Afghanistan:
   12/10/1879 - 8/8/1919: British protectorate.
   2/10/1881: State of Afghanistan.
   8/8/1919: Independence proclaimed (22/11/1921: recognized by Britain).
   9/6/1926: Kingdom of Afghanistan.
   17/7/1973: Republic of Afghanistan.
   30/4/1978: Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.
   27/12/1979 - 15/2/1989: Occupied by USSR.
   30/11/1987: Republic of Afghanistan.
   28/4/1992: Islamic State of Afghanistan. 
   26/10/1997: Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban regime; not internationally recognized).
   13/11/2001: Islamic State of Afghanistan.
   19/6/2002: Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan.
   26/1/2004: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Albania:
   1877: Ottoman conquest completed.
   28/11/1912: Independence declared as Albania (29/7/1913: general recognition).
   Jan 1916 - 13/11/1918: Northern and Central Albania occupied by Austro-Hungary (and Bulgaria in the east from 1915).
   Dec 1914 - 17/12/1920: Italy occupies Vlorë and parts of Southern Albania in 1915 - 1917; and from Nov 1918 former Austro-Hungarian occupied areas.
   Jun 1916 - 26/5/1920: District of Korce and the south under French occupation.
   22/8/1920: Italy a recognizes full independence of Albania. (9/11/1921: generally recognized).
   31/1/1925: Albanian Republic.
   1/9/1928: Albanian Kingdom.
   7/4/1939: Invaded by Italy.
   16/4/1939 - 9/9/1943: Personal union with Italy the (de facto annexation).
   8/9/1943 - 20/10/1944  German occupation.
   11/1/1946: People's Republic of Albania.
   28/12/1976: Socialist People's Republic of Albania.
   30/4/1991: Republic of Albania.
   29/6/1997: Referendum rejects restoration of the monarchy.
Algeria:
   5/7/1830 - 13/10/1837: Conquered by France.
   Feb 1842: French military province, called Algeria.
   1848: Algeria declared a French territory.
   26/8/1881: Algeria, Bone, and Constantine made départements of France.
   1900: Administrative autonomy granted.
   1946: Autonomy.
   3/7/1962: Independence from France as Algerian State.
   25/9/1962: People's Democratic Algerian Republic.
American Samoa (see Samoa).
Andorra:
   1814: Principality of Andorra (Andorra was a French crown land since 1589).
Angola:
   1885 - 1914: Portuguese West Africa colony.
   15/8/1914: Angola colony.
   11/6/1951: Angola overseas province of Portugal.
   11/11/1975: Independence as People's Republic of Angola.
   27/8/1992: Republic of Angola.
Anguilla:
   1871 - 1/7/1956: Part of the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands (British).
   1882: Part of colony of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla (within the Leeward Islands colony).
   27/2/1967: Associated state of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla.
   16/6/1967: Anguilla unilaterally withdraws from Saint Christopher-Nevis.
   12/7/1967: Unilateral declaration of independence (not recognized by UK).
   6/2/1969: Republic of Anguilla proclaimed.
   19/3/1969: British rule restored.
   15/9/1969: Reunited with Saint Christopher-Nevis.
   10/2/1976: Autonomy.
   19/12/1980: Anguilla a separate dependency.
Antarctica:
   16/02/1819: First sighting of the Antarctic Peninsula by William Smith. 
   7/2/1821: U.S. Capt. John Davis makes first known landing on the continent.
   14/12/1911: Roald Amundsen of Norway reaches the South Pole.
   Mar 1957: First South Pole station built.
   1/12/1959: Antarctic Treaty signed.
  Antarctic Territorial Claims:
    Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur: (Argentine territorial claim in Antarctica (Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur) since 1943, partially overlaps British and Chilean claims and is not recognized by the United Nations, U.S., Russia or most other countries.)
      13/8/1943: Antarctic region 25°W to 74°W claimed by Argentina.
      1957: Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur National Territory created ([Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica, and the Islands of the South Atlantic] including
 Argentine Antarctic claim and Malvinas claim).
      1/6/1991: Status changed from territory to province.
    Australian Antarctic Territory: (Antarctic claim is not recognized by the United Nations, U.S., Russia, or by most other countries (other than U.K. and New Zealand)).
      11/7/1810: Macquarie Island claimed by Britain.
      1833: MacDonald and Heard Islands claimed by Britain.
      9/1/1841: Victoria Land claimed for Britain.
      13/1/1930: Enderby Land is claimed by Britain.
      13/6/1933: British imperial order places the territory as south of the 60° parallel between meridians 160W and 45W (to exclusion of French Terre Adelie) which is transferred to Australia.
      1/4/1938: The borders with the Terre Adelie are fixed definitively between meridians 136E and 14E.
      26/12/1947: Macquarie station, MacDonald and Heard Islands transferred to the territory.
      1948: Australian Antarctic Division created to administer Australian Antarctic Territory, Macquarie Island and the MacDonald and Heard Islands.
      1954: First Antarctic station built (Mawson Station).
    Antártica Brasileira: (Brazilian informal claim, 28°W to 53°W; overlaps Argentine, British and Chilean claims).
      1986: Zone of interest designated.
    Magallanes y Antárctica Chilena: (Antarctic claim overlaps Argentine and British claims and is not recognized by United Nations, U.S., Russia or other countries).
      1940: Chilean Antarctica claimed by Chile.
      1974: Magallanes y Antártica Chilena (Magellan and Chilean Antarctica), Region XII created (53°W to 90°W is Chilean Antarctic claim).
    Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises: (French claim in Antarctica is not recognized by the United Nations, U.S., Russia, or by most other countries.)
      21/1/1839: Claimed for France by Dumont d'Urville named Adelie Land (Terre Adelie).
      21/11/1924: Adelie Land (Terre Adelie) in Antarctica officially claimed by France.
      Jan 1950: First Antarctic station established (Dumont d'Urville).
      6/8/1955: French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises) an overseas territory (detached from Madagascar [includes French Antarctic claim, 142°E to 136°W Terre Adelie, Crozet Island, Kerguelen Islands, and islands of Saint-Paul and Amsterdam]).
      28/3/2003: French overseas collectivité.
    New Zealand Antarctic Territory: (New Zealand Antarctic claim has not been recognized by the United Nations, U.S., Russia, or by other countries (other than Australia and U.K.)).
      9/1/1841: Ross Ice Shelf and Victoria Land claimed for Britain.
      23/7/1923: Antarctica between 150°W to 160°E officially annexed by Britain.
      30/7/1923: Claim transferred to New Zealand (Ross Dependency).
    Dronning Maud Land: (Norwegian Antarctic claim has not been recognized by the United Nations, U.S., Russia, or by most other countries).
      1825 - 1928: Bouvet Island claimed by Britain.
      1927: Bouvet Island claimed (formally in 1930; in 1935 the island made a natural reserve for seals).
      1929: Peter I Island claimed (formally in 1931).
      14/1/1938: Dronning Maud Land (Queen Maude Land) in Antarctica (45°E to 20°E) formally claimed as a Norwegian possession.
      19/1/1939 - 23/5/1945: The area 20°E to 10°W claimed as German New Swabia (Deutsche Neuschwabenland) by Germany, not recognized by Norway or any other nation.
      1948: Norwegian Polar Institute created to administer Queen Maude Land (part of the Ministry of the Environment).
      1957: Dronning Maud Land Dependency.
    British Antarctic Territory: (British Antarctic claim overlaps Argentine and Chilean claims. Antarctic claim not recognized by the United Nations, U.S., Russia, or by most other countries (other than Australia and New Zealand)).
      16/10/1819: South Shetland Islands claimed for Britain.
      6/12/1821: South Orkney Islands claimed for Britain (named and reclaimed Feb 1822).
      21/2/1832: Graham Land on Antarctica annexed for Britain.
      21/7/1908: Graham Land, South Shetland Islands, and the South Orkney Islands officially annexed by Britain and made dependencies of the Falkland Islands.
      3/3/1962: British Antarctic Territory (South Shetland Islands, South Orkney Islands, and Graham Land) made a separate dependency.
    Deutsch Neuschwabenland: (former claim)
      19/1/1939: 20°E to 10°W claimed by Germany as Deutsch Neuschwabenland (German New Swabia Land), this claim overlaps Norwegian claim (claim not recognized).
      8/5/1945: claim abandoned.
    South African Antarctica: (unverified former claim 1963-1994)
Antigua and Barbuda:
   1833 - 1/1/1960: Part of the (British) Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands colony (Antigua, British Virgin Islands, Dominica [to 1940], Montserrat, Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla).
   1870: Barbuda united with Antigua.
   30/6/1956: Separate colony.
   3/1/1958 - 31/5/1962: Part of the Federation of the West Indies.
   27/2/1967: Associated state.
   1/10/1980: Attempted separation of Barbuda from Antigua fails.
   1/11/1981: Independence as Antigua and Barbuda.
Argentina:
   1/8/1776: (Spanish) Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata separated from Peru (modern Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay).
   12/10/1813:  Secession of Paraguay.
   9/7/1816: Independence as United Provinces in South America.
   18/7/1821: Uruguay annexed by Brazil.
   25/8/1825: Uruguay separated from Brazil and reincorporation into the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata declared.
   1/12/1828: Independence of Uruguay. 
   23/1/1825: United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.
   4/1/1831: Argentine Confederation.
   1/10/1860: Argentine Nation (also known as Argentine Republic).
   2/4/1982 - 14/6/1982: Argentine occupation of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas).
Armenia:
   1827 - 1840: Yerevan and Eastern Armenia occupied by Russia.
   1844 - 1917: Part of the Viceroyalty of the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia).
   1845: Russian province Erivan (modern Armenia) created.
   May 1915 - 1917: Russian occuaption of Ottoman (western) Armenia. 
   22/4/1918 - 26/5/1918: Part of Democratic Federative Republic of Transcaucasia (with Azerbaijan and Georgia).
   30/5/1918 - 2/12/1920: Republic of Armenia (including Turkish Armenia).
   20/11/1920: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic.
   9/12/1920: Formerly Ottoman portion of Armenia reincorporated into Turkey.
   12/3/1922: Part of the Federative Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of Transcaucasia (with Azerbaijan and Georgia) within USSR.
   13/12/1922: Part of the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.
   30/12/1922: Transcaucasian SFSR founding component of the USSR.
   5/12/1936: Transcaucasian SFSR dissolved; Armenian SSR becomes a full Soviet republic.
   23/8/1990: Republic of Armenia (within USSR).
   21/9/1991: Independence declared (25/12/1991: effective after dissolution of USSR).
   6/1/1992: Nagorno-Karabakh declares independence from Azerbaijan (recognized only by Armenia).
Aruba:
   1828: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, and Dutch Guiana united as Dutch West Indies.
   1848: Islands united as Netherlands Antilles.
   1922: Overseas province of the Netherlands.
   11/5/1940 - 1942: British protectorate.
   1942 - 1945: U.S. protectorate.
   Dec 1948: Part of the Netherlands (Netherlands Antilles).
   29/12/1954: Netherlands Antilles autonomous.
   1/1/1986: Aruba a separate dependency.
Australia:
   26/1/1788: New South Wales, the first British colony in Australia, founded.
   1/1/1901: British colonies in Australia united as a dominion (Commonwealth of Australia).
   11/12/1931: Statute of Westminster grants sovereignty to the British dominions.
Austria:
   21/12/1867: Austrian half of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy (Habsburg) officially styled Die im Reichsrat vertretenen Königreiche und Länder ("The Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council"). 
   1916: First official use of the title Empire of Austria.
   16/10/1918: Emperor declares the Austrian Empire to be "a federal state" (to no effect).
   17/10/1918: Independence of Hungary.
   28/10/1918: Independence of the Czechoslovak State.
   11/11/1918: End of Habsburg dynastic rule.
   12/11/1918: Republic of German-Austria.
   10/9/1919: Treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye; Austria recognizes Hungary, and recognizes Bohemia and Moravia as Czechoslovakia. Austria cedes Carniola, Dalmatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, parts of Styria, and Carinthia to Yugoslavia. Bukovina is ceded to Romania, Galicia and Cracow ceded to Poland. Southern Tyrol, Görz (Gorizia), Istria and Triest ceded to Italy.
   21/10/1919: Republic of Austria.
   1/7/1934: Federal State of Austria.
   13/3/1938: Annexed to Germany.
   19/4/1945 - 15/5/1955: Allied occupation.
   27/4/1945: Republic of Austria.
Azerbaijan:
   Dec 1806: Annexed to Russia.
   1844 - 1917: Part of the Viceroyalty of the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia).
   22/4/1918 - 26/5/1918: Part of the Democratic Federative Republic of Transcaucasia (with Armenia and Georgia).
   28/5/1918: Azerbaijan People's Republic.
   4/8/1918 - 30/9/1918: Baku occupied by Britain, then Ottoman Empire.
   28/4/1920: Azerbaidzhan Soviet Socialist Republic.
   12/3/1922: Part of the Federative Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of Transcaucasia (with Armenia and Georgia).
   13/12/1922: Part of the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.
   30/12/1922: Transcaucasian SFSR founding component of USSR.
   5/12/1936: Transcaucasian SFSR dissolved; Azerbaidzhan SSR becomes a full Soviet republic.
   19/11/1990: Azerbaijani Republic (within USSR).
   30/8/1991: Independence declared (25/12/1991: effective after dissolution of USSR).
   7/1/1992: Nagorno-Karabakh declares independence from Azerbaijan (recognized only by Armenia).
The Bahamas:
   1783: British possession confirmed (previously Spanish (1782-1783), American (1776) and British occupation (since 1718), and (1706-1718) pirate rule).
   7/1/1964: Self government.
   1969: Commonwealth of the Bahama Islands.
   10/7/1973: Independence from Britain as The Bahamas.
Bahrain:
   2/12/1880 - 15/8/1971: British protectorate.
   1961: Autonomy.
   16/8/1971: State of Bahrain.
   14/2/2002: Kingdom of Bahrain.
Bangladesh:
   26/5/1770: Bengal part of British India.
   14/8/1947: Bengal partitioned, East Bengal part of Pakistan.
   14/10/1955: Renamed East Pakistan.
   26/3/1971: Independence proclaimed (as People's Republic of Bangladesh).
   22/2/1974: Independence recognized by Pakistan.
Barbados:
   1833 - 1885: Part of the (British) Windward Islands colony (Barbados was a crown colony since 1663).
   3/1/1958 - 31/5/1962: Part of the Federation of the West Indies.
   29/11/1966: Independence from Britain as Barbados.
Belarus:
   1793 - 1795: White Russia annexed from Poland by Russia.
   21/2/1918 - 1/1/1919: German occupation.
   9/3/1918: Independence as Belorussian Republic (later People's Republic).
   1/1/1919: Belorussian SSR (part of USSR).
   1/9/1919: Polish occupation. Belorussian People's Republic restored under Polish occupation.
   1/8/1920: Byelorussian SSR (Russian occupation).
   30/12/1922: Founding component of Soviet Union.
   Sep 1939: Western Belarus re-incoporated into Byelorussian SSR (previously 1920-1939 part of Poland).
   Jun 1941 - Jul 1944: Occupied by Germany; part of Reichskommissariat of Ostland.
   25/8/1991: Independence declared as Republic of Belarus (25/12/1991: independence effective after dissolution of USSR).
Belgium:
   12/5/1815: Incorporation of the Belgian lands and Liège into the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
   4/10/1830: The Provional Government of Belgium proclaims independence from the Netherlands.
   7/2/1831: Kingdom of Belgium .
   4/8/1914 - 11/11/1918: Occupied by Germany.
   22/12/1917 - 25/6/1918: Independent State of Flanders proclaimed.
   10/5/1940 - 3/9/1944: Germany occupies Belgium.
   3/9/1944 - 20/9/1944  Allied occupation.
Belize:
   12/5/1862: British Honduras crown colony.
   Mar 1954: Autonomy.
   1/1/1964: Self-government granted.
   1/6/1973: British Honduras renamed Belize.
   21/9/1981: Independence as Belize.
Benin (Dahomey):
   22/6/1894: Dahomey a French colony.
   1899: Part of French West Africa.
   13/10/1946: Dahomey an overseas territory of France.
   4/12/1958: Dahomey Autonomous Republic.
   1/8/1960: Independence as Republic of Dahomey.
   30/11/1975: People's Republic of Benin.
   1/3/1990: Republic of Benin.
Bermuda:
   8/6/1968: Autonomy (Bermuda was a crown colony since 1684).
   15/8/1995: Referendum rejects independence.
Bhutan:
   1730 - 8/1/1910: Tributary of Tibet (which itself is under Chinese suzerainty).
   17/12/1907: Kingdom of Bhutan.
   8/1/1910 - 15/8/1947: Protectorate of Britain.
   15/8/1947 - 31/9/1971: Protectorate of India.
   31/9/1971: Independence as Kingdom of Bhutan.
