Timeline of country and capital changes

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Lists of capitals [edit]

This is a timeline of country and capital changes around the world. It includes dates of independence, changes in country name, changes in capital city and changes in territory.

Contents

[edit] 2000s

Year Date Event
2008 May 28 The Kingdom of Nepal changes its name to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. Kathmandu remains the capital.
February 17 The Republic of Kosovo declares its independence from the Republic of Serbia, although unrecognized by the latter. Priština is the capital.
2006 October 7 The Republic of Palau moves its capital from Koror to Melekeok.
August 14 The Federal Republic of Nigeria yields sovereignty of Bakassi to the Republic of Cameroon.
June 5 The Republic of Serbia supersedes the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Belgrade remains the capital.
June 3 Montenegro secedes from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Podgorica is the capital.
2005 November 6 The Union of Myanmar moves its capital from Yangon to Naypyidaw.
2003 February 4 The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia changes its name to the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Belgrade remains the capital.
2002 May 20 The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste becomes independent from the Portuguese Republic. Timor-Leste was occupied by Indonesia in 1975, and was placed under United Nations administration in 1999. Dili is the capital.
February 14 The State of Bahrain changes its name to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Manama remains the capital.

[edit] 1990s

Year Date Event
1999 December 31 The United States of America returns sovereignty of the Panama Canal to the Republic of Panama.
December 20 The Portuguese Republic transfers its colony of Macau to the People's Republic of China as the Macau Special Administrative Region.
June 10 The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo is formed in the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
1998 May 6 The Republic of Kazakhstan changes the name of its capital from Aqmola to Astana.
1997 December 10 The Republic of Kazakhstan moves its capital from Almaty to Aqmola.
July 4 Western Samoa changes its name to the Independent State of Samoa.
July 1 The United Kingdom transfers its colony of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
May 17 The Republic of Zaire changes its name back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa remains the capital.
1996 The United Republic of Tanzania moves its capital from Dar-es-Salaam to Dodoma.
1994 October 1 The Republic of Palau becomes independent from a United Nations trusteeship. Koror is the capital until 2006.
February 28 The Republic of South Africa transfers sovereignty of Walvis Bay to the Republic of Namibia.
1993 September 24 The restored Kingdom of Cambodia replaces the State of Cambodia. Phnom Penh remains the capital.
The Republic of Kazakhstan changes the name of its capital from Alma-Ata to Almaty.
May 24 The State of Eritrea becomes independent from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Asmara is the capital.
January 1 The Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic (Slovakia) are formed out of the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. Bratislava is the capital of the Slovak Republic. Prague remains the capital of the Czech Republic.
1992 September 12 The Democratic Republic of Madagascar changes its name to the Republic of Madagascar. Antananarivo remains the capital.
August 27 The People's Republic of Angola changes its name to the Republic of Angola. Luanda remains the capital.
April 28 The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is created from the remnants of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Belgrade remains the capital.
April 6 Bosnia and Herzegovina becomes independent from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Sarajevo is the capital.
January 15 The Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Croatia become independent from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia, and Zagreb is the capital of Croatia.
1991 December 26 The Russian Federation (Russia) is created from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Moscow remains the capital.
December 21 The Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan) becomes independent from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Bishkek is the capital.
December 16 The Republic of Kazakhstan becomes independent from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Alma-Ata is the capital until 1997.
December 12 The Federal Republic of Nigeria moves its capital from Lagos to Abuja.
December 8 Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan become independent from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Ashgabat is the capital of Turkmenistan. Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan.
December 1 The Ukraine becomes independent from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Kiev is the capital.
September 21 The Republic of Armenia becomes independent from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Yerevan is the capital.
September 9 The Republic of Tajikistan becomes independent from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Dushanbe is the capital.
September 8 The Republic of Macedonia becomes independent from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Skopje is the capital.
September 6 The Republic of Lithuania becomes independent from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Vilnius is the capital.
August 30 The Republic of Azerbaijan becomes independent from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Baku is the capital.
August 27 The Republic of Moldova becomes independent from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Chisinau (is the capital.
August 25 The Republic of Belarus becomes independent from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Minsk is the capital.
August 21 The Republic of Latvia becomes independent from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Riga is the capital.
August 20 The Republic of Estonia becomes independent from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Tallinn is the capital.
April 30 The Republic of Albania supersedes the Socialist People's Republic of Albania. Tirana remains the capital.
April 9 Georgia becomes independent from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Tbilisi is the capital.
1990 November 15 The People's Republic of Bulgaria changes its name to the Republic of Bulgaria. Sofia remains the capital.
October 3 The Federal Republic of Germany absorbs the German Democratic Republic. Bonn yields to Berlin as the capital.
May 22 The Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) unite to form the Republic of Yemen. Aden yields to San'a' as the capital.
March 21 The Republic of Namibia becomes independent from South Africa. Windhoek is the capital.
March 1 The People's Republic of Benin changes its name to the Republic of Benin. Porto-Novo remains the capital.
The Republic of Chile moves its legislative capital from Santiago to Valparaíso. Santiago remains the administrative capital.

