List of sovereign states by date of formation

Map showing the earliest date of nationhood listed

Below is a list of nations in chronological order of their nationhood.

Nation-building is a long evolutionary process. It is therefore practically impossible to come up with a single date for a nation's "birth". However, most nations have accepted some dates in their respective histories as their symbolic starting points. This is usually done more for nationalistic propaganda than for scientific reasons. For many ancient and medieval nations these starting points are usually the dates when a nation was mentioned in a written document for the first time or simply a date from their national mythology. In Europe this often coincides with the ruler's conversion to Christianity. For post-colonial nations, starting with the United States, the beginning of nationhood is usually considered to be the date when independence was declared, granted or recognised.

The following list is mainly based on data published by the CIA, and is therefore largely (but not completely) restricted to nations whose independence is recognised by the USA. Independence dates earlier than 1919 should be treated with caution, since prior to the founding of the League of Nations, there was no international body to recognise 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.

The situation is further complicated by the confusion between the terms nation (genereally considered an ethnic or cultural grouping) and state (an independent political entity). (These two words are commonly used as synonyms.)

Ancient Kingdoms and Dynasties

Date	Nation	Event
3100 BC	Ägypten	unification of Upper and Lower Egypt into one country by Pharaoh Narmer occurred in the 31st century BC. Despite subsequent conquests, Egypt has roughly remained a united nation geographically ever since. Egypt gained independence from the United Kingdom on February 28, 1922.
3000 BC	Indien	first state founded by the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, which was likely an early kingdom or republic of some sort "The regular planning of the streets, the layout of cities and the common weights and measures suggest a single state covering the entire area." (The Wonder that was India, By A.L. Bhasham). The first unified state incorporating the majority of modern India, was founded under the Maurya dynasty by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BC. Re-unification occurred in 1600 under the Turco-Persian Mughal dynasty by Akbar the Great. Became part of the British Empire in 1757. Independence declared in 1947 and the modern Republic of India was established on 26 January, 1950
2700 BC	Iran (Persia)	First state which consisted all of western Iran was founded by non-Semitic Elamite Kingdom which lasted from around 2700 BC to 539 BC and had a significant influence on later Iranian dynasties. The Indo-European Medians created the first Iranian state which encompassed all of Iran and lasted from 728 to 550 BC, Cyrus I, founded the first Persian Empire, the Achaemenid Empire in 550 BC (the Achaemenids had ruled Anshan for about a century before that). The Achaemenids conquered the neighbouring Mesopotamian Civilization, and was the world's first superstate, stretching from Greece to India. Persia was conquered by the Macedonians under Alexander the Great, Arab Islamic Caliphate and the Mongol Empire. Modern Iran was unified in 1501 by the Safavid dynasty. Iran was referred to in the West as Persia until March 21, 1935 when it was officially recognized as Iran. The modern Islamic Republic of Iran was established on February 11, 1979 after revolution against the Pahlavi dynasty
2334 BC	Iraq	Unification occurred under the Akkadian dynasty by King Sargon of Akkad in 2334 BC. Various civilizations such as the Babylonians ruled the area afterward. Ancient contact between Sumeria and the two other cradles of civilization, India and Egypt occurred. The area was subsequently conquered by various civilizations, including the neighbouring Persians, and the Arabs, and remained un-unified. The Ottoman Turks controlled the area, along with much of the middle east, until World War 1, when the British Empire gained administration. The modern Republic of Iraq was established on October 3, 1932 from League of Nations mandate under British administration.
2070 BC	China	first state founded by the quasi-legendary Xia Dynasty, which was allegedly the beginning of Chinese monarchy until Xinhai Revolution in 1911, after a period of Neolithic cultures, according to historical texts. First archeologically confirmed state was the Shang dynasty. The first unified state incorporating the majority of modern China, was founded under the Qin dynasty by Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi in 221 BC. The modern People's Republic of China was established on October 1, 1949 after revolution against the Republic of China
1300 BC	Georgien	Georgian Kingdom - Colchis was formed as a result of the increasing consolidation of the tribes inhabiting the Western Georgian Area. Colchis is sometimes mentioned with original Georgian names: კოლხეთი (Kolkheti) and ეგრისი (Egrisi) or also with ancient Greek name Κολχίς (Kolkis). This kingdom is described in Greek mythology as the destination of the Argonauts. Colchis is a homeland of Golden Fleece. The most significant thing is that the language of Colchians is still alive and widely used among Western Georgians. The modern Georgia declared independence from the USSR in April 9, 1991
