- Oceania
Independence from the United Kingdom
Fiji becomes independent within the Commonwealth under a power-sharing constitution, with Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara as first prime minister.
Era: Late Colony & the Road to Independence
Sources: Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara — prime minister of Fiji · Encyclopædia Britannica, Our Story — Parliament of the Republic of Fiji · Parliament of the Republic of Fiji, Fiji — Countries (A Guide to the History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations) · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- Asia
Declaration of independence
After the Pakistani army launches Operation Searchlight on 25 March, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proclaims Bangladesh's independence on 26 March, beginning the Liberation War.
Era: Liberation War and Modern Bangladesh
Sources: Bangladesh Liberation War · Encyclopædia Britannica, Mujibur Rahman · Encyclopædia Britannica
- Asia
Victory and the birth of Bangladesh
After a nine-month war in which possibly a million Bengalis were killed and ten million fled to India, Indian forces intervene and the Pakistani army surrenders at Dhaka, founding the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Era: Liberation War and Modern Bangladesh
Sources: Bangladesh Liberation War · Encyclopædia Britannica
- Asia
Bhutan joins the United Nations
Bhutan is admitted as the 128th member of the United Nations, a milestone in its emergence from isolation and its assertion of full sovereignty.
Era: Opening to the World
Sources: Admission of Bhutan to membership in the United Nations (1971) · United Nations Digital Library, Bhutan and the UN · Permanent Mission of Bhutan to the United Nations
- Asia
Independence from Britain
Qatar declared independence from Great Britain, ending the protectorate established in 1916; the United States recognised the new State of Qatar on 5 September 1971.
Era: Oil, the End of Pearls, and Independence
Sources: A Guide to U.S. Recognition and Diplomatic Relations: Qatar · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Qatar: History (Persian Gulf, Oil, Gas) · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- North America
Independence of The Bahamas
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas became independent of the United Kingdom on 10 July 1973 under Prime Minister Lynden Pindling, remaining a Commonwealth realm and joining the United Nations.
Era: Majority rule and independence
Sources: The Bahamas — Independence · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Lynden Pindling — Biography & Facts · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Background Note: The Bahamas · U.S. Department of State
- Africa
Independence declared at Boé
The PAIGC's People's National Assembly unilaterally proclaimed the Republic of Guinea-Bissau in the liberated southeast; the new state was rapidly recognised abroad and endorsed by a 93–7 UN General Assembly vote in November.
Era: Cabral, the PAIGC and the war of independence
Sources: History of Guinea-Bissau · Wikipedia, Guinea-Bissau (country overview and history) · Encyclopaedia Britannica, A Guide to the History of Recognition: Guinea-Bissau · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- Africa
Portugal recognises independence
Following the Carnation Revolution and an accord at Algiers, Portugal formally recognised Guinea-Bissau's independence on 10 September 1974; the United States acknowledged it the same day, with Luís Cabral as first president.
Era: Cabral, the PAIGC and the war of independence
Sources: A Guide to the History of Recognition: Guinea-Bissau · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, History of Guinea-Bissau · Wikipedia, Guinea-Bissau (country overview and history) · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
Independence proclaimed
As the Portuguese departed, the MPLA proclaimed the People's Republic of Angola in Luanda under Agostinho Neto, marking the country's independence amid a contest with the rival movements.
Era: Revolt, liberation movements and independence
Sources: The Angola Crisis 1974–75 · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Angola Gains Its Independence From Portugal · African American Registry, Angola — Colonialism, Independence, Civil War (history) · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
Independence of Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde declared independence from Portugal on 5 July 1975 under the PAIGC, with Aristides Pereira as first president; the United States recognised the new state the same day.
Era: Cabral, the PAIGC, and independence
Sources: A Guide to the History of Recognition: Cabo Verde · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, History of Cape Verde · Wikipedia, History of Cabo Verde · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
Unilateral declaration of independence
The Chamber of Deputies in Moroni, led by Ahmed Abdallah, declares the Comoros independent, claiming all four islands; Abdallah becomes first president.
Era: Autonomy and Independence
Sources: State of the Comoros · Wikipedia, Comoros: History · Encyclopædia Britannica, The Comoros declared an Independent State · South African History Online
- Asia
Founding of the Lao PDR
The Pathet Lao take power, abolish the 600-year-old monarchy, and proclaim the Lao People's Democratic Republic, with Souphanouvong as president and Kaysone Phomvihane as prime minister.
Era: Civil War, the Secret War, and the Pathet Lao
Sources: Laos: History · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Kaysone Phomvihan · Encyclopaedia Britannica, A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations: Laos · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- Africa
Independence of Mozambique
The People's Republic of Mozambique is proclaimed with Samora Machel as first president; most of the colony's Portuguese settlers depart, taking skills and capital with them.
