Compare Independence (2006) - Independence (2002)

Independence (2006)

Independence (2002)

Afghanistan

19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)

Albania

28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)

Algeria

5 July 1962 (from France)

American Samoa

none (territory of the US)

Andorra

1278 (formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix and the Spanish bishop of Urgel)

1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix and the Spanish bishop of Urgel)

Angola

11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Anguilla

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Antigua and Barbuda

1 November 1981 (from UK)

Argentina

9 July 1816 (from Spain)

Armenia

21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Aruba

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Australia

1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

Austria

17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

1156 (from Bavaria)

Azerbaijan

30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Bahamas, The

10 July 1973 (from UK)

Bahrain

15 August 1971 (from UK)

Bangladesh

16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh

Barbados

30 November 1966 (from UK)

Belarus

25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Belgium

4 October 1830 (a provisional government declares independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King Leopold I ascends to the throne)

4 October 1830 a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands; 21 July 1831 the ascension of King Leopold I to the throne

Belize

21 September 1981 (from UK)

Benin

1 August 1960 (from France)

Bermuda

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Bhutan

8 August 1949 (from India)

Bolivia

6 August 1825 (from Spain)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for independence was completed 1 March 1992; independence was declared 3 March 1992)

Botswana

30 September 1966 (from UK)

Brazil

7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

British Virgin Islands

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Brunei

1 January 1984 (from UK)

Bulgaria

3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)

3 March 1878 (from Ottoman Empire)

Burkina Faso

5 August 1960 (from France)

Burma

4 January 1948 (from UK)

Burundi

1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

Cambodia

9 November 1953 (from France)

Cameroon

1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

Canada

1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (independence recognized)

1 July 1867 (from UK)

Cape Verde

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Cayman Islands

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Central African Republic

13 August 1960 (from France)

Chad

11 August 1960 (from France)

Chile

18 September 1810 (from Spain)

China

221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Manchu Dynasty replaced by a Republic); 1 October 1949 (People's Republic established)

221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty 221 BC; Qing or Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12 February 1912; People's Republic established 1 October 1949)

Christmas Island

none (territory of Australia)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

none (territory of Australia)

Colombia

20 July 1810 (from Spain)

Comoros

6 July 1975 (from France)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

Congo, Republic of the

15 August 1960 (from France)

Cook Islands

none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)

Costa Rica

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Cote d'Ivoire

7 August 1960 (from France)

7 August (1960) (from France)

Croatia

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

Cuba

20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)

Cyprus

16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only recognized by Turkey

16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975

Czech Republic

1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

Denmark

first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy

Djibouti

27 June 1977 (from France)

Dominica

3 November 1978 (from UK)

Dominican Republic

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

East Timor

28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia

Ecuador

24 May 1822 (from Spain)

Egypt

28 February 1922 (from UK)

El Salvador

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Equatorial Guinea

12 October 1968 (from Spain)

Eritrea

24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)

Estonia

20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

regained on 20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Ethiopia

oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years

European Union

7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the EU); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force)

-

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Faroe Islands

none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Fiji

10 October 1970 (from UK)

Finland

6 December 1917 (from Russia)

France

486 (unified by Clovis)

French Guiana

none (overseas department of France)

French Polynesia

none (overseas lands of France)

none (overseas territory of France)

Gabon

17 August 1960 (from France)

Gambia, The

18 February 1965 (from UK)

Georgia

9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Germany

18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991

Ghana

6 March 1957 (from UK)

Gibraltar

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Greece

1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

Greenland

none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)

none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979)

note: foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland

Grenada

7 February 1974 (from UK)

Guadeloupe

none (overseas department of France)

Guam

none (territory of the US)

Guatemala

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Guernsey

none (British crown dependency)

Guinea

2 October 1958 (from France)

Guinea-Bissau

24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal)

Guyana

26 May 1966 (from UK)

Haiti

1 January 1804 (from France)

Holy See (Vatican City)

11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century

11 February 1929 (from Italy)

note: on 11 February 1929, three treaties were signed with Italy which, among other things, recognized the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century

Honduras

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Hong Kong

none (special administrative region of China)

Hungary

1001 (unification by King Stephen I)

Iceland

1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

India

15 August 1947 (from UK)

Indonesia

17 August 1945 (independence proclaimed); 27 December 1949 (Netherlands recognizes Indonesian independence)

17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27 December 1949, Indonesia became legally independent from the Netherlands)

Iran

1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)

Iraq

3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government

3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

Ireland

6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)

Isle of Man

none (British crown dependency)

Israel

14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

Italy

17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870)

Jamaica

6 August 1962 (from UK)

Japan

660 B.C. (traditional founding by Emperor JIMMU)

660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu)

Jersey

none (British crown dependency)

Jordan

25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

Kazakhstan

16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Kenya

12 December 1963 (from UK)

Kiribati

12 July 1979 (from UK)

Korea, North

15 August 1945 (from Japan)

Korea, South

15 August 1945 (from Japan)

Kuwait

19 June 1961 (from UK)

Kyrgyzstan

31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Laos

19 July 1949 (from France)

Latvia

21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Lebanon

22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

Lesotho

4 October 1966 (from UK)

Liberia

26 July 1847

Libya

24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)

24 December 1951 (from Italy)

Liechtenstein

23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)

23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established; 12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman Empire

Lithuania

11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)

Luxembourg

1839 (from the Netherlands)

