List of sovereign states by date of formation

List of sovereign states sorted by continent This article possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed July 2019 Learn how and when to remove this message Countries by Date of National Constitution Pre 1940 1940 1949 1950 1959 1960 1969 1970 1979 1980 1989 1990 1999 2000 2009 2010 present Below is a list of sovereign states with the dates of their formation date of their independence or of their constitution sorted by continent This list includes the 195 states which are currently member states of the United Nations or non member observer states with the United Nations General Assembly 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 gained independence from the United Kingdom throughout its history the most in the world followed by around 40 countries that gained independence from France throughout its history Over 50 of the world s borders today were drawn as a result of British and French imperialism 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 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 formalizing national identity Such dates do not reflect the formation of a state an independent political entity citation needed 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 Africa Country Date of current form of government Birth of current form of government Date of acquisition of sovereignty Acquisition of sovereignty Date of territorial modification Most recent significant territorial modification Algeria 19 September 1958 Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic proclaimed 5 July 1962 Algeria reclaims sovereignty over the entire Algerian territory upon independence from France 18 March 1845 Lalla Maghnia treaty between French administration in Algeria and the Sherifian empire the treaty confirms the Sherifian acquisitions in 1813 the Moulouya river is no longer the border between the two territories and is relocated to Oued Kiss Algerian territory no longer comprises Oujda and Figuig Angola 1975 11 November 1975 Independence from Portugal Benin 1 March 1960 1 August 1960 Independence from France 15 January 1894 Borders of French Protectorate of Dahomey set at conclusion of Second Franco Dahomean War Botswana 30 September 1966 30 September 1966 Independence from the United Kingdom 31 December 1999 Sedudu ruled to belong to Botswana rather than Namibia by the International Court of Justice Burkina Faso 30 September 2022 Coup d etat 5 August 1960 Independence from France Burundi 28 November 1966 Monarchy replaced by republic 1 July 1962 Independence from Belgium Cabo Verde 5 July 1975 5 July 1975 Independence from Portugal Cameroon 20 May 1972 1 January 1960 Independence from France 1 October 1961 Merger of part of British Cameroons with Cameroon Central African Republic 21 September 1979 Monarchy replaced by republic 13 August 1960 Independence from France Chad 10 October 2022 National Transitional Council established 11 August 1960 Independence from France 3 February 1997 Aouzou Strip awarded to Chad Comoros 6 July 1975 Independence from France declared Democratic Republic of Congo 17 May 1997 30 June 1960 Independence from Belgium Republic of Congo 15 August 1960 Independence from France Djibouti 27 June 1977 Independence from France Egypt 18 June 1953 Egyptian revolution of 1952 Egyptian monarchy overthrown in a military coup republic declared 28 February 1922 The UK ends its protectorate granting independence to Egypt 1925 The eastern borders of Libya and British Egypt are changed to their present boundaries Equatorial Guinea 12 October 1968 Independence from Spain Eritrea 27 April 1993 Independence from Ethiopia declared 1 April 2002 Badme ruled to be Eritrean by the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commission EEBC after the Eritrean Ethiopian War Contested by Ethiopia Eswatini 8 February 2006 Constitution of Eswatini 6 September 1968 Independence from the United Kingdom Ethiopia 21 August 1995 1995 Constitution of Ethiopia 900 Zagwe dynasty 1 April 2002 Badme ruled to be Eritrean by the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commission EEBC after the Eritrean Ethiopian War Contested by Ethiopia Gabon 17 August 1960 Independence from France Gambia 18 February 1965 Independence from the United Kingdom Ghana 6 March 1957 Independence from the United Kingdom 13 December 1956 Union of British Togoland with Gold Coast Guinea declaration 2 October 1958 Independence from France Guinea Bissau 24 September 1973 Independence from Portugal declared10 September 1974 Independence from Portugal recognized Ivory Coast 4 December 1958 Autonomous republic within French Community7 August 1960 Independence from France Kenya 12 December 1963 Independence from the United Kingdom Lesotho 4 October 1966 Independence from the United Kingdom 12 March 1868 Area that is now Lesotho placed under British rule Liberia 26 July 1847 Independence from American Colonization Society 6 January 1986 Current constitution came into effect Libya 4 August 2014 House of Representatives takes power 24 December 1951 Independence from UN Trusteeship British and French administration after Italian governance ends in 1947 13 February 1984 Aouzou Strip awarded to Chad Madagascar 14 October 1958 The Malagasy Republic was created as autonomous state within French Community26 June 1960 France recognizes Madagascar s independence Malawi 6 July 1964 Independence from the United Kingdom Mali 25 November 1958 French Sudan gains autonomy 8 April 1960 Senegal secedes from Mali Federation22 September 1960 Independence from France Mauritania 28 November 1960 Independence from France 11 August 1979 Mauritania withdraws from Tiris al Gharbiyya part of Western Sahara Mauritius 12 March 1968 Independence from the United Kingdom 1965 Separation of Chagos Archipelago Morocco 18 November 1955 Protectorate Abolished 788 AD Enthronement of Idris I in Volubilis 6 November 1975 Green March Mozambique 27 October 1994 Mozambique holds its first multiparty election since the Civil War 25 June 1975 Independence from Portugal Namibia 21 March 1990 Independence from South African rule 1 March 1997 Walvis Bay integrated into Namibia Niger 4 December 1958 Autonomy within French Community3 August 1960 Independence from France Nigeria 1 October 1960 Independence from the United Kingdom 15 January 1970 Biafra re integrated into Nigeria1 June 1961 Northern Cameroons integrated in Nigeria Rwanda 1 July 1962 Independence from Belgium Sao Tome and Principe 12 July 1975 Independence from Portugal Senegal 20 August 1960 Independence from France Seychelles 29 June 1976 Independence from the United Kingdom Sierra Leone 27 April 1961 Independence from the United Kingdom Somalia 20 August 2012 Federal Government of Somalia established 1 July 1960 Union of Trust Territory of Somalia former Italian Somaliland and State of Somaliland formerly British Somaliland 18 May 1991 disputed Somaliland declares independence but is not recognized by any UN state South Africa 31 May 1961 Republic declared 11 December 1931 Statute of Westminster which establishes a status of legislative equality between the self governing dominion of the Union of South Africa and the UK 21 March 1990 De facto South West Africa declares independence forming Namibia4 February 1997 The post Apartheid Constitution of South Africa comes into effect 31 May 1910 Creation of the autonomous Union of South Africa from the previously separate colonies of the Cape Natal Transvaal and Orange River 27 April 1994 De jure Reincorporation of the nominally independent but unrecognised bantustans into post apartheid South Africa South Sudan 9 July 2011 2011 South Sudanese independence referendum 9 July 2011 Separation of Southern Sudan from Sudan Sudan 15 April 2010 First democratic election since the Second Sudanese Civil War 1 January 1956 Independence from Egyptian and British joint rule 9 July 2011 South Sudan secedes from Sudan Tanzania 1 July 1991 Amendment to Constitution of Tanzania ends status as one party state 9 December 1961 Independence of Tanganyika from the United Kingdom 26 April 1964 Merger of Zanzibar with Tanganyika to form Tanzania Togo 30 August 1958 Autonomy within French Union27 April 1960 Independence from France Tunisia 25 July 2022 2022 Constitution of Tunisia 20 March 1956 Independence from France Uganda 1 March 1962 Self government granted9 October 1962 Independence from the United Kingdom Zambia 24 October 1964 Independence from the United Kingdom Zimbabwe 22 December 1987 Robert Mugabe revises the Constitution of Zimbabwe to create an executive presidency 11 November 1965 Unilateral declaration of independence by Southern Rhodesia 1901 BSAC separates North Eastern Rhodesia from Southern Rhodesia18 April 1980 Recognized independence from the United Kingdom as ZimbabweAmericas Country Date of current form of government Birth of current form of government Date of acquisition of sovereignty Acquisition of sovereignty Date of territorial modification Most recent significant territorial modifi cation Antigua and Barbuda 1 November 1981 Independence from the United Kingdom Argentina 10 December 1983 The current Constitution of Argentina enters in force 25 May 1810 May Revolution installs first local government 18 October 1884 Conquest of the Desert9 July 1816 Argentine Declaration of Independence from Spain Bahamas 7 January 1964 Internal self governance granted10 July 1973 Independence from the United Kingdom Barbados 30 November 1966 Independence from the United Kingdom Belize 1 January 1964 Self governing colony 1859 Treaty establishes border between British Honduras and Guatemala21 September 1981 Independence from the United Kingdom Bolivia 25 January 2009 Constitution of Bolivia 6 August 1825 Bolivian War of Independence from Spain 11 November 1903 Treaty