[edit] 1980s

Year Date Event
1989 October 23 The People's Republic of Hungary changes its name to the Republic of Hungary.
September 26 The Socialist Republic of Vietnam ends its occupation of the State of Cambodia.
June 18 The Union of Burma changes its English language name to the Union of Myanmar. Yangon remains the capital until 2005.
The Federated States of Micronesia moves its capital from Kolonia to Palikir.
May 1 The State of Cambodia supersedes Democratic Kampuchea (Cambodia). Phnom Penh remains the capital.
February 15 The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ends its occupation of the Republic of Afghanistan.
1988 September 23 The Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma changes its name to the Union of Burma. Yangon remains the capital until 2005.
1987 November 30 The Republic of Afghanistan supersedes the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Kabul remains the capital.
1986 November 3 The Federated States of Micronesia becomes independent from United Nations trusteeship. Kolonia is the capital.
October 21 The Republic of the Marshall Islands becomes independent from United Nations trusteeship. Majuro is the capital.
1984 August 15 Bourkina-Fasso changes its name to Burkina Faso. Ouagadougou remains the capital.
August 4 The Republic of Upper Volta changes its name to Bourkina-Fasso. Ouagadougou remains the capital.
February 4 The Republic of Cameroon supersedes the United Republic of Cameroon. Yaoundé is the capital.
January 1 The State of Brunei, Abode of Peace gains independence from the United Kingdom. Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital.
1983 September 19 The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis gains independence from the United Kingdom. Basseterre is the capital.
March The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire moves its capital from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro.
1982 April 29 The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka moves its capital from Colombo to Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte.
1981 November 1 Antigua and Barbuda gains independence from the United Kingdom. St. John's is the capital.
September 21 Belize gains independence from the United Kingdom. Belmopan is the capital.
1980 July 30 The Republic of Vanuatu gains independence from a British-French condominium. Port Vila is the capital.
April 18 The Republic of Zimbabwe gains independence from the United Kingdom. Harare is the capital.

[edit] 1970s

Year Date Event
1979 December 25 The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics occupies the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.
October 27 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Kingstown is the capital.
September 20 The Central African Empire changes its name back to the Central African Republic. Bangui remains the capital.
July 12 The Republic of Kiribati becomes independent from the United Kingdom. South Tarawa is the capital.
February 22 Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Castries is the capital.
January 7 The Socialist Republic of Vietnam occupies Democratic Kampuchea (Cambodia).
1978 November 3 The Commonwealth of Dominica becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Roseau is the capital.
October 1 Tuvalu becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Funafuti is the capital.
July 7 The Solomon Islands become independent from the United Kingdom. Honiara is the capital.
September 7 The Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic of Sri Lanka changes its name to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Colombo remains the capital until 1982.
April 30 The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan supersedes the Republic of Afghanistan. Kabul remains the capital.
1977 June 27 The Republic of Djibouti becomes independent from the French Republic. The city of Djibouti is the capital.
March 2 The Libyan Arab Republic changes its name to the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. Tripoli remains the capital.
1976 December 28 The Socialist People's Republic of Albania supersedes the People's Republic of Albania. Tirana remains the capital.
December 4 The Central African Republic changes its name to the Central African Empire. Bangui remains the capital.
July 2 The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) and the Republic of South Vietnam unite to form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City yields to Hanoi as the capital.
June 29 The Republic of Seychelles become independent from the United Kingdom. Victoria is the capital.
June 24 The Republic of the Philippines reinstates Manila as the capital. The former capital, Quezon City, was merged with Manila in 1948 to form Metro Manila. Baguio City is no longer a summer capital.
January 5 Democratic Kampuchea (Cambodia) supersedes the Khmer Republic. Phnom Penh remains the capital.
1975 December 30 The Malagasy Republic changes its name to the Democratic Republic of Madagascar. Antananarivo remains the capital.
November 30 The Republic of Dahomey changes its name to the People's Republic of Benin. Porto-Novo remains the capital.
November 25 The Republic of Suriname becomes independent from the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Paramaribo is the capital.
November 22 The Spanish State is superseded by the restored Kingdom of Spain. Madrid remains the capital.
November 11 The People's Republic of Angola becomes independent from the Portuguese Republic. Luanda is the capital.
September 16 The Independent State of Papua New Guinea becomes independent from Australia. Port Moresby is the capital.
July 12 The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe becomes independent from the Portuguese Republic. The city of São Tomé is the capital.
July 6 The Union of the Comoros becomes independent from the French Republic. Moroni is the capital.
July 5 The Republic of Cape Verde becomes independent from the Portuguese Republic. Praia is the capital.
June 25 The Republic of Mozambique becomes independent from the Portuguese Republic. Maputo is the capital.
April 30 The Republic of South Vietnam supersedes the Republic of Vietnam. The name of the capital is changed from Saigon to Ho Chi Minh City.
1974 September 10 The Republic of Guinea changes its name to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau and moves its capital from Madina do Boe to Bissau. The Portuguese Republic recognizes the independence of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.
February 22 The Islamic Republic of Pakistan recognizes the independence of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
February 7 Grenada becomes independent from the United Kingdom. St. George's is the capital.
January 4 The Union of Burma changes its name to the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma. Yangon remains the capital until 2005.
1973 September 24 The Republic of Guinea declares its independence from the Portuguese Republic; recognition is limited. Madina do Boe is the temporary capital.
July 17 The Republic of Afghanistan supersedes the Kingdom of Afghanistan. Kabul remains the capital.
July 10 The Commonwealth of The Bahamas becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Nassau is the capital.
1972 June 2 The United Republic of Cameroon supersedes the Federal Republic of Cameroon. Yaoundé remains the capital until 1982.
May 22 Ceylon changes its name to the Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic of Sri Lanka. Colombo remains the capital until 1982.
1971 December 2 The United Arab Emirates becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Abu Dhabi is the capital.
September 27 The Democratic Republic of the Congo changes its name to the Republic of Zaire. Kinshasa remains the capital.
September 3 The State of Qatar becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Doha is the capital.
September 1 The Arab Republic of Egypt supersedes the United Arab Republic. Cairo remains the capital.
August 16 The State of Bahrain becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Manama is the capital.
March 26 The People's Republic of Bangladesh declares its independence from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Dhaka is the capital.
1970 December 1 The People's Republic of South Yemen changes its name to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. Aden remains the capital.
October 9 The Khmer Republic (Cambodia) supersedes the Kingdom of Cambodia. Phnom Penh is the capital.
October 10 The Republic of the Fiji Islands becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Suva is the capital.
July 4 The Kingdom of Tonga becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Nukuʻalofa is the capital.

