List of sovereign states by date of formation

Below is a list of sovereign states and with the dates of their formation (date of their independence or of their constitution), sorted by continent. This list includes the 195 states which currently are undisputedly sovereign; it does not include former sovereign states or states with limited recognition. 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 UK in 1707), while France is a Republic founded in 1789 (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 recognised 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 recognise 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.

List

Africa

Country	Date	Birth of current form of government	Date	Date of acquisition of sovereignty	Date	Date of most recent significant territorial modification
Algeria	1963	Adoption of the present constitution.	July 3, 1962	French recognition of Algerian referendum on independence held two days earlier	July 5, 1962	Algeria gains sovereignty over the entire Algerian territory upon independence from France.
Angola	1975		November 11, 1975	Independence from Portugal
Benin			August 1, 1960	Independence from France	January 15, 1894	Borders of French Protectorate of Dahomey set at conclusion of Second Franco-Dahomean War
Botswana			March 31, 1885	Establishment of the Bechuanaland Protectorate by the United Kingdom	1894	Extended north into Ngamiland
			September 30, 1966	Independence from the United Kingdom
Burkina Faso			December 11, 1958	Self-government achieved and republic within Franco-African Community	September 4, 1947	Restoration of colonial boundaries used from 1919–1932
			August 5, 1960	Independence from France
Burundi	November 28, 1966	Monarchy replaced by republic	July 1, 1962	Independence from Belgium
Cabo Verde			July 5, 1975	Independence from Portugal
Cameroon			January 1, 1960	Independence from France	October 1, 1961	Merger of part of British Cameroons with Cameroon
Central African Republic	September 21, 1979	Monarchy replaced by republic	August 13, 1960	Independence from France
Chad			August 11, 1960	Independence from France	February 3, 1994	Aouzou Strip awarded to Chad
Comoros			July 6, 1975	Independence from France declared
Congo, Democratic Republic of the	June 30, 1960		April 22, 1884	Congo Free State recognized as an independent state
			June 30, 1960	Independence from Belgium
Congo, Republic of the			August 15, 1960	Independence from France
Ivory Coast			December 4, 1958	Autonomous republic within French Community
			August 7, 1960	Independence from France
Djibouti			June 27, 1977	Independence from France
Equatorial Guinea			October 12, 1968	Independence from Spain
Eritrea			May 24, 1993	Independence from Ethiopia declared	April 1, 2002	Badme ruled to be Eritrean by the Eritrea–Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC after the Eritrean–Ethiopian War). Contested by Ethiopia
Ethiopia	March 21, 1975	Monarchy abolished and replaced by republic	980 BC	Formation of the state of D'mt	April 1, 2002	Badme ruled to be Eritrean by the Eritrea–Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC after the Eritrean–Ethiopian War). Contested by Ethiopia
Gabon			August 17, 1960	Independence from France
Gambia			February 18, 1965	Independence from the United Kingdom
Ghana			March 6, 1957	Independence from the United Kingdom	December 13, 1956	Union of British Togoland with Gold Coast
Guinea			October 2, 1958	Independence from France
Guinea-Bissau			September 24, 1973	Independence from Portugal declared
			September 10, 1974	Independence from Portugal recognized
Kenya			December 12, 1963	Independence from the United Kingdom
Lesotho			October 4, 1966	Independence from the United Kingdom	March 12, 1868	Area that is now present-day Lesotho placed under British rule
Liberia			July 26, 1847	Independence from the United States	January 6, 1986	Current constitution came into effect
Libya	August 4, 2014	Council of Deputies takes power.	December 24, 1951	Independence from UN Trusteeship (British and French administration after Italian governance ends in 1947)	February 13, 1984	Aouzou Strip awarded to Chad.
Madagascar			October 14, 1958	The Malagasy Republic was created as autonomous state within French Community
			June 26, 1960	France recognizes Madagascar's independence
Malawi			July 6, 1964	Independence from the United Kingdom
Mali			November 25, 1958	French Sudan gains autonomy	August 20, 1960	Senegal secedes from Mali Federation
			September 22, 1960	Independence from France
Mauritania			November 28, 1960	Independence from France	August 11, 1979	Mauritania withdraws from Tiris al-Gharbiyya (part of Western Sahara)
Mauritius			March 12, 1968	Independence from the United Kingdom	1965	Separation of Chagos Archipelago
Morocco	February 5, 789	Enthronement of Idris I in Volubilis	November 18, 1955	Protectorate abolished	January 4, 1969	Internationally recognized : Return of Ifni to Morocco
	1666	Enthronement of Al-Rashid ibn Sharif in Fez	April 7, 1956	Return of Spanish Morocco to Morocco	April 1987	Disputed, de facto under Moroccan control : Completion of the Moroccan Wall in Western Sahara
Mozambique			June 25, 1975	Independence from Portugal
Namibia			March 21, 1990	Independence from South African rule	March 1, 1994	Walvis Bay integrated into Namibia
Niger			December 4, 1958	Autonomy within French Community
			August 3, 1960	Independence from France
Nigeria			October 1, 1960	Independence from the United Kingdom	January 15, 1970	Biafra re-integrated into Nigeria
					June 1, 1961	Northern Cameroons integrated in Nigeria
Rwanda			July 1, 1962	Independence from Belgium
São Tomé and Príncipe			July 12, 1975	Independence from Portugal
Senegal			August 20, 1960	Independence from France
Seychelles			June 29, 1976	Independence from the United Kingdom
Sierra Leone			April 27, 1961	Independence from the United Kingdom
Somalia	August 20, 2012	Federal Government of Somalia established.	July 1, 1960	Union of Trust Territory of Somalia (former Italian Somaliland) and State of Somaliland (formerly British Somaliland)	May 18, 1991 (disputed)	Somaliland declares independence, but is not recognized by any UN state.
South Africa	May 31, 1961	Republic declared	December 11, 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	April 27, 1994	Reincorporation of the nominally independent bantustans into post-apartheid South Africa
			May 31, 1910	Creation of the autonomous Union of South Africa from the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and Orange River
South Sudan	July 9, 2011	Independence and Republic declared on July 9, 2011	July 9, 2011	Separation of Southern Sudan from Sudan	July 9, 2011
Sudan	April 15, 2010	First democratic election since the Second Sudanese Civil War	January 1, 1956	Independence from Egyptian and British joint rule	July 9, 2011	South Sudan secedes from Sudan
Swaziland	February 8, 2006	Constitution of Swaziland	September 6, 1968	Independence from the United Kingdom
Tanzania	July 1, 1991	Amendment to Constitution of Tanzania ends status as one-party state	December 9, 1961	Independence of Tanganyika from the United Kingdom	April 26, 1964	Merger of Zanzibar with Tanganyika to form Tanzania
Togo			August 30, 1958	Autonomy within French Union
			April 27, 1960	Independence from France
Tunisia	January 26, 2014	Constitution of Tunisia following the Tunisian Revolution	March 20, 1956	Independence from France
Uganda			March 1, 1962	Self-government granted
			October 9, 1962	Independence from the United Kingdom
Zambia			October 24, 1964	Independence from the United Kingdom
Zimbabwe	December 22, 1987	Robert Mugabe revises the Constitution of Zimbabwe to create an executive presidency.	November 11, 1965	Unilateral declaration of independence by Southern Rhodesia	1901	BSAC separates North-Eastern Rhodesia from Southern Rhodesia
			April 18, 1980	Recognized independence from the United Kingdom as Zimbabwe