of Petropolis with Brazil whereby Bolivia gained lands in Mato Grosso in exchange for the territory of Acre21 July 1844 Independence recognized by Spain Brazil 5 October 1988 Constitution of Brazil established as the third Federative Republic 7 September 1822 Independence from the United Kingdom of Portugal Brazil and the Algarves declared 11 November 1903 Signing of the Treaty of Petropolis with Bolivia whereby Brazil was given the territory of Acre in exchange for lands in Mato Grosso29 August 1825 Independence recognized by Portugal15 November 1889 Proclamation of the Federal Republic Canada 1 July 1867 Granted nominal independence Dominion status establishing as a federation 11 December 1931 Statute of Westminster 1 April 1999 Nunavut Territory created as per native land claims act from two thirds of the area of Northwest Territories 17 April 1982 Constitution Act 1982 established Chile 17 August 1989 Amendment to the Constitution of Chile ends the military dictatorship 18 September 1810 First Government Junta 3 July 1929 Chile awarded Arica district in Treaty of Lima12 February 1818 Chilean Declaration of Independence from Spain25 April 1844 Independence recognized by Spain Colombia 4 July 1991 Colombian Constitution of 1991 established as a presidential republic 20 July 1810 Colombia declares independence from Spain 4 July 1991 The Sovereign territory was organized under the National Constituent Assembly 17 December 1819 Colombia merged with Venezuela Panama and Ecuador 19 November 1831 Gran Colombia dissolved creating a pact with Panama as the Republic of New Granada 22 May 1858 The Republic of New Granada was replaced to the Granadine Confederation under the 1858 constitution 8 May 1863 The Granadine Confederation was replaced to the United States of Colombia under the constitutional change of 1864 30 January 1881 Declaration of Independence recognized by Spain8 August 1886 Establishment of the current sovereignty of Colombia as a republic Costa Rica 7 November 1949 Constitution of Costa Rica 15 September 1821 Costa Rica declared independence from Spain 25 July 1824 Partido de Nicoya15 November 1838 Independence from Federal Republic of Central America10 May 1850 Independence recognized by Spain Cuba 1 January 1959 Cuban Revolution 10 October 1898 Several wars were declared against Spain from 1868 to 1898 ending with the military support of USA to the Cuban Revolution 10 December 1898 Spain loses the war against the United States and the military occupation of Cuba by the U S begins 20 May 1902 United States military occupation ends Dominica 3 November 1978 Constitution of Dominica 27 February 1967 Became an associated state of the United Kingdom3 November 1978 Independence from the United Kingdom Dominican Republic 28 November 1966 Civilian constitution of the Dominican Republic following the Dominican Civil War 27 February 1844 The Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti 9 May 1936 Haiti and the Dominican Republic sign a treaty setting a definitive border 14 October 1874 Independence recognized by Spain Ecuador 28 September 2008 Constitution of Ecuador established 10 August 1809 First declaration of Independence from Spain 26 February 1946 Rio Protocol ends border dispute with Peru24 May 1822 Second declaration of independence from Spain of Gran Colombia of which Ecuador is a part of13 May 1830 Dissolution of Gran Colombia16 February 1840 Declaration of Independence recognized by Spain El Salvador 16 December 1983 Constitution of El Salvador established as the third Unitary presidential republic 15 September 1821 El Salvador becomes independent from Spain and 4 months later becomes province in First Mexican Empire1 July 1823 El Salvador becomes a state of Federal Republic of Central America from the First Mexican Empire2 February 1841 Dissolution of the Federal Republic of Central America El Salvador becomes independent nation18 February 1841 El Salvador was internationally recognized 24 June 1865 Independence recognized by Spain Grenada 30 September 1978 Paul Scoon Takes power after the US Invasion Which Ousted the PRG 27 February 1967 Associated state of the United Kingdom7 February 1974 Full independence from the United Kingdom Guatemala 31 May 1985 Constitution of Guatemala established 15 September 1821 Guatemala becomes state in Federal Republic of Central America which declared independence from Spain17 April 1839 Independence from Federal Republic of Central America declared29 May 1863 Independence recognized by Spain Guyana 26 May 1966 Independence from the United Kingdom Haiti March 1987 Constitution of 1987 superseded 1 January 1804 The French colony Saint Domingue gains independence as Haiti 27 February 1844 The Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti9 May 1936 Haiti and the Dominican Republic sign a treaty setting a definitive border Honduras 11 January 1982 Constitution of Honduras 15 September 1821 Honduras becomes state in Federal Republic of Central America which declared independence from Spain 1 September 1972 Swan Islands returned to Honduras from United States occupation26 October 1838 Independence from Federal Republic of Central America17 November 1894 Independence from Spain recognized Jamaica 6 August 1962 Independence from the United Kingdom Mexico 7 February 1917 Constitution of Mexico 16 September 1810 Independence from Spain declared 30 December 1853 Gadsden Purchase27 September 1821 Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire28 December 1836 Declaration of Independence recognized by Spain Nicaragua 9 January 1987 Constitution of Nicaragua established 15 September 1821 Nicaragua becomes state in Federal Republic of Central America which declared independence from Spain5 November 1838 Independence from Federal Republic of Central America24 July 1850 Independence recognized by Spain Panama 11 October 1972 Constitution of Panama established 3 November 1903 Independence from Colombia 31 December 1999 Sovereignty of Panama Canal Zone transferred to Panama from the United States10 May 1904 Independence from Spain recognized Paraguay 20 June 1992 Democratic Constitution of Paraguay 14 May 1811 Independence from Spain declared 1938 Paraguay awarded a large portion of the Gran Chaco as a result of the Chaco War10 September 1880 Independence from Spain recognized Peru 31 December 1993 Constitution of Peru established 28 July 1821 Independence from Spain declared 26 February 1942 Rio Protocol ends border dispute with Ecuador14 August 1879 Independence from Spain recognized Saint Kitts and Nevis 27 February 1967 Associated state of the United Kingdom 19 December 1980 Anguilla separated from Saint Christopher Nevis Anguilla19 September 1983 Independence from the United Kingdom Saint Lucia 27 February 1967 Associated statehood22 February 1979 Independence from the United Kingdom Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 27 October 1969 Associated statehood27 October 1979 Independence from the United Kingdom Suriname 15 December 1954 Self government granted25 November 1975 Independence from Netherlands Trinidad and Tobago 31 August 1962 Independence from the United Kingdom United States 4 March 1789 United States Constitution enters into force replacing the previous Articles of Confederation and creating a new system of government 4 July 1776 Declaration of Independence from Great Britain is adopted by the Continental Congress 21 August 1959 United States Territory Territory of Hawaii joins the United States as the State of Hawaii3 September 1783 Independence from Great Britain recognized 7 September 1981 Insular area The United States cedes Serrana Bank and Roncador Bank to the Republic of Colombia as a result of a treaty signed in 1972 Uruguay 8 December 1996 1996 Uruguayan constitutional referendum 25 August 1825 Independence from Empire of Brazil declared joined in union with United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata current Argentina 1861 Brazil Uruguay border treaty27 August 1828 Treaty of Montevideo signed recognizing Uruguay s independence by Brazil19 July 1870 Independence recognized by Spain Venezuela 20 December 1999 New Constitution of Venezuela establishes the Bolivarian Fifth Republic 19 April 1810 Independence from Spain declared 3 October 1899 Tribunal of Arbitration awards most of disputed territory to British Guyana 13 January 1830 Dissolution of Gran Colombia30 March 1845 Independence recognized by SpainAsia Country Date of current form of government Birth of current form of government Date of acquisition of sovereignty Acquisition of sovereignty Date of territorial modification Most recent significant territorial modification Afghanistan 15 August 2021 Fall of Kabul reestablished the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan 1747 Durrani Empire 12 November 1893 Durand Line Agreement Armenia 21 September 1991 2015 Armenian constitutional referendum creates a parliamentary republic 189 BC Kingdom of Armenia under Artaxiad dynasty 5 December 1936 Establishment of the Armenian SSR880 Evolving as a feudal kingdom in the ninth century Armenia experienced a brief cultural political and economic renewal under the Bagratuni dynasty 21 September 1991 Independence recognized by the Soviet Union Bahrain 14 February 2002 2002 Constitution of Bahrain 15 August 1971 End of treaties with the United Kingdom 1 July 1521 Portuguese conquest of current territory Bangladesh 4 November 1972 De jure Constitution of Bangladesh 26 March 1971 Independence from Pakistan declared 31 July 2015 India and Bangladesh exchange enclavesFebruary 27 1991 De facto First general election since restoration of parliamentary democracy Bhutan 24 March 2008 First elections to the National Assembly 1885 Ugyen Wangchuck ends period of civil war and unites Bhutan 11 November 1865 Treaty