in the German Confederation |
Lithuania | Europe | 1253[91] | 11 Mar 1990 | Soviet Union | 1991–present: Republic of Lithuania 1940–1991: Occupation by Germany (1940–1944) and later by the Soviet Union (1944–1991) |
Luxembourg | Europe | 1815 | 1945 | Germany |
1890–present: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, independent state with its own dynasty 1866–1890: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, independent state in personal union with Netherlands |
Madagascar | Africa | 1787 | 26 June 1960 | France | 2014–present: Republic of Madagascar (Fourth Republic) 2009–2014: High Transitional Authority |
Malawi | Africa | 1480 | 6 July 1964 | United Kingdom | 1964–present: Republic of Malawi 1963–1964: Nyasaland, part of the British Empire |
Malaysia | Asia | 31 Aug 1957[7] | 31 Aug 1957 | United Kingdom | The Federation of Malaya gained independence in 1957; in 1963 it added territories of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore, and changed its name to Malaysia (a federal state).[52] Singapore became independent in 1965.
|
Maldives | Asia | 1140 | 26 July 1965 | United Kingdom | Unified according to legend by King Koimala (1117–1141). Independent sultanate until 1887, when it became a British protectorate. |
Mali | Africa | c. 9th century | 22 Sep 1960 | France | 1960–present: Republic of Mali 1959–1960: part of Mali Federation, a territory with self-rule within the French Community, governed from Dakar, Senegal. |
Malta | Europe | 21 Sep 1964 | 21 Sep 1964 | United Kingdom | 1974–present: Republic of Malta
1964–1974: State of Malta |
Marshall Islands | Australia | 21 Oct 1986 | 21 Oct 1986 | United States |
1986–present: Republic of the Marshall Islands (independent state) |
Mauritania | Africa | 28 Nov 1960 | 28 Nov 1960 | France | 1960–present: Islamic Republic of Mauritania 1903–1960: Colony of Mauritania, part of the French West Africa (a federation of French colonial territories), part of the French Empire |
Mauritius | Africa | 12 Mar 1968 | 12 Mar 1968 | United Kingdom | 1992–present: Republic of Mauritius 1968–1992: Mauritius, independent state (monarchy) |
Mexico | The Americas | 16 Sep 1810 | 1864 | Spain | 1867–Present: United Mexican States (a federal state, composed of 32 federal entities: 31 states and the Mexico City) 1864–1867: Second Mexican Empire (a unitary state) |
Micronesia, Federated States of | Australia | 3 Nov 1986 | 3 Nov 1986 | United States | Compact of Free Association |
Moldova | Europe | 27 Aug 1991 | 27 Aug 1991 | Soviet Union | |
Monaco | Europe | 1297 | 1945 | Germany | Previously occupied by Italy and France. Subject to Sardinia 1815–1861. |
Mongolia | Asia | 147 | 13 Mar 1921 | Republic of China | The Xianbei gained strength beginning from the 1st century AD and were consolidated into a state under Tanshihuai in 147. Various nomadic Mongol states;
|
Montenegro | Europe | 1042 | 21 May 2006 (independence referendum) June 3, 2006 |
Serbia and Montenegro | 2006–present: Montenegro 2003–2006: Part of the union of Serbia and Montenegro 1992–2003: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (with Serbia) 1945–1991: Part of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1943–1945: Occupied by the Nazi Germany 1941–1943: Occupied by the Kingdom of Italy 1918–1941: Part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes) 1910–1918: Kingdom of Montenegro 1852–1910: Principality of Montenegro 1514–1852: Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro 1499–1514: Part of the Ottoman Empire 1356–1499: Principality of Zeta 1217–1356: Part of Kingdom of Serbia 1042–1189: Kingdom of Duklja 625–1042: Duklja (vassal state of the Byzantine Empire) |
Morocco | Africa | 788 | 7 Apr 1956 | France Spain |
Idris I of Morocco convinced the Awraba Berber tribes to break their allegiance to the distant Abbasid caliphs in Baghdad and he founded the Idrisid dynasty in 788
1631–present: Alaouite dynasty |
Mozambique | Africa | 25 June 1975 | 25 June 1975 | Portugal | Portuguese colony from 1498 |
Myanmar | Asia | 849 | 4 Jan 1948 | United Kingdom | Pagan Kingdom founded 849. Occupied by Japan 1942–1945 |
Namibia | Africa | 21 Mar 1990 | 21 Mar 1990 | South Africa | German colony from 1884; governed by South Africa 1915–1990 |
Nauru | Australia | 31 Jan 1968 | 31 Jan 1968 | Australia/ New Zealand/ United Kingdom Trust Territory of Nauru | Previously occupied by Germany 1888, Australia 1914, Japan 1942–45 |
Nepal | Asia | 1768 | 1768 | (none) | Autonomous throughout its recorded history, and certainly since its 1768 unification.[92] The ancient Maurya Empire occupied southern Nepal, but not the core Kathmandu valley. |
Netherlands | Europe | 26 July 1581 | 1945 | Germany |
1945–present: Kingdom of the Netherlands (reestablished in 1945. Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten are the constituent countries of the Kingdom) Note: The Dutch Empire was created in 1602, after the foundation of the Dutch East India Company, in the government of the stadtholder Maurice, Prince of Orange. |
