More than 17.5 per cent of the world’s 193 countries have been “born” since 1990. We think that’s a pretty high number.
The birth of nations is nothing new, of course. History is jam-packed with the creation, merging, fragmentation and destruction of countries.
Read our blog on separatist nations and disputed territories here.
The trend in recent times has been towards fragmentation, flipping those set up by the colonialism and imperialism of the previous two centuries.
Of course, no new country is worth its salt without a capital. Here, we take a look at the 10 countries born in this millennium.
Juba – South Sudan (Northeast Africa)
• Independence: July 9, 2011
• Population: 370,000
Pristina – Kosovo (The Balkans, Europe)
• Independence: February 17, 2008
• Population: 198,000
Belgrade – Serbia (The Balkans, Europe)
• Independence: June 5, 2006
• Population: 1,154,000
Podgorica – Montenegro (The Balkans, Europe)
• Independence: June 3, 2006
• Population: 625,000
Dili – East Timor (Southeast Asia)
• Independence: May 20, 2002
• Population: 193,000
Ngerulmud – Palau (western Pacific Ocean island)
• Independence: October 1, 1994
• Population: less than 400
Asmara – Eritrea (Horn of Africa)
• Independence: May 24, 1993
• Population: 649,000
Prague – Czech Republic (Central Europe)
• Independence: January 1, 1993 (same as Slovakia)
• Population: 1,262,000
Bratislava – Slovakia (Central Europe)
• Independence: January 1, 1993 (same as Czech Republic)
• Population: 452,000
Sarajevo – Bosnia and Herzegovina (The Balkans, Europe)
• Independence: March 3, 1992
• Population: 411,000
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s Guide to…
Pristina