of Sinchula Brunei 29 September 1959 De jure Constitution of Brunei 1 January 1984 Brunei regains its independence after an agreement with the British on 4 January 1979 18 August 1841 Kingdom of Sarawak founded12 December 1962 De facto Martial law declared during the Brunei Revolt suspending democratic elections indefinitely Cambodia 21 September 1993 Constitution of Cambodia 802 Khmer Empire9 November 1953 France grants Cambodia independence26 September 1989 Becomes free from Vietnamese occupation it gets back its name instead of the People s Republic of KampucheaRepublic of China Taiwan 1 January 1912 A republic was formally established following the Xinhai Revolution August 15 1945 End of Japanese rule of Taiwan 20 January 1955 Loss of Yijiangshan Islands resulting in the current free area of the Republic of China25 December 1947 The Republic of China adopted its constitution during the National Assembly on 25 December 1947 with further revisions and amendments since 1991 April 28 1952 Treaty of San Francisco came into forcePeople s Republic of China 1 October 1949 Proclamation of the People s Republic of China in Beijing 2070 BC The Xia dynasty is canonically the first Chinese state in traditional Chinese histography 6 October 2011 Tajikistan ceded 1158 square kilometers of land to China4 December 1982 The People s Republic of China adopted its constitution during the 5th National People s Congress on 4 December 1982 with further revisions about every five years 1600 BC The Shang dynasty is the earliest dynasty with known archaeological evidence India 26 January 1950 De jure Constitution of India 15 August 1947 Independence from the British Empire 31 July 2015 India and Bangladesh exchange exclaves321 BC Emperor Chandragupta Maurya with his mentor and teacher Chanakya unifies India Iran 11 February 1979 Iranian Revolution ended the monarchy and establishes the Islamic Republic on 11 February 1979 2600 BC Founded by the Elamite 10 February 1828 Signing of the Treaty of Turkmenchay whereby the territories that now constitute Armenia Azerbaijan the remaining part which hadn t been lost by the Treaty of Gulistan 1813 and Igdir are ceded to Russia14 August 1971 Bahrain s independence from Iran30 November 1971 Recapture of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs3 December 1979 the new constitution was approved according to the results of the constitutional referendum of 2 and 3 December 1979 Iraq 15 October 2005 Constitution of Iraq following the Iraq War 762 The Abbasid Caliphate built the city of Baghdad along the Tigris in the 8th century as its capital and the city became the leading metropolis of the Arab and Muslim world for five centuries 28 February 1991 Kuwait liberated 3 October 1932 Kingdom of Iraq Israel 14 May 1948 Democratic state of Israel Reading of the Declaration of Independence of Israel 14 May 1948 Democratic state of Israel Reading of the Declaration of Independence of Israel 14 December 1981 The Golan Heights Law annexes the Golan Heights conquered from Syria in the Six day war to Israel proper they were administered as a militarily occupied territory until that point 12 September 2005 The Completion of Israel s unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip Japan 22 December 1885 On December 22 1885 Daijo kan No 69 were established and the Cabinet system was established in place of the Daijo kan system 11 February 660 BC Traditional founding date of the imperial dynasty by Emperor Jimmu 15 May 1972 Return of the Ryukyu Islands to Japan and abolition of the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands Jordan 1 January 1952 Constitution of Jordan 25 May 1946 End of the British Mandate for Palestine 26 October 1997 Signing of the Israel Jordan Treaty of Peace whereby most of the disputed 400 square kilometer area in the Arabah was handed back to Jordan12 June 2011 The Cabinet of Jordan is made an elected body North Korea 9 September 1948 Kim Il sung declared Premier of North Korea establishing the still ruling Kim dynasty Independence declared from the Soviet Union 25 July 918 Foundation of the Goryeo Dynasty the exonym Korea originated from the word Goryeo 12 October 1962 Signing of the Sino Korean Border Agreement with the People s Republic of China25 December 1972 The Constitution of North Korea replaced Communism with Juche as North Korea s governing philosophy South Korea 15 August 1948 First Republic of Korea established Independence declared from the United States 27 July 1953 Cease fire in the Korean War creates the northern border along the Military Demarcation Line29 October 1987 Current Sixth Republic of South Korea founded ending military rule Kuwait 11 November 1962 Constitution of Kuwait 1752 Establishment of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait 18 December 1969 Formal division of Saudi Kuwaiti neutral zone Kyrgyzstan 10 June 2010 Constitution of Kyrgyzstan introduces parliamentary system 31 August 1991 Independence from the Soviet Union 5 December 1936 Establishment of the Kirghiz SSR Laos 2 December 1975 Lao PDR formed 22 October 1953 Independence from France Lebanon 23 May 1926 Lebanese Republic formed 26 November 1941 Independence from France declared 1 September 1920 France establishes State of Greater Lebanon with current boundaries22 November 1943 Independence from France recognized Malaysia 16 September 1963 Formation of Malaysia 31 August 1957 Malayan Independence from the United Kingdom was declared in Dataran Merdeka Independence Square 9 August 1965 Singapore expelled from the Federation of Malaysia16 September 1963 Malaysia was formed by the federation of North Borneo Sarawak and Singapore with the existing States of the Federation of Malaya Maldives 11 November 1968 Declaration of Republic 26 July 1965 Independence from the United Kingdom Mongolia 12 February 1992 Constitution of Mongolia declares the country a parliamentary democracy 1206 Mongol Empire formed29 December 1911 Proclamation of Mongolian independence from Manchu s Qing dynasty Myanmar 1 February 2021 The SAC with help from the Tatmadaw overthrows the elected government 849 Early Pagan Kingdom formed 4 January 1948 Myanmar Burma declares independence from the British Empire1956 Signing of border treaty with the People s Republic of China Nepal 28 May 2008 Formation of Republic 25 September 1768 Nepali unification 2 December 1815 Sugauli Treaty ends the Gurkha War Oman 10 June 1749 Beginning of the Al Said dynasty current absolute monarchical line of Oman 26 January 1650 Expulsion of the Portuguese 8 December 1958 Gwadar sold to Pakistan1996 Basic Law of Oman Pakistan 14 August 1973 Constitution of Pakistan 14 August 1947 Establishment from the Indian Empire after Independence from the British Empire and Partition of India Palestine 4 May 1994 Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area 15 November 1988 Palestinian Declaration of Independence 15 June 2007 Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip Philippines 2 February 1987 The current form of government was established in 1987 as a compromise between different versions of the previous constitutions and patterned after the 1935 Commonwealth constitution 12 June 1898 Independence declared from Spain but not recognized The evolving revolutionary movement in the Philippines declares itself independent from the Spanish Empire Spain regarded this as an expression of continued rebellion This difference in viewpoints was not resolved 2012 In 2012 the United Nations approved a 2009 claim by the Philippines to the Benham Rise 10 December 1898 Spain still sovereign cedes the Philippines to the United States via the Treaty of Paris 1898 11 April 1899 Sovereignty passes from Spain to the United States with completion of treaty ratification and the U S Insular Government of the Philippine Islands is established 4 July 1946 The United States recognizes Philippine independence under the provisions of the Treaty of Manila 1946 The 1935 Constitution remained in effect until 1973 when the Marcos regime promulgated a newer one in turn replaced by the present 1987 Constitution Qatar 8 September 1971 Influence from Britain concluded 18 December 1878 Independence from the Ottoman Empire 4 November 2021 Acquisition of the rest of Khor Al Adaid Saudi Arabia 23 September 1932 Regions of al Hasa Qatif Nejd and Hejaz unified to become Saudi Arabia 13 January 1902 Establishment of the Third Saudi State 4 November 2021 Fixed border territory with Qatar Singapore 9 August 1965 Singapore ceased to be a state of Malaysia 3 June 1959 Self government under the United Kingdom 9 August 1965 Establishment of Singapore as an independent sovereign state9 August 1965 separate from and independent of Malaysia Sri Lanka 22 May 1972 Constitution of Sri Lanka 4 February 1948 Independence from United Kingdom 14 February 1815 De jure The Kandyan Kingdom is annexed by British Ceylon18 May 2009 De facto The Sri Lankan government regains control of the whole island following the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War Syria 8 December 2024 Formation of the Syrian transitional government after the fall of the Assad regime 28 September 1961 End of the United Arab Republic 8 November 1941 De jure Lebanon declares independence from the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon10 June 1967 De facto Israel conquers the Golan Heights from Syria during the Six day War Tajikistan 9 September 1991 Independence from the Soviet Union 5 December 1929 Establishment of the Tajik SSR Thailand 6 April 2017 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2017 6 November 1767 Salvage Independence by King Taksin the Great consist of expulsion of Burmese out of former capital Through Taksin s reunification of Siam on October 6 November 1767 and Establish a New kingdom