The Americas

Country	Date	Birth of current form of government	Date	Date of acquisition of sovereignty	Date	Date of most recent significant territorial modification
Antigua and Barbuda			November 1, 1981	Independence from the United Kingdom
Argentina	May 1, 1853	The current Constitution of Argentina enters in force	May 25, 1810	May Revolution installs first local government	October 18, 1884	Conquest of the Desert
			July 9, 1816	Argentine Declaration of Independence
Bahamas			January 7, 1964	Internal self-governance granted
			July 10, 1973	Independence from the United Kingdom
Barbados			November 30, 1966	Independence from the United Kingdom
Belize			September 21, 1981	Independence from the United Kingdom	1859	Treaty establishes border between British Honduras and Guatemala
			January 1, 1964	Self-governing colony
Bolivia	May 25, 1809		August 6, 1825	Bolivian War of Independence	November 11, 1903	Signing of the Treaty of Petrópolis with Brazil whereby Bolivia gained lands in Mato Grosso in exchange for the territory of Acre
Brazil	November 15, 1889	Proclamation of the Republic	September 7, 1822	Independence from Portugal declared	November 11, 1903	Signing of the Treaty of Petrópolis with Bolivia whereby Brazil was given the territory of Acre in exchange for lands in Mato Grosso
			August 29, 1825	Independence recognized by Portugal
Canada	July 1, 1867	Dominion of Canada established as a federation	July 1, 1867	Granted nominal independence (Dominion status)	March 31, 1949	Dominion of Newfoundland joins as the province of Newfoundland
			December 11, 1931	Statute of Westminster
Chile	August 17, 1989	Amendment to the Constitution of Chile ends the military dictatorship	February 12, 1818	Independence declared from Spain	July 3, 1929	Chile awarded Arica district in Treaty of Lima
			April 25, 1844	Independence recognized by Spain
Colombia	August 4, 1886	Creation of the Republic of Colombia	July 20, 1810	Independence declared from Spain	November 3, 1903	Separation of Panama from Colombia
			August 7, 1819	Independence recognized by Spain
Costa Rica	November 7, 1949	Constitution of Costa Rica	September 15, 1821	Costa Rica declared independence from Spain	July 25, 1824	Partido de Nicoya
			November 15, 1838	Independence from Federal Republic of Central America
Cuba	January 1, 1959	Cuban Revolution	October 10, 1868	Independence from Spain declared
			December 10, 1898	Spain relinquishes all claim of sovereignty over and title to Cuba
			May 20, 1902	United States military occupation ends
Dominica	November 3, 1978	Constitution of Dominica	February 27, 1967	Became an associated state of the United Kingdom
			November 3, 1978	Independence from the United Kingdom
Dominican Republic	November 28, 1966	Civilian constitution of the Dominican Republic following the Dominican Civil War.	March 3, 1865	Independence regained from Spain following the Dominican Restoration War	February 27, 1844	The Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti
					May 9, 1936	Haiti and the Dominican Republic sign a treaty setting a definitive border.
Ecuador	August 10, 1809		May 24, 1822	Independence from Spain of Gran Colombia, of which Ecuador is a part	February 26, 1942	Rio Protocol ends border dispute with Peru
			May 13, 1830	Dissolution of Gran Colombia
El Salvador			September 15, 1821	El Salvador becomes province in First Mexican Empire, which declared independence from Spain
			July 1, 1823	El Salvador becomes a state of Federal Republic of Central America
			February 18, 1841	Dissolution of the Federal Republic of Central America, El Salvador becomes independent
Grenada			February 27, 1967	Associated state of the United Kingdom
			February 7, 1974	Full independence from the United Kingdom
Guatemala			September 15, 1821	Guatemala becomes state in Federal Republic of Central America, which declared independence from Spain
			April 17, 1839	Independence from Federal Republic of Central America declared
Guyana			May 26, 1966	Independence from the United Kingdom
Haiti	March 1987	Constitution of 1987 (superseded)	January 1, 1804	The French colony Saint-Domingue gains independence as Haiti	February 27, 1844	The Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti
					May 9, 1936	Haiti and the Dominican Republic sign a treaty setting a definitive border.
Honduras			September 15, 1821	Honduras becomes state in Federal Republic of Central America, which declared independence from Spain	September 1, 1972	Swan Islands returned to Honduras from United States occupation
			October 26, 1838	Independence from Federal Republic of Central America
Jamaica			August 6, 1962	Independence from the United Kingdom
Mexico	1917	Constitution of Mexico	September 16, 1810	Independence from Spain declared	December 30, 1853	Gadsden Purchase
			August 24, 1821	Independence recognized by Spain in Treaty of Córdoba
Nicaragua			September 15, 1821	Nicaragua becomes state in Federal Republic of Central America, which declared independence from Spain
			November 5, 1838	Independence from Federal Republic of Central America
Panama			November 3, 1903	Separation of Panama from Colombia	October 1, 1979	United States returns Panama the Panama Canal Zone
Paraguay	June 1992	Democratic Constitution of Paraguay	May 14, 1811	Independence from Spain declared	1938	Paraguay awarded a large portion of the Gran Chaco as a result of the Chaco War
Peru			July 28, 1821	Independence from Spain declared	February 26, 1942	Rio Protocol ends border dispute with Ecuador
			1879	Independence from Spain recognized
Saint Kitts and Nevis			February 27, 1967	Associated state of the United Kingdom	December 19, 1980	Anguilla separated from Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla
			September 19, 1983	Independence from the United Kingdom
Saint Lucia			February 27, 1967	Associated statehood
			February 22, 1979	Independence from the United Kingdom
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines			October 27, 1969	Associated statehood
			October 27, 1979	Independence from the United Kingdom
Suriname			December 15, 1954	Self-government granted
			November 25, 1975	Independence from Netherlands
Trinidad and Tobago			August 31, 1962	Independence from the United Kingdom
United States	September 17, 1787	Ratification of the United States Constitution replaced the previous Articles of Confederation creating a new system of government	July 4, 1776	Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain declared	August 21, 1959	United States territory: Territory of Hawaii joins as the state of Hawaii
			September 3, 1783	Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain recognized	September 7, 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	December 8, 1996	Uruguayan constitutional referendum, 1996	August 25, 1825	Independence declared, joined in union with United Provinces of the River Plate (current Argentina).(Independence from Brazil declared)
			August 27, 1828	Treaty of Montevideo signed, recognizing Uruguay's independence
Venezuela			April 19, 1810	Independence from Spain declared
			January 13, 1830	President José Antonio Páez declares Venezuela independent from Gran Colombia

Asia

Country	Date	Birth of current form of government	Date	Date of acquisition of sovereignty	Date	Date of most recent significant territorial modification
Afghanistan	January 26, 2004	Constitution of Afghanistan establishes Islamic Republic	1500 BC	Founding of the Gandhara, which equates to what is now Kandahar. One of the earliest Afghan kingdoms.
Bahrain			August 15, 1971	End of treaties with the United Kingdom	July 1, 1521	Portuguese conquest of current territory
Bangladesh	November 4, 1972	De jure: Constitution of Bangladesh	March 26, 1971	Independence from Pakistan declared	July 31, 2015	India and Bangladesh exchange exclaves
	February 27, 1991	De facto: First general election since restoration of parliamentary democracy.
Bhutan	March 24, 2008	First elections to the National Assembly	1885	Ugyen Wangchuck ends period of civil war and unites Bhutan	November 11, 1865	Treaty of Sinchula
Brunei	September 29, 1959	De jure: Constitution of Brunei	January 1, 1984	Brunei regains its independence after an agreement with the British on 4 January 1979	August 18, 1841	Kingdom of Sarawak founded
	December 12, 1962	De facto: Martial law declared during the Brunei Revolt, suspending democratic elections indefinitely.
Cambodia	September 21, 1993	Constitution of Cambodia	September 9, 1953	France grants Cambodia independence
			September 26, 1989	Becomes free from Vietnamese occupation; it gets back its name instead of the People's Republic of Kampuchea
Republic of China	October 10, 1911	After the Xinhai Revolution the Republic of China formally replaced the Qing Dynasty	December 7, 1949	Republic of China government moved to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War	February 25, 1955	Withdrawal of the Republic of China from the Dachen Archipelago
People's Republic of China	October 1, 1949	Establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the Chinese Civil War nears its end	1800 BC	Beginning of the Shang dynasty	December 20, 1999	Transfer of the sovereignty of Macau from Portugal to the PRC
India	January 26, 1950	De jure: Constitution of India	August 15, 1947	Independence from British Empire	July 31, 2015	India and Bangladesh exchange exclaves
	March 21, 1977	De facto: The end of The Emergency restores democratic elections
Indonesia	August 18, 1945	Ratification of the Constitution of Indonesia by the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence	August 17, 1945	Indonesian Declaration of Independence from Netherlands	May 20, 2002	Independence of East Timor, formerly administered as a province of Indonesia
			December 27, 1949	Independence from the Netherlands recognized
Iran	February 11, 1979	Iranian Revolution ends monarchism and establishes an Islamic Republic	3200 BC	3200–2700 BCE: Part of Proto-Elamite	April 4, 1857	Anglo-Persian War leads to loss of Herat to the Emirate of Afghanistan
Iraq	October 15, 2005	Constitution of Iraq following the Iraq War	October 3, 1932	Kingdom of Iraq	February 28, 1991	Kuwait liberated.
Israel	May 14, 1948	Democratic state of Israel. Reading of the Declaration of Independence of Israel	1050 BC	Kingdom of Israel	September 12, 2005	Completion of Israel's unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip
Japan	May 3, 1947	Coming into force of the current Constitution of Japan, whereby the emperor was deprived of his powers and a liberal democracy was established	660 BC (Traditional)	Victory of Emperor Jimmu, and the capital established in Yamato.	May 15, 1972	Return of the Ryukyu Islands to Japan and abolition of the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands
Jordan	January 1, 1952	Constitution of Jordan	May 25, 1946	End of the British Mandate for Palestine	October 26, 1994	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
	June 12, 2011	The Cabinet of Jordan is made an elected body
Kuwait	November 11, 1962	Constitution of Kuwait	February 28, 1991	End of Iraqi occupation (Gulf War)	December 18, 1969	Formal division of Saudi-Kuwaiti neutral zone
Kyrgyzstan	June 10, 2010	Constitution of Kyrgyzstan introduces parliamentary system.	August 31, 1991	Independence from the Soviet Union	December 5, 1936	Establishment of the Kirghiz SSR
Laos	December 2, 1975	Lao PDR formed	October 22, 1953	Independence from France
Lebanon	May 23, 1926	Lebanese Republic formed	November 26, 1941	Independence from France declared	September 1, 1920	France establishes State of Greater Lebanon with current boundaries
			November 22, 1943	Independence from France recognized
Malaysia	September 16, 1963	Formation of Malaysia	August 31, 1957	Malayan Independence from the United Kingdom was declared in Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square)	August 9, 1965	Singapore expelled from the Federation of Malaysia
			September 16, 1963	Malaysia was formed by the federation of North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore with the existing States of the Federation of Malaya.
Maldives	November 11, 1968	Declaration of Republic	July 26, 1965	Independence from the United Kingdom
Mongolia	February 12, 1992	Constitution of Mongolia declares the country a parliamentary democracy.	209 BC	Xiongnu Empire formed
			December 29, 1911	Proclamation of Mongolian independence from Manchu's Qing Dynasty
Myanmar	March 30, 2011	The military junta is replaced by an elected government	January 4, 1948	Myanmar (Burma) declares independence from the British Empire	1956	Signing of border treaty with the People's Republic of China
Nepal	May 28, 2008	Formation of Republic	December 21, 1768	Nepali unification	December 2, 1815	Sugauli Treaty ends the Gurkha War
North Korea	September 9, 1948	Kim Il-sung declared Premier of North Korea, establishing the still-ruling Kim dynasty.	September 9, 1948	Declaration of creation of North Korea	July 27, 1953	Cease-fire in the Korean War creates the southern border along the Military Demarcation Line
	December 25, 1972	Constitution of North Korea replaces Communism with Juche as North Korea's governing philosophy.
Oman	June 10, 1749	Beginning of the Al Said dynasty, current absolute monarchical line of Oman.	January 26, 1650	Expulsion of the Portuguese	December 8, 1958	Gwadar sold to Pakistan
	1996	Basic Law of Oman
Pakistan	August 14, 1973	Constitution of Pakistan	August 14, 1947	Independence from British India in the Partition	December 16, 1971	De facto: Province of East Pakistan dissolved following the surrender of the Pakistani Army at the end of the Bangladesh Liberation War
					February 22, 1974	De jure: Recognition by Pakistan of Bangladesh as an independent country, whereby Pakistan definitely surrenders claims over the former province of East Pakistan
Philippines	November 30, 1935	The Commonwealth of the Philippines was established through provisions of the Tydings–McDuffie Act.	June 12, 1898	The evolving revolutionary movement in the Philippines declares itself independent from the Spanish Empire.	1930	Seven of the Turtle Islands were returned by the United Kingdom to the United States as the successor of the Sultanate of Sulu, becoming part of the Philippine Archipelago. The remaining three islands became the Turtle Islands National Park (Malaysia).
			July 4, 1946	The United States recognises independence under the provisions of the Treaty of Manila (1946). The 1935 Constitution remained in effect until 1973, when the Marcos regime promulgated a new a newer one, in turn replaced by the present 1987 Constitution.
Qatar			September 3, 1971	Independence from the United Kingdom
Saudi Arabia	September 23, 1932	Regions of Al-Hasa, Qatif, Nejd and Hejaz unified to become Saudi Arabia	May 20, 1927	Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz recognized as independent in Treaty of Jeddah (1927)	June 12, 2000	Border with Yemen finalized by Treaty of Jeddah (2000)
Singapore	August 9, 1965	Singapore ceased to be a state of Malaysia	June 3, 1959	Self-government under the United Kingdom	August 9, 1965	Establishment of Singapore as an independent sovereign state
			August 9, 1965	separate from and independent of Malaysia
South Korea	August 15, 1948	First Republic of Korea established	676	Korean monarch establishes kingdom over north Korean peninsula and southern Manchuria (Silla)	July 27, 1953	Cease-fire in the Korean War creates the northern border along the Military Demarcation Line
	October 29, 1987	Current Sixth Republic of South Korea founded, ending military rule
Sri Lanka	May 22, 1972	Constitution of Sri Lanka	February 4, 1948	Independence from United Kingdom	1817	De jure: The Kandyan Kingdom is annexed by British Ceylon
					May 18, 2009	De facto: The Sri Lankan government regains control of the whole island following the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War.
Syria	February 27, 2012	Constitution of Syria	September 28, 1961	End of the United Arab Republic	November 8, 1941	Lebanon declares independence from the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon
Tajikistan			September 9, 1991	Independence from the Soviet Union	December 5, 1929	Establishment of the Tajik SSR
Thailand	May 22, 2014	2014 interim constitution of Thailand following 2014 Thai coup d'état	November 6, 1767	Expulsion of Burmese and reunification of Thailand	March 10, 1909	Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909
Timor-Leste	May 20, 2002	Constitution of East Timor	November 28, 1975	East Timor declares its independence but was suppressed by the Indonesian invasion	1914	The borders of Portuguese Timor are agreed.
			May 20, 2002	Independence was recognized by the international community following the UN-sponsored act of self-determination of 1999
Turkmenistan	September 28, 2008	Constitution of Turkmenistan	October 27, 1991	Independence from the Soviet Union	August 7, 1921	Establishment of the Turkmen SSR
United Arab Emirates			December 2, 1971	End of treaty relationship with the United Kingdom	February 11, 1972	Ras al-Khaimah joins the UAE
Uzbekistan			August 31, 1991	Independence from the Soviet Union declared	October 24, 1924	Establishment of the Uzbek SSR
Vietnam	December 31, 1959	North Vietnam declared a socialist republic	1945	withdrawal of the Japanese after WWII	July 2, 1976	Reunification of North Vietnam and South Vietnam as Socialist Republic of Vietnam
	January 1, 2014	Current Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Yemen			May 22, 1990	Unification of North Yemen and South Yemen	May 22, 1990	Unification of North Yemen and South Yemen

