The Newest Countries in the World
The world map is not fixed. New countries continue to emerge through independence movements, negotiations, and conflict. Here are the most recently formed sovereign states and the stories of how they came to exist.
South Sudan — 2011
South Sudan became the world's newest country on July 9, 2011, following a referendum in which 98.83% of voters chose independence from Sudan. The decision ended a decades-long civil war between the north and south. Unfortunately, South Sudan entered its own devastating civil war in 2013, which only formally ended with a peace deal in 2018.
Kosovo — 2008
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008, after years of international supervision following the 1998–1999 Kosovo War. It has been recognized by over 100 countries, including the United States and most EU members. However, Serbia, Russia, and China do not recognize its independence, blocking its UN membership.
→How Many Countries Are There in the World?Montenegro — 2006
Montenegro voted for independence from the union of Serbia and Montenegro in a 2006 referendum, passing by a margin of just 0.5% above the required threshold. It peacefully separated and has since joined NATO (2017) and is a candidate for EU membership.
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Download on the App StoreEast Timor (Timor-Leste) — 2002
East Timor became independent on May 20, 2002, after a long and brutal struggle. Portugal colonized it in the 16th century; Indonesia invaded in 1975 and occupied it for 24 years in a conflict that killed a significant portion of the population. After a UN-supervised referendum in 1999, it became one of the world's newest and poorest nations.
Palau — 1994
Palau was the last territory to leave the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, a US-administered territory established after World War II. It gained full independence in 1994 and is now a small island nation of about 18,000 people in the western Pacific, known for its extraordinary marine biodiversity.
The Post-Soviet Wave (1991)
The single greatest wave of new countries in modern history came with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, which created 15 new independent states in one year. Similarly, Yugoslavia's collapse between 1991 and 2008 added seven more countries to the map.
→Countries That No Longer ExistGlobe covers the history, geography, and current facts about every country, old and new. Download the app to keep learning.