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'{{Short description|List of changes in borders between nations since 1914}} {{More references|date=June 2023}} Since [[World War I]], there have been numerous changes in [[border]]s between [[nations]], detailed below. For information on border changes from the end of the Napoleonic Wars to 1914, see [[List of national border changes from 1815 to 1914]]. Cases are only listed where there have been changes in borders, not necessarily including changes in ownership of a territory. For instance, many European colonies in Africa became independent without any adjustment to their borders, although some did have many changes. Also mentioned are some de facto changes, not recognized by the international community, such as [[Crimea]], [[Republic of Artsakh|Artsakh]], and [[South Ossetia]]. ==Africa== * 1919 — The [[treaty of Versailles]] divides Germany's African colonies into mandates of the victors (which largely become new colonies of the victors). Most of Cameroon becomes a French mandate with a small portion taken by the British and some territory incorporated into France's previously existing colonies; [[Togo]] is mostly taken by the British, though the French gain a slim portion; [[German East Africa]] was separated between [[Belgium]] ([[Rwanda]] and [[Burundi]]), Portugal (the [[Kionga Triangle]]) and the [[United Kingdom]] ([[Tanganyika (1961–1964)|Tanganyika]], later merging with [[Zanzibar]] to form [[Tanzania]]); and [[German South-West Africa]] ([[Namibia]]) becomes a mandate of [[South Africa]]. In September, France settles its African colonial borders with Italian Libya. On September 8, following the signing of the Anglo-French Convention of September 8, 1919, the borders of Italian [[Libya]] and French [[Chad]] are settled to the present-day boundaries.<ref name="IBS010">{{cite web |url=http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS010.pdf |title=International Boundary Study No.&nbsp;10: Libya–Sudan Boundary |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926145326/http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS010.pdf |archive-date=2007-09-26}}, [[United States Department of State]], October 16, 1961</ref> A few days later, the borders of western and southwestern Libya are extended to their current boundaries after French concessions with the Franco-Italian Arrangement of 12 September 1919.<ref name="IBS001">{{cite web |url= http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS001.pdf |title= International Boundary Study No.&nbsp;1: Algeria–Libya banaba |access-date= 2007-09-09 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070926145324/http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS001.pdf |archive-date= 2007-09-26 |url-status=dead}}, [[United States Department of State]], April 28, 1961</ref> * 1923 — the city of [[Tangier]] becomes an International Free Zone after France and Spain end their control over parts of the city. * 1924 — The UK cedes a portion of Jubaland to Italy (Trans-Juba, it. ''Oltregiuba'') as a reward for the Italians having joined the Allies in World War&nbsp;I.[[File:Italian East Africa (1938–1941).svg|thumb|[[Italian East Africa]] was formed in 1936 through the merger of [[Italian Somalia]], [[Italian Eritrea]], and the newly occupied [[Ethiopian Empire]], conquered in the [[Second Italo-Ethiopian War]].]] * 1925 — The eastern borders of Libya and British Egypt are changed to their present boundaries, with the exception of parts of present-day southern Libya still remaining part of British [[Sudan]].<ref name="IBS010"/> * 1931 — France moves the control of the area of the present day [[Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti Prefecture]] from the territory of [[Niger]] in [[French West Africa]] to Chad in [[French Equatorial Africa]].<ref name="IBS003">{{cite web |url= http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS003.pdf |title= International Boundary Study No.&nbsp;3 (Revised): Chad–Libya Boundary |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060916034849/http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS003.pdf |archive-date= 2006-09-16}}, [[United States Department of State]], December 15, 1978</ref> * 1934 — The borders of Libya are changed to their present-day boundaries after the Italo-British-Egyptian Agreement, British Sudan cedes northern territory to Libya.