Year
|
Previous entity
|
Newly independent entity
|
Event
|
October 25, 1945
|
Japan
|
Taiwan[b]
|
Handover of Japanese Formosa to the Republic of China, which has ruled the island ever since. Largely unrecognized.
|
March 2, 1946
|
United Kingdom and Soviet Union
|
Iran
|
Withdrawal of British troops from Iran following invasion and occupation in 1941, although Soviet troops wouldn’t withdraw until May 1946. Initial establishment in 678 BC.[2] Previously invaded and occupied by the Macedonian Greeks, Arabs, and Mongols. The monarchy would be overthrown in 1979 and replaced by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
|
June 17, 1946
|
United Kingdom
|
Jordan
|
Previously a League of Nations Mandate.
|
July 4, 1946
|
United States
|
Philippines
|
Restoration of Independence after American rule. Initial declaration of independence in 1897
|
August 15, 1947
|
United Kingdom
|
India
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1950.
|
August 15, 1947
|
United Kingdom
|
Pakistan
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1956.
|
January 4, 1948
|
United Kingdom
|
Burma
|
Independence restored after British rule. Initial establishment in 849 Name changed to Myanmar in 1989.
|
February 4, 1948
|
United Kingdom
|
Ceylon
|
Renamed Sri Lanka in 1972. In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1972.
|
May 14, 1948
|
United Kingdom
|
Israel
|
Previously a League of Nations mandate. Partially unrecognized. Initial establishment in 930 BC.[5]
|
December 24, 1951
|
United Kingdom and France
|
Libya
|
Created by merging French and British-occupied areas in Libya with the independent Emirate of Cyrenaica. Initial founding in 1551[6]
|
October 22, 1953
|
France
|
Laos
|
In December 2, 1975, The Pathet Lao, (Left-wing Revolutionary Force in Kingdom of Laos), control the country and takeover the power and abolished the Kingdom of Laos. Then it has become a Communist State as the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos. Initial establishment in 1353.
|
November 9, 1953
|
France
|
Cambodia
|
Independence restored after French protectorate status. Initial establishment in 802.
|
January 1, 1956
|
United Kingdom and Kingdom of Egypt
|
Sudan
|
|
March 20, 1956
|
France
|
Tunisia
|
Independence restored after period as a French protectorate. Initial independence in 1705
|
March 6, 1957
|
United Kingdom
|
Ghana
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1960.
|
August 14, 1957
|
France
|
Morocco
|
Independence restored after French protectorate. Initial founding in 788.
|
August 31, 1957
|
United Kingdom
|
Malaya
|
Name changed to Malaysia in 1963.
|
October 2, 1958
|
France
|
Guinea
|
|
January 1, 1960
|
France
|
Cameroon
|
|
April 27, 1960
|
France
|
Togo
|
|
June 20, 1960
|
France
|
Mali
|
|
June 26, 1960
|
France
|
Madagascar
|
Independence restored after French rule, initial establishment as Kingdom of Madagascar in 1817, a successor to the earlier Merina Kingdom.
|
June 30, 1960
|
Belgium
|
DR Congo
|
Named Zaire from 1971-1997. Now known as Democratic Republic of the Congo or Congo-Kinshasa.
|
July 1, 1960
|
Italy
|
Somalia
|
|
July 31, 1960
|
France
|
Dahomey
|
Renamed to Benin in 1975.
|
August 5, 1960
|
France
|
Upper Volta
|
Renamed to Burkina Faso in 1984.
|
August 7, 1960
|
France
|
Ivory Coast
|
|
August 8, 1960
|
France
|
Niger
|
|
August 11, 1960
|
France
|
Chad
|
|
August 13, 1960
|
France
|
Central African Republic
|
Central African Empire from 1976-1979.
|
August 15, 1960
|
France
|
Congo
|
|
August 16, 1960
|
United Kingdom
|
Cyprus
|
|
August 17, 1960
|
France
|
Gabon
|
|
August 20, 1960
|
Mali
|
Senegal
|
|
October 1, 1960
|
United Kingdom
|
Nigeria
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1963.
|
November 28, 1960
|
France
|
Mauritania
|
|
April 27, 1961
|
United Kingdom
|
Sierra Leone
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1971.
