20 Countries That No Longer Exist: Lost Nations Erased from the Map
20 Countries That No Longer Exist: Lost Nations Erased from the Map
Open a world map from 1900. Now open one from today. They're barely recognizable.
Countries appear and vanish like characters in a long-running soap opera β merging, splitting, getting conquered, reinventing themselves, or simply deciding they'd rather be called something else. The map is not permanent. It never was.
Over the past two centuries, dozens of sovereign nations have been wiped off the map entirely. Some collapsed in spectacular fashion. Others quietly dissolved while the world wasn't watching. A few were so short-lived that most people never knew they existed.
Here are 20 countries that once had flags, anthems, and passports β but no longer appear on any map.
π΄ The Cold War Casualties
1. The Soviet Union (USSR) β 1922β1991
The big one. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was the largest country in the world, spanning 22.4 million kmΒ² across 11 time zones. At its peak, it was a nuclear superpower with 290 million people.
Then, in December 1991, it simply... stopped existing. The Soviet Union dissolved into 15 independent countries: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Why it disappeared: Economic stagnation, Gorbachev's reforms (glasnost and perestroika), nationalist movements in constituent republics, and the failed August 1991 coup. When the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus signed the Belavezha Accords, the USSR was officially over.
What's there now: Russia inherited most of the territory, nuclear arsenal, and UN Security Council seat. The other 14 countries went their own ways β some toward Europe, others into authoritarianism, and a few into frozen conflicts that persist today.
Map challenge: Can you name all 15 successor states? Try it at geoguesser.in!
2. Yugoslavia β 1918β1992
Yugoslavia β "Land of the South Slavs" β was a patchwork of six republics stitched together after World War I. It survived WWII (under Tito's partisan leadership), became a unique non-aligned communist state, and hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.
Then the 1990s happened. Yugoslavia didn't just dissolve β it exploded. The breakup triggered Europe's deadliest conflicts since WWII, including the Bosnian War and Kosovo War.
The successor states (7 total):
- β’Slovenia (1991)
- β’Croatia (1991)
- β’Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992)
- β’North Macedonia (1991)
- β’Serbia (2006, after Montenegro's departure)
- β’Montenegro (2006)
- β’Kosovo (2008, partially recognized)
Why it disappeared: After Tito's death in 1980, ethnic nationalism surged. Slobodan MiloΕ‘eviΔ's Serbian nationalism clashed with independence movements in Slovenia and Croatia. The result was a decade of wars, ethnic cleansing, and NATO intervention.
Map challenge: The Balkans remain one of the hardest regions to master. The borders drawn from Yugoslavia's collapse still confuse geography buffs worldwide.
3. Czechoslovakia β 1918β1993
Unlike Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia's breakup was peaceful β so peaceful it's called the "Velvet Divorce" (following the "Velvet Revolution" that ended communism in 1989). On January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Why it split: Slovaks felt economically and politically marginalized. After communism fell, the two nations couldn't agree on the pace of economic reforms. Slovak leader VladimΓr MeΔiar and Czech leader VΓ‘clav Klaus negotiated the split β without a referendum. Polls at the time showed most citizens of both nations actually wanted to stay together!
Fun fact: The Czech Republic rebranded itself as "Czechia" in 2016 to have a shorter geographic name, though both names remain official.
4. East Germany (GDR) β 1949β1990
The German Democratic Republic was the Soviet-backed half of divided Germany. It had its own Olympic team, secret police (Stasi), and a wall that became the most famous symbol of the Cold War.
On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. Less than a year later, East Germany was absorbed into West Germany through reunification on October 3, 1990.
Why it disappeared: The Wall's fall unleashed an unstoppable tide. East Germans voted overwhelmingly for parties favoring rapid reunification. West Germany essentially absorbed the East, making the GDR cease to exist as a country.
Legacy: Over 30 years later, economic and cultural differences between eastern and western Germany are still measurable β a phenomenon Germans call the "Wall in the head" (Mauer im Kopf).
π The Colonial Era Losses
5. Tanganyika β 1961β1964
Tanganyika was a large East African nation that gained independence from Britain in 1961 under Julius Nyerere. Just three years later, it merged with the island of Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanzania.
Why it merged: The 1964 Zanzibar Revolution overthrew the Arab sultanate. The new revolutionary government sought union with mainland Tanganyika for stability. The name "Tanzania" is a portmanteau: Tan(ganyika) + Zan(zibar) + ia.
Map challenge: Tanzania's shape on the map includes both the mainland (old Tanganyika) and the islands of Zanzibar. Can you spot them?
6. Ceylon β Ancientβ1972
The island nation of Ceylon had been known by that name for centuries under Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial rule. In 1972, it renamed itself Sri Lanka (meaning "resplendent island" in Sinhalese) as part of a move to shed its colonial identity.
Why it changed: The name "Ceylon" was a British colonial construct. After independence (1948) and the adoption of a new republican constitution (1972), the country reclaimed its indigenous name.
Fun fact: You can still buy "Ceylon tea" β the brand name stuck even though the country didn't.
