List of countries that have gained independence from the United Kingdom
This is a list of countries and territories formerly ruled or administered by the United Kingdom or part of the British Empire, with their independence days. Some countries did not gain their independence on a single date, therefore the latest day of independence is shown with a break down of dates further down the page.
Territories excluding Dominions
Country | Date | Year of Independence | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Antigua and Barbuda | 1 November | 1981 | |
Australia | 1 January | 1901 | Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 |
The Bahamas | 10 July | 1973 | |
Bahrain | 15 August | 1971 | |
Barbados | 30 November | 1966 | Barbados Independence Act 1966 |
Belize | 21 September | 1981 | September Celebrations of Belize |
Botswana | 30 September | 1966 | |
Brunei | 1 January | 1984 | |
Canada | 1 July | 1867 | British North America Act 1867 |
Cyprus | 1 October | 1960 | 16 August 1960, but Cyprus Independence Day is commonly celebrated on 1 October.[1] |
Dominica | 3 November | 1978 | |
Egypt | 28 February | 1922 | |
Fiji | 10 October | 1970 | |
The Gambia | 18 February | 1965 | |
Ghana | 6 March | 1957 | |
Grenada | 7 February | 1974 | Independence Day (Grenada) |
Guyana | 26 May | 1966 | |
India | 15 August | 1947 | Independence Day (India) |
Israel | 14 May | 1948 | |
Iraq | 3 October | 1932 | |
Ireland | 18 April | 1921 | Proclamation of the Irish Republic commencing the Easter Rising on 24 April 1916 led to a civil war which resulted in the formation of the Irish Free State. Only country to ever secede from the United Kingdom proper. |
Jamaica | 6 August | 1962 | Independence Day (August 6) |
Jordan | 25 May | 1946 | |
Kenya | 12 December | 1963 | |
Kiribati | 12 July | 1979 | |
Kuwait | 25 February | 1961 | |
Lesotho | 4 October | 1966 | |
Malawi | 6 July | 1964 | |
Malaysia | 31 August | 1957 | Hari Merdeka
|
Maldives | 26 July | 1965 | |
Malta | 21 September | 1964 | |
Mauritius | 12 March | 1968 | |
Myanmar | 4 January | 1948 | |
Nauru | 31 January | 1968 | Independence from the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand on 31 January 1968. |
New Zealand | 26 September | 1907 | Dominion Day
|
Nigeria | 1 October | 1960 | |
Pakistan | 14 August | 1947 | Independence Day (Pakistan)
|
Qatar | 3 September | 1971 | Qatar National Day |
Saint Lucia | 22 February | 1979 | |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 19 September | 1983 | |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 27 October | 1979 | |
Seychelles | 29 June | 1976 | |
Sierra Leone | 27 April | 1961 | |
Solomon Islands | 7 July | 1978 | |
South Africa | 11 December | 1961 | 1931 adoption of Statute of Westminster. Not a public holiday. Union of South Africa formed on 31 May 1910 and Republic declared on 31 May 1961 and left the British Commonwealth on the same day.
|
Sri Lanka | 4 February | 1948 | 4 February 1948, Sri Lanka had their independence. After nearly 150 years of the UK ruling the country. Gained independence as the Dominion of Ceylon |
Sudan | 1 January | 1956 | South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011. |
Swaziland | 6 September | 1968 | |
Tanzania | 9 December | 1961 | |
Trinidad and Tobago | 31 August | 1962 | |
Tuvalu | 1 October | 1978 | |
Uganda | 9 October | 1962 | |
United Arab Emirates | 2 December | 1971 | National Day (United Arab Emirates) |
United States | 3 September | 1783 | Fourth of July. Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1776. Independence achieved de facto 1781, and de jure 1783. |
Vanuatu | 30 July | 1980 | Independence from United Kingdom and France in 1980 |
Yemen | 30 November | 1967 | South Yemen 1967 |
Zambia | 24 October | 1964 | |
Zimbabwe | 18 April | 1980 |
Evolution of Dominions to Independence
Country | Date of Dominion Status | Date of adoption of the Statute of Westminster | Date of final relinquish of British powers | Final Event in question. | Other important Dates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 1 January 1901 | 9 October 1942 (effective from 1939) | 3 March 1986 | Australia Act 1986 | |
Canada | 1 July 1867 | 11 December 1931 | 17 April 1982 | Canada Act 1982 | Canada Day |
Ireland | 6 December 1922 | 11 December 1931 | The 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic and 1919 Irish Declaration of Independence were never recognised by the UK but given symbolic priority by post-1922 Irish leaders. From the 1932 Irish election, successive governments unilaterally amended the state's status: the Constitution (Removal of Oath) Act on 3 May 1933 implicitly abrogated the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty; the 27th amendment and External Relations Act, both on 12 December 1936, attenuated the role of the monarchy; the enactment of the Constitution on 29 December 1937 established the office of President; the Republic of Ireland Act came into force on 18 April 1949 with Ireland formally leaving the British Commonwealth. Related UK statutes included the Eire (Confirmation of Agreements) Act 1938 and the Ireland Act 1949. | ||
Dominion of Newfoundland | 26 September 1907 | — | 31 March 1949 | Newfoundland referendums, 1948 | Newfoundland Act, 1949. Newfoundland voted to join Canada in 1948 in a 52-48 vote. |
South Africa | 31 May 1910 | 11 December 1931 | 21 May 1961 | South African Constitution of 1961 | |
New Zealand | 26 September 1907 | 25 November 1947 | 13 December 1986 | Constitution Act 1986 | Declaration of Independence of New Zealand 1835, Treaty of Waitangi 1840 |
Countries or territories that have voted to remain in the United Kingdom
Country | Date | Year | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Anguilla | July | 1971 | Although not the result of a vote; Anguilla declared independence from St. Kitts and Nevis in 1969, following a revolution, in favor of returning to British authority in 1971 with full overseas territory status returning in 1980. |
Bermuda | 16 August | 1995 | Bermudans voted against independence for the territory in a 1995 referendum by 73.6% to 25.7%. |
Falkland Islands | 11 March | 2013 | Falkland islanders voted in favor of remaining a British overseas territory by 99.8% to 0.2%. |
Gibraltar | 7 November | 2002 | Gibraltar held a referendum on whether or not to share sovereignty with Spain. They rejected the proposal by 98.48% to 1.02% in favor of remaining solely a British overseas territory. |
Northern Ireland | 8 March | 1973 | Voters in Northern Ireland were asked to decide if they wanted to remain in the United Kingdom or to leave and join with the Republic of Ireland. They voted in favor of the United Kingdom by 98.9% to 1.1%. |
Scotland | 19 September | 2014 | In the Scottish independence referendum, 2014, Scottish voters chose to stay within the United Kingdom by 55.3% to 44.7%. |
See also
- Self-determination
- Commonwealth of Nations
- Foreign relations of the United Kingdom
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Special Committee on Decolonization
References
- ↑ "United Nations Member States". Un.org. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
|
|