1020 BC	Israel	unification under the Kingdom of Israel by King Saul of Israel, occurred after former slaves migrated away from the Egyptian Empire. The land was subsequently conquered by Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Sassandians, European Christians and Muslims. The Turkish Ottoman Empire annexed the area in the 1500s, until the British Empire took over administration after World War I. An irredentist movement sought to create a new state. The modern State of Israel was established on 14th May, 1948 after independence from the British Empire
858 BC	Armenien	Aramu, first known king of Urartu, an ancient Armenian kingdom; Hurrians present by 2500 BC
337 BC	Griechenland	unification occurred under the Macedonians by King Philip II of Macedon in 337 BC. After decline in power, Greece was incorporated into the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire. The modern Hellenic Republic was established on 25 March, 1821 after independence from the Ottoman Empire
302 BC	Georgien	Pharnavaz I of Iberia, victorious in power struggle, became the first king of an ancient Georgian Kingdom Iberia (302-237 BC).He has reformed a Georgian alphabet which is created in 5th century BC. Georgian alphabet is used to write the Georgian language - an official language in Georgia.
c. 1st century BC	Äthiopien	oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world
270	Japan	unification by Emperor Ojin. Modern Japan was unified in 1598 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi
3 September, 301	San Marino	claims to be world's oldest surviving republic
486	Frankreich	conquered by Clovis, French Kingdom (West Francia) created in 843 with Treaty of Verdun, although present-day France (5th Republic) was created on October 5, 1958.
668	Korea	unification of the Korean peninsula by the Silla Kingdom
681	Bulgarien	unification of Bulgars and Slavs by Asparukh after the Byzantine empire was forced to sign a peace treaty with them.
780	Serbien	unification of Serbian tribes under knez Višeslav, great-grandson of the Unknown Archont
789	Marokko	Idriss II founded the city of Fez and unified the tribes between the Moulouya and Um Rabiaa rivers under first Moroccan dynasty. The country took the name of Al Maghrib Al Aqsa
790	Kambodscha	Khmer Empire
843	Scotland	unified by Kenneth mac Alpin
864	Bulgarien	khan Boris becomes the first Bulgarian Christian king
868	Portugal	Portugal emerges as an autonomous entity from Galicia under Count Vímara Peres
872	Norwegen	first establishment of a unified Norwegian state by King Harald Hairfair in 872. Present-Day Norway regained partial independence on the 17 May 1814 and full independence on the 7 June 1905, after almost 500 years of unequal unions
895	Bohemia	from Great Moravia
9th century	England	Alfred the Great (871-899) the first King of England
926	Serbien	Serbia liberated from the Byzantine Empire and Bulgarians under Caslav Klonimirovic
930	Island	founding of a central parliament (Alþingi) for the newly settled country
939	Vietnam	defeat of Chinese forces at the Battle of Bạch Đằng, established as Đại Cồ Việt
966	Polen	Christianized after being unified by Mieszko I, the first Duke of Poland. Although, modern-day Poland only gained independence on the 11 November 1918 which was later confirmed by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919
988	Russland	Start of Christianity for Kievan Rus
995	Schweden	Olof Skötkonung became the first king to rule both Svealand and Götaland
10th century	Dänemark	organized as a unified state by Harold Bluetooth around 980
10th century	Kroatien	transformation of the medieval Croatian state into a kingdom under Tomislav around 925
1 January 1001	Ungarn	unification by King Stephen I
1002	Irland	unified under King Brian I
1025	Polen	coronation of Boleslaus I the Brave, the first King of Poland
1040	Kingdom of Zeta	Serbia/Monetengro becomes a kingdom under King Mihajlo Vojislavljevic (today's Montenegro)
1085	Bohemia	coronation of Vratislaus II, the first King of Bohemia
23 June 1128	Portugal	Count Afonso Henriques is proclaimed sole ruler and Prince of Portugal, detaching the country from the Kingdom of Leon
26 July 1139	Portugal	Afonso Henriques is proclaimed King of Portugal
5 October 1143	Portugal	King Afonso I of Portugal' rule recognized as independent by the Kingdom of Leon with assistance by the Holy See.
1156	Österreich	raised from a Bavarian margravate to an independent duchy under the Babenbergs in the Privilegium Minus. Modern-Day Austria was created on the 5th of May 1945 after the Fall of the Greater German Reich.
5 October 1179	Portugal	Afonso I of Portugal' is recognized as king by the Pope Alexander III
1190	Albanien	Progon, Prince of Albania
1206	Mongolei	unification of Mongolian tribes by Genghis Khan
1217	Kingdom of Serbia	Stefan Prvovencani crowned by the pope
1238	Thailand	traditional founding date; never colonized
1236	Grand Duchy of Lithuania	Mindaugas becomes the first Grand Duke of Lithuania
1278	Andorra	formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix and the Catalan bishop of Urgell
1290	Wallachia	traditional founding date 1 August
1291	Schweiz	date of the Federal Charter
1325	Mexiko	foundation of Tenochtitlan by legendary first Mexica ruler, Tenoch
1330	Wallachia	independence from Hungary
1346	Serbian Empire	Serbian Empire is formed under Tzar Stefan Dušan
1349	Moldavia	independence from Hungary
1419	Monaco	beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi
28 November, 1443	Albanien	Skanderbeg liberated Kruja, then Albanian capital
1512	Spanien	Annex of Navarra, the last independent kingdom whose territory is now within the Kingdom of Spain
1579	Niederlande	declared independence from Spain during the Eighty Years' War
1636	Qing Dynasty	Regime was named as "Qing", controlled China proper in 1644
1642	Confederate Ireland	A renewed period of Irish independence, when the Catholic nobility rebelled against England and created their own government, which was crushed by the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in 1649.
1650	Oman	expulsion of the Portuguese