together with reunification of Thailand 10 March 1909 Anglo Siamese Treaty of 1909 Timor Leste 20 May 2002 Constitution of East Timor 20 May 2002 Independence was recognized by the international community following the UN sponsored act of self determination of 1999 1914 The borders of Portuguese Timor are agreed Turkmenistan 28 September 2008 Constitution of Turkmenistan 27 October 1991 Independence from the Soviet Union 7 August 1921 Establishment of the Turkmen SSR United Arab Emirates 2 December 1971 End of treaty relationship with the United Kingdom 11 February 1972 Ras al Khaimah joins the UAE Uzbekistan 31 August 1991 Independence from the Soviet Union declared 24 October 1924 Establishment of the Uzbek SSR Vietnam 31 December 1959 North Vietnam declared a socialist republic 2 September 1945 Withdrawal of the Japanese after World War II 2 July 1976 Reunification of North Vietnam and South Vietnam as Socialist Republic of Vietnam1 January 2014 Current Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Yemen 22 May 1990 Unification of North Yemen and South Yemen 1597 Qasimid State Zaidi Imamate1 November 1918 North Yemen independence from the Ottoman Empire 21 September 2014 Houthis seized control of the bulk of the former North Yemen territory and its capital Sana a30 November 1967 South Yemen independence from the United Kingdom 26 April 2020 Southern Transitional Council declares self governance of Socotra and some areas controlled by the former PDR Yemen Table notesTaiwan For some clarification and more detail including the sovereignty status of the Republic of China see the following articles Cross Strait relations One China policy and Political status of Taiwan Palestinian National Authority For some clarification and more detail see History of the State of Palestine Philippines For some clarification and more detail see Timeline of Philippine Sovereignty and Sovereignty of the Philippines Europe Country Date of current form of government Birth of current form of government Date of acquisition of sovereignty Acquisition of sovereignty Date of territorial modification Most recent significant territorial modification Bulgaria 10 November 1989 People s Republic of Bulgaria was replaced by the Republic of Bulgaria 681 on territories of the Eastern Roman Empire Danubian Bulgaria 28 October 1944 Under the 1944 Armistice with the Allies Bulgaria renounces the 1941 annexation of Vardar Macedonia from Yugoslavia and Eastern Macedonia and Western Thrace from Greece Formally confirmed on 10 February 1947 by Paris Peace Treaties 1185 Second Bulgarian Empire formed13 July 1878 Autonomy within Ottoman Empire recognized internationally by the Treaty of Berlin22 September 1908 Independence from Ottoman Empire Andorra 28 April 1993 Current Constitution of Andorra entered force 1278 Independence from Aragon 28 August 2001 The Andorra France border is adjusted to allow Andorra to construct the Envalira Tunnel access bridge Austria 12 November 1918 Declaration of the Republic of German Austria 17 September 1156 Privilegium Minus Sovereignty from Duchy of Bavaria as a Duchy of the Holy Roman Empire 14 December 1921 City of Sopron and 8 other towns moved to Hungary after plebiscite11 August 1804 Proclamation of the Austrian Empire27 April 1945 Restoration of the Republic of Austria Belarus 28 November 1996 Constitutional amendment abolishes the Supreme Soviet and establishes the National Assembly 27 July 1990 Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic 1945 Western border with Poland modification of the Curzon Line determined at the 1945 Yalta Conference25 August 1991 Independence recognized by Soviet Union Belgium 21 July 1831 King Leopold I of Belgium swears allegiance to the constitution making the country a constitutional monarchy 4 October 1830 Independence was proclaimed by the provisonial government 28 June 1919 Belgian proper Treaty of Versailles and annexation of the East Cantons1 July 1962 Belgian colonial empire Ruanda Urundi declares independence and split within two countries Rwanda and Burundi Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 March 1992 3 March 1992 Independence declared from the SFR Yugoslavia 25 November 1943 Establishment of SR Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Albania 29 April 1991 Socialist People s Republic of Albania was replaced by the Republic of Albania 1190 c Principality of Arber was established by archon Progon 1945 Occupied Kosovo west Macedonia and border region of Montenegro returned to Yugoslavia28 November 1912 Declaration of independence from Ottoman Empire28 November 1944 Albanian state re established after Italian German occupation Croatia 8 October 1991 Independence from SFR Yugoslavia 879 Duke Branimir was recognized as an independent ruler of the Duchy of Croatia by Pope John VIII 10 February 1947 Annexation of most of Istria to SR Croatia as a result of signing the 1947 Paris Peace Treaties925 Formation of Kingdom of Croatia by King Tomislav Czech Republic 1 January 1993 Dissolution of Czechoslovakia creating the Czech Republic and Slovakia 870 Formation of the Duchy of Bohemia Denmark 5 June 1953 Constitutional Act of Denmark 965 Harald Bluetooth unifies Denmark 15 June 1920 Denmark proper Sonderjylland was recovered from Germany Estonia 24 February 1918 Estonian Declaration of Independence whereby a republic was declared 20 August 1991 Independence from the Soviet Union reasserted end of occupation 1 January 1945 De facto Eastern coast of Narva river and most of Petseri County were transferred to Russian SFSR Finland 29 March 1809 Diet of Porvoo birth of Finland as an autonomous state entity within Russian Empire 6 December 1917 Independence from Russian Empire declared 26 January 1956 Porkkala returned from Soviet control3 January 1918 Independence from Russia recognized by the highest Soviet executive body VTsIK France 4 October 1958 Establishment of the current semi presidential system known as the Fifth Republic 481 then 843 First creation with Clovis king of the Franks Then creation of the Kingdom of France West Francia Treaty of Verdun 10 February 1947 Metropolitan France Annexation of Tende La Brigue and other villages formerly in Italy 22 September 1792 French Republic founded 30 July 1980 Overseas France The New Hebrides Condominium declares independence and becomes Vanuatu Germany 23 May 1949 The Basic Law of Germany comes into effect 843 then 962 Creation of East Francia East Francia becomes the Holy Roman Empire with the Kingdom of Germany as a main part of the empire 3 October 1990 Reunification of West Germany and East Germany1815 German Confederation founded18 January 1871 German Empire founded1954 German Democratic Republic commonly referred to at the time as East Germany declared fully sovereign5 May 1955 Federal Republic of Germany commonly referred to at the time as West Germany declared fully sovereign15 May 1991 Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany ends the Four Power occupation Greece 11 June 1975 Third Hellenic Republic 600 BC Peloponnesian League Spartan Alliance 10 February 1947 Peace treaty with Italy awards the Dodecanese to Greece478 BC Delian League Athenian Empire338 BC League of Corinth Hellenic League3 February 1830 Modern Greece Independence recognized by the London Protocol as Kingdom of Greece Hungary 23 October 1989 People s Republic of Hungary was replaced by the Republic of Hungary 895 Principality of Hungary formed 10 February 1947 With the Paris Peace Treaty Hungary loses all territories that were regained with the First and Second Vienna Awards and during World War II thus it returns to the 1937 borders except for three villages in the northwest given to Czechoslovakia 1 January 2012 The Basic Law of Hungary comes into effect 1000 Formation of the Kingdom of Hungary by Stephen I of Hungary Iceland 1 July 1845 The Althingi resumes meeting after hiatus since 1799 1 December 1918 Iceland becomes sovereign and independent from Denmark as the Kingdom of Iceland but retains a personal union with the King of Denmark 1 September 1972 No territorial changes on land have taken place however the expansion of the Exclusive Economic Zone was such an important change in territory for Iceland that it merits a special inclusion here 17 June 1944 Kingdom of Iceland becomes a Republic Ireland 21 January 1919 Elected Irish Parliament Dail Eireann unilaterally declares Ireland s independence from the United Kingdom 6 December 1922 Irish Free State secedes from United Kingdom by agreement in accordance with the terms of the Anglo Irish Treaty but remains a dominion of the British Empire 8 December 1922 De facto Northern Ireland secedes from the Irish Free State and rejoins the United Kingdom in accordance with the Irish Free State Constitution Act 192211 December 1931 Statute of Westminster confers legislative independence from the United Kingdom N A29 December 1937 Constitution of Ireland establishes the roles of Taoiseach and President and replaces the Irish Free State or Saorstat Eireann in Irish language with a new state named Ireland or Eire in Irish language 18 April 1949 Republic of Ireland Act 1948 terminates the functions of the British King in Ireland s diplomatic relations domestic United Kingdom law purports that Ireland was one of the King s dominions until this date Irish law does not accept this interpretation 2 December 1999 De jure Amendment to the Irish constitution removes irredentist claims to Northern Ireland Italy 2 June 1946 Italian Republic founded 1720 Sovereignty of the Kingdom of Sardinia existing since 1324 as part of the Spanish Empire first and subsequently of the Holy Roman Empire 1 January 1948 The Peace treaty with Italy officially determines the boundaries of the Republic of Italy The Italian Constitution of 1948 implements