7. Rhodesia β 1965β1979
Named after British imperialist Cecil Rhodes, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) declared independence from Britain in 1965 under white-minority rule. The international community refused to recognize it, and a brutal civil war β the Rhodesian Bush War β raged for over a decade.
In 1980, following elections under a new constitution, Robert Mugabe became the first Prime Minister of the newly renamed Zimbabwe, derived from the Great Zimbabwe ruins.
Why it disappeared: International sanctions, guerrilla warfare, and the unsustainability of minority rule. The transition wasn't smooth, and Zimbabwe's subsequent decades brought their own crises.
8. Siam β Ancientβ1939
For centuries, the Kingdom of Siam was the only Southeast Asian country never colonized by Europeans. In 1939, the government changed the name to Thailand β meaning "Land of the Free."
Why the change: Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram promoted Thai nationalism and changed the name to emphasize ethnic Thai identity. Briefly reverted to "Siam" (1945β1948), then back to Thailand permanently.
Fun fact: The word "Siamese" survives in English in "Siamese cats," "Siamese twins," and "Siamese fighting fish."
πΊοΈ The Mergers and Absorptions
9. Republic of Texas β 1836β1845
Yes, Texas was its own country. After winning independence from Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto (1836), the Republic of Texas existed for nearly a decade with its own president, currency, and foreign embassies.
In 1845, Texas was annexed by the United States, becoming the 28th state. Some Texans have never quite gotten over it β the "Texas independence" spirit remains a cultural identity to this day.
Why it joined the US: Debt, the threat of Mexican reconquest, and the desire for economic stability. Also, most Texans were American-born settlers who always intended to join the US.
Fun fact: Texas's state flag is the only US state flag that previously served as a national flag. That's why it can legally fly at the same height as the US flag.
10. Kingdom of Hawaii β 1795β1898
The Hawaiian Kingdom was a sovereign nation with international diplomatic recognition, embassies, and treaties with major world powers. Queen Liliuokalani was the last monarch.
In 1893, American sugar planters (backed by US Marines) overthrew the queen. Hawaii became a US territory in 1898 and the 50th state in 1959.
Why it disappeared: American business interests wanted control of sugar plantations and the strategically vital Pearl Harbor. The overthrow was later acknowledged as illegal by the US Congress in the 1993 Apology Resolution.
Legacy: The Hawaiian sovereignty movement remains active today, with some Native Hawaiians arguing the annexation was never legally valid.
11. Sikkim β 1642β1975
The Kingdom of Sikkim, nestled in the Himalayas between Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan, was an independent monarchy for over 300 years. In 1975, after a referendum, it became India's 22nd state.
Why it merged: India had controlled Sikkim's defense and foreign affairs since 1950. Growing democratic movements against the monarchy, combined with Indian political maneuvering, led to a referendum where 97.5% voted to join India. China still questions the legitimacy of this vote.
Map challenge: Sikkim is now a tiny Indian state between Nepal and Bhutan. Can you find it?
βοΈ The War Casualties
12. Prussia β 1525β1947
Prussia was once the dominant German-speaking military power, the kingdom that unified Germany in 1871 under Bismarck. It survived as a state within Germany until the Allies formally abolished it in 1947, blaming Prussian militarism for two world wars.
Why it was dissolved: The Allied Control Council declared: "The Prussian state, which from early days has been a bearer of militarism and reaction in Germany, has de facto ceased to exist." Prussia was carved up between Poland, Russia (Kaliningrad), and several German states.
Legacy: The name "Prussia" appears on no modern map, but its cultural DNA runs through modern Germany. Berlin was the Prussian capital.
13. Tibet β 1912β1951
After the collapse of China's Qing Dynasty in 1912, Tibet declared independence and functioned as a de facto sovereign nation. It had its own government, currency, army, and postal system.
In 1950β51, the People's Republic of China invaded and annexed Tibet. The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, where the Tibetan government-in-exile remains today.
Why it disappeared: Mao Zedong viewed Tibet as historically Chinese territory. The Tibetan army was tiny and poorly equipped. No country intervened militarily. Today, Tibet is the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, though independence advocates dispute Chinese sovereignty.
Legacy: The "Free Tibet" movement remains one of the world's most prominent independence causes.
14. South Vietnam β 1955β1975
The Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) was created after the 1954 partition of Vietnam at the 17th parallel. Backed by the United States, it fought the communist North for two decades in what became the Vietnam War.
On April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City). South Vietnam ceased to exist, and Vietnam was reunified under communist rule.
Why it fell: Despite massive US military support (at its peak, 500,000 American troops), South Vietnam couldn't sustain itself. After US withdrawal (1973), the South's military collapsed rapidly.
π³οΈ The Brief Existences
15. Biafra β 1967β1970
The Republic of Biafra was a secessionist state in southeastern Nigeria, declared by the Igbo people in 1967. The Nigerian Civil War that followed killed an estimated 1β3 million people, many from famine.
Why it disappeared: Nigeria's federal government, supported by Britain and the Soviet Union, blockaded Biafra and starved it into submission. The images of malnourished Biafran children became iconic symbols of humanitarian crisis.
Legacy: Nigeria remains unified, but ethnic tensions between Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa communities persist.