<ref name="IBS010"/> * 1935 — The [[Franco-Italian Agreement]] cedes the [[Aouzou Strip]] from French Chad to Italian Libya. * 1936 — After the success of Italy during the [[Second Italo-Abyssinian War]], [[Ethiopia]] is annexed by Italy. Ethiopia joins with [[Eritrea]] and [[Italian Somaliland]] to form [[Italian East Africa]]. The international community does not accept Italy's occupation of Ethiopia and maintains relations with exiled Ethiopian Emperor [[Haile Selassie]]. * World War II — With the outbreak of World War II, war arrives in Africa in 1940, with Italy joining the war, initially British forces in [[British Somaliland]] are defeated by the Italians coming from Italian East Africa and the territory is taken. However, by 1941, the British retake lost territory and take over Italian East Africa. In North Africa, after a period of retreat into Libya, Italian forces receive vital aid from the German army and the Germans move deep into Egypt by 1942, before beginning to lose ground. By 1943, The German and Italian forces retreat from Libya and capture [[Tunisia]] from France prior to fleeing to Sicily. * 1951, December 24 — The [[Kingdom of Libya]] becomes independent. *1952 — After WWII, Ethiopia was granted Eritrea. [[File:British Decolonisation in Africa.png|thumb|upright=1.5|[[British Empire|British]] [[decolonization]] in Africa.]] * 1953, August 1 — [[Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland]] established from the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia, and Nyasaland. * 1956, March 2 — [[French Morocco]], the [[International Zone]] of [[Tangier]], and most of [[Spanish Morocco]] join to become the independent nation of [[Morocco]]; * 1957, March 6 — The United Kingdom annexes [[British Togoland]] and the [[Northern Territories of the Gold Coast (British protectorate)|Northern Territories protectorate]] as part of Her Majesty's dominions in [[Ghana]], a new independent country within the British Commonwealth. * 1957 — [[Tunisia]] gains independence. * 1958 — French West Africa splits into [[Mauritania]], [[Senegal]], [[French Sudan]] (now [[Mali]]), [[French Guinea]] (now [[Guinea]]), [[Côte d'Ivoire]], [[Niger]], [[Republic of Upper Volta|Upper Volta]] (now [[Burkina Faso]]) and [[Republic of Dahomey|Dahomey]] (now [[Benin]]) * 1960 — [[Belgian Congo]] is granted independence as the Republic of the Congo. In 1964 it changes its name to the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] to differentiate itself from [[Congo-Brazzaville]]. * 1960, July 1 — State of Somaliland (formerly [[British Somaliland]]) joins with [[Italian Somaliland]] to form [[Somalia]]. French Equatorial Africa's interim successor, the [[Union of Central African Republics]] dissolves in August with independence of [[Chad]] (August 11), [[Oubangui-Chari]] (now [[Central African Republic]]) (August 13), [[Congo-Brazzaville]] (now the [[Republic of the Congo]]) (August 15), and [[Gabon]] (August 17). * 1961, May 31 — the northern two-thirds of British [[Cameroons]] joins [[Nigeria]]; October 1 — the southern third of British Cameroons joins with the Republic of Cameroon to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. This year also the tiny Portuguese outpost of [[São João Baptista de Ajudá]] was annexed by [[Republic of Dahomey|Dahomey]] (now [[Benin]]) * 1962, July 1 — The Belgian colony of [[Ruanda-Urundi]] separated into [[Rwanda]] and [[Burundi]]. * 1962, September 25 — The [[People's Democratic Republic of Algeria]] is formally proclaimed. * 1963, December 31 — [[Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland]] dissolved; over the next two years Nyasaland becomes independent [[Malawi]], Northern Rhodesia wins independence as [[Zambia]], and Southern Rhodesia (or simply [[Rhodesia]]) [[Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence|unilaterally declares independence]].[[File:Western Sahara situation January 1976 en.svg|thumb|upright|Mauritania and Morocco [[Madrid Accords|agreed to divide]] [[Western Sahara]] among themselves in 1975. Mauritania relinquished its claim in 1979.]] * 1964, April 26 — [[Tanganyika (1961–1964)|Tanganyika]] unites with the island of [[Zanzibar]] to form [[Tanzania]]. * 1967, May 30 — The break-away state of [[Biafra]] is formed from southern [[Nigeria]]. Officially Biafra receives ''de jure'' acknowledgement of existence by only a few nations, but has the ''de facto'' support of France, Israel, Portugal, and South Africa which provide arms to the state in its war of independence against Nigeria. * 1969, January 4 — Spain returns [[Ifni]] to [[Morocco]]. * 1970, January 15 — Biafra is occupied and annexed by Nigeria. * 1973, September 24 — The Portuguese [[Portuguese Guinea|Overseas Province of Guinea]] declares its independence as the [[Guinea-Bissau|Republic of Guinea]]. Recognition is granted the next year on 10 September 1974. * 1975, June 25 — The Portuguese [[Portuguese Mozambique|Province of Mozambique]] gains independence as the [[People's Republic of Mozambique]]. * 1975, July 5 — The Portuguese [[Portuguese Cape Verde|Overseas Province of Cape Verde]] gains independence as the [[Cape Verde|Republic of Cape Verde]]. * 1975, July 6 — The French [[History of the Comoros|State of the Comoros]] gains independence as the [[Comoros|State of Comoros]]. * 1975, July 12 — The Portuguese [[Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe|Overseas Province of São Tomé and Príncipe]] gains independence as the [[São Tomé and Príncipe|Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe]]. * 1975, November 11 — The Portuguese [[Portuguese Angola|State of Angola]] gains independence as the [[People's Republic of Angola]]. * 1975, December — [[Spanish Sahara]] divided ''de facto'' between [[Morocco]] and [[Mauritania]] (although Spain's formal mandate did not end until February 26, 1976). Western Sahara is de jure a [[Special Committee on Decolonization|non-self governing territory]] according to the UN. No country recognises this until 2020, when the [[United States]] [[Israel–Morocco normalization agreement|recognises]] [[Annexation of Western Sahara|Morocco's annexation]]. * 1976, June 29 — The British [[History of Seychelles|Crown Colony of the Seychelles]] gains independence as the [[Seychelles|Republic of Seychelles]]. * 1977, June 27 — The [[French Territory of the Afars and the Issas]] gains independence as the [[Djibouti|Republic of Djibouti]] * 1977, September 1 — South African Government reimposed direct rule on [[Walvis Bay]]. * 1979 — [[Mauritania]] withdraws from southern [[Western Sahara]], which is taken over by [[Morocco]] * 1990 — [[Namibia]] gets independence from occupying [[South Africa]]. * 1991, May 18 — [[Somaliland]] declares independence from [[Somalia]] but is not recognized by any other country. * 1993, May 24 — [[Eritrea]] breaks off from [[Ethiopia]]. * 1994, February 28 — [[Walvis Bay]] and the [[Penguin Islands]] transferred by [[South Africa]] to [[Namibia]]. * 2008, August 14 — [[Bakassi]] transferred to Cameroon by Nigeria * 2011, July 9 — [[South Sudan]] formally obtains independence from [[Sudan|the Republic of Sudan]]. ==Asia== * 1919 — [[Xu Shuzheng]], Chinese warlord of the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]], invades [[Outer Mongolia]], repelling the [[White Army]] and reintegrates Mongolia into China. * 1921 — The [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] forces invade Mongolia, creating a de facto independent Mongolia. * 1921 — The [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[satellite state]] of [[Tannu Tuva]] is formed after [[Bolshevik]] revolutionaries take the region by force from [[Mongolia]] * 1922 — The [[Saudi Arabian–Iraqi neutral zone]] is created. * 1925 December — The [[Sultanate of Nejd]] annexes the [[Kingdom of Hejaz]] and subsequently decrees the [[Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd]] in 1926. * 1926 — [[Treaty of Ankara (1926)|Treaty of Ankara]] were signed to recognise the [[Iraq–Turkey border|Iraq-Turkey border]] with some minor modifications.[[File:Manchukuo map 1939.svg|thumb|Location of [[Manchukuo]] (red) within [[Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere|Imperial Japan's sphere of influence]]]] * 1928 — The ICJ awards the [[Island of Palmas Case|Island of Palmas]] from the [[Philippines]] to the [[Dutch East Indies]]. * 1929 — Soviet Union annexed [[Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island]] from [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] . * 1932, February 18 — The [[Empire of Japan]] declares [[Manchukuo]] independent of [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|China]] * 1932, September 23 — The [[Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd]] annexes the [[Idrisid Emirate of Asir]] and subsequently establishes the [[Kingdom of Saudi Arabia]]. * 1936, May 12 — Japan declares [[Mengjiang]] independent of China. * 1937 — The British [[Government of India Act 1935|split]] [[Burma]] and [[Aden]] off from the rest of [[British Raj|the Raj]] * 1938 — [[Hatay State]], a