[edit] 1960s

Year Date Event
1969 September 1 The Libyan Arab Republic supersedes the Kingdom of Libya. Tripoli remains the capital.
1968 October 12 The Republic of Equatorial Guinea becomes independent from the Kingdom of Spain. Malabo is the capital.
September 6 The Kingdom of Swaziland becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Mbabane is the capital.
March 12 The Republic of Mauritius becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Port Louis is the capital.
January 31 The Republic of Nauru becomes independent from a United Nations trusteeship. It does not designate a capital.
1967 November 7 The People's Republic of South Yemen becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Aden is the capital.
The Dominion of Canada changes its name to Canada. Ottawa remains the capital.
January 24 The Republic of the United States of Brazil changes its name to the Federative Republic of Brazil. Brasilia remains the capital.
1966 November 30 Barbados becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Bridgetown is the capital.
November 28 The Republic of Burundi supersedes the Kingdom of Burundi. Bujumbura remains the capital.
October 4 The Kingdom of Lesotho becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Maseru is the capital.
September 30 The Republic of Botswana becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Gaborone is the capital.
July 6 Malawi becomes the Republic of Malawi. Lilongwe remains the capital.
July 1 The Republic of Congo (Congo-Léopoldville) changes its name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and changes the name of its capital from Léopoldville to Kinshasa.
May 26 The Co-operative Republic of Guyana becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Georgetown is the capital.
1965 August 9 The Republic of Singapore secedes from Malaysia. Singapore is the capital.
July 26 The Republic of Maldives becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Male is the capital.
February 18 The Republic of The Gambia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Banjul is the capital.
1964 November 1 The United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar changes its name to the United Republic of Tanzania. Dar-es-Salaam remains the capital.
October 24 The Republic of Zambia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Lusaka is the capital.
September 21 The Republic of Malta becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Valletta is the capital.
August 1 The Republic of Congo changes its name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa remains the capital.
July 6 Malawi becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Lilongwe is the capital.
April 26 The Republic of Tanganyika and the Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba unite to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Zanzibar City yields to Dar-es-Salaam as the capital.
1963 December 12 The Republic of Kenya becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Nairobi is the capital.
September 16 The Federation of Malaya unites with the British colonies of Singapore, Sarawak, and British North Borneo (Sabah) to form Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur remains the capital.
April 25 The Kingdom of Libya supersedes the United Kingdom of Libya. Tripoli remains the capital.
The Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Zanzibar City is the capital.
1962 October 9 The Republic of Uganda becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Kampala is the capital.
September 26 The Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) moves its capital from Ta'izz to San'a'.
September 25 Algeria becomes the People's Democratic Algerian Republic. Algiers remains the capital.
August 21 The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Port of Spain is the capital.
August 6 Jamaica becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Kingston is the capital.
July 3 Algeria becomes independent from the French Republic. Algiers is the capital.
July 1 The Kingdom of Burundi and the Republic of Rwanda become independent from the Kingdom of Belgium. Bujumbura and Kigali are the respective capitals.
January 1 Western Samoa becomes independent from New Zealand. Apia is the capital.
1961 December 28 The Syrian Arab Republic secedes from the United Arab Republic, leaving Egypt as the sole member of the federation. Cairo remains the capital of the UAR. Damascus is the capital of Syria.
December 9 The Republic of Tanganyika becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Dar-es-Salaam is the capital.
October 1 The southern portion of British Cameroon becomes independent from the United Kingdom and unites with the Republic of Cameroun to form the Republic of Cameroon. Yaoundé is the capital.
June 19 The State of Kuwait becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Kuwait City is the capital.
April 27 The Republic of Sierra Leone becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Freetown is the capital.
1960 November 28 The Islamic Republic of Mauritania becomes independent from the French Republic. Nouakchott is the capital.
October 1 The Federal Republic of Nigeria becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Lagos is the capital.
September 22 The Republic of Mali becomes independent from the French Republic. Bamako is the capital.
August 20 The Republic of Senegal becomes independent from the French Republic. Dakar is the capital.
August 17 The Gabonese Republic {Gabon) becomes independent from the French Republic. Libreville is the capital.
August 16 The Republic of Cyprus becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Lefkosia is the capital.
August 15 The Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) becomes independent from the French Republic. Brazzaville is the capital.
August 13 The Central African Republic becomes independent from the French Republic. Bangui is the capital.
August 11 The Republic of Chad becomes independent from the French Republic. N'Djamena is the capital.
August 7 The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire becomes independent from the French Republic. Abidjan is the capital.
August 5 The Republic of Upper Volta becomes independent from the French Republic. Ouagadougou is the capital.
August 3 The Republic of Niger becomes independent from the French Republic. Niamey is the capital.
August 1 The Republic of Dahomey becomes independent from the French Republic. Porto-Novo is the capital.
July 1 The Somali Republic (Somalia) is created from a merger of the former colonies of British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland. Mogadishu is the capital.
June 30 The Republic of Congo (Congo-Léopoldville) becomes independent from the Kingdom of Belgium. Léopoldville is the capital.
June 26 The Malagasy Republic (Madagascar) becomes independent from the French Republic. Antananarivo is the capital.
April 27 The Togolese Republic (Togo) becomes independent from the French Republic. Lomé is the capital.
April 21 The Republic of the United States of Brazil moves its capital from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília.
January 1 The Republic of Cameroun becomes independent from the French Republic. Yaoundé is the capital.

