eclared by
Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal)

Guyana
26 May 1966 (from UK)

Haiti
1 January 1804 (from France)

Holy See (Vatican City)
11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the
three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged,
among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican and
established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal
States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may
be traced back to the 8th century

Honduras
15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Hong Kong
none (special administrative region of China)

Hungary
1001 (unification by King Stephen I)

Iceland
1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish
Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

India
15 August 1947 (from UK)

Indonesia
17 August 1945 (independence proclaimed); 27 December 1949
(Netherlands recognizes Indonesian independence)

Iran
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)

Iraq
3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional
Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government

Ireland
6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)

Isle of Man
none (British crown dependency)

Israel
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration)

Italy
17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not
finally unified until 1870)

Jamaica
6 August 1962 (from UK)

Japan
660 B.C. (traditional founding by Emperor JIMMU)

Jersey
none (British crown dependency)

Jordan
25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration)

Kazakhstan
16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Kenya
12 December 1963 (from UK)

Kiribati
12 July 1979 (from UK)

Korea, North
15 August 1945 (from Japan)

Korea, South
15 August 1945 (from Japan)

Kuwait
19 June 1961 (from UK)

Kyrgyzstan
31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Laos
19 July 1949 (from France)

Latvia
18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia)

Lebanon
22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under
French administration)

Lesotho
4 October 1966 (from UK)

Liberia
26 July 1847

Libya
24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)

Liechtenstein
23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein
established); 12 July 1806 (independence from