it at articles 10 and 117 17 March 1861 Italian unification25 April 1945 Disestablishment of the German backed Italian Social Republic whereby the unity and independence of the Italian state was restored Kosovo 17 February 2008 Kosovo Republic founded 2008 Kosovan Serbian War 2008 Kosovo War Latvia 7 November 1922 Constitution of Latvia enforced 4 May 1990 Independence from Soviet Union reasserted 1944 Abrene district ceded to Russian SFSR modern Russia Liechtenstein 16 March 2003 The 2003 Liechtenstein constitutional referendum increases the Prince s powers and makes the country an absolute monarchy 18 August 1866 Dissolution of the German Confederation 23 January 1719 Purchase of Vaduz Lithuania 11 March 1990 Act of the Re Establishment of the State of Lithuania independence from the Soviet Union reasserted end of occupation 16 February 1918 Independence declared from Germany and Russia 27 October 1939 and 3 August 1940 Western part approximately half of Vilnius Region ceded to Lithuania Luxembourg 23 November 1890 Separates from union with the Kingdom of the Netherlands becomes Grand Duchy in its own right 1945 End of German occupation during World War II 19 April 1839 Partition of Luxembourg under the Treaty of London Malta 13 December 1974 The State of Malta became a republic 21 September 1964 Independence from United Kingdom 20 August 1801 Gozo rejoined Malta Moldova 27 August 1997 Constitution of Moldova 1997 27 August 1991 Independence from Soviet Union 2 August 1940 De jure Moldavian SSR formed2 September 1990 De facto Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic declares independence The government is not recognized by any UN member but has de facto control over the Transnistria region Monaco 17 December 1962 Amendment to Constitution of Monaco curtails the power of the prince and establishes the modern National Council 1297 Francois Grimaldi captures the fortress atop the Rock of Monaco 1848 Secession of Menton and Roquebrune Cap Martin Montenegro 22 October 2007 Constitution of Montenegro 3 June 2006 Declaration of independence from Serbia and Montenegro Netherlands 24 August 1815 Adoption of the constitution of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands 26 July 1581 Plakkaat van Verlatinghe signed independence from Spain 16 March 1839 European Netherlands The United Kingdom of the Netherlands divided under the Treaty of London 1839 15 December 1954 Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed 5 May 1945 Surrender of Nazi forces occupying the Netherlands 25 November 1975 Kingdom of the Netherlands Suriname declares independence North Macedonia until 2019 Republic of Macedonia 17 November 1991 Constitution of North Macedonia 8 September 1991 After a referendum the Socialist Republic of Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia 2 August 1944 Establishment of SR Macedonia Norway 1814 Constitution of Norway 872 King Harald I of Norway unifies the Petty kingdoms of Norway 27 February 1930 Jan Mayen was made part of the Kingdom of Norway 1814 Dissolution of the union between Norway and Denmark 7 June 1905 Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden 8 May 1945 German occupying forces surrender Poland 4 June 1989 The first partially free Parliament s vote after 45 year long Soviet domination 966 Adoption of Christianity by the first historically documented Polish ruler Mieszko I 15 February 1951 Polish Soviet border adjustment treaty11 November 1918 Poland regains its independence Portugal 2 April 1976 Constitution of Portugal 5 October 1143 Formation of Kingdom of Portugal by Treaty of Zamora signing 6 June 1801 Continental Portugal Spain occupies the present day border town of Olivenca since the War of the Oranges 20 December 1999 Portuguese Overseas De facto Portuguese Macau transferred to the People s Republic of China20 May 2002 Portuguese Overseas De jure Portuguese Timor occupied by Indonesia since 1975 officially dissolved to form the independent state of East Timor Romania 22 December 1989 Romanian Revolution of 1989 24 January 1859 Autonomous Principality of Romania founded becomes kingdom in 1866 and achieved independence 1878 Ottoman Empire 10 February 1947 Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina13 July 1878 International recognition by the Treaty of Berlin San Marino 1600 Constitution of San Marino 3 September 301 Independence from Roman Empire 1463 Added Fiorentino Montegiardino Serravalle and Faetano Serbia 27 April 1992 Dissolution of the SFR Yugoslavia forming the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 780 8th century Creation of the Principality of Serbia in the Southeastern Europe 17 February 2008 disputed The region of Kosovo declared independence unilaterally on 17 February 2008 and is recognized by 97 UN states Serbia recognizes the government of Kosovo but claims its territory as an Autonomous Province 8 June 2006 Republic of Serbia declared legal successor to Serbia and Montenegro ending the process of the dissolution of Yugoslavia 13 July 1878 International recognition by the Treaty of Berlin Slovakia 1 January 1993 Dissolution of Czechoslovakia 820s Principality of Nitra formed Slovenia 13 December 1991 Constitution of Slovenia 25 June 1991 Declaration of independence from Yugoslavia 19 February 1945 Formation of SR Slovenia Spain 6 December 1978 Spanish Constitution 568 The Visigothic king Leovigild unifies the Iberian Peninsula under his rule 26 February 1976 Spanish Sahara is lost following the Madrid Accords resulting in the partition of the territory between Mauritania and Morocco 718 The Battle of Covadonga takes place between the forces of the Umayyad Caliphate and a small group of Christian rebels led by Pelagius of Asturias The Christian forces achieve victory establishing the Kingdom of Asturias 1479 Dynastic unification of the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon under the rule of the Catholic Monarchs 1707 1716 De jure unification of Spain under the Nueva Planta decrees 1831 Formal dissolution of the historical crowns and kingdoms resulting in the de jure creation of the unified Kingdom of Spain Sweden 1 January 1974 Instrument of Government 970 Or prior Eric the Victorious the first king of Sweden about whom anything definite is known becomes king 29 March 1809 Loss of Finland to Imperial Russia 6 June 1523 Gustav Vasa elected King of Sweden and marking a definite secession from the Kalmar Union Switzerland 12 November 1848 Foundation of the federal state after Sonderbund war 1291 Traditional founding 4 August 1815 The canton of Valais joins the Swiss Confederation following the cantons of Neuchatel 19 May 1815 and Geneva 6 April 1815 7 August 1815 Restoration of the Ancien Regime federalism reverting the changes imposed by Napoleon Bonaparte Ukraine 24 August 1991 Independence of former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic from Soviet Union declared 882 Formation of the Kievan Rus 30 September 2022 disputed Annexation of Donetsk Kherson Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts by Russia22 January 1918 Ukraine declares independence as the Ukrainian People s Republic United Kingdom 8 December 1922 The Irish Free State seceded 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 however Northern Ireland opted to exclude itself from the Irish Free State two days later creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 927 Kingdom of England 1603 The Kingdoms of Scotland England and Ireland were united in a personal union when James VI King of Scots inherited the crowns of England and Ireland each country nevertheless remained a separate political entity and retained its separate political legal and religious institutions 843 Kingdom of Scotland Devolved Parliament since 1999 1057 then 1165 Kingdom of Wales then Principality of Wales Annexed by England in 1542 Devolved Assembly since 1999 1171 then 1542 Lordship of Ireland then Kingdom of Ireland1 May 1707 Kingdom of Great Britain United the parliaments of Scotland and England 1 January 1801 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland United the parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland 6 December 1922 then 8 December 1922 Irish Free State secedes from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland by agreement in accordance with the terms of the Anglo Irish Treaty and the Irish Free State Constitution Act 1922 12 April 1927 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Updated to current name 2 December 1999 De jure Removal of the Government of Ireland Act 1920 and implementation of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 removes irredentist claims to the Republic of Ireland Vatican City 1274 Birth of current form of government the Papal conclave in 1274 7 June 1929 Ratification of the Lateran Treaty making the Vatican City a sovereign state 11 February 1929 Signing of the Lateran TreatyTable notesThe date of formation of the current states of Estonia Latvia and Lithuania is subject to an international dispute Estonia Latvia and Lithuania all maintain that they were illegally occupied by the Soviet Union and that the current states are direct continuations of the pre WWII states which continued to exist through governments in exile Russia maintains that the current three states are legally distinct entities newly created after the dissolution of the Soviet Union All three states were admitted the UN as independent nations not successor states of the USSR For more information see State continuity of the Baltic states Australia Oceania Country Date of current form of government Birth of current form of government Date of acquisition of sovereignty Acquisition of sovereignty Date of territorial modification Most recent significant territorial modification Australia 1 January 