[edit] 1950s

Year Date Event
1958 October 15 The Malagasy Republic (Madagascar) gains autonomy within the French Community. Antananarivo is the capital.
October 2 The Republic of Guinea becomes independent from the French Republic. Conakry is the capital.
July 14 The Republic of Iraq and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan are created from the dissolution of the Arab Federation of Iraq and Jordan. Baghdad remains the capital of Iraq. Amman is again the capital of Jordan.
February 14 The Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan unite to form the Arab Federation of Iraq and Jordan. Amman yields to Baghdad as the capital.
February 1 The Egyptian Republic and the Syrian Arab Republic unite to form the United Arab Republic. Damascus yields to Cairo as the capital.
1957 August 31 The Federation of Malaya becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Kuala Lumpur is the capital.
March 6 The Republic of Ghana becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Accra is the capital.
1956 June 18 The Egyptian Republic declares its complete independence from the United Kingdom. Cairo remains the capital.
March 20 The Tunisian Republic becomes independent from the French Republic. Tunis is the capital.
March 2 The Kingdom of Morocco becomes independent from the French Republic. Rabat is the capital.
January 1 The Republic of Sudan becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Khartoum is the capital. Egypt relinquishes its claim over Sudan.
1955 The Kingdom of Bhutan makes Thimphu the sole capital.
May 15 The Republic of Austria (German: Republik Österreich) regains its independence from Germany. Vienna (German: Wien) is the capital.
1954 December 20 The French Republic recognizes the independence of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Phnom Penh remains the capital.
July 20 The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) and the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) become independent from the French Republic. Hanoi and Saigon are the respective capitals.
1953 November 9 The Kingdom of Cambodia declares its independence from the French Republic. Phnom Penh is the capital.
June 13 The Egyptian Republic supersedes the Kingdom of Egypt. Cairo remains the capital.
1951 December 24 The United Kingdom of Libya becomes independent from a United Nations trusteeship, having been jointly administered by the French Republic and the United Kingdom. Tripoli is the capital.
May 23 The People's Republic of China annexes Tibet.
February 15 The Republic of Poland and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics exchange territory along their common border.

[edit] 1940s

Year Date Event
1949 December 8 The government of the Republic of China leaves Mainland China for Taiwan where Taipei becomes the de facto capital.
October 7 The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) is established in occupied eastern Germany. Berlin is the capital.
October 1 The People's Republic of China is established. Beijing is the capital.
September 7 The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) is established in occupied western Germany. Bonn is the capital.
July 9 The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) becomes independent from the French Republic. Vientiane is the capital.
1948 September 9 The Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Republic of Korea are created from the Japanese-occupied state of Korea. Pyongyang and Seoul are the respective capitals.
July 17 The Republic of the Philippines moves its capital from Manila to Quezon City.
February 4 Ceylon (Sri Lanka) becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Colombo is the capital until 1982.
January 4 The Union of Burma becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Yangon is the capital until 2005.
1947 August 15 The Republic of India becomes independent from the United Kingdom. New Delhi is the capital.
August 14 The Islamic Republic of Pakistan becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Islamabad is the capital.
1946 September 15 The People's Republic of Bulgaria supersedes the Tsardom of Bulgaria. Sofia is the capital.
July 4 The Republic of the Philippines becomes independent from the United States of America. Manila is the capital until 1948.
May 25 The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan becomes independent from a British League of Nations Mandate. Amman is the capital.
January 11 The People's Republic of Albania supersedes the Kingdom of Albania. Tirana remains the capital.
1945 December 2 The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia supersedes the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Belgrade remains the capital.
August 17 The Republic of Indonesia becomes independent from the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Jakarta is the capital.
September 2 The Empire of Greater Japan surrenders to Allied Forces.
May 8 The Greater German Empire surrenders to Allied Forces.
April 27 The second Republic of Austria is established in occupied Austria. Vienna is the capital.
1944 June 17 The Republic of Iceland becomes independent from the Kingdom of Denmark. Reykjavik is the capital.
1943 November 22 The Lebanese Republic (Lebanon) becomes independent from the French Republic. Beirut is the capital.