Europe

Country	Date	Birth of current form of government	Date	Date of acquisition of sovereignty	Date	Date of most recent significant territorial modification
Albania	April 29, 1991	Socialist People's Republic of Albania was replaced by the Republic of Albania.	c. 1190	Principality of Arbër was established by archon Progon.	1945	Kosovo returned to Yugoslavia
			November 28, 1912	Declaration of independence from Ottoman Empire
			November 28, 1944	Albanian state re-established after Italian/German occupation
Andorra	April 28, 1993	Current Constitution of Andorra entered force	1813	Reversal of annexation of Andorra by the Napoleonic Empire, through the Peninsular war	August 28, 2001	The Andorra–France border is adjusted to allow Andorra to construct the Envalira Tunnel access bridge
Austria	November 12, 1918	Declaration of the Republic of German-Austria	May 15, 1955	Austrian Independence Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state	December 14, 1921	City of Sopron,and 8 other towns moved to Hungary after plebiscite
			September 17, 1156	Privilegium Minus: Sovereignty from Duchy of Bavaria as a Duchy of the Holy Roman Empire
			August 11, 1804	Proclamation of the Austrian Empire
Belarus	November 28, 1996	Constitutional amendment abolishes the Supreme Soviet and establishes the National Assembly	July 27, 1990	Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic	1945	Curzon Line
			August 25, 1991	Independence recognized by Soviet Union
Belgium	July 21, 1831	King Leopold I of Belgium swears allegiance to the constitution making the country a constitutional monarchy	October 4, 1830	Independence was proclaimed by the provisonial government	June 28, 1919	Treaty of Versailles and annexation of the East Cantons
Bosnia and Herzegovina	March 3, 1992	Independence declared from the SFRY	1154	Formation of the Banate of Bosnia	November 25, 1943	Establishment of SR Bosnia in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Bulgaria	November 10, 1989	People's Republic of Bulgaria was replaced by the Republic of Bulgaria	632	Formation of Old Great Bulgaria	September 7, 1940	Under the Vienna Awards, Southern Dobruja was returned to Kingdom of Bulgaria
			681	First Bulgarian Empire formed
			1185	Second Bulgarian Empire formed
			July 13, 1878	Autonomy within Ottoman Empire recognized internationally by the Treaty of Berlin
			September 22, 1908	Independence from Ottoman Empire
Croatia	October 8, 1991	Independence from SFR Yugoslavia	925	Formation of Kingdom of Croatia by King Tomislav I	February 10, 1947	Annexation of most of Istria to SR Croatia as a result of signing the 1947 Paris Peace Treaties
Cyprus	August 16, 1960	Constitution of Cyprus establishes consocial government. Consociationalism de facto suspended in 1963.	August 16, 1960	Independence from United Kingdom	July 23, 1974	Establishment of the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus
					November 15, 1983 (disputed)	Northern Cyprus declares independence. The government has de facto control of the northern part of the island, but is only recognised by Turkey
Czech Republic	January 1, 1993	Dissolution of Czechoslovakia, creating Czech Republic and Slovakia	895	Independence from Great Moravia
Denmark	June 5, 1953	Constitutional Act of Denmark	958 (Or prior)	The Jelling stones, a pair of rune stones considered to be the "birth certificate" of Denmark reads: "King Haraldr ordered this monument made ... who won for himself all of Denmark and Norway and made the Danes Christian."	June 15, 1920	Denmark proper: Sønderjylland was recovered from Germany.
					June 17, 1944	Danish Realm: Kingdom of Iceland secedes from the union.
Estonia	February 24, 1918	Estonian Declaration of Independence, whereby a republic was declared	February 24, 1918	Independence declared from the Russian Empire	July 1, 1920	De jure: Signing of the Estonia–Latvia Border Treaty whereby Valga proper was ceded to Estonia
			August 20, 1991	Independence (from the Soviet Union) reasserted, end of occupation	January 1, 1945	De facto: Eastern coast of Narva river and most of Petseri County were transferred to Russian SFSR
Finland	March 29, 1809	Diet of Porvoo, birth of Finland as an autonomous state entity within Russian Empire	December 6, 1917	Independence from Russian Empire declared	January 26, 1956	Porkkala returned from Soviet control
			January 3, 1918	Independence from Russia recognized by the highest Soviet executive body, VTsIK
France	September 4, 1870	Establishment of a lasting republican form of government, considered uninterrupted in French law	481	Kingdom of the Franks becomes the first Christian State after the fall of the Western Roman Empire	February 10, 1947	Metropolitan France: Annexation of Tende, La Brigue and other villages formerly in Italy.
	October 5, 1958	Establishment of the current semi-presidential system known as the Fifth Republic	843	Creation of the Kingdom of France (West Francia), Treaty of Verdun	July 5, 1962	Overseas France: Loss of the French departments in Algeria following the latter's independence.
Germany	May 23, 1949	The Basic Law of Germany comes into effect.	January 18, 1871	German Realm (Empire) founded	October 3, 1990	Reunification of West Germany and East Germany
			1954	Democratic Republic of Germany (commonly referred to at the time as East Germany) declared fully sovereign
			May 5, 1955	Federal Republic of Germany (commonly referred to at the time as West Germany) declared fully sovereign
			May 15, 1991	Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany ends the Four Power occupation.
Greece	June 11, 1975	Third Hellenic Republic	March 25, 1821 (Traditional) February 23, 1821 (Actual)	Greek Revolution starts, various regional administrations established during 1821	February 10, 1947	Peace treaty with Italy awards the Dodecanese to Greece
			January 1, 1822	First Hellenic Republic proclaimed
			March 4, 1832	Independence recognized (as Kingdom of Greece)
Hungary	October 23, 1989	People's Republic of Hungary was replaced by the Republic of Hungary	895	Principality of Hungary formed	February 10, 1947	With the Paris Peace Treaty, Hungary loses all territories that were regained with the Vienna Awards and during World War II, thus it returns to the 1920 borders (except for three villages in the northwest given to Czechoslovakia).
			1000	Formation of the Kingdom of Hungary by Stephen I of Hungary.
Iceland	930	The Icelandic Commonwealth established.	June 17, 1944	Secedes from a Union with Denmark formally as an independent republic.	September 1, 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.
	July 1, 1845	First meeting of the modern Althing.
Ireland	January 21, 1919	Elected Irish Parliament Dáil Éireann unilaterally declares Ireland's independence from the United Kingdom	December 6, 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	December 8, 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
			December 11, 1931	Statute of Westminster confers legislative independence from the United Kingdom
	December 29, 1937	Constitution of Ireland establishes the roles of Taoiseach and President, and replaces the Irish Free State with a new state named Ireland or Éire.	April 18, 1949	Republic of Ireland Act 1948 declares the state to be a republic and thus no longer subject in any way to the British Crown	December 2, 1999	De jure: Amendment to the Irish constitution removes irredentist claims to Northern Ireland.
Italy	January 1, 1948	Constitution of Italy creating the Italian Republic	March 17, 1861	Italian unification	October 5, 1954	De facto: The London Memorandum divides the Free Territory of Trieste between Yugoslavia and Italy.
			April 25, 1945	Disestablishment of the German-backed Italian Social Republic, whereby the unity and independence of the Italian state was restored	October 11, 1977	De jure: The Treaty of Osimo officially determines Yugoslavian and Italian claims to Trieste.
Latvia	November 7, 1922	Constitution of Latvia enforced	November 18, 1918	Independence declared from Russia	1944	Abrene district ceded to Russian SFSR (modern Russia)
			May 4, 1990	Independence (from Soviet Union) reasserted
Liechtenstein	March 16, 2003	The Liechtenstein constitutional referendum, 2003 increases the Prince's powers and makes the country an absolute monarchy	October 19, 1813	Dissolution of the Confederation of the Rhine	January 23, 1719	Purchase of Vaduz
Lithuania	March 11, 1990	Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania independence (from the Soviet Union) reasserted, end of occupation	1253	Coronation of King Mindaugas (state established some time earlier, perhaps in the 1230s)	October 27, 1939 and August 3, 1940	Western part (approximately half) of Vilnius Region ceded to Lithuania
			February 16, 1918	Independence declared from Germany and Russia
Luxembourg	November 23, 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	April 19, 1839	Partition of Luxembourg under the Treaty of London
Macedonia	November 17, 1991	Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia	September 8, 1991	After a referendum, the Socialist Republic of Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia	August 2, 1944	Establishment of SR Macedonia
Malta	December 13, 1974	The State of Malta became a republic	September 21, 1964	Independence from United Kingdom	August 20, 1801	Gozo rejoined Malta
Moldova	August 27, 1994	Constitution of Moldova (1994)	August 27, 1991	Independence from Soviet Union	August 2, 1940	De jure: Moldavian SSR formed
					September 2, 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	December 17, 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	October 22, 2007	Constitution of Montenegro	1077	Formation of Kingdom of Duklja/Zeta by King Mihajlo I	November 25, 1943	Establishment of SR Montenegro
			July 13, 1878	Independence officially confirmed by Ottoman Empire internationally by the Treaty of Berlin other countries recognized earlier.
			June 3, 2006	Declaration of independence from Serbia and Montenegro.
Netherlands	August 24, 1815	Adoption of the constitution of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.	May 15, 1648	Treaty of Münster signed, independence from Spain	March 16, 1839	European Netherlands: The United Kingdom of the Netherlands divided under the Treaty of London (1839).
	December 15, 1954	Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed	May 5, 1945	Surrender of Nazi forces occupying the Netherlands	November 25, 1975	Kingdom of the Netherlands: Suriname declares independence.
Norway	1814	Constitution of Norway	872	King Harald I of Norway unifies the Petty kingdoms of Norway.	February 27, 1930	Jan Mayen was made part of the Kingdom of Norway.
			1814	Dissolution of the union between Norway and Denmark
			June 7, 1905	Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden
			May 8, 1945	German occupying forces surrender.
Poland	June 4, 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.	February 15, 1951	Polish-Soviet border adjustment treaty
			1025	formation of the Kingdom of Poland by Mieszko's son Bolesław I Chrobry.
Portugal	April 2, 1976	Constitution of Portugal	July 26, 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.	June 6, 1801	Continental Portugal: Spain occupies the present day border town of Olivença since the War of the Oranges.
					December 20, 1999	Portuguese Overseas: De facto: Portuguese Macau transferred to the People's Republic of China
					May 20, 2002	Portuguese Overseas: De jure: Portuguese Timor, occupied by Indonesia since 1975, officially dissolved to form the independent state of East Timor.
Romania	December 22, 1989	Romanian Revolution of 1989	May 21, 1877	Independence declared from the Ottoman Empire	February 10, 1947	Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina
			July 13, 1878	International recognition by the Treaty of Berlin.
San Marino	1600	Constitution of San Marino	September 3, 301	Traditional founding	1463	Added Fiorentino, Montegiardino, Serravalle, and Faetano
			1243	Formation of republican government
Serbia	June 8, 2006	Republic of Serbia declared legal successor to Serbia and Montenegro, ending the process of the dissolution of Yugoslavia.	768	Independence of Serbian Principality from the Byzantine Empire.	February 17, 2008 (disputed)	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.
Slovakia	January 1, 1993	Dissolution of Czechoslovakia	January 1, 1993	Dissolution of Czechoslovakia, creating Slovakia and Czech Republic
Slovenia	December 13, 1991	Constitution of Slovenia	June 25, 1991	Declaration of independence from Yugoslavia	October 5, 1954	De facto: The London Memorandum divides the Free Territory of Trieste between Yugoslavia and Italy.
					October 11, 1977	De jure: The Treaty of Osimo officially determines Yugoslavian and Italian claims to Trieste.
Spain	December 6, 1978	Spanish Constitution of 1978	1479	Kingdom of Asturias	February 26, 1976	Spanish Sahara is disestablished following the Madrid Accords
			1479	Unification of the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon by the Catholic Monarchs.
Sweden	January 1, 1974	Instrument of Government	970	Eric the Victorious, the first king of Sweden about whom anything definite is known, becomes king.	March 29, 1809	Loss of Finland to Imperial Russia.
			June 6, 1523	Gustav Vasa elected King of Sweden and marking a definite secession from the Kalmar Union.
Switzerland	November 12, 1848	Foundation of the federal state after Sonderbund war	1291	Traditional founding	1815	The cantons of Valais, Neuchâtel and Geneva join the Swiss Confederation.
			August 7, 1815	Restoration of the Ancien Régime (federalism), reverting the changes imposed by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Ukraine	August 24, 1991	Independence from Soviet Union	882	Formation of the Kievan Rus', traditionally the first Ukrainian state.	March 18, 2014	Annexation of Crimea by Russia
			January 25, 1918	Independence of Ukrainian People's Republic from Russian Republic declared.
			August 24, 1991	Independence of former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic from Soviet Union declared.
United Kingdom	May 1, 1707	The Acts of Union united the two kingdoms of England (including Wales) and Scotland to create the Kingdom of Great Britain	0519 519 then 927	Kingdom of Wessex Kingdom of England	December 6, 1922 then December 8, 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 rejoins the UK two days later.
			843	Kingdom of Scotland
			1171 then 1542	Lordship of Ireland Kingdom of Ireland	July 1, 1997	British Overseas Territories: Hong Kong transferred to the People's Republic of China
			1216	Principality of Wales
Vatican City	1274	Birth of current form of government the Papal conclave in 1274	June 7, 1929	Ratification of the Lateran Treaty, making the Vatican City a sovereign State	February 11, 1929	Signing of the Lateran Treaty