Macau

none (special administrative region of China)

Macedonia

8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsing independence from Yugoslavia)

-

Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of

-

8 September 1991 referendum by registered voters endorsing independence (from Yugoslavia)

Madagascar

26 June 1960 (from France)

Malawi

6 July 1964 (from UK)

Malaysia

31 August 1957 (from UK)

Maldives

26 July 1965 (from UK)

Mali

22 September 1960 (from France)

Malta

21 September 1964 (from UK)

Marshall Islands

21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

Martinique

none (overseas department of France)

Mauritania

28 November 1960 (from France)

Mauritius

12 March 1968 (from UK)

Mayotte

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Mexico

16 September 1810 (from Spain)

Micronesia, Federated States of

3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

Moldova

27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Monaco

1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)

Mongolia

11 July 1921 (from China)

Montenegro

3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro); note - a referendum on independence was held 21 May 2006

-

Montserrat

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Morocco

2 March 1956 (from France)

Mozambique

25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

Namibia

21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

Nauru

31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

Nepal

1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)

Netherlands

23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)

1579 (from Spain); note - the northern provinces of the Low Country concluded the Union of Utrecht, but it was 1648 before Spain finally recognized their independence

Netherlands Antilles

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

New Caledonia

none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is scheduled for 2014

New Zealand

26 September 1907 (from UK)

Nicaragua

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Niger

3 August 1960 (from France)

Nigeria

1 October 1960 (from UK)

Niue

on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand

Norfolk Island

none (territory of Australia)

Northern Mariana Islands

none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

Norway

7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)

7 June 1905 Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved; 26 October 1905 Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union

Oman

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

Pakistan

14 August 1947 (from UK)

Palau

1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

Panama

3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)

Papua New Guinea

16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)

Paraguay

14 May 1811 (from Spain)

Peru

28 July 1821 (from Spain)

Philippines

12 June 1898 (from Spain)

4 July 1946 (from US)

Pitcairn Islands

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Poland

11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)

Portugal

1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (independent republic proclaimed)

1143 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)

Puerto Rico

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Qatar

3 September 1971 (from UK)

Reunion

none (overseas department of France)

Romania

9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin; kingdom proclaimed 26 March 1881); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)

9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from Turkey; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin; kingdom proclaimed 26 March 1881; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)

Russia

24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Rwanda

1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

Saint Helena

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

19 September 1983 (from UK)

Saint Lucia

22 February 1979 (from UK)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

27 October 1979 (from UK)

Samoa

1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)

San Marino

3 September A.D. 301

3 September 301

Sao Tome and Principe

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Saudi Arabia

23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)

23 September 1932 (Unification of the Kingdom)

Senegal

4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960

4 April 1960 (from France); complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960

Serbia

5 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)

-

Serbia and Montenegro

-

27 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or FRY formed as self-proclaimed successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or SFRY)

Seychelles

29 June 1976 (from UK)

Sierra Leone

27 April 1961 (from UK)

Singapore

9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)

Slovakia

1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

Slovenia

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

Solomon Islands

7 July 1978 (from UK)

Somalia

1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)

South Africa

31 May 1910 (from UK); note - South Africa became a republic in 1961 following an October 1960 referendum

31 May 1910 (from UK)

Spain

the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century AD and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain

the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Moslem occupation that began in the early 8th Century A. D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain

Sri Lanka

4 February 1948 (from UK)

Sudan

1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)

Suriname

25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)

Svalbard

none (territory of Norway)

Swaziland

6 September 1968 (from UK)

Sweden

6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)

Switzerland

1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)

1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation)

Syria

17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

Tajikistan

9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Tanzania

26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964

Thailand

1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

Togo

27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

Tokelau

none (territory of New Zealand)

Tonga

4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

Trinidad and Tobago

31 August 1962 (from UK)

Tunisia

20 March 1956 (from France)

Turkey

29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)

Turkmenistan

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Turks and Caicos Islands

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Tuvalu

1 October 1978 (from UK)

Uganda

9 October 1962 (from UK)

Ukraine

24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

United Arab Emirates

2 December 1971 (from UK)

United Kingdom

England has existed as a unified entity since the 10th century; the union between England and Wales, begun in 1284 with the Statute of Rhuddlan, was not formalized until 1536 with an Act of Union; in another Act of Union in 1707, England and Scotland agreed to permanently join as Great Britain; the legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland was implemented in 1801, with the adoption of the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 formalized a partition of Ireland; six northern Irish counties remained part of the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland and the current name of the country, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was adopted in 1927

England has existed as a unified entity since the 10th century; the union between England and Wales was enacted under the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284; in the Act of Union of 1707, England and Scotland agreed to permanent union as Great Britain; the legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland was implemented in 1801, with the adoption of the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 formalized a partition of Ireland; six northern Irish counties remained part of the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland and the current name of the country, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was adopted in 1927

United States

4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)

Uruguay

25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

Uzbekistan

1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Vanuatu

30 July 1980 (from France and UK)

Venezuela

5 July 1811 (from Spain)

Vietnam

2 September 1945 (from France)

Wallis and Futuna

none (overseas territory of France)

Yemen

22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); note - previously North Yemen had become independent in November of 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)

22 May 1990, Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]; previously North Yemen had become independent on NA November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)

Zambia

24 October 1964 (from UK)

Zimbabwe

18 April 1980 (from UK)