ň

Modern-day countries

The dates in the table below are celebrated as "Independence Day" or an equivalent holiday in the respective countries.

Date	Nation	Event
26 March 1707	Great Britain	union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland
23 January 1719	Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein
21 December 1768	Nepal	unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah
4 July 1776	Vereinigte Staaten	declared independence from Great Britain
1 January 1801	Vereinigtes Königreich	union of Great Britain and Ireland
1 January, 1804	Haiti	from France
4 February, 1804	Serbien	from Ottoman Empire
12 July, 1806	Liechtenstein	from the Holy Roman Empire
20 July, 1810	Kolumbien	from Spain
18 September, 1810	Chile	from Spain
14 May, 1811	Paraguay	from Spain
5 July, 1811	Venezuela	from Spain
17 May, 1814	Norwegen	Declared independence from Denmark and established a constitutional monarchy. Forced into a personal union with Sweden on 4 November.
9 July, 1816	Argentinien	from Spain
1817	Serbien	became an autonomous state in Ottoman Empire
25 March 1821	Griechenland	from the Ottoman Empire
28 July, 1821	Peru	from Spain
15 September, 1821	Costa Rica	from Spain
15 September, 1821	El Salvador	from Spain
15 September, 1821	Guatemala	from Spain
15 September, 1821	Honduras	from Spain
15 September, 1821	Nicaragua	from Spain
27 September, 1821	Mexiko	from Spain
28 November, 1821	Panama	from Spain
24 May, 1822	Ecuador	from Spain
7 September, 1822	Brasilien	from Portugal
6 August, 1825	Bolivien	from Spain
25 August, 1825	Uruguay	from Brazil
4 October, 1830	Belgien	independence from the Netherlands
28 October 1835	Neuseeland	Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand by the United Tribes of New Zealand
2 March, 1836	Republic of Texas	declared independence from Mexico
1839	Luxemburg	from the Netherlands
27 February, 1844	Dominikanische Republik	from Haiti
26 July, 1847	Liberia	founded by American black slaves
17 March, 1861	Italien	Kingdom of Italy unified under King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
1 July, 1867	Kanada	Became a Dominion within the British Empire
18 January, 1871	German Empire	German Empire unification
9 May, 1877	Rumänien	from the Ottoman Empire
3 March, 1878	Bulgarien	Autonomy from the Ottoman Empire
13 July, 1878	Serbien	Independence from the Ottoman Empire
13 July, 1878	Montenegro	Independence from the Ottoman Empire
26 March, 1881	Kingdom of Romania
11 February, 1897	Korean Empire	from Chinese protectorate
12 June, 1898	Philippinen	from Spain (first colonial possession in Asia to achieve independence)
10 December, 1898	Cuba	from Spain
1 January, 1901	Australien	from the UK as a federation of 6 former colonies
20 May, 1902	Cuba	from U.S. administration
3 November, 1903	Panama	from Colombia
June 7, 1905	Norwegen	Declared dissolution of the personal union with Sweden
September 26, 1907	Neuseeland	granted Dominion status by the UK
September 26, 1907	Newfoundland	granted Dominion status by the UK
September 22, 1908	Bulgarien	gained independence from Ottoman Empire
May 31, 1910	Südafrika	granted Dominion status by the UK
January 1 (February 12, O.S.), 1912	Republic of China	from Qing Dynasty
November 28, 1912	Albanien	from Ottoman Empire
December 6, 1917	Finnland	from Russia
February 16, 1918	Litauen	from Russia
February 24, 1918	Estland	from Russia
March 25, 1918	Weißrussland	from Russia
May 28, 1918	Aserbaidschan	from Russia
May 28, 1918	Armenien	from the Ottoman Empire
October 28, 1918	Czechoslovakia	from the Austria-Hungary Empire
November 1, 1918	North Yemen	from the Ottoman Empire
November 11, 1918	Polen	regained independence, proclaimed as a republic
November 18, 1918	Lettland	from Russia
December 1, 1918	Island	became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown
August 19, 1919	Afghanistan	from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs
July 11, 1921	Mongolei	from China