Oceania

Country	Date	Birth of current form of government	Date	Date of acquisition of sovereignty	Date	Date of most recent significant territorial modification
Australia	January 1, 1901	Commonwealth of Australia established as federation.	January 1, 1901	Independence from United Kingdom.	September 16, 1975	Papua New Guinea becomes formally independent of Australia
Fiji			October 10, 1970	Independence from United Kingdom
Kiribati			July 12, 1979	Independence from United Kingdom	October 1, 1975	Separation of Gilbert Islands (later Kiribati) and Ellice Islands (later Tuvalu)
Marshall Islands	May 1, 1979	Constitution and local government established	October 21, 1986	Compact of Free Association with the United States
Federated States of Micronesia	May 10, 1979	Constitution ratified	November 3, 1986	Compact of Free Association with the United States	May 10, 1979	Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae unite to form the Federated States of Micronesia
Nauru			January 31, 1968	Independence from UN Trusteeship (Australian, British and New Zealand administration ends)
New Zealand	February 6, 1840	Treaty of Waitangi between the British Crown and the indigenous Māori tribes cedes kawanatanga of New Zealand to Queen Victoria.	January 17, 1853	Self-Government	February 6, 1840	Treaty of Waitangi effectively unites the New Zealand archipelago as a single territory. The Kermadec Islands were incorporated in 1887.
			April 18, 1856	Responsible Government
			September 26, 1907	Granted nominal independence (Dominion status).
			October 25, 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”
			July 27, 1938	Governor-General ceases to represent the British Government and becomes the personal representative of the King.
			November 25, 1947	Statute of Westminster adopted — Britain loses the power to legislate for New Zealand except by request
			December 10, 1947	Full power to amend own constitution
			December 1, 1967	Governor-General becomes a New Zealand appointment
Palau	January 1, 1981	Republic of Palau created upon adoption of constitution	October 1, 1994	Emerged from United Nations trusteeship (administered by the United States).
Papua New Guinea			December 1, 1973	Self-governing territory
			September 16, 1975	Independence from Australia
Samoa			June 1, 1962	Independence from New Zealand
Solomon Islands			January 2, 1976	Self-government granted by United Kingdom
			July 7, 1978	Independence from United Kingdom
Tonga			July 4, 1970	Independence from United Kingdom	December 4, 1845	Unification of what is now the islands of Tonga by George Tupou I of Tonga
Tuvalu	October 1, 1975	Separation of Gilbert Islands (later Kiribati) and Ellice Islands (later Tuvalu)	October 1, 1978	Independence from United Kingdom	February 7, 1979	Treaty with United States recognizing Tuvaluan control over Funafuti, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, and Niulakita atolls
Vanuatu			July 30, 1980	Independence from joint British-French condominium

Transcontinental states

Country	Date	Birth of current form of government	Date	Date of acquisition of sovereignty	Date	Date of most recent significant territorial modification
Armenia	December 6, 2015	Armenian constitutional referendum, 2015 creates a parliamentary republic	May 28, 1918	Establishment of the Republic of Armenia.	December 5, 1936	Establishment of the Armenian SSR
			September 21, 1991	Independence recognized by the Soviet Union
Azerbaijan	October 18, 1991	Declaration of independence from the Soviet Union	May 28, 1918	Establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.	April 28, 1920	Establishment of the Azerbaijan SSR
Egypt	July 23, 1952	Egyptian Revolution of 1952	February 28, 1922	Unilateral recognition of independence by the United Kingdom but continued British military occupation	April 25, 1982	Withdrawal of last Israeli troops and settlers from Sinai as agreed upon in the peace treaty with Israel
	January 18, 2014	New Egyptian constitution enters force following the 2013 Egyptian coup d'état	June 18, 1956	Withdrawal of last British troops from the Suez Canal Zone
			September 28, 1961	De facto disestablishment of the United Arab Republic following a military coup in Damascus
Georgia	April 9, 1991	Independence from the Soviet Union declared	May 26, 1918	Establishment of the Democratic Republic of Georgia	July 23, 1992	Abkhazia asserted its declared independence from the Soviet Union
					November 28, 1991	South Ossetia declared independence from Georgia
Kazakhstan	August 30, 1995	Constitution of Kazakhstan	December 16, 1991	Independence declared from the Soviet Union	December 5, 1936	Establishment of the Kazakh SSR
					March 30, 1993 (disputed)	Baikonur Cosmodrome and surrounding areas leased to Russia.
Russia	December 25, 1993	Russian constitutional referendum, 1993 replaces the Supreme Soviet with the Federal Assembly and increases presidential power.	1480	Grand Duchy of Muscovy secures its independence from the Golden Horde	March 18, 2014 (disputed)	Annexation of Crimea by Russia
			June 12, 1990	Russian SFSR declares sovereignty over its own territory
Turkey	October 29, 1923	Turkey was declared as a republic.	June 24, 1923	Treaty of Lausanne recognizes the new Turkish state as the successor state of the Ottoman Empire	June 29, 1939	Syrian province of Iskanderun transferred by French Mandatory Government to Turkey. Annexed by Turkey as Hatay State

Sortable list

In this list, "date of last subordination" refers to the last date of control by an external government. In some cases this is the same as the date of independence marking decolonization or dissolution of a political union. In other cases, a sovereign state submitted to foreign military occupation or political subjugation for a period of time and later regained its independence.

