Below is a list of sovereign states with the dates of their formation (date of their independence) and date of their current form of government (their constitution), this later sorted by continent.
This list includes the 195 states which are currently member states of the United Nations or non-member observer states with the United Nations General Assembly as well as partially-recognized non-member Kosovo. This does not include extinct states, but does include several 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.
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 Great Britain in 1707), while France is a republic founded in 1870 (though the term France generally refers to the current French Fifth Republic government, formed in 1958).
Around 60 countries have gained independence from the United Kingdom throughout its history, the most in the world, followed by around 40 countries that have gained independence from France throughout its history.David Armitage, The Declaration of Independence in World Context, Organization of American Historians, Magazine of History, Volume 18, Issue 3, Pp. 61–66 (2004) Over 50% of the world's borders today were drawn as a result of British and French imperialism.Lovejoy, Paul E. (2012). Transformations of Slavery: A History of Slavery in Africa. London: Cambridge University Press.Martin Klein, "Slave Descent and Social Status in Sahara and Sudan", in Reconfiguring Slavery: West African Trajectories, ed. Benedetta Rossi (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2009), 29. Many countries have gained independence from other Western European empires, including 23 from Spain, 7 from Portugal, 4 from the Netherlands, 3 from Belgium, and 2 from Italy.
An unambiguous measure is the date of national constitutions; but as constitutions are an almost entirely modern concept, all formation dates by that criterion are modern or early modern (the oldest extant constitution being that of San Marino, dating to 1600).
Independence dates for widely recognized states earlier than 1919 should be treated with caution, since prior to the founding of the League of Nations, there was no international body to recognize nationhood, and independence had no meaning beyond mutual recognition of de facto sovereigns (the role of the League of Nations was effectively taken over by the United Nations after the Second World War). See Disputed territories.
The following list contains the formation dates of countries with a short description of formation events. For a more detailed description of a country's formation and history, please see the main article for that country.
Sortable list In this list, "date of last subordination" refers to the last date of control by an external government. The list takes into account the existence of states (and their predecessor states) in an independent and continuous manner, ignoring historical periods in which states existed in the territories of the current states that were extinguished through conquest and annexation. Periods of colonial rule are also not counted. Foreign military occupations are included when the occupying nation does not have the objective of annexation or when a government in exile exists.
The list shows large groupings associated with the dates of independence from decolonization (e.g., 41 current states gained control of sovereignty from the United Kingdom and France between 1956 and 1966) or dissolution of a political union (e.g., 21 current states gained control of sovereignty from the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia between 1990 and 2008). In other cases, a sovereign state submitted to foreign military occupation or political subjugation for a period of time and later regained its independence (e.g., 6 current states gained control of sovereignty from Nazi Germany between 1944 and 1945).
Dates refer to de facto rule or occupation of the major territory, whether or not legitimized by international recognition.
In a defunct union such as Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Poland-Lithuania, the Soviet Union, or the Kalmar Union, one of the successor constituents can be considered the dominant power – generally where the seat of government was located. In an existent union like the United Kingdom, Spain, or Belgium, the state's collective history begins with the formation of the union, while the histories of its constituents (Scotland, Catalonia, Flanders, etc.) are considered separate prior to unification.Christopher A Whatley (2001). Bought and Sold for English Gold: The Union of 1707 (Tuckwell Press, 2001)
There are cases where a state is completely extinguished or abolished without having any successor states. Cases like this occur when, for example, one state is annexed or conquered by another and ceases to exist even in nominal form (i.e., not even a "government in exile" is established). The most recent case in human history is the German Democratic Republic (East Germany or GDR), which was completely abolished after the German reunification in 1990. Modern Germany is a reunification of the GDR into the Federal Republic of Germany, not a GDR successor state.