December 6, 1921	Irland	from UK by treaty, most of Ireland (26 counties) became an independent nation known as the Irish Free State; while the six counties of the North (Northern Ireland with a unionist Protestant majority) remained part of the United Kingdom.
December 6, 1921	Northern Ireland	partition of Ireland formed State of Northern Ireland with own Senate and House of Commons but remained remained within the United Kingdom.
1922	Soviet Union	fall of the Russian Empire
October 29, 1923	Türkei	successor state to the Ottoman Empire
February 11, 1929	Vatican City	from Italy
September 23, 1932	Saudi-Arabien	Unification of the Kingdom
November 22, 1943	Libanon	from League of Nations mandate under French administration
June 17, 1944	Island	from Denmark
September 17, 1944	Estland	from Ostland
May 8, 1945	Lettland	from German Military Administration
August 15, 1945	Korea	from Japan
August 17, 1945	Indonesien	from the Netherlands
September 2, 1945	Vietnam	declaration of independence from France
April 17, 1946	Syria	from League of Nations mandate under French administration
May 25, 1946	Jordanien	from League of Nations mandate under British administration
July 4, 1946	Philippinen	regained independence from US
August 14, 1947	Pakistan	from UK
August 15, 1947	Indien	from UK
December 30, 1947	Rumänien	proclaimed as a republic
1948	Republic of Ireland	26 counties of Ireland cuts off all lasting political links with the United Kingdom and is now fully independent with the exception of the 6 counties of Northern Ireland.
January 4, 1948	Burma	from UK
February 4, 1948	Sri Lanka	from UK
May 14, 1948	Israel	from League of Nations mandate under British administration
August 15, 1948	Republic of Korea	founding of the Republic of Korea
September 9, 1948	Democratic People's Republic of Korea	founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
May 23, 1949	Federal Republic of Germany	from the western part of occupied Germany
July 19, 1949	Laos	from France
August 8, 1949	Bhutan	from India
October 1, 1949	People's Republic of China	from Republic of China
October 7, 1949	German Democratic Republic	from the eastern part of occupied Germany
December 24, 1951	Libyen	from UK and French administration
November 9, 1953	Kambodscha	from France
January 1, 1956	Sudan	from Egypt and UK
March 2, 1956	Marokko	from France and Spain
March 20, 1956	Tunesien	from France
March 6, 1957	Ghana	from UK
August 31, 1957	Malaysia	from UK
October 2, 1958	Guinea	from France
October 5, 1958	Frankreich	French Fifth Republic declared
January 1, 1960	Kamerun	from French-administered UN trusteeship
April 4, 1960	Senegal	from France
April 27, 1960	Togo	from French-administered UN trusteeship
June 26, 1960	Madagaskar	from France
June 26, 1960	Somalia	from the UK
June 30, 1960	Democratic Republic of the Congo	from Belgium
July 1, 1960	Somalia	from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship
August 1, 1960	Benin	from France
August 3, 1960	Niger	from France
August 5, 1960	Burkina Faso	from France
August 7, 1960	Côte d'Ivoire	from France
August 11, 1960	Tschad	from France
August 13, 1960	Zentralafrikanische Republik	from France
August 15, 1960	Republic of the Congo	from France
August 16, 1960	Zypern	from UK
August 17, 1960	Gabun	from France
September 22, 1960	Mali	from France
October 1, 1960	Nigeria	from UK
November 28, 1960	Mauretanien	from France
April 27, 1961	Sierra Leone	from UK
June 19, 1961	Kuwait	from UK
January 1, 1962	Samoa	from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship
July 1, 1962	Burundi	from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration
July 1, 1962	Ruanda	from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship
July 5, 1962	Algerien	from France
August 6, 1962	Jamaika	from UK
August 31, 1962	Trinidad und Tobago	from UK
October 9, 1962	Uganda	from UK
December 12, 1963	Kenia	from UK
April 26, 1964	Tansania	from UK-administered UN trusteeship
July 6, 1964	Malawi	from UK
September 21, 1964	Malta	from UK
October 24, 1964	Sambia	from UK
February 18, 1965	The Gambia	from UK
July 26, 1965	Malediven	from UK
