Namibia is another relatively young country, gaining independence from South African administration following a long struggle for sovereignty
9. Namibia – March 21, 1990:
Declared independence from Yugoslavia, with full international recognition coming in January 1992 and the conclusion of the Croatian War of Independence in November 1995
8. Croatia - October 8, 1991:
Both became independent nations following the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia, known as the Velvet Divorce
7. Czech Republic and Slovakia - January 1, 1993:
Gained de jure independence from Ethiopia following a UN-supervised referendum. Eritrea had previously declared de facto independence in 1991 after a 30-year war for independence
6. Eritrea - May 24, 1993:
Gained independence from the United States' Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands following a series of referendums, entering into a Compact of Free Association with the US
5. Palau - October 1, 1994:
Achieved independence from Indonesia, which had annexed the territory in 1975, following a United Nations-sponsored act of self-determination
4. East Timor (Timor-Leste) - May 20, 2002:
Became an independent nation after declaring independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, following a referendum
3. Montenegro - June 3, 2006:
Gained independence with the dissolution of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Serbia has a history of statehood that predates this most recent independence
2. Serbia - June 5, 2006:
Gained independence from Sudan following a 2011 referendum where 98.8% supported independence. It has faced significant challenges including civil wars and human rights abuses