New Zealand | Australia | 25 Sep 1907 | 25 Nov 1947 (Statute of Westminster adoption) | United Kingdom | 1947–present: Realm of New Zealand, a monarchy in a personal union with the United Kingdom.[94][95] New Zealand (a sovereign state) has one Antarctic territorial claim (the Ross Dependency), one dependent territory (Tokelau), and two associated states (the Cook Islands and Niue) 1907–1947: Dominion of New Zealand, a Dominion within the British Empire |
Nicaragua | The Americas | 15 Sep 1821 | 21 Nov 1898 | Greater Republic of Central America | 1898–Present: Republic of Nicaragua
1896–1898: Federated state of the Greater Republic of Central America |
Niger | Africa | 3 Aug 1960 | 3 Aug 1960 | France | |
Nigeria | Africa | 1 Oct 1960 | 1 Oct 1960 | United Kingdom | |
North Macedonia | Europe | 8 Sep 1991 | 8 Sep 1991 | Yugoslavia | 2019–present: Republic of North Macedonia 1991–2019: Republic of Macedonia (the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) |
Norway | Europe | 872 | 8 May 1945 | Germany | 1940-present: Kingdom of Norway (The Bouvet Island, located in the Subantarctic, is a dependency of the Kingdom of Norway. Norway also lays claims to the Antarctic territories of Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land). 1940-1945: Occupied by Germany (Reichskommissariat). |
Oman | Asia | 751 | 1743 | Persia | Previously occupied by Great Seljuq Empire, Ottoman Empire, Portugal (1508–1650), etc. |
Pakistan | Asia | 14 Aug 1947 | 23 Mar 1956 | United Kingdom | 1956–present: Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1947–1956: Dominion of Pakistan |
Palau | Australia | 1 Oct 1994 | 1 Oct 1994 | United States | Previously ruled by Spain, Germany, Japan. |
Palestine | Asia | Sovereignty disputed by Israel | 15 Nov 1988 | Israel | On 15 November 1988, the Palestinian Liberation Organization also proclaimed its independence of the State of Palestine and attained its autonomy as the Palestinian National Authority in 1994 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the territories that are occupied by Israel since 1967.
Parts of West Bank are controlled by Israel, except for the Area A of the Palestinian National Authority. The Gaza Strip has been occupied by Hamas since the 2007 war after Israeli disengagement from Gaza in 2005. The West Bank was occupied by Jordan from 1948 to 1967, and the Gaza Strip was occupied by Egypt from 1957 to 1967. |
Panama | The Americas | 3 Nov 1903 | 31 Jan 1990 | Colombia | 1990-present: Republic of Panama 1989-1990: American Invasion 1903–1989: Republic of Panama 1886–1903:Part of the Republic of Colombia 1863–1886: Federated state of the United States of Colombia 1858–1863: In union with other 7 states in the Granadine Confederation 1831–1858: Part of the Republic of New Granada 1819–1831: Part of the Gran Colombia 1717–1819: Viceroyalty of New Granada, part of the Spanish Empire 1542–1776 : Viceroyalty of Peru (viceroyalty of the Crown of Castile, and after 1715, of the Crown of Spain) 1528–1542: Governorate of New Toledo, governorate of the Crown of Castile Before Europeans arrived Panama was widely settled by Chibchan, Chocoan, and Cueva peoples. |
Papua New Guinea | Australia | 16 Sep 1975 | 16 Sep 1975 | Australia | Papuan, Polynesians, and Melanesians before then. |
Paraguay | The Americas | 14 May 1811 (de facto) Nov 25, 1845 (formal declaration of Independence) |
1876 | Empire of Brazil |
1876–present: Republic of Paraguay Occupied 1870–1876 by Brazil, in Triple Alliance with Argentina and Uruguay.[98] (Paraguayan independence was assured only after the War of the Triple Alliance, when Brazil resisted Argentine offers to divide and annex the country) |
Peru | The Americas | 28 July 1821 | 25 Aug 1839 | North Peru South Peru |
1839–Present: Republic of Peru 1836–1839: Divided in North Peru and South Peru, in union with Bolivia in the Peru–Bolivian Confederation |
Philippines | Asia | 12 June 1898 | 4 July 1946[note 18] | United States | 1986–present: Fifth Philippine Republic 1981–1986: Fourth Philippine Republic 1973–1981: Under the Martial Law |
Poland | Europe | 966 | 1945 | Germany |
1989–present: Republic of Poland (third) Since 498,000 BC humans have been settled in Poland starting with Homo species, and later settled by Lusatian culture, Celts, Germanics, and others. |
Portugal | Europe | 25 July 1139 | 30 Aug 1808 | France | 1975–present: Portuguese Republic (Third) 1974–1975: Junta de Salvação Nacional |
Qatar | Asia | 3 Sep 1971 | 3 Sep 1971 | United Kingdom | Ottoman Empire Abassid Caliphate Umayyad Caliphate Rashidun Caliphate Various nomadic Arab tribesmen before that. |
Romania | Europe | 13 July 1878 | 13 July 1878 | United Principalities | 1944–1958. Ottoman Empire Wallachia |
Russia | Transcontinental – Asia/Europe | 1480 | 26 Dec 1991 12 Dec 1993 |