1901 Commonwealth of Australia established as federation 1 January 1901 Independence from United Kingdom 16 September 1975 Papua New Guinea becomes formally independent of Australia11 December 1931 Statute of Westminster3 March 1986 Australia Act 1986 Cook Islands State in free association with New Zealand with a local prime minister 4 August 1965 1962 autonomy of New Zealand Fiji 10 October 1970 Independence from the United Kingdom Kiribati 12 July 1979 Independence from United Kingdom 1 October 1975 Separation of the Gilbert Islands later Kiribati and the Ellice Islands later Tuvalu Marshall Islands 1 May 1979 Constitution and local government established 21 October 1986 Compact of Free Association with the United States Federated States of Micronesia 10 May 1979 Constitution ratified 3 November 1986 Compact of Free Association with the United States 10 May 1979 Yap Chuuk Pohnpei and Kosrae unite to form the Federated States of Micronesia Nauru 31 January 1968 Independence from Australia and cessation of UN Trust Territory status New Zealand 6 February 1840 Treaty of Waitangi where the British Crown established a right to govern from indigenous Maori tribes 17 January 1853 Self Government 1 June 1962 Samoa becomes fully independent from New Zealand It is also the first small island country in the Pacific to become independent 18 April 1856 Responsible Government26 September 1907 Granted nominal independence Dominion status 25 October 1926 Balfour Declaration of 1926 Great Britain and the Dominions are autonomous Communities within the British Empire equal in status in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs 27 July 1938 Governor General ceases to represent the British Government and becomes the personal representative of the King 25 November 1947 Statute of Westminster adopted Britain loses the power to legislate for New Zealand except by request10 December 1947 Full power to amend own constitution1 December 1967 Governor General becomes a New Zealand appointment Palau 1 January 1981 Republic of Palau created upon adoption of constitution 1 October 1994 Emerged from United Nations trusteeship administered by the United States Papua New Guinea 1 December 1973 Self governing territory16 September 1975 Independence from Australia Samoa 1 June 1962 Independence from New Zealand Solomon Islands 2 January 1976 Self government granted by United Kingdom7 July 1978 Independence from the United Kingdom Tonga 4 July 1970 Independence from United Kingdom 4 December 1845 Unification of what is now the islands of Tonga by George Tupou I of Tonga Tuvalu 1 October 1975 Separation of Gilbert Islands later Kiribati and Ellice Islands later Tuvalu 1 October 1978 Independence from United Kingdom 7 February 1979 Treaty with United States recognizing Tuvaluan control over Funafuti Nukufetau Nukulaelae and Niulakita atolls Vanuatu 30 July 1980 Independence from joint British French condominiumTranscontinental states Country Date of current form of government Birth of current form of government Date of acquisition of sovereignty Acquisition of sovereignty Date of territorial modification Most recent significant territorial modification Azerbaijan 18 October 1991 Declaration of independence from the Soviet Union 28 May 1918 Establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic 28 April 1920 Establishment of the Azerbaijan SSR Colombia 4 August 1886 Creation of the Republic of Colombia 20 July 1810 Independence declared from Spain 3 November 1903 Separation of Panama from Colombia7 August 1819 Independence recognized by Spain1830 Dissolution of Gran Colombia Cyprus 16 August 1960 Constitution of Cyprus establishes consocial government Consociationalism de facto suspended in 1963 16 August 1960 Independence from United Kingdom 23 July 1974 Establishment of the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus15 November 1983 disputed Northern Cyprus declares independence The government has de facto control of the northern part of the island but is only recognized by Turkey Egypt 18 June 1953 Egyptian revolution of 1952 Egyptian monarchy overthrown in a military coup republic declared 28 February 1922 The UK ends its protectorate granting independence to Egypt 1925 The eastern borders of Libya and British Egypt are changed to their present boundaries France 22 September 1792 French Republic founded 481 then 843 First creation with Clovis king of the Franks Then creation of the Kingdom of France West Francia Treaty of Verdun 10 February 1947 Metropolitan France Annexation of Tende La Brigue and other villages formerly in Italy 4 October 1958 Establishment of the current semi presidential system known as the Fifth Republic 30 July 1980 Overseas France The New Hebrides Condominium declares independence and becomes Vanuatu Georgia 9 April 1991 Independence from the Soviet Union declared 1008 Establishment of the Kingdom of Georgia 23 July 1992 Abkhazia unilaterally declared independence26 May 1918 Establishment of Democratic Republic of Georgia 28 November 1991 South Ossetia unilaterally declared independence Indonesia 18 August 1945 Ratification of the Constitution of Indonesia by the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence 17 August 1945 Indonesian Declaration of Independence from Netherlands 20 May 2002 Independence of East Timor formerly administered as a province of Indonesia27 December 1949 Independence from the Netherlands recognized Kazakhstan 30 August 1995 Constitution of Kazakhstan 16 December 1991 Independence declared from the Soviet Union 5 December 1936 Establishment of the Kazakh SSR30 March 1993 disputed Baikonur Cosmodrome and surrounding areas leased to Russia Panama 3 November 1903 Separation of Panama from Colombia independence from Spain 1 October 1979 Panama Canal Zone Russia 25 December 1993 1993 Russian constitutional referendum replaces the Supreme Soviet with the Federal Assembly and increases presidential power 882 Formation of the Kievan Rus 30 September 2022 disputed Annexation of Donetsk Kherson Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts by Russia25 December 1991 After the USSR ceased to exist the Russian Federation became an independent state and was recognized by the international community as the successor state of the USSR Spain 6 December 1978 Spanish Constitution 1479 Dinastical unification of the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon by the Catholic Monarchs The governments institutions and legal traditions of each kingdom remained independent of each other alien laws Leyes de extranjeria determined that the national of one kingdom was a foreigner in the other Crowns States 26 February 1976 Spanish Sahara is lost following the Madrid Accords 1707 1716 De jure by the Nueva Planta decrees1831 Dissolution of crowns and kingdoms and creation de jure of the unified Kingdom of Spain Turkey 24 June 2018 2017 Turkish constitutional referendum comes into effect Turkey transitions from a parliamentary republic to a presidential republic 1299 Formation of the Ottoman Empire 29 June 1939 Republic of Hatay joins Turkey after a public referandum 29 October 1923 The provincial government formed in 1920 declares the foundation of the Republic of Turkey as the legal successor state to the Ottoman Empire Sortable list In this list date of last subordination refers to the last date of control by an external government The list shows large groupings associated with the dates of independence from decolonization e g 41 current states gained control of sovereignty from the United Kingdom and France between 1956 and 1966 or dissolution of a political union e g 18 current states gained control of sovereignty from the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia between 1990 and 1992 In other cases a sovereign state submitted to foreign military occupation or political subjugation for a period of time and later regained its independence e g 6 current states gained control of sovereignty from Nazi Germany between 1944 and 1945 Dates refer to de facto rule or occupation of the major territory whether or not legitimized by international recognition In a union such as Czechoslovakia the Soviet Union or the Kalmar Union one of the constituents can be considered the dominant power generally where the seat of government was located The United Kingdom is a particularly complicated case If England is viewed as the dominant member then history can be traced from Roman conquest Saxon invasions 10th century unification and the 1066 Norman Conquest before the union of England and Scotland in 1707 However if viewed from a Scottish perspective an unbroken history of sovereignty can be traced from unification in 843 through the 1707 union with England with a brief annexation by England from 1657 to 1660 Some Scots view the 1707 union as a ceding of sovereignty to England 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 which was completely abolished after the German reunification Modern Germany is a continuation of the Federal Republic of Germany West Germany not a successor state The Holy Roman Empire is not considered a state by modern historians but a political entity bringing together several sovereign states in a confederation The concept of sovereign state should not be confused with that of nation for example there are even stateless nations This list has the date of creation of current sovereign states but not of 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 Continent Date of latest territorial change Acquisition of sovereignty Date of last subordination Previous governing power Historical Notes CapitalAfghanistan Asia 12 November 1893 July 1747 Durrani Empire 1796 Afsharid Empire 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 1992 2002 Islamic State of Afghanistan controlled only a small part of