Bolivia:
   11/8/1825:  Bolivian Republic.
   1/10/1868: Republic of Bolivia.
   20/10/1883: Pacific coastline annexed by Chile.
   17/11/1903: Acre purchased by Brazil (for two million pounds).
Bosnia Herzegovina:
   27/7/1878: Administered by Austria-Hungary (under Ottoman sovereignty).
   7/10/1908: Annexed by Austria-Hungary (crownland of Bosnia and province of Herzegowina).
   1/12/1918: Part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia).
   10/4/1941 - 6/5/1945: Part of independent Croatia.
   2/12/1945: Part of Yugoslavia (People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina).
   7/7/1963: Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Hercegovina (within Yugoslavia). 
   19/12/1990: Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (within Yugoslavia).
   21/12/1991: Serbs declare separate state (not recognized) Republika Srpska Bosna i Hercegovina within Yugoslavia.
   3/3/1992: Independence declared.
   29/8/1993 - 31/5/1994: Bosnian Croats proclaim independence as Herceg-Bosna (not recognized).
   27/9/1993 - 21/8/1994  Nominally independent state of Western Bosnia declared (not recognized).
   6/10/1996: Bosnia and Herzegovina (under United Nations and NATO protection).
Botswana:
   1884: Bechuanaland becomes a British protectorate (subsequently a colony).
   3/3/1965: Bechuanaland gains self-rule.
   30/9/1966: Independence as Republic of Botswana.
Brazil:
   26/2/1821: Kingdom of Brazil (part of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and Algarves).
   7/9/1822: Kingdom of Brazil independent.
   12/10/1822: Empire of Brazil.
   15/11/1889: Republic of the United States of Brazil.
   17/11/1903: Acre purchased from Bolivia (for two million pounds).
   15/3/1967: Federative Republic of Brazil.
British Indian Ocean Territory:
   1814: British territory (Oil Islands) part of the Seychelles.
   1903: Separated from Seychelles and attached to Mauritius.
   8/11/1965: British colony established from parts of Seychelles and Mauritius (Chagos Archipelago [including Diego Garcia], Aldabra Islands, Farquhar and Des Roches Islands).
   1966: UK-US military base leasing agreement for Diego Garcia.
   17/7/1966: British evacuation of approximately 1,200 native islanders (from the Chagos Archipelago) to Mauritius and the Seychelles (completed 1973).
   28/6/1976: Aldabra, Farquhar and Des Roches Islands returned to the Seychelles.
British Virgin Islands:
    1833 - 1871: Part of Leeward Islands colony.
    1872 -  1/1/1960: Part of the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands.
    1/7/1956: British Virgin Islands becomes a separate colony. 
    Apr 1967: Autonomy granted.
Brunei:
    1888: British protection declared (State of Brunei established since 1405).
    1906 - 23/2/1984: British protectorate.
    6/1/1942 - 14/6/1945: Occupied by Japan.
    9/9/1959: Autonomy.
    1971: Self-government achieved.
    1/1/1984: Independence from Britain as Negera Brunei Darussalam (State of Brunei, Abode of Peace).
Bulgaria:
    8/7/1879: Principality of Bulgaria (under Ottoman suzerainty) and separate autonomous territory of Eastern Rumelia.
    17/9/1885: Bulgaria annexes Eastern Rumelia.
    5/10/1908: Tsardom of Bulgaria. 
    Nov 1912: Western Thrace annexed from Ottoman Empire.
    27/11/1919: By Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine Bulgaria cedes Western Thrace to Greece; Southern Dobruja confirmed as Romanian; border areas of Bosiligrad, Caribrod, and Strumica ceded to Yugoslavia.
    7/9/1940: Romania cedes southern Dobruja to Bulgaria.
    11/5/1941 - Sep 1944: Occupies Greek western Thrace and Yugoslav Macedonia.
    9/9/1944 - 15/9/1947: Occupied by USSR.
    15/9/1946: People's Republic of Bulgaria.
    15/11/1990: Republic of Bulgaria.
Burkina Faso (Upper Volta):
   20/2/1895: French protectorate of Haute-Volta.
   18/10/1904: Part of Haut-Sénégal-Niger.
   1/3/1919: French colony of Haute Volta (part of French West Africa).
   1/1/1933: Partitioned between French Sudan, Ivory Coast and Niger.
   1/1/1938 - 29/7/1940: Upper Ivory Coast (part of Ivory Coast).
   4/1/1947: French territory of Haute-Volta.
   11/12/1958: Autonomy as Republic of Upper Volta.
   5/8/1960: Independence as Republic of Upper Volta.
   4/8/1984: Upper Volta changes name to Burkina Faso (until 15/8/1984, spelling was Bourkina-Fasso).
Burundi:
   1884: Burundi becomes a German protectorate.
   1/7/1890: Part of German East Africa.
   1899: military district of Ruanda-Urundi formed within German East Africa.
   Jun 1916: Belgian occupation of parts of German East Africa (including Ruanda and Urundi).
   20/7/1922: League of Nations mandate (as Ruanda-Urundi) under Belgium. Administrative union with Belgian Congo.
   18/10/1960: Rwanda gains autonomy.
   1/7/1962: Independence as Kingdom of Burundi.
   28/11/1966: Republic of Burundi.
Cambodia:
   11/8/1863: Cambodia becomes a French protectorate.
   17/10/1887: Part of French Indochina.
   11/3/1941 - Jan 1947: Battambang and Siem Reap provinces annexed by Thailand.
   9/3/1945 - 15/8/1945: Occupied by Japan.
   18/3/1945: Independence proclaimed as Kingdom of Cambodia.
   23/12/1947: Associated state of the French union.
   9/11/1953: Independence as Kingdom of Cambodia (20/12/1954: recognized by France).
   9/10/1970: Khmer Republic.
   5/1/1976: Democratic Kampuchea (retains U.N. recognition until 20 Nov 1991). 
   7/1/1979 - 25/9/1989: Occupied by Vietnam.
   7/1/1979: People's Republic of Kampuchea (not recognized by the U.N.).
   1/5/1989: State of Cambodia
   15/3/1992 - 30/6/1993: Under United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) administration.
   24/9/1993: Kingdom of Cambodia (restored).
Cameroon:
   14/7/1884: German protectorate.
   15/6/1896: Part of German North-West Africa.
   1/1/1901: Renamed German Kamerun.
   During WW1, French and British occupation.
   26/9/1919: Divided into French Cameroun and British Cameroons (administered from Nigeria).
   23/3/1921: French Cameroun given autonomy.
   1/10/1954: British Cameroons an autonomous part of Nigeria.
   1/1/1960: French Camerouns independent as Republic of Cameroun.
   1/10/1961: Federal Republic of Cameroun formed after unification of Cameroun with the southern part of British Cameroons (the northern part joins with Nigeria).
   2/6/1972: United Republic of Cameroun.
   4/2/1984: Republic of Cameroon.
Canada:
   10/2/1763: New France ceded to Britain by France, and renamed British North America.
   5/2/1841: Province of Canada formed from Ontario (as Canada East) and Quebec (as Canada West).
   1/7/1867: The British colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Canada are united as Dominion of Canada.
   23/6/1870: Northwest Territories (except the arctic islands).
   31/7/1880: An Imperial Order in Council transferred to Canada all the British territories and possessions left in North America (except Newfoundland), and the islands next to these territories. 
   11/12/1931: Statute of Westminster grants full sovereignty to the British  dominions.
   1967: Official use of the term "Dominion" ends.
Cape Verde:
   1879: Portuguese Guinea (Guinea-Bissau) made a separate colony (Cape Verde was a Portuguese colony since 1587).
   11/6/1951: Portuguese overseas province.
   19/12/1974: Autonomous as Cape Verde Republic.
   5/7/1975: Independence from Portugal.
Cayman Islands:
   1670: Cayman Islands a British colony, part of Jamaica.
   4/7/1959: Cayman Islands a separate British crown colony.
Central African Republic:
   1893: French Oubangui-Bomu Territory.
   13/7/1894: Haut-Oubangui colony (Ubangi-Shari).
   11/2/1906: Oubangui-Chari territory, part of Oubangui-Chari-Chad colony.
   15/1/1910: Middle Congo (now Congo), Gabon, Oubangui-Chari, and Chad form French Equatorial Africa.
   12/4/1916: Oubangui-Chari colony (Oubangui-Chari-Chad colony dissolved).
   1/12/1958: Autonomy as Central African Republic.
   13/8/1960: Central African Republic gains independence.
   4/12/1976: Central African Empire.
   20/9/1979: Central African Republic restored.
Chad:
   5/9/1900: French Military Territory and Protectorate of Chad.
   5/7/1902: Chad Protectorate.
   11/2/1906: Chad Territory part of Oubangui-Chari-Chad colony.
   15/1/1910: Middle Congo (now Congo), Gabon, Oubangui-Chari, and Chad form French Equatorial Africa.
   12/4/1916: Chad territory (Oubangui-Chari-Chad colony dissolved).
   31/12/1937: Chad overseas territory of France.
   28/11/1958: Autonomy as Republic of Chad.
   11/8/1960: Chad gains independence.
   Jul 1975 - 1990: Libya occupies and annexes the northern Aozou Strip.
Chile:
   12/1/1818: Independence (from Spain) declared as State of Chile.
   9/7/1826: Republic of Chile.
   20/10/1883: Former Bolivian Pacific coast and Antofagasta annexed.
   9/9/1888: Annexes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua).
China (including Tibet; see separate entries for Hong Kong and Macau):
   Since 1636, Great Qing Chinese Empire.
   2/6/1895 - 25/10/1945: Taiwan annexed by Japan.
   1/1/1912: Republic of China.
   Jan 1913 - 7/10/1950: Kingdom Tibet (de facto) independent (had been part of Chinese Empire since 1720).
   1/12/1911: (Outer) Mongolia declares independence.
   19/2/1920 - 3/2/1921: Mongolia briefly reincorporated.
   10/9/1931 - 15/8/1945: Japanese occupy Manchuria (Manchukuo).
   1/12/1931 - 15/10/1934: Communists declare Soviet Republic of China in Kiangsi province.
   Sep 1937 - Aug 1945: Japanese occupy northeast China, Yellow River valley and coastal provinces.
   1/10/1949: People's Republic of China (from 8/12/1949, Republic of China continues on Taiwan only).
   23/5/1951: Tibet annexed by China.
   1/7/1997: Reintegration of the former British colony of Hong Kong.
   20/12/1999: Reintegration of the former Portuguese colony of Macau.
Christmas Island:
   6/6/1889: Annexed by Britain.
   May 1900: Administered from Straits Settlements.
   31/3/1942 - Aug 1945: Japanese occupation.
   1946: Dependency of Singapore.
   1/10/1958: Australian territory.
   1994: Proposal to separate from Australia rejected.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands:
   1857: formally claimed by Britain (Cocos Islands crown colony).
   Nov 1878 - 1886: Part of Ceylon.
   1886 - 1942: Part of Straits Settlements.
   1942 - 1946: Part of Ceylon.
   1946 - Jun 1951: Part of Singapore.
   23/11/1955: Australian territory.
   25/7/1979: Autonomy granted.
   6/4/1984: Cocos Islands, in a referendum, vote for integration with Australia.
Colombia:
   17/12/1819: Republic of Colombia (independence from Spain).
   21/11/1831: Dissolution into New Granada, Venezuela, and Ecuador.
   21/11/1831: State of New Granada.
   20/4/1843: Republic of New Granada.
   22/5/1858: Granadine Confederation.
   18/7/1861: United States of New Granada.
   20/9/1861: United States of Colombia.
   5/8/1886: Republic of Colombia.
   4/11/1903: Independence of Panama.
Comoros:
   25/3/1841: France annexes Mayotte (Mayotte protectorate).
   1852: Andruna added to Mayotte protectorate.
   1866: Anjouan added to Mayotte protectorate.
   24/6/1886: Ngazidja (together with Ndzuwani and Mwali) become French protectorates.
   5/9/1887: Renamed Protectorate of the Comoros.
   9/4/1908: Comoros a dependent territory of Madagascar.
   25/7/1912: Annexed by France as part of Madagascar
   23/12/1914: Comoros subordinated to Madagascar (Comoros dependent colony).
   25/9/1942 - 13/10/1946: British occupation.
   27/10/1946: Comoros overseas territory of France.
   22/12/1961: Autonomy as State of Comoros.
   6/7/1975: Independence as State of Comoros. Mayotte remains French.
   24/5/1978: Federal and Islamic Republic of Comoros (Ngazidja, Ndzuwani, and Mwali).
   7/1/2002: Union of Comoros.
Congo:
   1/10/1880: Brazzaville a French colony.
   5/2/1883: French Middle Congo Territory.
   27/4/1886: French Equatorial African Protectorate.
   30/4/1891: French Equatorial African Protectorate renamed French Congo.
   29/12/1903: Separate Middle Congo colony.
   15/1/1910: Middle Congo, Gabon, Oubangui-Chari (now Central African Republic), and Chad form French Equatorial Africa Colony.
   28/11/1958: Autonomy as Republic of Congo.
   15/8/1960: Independence as Republic of Congo.
   3/1/1970: People's Republic of Congo.
   15/3/1992: Republic of Congo.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire, Belgian Congo):
   12/9/1876: Congo colonization funded by the King of Belgium.
   1/7/1885: Independent State of the Congo (Congo Free State) with the King of Belgium as sovereign.
   15/11/1908: Annexation by Belgium (Belgian Congo).
   1/7/1960: Independence as Republic of the Congo.
   1/8/1964: Democratic Republic of the Congo.
   27/10/1971: Republic of Zaire.
   17/5/1997: Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Cook Islands:
   1888: British protectorate.
   5/6/1891: Cook Islands Federation.
   7/10/1900: Declared annexed by New Zealand (11/6/1901: Incorporation into New Zealand).
   1901 - 1976: Part of the British Western Pacific Territories.
   4/8/1965: Self government granted (territory in free association with New Zealand). 
   11/6/1980: US recognizes Danger (Pukapuka), Manahiki, Penrhyn, and Rakahanga islands as part of the Cook Islands.
Costa Rica:
   12/11/1821: Independence (from Spain) as Province of Costa Rica.
   8/9/1824: Free State of Costa Rica.
   7/3/1847: State of Costa Rica.
   31/8/1848: Republic of Costa Rica.
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast):
   4/10/1860: Ivory Coast territory of the Ivory Coast-Gabon colony.
   16/12/1883: Ivory Coast subordinate to French Guinea.
   10/1/1889: French protectorate of Ivory Coast.
   16/6/1895: Part of French West Africa.
   27/10/1946: Ivory Coast overseas territory of France.
   4/12/1958: Autonomy as Republic of Ivory Coast.
   7/8/1960: Independence.
   Oct 1985: Ivory Coast officially renamed Côte d'Ivoire.
Croatia:
   21/12/1867: Part of the "Hungarian half" of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
   29/10/1918: Independence from Hungary, as State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs.
   1/12/1918: Merged into Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. 
   26/8/1939: Autonomy (as Banovina of Croatia).
   6/4/1941 - 8/5/1945: Independent State of Croatia (under Italo-German control).
   2/12/1945: Part of Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia (as People's Republic of Croatia).
   7/7/1963: Socialist Republic of Croatia (within Yugoslavia).
   Aug 1990: Republic of Croatia (within Yugoslavia).
   25/6/1991: Independence declared.
   8/7/1991 - 8/10/1991: Independence suspended.
   8/10/1991: Independence from Yugoslavia.
   19/12/1991 - Aug 1995: Serbian Krajna independent of Croatia.
Cuba:
   10/10/1868: Independence declared as Republic of Cuba, in insurrection against Spain.
   1/1/1899: Spain cedes colonial authority to US.
   1/1/1899 - 20/5/1902: US occupation.
   20/5/1902: Republic of Cuba (independence from US); status of the Isle of Pines to be determined.
   23/2/1902 - 29/5/1934  US protectorate.
   13/3/1925: Cuban sovereignty over the Isle of Pines confirmed by US.
Cyprus:
   Until 1878, Cyprus (as Kibris) was a province of the Ottoman Empire.
   12/7/1878: British administration (under Ottoman suzerainty to 5/11/1914).
   5/11/1914: United Kingdom annexes Cyprus.
   10/3/1925: Cyprus a crown colony.
   16/8/1960: Independence as Republic of Cyprus.
   15/7/1974: Turkish invasion.
   20/7/1974: Turkish Federated State formed in northern Cyprus.
   15/11/1983: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (recognized only by Turkey) formed.
Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia):
   1849: Moravia made a separate Austrian crownland.
   Dec 1867: Kingdom of Bohemia as part of the "Austrian" half of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.
   28/10/1918: Czechoslovak State (Bohemia, Moravia)
   14/11/1918: Czechoslovak Republic.
   8/5/1919: Ruthenia joins the Czechoslovak Republic.
