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Countries That No Longer Exist

Tap a former country to learn more about it.

The Soviet Union (1922–1991)

A vast communist state that dissolved in 1991 following major political and economic upheaval, splitting into 15 independent countries, including Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.

Yugoslavia (1918–1992)

A multi-ethnic Balkan state that violently broke apart in the early 1990s amid a series of devastating conflicts, ultimately splitting into several independent countries, including Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia.

Czechoslovakia (1918–1992)

A Central European country that peacefully dissolved at the end of 1992 through a mutual agreement often called the "Velvet Divorce," splitting into the modern-day Czech Republic and Slovakia.

East Germany (German Democratic Republic, 1949–1990)

A separate communist state that existed alongside West Germany during the Cold War, reunifying with West Germany in 1990 following the fall of the Berlin Wall the previous year.

The Ottoman Empire (1299–1922)

A vast, long-lasting empire that once controlled significant territory across parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, formally dissolving after World War I and eventually giving rise to the modern Republic of Turkey.

Common Reasons Countries Dissolve

Countries typically dissolve or split apart due to some combination of ethnic or nationalist tensions, significant economic hardship, the collapse of a unifying political ideology, or the loss of centralized authority following war or major political upheaval.

National borders are more changeable than they often appear

While political maps can feel fixed and permanent from a single moment in time, the modern history of the 20th and early 21st centuries shows that national borders and even the existence of entire countries can change dramatically within a single generation, driven by war, revolution, or negotiated political agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do people born in a country that later dissolved still identify with that original nationality?

It varies considerably by individual and region, but many people, particularly older generations who lived through the transition, do continue to personally identify to some degree with a former national identity, even decades after the original country's political dissolution.

Are there other well-known examples of countries that split apart peacefully like Czechoslovakia?

Yes, though it remains relatively uncommon historically β€” while most large-scale national dissolutions involve significant conflict, a peaceful split like the "Velvet Divorce" stands out as a notable exception where the process was negotiated and completed with minimal violence.