[edit] 1930s

Year Date Event
1939 July 10 The third German Empire changes its name to the Greater German Empire. Berlin remains as the capital.
April 1 The second Spanish Republic is superseded by the Spanish State. Madrid remains the capital.
1938 March 13 The third German Empire absorbs the Federal State of Austria in Anschluss. Vienna yields to Berlin as the capital.
1937 The Irish Free State changes its name to the Republic of Ireland. Dublin remains the capital.
1934 The third German Empire supersedes the second German Empire. Berlin remains the capital.
1932 October 3 The Iraqi Kingdom (Iraq) becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Baghdad is the capital.
September 13 The Socialist Republic of Chile changes its name back to the Republic of Chile. Santiago remains the capital.
June 4 The Republic of Chile changes its name to the Socialist Republic of Chile. Santiago remains the capital.
1931 December 11 Canada becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Ottawa is the capital.
April 14 The Kingdom of Spain is superseded by the second Spanish Republic. Madrid remains the capital.

[edit] 1920s

Year Date Event
1929 October 3 The Kingdom of Yugoslavia supersedes the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Belgrade remains the capital.
June 7 The Holy See (Vatican) becomes independent from the Kingdom of Italy. Vatican City is the capital.
1928 September 1 The Kingdom of Albania supersedes the Republic of Albania. Tirana remains the capital.
1927 May 9 The Commonwealth of Australia moves its capital from Melbourne to Canberra.
April 12 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland changes its name to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. London remains the capital.
1926 June 9 Afghanistan becomes the Kingdom of Afghanistan. Kabul remains the capital.
1925 January 22 The Republic of Albania supersedes the Principality of Albania. Tirana remains the capital.
January 1 The Kingdom of Norway changes the name of its capital from Kristiania to Oslo.
1923 October 29 The Republic of Turkey is established following the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Ankara is the capital.
1922 December 30 The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic unite to form the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Tbilisi, Kharkov, and Smolensk yield to Moscow as the capital.
December 6 The Irish Free State becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Dublin is the capital.
November 17 The Ottoman Empire is dissolved. Its territories are mostly made protectorates of the victorious Allies of World War I.
March 12 The Socialist Conciliar Republic of Georgia, Azerbaijani Socialist Conciliar Republic, and the Armenian Socialist Conciliar Republic unite to form the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic. Baku and Yerevan yield to Tbilisi as the capital.
February 2 The Kingdom of Egypt becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Cairo is the capital.
1921 November 22 The United Kingdom recognizes the independence of Afghanistan. Kabul remains the capital.
February 25 The Socialist Conciliar Republic of Georgia supersedes the Democratic Republic of Georgia. Tbilisi remains the capital until 1922.
1920 November 29 The Armenian Socialist Conciliar Republic supersedes the Democratic Republic of Armenia. Yerevan remains the capital until 1922.
April 28 The Azerbaijani Socialist Conciliar Republic supersedes the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. Baku remains the capital until 1922.

[edit] 1910s

Year Date Event
1919 August 14 The second German Empire becomes a republic. Berlin remains the capital.
August 8 Afghanistan declares its independent from the United Kingdom. Kabul is the capital.
February 27 The Lithuanian-Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic supersedes the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. Vilnius is the capital.
January 1 The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic supersedes the Belarusian People's Republic. Minsk and Smolensk remain joint capitals.
1918 December 1 The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes supersedes the State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs. Belgrade remains the capital.
November 18 The Republic of Latvia becomes independent from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Riga is the capital.
November 2 The Republic of Lithuania supersedes the Kingdom of Lithuania. Vilnius remains the capital.
November 1 The Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen (North Yemen) becomes independent from the Ottoman Empire. Ta'izz is the capital.
October 29 The State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs becomes independent from the Ottoman Empire. Belgrade is the capital.
July 25 The Independent State of Flanders is reabsorbed by the Kingdom of Belgium.
July 9 The Kingdom of Lithuania supersedes the State of Lithuania. Vilnius remains the capital.
May 30 Armenia becomes the Democratic Republic of Armenia. Yerevan remains the capital.
May 28 Armenia and Azerbaijan Democratic Republic dissolve the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic. Yerevan and Baku are the respective capitals.
May 26 The Democratic Republic of Georgia secedes from the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic. Tbilisi is the capital.
May 11 The Emirate of Chechenia is incorporated into the Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus.
April 22 The Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic becomes independent from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Tbilisi is the capital.
April 19 The Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic annexes the Abkhazian Republic (Abkhazia).
March 25 The Abkhazian Republic (Abkhazia) becomes independent from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Sukhumi is the capital.
March 25 The Belarusian People's Republic declares its independence from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Minsk and Hrodna are named the joint capitals.
February 24 The Republic of Estonia becomes independent from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Tallinn is the capital.
February 16 The State of Lithuania declares its independence from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Vilnius is named the capital despite occupation by the Kingdom of Poland.
January 22 The Ukrainian People's Republic becomes independent from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Kiev is the capital.
January 3 The Republic of Finland becomes independent from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Helsinki is the capital.
1917 December 22 The Independent State of Flanders declares its independence from the Kingdom of Belgium. Brussels is the capital.
December 2 The Emirate of Chechenia declares its independence from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Vedeno is the capital.
November 7 The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic supersedes the Russian Empire. Moscow remains the capital.
1914 March 7 Albania becomes the Principality of Albania. Tirana remains the capital.
1912 November 28 Albania declares its independence from the Ottoman Empire. Tirana is the capital.
March 10 The Republic of China moves its capital from Nanking to Peking.
January 1 The Republic of China supersedes the Qing Dynasty of China. Nanking is the provisional capital.
1911 December 1 Mongolia declares its independence from the Qing Dynasty of China. Ulan Bator is the capital.
1910 October 5 The first Portuguese Republic supersedes the Kingdom of Portugal. Lisbon remains the capital.
May 31 The Cape Colony, the Colony of Natal, the Transvaal, and the Orange River Colony unite as the Union of South Africa to gain independence from the United Kingdom.