   1/10/1938 - 8/5/1945: Sudentenland annexed by Germany.
   15/3/1939 - 4/5/1945: Separation into Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia under German rule (Reichsprotektorat Böhmen und Mähren), and Slovakia.
   3/4/1945: Czechoslovak Republic declared reconstituted.
   29/6/1945: Ruthenia ceded to USSR.
   9/5/1948: Czechoslovakian Democratic People's Republic.
   11/7/1960: Czechoslovak Socialist Republic.
   1/1/1969: Czechoslovak Federative Socialist Republic.
   20/4/1990: Czech and Slovak Federal Republic 
   1/1/1993: Separation of Czechoslovakia into independent Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Denmark:
   Since 899, Kingdom of Denmark.
   30/9/1864: Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein ceded to Prussia and Austria, Duchy of Lauenburg sold to Prussia.
   1/12/1918: Kingdom of Iceland independent in personal union with Denmark.
   15/6/1920: Northern Schleswig restored to Denmark by Germany following plebiscite.
   9/4/1940 - 5/5/1945: German occupation (German protectorate).
   5/5/1945 - 1946: Allied occupation (Bornholm occupied by USSR to 5/4/1946).
Djibouti:
   11/3/1862: France acquires port of Obock (French Coast of Somalis); unoccupied until 29/12/1883.
   24/6/1884: Territory of Obock and Protectorate of Tadjoura.
   1888: French Somaliland.
   27/10/1946: Status changed from colony to overseas territory.
   3/7/1967: French Territory of the Afars and Issas.
   27/6/1977: Independence as Republic of Djibouti.
Dominica:
   1833 - 1/1/1940: Part of the (British) Leeward Islands colony (since 1784 Dominica was British colony).
   1/1/1940 - 1/1/1960: Part of the (British) Windward Islands colony.
   3/1/1958 - 31/5/1962: Part of the Federation of the West Indies.
   27/2/1967: Associated state.
   3/11/1978: Independence from Britain as Commonwealth of Dominica.
Dominican Republic:
   13/12/1808: Santo Domingo reverts to Spain (French since 22/7/1795).
   30/11/1821: Independence (Independent State of the Spanish Part of Haiti in Colombia).
   Dec 1821 - 9/2/1822: Part of Gran Colombia.
   9/2/1822: Incorporated into Haiti.
   27/2/1844: Independence as Dominican Republic.
   18/3/1861: Reincorporated into Spain.
   14/9/1863: Independence as Dominican Republic (recognized 11/7/1865).
   30/3/1903 - 28/3/1905: US occupation.
   28/3/1905 - 1941: US protectorate.
   28/4/1965 - 21/9/1966: US occupation.
East Timor:
   1642 - 1941: Portuguese colony.
   18/12/1941 - 20/2/1942: Occupied by Australian and Dutch forces.
   20/2/1942 - 11/9/1945: Occupied by Japan.
   1951: Portuguese overseas territory.
   28/11/1975: Declaration of independence as Democratic Republic of East Timor (7/12/1975: Occupied by Indonesia).
   24/6/1976: Annexed by Indonesia. U.N. still recognizes East Timor as Portuguese territory.
   19/10/1999: Annexation rescinded by Indonesia.
   25/10/1999 - 19/5/2002: U.N. administration.
   20/5/2002: Independence as Democratic Republic of East Timor.
Ecuador:
   9/11/1820: Independence from Spain.
   31/7/1822: Part of Gran Colombia.
   13/5/1830: Independence from Gran Colombia (State of the South of Colombia).
   22/9/1830: State of Ecuador (literally "State of the Equator").
   1832: Galapagos Islands annexed.
   8/8/1835: Republic of Ecuador.
   29/1/1942: Oriente province and port of Tumbes annexed by Peru.
Egypt:
   13/9/1882: Occupied by Britain (technically still under Ottoman suzerainty).
   1906: Sinai peninsula transferred to Egypt by Ottoman Empire.
   3/11/1914: Egypt a British protectorate.
   28/2/1922: End of British protectorate.
   16/3/1922: Egyptian Kingdom.
   14/11/1936: End of British occupation (except during WW2).
   1948: Egyptian administration of Gaza Strip.
   18/6/1953: Republic of Egypt.
   29/10/1956 - 22/12/1956: Sinai peninsula and Gaza Strip occupied by Israel.
   22/2/1958: United Arab Republic (united with Syria until 28/9/1961).
   12/6/1967 - 25/4/1982: Israel occupies Sinai peninsula (occupation continues in Gaza Strip).
   2/9/1971: Arab Republic of Egypt.
El Salvador:
   5/11/1811: Independence of San Salvador declared (not recognized).
   21/9/1821: Independence declared as Province of San Salvador, constituent of the Kingdom of Guatemala which declared its independence 15 Sep 1821.
   11/1/1822: The province repudiates the decision by the Guatemala junta to incorporate the Kingdom of Guatemala into Mexico, and declares its secession.
   10/2/1823: Incorporation into Mexico.
   1/7/1823: Central America (the former Kingdom of Guatemala) proclaims its independence from Spain and Mexico; Province of San Salvador is part of the newly established republic.
   22/4/1824: Constituent state of the Central American Republic (State of Salvador).
   2/2/1841: Formal secession decreed (El Salvador).
   25/1/1859: Republic of El Salvador.
England (see United Kingdom).
Equatorial Guinea:
   9/1/1885: Río de Muni (on the African mainland) a Spanish protectorate (administered from island of Fernando Póo).
   27/6/1900: Río de Muni a Spanish colony (administered from Fernando Póo).
   1926: Río Muni, Fernando Póo, and Annobón united as Spanish Guinea.
   30/7/1959: Spanish overseas provinces of Fernando Póo and Río Muni.
   15/12/1963: Self-rule as Equatorial Guinea.
   12/10/1968: Independence as Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
Eritrea:
   1/1/1890: Eritrea declared an Italian colony.
   1/6/1936: Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Italian Somalia are united into Italian East Africa.
   5/5/1941: Eritrea under British administration.
   19/2/1951: Eritrea under U.N. administration.
   15/9/1952: Eritrea federated with Ethiopia as the Eritrean Autonomous state..
   14/11/1962: Eritrea annexed by Ethiopia (autonomy revoked).
   10/9/1987: People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (limited autonomy granted to Eritrea).
   24/5/1993: State of Eritrea independent.
Estonia:
   10/10/1710: Estonia is annexed by Russia.
   24/2/1918: Estonia declares independence (Republic of Estonia).
   25/2/1918 - 11/11/1918: Occupied by Germany.
   11/11/1918: Republic of Estonia restored.
   17/6/1940: Occupied by USSR.
   6/8/1940: Incorporation into USSR as Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (not internationally recognized).
   28/8/1941 - 18/9/1944: Occupied by Germany, part of Reichskommissariat of Ostland.
   22/9/1944: Reincorporation into the Soviet Union (not internationally recognized).
   8/5/1990: Republic of Estonia (within USSR).
   20/8/1991: Independence declared (6/9/1991: recognized by USSR).
Ethiopia:
   2/5/1889 - 26/10/1896: Ethiopia declared an Italian protectorate by Italy (not recognized by Ethiopia).
   9/5/1936: Ethiopia annexed by Italy as Abissinia.
   1/6/1936: Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Italian Somalia are united into Italian East Africa.
   5/5/1941: Eritrea under British administration.
   27/11/1941: Italian administrators surrender to Allies.
   15/9/1952: Eritrea federated with Ethiopia as the Eritrean Autonomous state..
   14/11/1962: Eritrea annexed by Ethiopia (autonomy revoked).
   10/9/1987: People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (limited autonomy granted to Eritrea).
   27/5/1991: Ethiopia.
   24/5/1993: State of Eritrea independent.
   22/8/1995: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Falkland Islands:
   1774: British withdraw, but continue to claim sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
   1820:  Argentina claims sovereignty.
   3/1/1833: British occupation.
   1841: British crown colony.
   21/7/1908 - 3/3/1962: South Shetland Islands, South Orkney Islands and Graham Land in Antarctica a Falkands dependency.
   21/7/1908 - 3/10/1985: South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands a dependency of the Falklands.
   2/4/1982 - 14/6/1982: Occupied by Argentina (Islas Malvinas).
Faroe Islands:
   1816: Separate Danish county (previously part of the Danish county of Sjaelland).
   12/4/1940 - 16/9/1945: British occupation. 
   14/9/1946: Referendum votes independence (by a 1.7% margin); independence is declared, but declaration is annulled by Denmark.
   30/3/1948: Self-government granted.
Fiji:
   8/5/1865: Confederacy of Independent Kingdoms of Viti (comprising Bau, Bua, Cakaudrove, Lakeba, Macuata, Naduri).
   1867: Split into Kingdom of Bau and Confederation of Lau (comprising Bua, Cakaudrove, Lau).
   1871: Kingdom of Viti.
   10/10/1874: British colony.
   1877 - 1952: Part of British Western Pacific Territories.
   1942 - 1945: British military administration.
   10/10/1970: Independence as Dominion of Fiji.
   7/10/1987: Republic of Fiji declared (accepted by Britain 15/10/1987).
   25/7/1990: Sovereign Democratic Republic of Fiji.
   27/7/1998: Republic of the Fiji Islands.
Finland (including Åland):
   20/2/1808: Russian occupation.
   6/12/1917: Formal declaration of independence from Russia.
   4/1/1918: Independence recognized by Russia.
   28/1/1918 - 25/4/1918: Finnish Socialist Conciliar (Soviet) Republic in southern Finland, the Republic continues in the north and west.
   18/5/1918: Kingdom of Finland.
   17/7/1919: Republic of Finland.
   1921: Sovereignty over Åland Islands awarded to Finland.
   9/6/1922: Åland Autonomous Region (1951: Autonomy confirmed).
   1/12/1939 - 12/3/1940: Finnish Democratic Republic, at the Soviet-occupied town of Terijoki.
   13/3/1940: Finland cedes Karelian Isthmus (including Viipuri, Finnish Aunus Karelia, the Salla region, the Rybachi peninsula in the arctic, and a 30 year lease on the Hangö peninsula to USSR).
   7/12/1941: Territories annexed by Soviet Union on 13 Mar 1940 reintegrated.
   4/10/1944 - 25/4/1945: Formerly allied German forces occupy Lapland.
   19/9/1944 - 10/2/1947: Allied (Soviet) occupation; restoration of the 13/3/1940 borders.
   10/2/1947: Petsamo ceded to USSR, Porkkala peninsula leased to USSR.
   1955: Porkkala restored to Finland.
France:
   24/2/1848: French Republic. 
   2/2/1852: French Empire.
   17/2/1871: French Republic.
   10/5/1871 - 21/11/1918: Alsace-Lorraine annexed to Germany.
   24/8/1918 - 11/11/1918: German occupation of parts of northeastern France.
   10/6/1940 - 3/9/1944: France under German occupation.
   11/7/1940 - 20/8/1944: French State (État Français) in unoccupied southern France; also known as "Vichy" France.
   11/11/1942 - 3/9/1944: Vichy France occupied by Germany.
   12/11/1942 - 31/7/1943: Savoy, Nice, and Corsica annexed to Italy.
   3/6/1944: French Republic.
French Guiana:
   8/11/1817: Colony restored to France after Portuguese occupation.
   19/3/1946: French overseas département (previously colony).
Tahiti (French Polynesia):
   1/5/1842:  Chiefs of the Marquesas Islands cede sovereignty to France; other islands are annexed until 1900 (Colony of Oceania).
   29/7/1880: Tahiti annexed by France.
   16/3/1888: Ra'iatea, Taha'a, and Huahine annexed by France, 19/3/1988: Borabora annexed by France.
   1903: French Oceania.
   25/10/1946: French overseas territory (French Settlements in Oceania).
   22/7/1957: French Polynesia.
   29/6/1984: Autonomy.
   28/03/2003: French overseas collectivité.
   27/02/2004: French pays d'outre-mer (overseas country).
Gabon:
   16/12/1883: French Gabon colony.
   11/12/1888: Part of Middle Congo-Gabon territory.
   29/12/1903: Gabon colony.
   15/1/1910: Part of French Equatorial Africa.
   31/12/1937: Gabon overseas territory of France.
   28/11/1958: Autonomy as Gabonese Republic.
   17/8/1960: Independence.
The Gambia:
   24/11/1888: Gambia a British colony.
   3/10/1963: Self-rule achieved.
   18/2/1965: Independence from Britain as The Gambia.
   24/4/1970: Republic of The Gambia.
Gaza (see Israel).
Georgia:
   24/4/1802: Incorporation into Russian Empire (previously part of Ottoman Empire).
   1844: Part of the Viceroyalty of of the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia).
   20/9/1917:  Transcaucasian Federation created (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia).
   22/4/1918 - 8/6/1918: Part of Democratic Federative Republic of Transcaucasia (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia).
   May 1918 - 11/11/1918: Georgia under German protectorate.
   26/5/1918: Dissolution of Transcaucasia into three independent republics, including the Georgian Democratic Republic.
   25/2/1921: Georgian Socialist Soviet Republic.
   12/3/1922: Part of the Federative Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of Transcaucasia.
   13/12/1922: Part of the Transcaucasian SFSR.
   30/12/1922: Transcaucasian SFSR founding component of USSR.
   5/12/1936: Transcaucasian SFSR dissolved; Georgian SSR becomes a full Soviet republic.
   14/11/1990: Republic of Georgia (within USSR).
   9/4/1991: Independence declared (25/12/1991: independence effective after dissolution of the USSR).
   28/11/1991: South Ossetia declares independence from Georgia (not internationally recognized).
   23/7/1992: Abkhazia declares its independence from Georgia (not internationally recognized).
   26/11/1995: Georgia.
   10/10/2002: Georgia designates Abkhazia an autonomous republic.
Germany (East Germany/West Germany/Saar):
   1/1/1871: German confederation becomes German Empire.
   18/1/1871 - 11/11/1918: Alsace-Lorraine annexed from France.
   1/12/1918 - 30/6/1930: Allied occupation of the Rhineland.
   14/8/1919: Germany a republic ("Weimar Republic").
   26/2/1920 - 1/3/1935: League of Nations administration of Saarland.
   2/8/1934 - 8/5/1945: Era of the "Third Reich".
   13/3/1938 - 27/4/1945: Austria annexed.
   21/10/1938 -  6/5/1945: Sudetenland annexed from Czechoslovakia.
   1/9/1939 -  Apr 1945: West Prussia, Wartheland (Pozen), and Lower Silesia annexed from Poland.
   15/6/1940 - 20/3/1945: Alsace-Lorraine annexed from France.
   30/8/1942 - 14/9/1944: Luxembourg incorporated.
   23/5/1945 -  5/5/1955:  Allied occupation.
   1945: French occupation of Saargebiet, renamed Saarland 3/12/1946.
   15/12/1947 -  1/1/1957: Saar Territory under French sovereignty. Since 1957, Saar is part of the Federal Republic of Germany.
   7/9/1949:  Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)
   7/10/1949: Soviet backed German Democratic Republic (GDR) (East Germany) formed.
   1/1/1957: Saar incorporated into the Federal Republic of Germany.
   3/10/1990: GDR incorporated into the Federal Republic of Germany.
Ghana:
   7/5/1821: British Gold Coast a crown colony.
   13/1/1850: Colony of the Gold Coast.
   30/3/1850: Incorporation of former Danish Gold Coast settlements.
   21/2/1871: Incorporation of former Dutch Gold Coast settlements.
   8/2/1951: Self-rule achieved.
   6/3/1957: Gold Coast and British Togoland independent as Ghana.
   1/7/1960: Republic of Ghana.
Gibraltar:
   20/6/1830: Confirmed as British Crown colony.
   10/9/1967: Referendum endorses continued British rule.
   30/5/1969: Autonomy.
Greece:
   25/3/1821: Beginning of Greek war of independence (from Ottoman Empire).
   13/1/1822: Independence proclaimed (Greece).
   15/4/1827: Greek State.
   3/2/1830: International recognition of independence.
   6/2/1833: Kingdom of Greece.
   1/6/1864: Ionian Islands incorporated into Greece.
   2/7/1881: Thessaly incorporated into Greece.
   15/11/1912: Macedonia (Salonika) and Epirus incorporated into Greece.
   30/5/1913: Crete incorporated into Greece.
   13/2/1914: Most Aegean Islands (except Rhodes and Dodecanese) incorporated into Greece.
   12/5/1919 - 8/9/1922: Greece occupies Smyrna (Izmir) and surrounding areas.
   10/8/1920: Eastern Thrace except Constantinople incorporated into Greece.
   28/9/1922: Eastern Thrace restored to Turkey.
   16/3/1924: Greek State.
   29/9/1925: Greek Republic.
   10/10/1935: Kingdom of Greece.
   6/4/1941 - 13/10/1944: Italian-German occupation.
