A list of countries categorized by their historical origins and modern independence

 

The World's Oldest Countries (Ancient Origins)

These nations are recognized for having the earliest known organized governments or civilizations.

Country	Estimated Founding	Historical Milestone
Egypt	c. 3100 BCE	Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under King Menes.
Iran (Persia)	c. 3200 BCE	Roots in the Elamite civilization; unified by the Achaemenid Empire.
India	c. 2000 BCE	Emergence of the Vedic Period (following the Indus Valley Civilization).
Vietnam	c. 2879 BCE	Establishment of the Hong Bang Dynasty.
China	c. 2070 BCE	Establishment of the Xia Dynasty.
Armenia	c. 2492 BCE	Legendary founding by Hayk.
San Marino	301 CE	Often cited as the oldest continuous sovereign republic.

Modern Independent Nations (Major Global Examples)

These dates mark when these countries established their current sovereign status.

Country	Establishment Date	Previous Authority / Context
United States	July 4, 1776	Independence from Great Britain.
Mexico	September 16, 1810	Declaration of independence from Spain.
Canada	July 1, 1867	Formation of the Dominion (Confederation).
Australia	January 1, 1901	Federation of the six colonies.
Turkey	October 29, 1923	Proclamation of the Republic.
Pakistan	August 14, 1947	Independence from British rule.
India	August 15, 1947	Independence from British rule.
Israel	May 14, 1948	Declaration of the State of Israel.
Singapore	August 9, 1965	Separation from Malaysia.
South Sudan	July 9, 2011	Independence from Sudan (World's youngest country).

Interesting Quick Facts

• Oldest Constitution: While San Marino is the oldest republic, the United States (1788) has the oldest written national constitution still in use.

• The Youngest Country: South Sudan is the most recent globally recognized sovereign state, gaining independence in 2011.

• French Republics: France has been "established" several times; it is currently in its Fifth Republic, established in 1958.