|
June 19, 1961
|
United Kingdom
|
Kuwait
|
Independence restored after period of British protectorate. Initial independence in 1752.
|
January 1, 1962
|
New Zealand
|
Samoa
|
Independence restored after German and New Zealand rule. Initial independence c. 1300.
|
July 1, 1962
|
Belgium
|
Burundi
|
Independence restored after German and Belgian protectorate. Initial establishment c. 1680.
|
July 1, 1962
|
Belgium
|
Rwanda
|
Independence restored after German and Belgian protectorate. Initial establishment around the 12th century.
|
July 5, 1962
|
France
|
Algeria
|
Independence restored after French colonial rule. Initial founding in 1516
|
August 6, 1962
|
United Kingdom
|
Jamaica
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries.
|
August 31, 1962
|
United Kingdom
|
Trinidad and Tobago
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1976.
|
October 9, 1962
|
United Kingdom
|
Uganda
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1963.
|
November 12, 1963
|
United Kingdom
|
Kenya
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1964.
|
July 6, 1964
|
United Kingdom
|
Malawi
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1966.
|
September 21, 1964
|
United Kingdom
|
Malta
|
Independence restored after French and British rule. Initial independence in 1520. In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1974.
|
October 24, 1964
|
United Kingdom
|
Zambia
|
|
February 18, 1965
|
United Kingdom
|
Gambia
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1970.
|
July 26, 1965
|
United Kingdom
|
Maldives
|
Independence restored after British protectorate. Previously subject to Portuguese protectorate from 1558 to 1573.[7] Initial establishment before 1117.
|
August 4, 1965
|
New Zealand
|
Cook Islands[c]
|
Partially unrecognized. In personal union with the UK and many other countries. In free association with New Zealand
|
August 9, 1965
|
Malaysia
|
Singapore
|
Forcibly expelled from Malaysia. Initial establishment in 1299.
|
May 26, 1966
|
United Kingdom
|
Guyana
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1970.
|
September 30, 1966
|
United Kingdom
|
Botswana
|
|
October 4, 1966
|
United Kingdom
|
Lesotho
|
Independence restored after period of British protectorate. Initial establishment around 1822.
|
November 30, 1966
|
United Kingdom
|
Barbados
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 2021.
|
January 31, 1968
|
Australia
|
Nauru
|
|
March 12, 1968
|
United Kingdom
|
Mauritius
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1992.
|
September 6, 1968
|
United Kingdom
|
Swaziland
|
Restoration of independence after British protectorate, initial establishment around 1745. Name changed to Eswatini in 2018.
|
October 12, 1968
|
Spain
|
Equatorial Guinea
|
|
October 10, 1970
|
United Kingdom
|
Fiji
|
Restoration of independence after British colonial rule. Initial founding in 1871. In personal union with the UK and many other countries until 1987.
|
August 15, 1971
|
United Kingdom
|
Bahrain
|
Independence restored after British protectorate. Initial independence in 1783.
|
September 3, 1971
|
United Kingdom
|
Qatar
|
Independence restored after British protectorate. Initial independence in 1868.
|
December 2, 1971
|
United Kingdom
|
United Arab Emirates
|
Ras Al Khaimah initially not part of the union, joined in 1972.
|
December 16, 1971
|
Pakistan
|
Bangladesh
|
Unrecognized by Pakistan until 1974.
|
July 10, 1973
|
United Kingdom
|
Bahamas
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries.
|
September 24, 1973
|
Portugal
|
Guinea-Bissau
|
|
February 7, 1974
|
United Kingdom
|
Grenada
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries.
|
October 19, 1974
|
New Zealand
|
Niue[c]
|
Independence restored after British and New Zealand rule. Initial establishment before 1887. Partially unrecognized. In personal union with the UK and many other countries. In free association with New Zealand.
|
June 25, 1975
|
Portugal
|
Mozambique
|
|
July 5, 1975
|
Portugal
|
Cape Verde
|
|
July 6, 1975
|
France
|
Comoros
|
|
July 12, 1975
|
Portugal
|
São Tomé and Príncipe
|
|
September 16, 1975
|
Australia
|
Papua New Guinea
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries.