the country from 1996 to 2001 but still recognized by the UN and most of the world s countries as the legitimate government of Afghanistan 1987 1992 Republic of Afghanistan 1978 1987 Democratic Republic of Afghanistan 1973 1978 Republic of Afghanistan 1926 1973 Kingdom of Afghanistan 1823 1926 Emirate of Afghanistan protectorate of the United Kingdom 1879 1919 1747 1823 Durrani Empire also called Sadozai Kingdom 1738 1796 Part of the Afsharid Empire 1709 1738 Hotak Emirate 1506 1709 Part of the Khanate of Bukhara 1405 1506 Center of the Timurid Empire 1369 1405 Part of the Timurid Empire 1231 1369 Part of the Mongol Empire 1163 1231 Part of the Khwarazmian Kingdom 1003 1163 Ghaznavid Sultanate 873 1003 Saffarid Emirate 821 873 Part of Tahirid Emirate 750 821 Part of Abbasid Caliphate 661 750 Part of Umayyad Caliphate 500 661 Part of Sasanian Empire 320 500 AD Kidarite Kingdom 30 320 AD Kushan Empire 150 BC 30 AD Part of Indo Parthian Kingdom and the Indo Scythians 256 150 BC Greco Bactrian Kingdom 549 256 BC Part of Macedonian Empire 549 330 BC Part of Achaemenid Empire 678 549 BC Part of Median Kingdom Empire Since 48 000 BC humans have been known to be living in the region starting as Part of Indus Valley civilisation and Bactria Margiana Archaeological Complex Kabul Albania Europe 1945 28 Nov 1912 Nov 1944 Germany 1992 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 1479 1912 Part of Ottoman Empire as Sanjak of Scutari 1444 1479 League of Lezhe military alliance of Albanian feudal lords 1190 1444 Various Albanian principalities including the Principality of Albania 1255 1368 Kingdom of Albania Dependency of the Angevin Kingdom of Sicily Naples 1190 1255 Principality of Arbanon oldest of the Albanian principalities also autonomous principality of the Byzantine Empire and later of the Despotate of Epirus 324 1190 Part of the Byzantine Empire as the province of Macedonia 148 BC 324 AD Part of the Roman Empire as the province of Macedonia Since 40 000 BC humans have been settled in the Kryegjata Valley near the antique site of Apollonia including Illyria Tirana Algeria Africa 18 March 1845 3 July 1962 3 July 1962 France 1962 present People s Democratic Republic of Algeria via Evian Accords 1830 1962 Part of French Colonial Empire as an integral territory 1659 1830 De facto Independence of Regency of Algiers 1519 1659 Part of the Ottoman Empire as the Regency of Algiers 1516 1519 Sultanate of Algiers 1235 1554 Kingdom of Tlemcen 1121 1269 Part of the Almohad Caliphate 1014 1152 Hammadid Sultanate 973 1014 Center of the Zirid Emirate 909 973 Fatimid Caliphate 800 909 Part of the Aghlabid Emirate 778 909 Rustamid Imamate 750 778 Part of the Abbasid Caliphate 661 750 Part of the Umayyad Caliphate 590 698 Part of the Byzantine Empire as the Exarchate of Africa 484 703 Kingdom of the Aures 439 534 Part of the Vandal Kingdom 435 439 Center of the Vandal Kingdom 395 435 Part of the Western Roman Empire as province 40 BC 395 AD Part of the Roman Empire as province 202 BC 40 BC Kingdom of Numidia 814 202 BC Part of the Carthaginian Empire 2500 539 BC Part of Phoenicia 10 000 2500 BC Inhabited by Caspians 20 000 10 000 BC Inhabited by Iberomaurusians 80 000 20 000 BC Inhabited by Aterians Since 1 8 Million BC humans have been settled in Algeria as demonstrated by the discovery of Oldowan stone tools found at Ain Hanech in 1992 Algiers Andorra Europe 28 August 2001 7 Sep 1278 Nov 1944 France 1278 present Principality of Andorra via Pareage of Andorra occupied by France 1812 13 1870 1914 1936 1939 1944 987 1278 Part of France 843 987 Part of West Francia 481 843 Part of Francia 395 481 Part of the Western Roman Empire 27 BCE 481 Part of the Roman Empire 197 BCE 27 BCE Part of the Roman Republic Andorra la Vella Angola Africa 11 November 1975 11 Nov 1975 11 Nov 1975 Portugal 1992 present Republic of Angola 1975 1992 People s Republic of Angola via the Alvor Agreement 1972 1975 State of Angola part of the Portuguese Empire 1951 1972 Overseas Province of Angola part of the Portuguese Empire 1575 1951 State of West Africa part of the Portuguese Empire The territory of Angola has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Era hosting a wide variety of ethnic groups tribes and kingdoms like the kingdoms of Kongo Ndongo and Matamba Luanda Antigua and Barbuda The Americas 1 November 1981 1 Nov 1981 1 Nov 1981 United Kingdom 1981 present Antigua and Barbuda 1632 1981 Part of the British Empire as its West Indies interrupted by France in 1666 Since 3100 BC humans have been settled starting with the indigenous peoples of the Americas St John s Argentina The Americas 18 October 1884 25 May 1810 9 July 1816 Spain 1861 present Argentine Republic a Federal state originally the federation had 14 federated states Provinces of Argentina after the Conquest of the Desert federal territories was established in Patagonia the last territory Tierra del Fuego became the Province of Tierra del Fuego Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands and joined the federation in 1990 Currently Argentina has 23 provinces 1831 1861 Argentine Confederation 1816 1830 United Provinces of South America On 9 July 1816 the Congress of Tucuman issued the formal Declaration of Independence the country became a republic 1810 1816 United Provinces of South America via the 1810 May Revolution nominally a monarchic state in personal union with Spain recognizing Ferdinand VII as king 1776 1810 Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata Part of the Spanish Empire 1542 1776 Part of the Viceroyalty of Peru Part of the Spanish Empire 1528 1542 Governorate of New Andalusia part of the Spanish Empire 11 000 BC 1528 AD Inhabited by Native Argentines including the Inca Empire Selk nam Chonan peoples and Guaycuru peoples Buenos Aires Armenia Asia Europe 5 December 1936 28 May 1918 23 Sep 1991 Soviet Union 1991 present Republic of Armenia 1920 1991 Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic federated state of the Soviet Union 1918 1920 First Republic of Armenia April May 1918 Part of the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic November 1917 April 1918 Part of the Russian Republic as Transcaucasian Commissariat 1829 1917 Part of the Russian Empire as Caucasus Viceroyalty 1502 1829 Part of the Ottoman Empire 1468 1502 Part of the Timurid Empire 1374 1468 Part of the Kara Koyunlu 1335 1374 Part of the Jalairid Sultanate 1236 1335 Part of the Mongol Empire as its territory 1201 1360 Zakarid Principality of Armenia 1071 1194 Part of the Seljuk Empire 987 1170 Kingdom of Syunik 883 1045 Bragatid Kingdom of Armenia 654 884 Arminiya Province largely autonomous vassal principalities of the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates 428 654 Divided between the Byzantine Empire on the west and the east by the Sasanian Empire 321 BCE AD 428 Kingdom of Armenia 549 BCE 331 BC Part of Achaemenid Empire 860 BCE 590 BC Kingdom of Ararat 1114 BCE 860 BC Nairi Confederation 1300 BCE 1190 BC Kingdom of Arme Shupria 1500 BCE 1290 BC Hayasa Azzi Confederation 2492 BCE Traditional foundation Since 6000 BC humans have been settled starting with the Shulaveri Shomu and Kura Araxes eras Yerevan Australia Australia 16 September 1975 9 Oct 1942 9 Oct 1942 United Kingdom 1942 present Commonwealth of Australia a Federal state consisted of six states three internal territories and seven external territories via Constitution of Australia and a monarchy in personal union with the United Kingdom 1901 1942 Commonwealth of Australia a federation with a Dominion status within the British Empire 1788 1901 Part of the British Empire Possibly 70 000 BC 1788 AD Inhabited by Indigenous Australians Canberra Austria Europe 14 December 1921 1156 27 Apr 1945 World War II Allies Allied occupied Austria 1955 present Republic of Austria a Federal state via Austrian State Treaty 1945 55 Allied occupied Austria 1938 45 Annexed by Nazi Germany 1934 38 Federal State of Austria client state of Italy 1919 34 First Republic of Austria via Treaty of Saint Germain 1918 19 Republic of German Austria via Proclamation of Charles I 1867 1918 Austro Hungarian Monarchy a dual monarchy with Hungary via Austro Hungarian Compromise of 1867 1866 Austrian Empire 1815 1866 Austrian Empire In union with other 38 states in the German Confederation 1806 1815 Austrian Empire 1804 1806 Austrian Empire State of the Holy Roman Empire 1457 1804 Archduchy of Austria State of the Holy Roman Empire 1156 1457 Duchy of Austria state of the Holy Roman Empire Vienna Azerbaijan Asia Europe 28 April 1920 28 May 1918 30 Aug 1991 Soviet Union 1991 present Republic of Azerbaijan independence from Soviet Union declared 1991 1920 1991 Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic federated state of the Soviet Union 1918 1920 Azerbaijan Democratic Republic 1824 1918 Part of Russian Empire 1796 1824 Part of Qajar Empire 1747 1796 Part of Afsharid Empire 1760 1794 Part of Zand Empire 1736 1747 Part of Afsharid Empire 1722 1729 Part of Hotaki Emirate 1501 1736 Part of Safavid Empire 1468 1508 Part of Agh Qoyunlu 1405 1507 Part of Timurid Empire 1406 1468 Part of Qara Qoyunlu 1370 1405 Part of Timurid Empire 1337 1376 Part of Sarbadars 1336 1432 Part of Jalayirid Sultanate 1335 1393 Part of Muzaffarid dynasty 1335 1357 Part of Chobanid dynasty 1256 1335 Part of Ilkhanate 1077 1231 Part of Khwarazmian Kingdom 1037 1194 Part of Great Seljuq Empire 963 1186 Part of Ghaznavid Sultanate 875 999 Part of Samanid Emirate 936 1055 Part of Buyid Empire 934 936 Part of Buyid Emirate 928 1043 Part of Ziyarid Kingdom 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 BC 224 AD Part of Parthian Empire 312 63 BC Part of Seleucid Empire 550 330 BC Part of Achaemenid Empire 652 625 BC Part of Scythian Kingdom 678 550 BC Part of Median Empire 850 616 BC Inhabited