city-state, is formed when it separates from French-held [[Syria]]. * 1939 — [[Turkey]] annexes [[Hatay Province|Hatay]]. * World War II — In the early stages of World War&nbsp;II in the Pacific, Japan made steady gains against the Allies. In 1940, with the collapse of France in Europe, the new [[Vichy France|Vichy]] regime allows Japan to annex French Indochina. After the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]], Japan proceeds to occupy [[Wake Island]], the [[Philippines]], [[British Malaya]], the [[Dutch East Indies]], northern [[New Guinea]] and a number of pacific islands. Also Japan begins attacks against British-held Burma and India, and creates a puppet regime in Burma. From 1943 to its defeat, Japan steadily loses territory in the Pacific to the Allies and in 1945, Japan surrenders, abolishing its remaining puppet regimes in Manchukuo and Mengjiang, and abandoning its hold on [[Korea]]. * 1944 — [[Tannu Tuva|Tuvinian People's Republic]] becomes a part of the [[Soviet Union]]. * 1945 — [[Kwantung Leased Territory]] dissolved and returned to [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]][[Image:Partition of India.PNG|thumb|Britain's holdings on the [[Indian subcontinent]] were granted independence in 1947 and 1948, becoming five new independent states: [[Dominion of India|India]], [[Post-independence Burma, 1948–1962|Burma]], [[Dominion of Ceylon|Ceylon]], [[Kingdom of Sikkim|Sikkim]], and [[Dominion of Pakistan|Pakistan]] (including [[East Bengal]], from 1971 [[Bangladesh]]).]] * 1945 — The [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] have [[Geography of Taiwan|Taiwan]] and [[Penghu]] retroceded. * 1945 — Following the war, the [[Soviet Union]] annexes the Southern Sakhalin and Kuril Islands from Japan according to the Yalta Conference, [[Korea]] is divided into the two countries, [[South Korea]] and [[North Korea]]. * 1946, April 1 — [[Straits Settlements]], [[Unfederated Malay States]] and [[Federated Malay States]] join to form the [[Malayan Union]]. (Although these could have been considered remaining part of [[British Malaya]]). [[Jordan]] becomes independent after separating from the [[Mandate for Palestine|British Mandate of Palestine]]. The United Kingdom hands over the administration of the [[Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi|Turtle Islands]] to the Philippines. * 1947, August — The [[Partition of India]] as [[India]] and [[Pakistan]] are given independence from [[British Empire|Britain]] * 1948 — The [[Israel|State of Israel]] is created after the 1947 [[United Nations General Assembly]] [[United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine|Resolution 181]] called for the partition of the British-ruled [[Mandatory Palestine|Palestine]] into a Jewish state and an Arab state. The resolution is accepted by the Jews in Palestine, but rejected by the Arabs in Palestine and the Arab states. * 1948 — After the [[Indo-Pakistani War]] of 1947–1948 over [[Kashmir]], a [[Line of Control]] is created in Kashmir, creating Indian and Pakistani controlled zones. * 1949 — The [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] loses control of most of mainland China (except for Kinmen and Matsu of Fukien/Fujian province, Tibet, Hainan) to the newly formed [[People's Republic of China]] in the [[Chinese Civil War]] * 1949 — The [[1948 Arab–Israeli War|Arab–Israeli War]] ends in armistice, with [[Israel]] gaining 60% of the Palestinian state proposed by the 1947 [[United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine|partition plan]], Egypt gaining the [[Gaza Strip]] and [[Jordan]] gaining the [[West Bank]]. * 1950 — [[Chandannagar]] is taken over by India from French control. * 1951 — [[Tibet]] is [[Annexation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China|annexed]] by the [[People's Republic of China]]. * 1953 — Following the [[Korean War]], the boundary between [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]] is the [[Military Demarcation Line]], which roughly follows the previous [[38th parallel north|38th parallel]] * 1954 — Bands of Indian irregulars took over the Portuguese enclaves of [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]]. On June 13, the port of [[Mahé, India|Mahé]] breaks away from French rule and joins India. [[French Indochina]] dissolves, [[Vietnam]] is divided into two countries, [[South Vietnam]] and [[North Vietnam]], and the nations of [[Cambodia]], [[Laos]], and Vietnam become independent states. * 1955 — Soviet Union handover Dalian port to People's Republic of China. * 1960 — [[Cyprus]] declares its independence from the United Kingdom; the [[Sovereign Base Areas]] of [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia]] are established on the island by the United Kingdom under the latter's control. * 1961, December 19 — [[India]] takes over the Portuguese colony of [[Goa, Daman and Diu]], which becomes a single [[Union Territory]] of India. In 1987, [[Goa]] is elevated to full statehood, with [[Daman and Diu]] remaining a Union Territory. * 1962, August 16 — India officially absorbs the French enclaves of [[Pondicherry]].