Soviet Union | 1993–present: Russian Federation (a federal state, currently have 85 federal subjects. Two federal subjects are not internationally recognized as part of Russia.) 1991–1993: Russian Federation (a federal state, originally comprising 89 federal subjets)(with the 1978 constitution) |
Rwanda | Africa | 1 July 1962 | 1 July 1962 | Belgium | |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | The Americas | 19 Sep 1983 | 19 Sep 1983 | United Kingdom | |
Saint Lucia | The Americas | 22 Feb 1979 | 22 Feb 1979 | United Kingdom | |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | The Americas | 27 Oct 1979 | 27 Oct 1979 | United Kingdom | |
Samoa | Australia | 1 Jan 1962 | 1 Jan 1962 | New Zealand | German colony 1900 to 1914; occupied by New Zealand 1914; Trust Territory first of the League of Nations, then of the United Nations and administered by New Zealand, 1920 to 1962. |
San Marino | Europe | 1243 | 21 Sep 1944 | World War II Allies | 1944: Brief occupation by Germany, then Allies during Battle of San Marino 1739: Brief occupation by the Papal States |
São Tomé and Príncipe | Africa | 12 July 1975 | 12 July 1975 | Portugal | |
Saudi Arabia | Asia | 23 Sep 1932 | 23 Sep 1932 | Emirate of Jabal Shammar Sheikdom of Upper Asir |
1932–present: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 1926–1932: Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd, a dual monarchy that was the precursor to the modern day Saudi Arabia |
Senegal | Africa | 20 June 1960 | 20 June 1960 | France | Independent first as Mali Federation with capital in Dakar. Previously part of Ghana, Mali and Songhai Empires. |
Serbia | Europe | 768 | 3 June 2006 | Yugoslavia Serbia and Montenegro |
2006–present: Republic of Serbia (successor state of Serbia and Montenegro) 2003–2006: Part of the union of Serbia and Montenegro (successor state of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) |
Seychelles | Africa | 29 June 1976 | 29 June 1976 | United Kingdom | Perhaps sovereign 1790–1794 |
Sierra Leone | Africa | 27 Apr 1961 | 27 Apr 1961 | United Kingdom | |
Singapore | Asia | 31 Aug 1963[101] | 9 Aug 1965 | Malaysia | British colony 1824–1963; occupied by Japan 1942–1945; declared independence, then merged with Malaysia[5][11] from 1963 until 1965.[8][10] |
Slovakia | Europe | 14 Mar 1939 | 1 Jan 1993 | Czechoslovakia | |
Slovenia | Europe | 25 June 1991 | 25 June 1991 | Yugoslavia | 1991–present: Republic of Slovenia 1945–1991: Part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1918–1945: Part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes 1918–1918: Part of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs 1806–1918: Duchy of Carinthia (as part of the Austria-Hungary Empire) 976–1086: Duchy of Carinthia (as part of the Holy Roman Empire) 889–976: March of Carinthia (as part of the Carolingian Empire) |
Solomon Islands | Australia | 7 July 1978 | 7 July 1978 | United Kingdom | |
Somalia | Africa | 1285 | 1 July 1960 | United Kingdom Italy |
1 July 1960: Union of Trust Territory of Somalia (former Italian Somaliland) and State of Somaliland (former British Somaliland) 19th century: Part of Sultanate of Hobyo 18th century: Part of Majeerteen Sultanate 15th century: Part of Adal Sultanate 13th century: Part of Ajuran Sultanate 13th century: Part of Warsangali Sultanate 13th century: Part of Ifat Sultanate 10th century: Part of Sultanate of Mogadishu 200 BC: Somali city-states |
South Africa | Africa | 31 May 1910 | 11 Dec 1931(Statute of Westminster adoption) | United Kingdom | 1961–present: Republic of South Africa (Democratization in 1994)
1931–1961: Union of South Africa, monarchy in personal union with the United Kingdom |
South Sudan | Africa | 9 July 2011 | 9 July 2011 | Sudan | |
Spain | Europe | 1516 | 1516 | Crown of Castile Crown of Aragon |
1975–present: Kingdom of Spain (restored thrice with democracy) 1939–1977: Spanish Republic (government in exile) |
Sri Lanka | Asia | 161 BC | 4 Feb 1948 | United Kingdom | It was not until the reign of Dutthagamani (161–137 BC) that the whole country was unified under his kingdom. |
Sudan | Africa | 700 BC c. | 1 Jan 1956 | United Kingdom Egypt |
After King Kashta ("the Kushite") invaded Egypt in the eighth century BC, the Kushite kings ruled as pharaohs of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt for a century before being defeated and driven out by the Assyrians. Later ruled by the Ottoman Empire, Egypt, and then as Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 1899–1956. |
Suriname | The Americas | 25 Nov 1975 | 25 Nov 1975 | Kingdom of the Netherlands | |
Sweden | Europe | 1397 | 6 June 1523 | Kalmar Union | No exact date for consolidation of Sweden. In Kalmar Union 1397–1523. |
Switzerland | Europe | 1 Aug 1291 | 1815 | Austria | 1848–present: Swiss Confederation (second) 1814–1848: Swiss Confederation (in Restoration and Regeneration) with the Congress of Vienna of 1815. |