[edit] 1900s

Year Date Event
1908 August 5 The Republic of Bulgaria becomes independent from the Ottoman Empire. Sofia is the capital.
1907 December 17 Ugyen Wangchuck establishes the Kingdom of Bhutan. Punakha is the winter capital and Thimphu is the summer capital.
September 26 New Zealand becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Wellington is the capital.
1905 October 26 The Kingdom of Sweden recognises the independence of the Kingdom of Norway.
June 7 The Kingdom of Norway declares independence from the Kingdom of Sweden through dissolution of the personal union. Kristiania is the capital.
1903 November 11 The Republic of Bolivia and the Republic of the United States of Brazil sign the Treaty of Petrópolis. Bolivia receives land in Mato Grosso from Brazil, and Brazil receives the State of Acre from Bolovia.
November 3 The Republic of Panama becomes independent from Colombia. Panama City is the capital.
1902 May 20 The Republic of Cuba becomes independent from the Kingdom of Spain. Havana is the capital.
1901 January 1 The Commonwealth of Australia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. Melbourne is the capital until 1927.

[edit] 1890s

Year Date Event
1898 The Republic of Bolivia moves its administrative capital from Sucre to La Paz. Sucre remains the constitutional and judicial capital.
July 7 The United States of America annexes the Republic of Hawaiʻi as the U.S. Territory of Hawaii.
1895 October 23 The Republic of Taiwan is conquered by the Empire of Japan.
June The Republic of Taiwan moves its capital from Taipei to Tainan.
May 23 The Republic of Taiwan declares independence from the Qing Dynasty of China. Taipei is its capital.
1894 July 4 The Republic of Hawaiʻi supersedes the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. Honolulu remains the capital.

[edit] 1880s

Year Date Event
1889 November 15 The Republic of the United States of Brazil supersedes the Empire of Brazil. Rio de Janeiro remains the capital.
1888 The Republic of Honduras moves its capital from Comayagua to Tegucigalpa, ending a century of indecision as to the country's capital.
1882 March 6 The Kingdom of Serbia supersedes the Principality of Serbia. Belgrade remains the capital.

[edit] 1870s

Year Date Event
1879 July 9 The Tsardom of Bulgaria supersedes the Principality of Bulgaria. Veliko Turnovo remains the capital.
1878 May 21 The Principality of Romania becomes independent from the Ottoman Empire. Bucharest is the capital.
March 3 The Principality of Bulgaria is established by the Treaty of San Stefano. Veliko Turnovo is the capital.
1874 December 29 The restored Kingdom of Spain supersedes the first Spanish Republic. Madrid remains the capital.
1873 February 11 The first Spanish Republic supersedes the Kingdom of Spain. Madrid remains the capital.
1871 January 1 The second German Empire supersedes the North German Confederation. Berlin remains the capital.
1870 September 4 The third French Republic supersedes the second French Empire. Paris remains the capital.

[edit] 1860s

Year Date Event
1868 October 10 Cuba declares its independence from the Kingdom of Spain.
October 1 The Bolivian Republic changes its name to the Republic of Bolivia. Sucre remains the capital until 1898.
January 3 Japan becomes the Empire of Greater Japan. Tokyo remains the capital.
1867 July 1 The British colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Canada unite to create the Dominion of Canada. Ottawa is the capital.
July 1 The North German Confederation supersedes the German Confederation. Berlin is the capital.
1865 April 11 The Confederate States of America capitulates and is reabsorbed by the United States of America. The USA will readmit 11 CSA states between 1866-07-24, and 1870-07-15.
April 3 The Confederate States of America moves its capital to Danville.
March 3 The Dominican Republic regains its independence from the Kingdom of Spain. Santo Domingo is the capital.
1862 June 3 The Province of Buenos Aires reunites with the Argentine Republic. The capital is moved from Paraná back to Buenos Aires.
1861 The Dominican Republic returns to Spanish rule.
May 6 The Confederate States of America moves its capital from Montgomery to Richmond.
February 4 The Confederate States of America declares its independence from the United States of America. Montgomery is the capital for three months.
1860 October 1 The Argentine Republic supersedes the Argentine Confederation. Paraná remains the capital until 1862.