[[File:Westpapua.png|thumb|[[Western New Guinea]] is formally annexed by [[Indonesia]] in 1969]] * 1962 — The [[Federation of South Arabia]] is created. * 1963 — The [[Protectorate of South Arabia]] is created. * 1963 — [[Pakistan]] cedes claimed areas of [[Kashmir]] to the [[People's Republic of China]]. * 1963, September 16 — [[Singapore]], [[British North Borneo]] (renamed [[Sabah]]), [[Sarawak]] and [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] join to form [[Malaysia]] * 1965, August 9 — [[Singapore]] withdraws from [[Malaysia]] * 1965 — [[Jordan]] and [[Saudi Arabia]] concluded a bilateral agreement that realigned and defined the boundary. * 1967 — The [[Federation of South Arabia]] and the [[Protectorate of South Arabia]] join to form [[South Yemen]]. * 1967 — following the [[Six-Day War]], Israel gains [[Sinai Peninsula]] and [[Gaza Strip]] from [[Egypt]], [[West Bank]] from [[Jordan]] and [[Golan Heights]] from [[Syria]]. * 1969, December 18 — [[Saudi Arabian–Kuwaiti neutral zone]] partitioned between [[Kuwait]] and [[Saudi Arabia]] * 1971, October 25 – The [[United Nations]] [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758|recognizes]] the [[People's Republic of China]] as the sole legitimate government of "China" instead of the [[Republic of China]]. * 1971, December 16 — [[Bangladesh]] becomes independent. * 1974 — After an attempted Greek Cypriot [[coup d'état|coup]] sponsored by the [[Greek military junta of 1967–1974|Greek military junta of that period]], Turkey [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus|invades and occupies]] one-third of Cyprus.[[File:Full District map of Northern Cyprus.png|thumb|Turkish-occupied [[Northern Cyprus]] (1974-present)]] * 1975, May 16 — [[Sikkim]] becomes a part of [[India]].[[File:Six Day War Territories.svg|thumb|upright|[[Israel]] annexed [[East Jerusalem]] in 1980 (see [[Jerusalem Law]]) and the [[Golan Heights]] in 1981]] * 1976, July 2 — [[South Vietnam]] and [[North Vietnam]] were officially unified as [[Vietnam]] * 1976, July 17 — After being relinquished by [[Portugal]] in 1974, and invaded by [[Indonesia]] in 1975, [[East Timor]] is annexed by Indonesia * 1982 — pursuant to the [[Camp David Accords]], [[Israel]] completes the withdrawal from the [[Sinai Peninsula]]. * 1983 — The [[Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus]] is declared but is not recognised by any country except Turkey. * 1990, May 22 — [[Yemen Arab Republic|North Yemen]] [[Yemenite reunification|unites]] with [[People's Democratic Republic of Yemen|South Yemen]]. * 1990, August 2 — [[Kuwait]] annexed by [[Iraq]] * 1991, February 27 — [[Kuwait]] is liberated from [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]]; [[Saudi Arabian–Iraqi neutral zone]] is officially recognized as being disbanded, it had been ''[[de facto]]'' disbanded since 1981. * 1992 — [[Abkhazia]] and [[South Ossetia]] declare their independence, but remain internationally recognised territories of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. * 1994 — Under the [[Oslo Accords|Oslo Agreements]], [[Israel]] transferred parts of the [[West Bank]] (Areas "A" and "B") and the majority of the [[Gaza Strip]] to the rule of the [[Palestinian National Authority]]. * 1997, July 1 — [[Hong Kong]] transferred to [[China]] by the UK as a [[Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China|special administrative region]]. * 1999, December 20 — [[Macau]] transferred to [[China]] by [[Portugal]] as a special administrative region. * 2002, May 20 — [[East Timor]] gains independence 3 years after the end of its occupation by [[Indonesia]]. * 2004 — [[Russia]] ceded Tarabarov Island and eastern part of [[Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island]] to China as part of permanent border demarcation. * 2005, August — [[Israel]] dismantles its settlements