This list has the date of creation of current sovereign states but not of nations (for example there are even stateless nations). The historiography of some nations, such as the Bulgarians, even separates the different states founded by these nations (for example First, Second and Third Bulgarian State)
Country ContinentAcquisition of full sovereigntyDate of last subordination Previous governing power Historical Notes Afghanistan Asia United States 2021–present: Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (de facto) 2004–2021: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (de jure; internationally recognized Government) 2002–2004: Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan 1996–2001: Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan 2001-2021: American Occupation 1992–2002: Islamic State of Afghanistan 1987–1992: Republic of Afghanistan 1978–1987: Democratic Republic of Afghanistan 1973–1978: Republic of Afghanistan 1926–1973: Kingdom of Afghanistan 1863–1926: Emirate of Afghanistan Europe Germany1992–present: Republic of Albania 1946–92: People's Socialist Republic of Albania 1944–46: Democratic Government of Albania 1943–44: Albanian Kingdom, independent country militarly occupied by Germany 1939–43: Kingdom of Albania, a monarchy in personal union with Italy as the 1928–39: Albanian Kingdom 1925–1928: Albanian Republic 1914–1925: Principality of Albania (via Albanian Declaration of Independence) 1912–1914: Independent Albania Africa The Regency of Algiers ceased to exist and became an extinct or abolished state when France conquered Algeria. The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria is a new state that emerged after separating from the French Republic 1962–present: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria (via Évian Accords) Europe France 1278–present: Principality of Andorra (via Paréage of Andorra; occupied by France 1812–13, 1870, 1914, 1936, 1939, 1944) Africa 1992–present: Republic of Angola1975–1992: People's Republic of Angola (via the Alvor Agreement) The Americas 1981–present: , a monarchy in personal union with the United Kingdom The Americas Spain1861–present: Argentine Republic, a federation 1831–1861: 1816–1830: United Provinces of South America 1810-1816: United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, monarchy in personal union with Spain Asia/Europe Soviet Union 1991–present: Republic of Armenia Oceania United Kingdom 1942–present: Commonwealth of Australia, a Federation and a monarchy in personal union with the United Kingdom Europe World War II Allies ( Allied-occupied Austria): 1955–present: Republic of Austria, a federation (via Austrian State Treaty)1945–55: Allied-occupied Austria1938–45: Annexed by Nazi Germany1934–38: 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) (New State) Asia/Europe Soviet Union 1991–present: Republic of Azerbaijan The Americas 1973–present: Commonwealth of the Bahamas, a monarchy in personal union with the United Kingdom Asia 1971–present: Kingdom of Bahrain Asia 1972–present: People's Republic of Bangladesh1971–1972: Provisional Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh The Americas 2021–present: Barbados, a republican state 1966-2021: Barbados, a monarchy in personal union with the United Kingdom Europe Soviet Union1991–present: Republic of Belarus Europe Germany 1830–present: Kingdom of Belgium, a constitutional monarchy.5th may 1993–present: a federation since the fourth state reform 1830–4th May 1993: a unitary state divided into provinces The Americas 1981–present: Belize, a monarchy in personal union with the United Kingdom Africa 1990–present: Republic of Benin1975–1990: People's Republic of Benin 1960–1975: Republic of Dahomey Asia Tibet 1616–present: Kingdom of Bhutan The Americas Spain2009–present: Plurinational State of Bolivia 1839–2009: Republic of Bolivia 1836–1839: In union with North Peru and South Peru in the Peru–Bolivian Confederation 1825–1839: Republic of Bolivia Europe Yugoslavia 1997–present: Bosnia and Herzegovina, a Federation 1992–1997: Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Africa 1966–present : Republic of Botswana The Americas United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves1985–Present: Federative Republic of Brazil (Sixth Brazilian Republic) (a federation) 1964–1985: Federative Republic of Brazil (Military Dictatorship) (Fifth Brazilian Republic) (a federation) 1946–1964: United States of Brazil (Fourth Brazilian Republic) (a federation) 1930–1946: United States of Brazil (Vargas Era) (Second and Third Brazilian Republics) (a federation) 1889–1930: Republic of the United States of Brazil (First Brazilian Republic) (a federation) 1822–1889: (a unitary state) Asia 1984–present: Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace Europe Ottoman Empire 1990–present: Republic of Bulgaria 1946–1990: People's Republic of Bulgaria 1908–1946: Tsardom of Bulgaria (reunified with Eastern Rumelia where was a part of the ) Africa 1984–present: Burkina Faso 1960–1984:Republic of Upper Volta Africa 1966–present: Republic of Burundi 1962–1966: Kingdom of Burundi Asia United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia1993–present: Kingdom of Cambodia 1992–1993: United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia 1989–1992: State of Cambodia 1979–1989: People's Republic of Kampuchea 1975–1979: Democratic Kampuchea 1970–1975: Khmer Republic 1953–1970: Kingdom of Cambodia Africa 1972–present: Republic of Cameroon, unitary state 1961-1972: Federal Republic of Cameroon 1960-1961: Republic of Cameroon, unitary state
Note:French Cameroons gained independence in 1960; added British Southern Cameroons in 1961. The Americas United Kingdom Africa 1975–present: Republic of Cabo Verde Africa 1960–present: Central African Republic Africa 1960–present: Republic of Chad The Americas Spain 1990–Present: Republic of Chile (Democracy Restored) 1973–1990: Chilean Military Dictatorship 1925–1973: Chilean Presidential Republic 1891–1925: Parliamentary Chile 1861–1891: Liberal Chile 1830–1861: Conservative Chile 1823–1830: Republic of Chile (Organization of the Republic) 1818–1823: Republic of Chile (Patria Nueva, New Fatherland) Asia Japan Second United Front1949–present:
1937–1945: Japanese Invasion 1928–present: Republic of China (based in Taiwan since 1949) 1916–1928: Republic of China 1915–1916: Empire of China 1912–1915: Republic of China