August 9, 1965	Singapur	from Malaysian Federation
November 11, 1965	Rhodesia	UDI from UK
May 26, 1966	Guyana	from UK
September 30, 1966	Botswana	from UK
October 4, 1966	Lesotho	from UK
November 30, 1966	Barbados	from UK
November 30, 1967	South Yemen	from UK
January 31, 1968	Nauru	from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship
March 12, 1968	Mauritius	from UK
September 6, 1968	Swasiland	from UK
October 12, 1968	Äquatorial-Guinea	from Spain
June 4, 1970	Tonga	from UK protectorate
October 10, 1970	Fidschi	from UK
August 15, 1971	Bahrain	from UK
September 3, 1971	Katar	from UK
December 2, 1971	Vereinigte Arabische Emirate	from UK
December 16, 1971	Bangladesch	from Pakistan
July 10, 1973	The Bahamas	from UK
September 24, 1973	Guinea-Bissau	declared independence from Portugal
February 7, 1974	Grenada	from UK
October 19, 1974	Niue	became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
June 25, 1975	Mosambik	from Portugal
July 5, 1975	Kap Verde	from Portugal
July 6, 1975	Komoren	from France
July 12, 1975	São Tomé and Principe	from Portugal
September 16, 1975	Papua-Neuguinea	from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship
November 11, 1975	Angola	from Portugal
November 25, 1975	Surinam	from Netherlands
February 27, 1976	Westsahara	from Spain, currently mostly occupied by Morocco, some territory administered by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
June 29, 1976	Seychellen	from UK
June 27, 1977	Dschibuti	from France
July 7, 1978	Salomonen	from UK
October 1, 1978	Tuvalu	from UK
November 3, 1978	Dominica	from UK
February 22, 1979	St. Lucia	from UK
July 12, 1979	Kiribati	from UK
October 27, 1979	St. Vincent und die Grenadinen	from UK
April 18, 1980	Simbabwe	from UK
July 30, 1980	Vanuatu	from France and UK
September 21, 1981	Belize	from UK
November 1, 1981	Antigua und Barbuda	from UK
September 19, 1983	St. Kitts und Nevis	from UK
January 1, 1984	Brunei	from UK
October 21, 1986	Marshallinseln	from the US-administered UN trusteeship as Compact of Free Association takes effect
November 3, 1986	Federated States of Micronesia	from the US-administered UN Trusteeship as Compact of Free Association takes effect
March 11, 1990	Litauen	from the Soviet Union
March 21, 1990	Namibia	from South Africa
May 22, 1990	Jemen	unification of North Yemen and South Yemen
October 3, 1990	Deutschland	unification of West Germany and East Germany
April 9, 1991	Georgien	from the Soviet Union
June 25, 1991	Kroatien	from Yugoslavia
June 25, 1991	Slowenien	from Yugoslavia
August 20, 1991	Estland	from the Soviet Union
August 21, 1991	Lettland	from the Soviet Union
August 24, 1991	Russland	from the Soviet Union
August 24, 1991	Ukraine	from the Soviet Union
August 25, 1991	Weißrussland	from the Soviet Union
August 27, 1991	Moldawien	from the Soviet Union
August 30, 1991	Aserbaidschan	from the Soviet Union
August 31, 1991	Kirgisistan	from the Soviet Union
September 1, 1991	Usbekistan	from the Soviet Union
September 8, 1991	Republic of Macedonia	from Yugoslavia
September 9, 1991	Tadschikistan	from the Soviet Union
September 21, 1991	Armenien	from the Soviet Union
October 27, 1991	Turkmenistan	from the Soviet Union
December 16, 1991	Kasachstan	from the Soviet Union
March 1, 1992	Bosnien und Herzegowina	from Yugoslavia
April 27, 1992	Serbia and Montenegro	from Yugoslavia
January 1, 1993	Tschechische Republik	Czechoslovakia dissolved
January 1, 1993	Slowakei	Czechoslovakia dissolved
May 24, 1993	Eritrea	from Ethiopia
October 1, 1994	Palau	from the US-administered UN Trusteeship as Compact of Free Association takes effect
May 20, 2002	Osttimor	from Indonesian Occupation, Nominally Portugal
June 3, 2006	Montenegro	Montenegro declares independence from Serbia and Montenegro
June 5, 2006	Serbien	Serbia and Montenegro dissolved

See also

• Timeline of country and capital changes
• List of countries
• List of national capitals
• List of countries by continent
• List of countries and capitals in native languages
• Alternative list