This list includes currently extant sovereign states (list) and states with limited recognition that have declared independence from a predecessor state or an occupying power. Various states have never declared independence throughout their formations and are therefore not included in the main list on this page. This includes states formed through the unification of multiple independent entities (such as the United Kingdom and Tanzania) as well as those that once declared independence but whose most recent establishment occurred through other means (such as Haiti, which declared independence from France in 1804, split into two states in 1806, and reunified in 1820). These countries are given on a separate list below. The list does not include duplicated entries for states that have declared independence multiple times, only using the most recent one. Subnational entities are usually not included in the list. Some of these dates of independence might be disputed, as many of them are not the official independence days nationally recognized as such.

List

Before 19th century Date Previous entity Newly independent entity EventSeptember 3, 301 Roman EmpireTraditionally given date.August 10, 843 Carolingian Empire FranceTreaty of Verdun, splitting the Frankish Empire into three states, one of which became France.June 6, 1523 SwedenElection of King Gustav Vasa as King of Sweden, marking a definite secession from the Kalmar Union. Initial establishment in 970.December 1, 1640 SpainStart of the Portuguese Restoration War that reestablished Portugal as a sovereign state, thus ending the Iberian Union with Spain. Initial establishment in 868.February 8, 1649Separated from Imperial sovereignty by the Peace of Westphalia. Initial establishment in 1291.September 3, 1783 United StatesTreaty of Paris is signed. Initial independence in 1776.

19th century to World War I Date Previous entity Newly independent entity EventMay 14, 1811 SpainIndependence not formally declared until 1842.November 4, 1813 Confederation of the RhineConfederation of the Rhine dissolved. Initial establishment in 1719 within the Holy Roman Empire.November 20, 1813Independence restored after French rule. Initial independence from Spain in 1579 during the Eighty Years' War.May 30, 1814Independence restored after French rule. Initial independence from Urgell in 1278.Independence restored after French rule. Initial independence from Genoa in 1297, interrupted by multiple Genoese occupations.July 9, 1816 Spain ArgentinaOriginally named United Provinces of the Río de la Plata until the signing of the Federal Pact in 1831. Initial independence in 1810.February 12, 1818Independence restored after Spanish reconquest, initial independence in 1810.September 28, 1821Unrecognized by Spain until 1836 with the signing of the Santa María–Calatrava Treaty.January 4, 1822International recognition achieved in 1830.September 7, 1822Unrecognized by Portugal until 1825.October 4, 1828Independence established by the Treaty of Montevideo as a buffer between Brazil and Argentina, which both previously claimed the region.Unrecognized by Netherlands until 1839.November 19, 1832 ColombiaDissolution of Gran Colombia. Originally named Republic of New Granada until the signing of the Constitution of Rionegro in 1863.Dissolution of Gran Colombia.Dissolution of Gran Colombia. Restoration of Independence, initial establishment in 1811.November 15, 1838Originally the Free State of Costa Rica, it would become the Republic of Costa Rica in 1847.June 19, 1839Grand Duchy re-established by the Treaty of London in personal union with the Netherlands (until 1890).August 25, 1839 Peru-Bolivia ConfederationRestoration of Independence, initial establishment in 1825.Restoration of Independence, initial establishment in 1821.July 26, 1847 United StatesUnrecognized by United States until 1862.May 1, 1865 SpainIndependence restored after period of Spanish rule. Initial independence declared from Spain in 1821, and later from Haiti in 1844.July 1, 1867Britain continued to exercise some level of control until the Statute of Westminster. In personal union with the UK and many other countries.March 17, 1878Under Ottoman vassalage until 1908. Restoration of independence after Ottoman rule, initial establishment in 681.November 29, 1898Independence restored after the dissolution of the Greater Republic of Central America, initial independence in 1838.January 1, 1901Britain continued to exercise some level of control until the Statute of Westminster. In personal union with the UK and many other countries.May 20, 1902 United StatesUnited States retained Isla de Pinos until 1925. Guantanamo Bay was leased to the United States in 1903 and has remained under American control into the present.November 4, 1903Unrecognized by Colombia until 1922.June 7, 1905Independence restored after Danish and Swedish rule. Initial establishment in 872.September 26, 1907Britain continued to exercise some level of control until the Statute of Westminster. In personal union with the UK and many other countries.May 31, 1910Britain continued to exercise some level of control until the Statute of Westminster. In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1961.November 28, 1912 AlbaniaIndependence restored after Ottoman rule. Initial establishment in 1190.December 6, 1917Sovereignty secured in 1918 with the defeat of communist insurgents.October 7, 1918 Austria-HungaryIndependence restored after German, Austrian, and Russian partitions. Initial establishment in 960. Germany withdrew on November 11.October 31, 1918 Austria-HungaryIndependence restored with the dissolution of Austria-Hungary. Initial establishment in 895. Stayed in personal union with Austria until November 16.

Interwar period to World War II Date Previous entity Newly independent entity EventDecember 1, 1918In personal union with Denmark until 1944. Initial establishment in 930.August 19, 1919Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919 signed between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan during the Third Anglo-Afghan War, ending 40 years of British protectorate in the country. Initial establishment in 1747.February 15, 1921 MongoliaIndependence restored after Chinese occupation. Initial establishment of first Mongolian state in 1203.January 14, 1922 Central AmericaIndependence restored after brief attempt at reunifying Central America, initial independence in 1841.Independence restored after brief attempt at reunifying Central America, initial independence in 1839.Independence restored after brief attempt at reunifying Central America, initial independence in 1838.March 15, 1922 EgyptIndependence restored after a period of British rule. Initial establishment around 3150 BC. Egypt would remain under strong British influence until 1952, when the monarchy was abolished and replaced by a republic.December 6, 1922 IrelandIndependence restored after direct British rule. In personal union with Britain until 1937. Initial establishment of first state called Ireland in 1177.June 7, 1929UN observer state.Established by the Lateran Treaty. Initial establishment in 756.October 3, 1932Formerly a League of Nations mandate.May 5, 1941Independence restored after Italian occupation. Initial establishment in 1270.December 22, 1943Formerly a League of Nations mandate.Formerly a League of Nations mandate. Unrecognized by France until 1946.August 15, 1945Independence restored after Japanese occupation as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea/Chosŏn. The country was partitioned along the 38th parallel by the Allied powers. Created in 1948 from the Soviet occupation zone in the north of the peninsula. Initial establishment in 2333 BC.Independence restored after Japanese occupation as the Republic of Korea/Hanguk. The country was partitioned along the 38th parallel by the Allied powers. Created in 1948 from the American occupation zone in the south of the peninsula. Initial establishment in 2333 BC.August 17, 1945Unrecognized by Netherlands until 1949. In personal union with the Netherlands until 1956.

Cold War