[edit] 1850s

Year Date Event
1852 December 2 The second French Empire supersedes the second French Republic. Paris remains the capital.
September 11 The Province of Buenos Aires secedes from the Argentine Confederation. The confederation moves its capital to Paraná.

[edit] 1840s

Year Date Event
1848 February 24 The second French Republic supersedes the Kingdom of France. Paris remains the capital.
1847 July 26 The Republic of Liberia becomes independent from the United States of America. Monrovia is the capital.
1844 April 25 The Republic of Chile becomes independent from the Kingdom of Spain. Santiago is the capital.
February 27 The Dominican Republic becomes independent from Haiti. Santo Domingo is the capital.
1845 December 29 The Republic of Texas joins the United States of America as the State of Texas.
The Kingdom of Hawaiʻi moves its capital from Lāhainā to Honolulu.

[edit] 1830s

Year Date Event
1839 November 17 Guatemala secedes from the Federal Republic of Central America. Guatemala City is the capital.
August 25 The Peruvian Republic and the Bolivian Republic are formed from the dissolution of the Peru-Bolivian Confederation. Lima and Sucre (previously Chuquisaca} are the respective capitals.
The Principality of Serbia moves its capital from Kragujevac to Belgrade.
The Republic of Texas establishes its permanent capital at Austin.
1838 November 5 Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras secede from the Federal Republic of Central America. San José, Managua, and Comayagua are the respective capitals.
1836 October 28 The Republic of North Peru, the Republic of South Peru, and the Bolivian Republic unite to form the Peru-Bolivian Confederation. Tacna is the capital.
August 11 The Republic of North Peru supersedes the Peruvian Republic. Lima remains the capital.
May 14 México recognizes the independence of the Republic of Texas.
March 17 The Republic of South Peru secedes from Peruvian Republic. Cusco is the capital.
March 2 The Republic of Texas declares its independence from México. Washington is the first of six cities that will serve as temporary capital until 1839.
1834 The Federal Republic of Central America moves its capital from Guatemala City to San Salvador.
1831 February 7 Belgium becomes the Kingdom of Belgium. Brussels remains the capital
January 4 The Argentine Confederation supersedes the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires remains the capital until 1852.
1830 October 4 Belgium declares its independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Brussels is the capital.
May 13 Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela are created from the disolution of Gran Colombia. Bogotá, Quito and Caracas are the respective capitals.

[edit] 1820s

Year Date Event
1828 August 27 The Eastern Republic of Uruguay becomes independent from Argentina. Montevideo is the capital.
1826 July 9 The Republic of Chile supersedes the State of Chile. Santiago remains the capital.
1825 November 15 The United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves changes its name back to the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves. Lisbon remains the capital.
August 29 The United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves recognizes the independence of the Empire of Brazil. Rio de Janeiro remains the capital.
August 25 The United Provinces of the Río de la Plata supersedes the United Provinces in South America. Buenos Aires remains the capital.
August 11 The Bolivian Republic becomes independent from the Kingdom of Spain at the conclusion of the Bolivian War of Independence. Chuquisaca (later Sucre) is the capital.
1823 July The Federal Republic of Central America is established from the former countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica. Guatemala City is the capital.
1822 December 19 The Peruvian Republic supersedes the State of Peru. Lima remains the capital.
October 12 The Empire of Brazil supersedes the Independent Kingdom of Brazil. Rio de Janeiro remains the capital.
September 7 The Independent Kingdom of Brazil declares its independence from the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. Rio de Janeiro is the capital.
1821 September 21 The Republic of Costa Rica becomes independent from the Kingdom of Spain. San José is the capital.
September 15 The Republic of Guatemala, the Republic of Honduras, the Republic of Nicaragua and the Republic of El Salvador become independent from the Kingdom of Spain. Guatemala City, Comayagua, Managua, and San Salvador are the respective capitals.
August 24 The Kingdom of Spain recognizes the independence of México. Mexico City is the capital.
August 3 Peru becomes the State of Peru. Lima remains the capital.
July 28 Peru declares its independence from the Kingdom of Spain. Lima is the capital.
July 3 The United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves returns the capital from exile in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Lisbon.
The Argentine Republic (Argentina) becomes independent from the Kingdom of Spain. Buenos Aires is the capital.
1820 The Kingdom of Hawaiʻi establishes its capital at Lāhainā.