Syria | Asia | 17 Apr 1946 | 28 Sep 1961 | United Arab Republic | 1961–present: Syrian Arab Republic 1958–1961: United Arab Republic (In union with Egypt) |
Tajikistan | Asia | 9 Sep 1991 | 9 Sep 1991 | Soviet Union | |
Tanzania | Africa | 9 Dec 1961 | 9 Dec 1961 | United Kingdom | Independent in 1961 as Tanganyika, added Zanzibar in 1963. |
Thailand | Asia | 1238 | 1945 | Japan | Independent from Khmer Empire in 1238. Briefly conquered by Burma in 1767. Occupied by Japan 1941–1945. |
Timor-Leste | Asia | 28 Nov 1975 | 20 May 2002 | United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor | 2002–present: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste 1999–2002: Administered by the United Nations in Transition. |
Togo | Africa | 27 Apr 1960 | 27 Apr 1960 | France | |
Tonga | Australia | 1845 | 4 June 1970 | United Kingdom | United 1845 by George Tupou I. British protectorate 1900–1970. |
Trinidad and Tobago | The Americas | 31 Aug 1962 | 31 Aug 1962 | United Kingdom | |
Tunisia | Africa | 20 Mar 1956 | 20 Mar 1956 | France | Occupations by Rome, Ottoman Empire and France |
Turkey | Asia and Europe | 1299 | 1923 | Greece Italy United Kingdom France Armenia |
1923–present: Republic of Turkey 1920–1923: Ottoman Empire, occupied by Greece, Italy, France, United Kingdom and Armenia (Treaty of Sèvres) (Republican Turks, led by General Mustafa Kemal Atatürk initiate the Turkish War of Independence to expel foreign occupation troops and at the same time wage a civil war against Turkish monarchists, seen as collaborationists by the republicans). |
Turkmenistan | Asia | 27 Oct 1991 | 27 Oct 1991 | Soviet Union | |
Tuvalu | Australia | 1 Oct 1978 | 1 Oct 1978 | United Kingdom | 1978-present: Tuvalu
1892-1976: Part of the British Empire as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony |
Uganda | Africa | 9 Oct 1962 | 9 Oct 1962 | United Kingdom | 1963-present: Republic of Uganda
1894-1962: Part of the British Empire as the Protectorate of Uganda |
Ukraine | Europe | 1649 | 24 Aug 1991 | Soviet Union | 1991–present: Ukraine 1944–1991: Part of the Soviet Union as Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic |
United Arab Emirates | Asia | 2 Dec 1971 | 2 Dec 1971 | United Kingdom | 1971-present: United Arab Emirates
1258-1820: Bani Yas 750-1258: Part of the Abbasid Caliphate 661-750: Part of the Umayyad Caliphate 632-661: Part of the Rashidun Caliphate 629-632: Part of the Caliphate of Muhammad 224-629: Part of the Sasanian Empire |
United Kingdom | Europe | 1 May 1707 | 1 Jan 1801 | Kingdom of England Kingdom of Scotland Kingdom of Ireland |
1922–present: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland [the later one is variously described as a country, province or region] are the constituent countries of the Kingdom) 1801–1922: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Note: The British Empire was founded by the order of Elizabeth I who granted a patent to Humphrey Gilbert for discovery and overseas exploration in 1578.[109] On 1 of May 1707, the kingdoms are united from England (10th century – 1707) and Scotland (9th century – 1707), forming as the Kingdom of Great Britain. On 1 January 1801, Ireland was united with two kingdoms as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, until Ireland become independent on 6 December 1922 leaving with 26 out of 32 of the Irish counties. From this day, the British sovereignty was established as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. |
United States | The Americas | 4 July 1776 | 19 Oct 1781 | Great Britain | 1776–present: United States of America (a federal state, originally the federation had 13 federated states [ States of the United States ], currently have 50 federated states and 1 federal district, with the last state to be admitted in the Union being Hawaii, admitted in 1959; The U.S. also currently administers three territories in the Caribbean Sea and eleven in the Pacific Ocean.) 1763–1776: Thirteen British Colonies of America in the Atlantic coast, part of the British Empire; New Spain and Spanish Louisiana in the Southwestern United States, Florida and the Mississippi Basin (Louisiana returned to the French in 1801), part of the Spanish Empire; Russians established in future Alaska the colony of Russian America |
Uruguay | The Americas | 1815 | 27 Aug 1828 | Empire of Brazil | 1830-present: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
1828-1830: Oriental State of Uruguay
1822-1828: Cisplatine Province, a province of the Empire of Brazil (Brazil and Argentina fight a war with each other for control of Uruguay's territory. The war only comes to an end with diplomatic intervention of the United Kingdom, which establishes Uruguay as an independent nation and buffer state between Argentina and Brazil via the 1828 Treaty of Montevideo). |
Uzbekistan | Asia | 27 Oct 1924 | 1 Sep 1991 | Soviet Union |