Era: FRELIMO, Liberation War and Independence
Sources: Mozambique · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Samora Machel · Wikipedia, History of Mozambique · Wikipedia
- Europe
Suriname becomes independent
Suriname leaves the Kingdom of the Netherlands to become a sovereign state, while several Caribbean islands remain within the Kingdom. In 2022–2023 the Dutch government and King Willem-Alexander formally apologised for the Netherlands' role in slavery.
Era: The World Wars, Decolonisation and the Modern Netherlands
Sources: Netherlands · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Slavery: the Rijksmuseum exhibition and Dutch colonial slavery · Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
- Oceania
Independence
Papua New Guinea became an independent nation under Prime Minister Michael Somare; Australia transferred sovereignty and the United States recognised the new state the same day.
Era: Self-government and independence
Sources: Independence of Papua New Guinea · National Archives of Australia, A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition: Papua New Guinea · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- Africa
Independence proclaimed
São Tomé and Príncipe became an independent state, with the MLSTP's Manuel Pinto da Costa as its first president.
Era: Batepá, the MLSTP and the road to independence
Sources: History of São Tomé and Príncipe · Wikipedia, São Tomé and Príncipe — After independence · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Manuel Pinto da Costa (1937– ) · BlackPast.org
- South America
Independence from the Netherlands
Suriname becomes a sovereign state; Johan Ferrier is the first president and the United States recognises the nation the same day.
Era: Independence and the Military Years
Sources: A Guide to the History of Recognition: Suriname · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Johan Ferrier (1910-2010) · BlackPast
- Asia
Declaration of independence
Fretilin unilaterally proclaims the independent Democratic Republic of East Timor in Dili as Portugal withdraws and an Indonesian invasion looms.
Era: Declaration, Invasion, and Annexation
Sources: 1975 invasion of East Timor · Encyclopaedia Britannica, East Timor · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Asia
Fall of Saigon and reunification
North Vietnamese forces capture Saigon, ending the war; the country is formally reunified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on 2 July 1976.
Era: The Wars: Independence, Division, and Reunification
Sources: Vietnam War · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vietnam · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
Independence from the United Kingdom
Seychelles became an independent republic within the Commonwealth, with James Mancham as first president and France-Albert René as prime minister.
Era: Independence, Coup and One-Party State
Sources: History of Seychelles · Wikipedia, Seychelles (1976–present) · University of Central Arkansas, DADM Project
- Africa
Independence referendum passes
A final referendum returns an overwhelming majority for independence from France.
Era: Referendums and the Road to Independence
Sources: Djibouti (country and history) · Encyclopaedia Britannica, History of Djibouti · Wikipedia
- Africa
Republic of Djibouti proclaimed
Djibouti becomes independent, the last French territory on mainland Africa to do so; Hassan Gouled Aptidon becomes the first president.
Era: Referendums and the Road to Independence
Sources: Djibouti (country and history) · Encyclopaedia Britannica, History of Djibouti · Wikipedia, Djibouti · New World Encyclopedia
- Oceania
Independence from the United Kingdom
The protectorate becomes the independent state of Solomon Islands within the Commonwealth, with Sir Peter Kenilorea as first prime minister.
Era: The Road to Independence
Sources: Peter Kenilorea · Encyclopædia Britannica, U.S. Relations With the Solomon Islands · U.S. Department of State, History of Solomon Islands · Encyclopædia Britannica
- North America
Home Rule established
After a January 1979 referendum, the Home Rule Act came into force, giving Greenland its own parliament and government with Jonathan Motzfeldt as first premier and responsibility for many domestic affairs.
Era: Home Rule and Self-Government
Sources: Greenland's National Day, the Home Rule Act (1979), and the Act on Self-Government (2009) · Library of Congress, In Custodia Legis (Law Library blog), About Greenland / Politics in Greenland · Naalakkersuisut (Government of Greenland)
- Africa
Lancaster House Agreement
Talks in London produced an agreement providing for a ceasefire, a new constitution and British-supervised elections, ending the war and opening the path to majority rule.
Era: White rule, UDI and the liberation war
Sources: Lancaster House Agreement · Wikipedia, Zimbabwe: History · Encyclopaedia Britannica
Independence in the 1970s
Every event in the Terralore archive tagged independence — declarations, recognitions and transfers of sovereignty, narrowed to the 1970s — 25 of them, drawn from 22 nations, running from 1970 to 1979. Each entry keeps the sources it was verified against and links back to the chronicle it came from.
- Events
- 25
- Nations
- 22
- Earliest
- 1970
- Latest
- 1979
- Africa
- 11
- Asia
- 7
- Oceania
- 3
- North America
- 2
- Europe
- 1
- South America
- 1
Every entry below is the same record, with the same sources, as the one on its nation’s chronicle.