[edit] 1810s

Year Date Event
1819 December 17 The Republic of Colombia (Gran Colombia) becomes independent from the Kingdom of Spain. Bogotá is the capital.
1818 January 12 The State of Chile again declares its independence from the Kingdom of Spain. Santiago is the capital.
1816 July 9 The United Provinces in South America (Argentina, Bolivia, and Uruguay) declares its independence from the Kingdom of Spain. Buenos Aires remains the capital.
1815 December 16 The United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves supersedes the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves. Rio de Janeiro remains the capital-in-exile.
November 21 Miloš Obrenović establishes the Principality of Serbia. Kragujevac is the capital.
July 8 The restored Kingdom of France supersedes the first French Empire. Paris remains the capital.
June 20 The Congress of Vienna establishes the German Confederation. Frankfurt is the capital.
March 20 The first French Empire supersedes the Kingdom of France. Paris remains the capital.
March 16 The Kingdom of the Netherlands supersedes the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Amsterdam and Brussels are the joint capitals.
1814 October 2 The Kingdom of Spain reconquers Chile.
April 6 The restored Kingdom of France supersedes the first French Empire. Paris remains the capital.
1813 December 2 The United Kingdom of the Netherlands is created from the ruins of the first French Empire. Amsterdam is the capital.
October 19 The Confederation of the Rhine dissolves.
October 12 Paraguay becomes the Republic of Paraguay. Asunción remains the capital.
1811 May 14 Paraguay becomes independent from the Kingdom of Spain. Asunción is the capital.
1810 September 18 Chile declares its independence from the Kingdom of Spain. Santiago is the capital.
September 16 México declares its independence from the Kingdom of Spain.
July 13 The Kingdom of Holland (Netherlands) is annexed by the first French Empire.
The Kingdom of Hawaiʻi is established by Kalani Paiea Wohi o Kaleikini Keali`ikui Kamehameha o `Iolani i Kaiwikapu kaui Ka Liholiho Kunuiakea.
May 25 The United Provinces in South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay) is created from colonies of the Kingdom of Spain. Buenos Aires is the capital.

[edit] 1800s

Year Date Event
1808 March 7 The Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves moves the capital from Lisbon to exile in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
1806 August 6 Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, dissolves the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.
July 25 Napoleon I of France establishes the Confederation of the Rhine. Frankfurt is the capital.
June 5 The Kingdom of Holland (Netherlands) supersedes the Batavian Republic. Amsterdam remains the capital.
1804 August 11 Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, establishes the Austrian Empire. Vienna is the capital.
May 18 The first French Empire supersedes the first French Republic. Paris remains the capital.
1801 January 1 Haiti becomes independent from the French Republic. Port-au-Prince is the capital.
The Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland unite to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Dublin yields to London as the capital.
1800 November 17 The United States of America establishes its permanent capital at Washington City.

[edit] 1790s

Year Date Event
1797 April 17 The House of Habsburg annexes the Republic of Venice.
1795 January 19 The Batavian Republic supersedes the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. Amsterdam remains the capital.
1792 September 21 The first French Republic supersedes the Kingdom of France. Paris remains the capital.
1791 March 4 The Vermont Republic joins the United States of America as the State of Vermont.
1790 December 7 The United States of Belgium capitulates to the House of Habsburg.
January 11 The United States of Belgium declares its independence from the House of Habsburg. Brussels is the capital.

[edit] 1780s

Year Date Event
1783 September 3 The Kingdom of Great Britain recognizes the independence of the United States of America. Princeton is the temporary capital.

[edit] 1770s

Year Date Event
1777 July 8 The Republic of New Connecticut changes its name to the Vermont Republic. Windsor remains the capital.
June 4 The Republic of New Connecticut moves its capital to Windsor.
January 15 The Republic of New Connecticut declares its independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Westminster is the temporary capital.
1776 July 4 The United States of America declares its independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Philadelphia is the first of eight cities that will serve as temporary capital until 1800.

[edit] 1760s

Year Date Event
1768 December 21 Prithvi Narayan Shah founds the Kingdom of Nepal. Kathmandu is the capital.

[edit] 1700s

Year Date Event
1707 May 1 The Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland unite to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. Edinburgh yields to London as the capital.

[edit] 1660s

Year Date Event
1660 May 27 The Kingdom of Sweden cedes Trøndelag to the Kingdom of Denmark and Norway, the Wends and the Goths as part of the Treaty of Copenhagen.
April 4 The restored Kingdom of England, Kingdom of Scotland, and Kingdom of Ireland supersede the republican Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. London, Edinburgh, and Dublin are the respective capitals.

[edit] 1650s

Year Date Event
1658 February 26 The Kingdom of Denmark and Norway, the Wends and the Goths cedes Skåne, Blekinge, Halland, Bornholm, Båhus and Trøndelag to the Kingdom of Sweden as part of the Treaty of Roskilde.
December 16 The Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland supersedes the Commonwealth of England, Kingdom of Scotland, and Kingdom of Ireland. Edinburgh and Dublin yield to London as the capital.

[edit] 1640s

Year Date Event
1649 May 19 The republican Commonwealth of England supersedes the Kingdom of England. London remains the capital.
1645 August 13 The Kingdom of Denmark and Norway, the Wends and the Goths cedes Jämtland, Härjedalen, Idre & Särna, Gotland, Ösel and Halland, the latter for a period of 30 years, to the Kingdom of Sweden as part of the Treaty of Brömsebro.
1644 October 30 The Qing Dynasty of China supersedes the Ming Dynasty. Beijing remains the capital.

[edit] 1580s

Year Date Event
1581 July 26 The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands declares its independence from the Kingdom of Spain. Amsterdam is the capital.

[edit] 1560s

Year Date Event
1569 July 1 The Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania unite to form the Commonwealth of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom and Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Vilnius yields to Kraków as the capital.

[edit] 1540s

Year Date Event
1542 The Kingdom of Ireland supersedes the feudal Lordship of Ireland. Dublin remains the capital.

[edit] 1530s

Year Date Event
1536 The Kingdom of England annexes the Principality of Wales.
1532 The Kingdom of France annexes the Duchy of Brittany.

[edit] 920s

Year Date Event
927 The Kingdom of England is formed from seven previous Saxon kingdoms.
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[edit] See also