1991–present: Republic of Uzbekistan (independence from Soviet Union declared 1991; constitution adopted 1992) 1924–1991: Part of the Soviet Union as Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic 1920–1924: Khorezm People's Soviet Republic 1917-1920: Khanate of Khiva 1873-1917: Part of the Russian Empire as Khanate of Khiva 1511-1873: Khanate of Khiva 1370-1511: Part of the Timurid Empire 1226-1370: Part of the Chagatai Khanate 1206-1226: Part of the Mongol Empire 1100-1206: Part of the Khwarazmian Empire 1037-1100: Part of the Seljuk Empire 840-1037: Part of the Kara-Khanid Khanate 819-840: Part of the Samanid Empire 750-819: Part of the Abbasid Caliphate 661-750: Part of the Umayyad Caliphate 440-661: Part of the Hephthalite Empire 125 BCE-440: Nomadic Tribes 256 BCE-125 BCE: Part of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom 312 BCE-63 BCE: Part of the Seleucid Empire 330 BCE-312 BCE: Part of the Macedonian Empire 530 BCE-330 BCE: Part of the Achaemenid Empire |
Vanuatu | Australia | 30 July 1980 | 30 July 1980 | United Kingdom France |
1980-present: Republic of Vanuatu
1906-1980: Part of the French and British empires as New Hebrides Condominium 1890-1906: Part of the French and British Empires as Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission 1889-1890: Independent Commune of Franceville 1887-1889: Part of the French and British Empires as Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission |
Vatican City | Europe | 756 | 11 Feb 1929 | Italy | 1929–present: Vatican City State (restored with the Lateran Treaty) 1870–1929: States of the Church (in prison) |
Venezuela | The Americas | 5 July 1811 | 13 Jan 1830 | Gran Colombia |
1999–Present Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (a federal state, comprised of twenty-three states, a capital district and the Federal Dependencies which consist in severall islands in the Caribbean sea) |
Vietnam | Asia | 544 | 2 July 1976 | North Vietnam South Vietnam |
1945–1954: the second French rule, which was ended by the Geneva Conference of 1954
1940–1945: Japanese occupation 1887–1940: French rule 544–602: The region gained a longer period of independence as Vạn Xuân under the Anterior Lý dynasty 2879 BC: Văn Lang confederacy arose under Kinh Dương Vương, who was the founder of the Hồng Bàng Dynasty |
Yemen | Asia | 1 Nov 1918 | 22 May 1990 | North Yemen South Yemen |
North Yemen independent from Ottoman Empire 1918; South Yemen from UK in 1967; unified 1990 |
Zambia | Africa | 24 Oct 1964 | 24 Oct 1964 | United Kingdom | 1964-president: Republic of Zambia
1953-1963: Part of the British Empire as Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland 1911-1953: Part of the British Empire as Colony of Northern Rhodesia 1890-1911: Part of the British Empire as Rhodesia 1823-1890: Part of the Kingdom of Mthwakazi 1660-1823: Part of the Rozvi Empire 1430-1660: Part of the Kingdom of Mutapa |
Zimbabwe | Africa | 11 Nov 1965 | 18 Apr 1980 | United Kingdom | 1980-present: Republic of Zimbabwe
1979: Zimbabwe Rhodesia 1970-1979: Republic of Rhodesia 1965-1970: Rhodesia 1963-1965: Part of the British Empire as Colony of Southern Rhodesia 1953-1963: Part of the British Empire as Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland 1923-1953: Part of the British Empire as Colony of Southern Rhodesia 1890-1923: Part of the British Empire as Rhodesia 1823-1890: Kingdom of Mthwakazi 1660-1823: Rozvi Empire 1430-1660: Part of the Kingdom of Mutapa 1220-1430: Kingdom of Zimbabwe 1075-1220: Kingdom of Mapungubwe The British colony of Southern Rhodesia unilaterally declared Independence as Rhodesia 1965; known as Zimbabwe Rhodesia in 1979; unrecognised until 1980. |
See also
- Declaration of independence
- List of active autonomist and secessionist movements
- List of national independence days
- List of wars of independence (national liberation)
- List of former European colonies
- List of former national capitals
- List of former sovereign states
- List of sovereign states
- Timeline of country and capital changes
- List of national constitutions
- Succession of states
- List of world map changes
Notes
- listed are the five UN member states with limited recognition: Israel (not recognized by 32 members), North and South Korea (no mutual recognition), Armenia (not recognized by Pakistan) and Cyprus (not recognized by Turkey); "China" has universal recognition, but the UN is unclear on which of the Two Chinas this refers to.
- Since the beginning of the Second Libyan Civil War in 2014, various areas of Libya are under the control of competing groups. These include domestic groups such as New General National Congress and local Tuareg groups, and foreign groups such as ISIL.
- With the ongoing Somali Civil War, significant areas remain outside federal control.
- A new constitution was approved in 2013, but most changes will not enter effect for another decade.