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.

Country	First acquisition of sovereignty	Date of last subordination	Previous governing power	Notes
Afghanistan	Apr 1709	Feb 15, 1989	Soviet Union	2001–present: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan 1992-2001: Islamic State of Afghanistan (UN-supported occupation by United States in 2001) 1978-92: Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (occupied by Soviet Union 1979-89) 1973-78: Republic of Afghanistan 1926-29; 1929-73: Kingdom of Afghanistan 1823-1926; 1929: Emirate of Afghanistan (Treaty of Rawalpindi granted sovereignty from United Kingdom in 1919) 1747-1826: Durrani Empire 1736-1796: Part of Afsharid Empire. 1709-1736: Hotaki Empire 1526-1709: Part of Mughal Empire. 1370-1526: Part of Timurid Kingdom. 1256-1335: Part of Ilkhanate. 1294-1370: Part of Chagatai Khanate. 1219-1294 Part of Mongol Empire. 1077-1219: Part of Khwarazemid Empire 1037-1077: Part of the Great Seljuq Empire. 963-1187: Part of Ghaznavid Empire. 861-963: Part of Saffarid Emirate. 821-861: Part of various territories governed by the Tahirids. 750-821: Part of the Abbasid Caliphate. 708-750: Part of the Umayyad Caliphate. 632-708: Yagbu of Tukhara. 224-632; Part of the Sassanid Empire. 227 BCE-224: Part of the Parthian Empire. 312 BCE-227 BCE: Part of the Seleucid Empire. 336 BCE-312 BCE: Part of the Macedonian Empire. 549 BCE-336 BCE: Part of the Achaemenid Empire. 678 BCE-545 BCE: Part of the Median Empire. Before 678 BCE various Indo-Iranian tribes and early Iranian city-states.
Albania	Nov 28, 1912	Nov 1944	Germany	1992–present: Republic of Albania 1944-92: People's Socialist Republic of Albania 1928-44: Albanian Kingdom (de facto protectorate of Italy 1928-1939; occupied by Italy 1939-43; occupied by Germany 1943-44) 1925-28: Albanian Republic (de facto protectorate of Italy) 1914-25: Principality of Albania (via Albanian Declaration of Independence) 1912-14: Provisional Government of Albania 1479-1912: Part of Ottoman Empire 1444-79: League of Lezhë 1190-1444: Various Albanian principalities Before 1190: Part of Byzantine Empire
Algeria	Jul 3, 1962	Jul 3, 1962	France	1962–present: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria (via Évian Accords) 1830-1962: integral part of France (as French Algeria) 1556-1830: part of the Ottoman Empire (as the Eyalet of Algiers)
Andorra	Sep 7, 1278	Nov 1944	France	1278–present: Principality of Andorra (via Paréage of Andorra; occupied by France 1812-13, 1870, 1914, 1936, 1939, 1944)
Angola	Nov 11, 1975	Nov 11, 1975	Portugal	1992–present: Republic of Angola 1975-1992: People's Republic of Angola (via the Alvor Agreement) 1575-1975: Portuguese Angola (colony of Portugal)
Antigua and Barbuda	Nov 1, 1981	Nov 1, 1981	United Kingdom	1981–present: Antigua and Barbuda 1632-1981: Colony of England/Great Britain/United Kingdom (ruled by France in 1666) Before 1632: Inhabited by indigenous peoples of the Americas
Argentina	May 25, 1810	July 9, 1816	Spain	1861–present: Argentine Republic 1831-1861: Argentine Confederation 1810-1831: Part of the United Provinces of the River Plate (via the May Revolution; on 9 July 1816, the Congress of Tucumán issued formal Declaration of Independence) 1776-1810: Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata (colony of Spain) 1542–1824: Part of Viceroyalty of Peru (colony of Spain) 1528-1542: Part of Spanish colony Before 1528: Inhabited by indigenous peoples of the Americas, including the Inca Empire
Armenia	190 BC	Sep 23, 1991	Soviet Union	1991–present: Republic of Armenia 1920-1991: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic 1918-1920: Democratic Republic of Armenia 1829-1918: Part of Russian empire Before 1829: Part of Ottoman Empire 321 BC-AD 428: First independent as Kingdom of Armenia 549 BC-331 BC: Part of Achaemenid Empire 860 BC-590 BC: Kingdom of Ararat 2492 BC: Traditional foundation
Australia	Jan 1, 1901	Oct 9, 1942	United Kingdom	1901–present: Commonwealth of Australia (via Constitution of Australia) 1788-1901: Part of British empire Before 1788: Inhabited by Indigenous Australians
Austria	Nov 12, 1918	May 15, 1955	World War II Allies	1955–present: Republic of Austria (via Austrian State Treaty) 1945-55: Allied-occupied Austria 1938-45: Occupied 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: Austria-Hungary (via Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867) 1804-67: Austrian Empire 1457-1804: Archduchy of Austria (state of the Holy Roman Empire) 1156-1457: Duchy of Austria (state of the Holy Roman Empire)
Azerbaijan	May 28, 1918	Aug 30, 1991	Soviet Union	1995–present: Republic of Azerbaijan (independence from Soviet Union declared 1991; constitution adopted 1995) 1920-1995: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic 1918-1920: Azerbaijan Democratic Republic 1824-1918: Part of Russian Empire 1796–1824: Part of Qajar Empire 1747–1796: Part of Afsharid Dynasty (1760–1794): Part of Zand Dynasty 1736–1747: Part of Afsharid Empire (1722–1729): Part of Hotaki Dynasty 1501–1736: Part of Safavid Empire 1468–1508: Part of Agh Qoyunlu 1405–1507: Part of Timurid Dynasty 1406–1468: Part of Qara Qoyunlu 1370–1405: Part of Timurid Empire 1337–1376: Part of Sarbadars 1336–1432: Part of Jalayirid Dynasty 1335–1393: Part of Muzaffarid Dynasty 1335–1357: Part of Chobanid Dynasty 1256–1335: Part of Ilkhanate Empire 1077–1231: Part of Khwarazmian Empire 1037–1194: Part of Great Seljuq Empire 963–1186: Part of Ghaznavid Empire 875–999: Part of Samanid Dynasty 934–1055: Part of Buyid Dynasty 867–1002: Part of Saffarid Dynasty 928–1043: Part of Ziyarid Dynasty 750–1258: Part of Abbasid Caliphate 661–750: Part of Umayyad Caliphate (642–759/760): Part of Dabuyid dynasty 224–651: Part of Sassanid Empire 247 BCE – 224 CE: Part of Parthian Empire 312–63 BCE: Part of Seleucid Empire 550–330 BCE: Part of Achaemenid Empire (652–625 BCE): Part of Scythian Kingdom 678–550 BCE: Part of Median Empire 850–616 BCE: Part of Mannaeans 2700–539 BCE: Part of Elam 3200–2700 BCE: Part of Proto-Elamite
Bahamas	July 10, 1973	July 10, 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 West Indies 1492-1718: Part of the Spanish Empire 500to 800-1492: Inhabited by the Lucayans
Bahrain	Dec 16, 1971	Dec 16, 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 1783-1861:Ruled by the Bani Utbah 1717-1783:Ruled by Oman after a successful invasion 1602-1717:Part of Persia under the Safavid dynasty 1521-1602: Part of the Portuguese Empire Mid-1400s-1521: Ruled by the Jabrid dynasty 1253-mid-1400s:Ruled by the usfurid dynasty 1076-1235:Ruled by the Uyunid dynasty 976-1076: Ruled as part of the Abbasid Caliphate 899-976: Ruled by the Qarmatians 3rd Century CE-899:Ruled by the Sassanids of Persia 130 BCE-3rd Century BCE: Ruled by the Parthians 6th Century BCE-3rd Century BCE- Part of the Persian Empire under the Achaemenids 4th millennium BCE-6th century BCE: Dilmun civilization
Bangladesh	Mar 26, 1971	Dec 16, 1971	Pakistan	1972–present: People's Republic of Bangladesh 1971-1972:Provisional Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh 1955-1971:East Pakistan (Part of Pakistan) 1947-1955:East Bengal (Part of Pakistan) 1858-1947: Part of the British Raj 1717-1880:Ruled by the Nawabs (Lost ruling power after the Battle of Plassey) 1576-1717:Part of the Mughal Empire 1556-1576:Ruled by the Karrani Dynasty 1540-1556:Ruled by the Sur dynasty 1538-1540:Part of the Mughal Empire 1494-1538:Ruled by the Hussain Shahi Dynasty 1414-1494: Ruled by the Ganesha Dynasty 1342-1487:Shamsuddin lliyas Shah ruled an independent city-state within modern Bangladesh
Barbados	Nov 30, 1966	Nov 30, 1966	United Kingdom
Belarus	Jul 27, 1990	Aug 25, 1991	Soviet Union
Belgium	Oct 4, 1830	1945	Germany	1813-1830: Part of the Netherlands 1795-1813: Ruled by France 1713-1795: Austrian Netherlands 1581-1714: Spanish Netherlands
Belize	Sep 21, 1981	Sep 21, 1981	United Kingdom
Benin	Aug 1, 1960	Aug 1, 1960	France
Bhutan	1634	1634	(none)	Autonomous since at least the 10th century. 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.
Bolivia	Aug 6, 1825	Aug 6, 1825	Spain	1836–39 as dominant partner in Peru–Bolivian Confederation, governed from Tacna, Peru.
Bosnia and Herzegovina	1377	Mar 3, 1992	Yugoslavia	Subject to Kingdom of Hungary 1154-1377 as a Banate of Bosnia, then independent as Kingdom of Bosnia 1377–1463. Later under Ottoman Empire until 1908, Austria-Hungary until 1918, and Yugoslavia until 1992.
Botswana	Sep 30, 1966	Sep 30, 1966	United Kingdom