in the [[Gush Katif]] region of the [[Gaza Strip]], and the remainder of the Gaza Strip, most of which had already been transferred to Palestinian rule in 1994, becomes administered by the [[Palestinian Authority]], until 2007 when the territory is seized by the military wing of [[Hamas]] in a violent coup d'état. * 2005 — [[Israel]] dismantles its settlements in the [[Northern Samaria]] region of the [[West Bank]]. * 2008 — After [[Russo-Georgian War|Russian intervention in Georgia]], both [[Abkhazia]] and [[South Ossetia]] gain territories, including [[Kodori Valley]], from internationally recognised territories of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. * 2015, June — The [[India–Bangladesh enclaves|India–Bangladesh]] border is removed of most of its enclaves and exclaves. * 2017, June 24 — [[Egypt]] cedes [[Sanafir Island]] and [[Tiran Island]] to [[Saudi Arabia]] as part of a maritime demarcation agreement. * 2020 — While [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] remained an internationally recognised territory of [[Azerbaijan]], the four UN Security Council resolutions, adopted in 1993 and demanding immediate withdrawal of the [[Armenia]]n occupying forces from all occupied regions of Azerbaijan, remained unfulfilled until 2020. In 2020, a [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war|new war erupted in the region]], which saw Azerbaijan retake control of most of southern Karabakh (Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Zangilan, Qubadli, Hadrut districts) and parts of north-eastern Karabakh (Talish, Madagiz). A trilateral ceasefire agreement signed on 10 November 2020, ended the war and forced Armenia to return control of all of the remaining territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh." * 2021, November — The [[Qatar–Saudi Arabia border|Qatar-Saudi border]] was demarcated, giving Qatar access to the entirety of [[Khawr al Udayd]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 November 2021|title=Qatar completes border demarcation with Saudi Arabia|work=Doha News |url=https://www.dohanews.co/qatar-completes-border-demarcation-with-saudi-arabia/ |access-date=9 November 2021}}</ref> ==Europe== [[File:Map Europe 1923-en.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|Map of territorial changes in Europe after [[World War&nbsp;I]] (as of 1923).]] [[Image:Cold War border changes.png|thumb|upright=1.5|Changes in national boundaries after the end of the [[Cold War]].]] * 1918 — [[Ukraine]],<ref>https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ukraine-declares-its-independence</ref> [[Belarusian Democratic Republic|Belarus]], [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Estonia]], [[Democratic Republic of Georgia|Georgia]], [[First Republic of Armenia|Armenia]] and [[Azerbaijan Democratic Republic|Azerbaijan]] declare their independence from the [[Russian Empire]]. Russia recognises the independence of [[Finland]], declared in 1917. The Kingdom of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (later known as the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]]) is formed. * 1919–20 — After the dissolution of [[Austria-Hungary]], the fates of the successor states are decided by the [[Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919)|Treaty of Saint-Germain]] signed September 10, 1919, and by the [[Treaty of Trianon]] signed June 4, 1920, respectively. This results in [[First Austrian Republic|Austria]] and [[Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)|Hungary]] with reduced borders, while [[Czechoslovakia]] is formed from their former territories. Other territories of the former monarchy are additionally awarded to [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]], [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]], [[Kingdom of Romania|Romania]] and the newly formed [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes]]. In 1919, [[German Empire|Germany]] suffers substantial territorial losses in the [[Treaty of Versailles]]. [[Belgium]] receives [[Neutral Moresnet]] and [[Eastern Cantons|three German cantons]] as compensation for extensive damage during World War&nbsp;I. These three cantons still form the [[German speaking community of Belgium]]: Eupen, Malmedy and Sankt Vith. [[Denmark]] receives [[South Jutland County|Northern Schleswig]] from Germany (with local [[Schleswig Plebiscites|plebiscites]] concluding in 1920). Most of the Prussian provinces of [[Province of Posen|Posen]] and