   19/4/1941 - 1944: Western Thrace, Samothrace and Thásaos annexed by Bulgaria.
   13/10/1944: Kingdom of Greece restored.
   7/3/1948: Rhodes and Dodecanese Islands incorporated into Greece.
   1/6/1973: Greek Republic.
Greenland:
   1721: Possession of Denmark (under Danish authority since 1380).
   1775: Danish colony.
   12/7/1932: Norway proclaims annexation of the east coast of Greenland (Eric the Red's Land).
   5/4/1933: Permanent Court of International of Justice awards sovereignty over eastern coast to Denmark.
   9/4/1941 - May 1945: US protectorate.
   5/6/1953: Danish province.
   1/5/1979: Autonomy.
Grenada:
   1833 - 1/1/1960: Part of the (British) Windward Islands colony (Barbados [to 1885], Dominica [from 1940], Grenada, St. Lucia [from 1838], St. Vincent, Tobago [to 1889]). 
   3/1/1958 - 31/5/1962: Part of the Federation of the West Indies.
   27/2/1967: Associated state.
   7/2/1974: Independence from UK as Grenada.
Guam:
   21/6/1898: U.S. territory (previously a Spanish colony).
   21/6/1898 - 1899: Subordinated to the Philippines.
   21/6/1898 - 27/9/1949: Administered by the US Navy.
   12/12/1941 - 21/8/1944: Japanese occupation (renamed Omiya Jima).
   27/9/1949 - 1970: Administered by U.S. Department of Interior.
Guadeloupe (including Saint-Martin):
   1674 - 1946: A French colony (part of French Antilles). On four occasions occupied by Britain (never for more than four years).
   19/3/1946: French overseas département.
Guatemala:
   15/9/1821: Independence (from Spain) of the colonial "Kingdom of Guatemala" (now Chaipas, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua).
   5/1/1822: Incorporation into Mexico.
   1/7/1823: Independence restored.
   10/7/1823: State of Guatemala.
   10/4/1825 - 17/4/1839: Part of Federal Republic of Central America.
   2/2/1841: El Salvador becomes a republic, officially ending the Federation.
   Jul 1842 - 1/12/1844: Abortive attempt to restore Confederation of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua).
   21/3/1847: Republic of Guatemala.
   13/6/1921 - 14/1/1922: Federation of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras).
   14/1/1922: Guatemala leaves the federation.
Guernsey:
   Since 1279, Bailiwick of Guernsey (including Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou and Brechou).
   1/7/1940 - 16/5/1945: German occupation (Britische Kanalinseln) subordinated to occupied France.
   May 1945 - 25/8/1945: British military administration.
Guinea:
   1/8/1891: French Riviéres du Sud colony.
   10/3/1893: French Guinea colony.
   16/6/1895: Part of French West Africa.
   13/10/1946: Guinea overseas territory of France.
   2/10/1958: Independence as Republic of Guinea.
   1/1/1979: People's Revolutionary Republic of Guinea.
   25/5/1984: Republic of Guinea.
Guinea-Bissau:
   1879: Bissau and Cacheu united as Portuguese Guinea.
   11/6/1951: Portuguese Guinea an overseas province.
   24/9/1973: Independence declared as Republic of Guinea-Bissau (recognized by Portugal 10/9/1974).
Guyana:
   21/7/1831: British colonies of Demerara-Essequibo, and Berbice united as British Guiana.
   26/8/1961: Self rule.
   26/5/1966: Independence as Guyana.
   23/2/1970: Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
Haiti:
   1/1/1804: Independence from France as Haiti.
   26/8/1849: Empire of Haiti.
   23/12/1858: Republic of Haiti.
   29/1/1914 - 19/10/1914: US occupation.
   28/7/1915 - 15/8/1934: US occupation.
   28/7/1915 - 1936: US protectorate.
   16/9/1994 - 31/3/1995  US and U.N. occupation.
Hong Kong:
   29/8/1842: China cedes Hong Kong Island to Britain.
   26/6/1843: British crown colony.
   24/10/1860: Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutters Island ceded by China.
   1/7/1898: New Territories, comprising the territories north of Kowloon and several islands leased from China for 99 years.
   25/12/1941 - 16/8/1945: Japanese occupation.
   1/7/1997: Return of the whole colony to China as a special administrative region.
Honduras:
   5/1/1822: Incorporation into Mexico (as part of Guatemala). 
   16/9/1824: State of Honduras.
   22/11/1824 - 26/10/1838: Constituent state of the Central American Federation.
   29/9/1865: Republic of Honduras.
   18/3/1907 - 8/6/1907: US occupation.  
   13/6/1921 - 7/2/1922: State of Honduras during an abortive attempt at recreating a Central American Federation.
   28/3/1911 - 12/9/1919: US protectorate.
   28/2/1924 - 21/4/1925: US occupation.
Hungary:
   13/8/1849: Kingdom of Hungary.
   24/10/1849: Disannexation of Croatia and Transylvania from Hungary, and Hungary partitioned into 15 military districts. Croatia (to 1868), Transylvania (to 1868), and Hungary ruled as provinces of Austria.
   21/12/1867: "Hungarian half" of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
   18/10/1918: Independence of Croatia.
   30/10/1918: Independence of Slovakia.
   13/11/1918: Hungary proclaimed independent.
   16/11/1918: Hungarian People's Republic.
   21/3/1919: Hungarian Conciliar (Soviet) Republic  (Hungarian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic).
   1/8/1919: Hungarian People's Republic.
   4/8/1919 - 14/11/1919: Occupied by Romania.
   6/8/1919: Hungarian State.
   21/3/1920: Hungarian Kingdom.
   4/6/1920: By the Treaty of Trianon Hungary formally surrenders Fiume, cedes Croatia, Slavonia, Vojvodina, Bosnia-Hercegovia, Prekmurje-Medjimurje, western Banat to Yugoslavia; Transylvania and eastern Banat ceded to Romania; Ruthenia and Slovakia are recognized as part of Czechoslovakia; and German West Hungary (Burgenland), except Sopron enclave, are ceded to Austria.
   30/8/1940 - 11/3/1945: Northern Transylvania annexed from Romania.
   1/4/1944 - 4/4/1945: German occupation.
   19/10/1944 - 15/9/1947: Occupied by USSR.
   21/12/1944: Hungarian State.
   2/2/1946: Hungarian Republic.
   20/8/1949: Hungarian People's Republic.
   1/10/1956 - 5/11/1956: Anti-communist rebellion, which is ended by Soviet/Warsaw Pact invasion.
   23/10/1989: Hungarian Republic.
Iceland:
   Danish since 1380.
   1/2/1904: Autonomy granted.
   1/12/1918: Kingdom of Iceland independent.
   10/5/1940 - Dec 1944: Allied occupation.
   17/6/1944: Republic of Iceland.
India:
   2/8/1858: British Act of Parliament annexes the Empire creating British India (effective 1/11/1858).
   Mar 1942 - Aug 1945: Japanese occupy Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
   15/8/1947: British India, together with acceded states, is partitioned into Dominion of India and Dominion of Pakistan.
   17/9/1948: Hyderabad annexed by India.
   26/1/1950: India becomes a republic.
   May 1956: French India (Karikal, Yanaon, and Mahé) to India.
   26/1/1957: The incorporation of Jammu and Kashmir is declared to be complete.
   16/3/1962: Portuguese Goa annexed by India (1974: recognized by Portugal).
   21/11/1962: China occupies Aksin Chin region of Ladakh.
   26/4/1975: Annexation of Sikkim (since 1950 a protectorate of India).
Indonesia:
   1610 - 5/3/1946: Netherlands East Indies (18/9/1811 - 19/8/1816: British occupation of Java and dependencies). 
   5/3/1942 - Oct 1945: Japanese occupation.
   17/8/1945: Independence proclaimed as Republic of Indonesia.
   Oct 1945 - 29/11/1946: Allied occupation.
   1/7/1946 - 29/11/1946: Allies turn over all of Indonesia to Netherlands.
   27/12/1949: Dutch grant sovereignty to the United States of Indonesia, comprising the Republic of Indonesia (covering parts of Java and Sumatra) and various states and autonomous territories that had been established since Dec 1946.
   17/8/1950: Dissolution of United States of Indonesia together with its remaining components other than the Republic of Indonesia, which becomes the successor to the entire state.
   24/6/1976 - 19/10/1999: Annexation of East Timor.
Iran:
   During WW1, Persia occupied by Britain and Russia.
   1919 - 1921: British protectorate.
   21/3/1935: English name "Persia" officially changed to Iran.
   25/8/1941 -  2/3/1946: Occupied by Britain and USSR.
   1/4/1979: Islamic Republic of Iran.
Iraq (including Kurdistan):
   1831: Direct Ottoman rule restored.
   Dec 1914: British occupation of Mesopotamia begins (fully occupied by 30/10/1918).
   10/1/1919: Iraq formed by Britain.
   11/11/1920: League of Nations Mandate under British control (State of Iraq).
   23/8/1921: Iraqi Kingdom (British protectorate).
   2/12/1922 - 26/12/1981: Iraqi-Saudi Arabian neutral zone in southern area.
   3/10/1932: Full independence.
   14/2/1958 - 14/7/1958: Federation with Jordan (Arab Union).
   14/7/1958: Republic of Iraq.
   11/3/1974: Autonomous region of Kurdistan created by Iraq.
   8/8/1990 - 27/2/1991: Annexation of Kuwait.
   28/6/2004: Sovereignty restored after US-British invasion.
Ireland:
   1/1/1801: Part of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
   21/1/1919: Independence declared (Irish Republic).
   6/12/1922: Irish Free State (a British dominion).
   11/12/1948: Irish Republic (18/4/1949: recognized by UK).
Isle of Man:
   21/6/1765: British possession (English since 1333).
   1827: Crown colony.
Israel (including Palestine):
   Until 26/9/1918, Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire.
   26/9/1918: British occupation of Palestine.
   14/7/1922: Palestine League of Nations mandate under Britain.
   14/5/1948: Former British mandate of Palestine gains independence as Israel; the West Bank is part of Jordan, Gaza is part of Egypt.
   29/10/1956 - 22/12/1956: Sinai peninsula and Gaza strip occupied by Israel.
   7/3/1957 - 1967: Gaza under interim UN rule.
   12/6/1967: West Bank (Jordan) and Gaza Strip (Egypt) occupied by Israel.
   1969: Organization of the Islamic Conference admits Palestine, represented by the PLO.
   9/9/1976: Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) admitted as member of Arab League.
   31/7/1988: Jordan abandons claims to West Bank.
   14/11/1988: State of Palestine declared by PLO (to no effect).
   5/7/1994: Palestinian National Authority (PNA) inaugurated as a transitional status, including interim self-government. The PNA is an autonomous entity consisting of the territories of Gaza amd West Bank.
   12/2/1996: Autonomy for Gaza Strip and parts of West Bank granted by Israel.
Italy:
   17/3/1861: Kingdom of Italy.
   20/9/1870: Rome annexed from the Pope.
   9/5/1936 - 19/5/1941: Ethiopia annexed.
   6/4/1939 - 3/9/1943: Albania in de facto annexation.
   1/5/1943 - 17/9/1947: Allied Military occupation.
   10/9/1943 - 2/5/1945: Northern Italy occupied by Germany (Italian Social Republic).
   18/6/1946: Italian Republic.
Jamaica:
   1670: Jamaica formally ceded to England by Spain.
   5/5/1953: Self rule. 
   3/1/1958 - 1961: Part of the Federation of the West Indies.
   6/8/1962: Independence from Britain as Jamaica.
Japan:
   4/1/1868: Shogunate abolished; Japanese Empire.
   11/3/1879: Ryûkyû Islands annexed.
   2/6/1895 - 25/10/1945: Taiwan annexed.
   5/9/1905 - 25/8/1945: Karafuto (Southern Sakhalin Islands) annexed.
   29/8/1910 - 15/8/1945:  Korea annexed.
   3/4/1945 - 15/5/1972: Okinawa occupied by US.
   2/9/1945 - 28/4/1952: Allied occupation of Japan.
Jersey:
   Bailiwick of Jersey (English) since 1204.
   1/7/1940 - 9/5/1945: German occupation (Britische Kanalinseln) subordinated to occupied France.
   May 1945 - 25/8/1945: British military administration.
   17/11/1953: International Court of Justice confirms British sovereignty over Minquiers and Ecréhous island groups (previously claimed by France).
Jordan:
   Since 1516, part of the Ottoman Empire.
   12/5/1920: Part of British mandate of Palestine.
   11/4/1921: Emirate of Transjordan.
   26/5/1923: Transjordan separated from Palestine mandate.
   20/2/1928: Autonomy.
   25/5/1946: Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan (under Briish mandate).
   17/6/1946: Independence from Britain.
   3/4/1949: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
   14/2/1958 - 14/7/1958: Federation with Iraq (Arab Union).
   12/6/1967: West Bank and East Jerusalem occupied by Israel.
   31/7/1988: Jordan abandons claim to the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Kazakhstan:
   1731 - 1840: Area slowly annexed by Russia.
   26/8/1920: Kirghiz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Russian SFSR.
   19/4/1925: Renamed Kazakh Autonomous SSR. 
   5/12/1936: Kazakh SSR (gains full Soviet republic status). 
   10/12/1991: Republic of Kazakhstan.
   16/12/1991: Independence declared (25/12/1991: effective after dissolution of the USSR).
Kenya:
   25/5/1887: Sultan of Zanzibar grants coastal areas to the British East Africa Association.
   3/9/1888: British East Africa colony of the Imperial British East Africa Company.
   1/7/1895: British East Africa Protectorate, under British administration.
   23/7/1920: Kenya Colony and Protectorate.
   15/7/1924: Jubaland province ceded by Great Britain to Italy (becomes part of Italian Somalia). 
   1/6/1963: Self-rule.
   12/12/1963: Independence from Britain as Kenya.
   12/12/1964: Republic of Kenya.
Kiribati:
  October 1892: Gilbert and Ellice Islands becomes a British protectorate.
  12/1/1916: British colony.
  Dec 1941 - 23/11/1943: Japanese occupation.
  1/10/1975: Ellice Islands become a separate dependency as Tuvalu.
  1/10/1978: Independence of Tuvalu.
  12/7/1979: Independence of the Gilbert Islands as Republic of Kiribati.
North Korea:
   17/11/1905: Korea becomes a Japanese protectorate.
   22/10/1910 - 15/8/1945: Korea annexed by Japan.
   6/9/1945 - 15/12/1945: Korean People's Republic declared (not recognized).
   15/8/1945 -  Aug/Sep 1948: North occupied by USSR, South by US.
   3/9/1948: Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North).
   28/6/1950 - 29/9/1950: Most of South Korea occupied by North Korea.
   19/10/1950 - 5/12/1951: U.N.-US occupation of over half of North Korea.
South Korea:
   17/11/1905: Korea becomes a Japanese protectorate.
   22/10/1910 - 15/8/1945: Korea annexed by Japan.
   6/9/1945 - 15/12/1945: Korean People's Republic declared (not recognized).
   15/8/1945 -  Aug/Sep 1948: North occupied by USSR, South by US.
   15/8/1948: Republic of Korea (South).
   28/6/1950 - 29/9/1950: Most of South Korea occupied by North Korea.
Kosovo:
   1912: part of Serbia (and later Yugoslavia).
   17/4/1941 - 11/9/1943: Occupied by Italy and annexed to Albania.
   11/9/1943 - Oct 1944: Occupied by Germany.
   Oct 1944: Reincorporated into Yugoslavia (as part of Serbia).
   1945: Autonomous Kosovo-Metohija District.
   1963: Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.
   1968: Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo 
   5/7/1989: Serbia revokes autonomy.
   15/7/1990: Kosovo declares separation from Serbia, but not Yugoslavia (not recognized).
   28/9/1990: Autonomous Province of Kosovo-Metohija.
   19/10/1991: Kosovo declares its independence from Yugoslavia as Republic of Kosova (not recognized).
   12/6/1999: Kosovo under foreign occupation (UN administration).
   17/2/2008: Independence declared (Republic of Kosovo) (not recognized by Serbia or Russia).
Kuwait:
   1871: Rulers recognize sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire.
   3/11/1914: British protectorate (informally since 1899).
   2/12/1922 - 4/7/1965: Kuwaiti-Saudi Arabian neutral zone in southern area.
   19/6/1961: Independence from UK as Emirate of Kuwait.
   8/8/1990 - 27/2/1991: Annexed by Iraq.
Kyrgyzstan:
   1876: Annexed by Russia (from China).
   1924: Kara-Kirghiz Autonomous oblast within Russian SFSR.
   1925: Renamed Kirghiz Autonomous oblast.
   1/2/1926: Kirghiz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic formed within the Russian SFSR.
   5/12/1936: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic (gains full Soviet republic status).
   15/12/1990: Republic of Kyrgyzstan (within USSR).
