Countries That No Longer Exist
The UN recognizes 195 countries around the world today. For how long will this list remain the same?
Our global map changes more than you might think; thanks to geopolitical forces, entire nations readily come and go. Just this year, the global community welcomed North Macedonia, a successor state to the former Yugoslavia that was previously known as the Republic of Macedonia. And that's to say nothing of places, like Tibet, whose very status as a nation is in dispute.
Here, we’ve rounded up countries, republics and regions that have, quite literally, fallen off the map. Some changed names. Others were split into separate entities. And many lost their sovereignty after being taken over by another country. In any case, none are recognized by the international community as existing nations.
History-buff world travelers: take note.
Basutoland
When King Moshoeshoe I asked the British for help in fighting off invaders in the 19th century, it’s unlikely he expected them to colonize his lands.
But that’s exactly what happened.
In 1868, Basutoland, until then an independent African Kingdom, became a British colony renamed the Territory of Basutoland. The kingdom remained intact for the next 100 years, until it gained independence from Britain in 1966 and became Lesotho.
Today, Lesotho is ruled by a constitutional monarchy, complete with a royal family. Along with the Vatican and San Marino, it is one of only three countries in the world to be completely surrounded by another country, in this case South Africa.
Ceylon
Fun fact: Michael Ondaatje, the famous author of “The English Patient,” is from Ceylon – a country that no longer exists.
The history of this island-state dates back to the late 6th century BC, when the Sinhalese arrived. That group lived peacefully on the land until a southern India dynasty seized power and established the Tamil kingdom in the 15th century.
But the conquering was far from over: Over the next two centuries, Ceylon was occupied by the Portuguese and then the Dutch, until ceding to British control in 1796. The Brits ruled until Ceylon became independent in 1948.
Finally, in 1972, the nation-state adopted the name Sri Lanka, meaning “great and beautiful island," which – of course – it still goes by today.
This fascinating history has made Sri Lanka one of the world’s most culturally diverse nations. Three languages are used in the country: Sinhalese, Tamil and, because of its British rule, English. Britain’s influence is also seen in one of Sri Lanka’s most popular sports: cricket.
Czechoslovakia
After the end of World War I in 1918, Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia were combined in Central Europe to form Czechoslovakia.
From 1939 to 1945, it was partially incorporated into Nazi Germany and ceased to exist as a state, though its government-in-exile remained in operation. After, during the Cold War, it became part of the Eastern Bloc.
It was the birthplace of numerous important literary figures, including Milan Kundera, author of “The Unbearable Lightness of Being,” and playwright Tom Stoppard.
In 1989, Communist rule came to an end following the Velvet Revolution. Shortly after, in 1993, Czechoslovakia was split into two countries: the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Both are today thriving nations with superb historical attractions thanks to their past lives. Wenceslas Square in Prague, Czech Republic, for example, was the site of the reading of the Proclamation of Independence of Czechoslovakia in 1918, and makes for an excellent addition to a travel itinerary.
East Germany and West Germany
It's almost hard to fathom how recently Germany – today a thriving unified nation – was starkly divided.
As every school child knows, following WWII, Germany was divided into two independent countries – East Germany and West Germany – with the Soviets occupying the East, and the U.S. and other allied forces the West. In 1961, the construction of the Berlin Wall solidified this division, standing as a powerful symbol of global conflict.
It would take nearly 30 years for the wall to finally be abolished, in 1990, and for reunification to happen, helping to usher in the end of the Cold War.
Today, a visit to Berlin promises a fascinating glimpse into this history. The East Side Gallery, a portion of the wall featuring over 100 large-format paintings, serves as a stunning symbol of hope, and is not to be missed.
Mesopotamia
What do the concept of time, math and the wheel have in common? All were birthed in Mesopotamia,a region that, at various times, encompassed many different ancient nations.
The name "Mesopotamia" roughly translates to "between two rivers," a nod to its location within the Tigris–Euphrates river system. The region's roots run deep: It dates back to the very beginning of written history, circa 3100 BC.
Its most famous city and capital, Babylonia, is considered the birthplace of literature and writing, and was home to mythical hanging gardens listed among the world's Seven Wonders.
The region fell around the 7th century AD; today, its land is occupied by modern-day eastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and most of Iraq.
In recent years, Iraq has opened up some ancient Babylonian ruins to visitors. But only about 2 percent of the ancient city has been excavated.
Neutral Moresnet
Once upon a time there was a minuscule country in Europe not much bigger than a square mile called Neutral Moresnet. It had its own flag and currency, but most importantly it had Vielle Montagne, one of only two zinc mines on the continent.
After Napoleon’s Empire fell in 1814, the victors carved up his domain. The United Kingdoms of the Netherlands and Prussia couldn’t agree on this tiny village straddling both their lands, so in 1815 they declared it a co-owned state.
In 1830 Belgium took over from the Netherlands. When zinc ran out in the late 19th century, there were efforts to generate money from casinos and the issuing of commemorative stamps. But nothing stuck. Even an attempt by local Wilhelm Molly to establish Neutral Moresnet as the first Esperanto-speaking nation failed.
When Prussia lost out in WWI, the country became part of Belgium.
Newfoundland
Newfoundland still exists, but along with neighboring Labradour, it’s now part of a Canadian province. Before joining Canada, it was actually its own independent nation.
The island, which was first peopled by the Beothuk Indians, was discovered by the Vikings in the late 10th century AD; around 1600, the Europeans followed in their path, seeking out the rich fishing waters of the icy Atlantic. A disparate group of Scottish, French, Irish and English settlers established independent outposts on the land, which were combined in 1907 to form a self-governing independent country called the Dominion of Newfoundland.
After the Great Depression left the nation’s economy in tatters, it voluntarily reverted to a British colony in 1934. Finally, in 1949, it became part of Canada.