of [[West Prussia]] go to Poland. The east part of [[Upper Silesia]] and the area of [[Dzialdowo|Soldau]] in [[East Prussia]] are annexed to Poland as well. [[Gdańsk|Danzig]] and [[Saarland]] fall under the control of the [[League of Nations]]. The [[Klaipeda Region|Memel territory]] comes under a temporary [[French Third Republic|French]] administration. * 1920 — [[Greece]] is promised most of eastern [[Thrace]] as well as [[Ionia]] with the city of [[İzmir]] ([[Smyrna]]) in the [[Treaty of Sèvres]]. [[Soviet Russia]] invades and occupies [[Azerbaijan Democratic Republic|Azerbaijan]]. [[Soviet Russia]] [[Treaty of Moscow (1920)|recognizes]] the independence of [[Democratic Republic of Georgia|Georgia]]. [[Soviet Russia]] invades and occupies [[First Republic of Armenia|Armenia]]. The [[Free State of Fiume]] is established as a result of an Italo–Yugoslav border dispute. * 1921 — As a result of winning a [[Polish–Soviet War|war against Soviet Russia]], [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]] gains territories east of the [[Curzon Line]], inhabited essentially by Lithuanians, Belarusians, Poles, and Ukrainians. * 1921 — [[Soviet Russia]] invades and occupies [[Democratic Republic of Georgia|Georgia]]. The [[Treaty of Kars]] rearranges the borders in the [[South Caucasus]], considerable territories of [[Democratic Republic of Georgia|Georgia]] and [[First Republic of Armenia|Armenia]] are ceded to [[Turkey]]. * 1922 — The Soviet Union is officially formed under the [[Treaty on the Creation of the USSR]]. In December, the [[Irish Free State]] and [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]] are formed from the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]]. The United Kingdom maintains [[Treaty Ports (Ireland)|Treaty Ports]] at [[Berehaven]], [[Cobh]], and [[Lough Swilly]]. * 1923 — The Treaty of Sèvres is superseded by the [[Treaty of Lausanne]] under which Greece loses its earlier territorial gains and the borders of modern [[Turkey]] are established. [[Western Thrace]] is ceded by [[Bulgaria]] to [[Greece]], a decision earlier agreed upon in the 1919 [[Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine]]. On the Baltic sea, Lithuania annexes the Memel territory without plebiscite. Italian military forces take control of the Greek island of [[Corfu]]. * 1924 — The [[Treaty of Rome, 1924|Treaty of Rome]] is concluded on January 27, ending the existence of the Free State of Fiume and the Italo–Yugoslav border dispute. The treaty assigns Fiume ([[Rijeka]]) to Italy and [[Sušak, Rijeka|Sušak]] to Yugoslavia, with joint port administration. On March 16, Italy formally annexes Fiume. * 1926 — Albania cedes territory to the Kingdom of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs. * 1929 — [[Vatican City]] becomes independent after the signing of the [[Lateran Treaty]] with Italy. * 1930 — [[Bouvet Island]] is located in the Subantarctic, and declared a Norwegian dependency after a dispute with the United Kingdom. * 1934 — [[Erik the Red's Land]], located in the east of Greenland, is returned to Denmark. The area had been occupied by Norway since 1931, but Norway accepted that the Permanent Court of International Justice ruled against this. * 1935 — Saarland is annexed by [[Nazi Germany]] after a plebiscite is held.[[File:Münchner abkommen5 en.svg|thumb|All territories taken from [[Czechoslovakia]] by its neighbours in October 1938 ([[Munich Agreement]]) and March 1939]] * 1938 — Austria is annexed by [[Nazi Germany]] in the [[Anschluss]]. The United Kingdom returns the [[Treaty Ports (Ireland)|Treaty Ports]] to Ireland as part of the [[Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement]] over several months during the year. The [[Munich Agreement]] on September 29 permits Germany to also annex the [[Sudetenland]] region of Czechoslovakia. The [[First Vienna Award]] on November 2 awards southern Slovakia and southern Subcarpathian Rus' from Czechoslovakia to Hungary, while Poland independently [[Teschen conflict|annexes]] Zaolzie (Těšín) shortly after.