Territory Changes

500 events since 1900 · 96.6M km² transferred

Territory Gained/Lost Countries Created/Dissolved Pre-1816 Events

All Time Since 1500 Since 1776 Since 1900 Since 1945 Since 1990

Data quality:1900+ comprehensive (COW dataset)1816–1899 sparse (many events from unrecorded polities)Pre-1816 historical estimates only

New Countries

132

94 independence
24 secession
14 partition

Dissolved

since 1900

Expanded

147

41 via conflict
106 peaceful only

Contracted

17 via conflict
14 peaceful only

Based on 500 recorded events (130 by conflict · 96.6M km² transferred)

Countries Created Since 1900

2010s1 countries

🇸🇸South Sudansecession2011

Seceded from Sudan

2000s5 countries

🇽🇰Kosovosecession2008

Seceded from Serbia

🇷🇸Serbiasecession2006

Seceded from Serbia and Montenegro

🇲🇪Montenegrosecession2006

Seceded from Serbia and Montenegro

🇹🇱East Timorindependence2002

Independent from Indonesia (Portuguese colony)

🇹🇻Tuvaluindependence2000

Independent from United Kingdom

1990s28 countries

🇳🇷Nauruindependence1999

Independent from Australia

🇹🇴Tongaindependence1999

Independent from United Kingdom

🇰🇮Kiribatiindependence1999

Independent from United Kingdom

🇵🇼Palauindependence1994

Independent from United States (UN trusteeship)

🇪🇷Eritreasecession1993

Seceded from Ethiopia

🇸🇰Slovakiapartition1993

Split from Czechoslovakia

🇨🇿Czech Republicpartition1993

Split from Czechoslovakia

🇲🇰Macedoniasecession1993

Seceded from Yugoslavia

🇸🇮Sloveniasecession1992

Seceded from Yugoslavia

🇧🇦Bosnia and Herzegovinasecession1992

Seceded from Yugoslavia

🇭🇷Croatiasecession1992

Seceded from Yugoslavia

🇫🇲Federated States of Micronesiaindependence1991

Independent from United States (UN trusteeship)

🇲🇭Marshall Islandsindependence1991

Independent from United States (UN trusteeship)

🇰🇿Kazakhstansecession1991

Seceded from Soviet Union

🇺🇿Uzbekistansecession1991

Seceded from Soviet Union

🇰🇬Kyrgyzstansecession1991

Seceded from Soviet Union

🇹🇯Tajikistansecession1991

Seceded from Soviet Union

🇹🇲Turkmenistansecession1991

Seceded from Soviet Union

🇦🇿Azerbaijansecession1991

Seceded from Soviet Union

🇬🇪Georgiasecession1991

Seceded from Soviet Union

🇦🇲Armeniasecession1991

Seceded from Soviet Union

🇧🇾Belarussecession1991

Seceded from Soviet Union

🇺🇦Ukrainesecession1991

Seceded from Soviet Union

🇱🇹Lithuaniasecession1991

Seceded from Soviet Union

🇱🇻Latviasecession1991

Seceded from Soviet Union

🇪🇪Estoniasecession1991

Seceded from Soviet Union

🇲🇩Moldovasecession1991

Seceded from Soviet Union

🇳🇦Namibiaindependence1990

Independent from South Africa

1980s5 countries

🇧🇳Bruneiindependence1984

Independent from United Kingdom

🇰🇳St. Kitts and Nevisindependence1983

Independent from United Kingdom

🇻🇺Vanuatuindependence1981

Independent from United Kingdom

🇧🇿Belizeindependence1981

Independent from United Kingdom

🇦🇬Antigua & Barbudaindependence1981

Independent from United Kingdom

1970s22 countries

🇻🇨St. Vincent and the Grenadinesindependence1979

Independent from United Kingdom

🇱🇨St. Luciaindependence1979

Independent from United Kingdom

🇸🇧Solomon Islandsindependence1978

Independent from United Kingdom

🇩🇲Dominicaindependence1978

Independent from United Kingdom

🇩🇯Djiboutiindependence1977

Independent from France

🇸🇨Seychellesindependence1976

Independent from United Kingdom

🇼🇸Samoaindependence1976

Independent from New Zealand

🇲🇿Mozambiqueindependence1975

Independent from Portugal

🇸🇹Sao Tome and Principeindependence1975

Independent from Portugal

🇨🇻Cape Verdeindependence1975

Independent from Portugal

🇸🇷Surinameindependence1975

Independent from Netherlands

🇦🇴Angolaindependence1975

Independent from Portugal

🇵🇬Papua New Guineaindependence1975

Independent from United Kingdom

🇰🇲Comorosindependence1975

Independent from France

🇬🇼Guinea-Bissauindependence1974

Independent from Portugal

🇬🇩Grenadaindependence1974

Independent from United Kingdom

🇧🇸Bahamasindependence1973

Independent from United Kingdom

🇦🇪United Arab Emiratesindependence1971

Independent from United Kingdom

🇶🇦Qatarindependence1971

Independent from United Kingdom

🇧🇭Bahrainindependence1971

Independent from United Kingdom

🇧🇩Bangladeshpartition1971

Split from British India → Pakistan

🇫🇯Fijiindependence1970

Independent from United Kingdom

1960s45 countries

🇲🇺Mauritiusindependence1968

Independent from United Kingdom

🇸🇿Swazilandindependence1968

Independent from United Kingdom

🇬🇶Equatorial Guineaindependence1968

Independent from Spain

🇾🇪Yemen People's Republicindependence1967

Independent from United Kingdom (Aden Protectorate)