Today, although its waters have been greatly depleted of the cod stocks that originally fueled the local economy, Newfoundland remains well-known for its caviar and eco-tourism ventures.
Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia dates back as far as the Middle Ages and remained in existence until 1947. Although it was named after the region of Prussia, it was a German Kingdom that at its peak included more than half of modern-day Germany and all of what is now Western Poland, as well as some of present-day France, Belgium, Denmark and Lithuania.
Prussia came to greatness under the rule of Frederick II in the 18th century when it was still a Kingdom made up of independent principalities. These had the same status of countries, much like the four countries that make up the United Kingdom today.
The Kingdom survived through wars against Napoleon, the Danes, Austrians and the French – but 20th century world wars were its downfall. When Germany was defeated in WWI, the Prussian monarchy ended. After allies took control of Germany following WWII, Prussia's land was divvied up and the once-dominant state was fully abolished.
Although Prussia no longer exists as an independent territory, the royal title lives on in the person of Prince Georg Friedrich Ferdinand, a monarch without a kingdom to rule. He now resides in Hohenzollern Castle in Bisingen, Germany.
Sikkim
In 1948, as the story goes, a footprint of the Yeti (better known as the Abominable Snowman) was found high in the snow-covered Eastern Himalayas. Whether the elusive creature actually made an appearance here remains up for debate. What’s not up for debate is the existence of the country where it was reportedly seen.
At the time, this area was the Kingdom of Sikkim, established as a sovereign monarchy in 1642. It became an Indian protectorate in 1950 and merged with India after a referendum in 1975.
Today, the population in this part of modern-day India is a mix of Nepalese, Tibetan and Hindi-speaking peoples, as well as native Sikkimese. These original inhabitants worship the mountains as gods and believe Sikkim was the seat of the chogyal, temporal and spiritual kings who continue to rule their world.
Tavolara
The small limestone island of Tavolara off the northeast coast of Sardinia was once the smallest kingdom in the world. Just under 4 miles long and a bit over half a mile wide, it was discovered by Giuseppe Bertoleoni in the late 18th century. He immediately proclaimed himself king, and that title has been handed down through the generations – even though the dominion has never been legally recognized.
The current King, Bertoleoni’s great-great-grandson Antonio, runs the island’s only restaurant. It’s popular with visitors coming to the island to dive in waters rich in marine life. Some are lucky enough to spot a Pinna nobilis, a rare giant clam.
Tavolara is now part of a protected Italian national marine reserve, with other sections of the island zoned for military use and owned by NATO.
Tripolitania
Tripoli, the capital of present-day Libya, takes its name from what was once an independent republic with a long, messy history.
Bounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the Steppes of Ghibla, the Jebel mountain range and the desert of Giofra, Tripolitania covered an area of around 500 miles. The Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Arabs and many others had a go at controlling Tripolatinia before the Ottomans claimed it as part of their Empire in the 16th century.
In 1711, the local governor Ahmad Karamanli was recognized as hereditary pasha, a title inherited by birth, and his dynasty ruled until around 1835. After the Italo-Turkish War broke out, the territory was handed over to Italy in 1912. The Italians wanted more territory and encouraged Italian nationals to migrate.
By 1939 Tripolitania was no longer a separate state. It became part of the Italian colony of Libya, with Tripoli as its center.
Vermont
Not many people know that, for a brief time between 1777 and 1791, the U.S. state of Vermont was an independent country.
After a series of land-grant battles in the early 1700s, the people living in the Vermont territory declared their independence and established the Vermont Republic. They issued their own currency, initiated and paid for their own militia, ran their own postal service, and drafted a constitution. All adult males, not just the upper class and property owning ones, were granted the right to vote, and slavery was abolished.
After 14 years as a separate country, Vermont was granted entry into the Union of States. It was the first actual state to enter the U.S., joining the 13 colonies already included.
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia is commonly associated with communist dictator Josip Tito, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in 1914 and a brutal civil war in the 1990s. What fewer people know is that, at one time, Yugoslavia was part of the Austro Hungarian Empire.
The region has, in fact, gone through many iterations, including as the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes starting in 1918, and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia beginning in 1929.
After World War II, the region was arranged as a federation of six republics – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Serbia – based on ethnic and historic lines. Yugoslavia was relatively stable under the iron grip of communist and revolutionary statesman Josip Broz Tito, but ethnic tensions simmered. When Tito died in 1980, there was no one to stamp out the fire and a civil war broke out, with repercussions that are still being felt today.
By 1992 only Serbia and Montenegro remained in what was called "the third Yugoslavia"; everywhere else had broken away after many bloody conflicts. In 2003, the name Yugoslavia was ditched, and the region became the country of Serbia and Montenegro.
Finally, in 2006 – just 13 years ago – Serbia and Montenegro became independent countries, which they remain today. Both are relatively safe to visit (Montenegro especially) and are excellent spots for history-lovers to travel to.
Zanzibar
The small tropical island of Zanzibar has a big history.
In the 1500s, the Portuguese converted it to Christianity, which remained the dominant religion until the Muslims of Oman pushed back in the 17th century. By the 19th century, Zanzibar was full of majestic palaces built for Said bin Sultan, and the economy thrived on the sale of cloves, sugar and slaves.
Then the British came to end slavery and explore what they called “deepest darkest Africa.” In August 1885, the Germans sailed into Zanzibar lagoon and demanded their share, leaving the Sultanate with only a 10-mile strip of coast. That and the rest of the island became a British protectorate in 1890.
For one brief period of time in December 1963, Zanzibar was a fully independent state. A month later, a communist-led revolution saw Zanzibar merge with neighboring Tanganyika in the United Republic of Tanzania.