- In the Dominican Republic, every constitutional amendment is considered a new constitution. The most recent amendment was the 2010 constitution.
- Following the Northern Iraq offensive in June 2014, large areas of Iraq are de facto under the control of Iraqi Kurds or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
- This constitution cut North Korean ties with the Soviet Union. Several new constitutions and amendments have followed (most recently in 2013), creating new titles for the national leader such as Eternal President and Chairman of the National Defence Commission. However, power has remained with the Kim dynasty since 1948.
- Due to the ongoing Syrian Civil War, large areas of Syria are de facto under the control of other parties such as the Syrian opposition and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
- According to the Badinter Arbitration Committee, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was dissolved into five states. This is the result when the Serb-dominated Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) was formed on 27 April 1992 as a rump state, consisting only of the former Socialist Republics of Serbia and Montenegro. Its government claimed continuity to the former country, however, the international community refused to recognize it as such. The stance of the international community was that Yugoslavia had dissolved into its separate states. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was prevented by a UN resolution on 22 September 1992 from continuing to occupy the United Nations seat as successor state to SFRY. This question was important for claims on SFRY's international assets, including embassies in many countries. Only in 1996 had the FRY abandoned its claim to continuity from the SFRY. The FRY was dominated by Slobodan Milošević and his political allies. This was reaffirmed in the Succession Agreement signed in June 2001.
- The Faroe Islands and Greenland were administered by Denmark until 24 March 1948 and 1 May 1979 respectively. They are now autonomous countries with home rule, but remain part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
- The annexation of the Baltic republics in 1940 is considered an illegal occupation by the current Baltic governments and by a number of Western countries, including the United States and the European Union, who assert that the states were independent countries occupied by the Soviet Union. The Baltic republics were officially sovereign entities in a federation, according to Article 76 of the Constitution of the Soviet Union. However, the Soviet Union was heavily centralized and was de facto a single federal state.
- The breaking-through of the Channel Tunnel on 31 October 1990 created a new land border between the UK and France.[24] However, the Channel Tunnel runs underwater and did not change the above-ground territory of either nation.
- France swapped a small area of land with Andorra in 2001 to allow Andorra to construct the Envalira Tunnel access bridge.
- Prior to 1999, the Constitution of Ireland claimed that "The national territory consists of the whole island of Ireland", but that its laws were only valid in the counties of the Republic.
- East Timor had been under Indonesian occupation since 1975, but this occupation was not recognized by the wider global community.
- Baikonur is treated as a federal subject of Russia, but its exact status is a topic of dispute between the two countries.[36]
- Some historians refer to the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire as 800, with the crowning of Frankish king Charlemagne considered as the first Holy Roman Emperor. Others refer to the beginning as the coronation of Otto I in 962.
- Independence recognized via the Treaty of Manila (1946).
References
- Country Profile: Cuba, September 2006, U.S. Library of Congress – Federal Research Division.
- "19 de abril de 1810". Venezuela Tuya.
- Gavlak, Dale (12 June 2011). "Jordan's King Abdullah vows to allow elected cabinets". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011.
- The Republics of the Soviet Union were officially sovereign entities in a federation, according to Article 76 of the Constitution of the Soviet Union. However, the Soviet Union was heavily centralized and was de facto a single federal state.
- Malaysia Act 1963
- United Nations Member States
- Federation of Malaya Independence Act 1957
- Agreement relating to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia as an independent and sovereign state
- Agreement relating to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia as an independent and sovereign state/proclamation of singapore
- Singapore Act 1966
- Agreement relating to Malaysia between United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Federation of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore
- "Philippines". The World Factbook. CIA.
- "Country Profile: Philippines" (PDF). Federal Research Division of the U.S. Library of Congress. March 2006. says: "The Philippines attained independence from Spain on 12 June 1898, and from the United States on 4 July 1946.", implying that the cession of the Philippines to the U.S. by Spain on 10 December 1898 via the Treaty of Paris was invalid. Other sources (e.g. The CIA Factbook ) say that the Philippine Islands were ceded to the US by Spain in 1898 following the Spanish–American War.
- Republic of the Philippines, Philippine Government website.
- Bautista, Lowell B. (3 September 2009). "The Historical Context and Legal Basis of the Philippine Treaty Limits" (PDF). Aegean Review of the Law of the Sea and Maritime Law. 1: 3. doi:10.1007/s12180-009-0003-5. ISSN 1864-9610. S2CID 153653227. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2010.
The sovereignty of a State is co-extensive with its territorial limits.
- "UN approves PH territorial claim to Benham Rise". Retrieved 28 April 2012.
- "History of the Kingdom". mofa.gov.sa. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
- Deeley, Furness, and Schofield (2001) The International Boundaries of East Timor p. 8
- "Hrvatska povijest". Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- "Grboslovlje u Hrvata >> Krunisani". Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- "Hrvatski Vladari / Croatian rulers – Geni". Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- "TOPLI DOM JADRANA – PRIMORSKA HRVATSKA – Visite Croatia – Stema Guide". Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- "Croatia – World Leaders Index". Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- Under the Channel, traffic soon to roll. Baltimore Sun. 1 May 1994.