Brazil	Sep 7, 1822	Sep 7, 1822	Portugal
Brunei	Jan 1, 1984	Jan 1, 1984	United Kingdom	Previously occupied by Japan
Bulgaria	681	Oct 5, 1908	Ottoman Empire	Occupied by Byzantine Empire 1018–1185 and Ottoman Empire 1393–1908.
Burkina Faso	Aug 5, 1960	Aug 5, 1960	France
Burundi	July 1, 1962	July 1, 1962	Belgium
Cambodia	802	Nov 9, 1953	France	Khmer Empire founded 802 according to Sdok Kok Thom Inscription
Cameroon	Jan 1, 1960	Oct 1, 1961	United Kingdom	French Cameroons gained independence in 1960; added British Southern Cameroons in 1961.
Canada	July 1, 1867	Dec 11, 1931	United Kingdom	Dominion status 1867, Statute of Westminster 1931.
Cape Verde	July 5, 1975	July 5, 1975	Portugal
Central African Republic	Aug 13, 1960	Aug 13, 1960	France
Chad	Aug 11, 1960	Aug 11, 1960	France
Chile	Sep 18, 1810	Feb 12, 1818	Spain
China, People's Republic of	Feb 12, 1912	Oct 1, 1949	Qing Empire	Previously part of the Qing Empire. Partial occupation by Japan, 1937–1945. Note: Although the Mongol's Yuan Dynasty and the Manchu's Qing Dynasty were considered foreign by the 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 Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.
Colombia	Jul 20, 1810	Aug 7, 1819	Spain	1886–present: Republic of Colombia 1863-1886: United States of Colombia 1858-1863: Granadine Confederation 1831-1858: Republic of New Granada 1819-1831: Gran Colombia 1810-1816: United Provinces of New Granada 1739-1819: Viceroyalty of New Granada 1723-1739: New Kingdom of Granada 1717-1723: Viceroyalty of New Granada 1550-1717: New Kingdom of Granada
Comoros	Jul 6, 1975	Jul 6, 1975	France
Congo, Democratic Republic of the	1885	Jun 30, 1960	Belgium	1885 Berlin Conference established Congo Free State as sovereign entity (private domain of King Leopold of Belgium); annexed to Belgium 1908–1960.
Congo, Republic of the	Aug 15, 1960	Aug 15, 1960	France
Costa Rica	Sep 15, 1821	1838	Federal Republic of Central America	Previously part of Mexico 1822–23 and a colony of Spain before 1821.
Côte d'Ivoire	Aug 7, 1960	Aug 7, 1960	France
Croatia	May 21, 879	Oct 8, 1991	Yugoslavia	Croats came to Roman Dalmatia as free people from White Croatia in the early 7th century.
Cuba	May 20, 1902	May 20, 1902	United States	A colony of Spain until 1898, then occupied but not annexed by United States 1899–1902.
Cyprus	Aug 16, 1960	Aug 16, 1960	United Kingdom
Czech Republic	870	Sep 20, 1968	Warsaw Pact	Duchy of Bohemia first independent from Great Moravia ca. 870; unified with Moravia and Silesia under Boleslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, who acceded to the throne in 935. Later part of Austria-Hungary until 1918 independence as Czechoslovakia. Occupied by Germany in 1938, by WWII Allies in 1945, and by Warsaw Pact armies in 1968.
Denmark	980	May 5, 1945	Germany	Unified ca 980 by Harald Bluetooth.
Djibouti	Jun 27, 1977	Jun 27, 1977	France
Dominica	Nov 3, 1978	Nov 3, 1978	United Kingdom
Dominican Republic	1821	July 13, 1924	United States	Previously occupied by Spain, France, and Haiti
Ecuador	May 24, 1822	May 13, 1830	Gran Colombia	Previously a colony of Spain
Egypt	3100 BC	Feb 28, 1922	United Kingdom	Unified in 3100 BC by Pharaoh Menes or probably Narmer, founder of the First Dynasty. Conquered at various times by Achaemenid, Macedonian, Roman, Arab/Islamic, Ottoman, and Napoleonic Empires.
El Salvador	Sep 15, 1821	Nov 21, 1898	Greater Republic of Central America	Previously a part of the Federal Republic of Central America 1823–38, Mexico 1822–23, and a colony of Spain before 1821.
Equatorial Guinea	Oct 12, 1968	Oct 12, 1968	Spain
Eritrea	1137	May 24, 1993	Ethiopia	Independent 1137-1889 as Medri Bahri kingdom. Occupied 1889 by Italy, 1941 by Britain. Ruled 1952-1993 by Ethiopia.
Estonia	Feb 24, 1918	Aug 20, 1991	Soviet Union	Previously ruled by Sweden and occupied by Denmark, Poland, Russia, and Germany.
Ethiopia	50	May 5, 1941	Italy	Aksumite Empire founded ca 50. Occupied 1936–1941 by Italy. on 5 May 1941 the ousted Emperor of Ethiopia restored its power.
Fiji	Oct 10, 1970	Oct 10, 1970	United Kingdom
Finland	Dec 6, 1917	Jan 4, 1918	Russian Empire	Previously ruled by Sweden.
France	843	1944	Germany	843 Treaty of Verdun established West Francia. Occupied by Germany in WWII.
Gabon	Aug 17, 1960	Aug 17, 1960	France
Gambia	Feb 18, 1965	Feb 18, 1965	United Kingdom
Georgia	1300 BC	Apr 8, 1991	Soviet Union	1991–Present: Republic of Georgia 1921-1991: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic 1918-1921 : Democratic Republic of Georgia 1801-1918: Part Of 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	Jan 18, 1871	March 15, 1991	World War II Allies	Unified in 1871. Occupied 1945–1955 until ratification of Bonn–Paris conventions. Become fully sovereign on 15 March 1991 after the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany came into effect.
Ghana	Mar 6, 1957	Mar 6, 1957	United Kingdom
Greece	800 BC	1944	Germany	Previously occupied jointly by Italy, Germany and Bulgaria; before 1821 by Ottoman Empire.
Grenada	Feb 7, 1974	Feb 7, 1974	United Kingdom
Guatemala	Sep 15, 1821	1838	Federal Republic of Central America	Republic of Guatemala: 1838–present Federal Republic of Central America: 1823–1838 First Mexican Empire: 1821–1823 Spanish Empire: 1519–1821
Guinea	Oct 2, 1958	Oct 2, 1958	France
Guinea-Bissau	Sep 24, 1973	Sep 10, 1974	Portugal
Guyana	May 26, 1966	May 26, 1966	United Kingdom	Previously colonized by Dutch
Haiti	Jan 1, 1804	Aug 1, 1934	United States	Previously a colony of France.
Honduras	Sep 15, 1821	1925	United States	Occupied several times by United States. Previously a part of the Greater Republic of Central America 1896–98, the Federal Republic of Central America 1823–38, Mexico 1822–23 and a colony of Spain before 1821.
Hungary	895	1956	Soviet Union	Principality of Hungary founded 895. Ruled by Austria 1526/1699-1867, part of Austria-Hungary 1867-1918.
Iceland	930	June 17, 1944	Denmark	Icelandic Commonwealth formed 930. Ceded to Norway 1262; ruled by Danish monarchs 1380-1944 (de facto to 1940). Regained home rule in 1918 as Kingdom of Iceland, fully independent Republic of Iceland founded 1944.
India	2000 BC	Aug 15, 1947	United Kingdom	India's local name Bhārat derives from the scriptural Bharata, held by tradition as the first emperor to unite India in 2000 BC. Modern Indian subcontinent was united by Mahajanapadas in 600 BC. Political unity in verified historiography was first achieved by Chandragupta Maurya's founding of the Mauryan Empire in 322 BC, followed by the Gupta Empire of 320 AD and Maratha Empire in 1674 before era of the Mughals and then British Raj from 1857 to Independence in 1947.
Indonesia	Aug 17, 1945	Dec 27, 1949	Netherlands	1949–present: Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) 1945-1949: Indonesian Struggle for Independence 1942-1945: Part of Japan in World War II 1816-1942: Part of Dutch East Indies 1812-1816: Part of British India (following Dutch-French defeat in the Napoleonic War) 1802-1812: Part of Batavian Republic (Client State of the Napoleon French) 1619-1802: Under Administration of VOC 15th-17th Century: Various Islamic Kingdoms, most notably Mataram, Demak, and Banten in Java; Malaka, Johor-Riau, Minang and Aceh in Sumatra; Brunei and Banjarmasin in Kalimantan, Makassar in Sulawesi, and Ternate and Tidore in Moluccas 1292-1478: Majapahit Empire, united Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and parts of Philippines under the reign of Hayam Wuruk 4th Century-13th Century: Various Hindu-Buddhist Kingdoms, most notably Srivijaya in 8th-10th Century AD 4th Century: First Hindu Kingdom of Kutai in Kalimantan 2nd Century: Alleged Indian Kingdom of Salakanagara in Java
Iran	3200 BC	May 1946	World War II Allies	1980–present: Part of Islamic Republic 1979–1980: Part of Interim Government 1925–1979: Part of Pahlavi Dynasty (Anglo-Soviet occupation 1941-1946) 1796–1925: Part of Qajar Empire 1747–1796: Part of Afsharid Dynasty (1760–1794): Part of Zand Dynasty 1736–1747: Part of Afsharid Empire (1722–1729): Part of Hotaki Dynasty 1501–1736: Part of Safavid Empire 1468–1508: Part of Agh Qoyunlu 1405–1507: Part of Timurid Dynasty 1406–1468: Part of Qara Qoyunlu 1370–1405: Part of Timurid Empire 1337–1376: Part of Sarbadars 1336–1432: Part of Jalayirid Dynasty 1335–1393: Part of Muzaffarid Dynasty 1335–1357: Part of Chobanid Dynasty 1256–1335: Part of Ilkhanate Empire 1077–1231: Part of Khwarazmian Empire 1037–1194: Part of Great Seljuq Empire 963–1186: Part of Ghaznavid Empire 875–999: Part of Samanid Dynasty 934–1055: Part of Buyid Dynasty 867–1002: Part of Saffarid Dynasty 928–1043: Part of Ziyarid Dynasty 750–1258: Part of Abbasid Caliphate 661–750: Part of Umayyad Caliphate (642–759/760): Part of Dabuyid dynasty 224–651: Part of Sassanid Empire 247 BCE – 224 CE: Part of Parthian Empire 312–63 BCE: Part of Seleucid Empire 550–330 BCE: Part of Achaemenid Empire (652–625 BCE): Part of Scythian Kingdom 678–550 BCE: Part of Median Empire 850–616 BCE: Part of Mannaeans 2700–539 BCE: Part of Elam 3200–2700 BCE: Part of Proto-Elamite