   31/8/1991: Independence declared. (25/12/1991: effective after dissolution of the USSR).
   5/5/1993: Kyrgyz Republic.
Laos:
   3/10/1893: French protectorate, part of French Indochina.
   9/5/1941 - 1946: Chapmask and Xainyaburi provinces annexed by Thailand.
   7/4/1945 - 27/8/1945: Occupied by Japan.
   15/9/1945: A united Kingdom of Laos proclaimed.
   23/9/1945 - 12/3/1946: Allied occupation by China.
   23/4/1946: France protectorate reestablished.
   27/8/1946: France recognizes unification of Laos.
   22/10/1953: Independence proclaimed as Kingdom of Laos (21/7/1954 recognized by France).
   2/12/1975: Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Latvia:
   1710 - 1889: Latvia fully integrated into the Russian Empire. 
   3/9/1917: Germans occupy the city of Riga.
   18/11/1918: Independence as Republic of Latvia declared (25/11/1918: recognized by Germany).
   3/1/1919 - 22/5/1919: Soviet troops occupy Riga. The Republic of Latvia is reduced to Courland and the northern part of Livonia.
   22/5/1919: Soviet troops lost Riga, Latvian SSR reduced  to the eastern part of Latvia (Lettgallia), capital Rezekne.
   13/1/1920: Latvian SSR dissolved, Soviet Russian troops leave.
   11/8/1920: Latvian independence recognized by Russia.
   17/6/1940: Occupied by USSR.
   21/7/1940: Renamed Latvian SSR.
   5/8/1940: Incorporation into USSR (not internationally recognized).
   1/9/1941: German occupation; Latvia is made a General District within Reichskommisariat of Ostland.
   Nov 1944: Re-occupied by Soviets as Latvian SSR.
   4/5/1990: Republic of Latvia.
   21/8/1991: Independence declared (6/9/1991: recognized by USSR).
Lebanon:
   10/10/1840: Ottoman rule restored.
   16/8/1860 - 5/7/1861: Occupation by France.
   1/10/1918: Annexed by Syria.
   7/10/1918: Occupied by France and Britain (to 24/10/1918).
   1/9/1920: State of Great Lebanon (part of French Syrian mandate).
   1/9/1926: Lebanese Republic (under separate French mandate).
   15/7/1941 - Apr 1946: Anglo-French occupation (French to 31/12/1946).
   26/11/1941: Independence from France declared as Lebanese Republic.
   22/11/1943: Independence recognized by France.
   Oct 1976: Syrian troops occupy the north, east, and central Lebanon.
   6/6/1982 - 22/5/2000: Southern Lebanon occupied by Israel.
Lesotho:
   12/3/1868: British Protectorate of Basutoland.
   18/3/1884: Basutoland a separate colony.
   30/4/1965: Autonomy.
   4/10/1966: Independence as Kingdom of Lesotho.
Liberia:
   Dec 1821: Cape Mesurado Colony created by the American Colonization Society.
   15/8/1824: Cape Mesurado expanded into the Colony of Liberia.
   1/4/1839: Commonwealth of Liberia.
   26/7/1847: Independence as Republic of Liberia.
Libya:
   26/5/1835: Direct Ottoman rule restored.
   3/10/1911: Italian occupation.
   16/11/1918 - 1923: Tripolitanian Republic (in revolt against Italy).
   12/11/1922: Annexed to Italy.
   1/1/1935: Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, Fezzan united as Libya.
   15/12/1942: Tripolantania & Cyrenaica occupied by Britain, Fezzan occupied by France.
   23/1/1943: End of Italian rule.
   1946: Libya an United Nations Mandate.
   24/12/1951: Libya independent as United Libyan Kingdom.
   25/4/1963: Libyan Kingdom (federal arrangement abolished).
   1/9/1969: Libyan Arab Republic.
   12/1/1974 - 14/1/1974: Part of Arab Islamic Republic (union with Tunisia).
   Jul 1975 - 1990: Libya occupies and annexes the Aozou Strip from Chad.
   2/3/1977: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.
   Apr 1986: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.
Liechtenstein:
   23/1/1719: County of Vaduz and Lordship of Schellenberg united as Principality of Liechtenstein (Fürstentum Liechtenstein).
Lithuania:
   7/1/1795: Grand Principality of Lithuania incorporated into the All-Russian Empire.
   Apr 1915 - Oct 1915: Lithuania gradually occupied by Germany.
   16/2/1918: Independence of State of Lithuania declared (23/3/1918: recognized by Germany).
   2/11/1918: Republic of Lithuania.
   31/12/1918 - 25/8/1920: Polish and Soviet troops occupy Vilnius; capital of Lithuania moved to Kaunas.
   12/7/1920: Independence recognized by Russia.
   24/3/1922: Vilnius area annexed by Poland.
   15/6/1940: Occupied by USSR. 
   21/7/1940: Renamed the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic.
   3/8/1940: Incorporation into Soviet Union (not internationally recognized).
   Jun 1941: Occupied by Germany.
   17/7/1941: Lithuania is made a General District within the Reichskommissariat of Ostland.
   Jun 1944 - 28/1/1945: Re-occupied by USSR (as Lithuanian S.S.R.)
   11/3/1990: Independence declared as Republic of Lithuania (6/9/1991: recognized by USSR).
Luxembourg:
   1831: Upon separation of Belgium from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the territory of Luxembourg is divided into the (larger) Belgian province of Luxembourg and the (smaller) surviving independent Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
   2/8/1914 - 22/11/1918: Occupied by Germany.
   Nov 1918: two failed attempts to create a Republic of Luxembourg.
   10/5/1940 - 14/9/1944: Occupied by Germany (part of the Reich Gau of Moselland from Jul 1941).
   14/9/1944 - 1945: Allied occupation.
   16/12/1944 - 28/1/1945: Northern third of Luxembourg re-occupied by Germany during the battle of the Bulge.
Macau:
   20/4/1844: Separate overseas province of Portugal (previously subordinated to Goa).
   1883:  Portuguese Timor and Macau made a combined overseas province of Portugal under control of Goa.
   26/3/1887: China formally ceded Macau, Taipa (Dangzai), and Colane (Luhuan) islands to Portugal.
   1928: China renounces recognition of Portuguese rule.
   1941 - 1945:  Japanese presence in Macau, but not occupation.
   1955: Portuguese overseas province.
   1975: Portuguese overseas territory.
   1979: Recognized by China as Chinese territory administered by Portugal.
   20/12/1999: Reincorporation into China as a special administrative area. 
Macedonia:
   1877 - 6/9/1911: Part of Kosovo province.
   10/8/1913: Macedonia (Skopje area) part of Kingdom of Serbia. From this point, "Macedonia" is the Skojpe area; Salonika area incorporated into Greece.
   Oct 1915 - 1918: Bulgarian occupation.
   1/12/1918: Part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia).
   Apr 1941 - 8/9/1944: Annexed by Bulgaria (some small Albanian populated border areas annexed to Italian Albania).
   30/4/1945: People's Republic of Macedonia.
   2/12/1945: Part of Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia (as People's Republic of Macedonia).
   7/7/1963: Socialist Republic of Macedonia (within Yugoslavia).
   15/4/1991: Republic of Macedonia (within Yugoslavia).
   18/9/1991: Independence declared.
   8/4/1993: Recognized by U.N. as Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Madagascar:
   6/8/1896: Kingdom of Imerina under French protectorate.
   28/2/1897: French Madagascar colony.
   25/9/1942 - 13/10/1946: British occupation.
   27/10/1946: Madagascar overseas territory of France.
   14/10/1958: Autonomy as Malagasy Republic.
   26/6/1960: Independence.
   30/12/1975: Democratic Republic of Madagascar.
   12/9/1992: Republic of Madagascar.
Malawi:
   15/5/1891: Nyasaland Districts Protectorate.
   23/2/1893: British Central Africa Protectorate (administered by British South Africa Company).
   6/7/1907: Nyasaland Protectorate.
   1/7/1953 - 31/12/1963: Part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
   9/5/1963: Nyasaland gains self-rule.
   6/7/1964: Independence as Malawi.
   6/7/1966: Republic of Malawi.
Malaysia:
   1826 - 29/1/1946: Straits Settlements (Malacca, Penang, Singapore).
   17/3/1888: State of Sarawak a British protectorate (it was given to James Brooke by the Sultan of Brunei in 1841, and became independent of Brunei in 1855).
   12/5/1888: State of North Borneo a British Protectorate.
   1/7/1896: Federated Malay States (Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, and Selangor).
   1912-1942: Island of Labuan a separate crown colony. After WW2, Labuan part of colony of British North Borneo.
   Jan 1942 - Sep 1945: Occupied by Japan.
   Sep 1945 - 29/1/1946: British military rule (except Sarawak, which had Australian military rule).
   1/4/1946: Malay Union (federated and unfederated Malay states plus Malacca and Penang).
   1/4/1946: Singapore becomes a (separate) British colony.
   1/7/1946: Sarawak becomes a (separate) British crown colony.
   15/7/1946: British North Borneo (incluing Labuan) becomes a (separate) British crown colony.
   1/2/1948: Malay Union renamed Federation of Malaya.
   31/8/1957: Malaya gains independence from Britain.
   16/9/1963: Malaya becomes Federation of Malaysia (Sabah [formerly North Borneo], Sarawak, and Singapore join).
   9/8/1965: Singapore withdraws from Federation of Malaysia.
Maldives:
   1796 - 16/12/1887: Under British protection.
   16/12/1887 - 26/7/1965: Officially a British protectorate.
   1/1/1953: Republic.
   7/3/1954: Sultanate.
   3/1/1959: Addu Atoll declares independence.
   13/3/1959: Fua Mulaku and Huvadu Atoll join Addu to form the United Suvadive Republic.
   Jul 1959: Huvadu retaken by Maldives government.
   30/9/1963: Suvadive Republic extinguished.
   11/11/1968: Republic.
Mali:
   Sep 1880: Mali claimed by France as Upper Senegal Territory.
   21/3/1881: Upper Senegal Protectorate.
   18/8/1890: French Sudan Territory.
   16/6/1895: French Sudan colony, part of French West Africa.
   17/10/1899: Part of Senegal as Upper Senegal and Niger Territory.
   1/10/1902: Senegambia and Niger territory (subject to Senegal).
   18/10/1904: Part of Upper Senegal and Niger Colony (Haut-Sénégal-Niger).
   4/12/1920: French Sudan colony.
   13/10/1946: French Sudan overseas territory of France.
   24/11/1958: Autonomy as Sudanese Republic.
   4/4/1959: Sudanese Republic territory (modern Mali) and Senegal form the Mali Federation.
   20/6/1960: Mali Federation gains independence from France.
   20/8/1960: Dissolution of the Mali Federation. Mali independent.
   22/9/1960: Sudanese Republic becomes Republic of Mali.
Malta:
   1814: British crown colony.
   Oct 1921: British colony.
   Nov 1933: British crown colony.
   21/9/1964: Independence from Britian (Malta).
   13/12/1974: Republic of Malta (Repubblika Ta' Malta).
Malta Sovereign Military Order:
   Note: The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is an ancient organization founded by the Roman Catholic church during the Crusades to protect pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land.
   It now functions as a Catholic charitable organization with limited diplomatic status as a "sovereign entity". It has its own passports and coinage. The S.M.O.M. headquarters consist of a building and courtyard in Rome.
   The S.M.O.M is officially the world's smallest self-governing sovereign territory, and exchanges ambassadors and diplomatic representatives with over 80 countries; it regards itself, and is regarded by several states that 
   give it diplomatic recognition, as a sovereign state.
   12/6/1798: French occupy Malta, expelling the Knights of St. John.
   14/12/1822: By the Treaty of Verona the Order is recognized as a sovereign state.
   1834: Headquarters of the Order moved to the Palazzo di Malta in Rome (Knights Hospitaller of St. John of Jerusalem).
   1869: The Palazzo di Malta and the Villa Malta received extraterritorial rights, in this way becoming the only " sovereign" territorial possessions of the Order.
   24/6/1961: Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta.
   1966: Autonomy granted to the Order, resident in Rome, by Italy.
   24/8/1994: Granted Permanent Observer status in the United Nations.
Marshall Islands:
   29/11/1878: Kingdom of the Ralik Islands (under German influence).
   22/10/1885: Islands are sold to Germany by Spain.
   13/9/1886: German protectorate officially declared.
   1/4/1906: Part of German New Guinea.
   3/10/1914: Japanese occupation.
   17/12/1920: League of Nations mandate (Japanese South Seas Agency).
   1935: Japan declares annexation of the mandate islands.
   23/2/1944: US occupation.
   18/7/1947: Part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
   1/5/1979: Autonomy as Republic of the Marshall Islands.
   21/10/1986: Trust territory dissolved.
   22/12/1990: Final independence (Security Council ratifies termination of trusteeship).
Martinique:
   Since 1674, Martinique was a French crown colony.
   19/3/1946: French overseas département.
Mauritania:
   12/5/1903: French protectorate of Mauritania.
   18/10/1904: French civil territory of Mauritania (part of French West Africa).
   12/1/1920: French colony.
   27/10/1946: Mauritania overseas territory of France.
   28/11/1958: Autonomy as Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
   28/11/1960: Independence granted.
   26/12/1976: Mauritania and Morocco partition Western Sahara.
   11/8/1979: Mauritanian part of Western Sahara annexed by Morocco.
Mauritius:
   3/12/1810: British colony of Mauritius (previously a French colony). (30/5/1814: British possession confirmed by the Treaty of Paris).
   12/3/1968: Independence from Britain.
   12/3/1992: Republic.
Mayotte:
   25/3/1841: Annexed by France (annexation ratified 13/6/1843). Mayotte protectorate (subordinated to Île le de Bourbon/Réunion).
   5/9/1887: Part of French Protectorate of the Comoros.
   25/7/1912 - 6/7/1975: Part of the French territory of the Comoros.
   22/12/1974: Mayotte votes to remain a French territory.
   6/7/1975: Comoros gains independence from France. Mayotte remains French.
   24/12/1976: French collectivité territoriale.
   11/7/2001: Status changed to collectivité départementale.
Mexico:
   28/9/1821: Independence from Spain as Mexican Empire.
   29/3/1823: Mexico.
   Mar 1823/1824: Central America independent from Mexico.
   10/10/1824: United Mexican States.
   2/3/1836: Texas independent.
   1/1/1837: Mexican Republic.
   22/8/1846: United Mexican States.
   2/2/1848: Mexican cession territories (Upper California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, Arizona) ceded to US.
   20/4/1853: Mexican Republic.
   16/9/1857: United Mexican States.
   22/6/1863: Mexico.
   11/7/1863: Mexican Empire.
   15/5/1867: United Mexican States.
Micronesia:
   1899: Part of German New Guinea (since 1659, a Spanish possession as Caroline Islands).
   3/10/1914: Japanese occupation.
   17/12/1920: League of Nations mandate (Nanio).
   1935: Japan declares annexation of the mandate islands.
   1944: US occupation.
   18/7/1947: Part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau). 
   18/7/1947 - 1951: Administered by US Navy.
   1951 - 1981: Administered by US Department of Interior.
   1962: Federation of Micronesia (Marianas, Carolines, Marshall Islands, and Palau).
   1965: Federation members Marianas, Marshall Islands, Palau, Yap, and Pohnepi.
   1/4/1976: Northern Marianas leave the federation.
   Jan 1977: State of Kusaie joins federation.
   10/5/1979: Autonomy (Federated States of Micronesia) separated from the Trust Territory.
   1980: Palau and Marshall Islands leave the federation.
   3/11/1986: Trust territory dissolved by US.
   22/12/1990: Final independence (Security Council ratifies termination of trusteeship).
Moldova:
   28/5/1812: Bessarabia annexed by Russia.
   6/2/1918: Independence from Russia proclaimed (Moldavan Democratic Republic).
   10/12/1918: Incorporation into Romania.
   11/10/1924: Moldavian Autonomous SSR established in the Ukrainian SSR by USSR.
   28/6/1940: Bessarabia incorporated into USSR (from 2/8/1940, Moldavian SSR).
   25/7/1941 - 22/8/1944: Reincorporation into Romania.
   15/9/1947: Reincorporation into USSR.
   23/6/1990: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova (within USSR).
   23/5/1991: Republic of Moldova (within USSR).
   27/8/1991: Moldovan independence declared (25/12/1991: independence effective after dissolution of USSR).
Monaco:
   20/11/1815: Protectorate of the Kingdom of Sardinia (since 14/9/1641, Principality of Monaco was a protectorate of France).
   17/7/1860: Protectorate of France (confirmed 17/7/1918).
   2/2/1861: Menton and Rocquebrunne offcially ceded to France.
   11/11/1942 - 8/9/1943: Occupied by Italy.
   8/9/1943 - 3/9/1944: Occupied by Germany.