- "Liechtenstein prince wins powers". BBC News. 2003-03-16. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
- Đerdapski ribolovi u prošlosti i u sadašnjosti, Volume 41 Mihailo Petrović Izd. Zadužbine Mikh. R. Radivojeviča, 1941
- Rettman, Andrew (6 February 2013). "Kosovo: EU meeting is 'de facto recognition' by Serbia". EUobserver. Brussels. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- Manuel Alvarez-Valdés y Valdés (1991). La Extranjería en la Historia Del Derecho Español (in Spanish). Universidad de Oviedo. p. 151. ISBN 9788474687378.
- "Background Note: United Kingdom". bbc.co.uk Acts of Union: The creation of the United Kingdom.
- Allan I. Macinnes (2007). Union and empire: the making of the United Kingdom in 1707. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521850797.
- David Armitage; Michael J. Braddick (2002). The British Atlantic world, 1500–1800. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 20. ISBN 9780333963401.
- "U.S. Relations With Vanuatu". U.S. Department of State. 9 March 2016.
- Wolff, Stefan (2004). Disputed Territories: The Transnational Dynamics of Ethnic Conflict Settlement. Berghahn Books. pp. 30–31. ISBN 9781571816573.
- Wippman, David (1998). "Practical and Legal Constraints on Internal Power Sharing". In Wippman, David (ed.). International Law and Ethnic Conflict. Cornell University Press. p. 220. ISBN 9780801434334.
- Bahcheli, Tozun; Noel, Sid (2005). "Power Sharing for Cyprus (Again)? European Union Accession and the Prospects for Reunification". In Noel, Sid (ed.). Relations of Ruling: Class and Gender in Postindustrial Societies. McGill-Queen's University Press. p. 215. ISBN 9780773529489.
- Kumkova, Katya (29 January 2013). "Russia and Kazakhstan: What's Behind the Baikonur Spat?". EurasiaNet.org. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
- Manuel Alvarez-Valdés y Valdés (1991). La Extranjería en la Historia Del Derecho Español (in Spanish). Universidad de Oviedo. p. 151. ISBN 9788474687378.
- Christopher A Whatley (2001). Bought and Sold for English Gold: The Union of 1707 (Tuckwell Press, 2001)
- An Outline of the People's Republic of Albania. 8 Nëntori. 1978. p. 47.
- Ceka 2013, p. 25
- Shillington, Kevin (2005). Encyclopedia of African history. CRC Press. p. 60. ISBN 1-57958-453-5.
- "The Site of Ain Hanech Revisited: New Investigations at this Lower Pleistocene Site in Northern Algeria" (PDF). Gi,ulpgc.es. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-10. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
- Blaustein, Albert P.; Sigler, Jay A.; Beede, Benjamin R. (1977). Independence documents of the world. Brill Archive. p. 11. ISBN 0-379-00794-0.
- Whittlesey, Derwent (June 1934). "Andorra's Autonomy". The Journal of Modern History. 6 (2): 147–155. doi:10.1086/236113. S2CID 145133794.
- Archambault, G.H. (Nov 16, 1944). "Andorra Occupied by French Police; De Gaulle Acts Under Historic Authority to Keep Order in Pyrenees Republic". New York Times. p. 5. Retrieved April 25, 2009.
- "1975: Divided Angola gets independence". BBC On This Day. 1975-11-11. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- "Background Note: Antigua and Barbuda". state.gov. US Department of State. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- "Congress of Tucumán". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- Howe, G. Melvyn; Dowsett, Charles James Frank; Mints, Aleksey Aleksandrovich; Suny, Ronald Grigor (23 April 2019). "Armenia: Independence". Britannica.com.
- "Federation". australia.gov.au. Australian Government.
- Holzner, Lutz; Ehrlich, Blake; Hill, Roland John (10 January 2019). "Vienna". Encyclopædia Britannica.
- Kurian, George Thomas (1987). The Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1 (3rd ed.). Facts on File. p. 115. ISBN 0-8160-1118-4.
- Willem van Schendel (12 February 2009). A History of Bangladesh. Cambridge University Press. p. 11. ISBN 9780511997419.
- "U.S. Relations With Belize". state.gov. US Department of State. December 22, 2016.
- Rose, Leo E. (1977). The Politics of Bhutan. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. p. 24. ISBN 0-8014-0909-8.
[T]here can be no doubt that since at least the tenth century no external power has controlled Bhutan, although there have been periods when various of its neighbors have been able to exert a strong cultural and/or political influence there.
- Bisht, Ramesh Chandra (2008). International Encyclopaedia of Himalayas. 2. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. p. 12. ISBN 978-81-8324-265-3.
- "Botswana". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
- "Brazil". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
- "Bulgaria". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- Guadelli, Jean-Luc; Kovacheva, Mary Kovatcheva or most frequently; Krumov, Ivaylo; Miteva, Viviana; Taneva, Stanimira; Dimitrova, Irena; Guadelli, Aleta (2010). "An ancient continuous human presence in the Balkans and the beginnings of human settlement in western Eurasia: A Lower Pleistocene example of the Lower Palaeolithic levels in Kozarnika cave (North-western Bulgaria)". Quaternary International. 223–224: 94. Bibcode:2010QuInt.223...94S. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2010.02.023 – via www.academia.edu.