Iraq	Oct 3, 1932	Jun 28, 2004	United States	founded in 4000 BC by Sumer Civilization (the first Civilization on the world), and then unified under Sargon of Akkad the founder of Akkadian Empire, but Iraq was part of Persian Empire (Iran), and Ottoman Empire (until 1922). see History of Iraq. Occupied by United States 2003–2004
Ireland	Jan 21, 1919	Dec 11, 1931	United Kingdom	Independence declared 1919, Dominion status 1922, Statute of Westminster 1931, declared a republic 1948.
Israel	May 14, 1948	May 14, 1948	United Kingdom	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 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	Mar 17, 1861	Apr 25, 1945	World War II Allies	Unified in 1861.
Jamaica	Aug 6, 1962	Aug 6, 1962	United Kingdom	Previously a Spanish colony
Japan	400	April 28, 1952	World War II Allies	Founded 660 BC by Emperor Jimmu according to legend. Unified state emerged during the Kofun period c. 400 AD. 1952 Treaty of San Francisco ended postwar occupation.
Jordan	May 25, 1946	Aug 2, 1958	Arab Federation	Part of Arab Federation Feb–Aug 1958 governed from Baghdad, Iraq. Previously ruled by Persian, Roman, Islamic, and Ottoman Empires; UK, etc.
Kazakhstan	Dec 16, 1991	Dec 16, 1991	Soviet Union
Kenya	Dec 12, 1963	Dec 12, 1963	United Kingdom
Kiribati	Jul 12, 1979	Jul 12, 1979	United Kingdom
Kuwait	Jun 19, 1961	Feb 1991	Iraq	Previously ruled by Ottoman Empire and UK.
Kyrgyzstan	Aug 31, 1991	Aug 31, 1991	Soviet Union
Laos	1354	Oct 22, 1953	France	Occupied by Japan during World War II
Latvia	Nov 18, 1918	May 4, 1990	Soviet Union	Previously ruled by Lithuania, Sweden, and Russia
Lebanon	Nov 8, 1943	Dec 31, 1946	France	Previously ruled by Ottoman Empire
Lesotho	1822	Oct 4, 1966	United Kingdom
Liberia	Jul 26, 1847	Jul 26, 1847	American Colonization Society	Settled but not claimed by United States
Libya	Dec 24, 1951	Dec 24, 1951	United Kingdom and France	Previously occupied by Italy and by Ottoman Empire
Liechtenstein	Jul 12, 1806	Aug 24, 1866	German Confederation	Previously subject to the Confederation of the Rhine. Formed 1719 from Vaduz and Schellenberg, but under the Holy Roman Empire.
Lithuania	1253	Mar 11, 1990	Soviet Union	Kingdom of Lithuania; Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania
Luxembourg	1815	1945	Germany	Independent from France 1815 but in personal union with Netherlands until 1890
Macedonia	Sep 8, 1991	Sep 8, 1991	Yugoslavia
Madagascar	1787	Jun 26, 1960	France
Malawi	Jul 6, 1964	Jul 6, 1964	United Kingdom
Malaysia	Aug 31, 1957	Aug 31, 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. Singapore became independent in 1965.
Maldives	1140	Jul 26, 1965	United Kingdom	Unified according to legend by King Koimala (1117–1141). Independent sultanate until 1887, when it became a British protectorate.
Mali	1230	Sep 22, 1960	Mali Federation	Mali Empire ca. 1230. A colony of France 1890–1960, then part of Mali Federation governed from Dakar, Senegal.
Malta	Sep 21, 1964	Sep 21, 1964	United Kingdom	1974–present: Republic of Malta 1964-1974: State of Malta 1813-1964: Crown Colony of Malta 1800-1813: Protectorate of Malta 1798-1800: French occupation of Malta, the insurrection and independent Gozo 1530-1798: Order of Saint John 1130-1530: part of the Kingdom of Sicily 1091-1130: part of the County of Sicily 909-1091: part of the Fatimid Caliphate 870-909: part of the Abbasid Caliphate 395-870: part of the Byzantine Empire 218 BC-395 AD: part of Roman Sicilia 480 BC-218 BC: part of the Carthaginian Empire 800 BC-480 BC: part of the Phoenician Empire
Marshall Islands	Oct 21, 1986	Oct 21, 1986	United States	Compact of Free Association
Mauritania	Nov 28, 1960	Nov 28, 1960	France
Mauritius	Mar 12, 1968	Mar 12, 1968	United Kingdom	Previously controlled by the Netherlands and France.
Mexico	Sep 16, 1810	1864	France	Mexico: 1867–present Second Mexican Empire: 1864–1867 Second Federal Republic of Mexico: 1846–1863 Centralist Republic of Mexico: 1835–1846 First Mexican Republic: 1824–1835 Provisional Government of Mexico: 1823–1824 First Mexican Empire: 1821–1823 Spanish Empire: 1519–1821
Micronesia, Federated States of	Nov 3, 1986	Nov 3, 1986	United States	Compact of Free Association
Moldova	Aug 27, 1991	Aug 27, 1991	Soviet Union
Monaco	1297	1945	Germany	Previously occupied by Italy and France. Subject to Sardinia 1815–1861.
Mongolia	209 BC	Mar 13, 1921	Republic of China	Xiongnu Empire formed 209 BC; occupied by the Qing Dynasty (1699–1911) and the Republic of China (1919–1921)
Montenegro	1042	May 21, 2006	Serbia and Montenegro	2006–present: Montenegro 1918-2006 : Union with Serbia/Yugoslavia 1696-1916 : Petrović's dynasty. 1435-1496 : Crnojević's dynasty. 1356-1421 : Balšić's dynasty. (1018)1042-1186 : Vojislavljević's dynasty. Duklja established statehood 823-830 by archont Petar but gained its full independence from the Byzantine Empire in 1042. Independent from Ottoman Empire in 1799, formally 1878. Occupied by Ottoman Empire 1496-1799(1878),Austria-Hungary 1916-1918, Italy 1941-1943, and Germany 1943-1945.
Morocco	February 5, 789	Apr 7, 1956	France/Spain	February 5, 789 : Induction of Idris I 789-974 : Idrisid dynasty 974-1060 : Disputed between the Fatimid Caliphate and the Caliphate of Córdoba, divided into several Zenata principalities 1061-1147 : Almoravid dynasty 1147-1244 : Almohad dynasty 1244-1465 : Marinid dynasty 1465-1472 : Idrisid dynasty, Joutey branch 1472-1554 : Wattasid dynasty 1554-1659 : Saadi dynasty 1664–present : Alaouite dynasty Under French and Spanish protectorate (1912–1956).
Mozambique	Jun 25, 1975	Jun 25, 1975	Portugal	Portuguese colony from 1498
Myanmar	849	Jan 4, 1948	United Kingdom	Pagan Kingdom founded 849. Occupied by Japan 1942–1945
Namibia	Mar 21, 1990	Mar 21, 1990	South Africa	German colony from 1884; governed by South Africa 1915-1990
Nauru	Jan 31, 1968	Jan 31, 1968	Australia/ New Zealand/ United Kingdom	Previously occupied by Germany 1888, Australia 1914, Japan 1942-45
Nepal	1768	1768	(none)	Autonomous throughout its recorded history, and certainly since its 1768 unification. The ancient Maurya Empire occupied southern Nepal, but not the core Kathmandu valley.
Netherlands	Jul 26, 1581	1945	Germany	Independent from Spain in 1581; occupied by France under Napoleon.
New Zealand	Nov 25, 1947	Nov 25, 1947	United Kingdom	Dominion status 1907, Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947.
Nicaragua	Sep 15, 1821	Jan 1933	United States	Previously a part of the Greater Republic of Central America 1896–98, the Federal Republic of Central America 1823–38, Mexico 1822–23, and a colony of Spain before 1821.
Niger	Aug 3, 1960	Aug 3, 1960	France
Nigeria	Oct 1, 1960	Oct 1, 1960	United Kingdom
North Korea	2333 BC	Sep 9, 1948	Soviet Union	Gojoseon established in 24th century BC according to legend. Modern state established 1948 after Soviet occupation since 1945. Previously occupied by Japan (1910–1945).
Norway	872	May 9, 1945	Germany	Unified ca 872 at Battle of Hafrsfjord. For a long time in unions with Denmark and with Sweden (until 1905). Occupied by Germany 1940–45.
Oman	751	1743	Persia	Previously occupied by Great Seljuq Empire, Ottoman Empire, Portugal (1508–1650), etc.
Pakistan	Aug 14, 1947	Mar 23, 1956	United Kingdom	Previously a colony of the British Empire.
Palau	Oct 1, 1994	Oct 1, 1994	United States	Previously ruled by Spain, Germany, Japan.
Panama	Nov 3, 1903	Jan 12, 1990	United States	A colony of Spain until 1821, then a dependency of Colombia until 1903. Occupied by United States 1989–90.
Papua New Guinea	Sep 16, 1975	Sep 16, 1975	Australia
Paraguay	May 14, 1811	1876	Brazil	Occupied 1870–1876 by Brazil, in Triple Alliance with Argentina and Uruguay. Colony of Spain before 1811.
Peru	July 28, 1821	Aug 25, 1839	Peru–Bolivian Confederation	Independent from Spain 1821; part of Peru–Bolivian Confederation 1836-39.