Mongolia:
   1750: Incorporation into the Chinese Empire.
   1/12/1911: Mongolia (Bogd Haan State) declares independence from China under Russian protectorate.
   5/11/1913: China recognizes autonomy.
   19/2/1920: Annexation to China.
   3/2/1921: Mongolia (Bogd Haan State) restored.
   14/8/1921: Independence declared by Tannu Tuva.
   28/11/1924: Mongolian People's Republic.
   9/8/1945: China recognizes independence.
   12/2/1992: Mongolia.
Montenegro:
   13/7/1878: Independence recognized by the Congress of Berlin.
   28/8/1910: Kingdom of Montenegro (independence recognized by Ottoman Empire).
   17/1/1916 - Nov 1918: Occupied by Austria-Hungary.
   26/11/1918: Unification with Serbia proclaimed (merged into Yugoslavia).
   12/7/1941: Nominal independence under Italian control.
   8/9/1943 - Nov 1944: Occupied by Germany.
   4/12/1943: Reincorporation into Yugoslavia declared.
   2/12/1945: Part of Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia (as People's Republic of Montenegro).
   7/7/1963: Socialist Republic of Montenegro (within Yugoslavia).
   Nov 1991: Republic of Montenegro (within Yugoslavia).
   27/4/1992: Part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
   4/2/2003: Part of Serbia and Montenegro.
   21/5/2006: Independence referendum approved.
   3/6/2006: Independence.
Montserrat:
   1667 - 1816: Part of (British) Leeward Islands colony.
   1816 - 1832: Part of Antigua-Barbuda-Montserrat colony.
   1833 - 1/1/1960: Part of Leeward Islands.
   3/1/1958 - 31/5/1962: Part of the Federation of the West Indies.
   1/7/1956: Separate colony.
   27/2/1967: Associated state.
Morocco:
   6/6/1666: Sharifi Moroccan State.
   1860: Morocco cedes Western Sahara and Ifni to Spain.
   4/8/1907 - 30/3/1912: French occupy northern Morocco.
   30/3/1912 - 2/3/1956: French protectorate over Sultanate of Morocco.
   27/11/1912 - 7/4/1956: Spanish protectorate in "Spanish Zone" (Tetouan).
   1912 - 20/10/1956: City of Tangier an international protectorate.
   14/7/1957: Kingdom of Morocco.
   1958: Spain returns Southern Protectorate (Tarfaya area; formerly attached spanish Western Sahara).
   4/1/1969: Ifni enclave restored to Morocco by Spain.
   26/2/1976: Morocco and Mauritania partition Western Sahara.
   11/8/1979: Mauritanian part of Western Sahara annexed by Morocco.
Mozambique:
   Mar 1836: Moçambique (Portuguese East Africa) Colony.
   10/1/1920: Treaty of Versailles gives the Kionga triangle, fomerly part of German East Africa, to Portuguese Moçambique.
   1935: Integrated with Portugal.
   11/6/1951: Overseas province of Portugal.
   20/9/1974: Local administration begins.
   25/6/1975: Independence from Portugal (People's Republic of Mozambique).
   1/12/1990: Republic of Mozambique.
Myanmar (Burma):
   1769 - 1/1/1886: a tributary of China.
   1824 - 1/1/1886: Burma conquered by Britain (annexed to British India).
   1/4/1937: Burma becomes a separate British colony with self government.
   1/8/1942 - 3/5/1945: Japanese occupation.
   1/8/1943 - 3/5/1945: Republic of Burma.
   4/1/1948: Independence as Union of Burma.
   4/1/1974: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma.
   23/9/1988: Union of Burma.
   18/6/1989: Union of Myanmar, although this was not strictly a name change, just a new version (for international use) of the same Burmese name (Pyeidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw) that was previously translated as Union of Burma.
Namibia:
   24/4/1884: German South West Africa protectorate.
   14/9/1892: German South West Africa crown colony.
   9/7/1915: Occupation by South Africa, German forces surrender.
   17/12/1920: South West Africa a League of Nations mandate (administered by South Africa).
   11/12/1946: South Africa rejects a UN Trusteeship for South West Africa.
   24/8/1954: South Africa announces that "the territory and South Africa are one political entity."
   12/6/1968: South West Africa renamed Namibia by the U.N. (not recognized by South Africa).
   30/1/1970: U.N. declares South Africa in "illegal occupation" of Namibia.
   21/3/1990: Independence from South Africa as Republic of Namibia.
Nauru:
   21/10/1887: Pleasant Island (Nauru) a German protectorate.
   14/4/1888: Part of (German) Marshall Islands.
   1/4/1906: Part of German New Guinea.
   4/8/1914: Australian occupation.
   1914 - 1921: Part of the British Western Pacific Territories.
   17/12/1920: League of Nations mandate (administered by Australia).
   26/8/1942 - 13/9/1945: Japanese occupation.
   1/11/1947: United Nations trust territory (under Australia, Britain, and New Zealand), administered by Australia.
   31/1/1968: Independence as Republic of Nauru.
Nepal:
   1792 - 1908: Nominally a tributary of China (previously the Kingdom of Nepal).
   15/3/1816 - 1923: British protectorate.
The Netherlands:
   16/3/1815: Kingdom of The Netherlands (Belgium, Luxembourg, and Netherlands).
   4/10/1830: Independence of Belgium.
   23/11/1890: Independence of Luxembourg. 
   10/5/1940 - 5/5/1945: Occupied by Germany (Reichskomissariat Niederlanden).
   23/5/1949 - 11/8/1963: Annexation of German border areas.
Netherlands Antilles (including Sint Maarten):
   1828: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, and Dutch Guiana united as Dutch West Indies.
   1848: Islands united as Curaçao and Dependencies.
   1922: Overseas province of the Netherlands.
   11/5/1940 - 5/2/1942: British protectorate.
   5/2/1942 - 1945: U.S. protectorate.
   20/9/1948: Part of the Netherlands (renamed Netherlands Antilles).
   29/12/1954: Netherlands Antilles autonomous.
   1/1/1986: Aruba a separate dependency.
   2000/2004/2005: Referendums in Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba and Sint Maarten support a redefined status within The Netherlands, only Sint Eustatius supports remaining within the Netherlands Antilles.
   1/1/2010: Date set for dissolution of Netherlands Antilles.
New Caledonia:
   24/9/1853: French colony.
   27/10/1946: French overseas territory.
   18/11/1984: Autonomy granted.
New Zealand:
   7/10/1769: Claimed by Britain.
   28/10/1835: Maori declare independence (Confederation of the United Tribes) under British protectorate.
   30/1/1840: New Zealand officially a British possession, part of New South Wales.
   3/5/1841: New Zealand a separate colony.
   1842: Chatham Islands annexed.
   20/1/1887: Kermadec islands annexed.
   26/9/1907: Dominion of New Zealand.
   11/12/1931: Statute of Westminster (ratified by New Zealand 25/11/1947) grants full sovereignty to the British dominions.
   1953: Official use of the term "Dominion" ends.
Nicaragua:
   15/9/1821: Independence from Spain (part of the Mexican Empire).
   10/7/1823: Part of Central American Federation.
   30/4/1838: Separation from the Federation sanctioned.
   28/2/1854: Republic of Nicaragua.
   17/11/1909 - 3/1/1933: U.S. protectorate.
Niger:
   23/7/1900: French military territory (Zinder) and part of French West Africa.
   22/6/1910: Niger territory (subject to Senegal).
   26/12/1922: French colony of Niger.
   13/10/1946: Niger overseas territory of France.
   19/12/1958: Autonomy as Republic of Niger.
   3/8/1960: Independence from France.
Nigeria:
   1/1/1900: British Nigerian colonies (protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria).
   16/2/1906: Lagos incorporated into the Southern Nigeria Protectorate.
   1/1/1914: Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
   1/10/1954: Federation of Nigeria (autonomous).
   1/10/1960: Southern Nigeria gains Independence from Britain as Nigeria.
   1962: British Northern Nigeria protectorate incorporated into Nigeria.
   1/10/1963: Federal Republic of Nigeria.
   24/5/1966: Republic of Nigeria.
   31/8/1966: Federal Republic of Nigeria.
   30/5/1967: Secession of Biafra (not internationally recognized).
   12/1/1970: Reintegration of Biafra.
Niue:
   Until 1917, Kingdom of Niue-Fekai (1774: Discovered by Captain James Cook, named Savage Island).
   20/4/1900: British protectorate.
   1900 - 11/6/1901: Part of the British Western Pacific Territories.
   11/6/1901: Annexed by New Zealand as part of the Cook Islands.
   1904: Separated from Cook Islands.
   19/10/1974: Associated state.
Norfolk Island:
   Mar 1788: British territory, part of New South Wales.
   29/9/1844: Part of Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania).
   1/11/1856: Part of New South Wales.
   8/6/1856: Pitcairn islanders resettled on Norfolk.
   15/1/1897: Self-government revoked.
   1/7/1914: Australian territory.
   1976, 1991: Referendums reject annexation to Australia.
   10/8/1979: Self-government restored.
Northern Ireland (see United Kingdom).
Northern Mariana Islands:
   1668: Spanish colony of Islas de las Marianas (Ladrones Islands).
   21/6/1898: Guam a US territory.
   1/7/1899: Mariana Islands (except Guam) sold to Germany, and made part of German New Guinea.
   3/10/1914: Japanese occupation.
   17/12/1920: League of Nations mandate (South Seas Agency).
   6/7/1944: US occupation.
   18/7/1947: Part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
   9/1/1978: Commonwealth status.
   4/11/1986: Trust territory dissolved.
   22/12/1990: Security Council ratifies termination of trusteeship.
Norway:
   Kingdom of Norway since 872 (in a personal union with Sweden from 1814 - 7/6/1905, i.e. the King of Sweden was also the King of Norway).
   7/6/1905: Independence from Sweden.
   14/5/1912: Russia and Norway agree the Svalbard Islands is to be neutral territory.
   9/2/1920: World Court awards sovereignty of Svalbard to Norway.
   5/8/1929: Jan Mayen becomes a Norwegian dependency (formally annexed 27/2/1930).
   9/4/1940 - 8/5/1945: German occupation.
   9/5/1945: Kingdom of Norway (restored).
   13/5/1945 - 1945: Allied occupation (Soviet occupation of Finnmark 25 Oct 1944 - 25 Feb 1945).
Oman:
   1854: Kuria Muria Islands ceded to Britain.
   6/4/1861: Separation of Zanzibar from Oman.
   Jan 1871: Sultanate of Muscat and Oman restored.
   20/3/1891 - 2/2/1971: Informal British protectorate over Muscat and Oman.
   Sep 1958: Gwadar enclave in Baluchistan ceded to Pakistan.
   30/11/1967: Kuria Muria Islands restored to Oman.
   9/8/1970: Sultanate of Oman.
Pakistan:
   14/8/1947: Independence as Dominion of Pakistan (previously part of British India).
   23/3/1956: Republic of Pakistan.
   26/3/1971: East Pakistan secedes (People's Republic of Bangladesh).
   16/12/1971: De facto independence of Bangladesh (capitulation of Pakistan).
Palau:
   1886: Spanish possession.
   1899: Part of German New Guinea.
   1914: Japanese occupation.
   17/12/1920: League of Nations mandate under Japan.
   Sep 1944: US occupation.
   18/7/1947: Part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
   1/1/1981: Republic of Palau.
   1/10/1994: Independence from US.
Palestinian National Authority (see Israel).
Panama:
   28/11/1821: Independence from Spain, part of New Granada in Colombia.
   18/11/1840: State of Panama (secession from Colombia).
   20/3/1841: State of the Isthmus.
   31/12/1841: Reincorporation into Colombia.
   4/11/1903: Independence from Colombia.
   4/11/1903 - 1939: US protectorate.
   18/11/1903 - 30/9/1979: Panama Canal Zone under US administration.
Papua New Guinea:
   1879 - 1881: French colonial settlement on the island of New Ireland.
   3/4/1883: Queensland (Australia) annexes southeastern coast.
   2/7/1883: British colonial office disallows Queensland's annexation.
   3/11/1884: Germany proclaims protectorate over northeastern New Guinea (Kaiser Wilhem Land or German New Guinea).
   6/11/1884: Britain proclaims protectorate over southeastern New Guinea (British territory of New Guinea).
   1886: British colony of New Guinea.
   1/9/1906: British colony of New Guinea passed to Australia as Territory of Papua.
   Nov 1914: Australian occupation of German New Guinea.
   17/12/1920: German New Guinea becomes League of Nations mandate.
   21/1/1942 - 1944: Japanese occupation of New Guinea and part of Papua.
   1944 - 31/10/1945: US military administration over North East New Guinea.
   1945: Territory of Papua and New Guinea (Australia begins joint administration).
   8/12/1946: UN mandate for North East New Guinea.
   1/7/1971: Territory of Papua New Guinea.
   16/9/1975: Independence (Independent State of Papua New Guinea).
   1/9/1975 - 9/8/1976: Secession of Bougainville (as Republic of the North Solomons).
   9/8/1976: Reincorporated into Papua New Guinea with autonomy.
   May 1990 - 22/1/1998: Republic of Bougainville (in secession).
Paraguay:
   12/10/1813: Independence (Republic of Paraguay).
   1869 - 1878: Occupied by Brazil.
Peru:
Philippines:
   Since 1569, a Spanish colony (Islas Filipinas).
   23/3/1897 - 16/12/1897: Philippine Republic (insurrection against Spain).
   16/12/1897 - 12/6/1898: Spanish reoccupation.
   12/6/1898 - 1/4/1901: Philippine Republic (insurrection against Spain and then US).
   13/8/1898: US territory.
   15/11/1935: Commonwealth of the Philippines.
   3/1/1942 - 14/10/1943: Japanese military occupation. 
   14/10/1943 - 17/8/1945: Nominal independence (Republic of the Philippines); de facto continued Japanese occupation.
   4/7/1946: Independence from US as Republic of the Philippines.
Pitcairn:
   Oct 1832 - 1838: Commonwealth of Pitcairn.
   30/11/1838: British protectorate.
   3/5/1856: Islanders relocated to Norfolk Island.
   1857: Islanders begin returning from Norfolk Island.
   1887: Island becomes the British colony of Pitcairn (incl. Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands).
   1898 - 1952: Part of the British Western Pacific Territories.
   1902: Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands annexed to Pitcairn by Britain.
   1970: Pitcairn and dependencies (Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands) a separate colony.
Poland:
   7/1/1795: Third partition by Russia, Prussia, and Austria; Polish state ceases to exist.
   20/6/1815 - 5/11/1916: Polish Kingdom, in subordinate union with Russia.
   5/8/1915 - 11/11/1918: Occupied by Germany and Austria-Hungary.
   5/11/1916: Granted autonomy by Germany and Austria-Hungary.
   14/1/1917: Polish Kingdom.
   6/11/1918: Provisional People's Government of the Polish Republic.
   22/11/1918: Polish Republic.
   1/9/1939: German invasion.
   17/9/1939: Soviet invasion.
   21/6/1941: Germany takes over the Soviet-occupied areas.
   1/1/1944: Polish Republic.
   17/1/1945: Last German troops capitulate.
   1/8/1952: Polish People's Republic.
   30/12/1989: Polish Republic.
Portugal (including Madeira, and the Azores):
   26/2/1821: United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and Algarve.
   7/9/1822: Independence of Brazil.
   13/5/1825: Kingdom of Portugal.
   5/10/1910: Portuguese Republic.
Puerto Rico:
   9/11/1897: Autonomy granted (a Spanish colony sinc 1508).
   10/12/1898: Puerto Rico ceded to US by Spain.
   2/3/1917: U.S. territory.
   25/7/1952: Commonwealth status.
Qatar:
   12/9/1868: Treaty with British, effectively establishing Qatar (previously considered to be a dependency of Bahrain) as an independent state.
   1871: Sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire over Qatar recognized.
   3/11/1916: British protectorate (Sheikdom of Qatar).
   1/9/1971: Independence from Britain (State of Qatar).
Reunion:
   Since 1642, a French colony.
   19/3/1946: French overseas département.
Romania:
   21/5/1877 Independence from Ottoman Empire proclaimed.
   26/3/1881: Kingdom of Romania.
   During WW1, Wallachia was occupied by Austro-Hungary and Germany.
   9/4/1918: Bessarabia (Moldova) annexed from Russia.
   1/12/1918: Transylvania incorporated into Romania.
   29/12/1918: Bukovina and Bessarabia incorporated into Romania. 
   27/6/1940: Bukovina and Bessarabia annexed by USSR; Southern Dobruja annexed by Bulgaria.
   Aug 1944: Romania annexes Bessarabia, Bukovina, and Transnistria from USSR.
   31/8/1944 - 10/2/1947: Occupied by USSR.
   30/12/1947: Romanian People's Republic.
   21/8/1965: Socialist Republic of Romania.
   29/12/1989: Romania.