16. Zanzibar β 1963β1964
Zanzibar was an independent nation for exactly one month. After gaining independence from Britain on December 10, 1963, a violent revolution on January 12, 1964 overthrew the sultan. The new government then merged with Tanganyika to form Tanzania.
Why it disappeared so fast: The Arab ruling class was overthrown by the African majority. The revolutionary government, fearing instability, merged with the mainland for security. Zanzibar retains semi-autonomous status within Tanzania to this day.
17. United Arab Republic β 1958β1961
Egypt and Syria merged into a single country called the United Arab Republic, driven by Pan-Arab nationalism under Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser. It was supposed to be the first step toward a united Arab nation.
Why it failed: Syria felt dominated by Egypt. Egyptian officials ran everything. Syrian military officers staged a coup in 1961 and pulled out. Egypt kept the name "United Arab Republic" until 1971 out of stubborn optimism.
Fun fact: This is arguably the most ambitious geopolitical merger to fail in the shortest time β a country made of two disconnected halves, 500 km apart, with completely different economies.
π The Renamed Nations
18. Persia β Ancientβ1935
One of the world's oldest civilizations, Persia had been known by that name in the Western world for over 2,500 years. In 1935, the government requested that foreign nations use the endonym Iran (meaning "Land of the Aryans").
Why the change: Shah Reza Pahlavi wanted to emphasize the country's Aryan heritage and modernize its image. "Iran" had always been the name used by Iranians themselves.
Fun fact: Some scholars argue the name change was influenced by the German ambassador, eager to highlight the "Aryan" connection during the 1930s. The shah briefly allowed both names in 1959, but "Iran" stuck internationally.
19. Burma β 1948β1989
Burma gained independence from Britain in 1948. In 1989, the military junta changed the English name to Myanmar, along with renaming cities (Rangoon β Yangon). The change remains politically controversial.
Why it's complicated: The military government made the change without democratic mandate. Some countries and organizations (including the US for many years) continued using "Burma" as a political statement. Today, both names are used β the UN recognizes "Myanmar," but you'll still hear "Burma" regularly.
20. Abyssinia β Ancientβ1941
The Ethiopian Empire, known in Europe as Abyssinia, was one of Africa's oldest and most powerful states. It was one of only two African nations (along with Liberia) never colonized by Europeans β it even defeated Italy at the Battle of Adwa in 1896.
After Italy's brief occupation during WWII (1936β1941), Emperor Haile Selassie returned and the country increasingly used "Ethiopia" internationally. The name "Abyssinia" faded from maps, though it survives in the name of the Abyssinian cat breed.
Why the name changed: "Abyssinia" derived from Arabic and had colonial connotations. "Ethiopia" comes from Greek (Aithiopia, "Land of Burnt Faces") and was the name used in the country's own ancient texts.
Why Countries Disappear
Looking at these 20 lost nations, clear patterns emerge:
The Five Ways Countries Die
- 1Dissolution β The country breaks into pieces (USSR, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia)
- 2Merger β Two or more countries combine (Tanganyika + Zanzibar = Tanzania)
- 3Absorption β A larger neighbor swallows them (Tibet into China, Sikkim into India)
- 4Defeat β Military loss ends their existence (South Vietnam, Biafra)
- 5Rebranding β The country continues but under a new name (Persia β Iran, Siam β Thailand)
What Makes Countries Fragile?
- β’Ethnic diversity without unity β Yugoslavia and the USSR had dozens of ethnic groups held together by ideology. When the ideology collapsed, so did the country.
- β’Colonial borders β Many African and Asian nations inherited borders that grouped incompatible populations.
- β’Superpower dependence β Countries propped up by superpowers (South Vietnam, East Germany) couldn't survive once support was withdrawn.
- β’Economic failure β Nothing kills national unity faster than poverty and inequality.
Countries That Might Disappear Next?
Without making political predictions, several regions face independence or unification pressures:
- β’Catalonia (Spain) β Independence movement remains strong
- β’Scotland (UK) β Independence referendums keep returning to the agenda
- β’Kurdistan β Spanning Iraq, Turkey, Syria, and Iran
- β’Somaliland β Functions independently but isn't internationally recognized
- β’Taiwan β Governed independently but claimed by China
- β’Western Sahara β Disputed territory between Morocco and the Sahrawi Republic
The map is never finished. It's always being redrawn.
Test Your Knowledge
How many of these lost countries can you locate on a modern map? Here's your challenge:
- 1Point to where the Soviet Union used to be β Can you name all 15 successor states?
- 2Find Yugoslavia's successors β All 7 of them, crammed into the Balkans
- 3Locate Tibet on a map of China
- 4Find where Prussia used to be β It's split between modern Germany, Poland, and Russia
- 5Spot Tanganyika and Zanzibar β They're now Tanzania
Head to geoguesser.in and test how well you know the modern map β including all the countries born from the nations on this list.
Geography isn't static. Every line on the map has a story of creation, conflict, and change behind it. The countries that exist today won't necessarily exist tomorrow. And the ones that disappeared? Their ghosts still shape the borders we see. πΊοΈ