Philippines	1402	July 4, 1946	United States	1986–present: Fifth Philippine Republic 1981 - 1986: Fourth Philippine Republic 1973 - 1981: Philippines in the Martial Law 1946 - 1972: Third Philippine Republic 1942 - 1943: A puppet state of the Japanese Empire ( Second Philippine Republic ) . 1898 - 1942, 1943 - 1946: Part of the United States 1535 - 1898: A colony of Spain Pre-1535: The Philippine Islands had a numerous sinified states, indianized kingdoms and muslim states. In Luzon , there were the Ivatan people, the Society of Cordillera, the Kingdoms of Pangasinan and Ma-i, Kota Selurong and the Tondo Dynasty. The Confederation of the Madyas and the Rajahnate of Cebu were in Visayas. Lastly, in Mindanao , there were the Sultanate of Maguindanao , Butuan Rajahnate and the Sultanate of Sulu. The Bruneian Empire occupied Palawan_(island) and parts of Mindanao too.
Poland	960	1945	Soviet Union	Unified ca 960 by Mieszko I. Rise of power in 16th century. Occupied by Germany and the USSR during WWII.
Portugal	July 25, 1139	1808	France	Convention of Sintra ended French occupation of Lisbon. Independent from Kingdom of León in 1139. Between 1580 and 1640 Portugal and Spain had the same King, Filipe I in Portugal and Filipe II in Spain.
Qatar	Sep 3, 1971	Sep 3, 1971	United Kingdom
Romania	Jul 13, 1878	Aug 1958	Soviet Union	Occupied by the USSR 1944–1958.
Russia	860	Oct 8, 1480	Golden Horde	Rurik Dynasty founded ca 860. Great stand on the Ugra river in 1480 marked end of Mongol/Tatar rule.
Rwanda	July 1, 1962	July 1, 1962	Belgium
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Sep 19, 1983	Sep 19, 1983	United Kingdom
Saint Lucia	Feb 22, 1979	Feb 22, 1979	United Kingdom
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Oct 27, 1979	Oct 27, 1979	United Kingdom
Samoa	Jan 1, 1962	Jan 1, 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	301	1945	World War II Allies	Previously occupied by Roman Empire, and briefly by Rimini (1503), and Papal States (1739).
São Tomé and Príncipe	Jul 12, 1975	Jul 12, 1975	Portugal
Saudi Arabia	1744	Jan 1919	Ottoman Empire	First Saudi State independent 1744–1818; last Ottoman troops evicted from Medina by Kingdom of Hejaz 1919; Hejaz incorporated 1926 into Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd, precursor to Saudi Arabia
Senegal	Jun 20, 1960	Jun 20, 1960	France	Independent first as Mali Federation with capital in Dakar. Previously part of Ghana, Mali and Songhai Empires.
Serbia	768	1945	Germany	Serbian Sklavinia(520s-768) Principality of Serbia (768-1217) Kingdom of Serbia (1217–1346) Serbian Empire (1346–1371) Moravian Serbia (1371–1402) Serbian Despotate (1402–1540) Kingdom of Serbia (1718–1739) 1718–1739 and 1788-1791 Principality of Serbia (1817–1882) Kingdom of Serbia (1882–1918) Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (1918–1929) Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1929–1943) Democratic Federal Yugoslavia (1943–1946) Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1946–1992) Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1992–2003) State Union of Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006) Republic of Serbia (2006–present)
Seychelles	Jun 29, 1976	Jun 29, 1976	United Kingdom	Perhaps sovereign 1790–1794
Sierra Leone	Apr 27, 1961	Apr 27, 1961	United Kingdom
Singapore	Aug 31, 1963	Aug 9, 1965	Malaysia	British colony 1824–1963; occupied by Japan 1942–1945; declared independence, then merged with Malaysia from 1963 until 1965.
Slovakia	Mar 14, 1939	Jan 1, 1993	Czechoslovakia
Slovenia	Jun 25, 1991	Jun 25, 1991	Yugoslavia
Solomon Islands	Jul 7, 1978	Jul 7, 1978	United Kingdom
Somalia	200 BC	Jul 1, 1960	United Kingdom and 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 BCE: Somali city-states
South Africa	May 31, 1910	Dec 11, 1931	United Kingdom	Dominion status 1910, Statute of Westminster 1931.
South Korea	300 BC	Aug 15, 1948	United States	Jin state established in 3rd century BC. Modern state established 1948 after US Army Military Government since 1945. Previously occupied by Japan (1910–1945).
South Sudan	Jul 9, 2011	Jul 9, 2011	Sudan
Spain	1516	1814	France	Founding of the Spanish Monarchy by Charles I of Spain in 1516 when he united the Catholic Monarchy (Crown of Castile and Crown of Aragon) among other territories. Occupied by France 1808-1813. Between 1580 and 1640 Portugal and Spain had the same King, Filipe I in Portugal and Filipe II in Spain.
Sri Lanka	377 BC	Feb 4, 1948	United Kingdom	Unified as Anuradhapura Kingdom 377 BC – 1017. Conquered by Indian kingdoms, Portuguese, Dutch, and British.
Sudan	1070 BC	Jan 1, 1956	United Kingdom and Egypt	Kingdom of Kush 1070 BC – 350 AD. Later ruled by the Ottoman Empire, Egypt, and then as Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 1899–1956.
Suriname	Nov 25, 1975	Nov 25, 1975	Netherlands
Swaziland	Sep 6, 1968	Sep 6, 1968	United Kingdom
Sweden	unknown	Jun 6, 1523	Denmark	No exact date for consolidation of Sweden. In Kalmar Union 1397–1523.
Switzerland	1291	1815	Austria	Old Swiss Confederacy formed 1291. Occupied by France 1798, then Austria 1813. 1815 Congress of Vienna restored independence.
Syria	Apr 17, 1946	Sep 28, 1961	United Arab Republic
Tajikistan	Sep 9, 1991	Sep 9, 1991	Soviet Union
Tanzania	Dec 9, 1961	Dec 9, 1961	United Kingdom	Independent in 1961 as Tanganyika, added Zanzibar in 1963.
Thailand	1238	1945	Japan	Independent from Khmer Empire in 1238. Briefly conquered by Burma in 1767. Occupied by Japan 1941–1945.
Timor-Leste	Nov 28, 1975	May 20, 2002	United Nations	Ruled by Portugal 1515–1975, occupied by Indonesia 1975–1999, administered by U.N. 1999–2002.
Togo	Apr 27, 1960	Apr 27, 1960	France
Tonga	1845	Jun 4, 1970	United Kingdom	United 1845 by George Tupou I. British protectorate 1900–1970.
Trinidad and Tobago	Aug 31, 1962	Aug 31, 1962	United Kingdom
Tunisia	Mar 20, 1956	Mar 20, 1956	France	Occupations by Rome, Ottoman Empire and France
Turkey	1037	June 26, 1243	Mongol Empire	Seljuq Empire founded 1037; conquered at 1243 Battle of Köse Dağ After WWI, the victorious Allies occupied large parts of the Ottoman Empire, including Constantinople but not Ankara.
Turkmenistan	Oct 27, 1991	Oct 27, 1991	Soviet Union
Tuvalu	Oct 1, 1978	Oct 1, 1978	United Kingdom
Uganda	Oct 9, 1962	Oct 9, 1962	United Kingdom
Ukraine	860	Aug 24, 1991	Soviet Union	860-1240 - Kievan Rus' 1199-1340 - Kingdom of Rus 1648-1764 - Cossack Hetmanate 1917-20 - Ukrainian People's Republic 1918 - Ukrainian State
United Arab Emirates	Dec 2, 1971	Dec 2, 1971	United Kingdom
United Kingdom	519 (core territory)	1066 (England but not Scotland or Wales)	Duchy of Normandy/France	Southern half annexed by Roman Empire 43-410. Kingdom of Wessex formed in 519, later becoming the unified Kingdom of England in 927. Kingdom of Scotland unified 843. Norman conquest of England 1066. Scotland annexed by England 1657–1660; UK created by Acts of Union 1707, adding Kingdom of Ireland in 1801 (only Northern Ireland from 1922). Though no foreign power ever controlled all of Britain, large territories were occupied by Romans, Vikings, and Normans.
United States of America	Jul 4, 1776	Oct 19, 1781	United Kingdom	Independence declared 1776; British surrender 1781; U.S. recognized by Treaty of Paris 1783.
Uruguay	1815	Aug 27, 1828	Brazil	Independent 1815–1820 as Liga Federal; occupied 1820 by Portugal/Brazil until 1828 Treaty of Montevideo.
Uzbekistan	Sep 1, 1991	Sep 1, 1991	Soviet Union
Vanuatu	July 30, 1980	July 30, 1980	United Kingdom and France	Governed 1906–1980 as the New Hebrides condominium.
Vatican City	756	Feb 11, 1929	Italy	Independent as Papal States 756–1870; part of Italy until 1929 Lateran Treaty
Venezuela	Jul 5, 1811	Jan 13, 1830	Gran Colombia	Previously a colony of Spain
Vietnam	2879 BC	1954	France	Văn Lang confederacy arose 2879 BC under Kinh Dương Vương, founder of the Hồng Bàng Dynasty. Several periods of Chinese domination. French occupation from 1887 until Geneva Conference (1954), interrupted by Japanese occupation (1940–1945).
Yemen	Nov 1, 1918	Nov 30, 1967	United Kingdom	North Yemen independent from Ottoman Empire 1918; South Yemen from UK in 1967; unified 1990
Zambia	Oct 24, 1964	Oct 24, 1964	United Kingdom
Zimbabwe	Nov 11, 1965	Apr 18, 1980	United Kingdom	The British colony of Southern Rhodesia unilaterally declared Independence as Rhodesia 1965; known as Zimbabwe Rhodesia in 1979; unrecognised until 1980.
Country	First acquisition of sovereignty	Date of last subordination	Previous governing power	Notes

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 sovereign states
• Timeline of country and capital changes
• List of national constitutions
• Succession of states
• List of world map changes