Russia (USSR):
   6/5/1906: Russian Empire (or State of Russia). Previously was All-Russian Empire.
   14/9/1917: Russian Republic.
   Feb 1918 - Aug 1940: Estonia (annexed 1721), Lativa (annexed 1795), Lithuania (annexed 1795) independent.
   1918 - Nov 1920: Armenia (annexed 1828), Azerbaijan (annexed 1806), Belarus (annexed 1793), Georgia (annexed 1801), and Ukraine (annexed 1667) briefly independent. 
   19/7/1918: Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.
   30/12/1922: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR, Soviet Union) formed including Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia, and Transcaucasia (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia).
   13/5/1925: Accession of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
   5/12/1929: Accession of Tadzhikistan.
   5/12/1936: Accession of Kazakhstan and Kirgiziya; Transcaucasian SFSR dissolved. Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan become full union republics.
   31/3/1940: Accession of Finno-Karelia.
   2/8/1940: Accession of Moldavia.
   3/8/1940: Accession of Lithuania.
   5/8/1940: Accession of Latvia.
   6/8/1940: Accession of Estonia.
   6/9/1991: Recognition of Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian independence.
   25/12/1991: U.S.S.R. dissolved; Russian independence effective.
   21/4/1992: Russian Federation.
Rwanda:
   1884: Rwanda becomes a German protectorates.
   1/7/1890: Part of German East Africa.
   1899: military district of Ruanda-Urundi formed within German East Africa.
   Jun 1916: Belgian occupation of parts of German East Africa (including Ruanda and Urundi).
   20/7/1922: League of Nations mandate (as Ruanda-Urundi) under Belgium. Administrative union with Belgian Congo.
   18/10/1960: Rwanda gains autonomy.
   1/7/1962: Independence as Rwandan Republic.
Saint Helena:
   Since 1649, St. Helena was a British colony.
   6/10/1815: Ascension annexed by Britain (a dependency of St. Helena 1922).
   14/8/1816: Tristan da Cunha annexed by UK (a dependency of St. Helena 1938).
   28/08/1833: British crown colony (effective 22 Apr 1834).
 French Possessions on Saint Helena:
   France has full sovereignty over three sites on the island (Longwood House (since 1858), Valley of the Tomb (since 1858), and Briars Pavilion (since 1959)), related to the exile of the Emperor Napoléon to the island.
Saint Christopher (Kitts) and Nevis:
   1833 - 1/1/1960: Part of Leeward Islands colony.
   1882: Islands united as Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla.
   3/1/1958 - 31/5/1962: Part of the Federation of the West Indies.
   27/2/1967: Associated state.
   19/12/1980: Separation of Anguilla.
   19/9/1983: Independence as Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis; Nevis granted limited self-government.
   13/10/1997: Nevis parliament votes for separation from St. Kitts.
   10/8/1998: Nevis independence referendum fails.
Saint Lucia:
   1838: British crown colony.
   1838 - 1/1/1960: Part of the Windward Islands colony.
   3/1/1958 - 31/5/1962: Part of the Federation of the West Indies.
   27/2/1967: Associated state.
   22/2/1979: Independence from UK.
Saint-Martin (see Guadeloupe).
Saint-Pierre et Miquelon:
   1816: French colony.
   27/10/1946: French overseas territory.
   17/7/1976: French overseas département.
   11/6/1985: French collectivité territoriale.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:
   1763: British colony.
   1833 - 1/1/1960: Part of the Windward Islands colony.
   3/1/1958 - 31/5/1962: Part of the Federation of the West Indies.
   27/10/1969: Associated state.
   27/10/1979: Independence.
Samoa (Western Samoa)/American Samoa:
   2/10/1873: Kingdom of Samoa.
   7/11/1889: Tripartite German-UK-U.S. protectorate over the neutral Samoa islands.
   10/6/1899: Provisional government consisting of the consuls of Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
   17/2/1900 - 29/6/1951: American Samoa administered by the U.S. Navy. During this time several islands are formally ceded to the United States.
   1/3/1900: Archipelago annexed by Germany, except for the part that is to become American Samoa.
   29/8/1914: New Zealand occupation.
   17/12/1920: League of Nations mandate (administered by New Zealand).
   29/6/1951 - 3/1/1978: American Samoa administered by U.S. Department of Interior.
   22/4/1960: Autonomy of American Samoa.
   1/1/1962: Independence from New Zealand as Independent State of Western Samoa.
   2/7/1997: Renamed Independent State of Samoa.
San Marino:
   Since 1243, Most Serene Republic of San Marino.
   Since 1291, independence recognized by Papal State under protectorate.
   22/3/1862: Independence recognized by Italy; under Italian protectorate.
   Aug 1944 - 5/9/1944: Occupied by German forces.
São Tomé e Príncipe:
   Since 1500, São Tomé and Príncipe were Portuguese colonies (united as one crown colony in 1753).
   11/6/1951: Portuguese overseas province.
   21/12/1974: Autonomy.
   12/7/1975: Independence from Portugal as Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe.
Saudi Arabia:
   22/8/1921: Sultanate of Nejd and Its Dependencies.
   29/1/1927: Kingdom of Nejd and Its Dependencies.
   22/9/1932: Hejaz and Nejd united as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Scotland (see United Kingdom).
Sealand: http://www.fruitsofthesea.demon.co.uk/sealand/index.html
Senegal:
   16/6/1895: Senegal a French colony (since 1817) becomes part of French West Africa.
   13/2/1904: Senegal colony and protectorate.
   27/10/1946: Senegal an overseas territory of France.
   25/11/1958: Senegal autonomous.
   4/4/1959: Sudanese Republic (now Mali) and Senegal form Mali Federation.
   20/6/1960: Mali Federation gains independence from France.
   20/8/1960: Dissolution of Mali Federation. Senegal independent.
   5/9/1960: Republic of Senegal.
   1/2/1982 - 30/9/1989: Confederation with The Gambia (Senegambia).
Serbia (Serbia and Montenegro, Yugoslavia):
      13/7/1878: Independence recognized by the Congress of Berlin.
      6/3/1882: Kingdom of Serbia.
      30/5/1913: Southern Serbia and Macedonia annexed from Ottoman Empire.
      Nov 1915 - 1/11/1918: Occupied by Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria.
      1/12/1918: Merged into Yugoslavia.
      2/12/1945: Part of Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia (as People's Republic of Serbia).
      7/7/1963: Socialist Republic of Serbia (within Yugoslavia).
      28/9/1990: Republic of Serbia (within Yugoslavia).
      27/4/1992: Part of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (as Republic of Serbia).
      4/2/2003: Part of Serbia and Montenegro.
      5/6/2006: Independence.
   Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro:
      1/12/1918: Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.
      4/6/1920: By the Treaty of Trianon, Hungary formally surrenders claims to Croatia, Slavonia, Vojvodina, Bosnia-Hercegovia, western Banat, and Prekmurje-Medjimurje to Yugoslavia.
      16/7/1920: Austrian provinces of Bosnia-Hercegovina, Carniola, Dalmatia, parts of Styria, and Carinthia incorporated by the Treaty of Saint-Germain.
      3/10/1929: Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
      17/4/1941: State dissolved under Italian-German occupation (Croatia nominally independent).
      29/11/1945: Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia.
      7/4/1963: Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia.
      25/6/1991: Independence of Slovenia and Croatia.
      18/9/1991: Independence of Macedonia.
      29/2/1992: Independence of Bosnia-Hercegovina.
      27/4/1992: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro only).
      4/2/2003: State Union of Serbia and Montenegro (a less restrictive confederation, Yugoslavia abolished).
      3/6/2006: Independence of Montenegro.
      5/6/2006: Independence of Serbia, hence end of union.
Seychelles:
   17/5/1810: British colony (Seychelles), subordinated to Mauritius.
   Nov 1903: British crown colony.
   8/11/1965 - 28/6/1976: Aldabra Islands part of British Indian Ocean Territory.
   Nov 1970: Autonomous.
   1/10/1975: Seychelles self-rule.
   29/6/1976: Independence from Britian as Republic of Seychelles.
Sierra Leone:
   14/5/1787: Freedom Province, British settlement established at Freetown for freed slaves.
   5/7/1799: Renamed Sierra Leone (1/1/1808: Sierra Leone crown colony).
   27/4/1961: Independence from Britain (Sierra Leone).
   19/4/1971: Republic of Sierra Leone.
Singapore:
   1826 - 29/1/1946: Part of Straits Settlements (Malacca, Penang, Singapore).
   Jan 1942 - Sep 1945: Occupied by Japan.
   Sep 1945 - 29/1/1946: British military rule.
   1/4/1946: Singapore becomes a (separate) British colony.
   3/6/1959: State of Singapore gains self-rule from Britian.
   31/8/1963: Singapore gains independence from Britain.
   16/9/1963: Malaya becomes Federation of Malaysia (Singapore joins).
   9/8/1965: Singapore withdraws from Federation of Malaysia.
   22/12/1965: Republic of Singapore.
Slovakia:
   28/10/1918: Union with Czechoslovakia declared (before this date, Slovakia was Hungarian).
   4/6/1920: By Treaty of Trianon Hungary formally cedes the majority of Slovak areas to Czechoslovakia.
   1/1/1927: Province of Slovakia within Czechoslovakia.
   6/10/1938: Czecho-Slovak Republic (Slovakia autonomous).
   15/3/1939: Independence (Slovak State, later Slovak Republic) under German protectorate.
   3/4/1945: Reincorporation into Czechoslovakia declared.
   1/1/1969: Slovak Socialist Republic (within Czechoslovakia).
   29/3/1990: Slovak Republic (within Czechoslovakia).
   1/1/1993: Independence of Slovak Republic.
Slovenia:
   31/10/1918: End of Austrian rule.
   1/12/1918: Part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
   17/4/1941 - 8/5/1945: Partitioned between Italy, Hungary, and Germany.
   2/12/1945: Part of Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia (as People's Republic of Slovenia).
   7/7/1963: Socialist Republic of Slovenia (within Yugoslavia).
   8/3/1990: Republic of Slovenia (within Yugoslavia).
   25/6/1991: Independence declared.
   8/7/1991 - 8/10/1991: Independence suspended.
   8/10/1991: Independence from Yugoslavia.
Solomon Islands:
   1885: German protectorate over northern Solomon Islands (Buka, Bougainville, Choiseul and Isabel).
   1893: British protectorate over southern islands (British Solomon Islands).
   1899: Germany renounces claim over northern islands to Britain (but keeps Islands of Buka and Bougainville).
   1893 - Jul 1971: Part of the British Western Pacific Territories.
   May 1942 - May 1945: Occupied by Japan.
   1973: Autonomy.
   1975: Renamed Solomon Islands Protectorate.
   2/1/1976: Self government.
   7/7/1978: Independence from Britain (Solomon Islands).
Somalia:
   7/9/1877: Zeila annexed by Egypt as Egyptian Somaliland (under nominal Ottoman suzerainty).
   1884: British take over former Egyptian Somaliland.
   20/7/1887: British Somaliland protectorate (in the north) adminstered from Aden. From 1905, a separate colony.
   3/8/1889: Benadir Coast Italian Protectorate (in the south east).
   16/3/1905: Italian Somaliland colony (in the south and south east).
   Jul 1910: Italian Somaliland a crown colony.
   15/1/1935: Italian Somalia Part of Italian East Africa with Italian Eritrea (and from 1936 Ethiopia).
   18/8/1940: Italian occupation of British Somaliland. 
   Feb 1941: British administration of Italian Somalia.
   1/4/1950: Italian Somalia becomes United Nations trust territory under Italian administration.
   26/6/1960: Independence of British Somaliland as State of Somaliland.
   1/7/1960: Unification with Italian Somalia to form Somali Republic.
   21/10/1969: Somali Democratic Republic.
   1/1/1991: Somalia collapses, no single functioning government. 
   Jul 1992 - 27/8/2000:  United Nations declares Somalia a country without a government.
   18/5/1991: Republic of Somaliland (in former British Somaliland) proclaimed (not internationally recognized).
   21/7/1991: Somali Republic.
   1/4/2002: South West Somalia declared itself an autonomous state.
South Africa:
   13/8/1814: Dutch officially cede Cape Colony to Britain.
   6/6/1837: Natal a British colony (from 1897 incorporating Zululand colony). 
   8/3/1845: Orange Free State a British colony.
   12/4/1877: Transvaal a British colony (previously known as the South-African Republic).   
   31/5/1910: Cape, Natal, Orange Free State, and Transvaal united as a dominion (Union of South Africa).
   9/7/1915 - 21/3/1990: South West Africa (now Namibia) ruled by South Africa.
   11/12/1931: Statute of Westminster grants sovereignty to the British dominions.
   31/5/1961: Republic of South Africa.
   1/3/1994: Walvis Bay ceded to Namibia.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands:
   17/1/1775: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands claimed by Britain.
   21/7/1908: Occupied and made a dependency of the Falkland Islands.
   3/4/1982 - 25/4/1982: South Georgia occupied by Argentina.
   3/10/1985: Dependency of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands become a separate colony.
Soviet Union (see Russia).
Spain:
   Since 1038, Spanish Monrachy (interrupted during the Napoléonic Wars).
   11/2/1873: Spanish Republic.
   29/12/1874: Spanish Monarchy.   
   14/4/1931 - 1/4/1939: Spanish Republic.
   23/4/1936: Spanish State (to 1/4/1939, in opposition to the Republic).
   29/12/1978: Spain (usually referred to as Kingdom of Spain).
Sri Lanka (Ceylon):
   1/1/1802: Ceylon a British crown colony.
   4/2/1948: Independence as Dominion of Ceylon.
   22/5/1972: Republic of Sri Lanka.
   7/9/1978: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
The Sudan:
  12/6/1821: Occupation and annexation by Egypt (under Ottoman suzerainty).
  26/1/1885: Egyptian Sudan fully occupied by the Mahdiya.
  2/9/1898: Mahdiya extinguished by Britain.
  19/1/1899: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (condominium).
  1/1/1956: Independence from UK and Egypt as Republic of The Sudan.
  25/5/1969: Democratic Republic of The Sudan.
  Feb 1972 - 5/7/1983: Southern provinces autonomous.
  15/12/1985: Republic of The Sudan.
Suriname:
   27/2/1816: Restored to the Netherlands (Dutch Guiana).
   1828 - 1848: Part of Dutch West Indies (Curacao, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Aruba, Dutch Guiana).
   23/11/1941 - Aug 1945: US protectorate.
   20/9/1948: Renamed Surinam.
   15/12/1954: Autonomous part of The Netherlands (overseas territory).
   25/11/1975: Independence as Republic of Suriname.
Svalbard (see Norway).
Swaziland:
   13/11/1893: British Swaziland protectorate (administered through Tranvaal).
   6/7/1902: British protectorate, one of the the High Commission Territories.
   25/4/1967: Self rule granted.
   6/9/1968: Independence from Britain as Kingdom of Swaziland.
Sweden:
   Since 1388, Kingdom of Sweden.
   29/3/1809: Finland ceded to Russia.
   7/6/1905: Norway independent.
Switzerland:
   Since 1291, the Swiss Confederation (since 1499, independence recognized by Holy Roman Empire).
Syria:
   27/5/1832: Annexed by Egypt (nominally under Ottoman suzerainty).
   10/10/1840: Direct Ottoman rule restored.
   30/9/1918: Independence.
   25/10/1918 - 21/11/1919: British/French occupation.
   8/3/1920: Kingdom of Syria.
   24/7/1920: France occupies Damascus and Aleppo.
   1/9/1920: State of Great Lebanon (part of French Syria).
   1/12/1920: State of Damascus and State of Aleppo (under French mandate).
   26/7/1922: Syrian a League of Nations Mandate under France.
   1/1/1925: State of Syria.
   1/9/1926: Lebanese Republic a separate French mandate.
   11/6/1932: Syrian Republic.
   23/7/1939: France cedes Hatay (Alexandretta) to Turkey.
   10/7/1939: State of Syria.
   21/6/1941 - 15/4/1946  Occupied by British and (non-Vichy) French troops.
   16/9/1941: Syrian Republic.
   1/1/1944: Independence from France declared.
   17/4/1946: Independence recognized by France.
   22/2/1958 - 28/9/1961: Part of United Arab Republic.
   28/9/1961: Syrian Arab Republic.
   10/6/1967: Israel occupies the Golan Heights (annexed 14/12/1981).
Taiwan (Republic of China):
   8/5/1895: Taiwan taken from the Chinese Empire by Japan.
   25/10/1945: Taiwan is returned to the Republic of China.
   8/12/1949: Taiwan becomes the seat of government of the Republic of China (controlling only Taiwan and several other islands). The government gradually loses international recognition.
   15/11/1971: Republic of China expelled from the United Nations and replaced by the People's Republic of China.
Tadjikistan:
   1868: Annexed by Russia.