|
November 11, 1975
|
Portugal
|
Angola
|
|
November 25, 1975
|
Netherlands
|
Suriname
|
|
February 27, 1976
|
Spain
|
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic[b]
|
Partially unrecognized.
|
June 27, 1977
|
France
|
Djibouti
|
|
June 29, 1976
|
United Kingdom
|
Seychelles
|
|
July 7, 1978
|
United Kingdom
|
Solomon Islands
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries.
|
October 1, 1978
|
United Kingdom
|
Tuvalu
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries.
|
November 3, 1978
|
United Kingdom
|
Dominica
|
|
February 22, 1979
|
United Kingdom
|
Saint Lucia
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries.
|
July 12, 1979
|
United Kingdom
|
Kiribati
|
|
October 27, 1979
|
United Kingdom
|
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries.
|
April 18, 1980
|
United Kingdom
|
Zimbabwe
|
Restoration of independence after a brief return to British rule after the Rhodesian Bush War. Initial independence in 1965 as Rhodesia.
|
July 7, 1980
|
United Kingdom and France
|
Vanuatu
|
|
September 21, 1981
|
United Kingdom
|
Belize
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries.
|
November 1, 1981
|
United Kingdom
|
Antigua and Barbuda
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries.
|
September 19, 1983
|
United Kingdom
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
In personal union with the UK and many other countries.
|
November 15, 1983
|
Cyprus
|
Northern Cyprus[b]
|
Largely unrecognized.
|
January 1, 1984
|
United Kingdom
|
Brunei
|
Independence restored after British protectorate. Initial establishment in 1368.
|
March 11, 1990
|
Soviet Union
|
Lithuania
|
Independence restored after Russian and Soviet rule. Initial establishment in 1236. Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union.
|
March 21, 1990
|
South Africa
|
Namibia
|
|
May 4, 1990
|
Soviet Union
|
Latvia
|
Independence restored after Soviet rule. Initial establishment in 1918. Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union.
|
December 22, 1990
|
United States
|
Marshall Islands
|
In free association with the United States
|
December 22, 1990
|
United States
|
Micronesia
|
In free association with the United States
|
April 9, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
Georgia
|
Independence restored after Russian and Soviet rule. Initial establishment in 1008. Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union.
|
May 18, 1991
|
Somalia
|
Somaliland[b]
|
Largely unrecognized. Independence restored after unification with Somalia. Initial independence from the United Kingdom in 1960.
|
May 29, 1991
|
Ethiopia
|
Eritrea
|
Unrecognized by Ethiopia until 1993.
|
June 25, 1991
|
Yugoslavia
|
Croatia
|
Independence restored after Habsburg and Yugoslav rule. Initial independence in the 6th century.
|
June 25, 1991
|
Yugoslavia
|
Slovenia
|
|
August 20, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
Estonia
|
Independence restored after Soviet rule. Initial establishment in 1918. Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union.
|
August 24, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
Ukraine
|
Independence restored after Soviet rule. Initial establishment in Ukraine. Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union.
|
August 27, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
Moldova
|
Independence restored after Soviet rule. Initial establishment in Moldavian DR. Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union.
|
August 30, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
Azerbaijan
|
Independence restored after Soviet rule. Initial establishment in Azerbaijan. Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union.
|
August 31, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
Kyrgyzstan
|
Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union.
|
August 31, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
Uzbekistan
|
Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union.
|
September 9, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
Tajikistan
|
Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union.
|
September 17, 1991
|
Yugoslavia
|
North Macedonia
|
Name changed to North Macedonia in 2019.
|
October 27, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
Turkmenistan
|
Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union.
|
November 5, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
Transnistria[b]
|
Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union. Largely unrecognized.
|
November 23, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
Armenia
|
Independence restored after Russian and Soviet rule. Initial establishment in 331 BC. Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union. Partially unrecognized.
|
December 10, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
Belarus
|
Independence restored after Soviet rule. Initial establishment in Belarus. Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union.
|
December 16, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
Kazakhstan
|
Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union. Initial establishment in 1465.[8][9]
|
December 21, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
South Ossetia[b]
|
Not official until the formal disestablishment of the Soviet Union. Initially founded in the late 9th century.[d][14] Largely unrecognized.
|
December 26, 1991
|
Soviet Union
|
Russia
|
Independence restored after Soviet rule. Initial establishment in 1547.
|