The world’s youngest country — 5 countries that emerged after 2000
What is the world’s youngest country? After 2000, only five countries became independent. Although as many as three of them are located in Europe, we have to go to Africa in search of the youngest one.
According to UN data, there are currently 195 countries on six continents in the world. The largest number, 54, are in Africa, 48 in Asia, 44 in Europe, 22 in North and Central America, 14 in Australia and Oceania and 13 in South America. Below is a summary of the five youngest countries in the globe that were established after 2000.
The youngest countries in the world
- South Sudan (gained independence in 2011)
- Kosovo (2008)
- Serbia (2006)
- Montenegro (2006)
- East Timor (2002)
Only five countries around the world have gained independence in the 21st century. The youngest of these is South Sudan in Africa, which first appeared on the maps twelve years ago. In Europe, the former Yugoslav republics of Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro lead the way. In contrast, East Timor on the island of Timor is considered the youngest Asian country, where a decree of independence was declared in 2002.
The youngest country in the world: South Sudan
South Sudan, located in Africa, gained independence in July 2011, following the end of a two-decade-long civil war that claimed the lives of more than 2 million people. In a referendum held in early 2011, more than 98% of eligible voters voted in favor of splitting Sudan in two.
A few days after the independence decree was announced, the world’s youngest country was unanimously accepted into the United Nations and the African Union. South Sudan has been ruled by Salva Kiir Mayardit, former vice president of Sudan, since July 9, 2011.
South Sudan is, unfortunately, also one of the poorest countries on earth. The biggest problem for the inhabitants of the world’s youngest country is hunger. As a result of the humanitarian disaster at the end of the last century, about 70,000 people died of malnutrition.
The youngest country in Europe: Kosovo
The youngest country in Europe is Kosovo on the Balkan peninsula, which was established in 2008. Although it has been 15 years since the authorities in Pristina declared independence, many countries around the world still do not recognize the autonomy of the Republic of Kosovo. Support for the newly formed state has been expressed by the United States and the vast majority of countries belonging to the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance.
The Republic of Kosovo, like South Sudan, is not only the youngest country on the continent, but also one of the poorest, right next to Moldova.
The world’s youngest countries: Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro formed a federal republic after the breakup of Yugoslavia. In 2006, a referendum on Montenegrin independence was held, with more than 55% of voters in favor of secession. In early June, the parliament in Podgorica proclaimed independence. Two days later, the Serbian government announced that it had taken over the legal succession of Serbia and Montenegro, sealing the creation of two new states — Serbia and Montenegro.
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The youngest country in Asia: East Timor
East Timor on the island of Timor in the Malay Archipelago is the youngest country in Asia and the first country in the world to declare its sovereignty in the 21st century. The Democratic Republic of East Timor gained independence on May 20, 2002. Prior to that, Timor had been a Portuguese colony for hundreds of years, and was occupied by Indonesia from 1976 to 1999.
An independence referendum was held in August 1999, in which an overwhelming majority of the population supported the country’s separation from its neighbor. The formal inauguration of the newly elected government was attended by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, then-U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, among others.
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