the Holy Roman Empire)

Lithuania
11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6
September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)

Luxembourg
1839 (from the Netherlands)

Macau
none (special administrative region of China)

Macedonia
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters
endorsing independence from Yugoslavia)

Madagascar
26 June 1960 (from France)

Malawi
6 July 1964 (from UK)

Malaysia
31 August 1957 (from UK)

Maldives
26 July 1965 (from UK)

Mali
22 September 1960 (from France)

Malta
21 September 1964 (from UK)

Marshall Islands
21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN
trusteeship)

Mauritania
28 November 1960 (from France)

Mauritius
12 March 1968 (from UK)

Mayotte
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Mexico
16 September 1810 (from Spain)

Micronesia, Federated States of
3 November 1986 (from the
US-administered UN Trusteeship)

Moldova
27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Monaco
1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)

Mongolia
11 July 1921 (from China)

Montenegro
3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)

Montserrat
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Morocco
2 March 1956 (from France)

Mozambique
25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

Namibia
21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

Nauru
31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered
UN trusteeship)

Nepal
1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)

Netherlands
23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low
Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26
July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of
Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace
of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)

Netherlands Antilles
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

New Caledonia
none (overseas territory of France); note - a
referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new
referendum is scheduled for 2014

New Zealand
26 September 1907 (from UK)

Nicaragua
15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Niger
3 August 1960 (from France)

Nigeria
1 October 1960 (from UK)

Niue
on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary
government in free association with New Zealand

Norfolk Island
none (territory of Australia)

Northern