   15/3/1925: Tadzikh Autonomous Republic within Uzbek SSR.
   5/12/1929: Tadzikh Soviet Socialist Republic within USSR (full Soviet republic status).
   9/9/1991: Independence declared as Republic of Tajikistan (25/12/1991: effective after dissolution of USSR).
Tanzania (including Zanzibar):
   17/2/1885: Area (including Zanzibar) acquired by Karl Peters under German protection.
   27/5/1885: German East Africa Protectorate.
   7/11/1890: Zanzibar becomes a British protectorate (exchanged for Helgoland in the North Sea).
   1895: Coastal area of Zanzibar become Kenyan Protectorate (and are ceded to Kenya on Kenya's independence 12/12/1963)
   19/9/1916: Belgian occupation on northwestern area, from Ruanda and Urundi to Tabora and Kilimatinde.
   9/10/1916: British occupation of German East Africa begins, resisted by German forces until 14 Nov 1918.
   10/1/1920: Kionga triangle south of Rovuma River, under Portuguese occupation since 1918, ceded to Mozambique.
   20/7/1922: League of Nations mandate under United Kingdom (as Tanganyika).
   11/12/1946: Tanganyika a United Nations trust territory under United Kingdom.
   1/5/1961: Tanganyikian self-rule achieved.
   9/12/1961: Independence as Tanganyika.
   9/12/1962: Republic of Tanganyika.
   24/6/1963: Self-rule for Zanzibar.
   10/12/1963: Zanzibar gains independence as Sultanate of Zanzibar.
   12/1/1964: People's Republic of Zanzibar.
   27/4/1964: Zanzibar and Tanganyika join to form United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
   29/10/1964: Renamed United Republic of Tanzania.
Thailand (Siam):
   1856: Kingdom of Krung Thep (Bangkok) becomes Kingdom of Siam.
   23/6/1939: Kingdom of Thailand.
   During WW2, Thailand annexed several provinced of Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos and Burma.
Tibet (see China).
Togo:
   5/7/1884: Togoland a German protectorate.
   1/1/1905: German colony of Togoland.
   26/8/1914: British and French occupation of the German protectorate of Togoland (Anglo-French condominium).
   27/16/1916: Partioned into French and British zones.
   20/7/1922: League of Nations mandates, British Togoland and French Togoland.
   13/12/1946: United Nations trust territories, French Togo Associated Territory and British Togoland.
   24/6/1956: Autonomy.
   13/12/1956: British Togoland part of Gold Coast (later named Ghana).
   27/4/1960: Independence from France as Togo Republic.
Tokelau:
   1889: British protectorate.
   29/2/1916: Tokelau (as Union Group) becomes part of the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.
   1898 - 1926: Part of the British Western Pacific Territories.
   1946: Renamed Tokelau Islands.
   1/1/1949: Attached to New Zealand.
   1976: Renamed Tokelau.
   2/12/1980: US recognizes Atafu, Fafaofu and Nukunono atolls as part of Tokelau. 
Tonga:
   4/11/1875: Kingdom of Tonga.
   14/11/1886: Declared to be neutral territory by the Congress of Berlin.
   19/5/1900: Friendly Islands (Tonga) a British portectorate.
   19/5/1900 - 1952: Part of the British Western Pacific Territories.
   5/6/1970: Independence from UK.
Trinidad and Tobago:
   1762: Tobago a British colony (previously French, Dutch, and Courlander [Latvian]).
   1802: Trinidad a British colony (previously Spanish).
   1/1/1899: Trinidad and Tobago united as a single colony.
   3/1/1958 - 31/5/1962: Part of the Federation of the West Indies.
   31/8/1962: Independence from Britain (Trinidad and Tobago).
   1/3/1976: Republic.
Tunisia:
   12/5/1881: Tunisia becomes a French protectorate by treaty.
   10/11/1942 - 7/5/1943: Occupied by Germany.
   3/6/1955: Autonomous.
   20/3/1956: French protectorate abolished; Tunisian Kingdom (al-Mamlaka at-Tunisiyya).
   25/7/1957: Republic.
Turkey (Ottoman Empire):
   1473 - 1920: Ottoman Empire.
   10/8/1920: By Treaty of Sèvres, Turkey cedes Lebanon and Syria to France. France is to occupy Cilicia. Cyprus, Palestine, Trans-Jordan, and Mesopotamia are ceded to Britain. The Dodecanse islands and Rhodes are recognized as Italian. Antalya to be occupied by Italy. Islands of Imbros and Tenedos, Eastern Tharace (not Constantinople) and Izmir (Smyrna) district ceded to Greece. Armenia (Erzurum, Trabzon, and Van), Hejaz, and Nejd independent. Kurdistan envisioned to be autonomous. Zone of the Straits under Allied occupation and demilitarized.
   1/11/1922: Turkish State (Sultanate abolished).
   24/7/1923: Treaty of Lausanne, Turkey regains all the land ceded to Greece; Turkish sovereignty over the Armenian and Kurdish areas, Cilicia, and Antalya confirmed. Straits remained demilitarised, but allied occupation to end.
   29/10/1923: Turkish Republic.
   23/7/1939: Hatay incorporated into Turkey.
   20/7/1974: Turkish rule over northern Cyprus.
Turkish Northern Cyprus (see Cyprus).
Turkmenistan:
   1869 - 1881: Region annexed by Russia.
   1922: Part of Turkistan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. 
   27/10/1924: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic proclaimed.
   13/5/1925: Accession to the USSR.
   27/10/1991: Independence declared as Republic of Turkmenistan (25/12/1991: effective after dissolution of USSR).
Turks and Caicos Islands:
   1799: Both island groups annexed by Britain, part of the Bahamas.
   1848: Separate colony.
   1874: Part of Jamaica.
   3/1/1958 - 31/5/1962: Part of the Federation of the West Indies.
   6/8/1962: Separate colony.
Tuvalu:
  October 1892: Gilbert and Ellice Islands becomes a British protectorate.
  12/1/1916: British colony.
  Dec 1941 - 23/11/1943: Japanese occupation.
  1/10/1975: Ellice Islands become a separate dependency as Tuvalu.
  1/10/1978: Independence of Tuvalu.
Uganda:
  1/7/1890: Anglo-German agreement declares Buganda to be under British influence.
  1/4/1893: Buganda a provisional British protectorate.
  11/4/1894: British protectorate over Buganda declared.
  3/7/1896: Protectorate extended to include Bunyoro-Kitara, Tooro, Ankole, and Busoga.
  1/4/1902: Eastern provinces of Uganda ceded to British East Africa colony (Kenya).
  1/4/1905: Uganda colony.
  31/12/1960: Buganda declares independence from UK (not recognized).
  1/3/1962: Self-government granted.
  9/10/1962: Buganda joins Uganda.
  9/10/1962: Independence from Britain as Uganda.
  9/10/1963: Republic of Uganda.
  11/4/1979 - 1981: Occupied by Tanzania.
Ukraine:
   1780 - 1795: Ukraine annexed by Russia.
   28/6/1917 - 22/1/1918: Division into communist and non-communist republics (both called Ukrainian People's Republic), both independent of Russia.
   27/1/1918 - 1/3/1918: Soviet Russian occupation.
   1/3/1918 - 16/12/1918: German and Austro-Hungarian occupation.
   Apr - Jul 1918: Communist state suppressed by non-communist Ukraine. Name changed to Hetmanate of Ukraine.
   14/12/1918: Ukrainian People's Republic (non-communist) restored.
   6/1/1919: Ukrainian SSR founded.
   7/5/1921: Non-communist Ukraine absorbed by Ukrainian SSR.
   30/12/1922: Ukrainian SSR founding component of USSR.
   Jun 1941 - 1944: Occupied by Germany (Reichskommisariat of Ukraine).
   24/8/1991: Declaration of independence (25/12/1991: independence effective after dissolution of the USSR).
United Arab Emirates (Trucial States):
   8/3/1892: British protectorate of Trucial States (or Trucial Oman) formed.
   Mar 1971: Provisional formation of Federation of Arab Emirates (Trucial States together with Bahrain and Qatar).
   2/12/1971: Federation of six emirates as United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah, Umm al-Qaiwain).
   11/2/1972: Accession of Ras al-Khaimah.
United Arab Republic (see Egypt).
United Kingdom (including England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland):
   1/5/1707: Kingdom of Scotland and Kingdom of England form United Kingdom of Great Britain. Wales was formally unified with England since 1543. English rule in Ulster since 1177.
   1/1/1801: Ireland added to form United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
   21/1/1919: Irish independence declared as Irish Republic.
   18/6/1922: Southern Irish counties gain independence as Irish Free State. Six counties of Ulster remain part of United Kingdom as Northern Ireland.
   12/4/1927: Officially United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
   11/12/1948: Irish Free State becomes Irish Republic.
United States of America:
   4/7/1776: Independence (from Britain) declared as United States of America (Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia).
   3/9/1783: Independence recognized by Britain.
   20/12/1803: Louisiana Territory purchased from France.
   22/2/1819: Florida purchased from Spain.
   29/12/1845: Texas annexed.
   15/6/1846: Oregon Territory annexed.
   2/2/1848: Mexican cession territories annexed (present states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah).
   8/2/1861 - 10/5/1865: Independence of 11 southern states as Confederate States of America.
   30/3/1867: Alaska purchased from Russian Empire.
   7/7/1898: Hawaii annexed.
Uruguay:
   1777: Incorporated into Río de la Plata.
   18/7/1821: Annexed to Brazil as Província Cisplatina.
   25/8/1825: Independence from Brazil and reincorporation into the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata declared.
   1/12/1828: Secession from United Provinces as State of Montevideo.
   18/7/1830: República Oriental del Uruguay.
Uzbekistan:
   1865 - 1876: Area incorporated into Russia.
   11/4/1921: Turkestan Autonomous SSR within Russian SFSR.
   Dec 1924: Turkestan Autonomous SSR dissolved. Uzbek SSR inaugurated.
   13/5/1925: Accession to USSR.
   1936: Kara-Kalpak Autonomous SSR joined to Uzbekistan.
   31/8/1991: Republic of Uzbekistan (within USSR).
   25/12/1991: Independence (USSR dissolved).
Vanuatu (New Hebrides):
   1824 - 1878: British protectorate declared (contested by France).
   16/11/1887: Rule by joint Anglo-French naval commission.
   20/10/1906: Anglo-French condominium (New Hebrides).
   24/3/1974 - 29/6/1974: Independence of Tanna Nation proclaimed on Tanna Island (not recognized).
   27/12/1975 - 28/5/1980: Northern islands (Aoba, Maewo, Banks, Torres and Espiritu Santo) proclaimed independence as the Federation Na Griamel (not recognized).
   1/1/1980 - 26/5/1980: Independence of the Tafea Nation proclaimed at Lamlu, in the centre of Tanna (not recognized).
   1/6/1980: Espiritu Santo island declares independence as State of Vemerana (not recognized).
   30/7/1980: Independence as Vanuatu.
Vatican City (The Holy See):
   17/10/1870: Papal State annexed by Italy.
   7/6/1929: Independence of Vatican City from Italy.
Venezuela:
   1/6/1816: Independence as Republic of Venezuela.
   17/12/1819: Incorporation into Great Colombia.
   13/1/1830: Independence from Great Colombia (State of Venezuela).
   24/10/1830: Republic of Venezuela.
   3/5/1864: United States of Venezuela.
   19/4/1953: Republic of Venezuela.
   29/12/1999: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
   12/4/2002: Republic of Venezuela.
   13/4/2002: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Vietnam (North Vietnam/South Vietnam):
   18/2/1859: French occupy Saigon.
   5/6/1862: Southern region (Cochin China) ceded to France.
   25/8/1883: Annam and Tonkin (central and northern regions) become French protectorates.
   17/10/1887: Union of Indochina formed (Cambodia, Annam, Tonkin, and Cochin China, and from 3/10/1893, Laos).
   9/3/1945 - 15/8/1945  Japanese occupation.
   12/6/1945: Viet Nam Empire.
   30/8/1945: End of the empire; subsequently de facto division between North and South Vietnam.
   2/9/1945: Independence proclaimed (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) in North Vietnam only.
   9/9/1945: - 28/1/1946: Allied occupation by China in North, and Britain in South. 
   1/6/1946 - 23/4/1949: Autonomous Republic of Cochinchina in the South.
   14/6/1949: (Associated) State of Vietnam (French protectorate) in the south.
   26/10/1955: Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).
   30/4/1975: Republic of South Vietnam.
   2/7/1976: Unification as Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Virgin Islands of the United States:
    1756 - 1917: Danish West Indies.
    31/3/1917: Purchased by United States. 
Wake Island:
    17/1/1899: US takes possession of island from Spain.
    17/1/1900: Unincorporated territory of the US.
    23/12/1941 - 7/9/1945: Occupied by Japan (renamed Otori Jima).
    1972 - 1/10/1994: Administered by US Air Force.
    1/10/1994: Administered by the US Army and Strategic Defense Command.
Wales (see United Kingdom).
Wallis and Futuna:
    1842: Wallis Islands proclaimed to be a French protectorate (subordinate to French Polynesia).
    1887: The two Futuna kingdoms (Tu'a and Sigave) become French protectorates.
    5/4/1887: 'Uvea (Wallis) becomes a French protectorate (subordinate to New Caledonia).
    1917: Colony of Wallis and Futuna Islands.
    30/7/1961: 'Uvea (Wallis), together with Futuna, becomes the French Overseas Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands (subordinate to New Caledonia).
Western Sahara:
   1860: Morocco cedes Western Sahara (Río de Oro and Ifni) to Spain.
   3/11/1884: Spanish West Africa.
   27/11/1912 - 10/4/1958: Part of Spanish West Africa (Spanish Morocco, Ifni, Río de Oro).
   10/6/1958: Overseas province of Spain (Spanish Sahara).
   26/2/1976: Spanish Sahara partitioned by Morocco and Mauritania.
   29/2/1976: Saharan Arab Democratic Republic declared by POLISARIO (currently recognised by about 60 countries).
   11/8/1979: Mauritanian part of the territory annexed by Morocco.
Yemen (North Yemen, South Yemen):
   1873: Aden (South Yemen) a British protectorate.
   1876: North Yemen annexed to Ottoman Empire.
   30/10/1918: Independence of Yemen (North) from Ottoman Empire.
   11/2/1959: Federation of Arab Emirates of the South formed.
   4/4/1962: Federation of South Arabia formed from the Federation of Arab Emirates, and several other emirates.
   27/9/1962: Yemen Arab Republic (North).
   1962-1967: Protectorate of South Arabia formed by 12 (later 19) states which refused to join the Federation of South Arabia.
   18/1/1963: Colony of Aden becomes State of Aden (part of Federation of South Arabia).
   30/11/1967: Independence of South Yemen from Britain (People's Republic of South Yemen).
   30/11/1970: People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South).
   22/5/1990: Unification of both as Republic of Yemen.
   21/5/1994 - 7/7/1994: Former South Yemen in secession as Democratic Republic of Yemen.
Yugoslavia (see Serbia).
Zambia:
   23/1/1894: North Zambesia (area north of Zambesi river including Barotseland) a British protectorate.
   3/5/1895: North Zambesia joined with South Zambesia [now Zimbabwe] to form Rhodesia Protectorate.
   29/1/1900: Rhodesia divided administration for Northern and Southern Rhodesia. Northern Rhodesia divided into North Eastern Rhodesia and North Western Rhodesia.
   17/8/1911: North Eastern and North Western Rhodesia united as the Northern Rhodesia protectorate.
   1/8/1953 - 31/12/1963: Northern Rhodesia part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
   22/1/1964: Self rule in Northern Rhodesia.
   24/10/1964: Independence as Republic of Zambia.
Zanzibar (see Tanzania).
Zimbabwe (Rhodesia):
   Feb 1888: British South Africa Company imposes protectorate over Ndebele Kingdom, as Matabeleland Protectorate (not recognized by the Ndebele). Region named Zambesia by the British.
   29/10/1889: Mashonaland a British South Africa Company protectorate.
   23/1/1894: South Zambesia created from Mashonaland and Matabeleland protectorates.
   3/5/1895: South Zambesia and North Zambesia (now Zambia) united as Rhodesia Protectorate.
   21/9/1923: South Zambesia becomes British colony of Southern Rhodesia.
   23/10/1953: Southern Rhodesia merged into the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. 
   24/10/1964: With the independence of Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), Southern Rhodesia colony becomes simply colony of Rhodesia.
   11/11/1965: Unilateral declaration of independence from UK as Rhodesia (not recognized by UK).
   2/3/1970: Republic of Rhodesia (not recognized by UK).
   1/6/1979: Zimbabwe-Rhodesia (interim state).
   12/12/1979: Return to colonial status (British colony of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia).
   17/4/1980: Independence from Britain as Zimbabwe.
   17/4/1991: Republic of Zimbabwe.