Maps may suggest permanence, but history tells a different story. Nations rise and fall, merge and fracture, often leaving behind legacies that shape the modern world.
The past century alone has witnessed the disappearance of several sovereign entities ranging from empires that once dominated continents to microstates that barely spanned a few kilometers.
Here are twelve countries that no longer exist – and the reasons behind their dissolution:
1. Prussia
Prussia was once a formidable European kingdom, founded in 1525 and ruled by the Hohenzollern dynasty. It played a central role in shaping modern Germany, especially through its military and political influence in the 18th and 19th centuries.
However, after the devastation of two world wars, Prussia lost its power and territory. In 1947, the Allied powers officially abolished it, marking the end of a state that had once been synonymous with German nationalism and militarism.
2. Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia, a federation of six republics – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia – was born from the ashes of World War I. For decades, it stood as a symbol of unity in the Balkans.
But internal political rivalries, economic instability, and deep-rooted ethnic tensions led to its violent breakup in the 1990s. By 2006, all member republics had declared independence, leaving Yugoslavia as a historical footnote.
3. Tanganyika
Tanganyika, located in East Africa, was once a German colony and later administered by Britain.
In 1964, it merged with the island of Zanzibar to form the modern nation of Tanzania. Though its name has faded from current maps, Tanganyika remains a significant part of Tanzania’s historical identity.
4. Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia emerged in 1918 following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It quickly became one of Eastern Europe’s most industrialized nations.
After enduring Nazi occupation and decades of communist rule, the country split peacefully in 1993 into the Czech Republic and Slovakia – a separation often referred to as the “Velvet Divorce.”
5. Neutral Moresnet
Neutral Moresnet was a tiny European microstate, just 1.5 square kilometers in size, created in 1816 due to a dispute over a zinc mine.
With no clear legal system and minimal taxation, it became a haven for gamblers and free-thinkers. Germany annexed the territory in 1915 during World War I, ending its brief but colorful existence.
6. Abyssinia (Ethiopian Empire)
Abyssinia, also known as the Ethiopian Empire, was a Christian monarchy that traced its roots back to the 13th century. It expanded through conquest and religious influence but came to an end in 1974 when Emperor Haile Selassie was overthrown in a coup. Today, modern Ethiopia occupies much of its former territory, though the imperial legacy still resonates.
7. Tibet
Tibet declared autonomy in 1911 following the fall of China’s Qing dynasty. However, in 1951, Chinese forces invaded and annexed the region.
A failed uprising in 1959 led to the exile of the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans. While Tibet remains under Chinese control, international calls for its independence persist.
8. Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary was a sprawling empire that existed from 1867 to 1918, encompassing more than 11 nationalities across Central Europe.
Political instability, food shortages, and the pressures of World War I led to its collapse. Its territories were divided into several new nations, including Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and parts of modern-day Poland and Ukraine.
9. Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia, named after British imperialist Cecil Rhodes, was a territory marked by white minority rule and racial inequality.
In 1965, it declared independence unilaterally, but the move was not recognized internationally. After years of armed struggle and negotiation, it became Zimbabwe in 1980. Its northern counterpart, Northern Rhodesia, had already become Zambia in 1964.
10. Sikkim
Sikkim was a Himalayan kingdom ruled by the Namgyal dynasty since 1642. It endured invasions and political interference from neighboring powers.
In 1950, it became a protectorate of India, and in 1975, following a referendum, it was fully integrated as India’s 22nd state.
11. East Germany (German Democratic Republic (GDR)
East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was established in 1949 as a Soviet-backed socialist state. Separated from West Germany by the Berlin Wall, it became a symbol of Cold War division.
The fall of the Wall in 1989 triggered the collapse of communist rule, and East Germany reunified with the West in 1990.
12. Gran Colombia
Gran Colombia was formed in 1819 under the leadership of Simón Bolívar, uniting present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama into one republic.
Despite Bolívar’s vision of a united South America, internal divisions and regional rivalries led to its dissolution by 1831. Each state declared independence, ending the dream of continental unity.
These vanished nations remind us that borders are not eternal. The map of the world continues to evolve, whether through war, diplomacy, or democratic choice. Their stories provide lessons in resilience, identity, and the ever-changing nature of sovereignty.