by Mannaeans 2700 539 BC Inhabited by Elamites 3200 2700 BC Inhabited by Proto Elamites Baku Bahamas The Americas 7 January 1964 10 July 1973 10 July 1973 United Kingdom 1973 present Commonwealth of the Bahamas a monarchy in personal union with the United Kingdom Self government gained from the United Kingdom in 1964 independence gained on 10 July 1973 1718 1973 Part of the British Empire as its West Indies 1492 1718 Part of the Spanish Empire 500 to 800 1492 Inhabited by the Lucayans a Taino people Nassau Bahrain Asia 1 July 1521 16 Dec 1971 16 Dec 1971 United Kingdom 1971 present Kingdom of Bahrain 1861 1971 Protectorate of the British Empire by way of the Perpetual Truce of Peace and Friendship 1783 1861 In union with other states in the Bani Utbah Confederation 1717 1783 Ruled by Oman after a 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 Emirate 976 1076 Ruled as part of the Abbasid Caliphate 899 976 Ruled by the Qarmatian Republic 3rd century AD 899 Ruled by the Sassanids of Persia 130 BC 3rd century BC Ruled by the Parthians 6th century BC 3rd century BC Part of the Persian Empire under the Achaemenids 4th millennium BC 6th century BC Dilmun civilization Manama Bangladesh Asia 31 July 2015 16 Dec 1971 16 Dec 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 Empire as Bengal Province within India 1757 1858 Part of the British Empire as Bengal Presidency of the East India Company 1717 1880 Ruled by the Nawabs nominally subordinate to the Mughal Empire until 1757 and to the British Empire after 1757 Lost ruling power after the Battle of Plassey in 1757 1576 1757 Part of the Mughal Empire as Bengal Subah 1352 1576 Bengal Sultanate 1235 1352 Part of the Delhi Sultanate 1204 1297 Deva dynasty c 1070 1204 Sena Kingdom c 750 c 1070 Pala Empire c 650 c 750 Bengal was divided between various kingdoms like Vanga and Samatata Both ruled by the Khadga dynasty 590 626 Gauda Kingdom 350 655 Part of Kamarupa under the Varman dynasty 358 590 Part of the Gupta Empire 26 BC 358 AD Bengal was divided between various kingdoms 73 BC 26 BC Part of the Kanva Kingdom 185 BC 73 BC Part of the Shunga Empire 232 BC 800 AD Part of Samatata 319 185 BC Part of the Maurya Empire 340 319 BC Part of the Kingdom of Magadha 600 340 BC Ancient Bengal was divided between various kingdoms 700 200 BC Inhabited by the Pundravardhana culture Since 100 000 BC humans have been settled on Bangladesh although the prehistoric evidences are weak Dhaka Barbados The Americas 30 November 1966 30 Nov 1966 30 Nov 1966 United Kingdom 1966 present Barbados 1625 1966 Part of the British Empire as its West Indies Claimed by Spain and Portugal in the 16th century c 1200 c 1500 AD Inhabited by the Kalinago c 800 c 1200 AD Inhabited by the Saladoids Archeological evidence suggests humans may have first settled or visited the island circa 1600 BC Bridgetown Belarus Europe 1945 25 Aug 1991 25 Aug 1991 Soviet Union 1990 present Republic of Belarus 1943 1990 Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic a federated state of the Soviet Union USSR 1941 1943 Occupation by Nazi Germany 1922 1941 Byelorussian SSR a federated state of the Soviet Union USSR 1920 1922 Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic 1919 1919 Lithuanian Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic 1918 1919 Belarusian People s Republic 1917 1918 Part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic 1795 1917 Part of the Russian Empire 1569 1795 Part of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth 1397 1569 Part of Grand Duchy of Lithuania 1307 1397 Principality of Polotsk part of Grand Duchy of Lithuania 987 1307 Principality of Polotsk independent principality Before 987 In the 9th century the territory of modern Belarus became part of Kievan Rus a loose federation of East Slavic and Finnic peoples ruled by the Rurikid dynasty The region that is now Belarus was first settled by Baltic tribes in the 3rd century Around the 5th century the area was taken over by Slavic tribes Minsk Belgium Europe 1 July 1962 4 Oct 1830 1945 Germany 1839 present Belgium 1908 1960 Belgian Congo 1885 1908 Congo Free State 1879 1884 School War 1815 1830 Dutch Rule 1714 1793 Austrian Netherlands Brussels Belize The Americas 1859 21 Sep 1981 21 Sep 1981 United Kingdom 1981 present Belize Belizean Guatemalan territorial dispute 1783 1981 British Honduras Largely as a result of the costly military expeditions against the Maya the expenses of administering the new colony of British Honduras increased at a time when the economy was severely depressed Great landowners and merchants dominated the Legislative Assembly which controlled the colony s revenues and expenditures Some of the landowners were also involved in commerce but their interest differed from the other merchants of Belize Town The former group resisted the taxation of land and favored an increase in import duties the latter preferred the opposite 1506 1783 Early colonial period 20000 BC 1506 Mayan Belize In the tenth century Mayan society suffered a severe breakdown Construction of public buildings ceased the administrative centres lost power and the population declined as social and economic systems lost their coherence Some people continued to occupy or perhaps reoccupied sites such as Altun Ha Xunantunich and Lamanai but these sites ceased being splendid ceremonial and civic centres Belmopan Benin Africa 15 January 1894 1 Aug 1960 1 Aug 1960 France 1990 present Republic of Benin 1975 1990 People s Republic of Benin 1958 1975 Republic of Dahomey French self governing colony 1904 1958 French Dahomey as part of French West Africa 1894 1904 Kingdom of Dahomey French Protectorate c 1600 1894 Kingdom of Dahomey African kingdom Cotonou De facto and Porto Novo official Bhutan Asia 11 November 1865 1634 1634 none 1910 1947 protectorate of the British Empire 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 Thimphu Bolivia The Americas 11 November 1903 6 Aug 1825 6 Aug 1825 Spain 2009 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 The name of the country is a tribute to Simon Bolivar considered as the country s first president who always referred to the country as Upper Peru There were doubts if the region should be an independent nation or join Argentina or Peru After Antonio Jose de Sucre was elected as the second president he convened the Constituent Assembly in Chuquisaca to determine the future of the region Almost all delegates wanted that Bolivia became an independent country and rejected any annexation to Argentina former Rio de la Plata or Peru 1821 1825 Center of the Viceroyalty of Peru viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire 1810 1821 Part of the Viceroyalty of Peru viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire 1776 1810 Part of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire 1542 1776 Part of the Viceroyalty of Peru viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire 1528 1542 Governorate of New Toledo governorate of the Crown of Castille 1471 1542 Part of the Inca Empire 1000 1500 Mollo culture 550 c 1000 Tiwanaku state The region now known as Bolivia had been occupied for over 2 500 years when the Native Bolivians including Aymara arrived La Paz and Sucre Bosnia and Herzegovina Europe 25 November 1943 3 Mar 1992 3 Mar 1992 Yugoslavia 1997 present Bosnia and Herzegovina a Federal state 1992 1997 Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina 1945 1992 Federated state of Yugoslavia 1941 1945 Part of Independent State of Croatia Nazi Germany invasion 1918 1941 Part of Kingdom of Yugoslavia 1878 1918 Part of Austria Hungary Empire 1463 1878 Part of Ottoman Empire 1377 1463 Kingdom of Bosnia 1154 1377 Banate of Bosnia subject to Kingdom of Hungary Sarajevo Botswana Africa 31 December 1999 30 Sep 1966 30 Sep 1966 United Kingdom 1966 present Republic of Botswana 1885 1966 Part of the British Empire as Bechuanaland Protectorate 600 AD Bantu speaking peoples first moved into the country from the north The territory of Botswana has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Era The original inhabitants of southern Africa were the San and Khoi peoples Gaborone Brazil The Americas 11 November 1903 7 Sep 1822 29 Aug 1825 Treaty of Rio de Janeiro United Kingdom of Portugal Brazil and the Algarves 1985 Present Federative Republic of Brazil Sixth Brazilian Republic a federal state the federation have 26 federated states and 1 federal district 1964 1985 Brazilian Military Dictatorship Fifth Brazilian Republic a federal state the federation had 22 federated states 1 federal district and 4 federal territories 1946 1964 United States of Brazil Fourth Brazilian Republic a federal state the federation had 22 federated states 1 federal district and 4 federal territories 1930 1946 Brazilian Vargas Era Second and Third Brazilian Republics a federal state the federation had 20 federated states 1 federal district and 7 federal territories 1889 1930 Republic of the United States of Brazil First Brazilian Republic a federal state the federation had 20 federated states 1 federal district and from 1903 1 federal territory 1822 1889 Empire of Brazil a unitary state 1815 1822 Brazil elevated to kingdom so that it was legally possible to achieve a political union with the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves to create the United Kingdom of Portugal Brazil and Algarves Portuguese Empire 1772 1775 State of Maranhao and Piaui part of the Portuguese Empire 1772 1775 State of Grao Para and Rio Negro part of the Portuguese Empire 1751 1772 State of Grao Para and Maranhao part of the Portuguese Empire 1621 1751 State of Maranhao part of the Portuguese Empire 1621 1815 State of Brazil part of the Portuguese Empire 1613 1621 Governorate General of Brazil part of the Portuguese Empire 1607 1613 Divided in a