🇧🇼Botswanaindependence1966

Independent from United Kingdom

🇱🇸Lesothoindependence1966

Independent from United Kingdom

🇬🇾Guyanaindependence1966

Independent from United Kingdom

🇧🇧Barbadosindependence1966

Independent from United Kingdom

🇲🇻Maldivesindependence1965

Independent from United Kingdom

🇿🇼Zimbabweindependence1965

Independent from United Kingdom

🇬🇲Gambiaindependence1965

Independent from United Kingdom

🇸🇬Singaporeindependence1965

Independent from Malaysia

🇲🇼Malawiindependence1964

Independent from United Kingdom

🇿🇲Zambiaindependence1964

Independent from United Kingdom

🇲🇹Maltaindependence1964

Independent from United Kingdom

🇹🇿Zanzibarindependence1963

Independent from United Kingdom

🇰🇪Kenyaindependence1963

Independent from United Kingdom

🇷🇼Rwandaindependence1962

Independent from Belgium

🇧🇮Burundiindependence1962

Independent from Belgium

🇺🇬Ugandaindependence1962

Independent from United Kingdom

🇹🇹Trinidad and Tobagoindependence1962

Independent from United Kingdom

🇯🇲Jamaicaindependence1962

Independent from United Kingdom

🇩🇿Algeriaindependence1962

Independent from France

🇸🇾Syriasecession1961

Seceded from United Arab Republic (with Egypt)

🇰🇼Kuwaitindependence1961

Independent from United Kingdom

🇹🇿Tanzaniaindependence1961

Independent from United Kingdom

🇸🇱Sierra Leoneindependence1961

Independent from United Kingdom

🇸🇴Somaliaindependence1960

Independent from Italian/British Somalia

🇨🇩Democratic Republic of the Congoindependence1960

Independent from Belgium

🇳🇪Nigeriaindependence1960

Independent from United Kingdom

🇨🇾Cyprusindependence1960

Independent from United Kingdom

🇲🇬Madagascarindependence1960

Independent from France

🇨🇬Congoindependence1960

Independent from France

🇹🇩Chadindependence1960

Independent from France

🇬🇦Gabonindependence1960

Independent from France

🇨🇲Cameroonindependence1960

Independent from France

🇹🇬Togoindependence1960

Independent from France

🇧🇫Burkina Fasoindependence1960

Independent from France

🇨🇮Ivory Coastindependence1960

Independent from France

🇳🇬Nigerindependence1960

Independent from France

🇲🇷Mauritaniaindependence1960

Independent from France

🇧🇯Beninindependence1960

Independent from France

🇸🇳Senegalindependence1960

Independent from France

🇲🇱Maliindependence1960

Independent from France

🇨🇫Central African Republicindependence1960

Independent from France

1950s13 countries

🇬🇳Guineaindependence1958

Independent from France

🇲🇾Malaysiaindependence1957

Independent from United Kingdom

🇬🇭Ghanaindependence1957

Independent from United Kingdom

🇸🇩Sudanindependence1956

Independent from United Kingdom

🇹🇳Tunisiaindependence1956

Independent from France

🇲🇦Moroccoindependence1956

Independent from France

🇩🇪German Federal Republicpartition1955

Split from Allied-occupied Germany

🇻🇳Republic of Vietnampartition1954

Split from French Indochina

🇻🇳Vietnampartition1954

Split from French Indochina

🏳️German Democratic Republicpartition1954

Split from Allied-occupied Germany

🇱🇦Laospartition1953

Split from French Indochina

🇰🇭Cambodiapartition1953

Split from French Indochina

🇱🇾Libyaindependence1951

Independent from Italy (UN trusteeship)

1940s13 countries

🇹🇼Taiwanpartition1949

Split from Republic of China (mainland)

🇮🇩Indonesiaindependence1949

Independent from Netherlands

🇰🇷South Koreapartition1949

Split from Korea (Japanese occupation)

🇮🇱Israelindependence1948

Independent from British Mandate of Palestine

🇰🇵North Koreapartition1948

Split from Korea (Japanese occupation)

🇱🇰Sri Lankaindependence1948

Independent from United Kingdom (Ceylon)

🇲🇲Myanmarindependence1948

Independent from United Kingdom

🇵🇰Pakistanpartition1947

Split from British India

🇮🇳Indiapartition1947

Split from British India

🇱🇧Lebanonindependence1946

Independent from French Mandate of Lebanon

🇸🇾Syriaindependence1946

Independent from French Mandate of Syria

🇯🇴Jordanindependence1946

Independent from British Mandate of Transjordan

🇵🇭Philippinesindependence1946

Independent from United States

Countries That Ceased to Exist Since 1900

Country	Existed	Ended
🇷🇸Yugoslavia	1944–2006	2006
🇨🇿Czechoslovakia	1945–1992	1992
🇾🇪Yemen People's Republic	1967–1990	1990
🇩🇪German Federal Republic	1955–1990	1990
🏳️German Democratic Republic	1954–1990	1990
🇾🇪Yemen Arab Republic	1926–1990	1990
🇻🇳Republic of Vietnam	1954–1975	1975
🇹🇿Zanzibar	1963–1964	1964
🇸🇾Syria	1946–1958	1958
🇷🇸Yugoslavia	1878–1941	1941
🇱🇹Lithuania	1918–1940	1940
🇱🇻Latvia	1918–1940	1940
🇪🇪Estonia	1918–1940	1940
🇦🇹Austria-Hungary	1816–1918	1918
🇲🇦Morocco	1847–1912	1912
🏳️Korea	1887–1905	1905

Ranked totals based on event-level records (1816-2025). Pre-1816 events are historical estimates shown separately. Area in square kilometers. Events classified as conquest, annexation, cession, secession, unification, or mandated territory. Wartime occupations (e.g., WWII) are excluded from the dissolved list.