- "Burkina Faso". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
- Tucker, Spencer (1999). Vietnam. Routledge. pp. 196–197. ISBN 1-85728-922-6.
- "Statute of Westminster: Canada's Declaration of Independence". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 19, 2009. and the last province to join the Canadian Confederation being Newfoundland and Labarador
- Colin G. Calloway (2006). The Scratch of a Pen: 1763 and the Transformation of North America. Oxford U.P. p. 8. ISBN 9780198041191.
- "Background Note: Cape Verde". state.gov. US Department of State. June 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
- "Hrvatska povijest". Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- "Grboslovlje u Hrvata >> Krunisani". Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- "Hrvatski Vladari / Croatian rulers – Geni". Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- "TOPLI DOM JADRANA – PRIMORSKA HRVATSKA – Visite Croatia – Stema Guide". Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- "Croatia – World Leaders Index". Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- "Stone Age wells found in Cyprus". BBC News. 25 June 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
- McKitterick, Rosamond, ed. (1995). The New Cambridge Medieval History. Volume II c.700–c.900. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 205. ISBN 0-521-36292 X.
- Langer, William L., ed. (1972). An Encyclopedia of World History (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 9. ISBN 0-395-13592-3.
- "Estonian Declaration of Independence, 24 February 1918". President of the Republic of Estonia. Archived from the original on May 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- A. Berhe. (2003). Revisiting resistance in Italian-occupied Ethiopia: the Patriots' Movement (1936–1941) and the redefinition of post-war Ethiopia. African dynamics, ISSN 1568-1777; vol. 2. Brill, Leiden, ISBN 90-04-12624-4.
- Becker, Marc (2011). "History of U.S. Interventions in Latin America". Marc Becker. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- Price and Browm, 1985, Bettinger, 1991
- Bose, Sugata; Jalal, Ayesha (2004). Modern South Asia: History, Culture, Political Economy (2nd ed.). Routledge. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-203-71253-5.
- Chauhan 2010, p. 147.
- Petraglia & Allchin 2007, pp. 5–6.
- Petraglia 2010, pp. 167–170.
- Campbell Robertson; Stephen Farrell (31 December 2008), "Green Zone, Heart of U.S. Occupation, Reverts to Iraqi Control", The New York Times
- Genealogies from Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502 and the Book of Leinster
- "National Geographic Italia – Erano padani i primi abitanti d'Italia". Archived from the original on June 26, 2019.
- Hoshino Iseki Museum, Tochigi Pref.
- "Wonders of the African World". PBS. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
- Eckert & Lee 1990, p. 2
- Christopher J. Norton, "The Current State of Korean Paleoanthropology", (2000), Journal of Human Evolution, 38: 803–825.
- "November 18, 1918 – Proclamation of Latvia's independence". LETA. Archived from the original on 29 October 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- "Colonization". The African-American Mosaic. Library of Congress. July 5, 2005. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
Liberia … was neither a sovereign power nor a bona fide colony of any sovereign nation. … the United States refused to claim sovereignty over Liberia.
- "About Lithuania". Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the United States of America. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- Rose, Leo E.; Margaret W. Fisher (1970). The Politics of Nepal. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. p. xi. ISBN 0-8014-0574-2.
Nepal is of special interest, partly because it is an Asian country that was never reduced to colonial status.
- "Neanderthal fossil discovered in Zeeland province | Radio Netherlands Worldwide". Rnw.nl. 16 June 2009. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/dominion-day/what-changed
- "New Zealand Parliament – New Zealand sovereignty: 1857, 1907, 1947, or 1987?". New Zealand Parliament Research Papers. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
- "Palaeolithic and Pleistocene of Pakistan". Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- Murray, Tim (1999). Time and archaeology. London; New York: Routledge. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-415-11762-3.
- Painter, James E.; Butland, Gilbert James; Service, Elman R.; Nickson, R. Andrew; Williams, John Hoyt (10 May 2019). "Paraguay". Britannica.com.
- "400,000-year-old fossil human cranium is oldest ever found in Portugal". phys.org. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- Koenig 1971; Payne 1983: Briggs 2009
- Leitch Lepoer, Barbara (1989). "Singapore as Part of Malaysia". Library of Congress Country Studies. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
- Sáez Juárez, Juana (December 2002). "Los primeros pobladores de la Península Ibérica. Cronología y posibles rutas". Página de Historia (in Spanish). Universidad de Valencia. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- Baselland, Archäologie. "Der Faustkeil von Pratteln". Archäologie Baselland.
- Francis Pryor, Britain BC, 2003.
- "Signs of Earliest Scots Unearthed". BBC News. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
- "Biggar Archaeology News – Early Mesolithic flint assemblage found". biggararchaeology.org.uk. Archived from the original on 10 October 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
- "Gathering the Jewels". Early Neanderthal jaw fragment, c. 230,000 years old. Culturenet Cymru. 2008. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
- Davies, J A History of Wales, p. 3.
- Andrews, p. 187.