[[File:World War II in Europe, 1942.svg|thumb|[[German-occupied Europe]] at the height of the Axis conquests in 1942]] * 1939 — The Memel territory is ceded to Nazi Germany by Lithuania under pressure from [[Berlin]] on March 23. The rest of the [[Czech lands]] is taken over by Nazi Germany: a German protectorate called [[Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia|Bohemia and Moravia]] is formed on the remaining Czech lands shortly after the proclamation of the [[Slovak Republic (1939–1945)|Slovak Republic]]. The same day, Hungary occupies and annexes the remainder of [[Carpathian Ruthenia]] and by the [[Slovak–Hungarian War]] acquires further territories from Slovakia. On August 23, the [[Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact]] is signed. Nazi Germany invades [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]] on September 1; the Soviet Union - on September 17, [[Soviet invasion of Poland|regaining territories]] lost in 1921 in the [[Polish–Soviet War]], and a bit more. * World War II — Many boundary changes occur during the Second World War as [[Axis powers of World War II|Axis powers]] and the [[Soviet Union]] re-divide the areas under their control.[[File:Curzon line en.svg|thumb|Post-World War II [[Territorial changes of Poland immediately after World War II|border changes]] of [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]]. The territory previously part of Germany is identified in pink.]] [[File:EasternBloc BorderChange38-48.svg|thumb|Post-war border changes in Central Europe and creation of the [[Communism|Communist]] [[Eastern Bloc]]]] * 1945 — Following the war, the borders of Germany are moved west to the [[Oder-Neisse line]], while the approximate boundary of the [[Curzon Line]] is used as the eastern border of Poland. In addition to incorporating the [[Kresy]] territories, the Soviet Union also annexed the [[Baltic states]], [[Carpathian Ruthenia]] from Czechoslovakia, and [[Bessarabia]], the [[Hertsa region]], and [[Northern Bukovina]] from Romania. From Germany, the Soviet Union acquired the northeastern third of the former East Prussian exclave with the [[Klaipėda Region|Klaipeda/Memel region]] becoming part of the [[Lithuanian SSR]] and the bulk of the territory forming the [[Kaliningrad Oblast]] of the [[Russian SFSR]]. Additionally, Finland ceded major portions of [[Karelia]] and [[Salla]] to the Soviet Union as well as islands in the [[Gulf of Finland]], the whole [[Pechengsky District|Petsamo]], and a lease to use [[Porkkala]] as a Soviet naval base for 50 years. * 1946 — [[Saarland]] was separated from (occupied) Germany by France and became [[Saar Protectorate|a French protectorate]] on February 16 of that year but was not recognized by the [[Allied Control Council]] ruling entire Germany (and Austria) so it was a [[disputed territory]] in the [[international law]]. * 1947 — In the [[Paris Peace Treaties, 1947|Paris Peace Treaties of 1947]], Italy cedes the [[Dodecanese]] to [[Greece]]; La Brigue and Tende to France; and [[Goriška]], [[Inner Carniola]], most of [[Istria]], [[Zadar]], its [[Dalmatia]]n islands (such as [[Cres]] and [[Lastovo]]), and Rijeka (Fiume) to the newly established [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]]. [[Trieste]] becomes the capital city of the [[Free Territory of Trieste]] established as an independent sovereign state at the coming into force of the treaty (September 15).<ref name="Treaty of Peace with Italy, article&nbsp;21 - United Nations Treaty Series vol.&nbsp;49 No.&nbsp;747, in force">{{cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/doc/publication/unts/volume%2049/v49.pdf |title=Treaty of Peace with Italy (volume&nbsp;49, number&nbsp;747, article&nbsp;21) |website=United Nations |series=Treaties and International Agreements Registered or Filed and Recorded with the Secretariat of the United Nations |year=1950}}</ref> * 1948 — Following the signal of the [[Moscow Protocol (1948)|Moscow Protocol of 1948]], the Soviet Union formally annexes some Danubian islands and the [[Snake Island (Black Sea)|Snake Island]] in the Black Sea from Romania. * 1949 — April 23, [[West Germany]] [[Dutch annexation of German territory after the Second World War|cedes]] the villages [[Elten]], [[Selfkant|Tüddern]], and some smaller localities to the [[Netherlands]] (reverted in 1963). * 1949 — May 23, the [[West Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]] (West Germany) is formed. * 1949 — October 7, the [[East Germany|German Democratic Republic]] (East Germany) is established. * 1951 — February 15, Polish and Soviet [[1951 Polish–Soviet territorial exchange|border exchange]] along the border of the [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic|Ukrainian SSR]]. * 1954 — The [[Free Territory of Trieste]] is dissolved and divided between Yugoslavia and Italy. * 1955, April 23 — Italy and Switzerland modify the border in the zone of [[Lago di Lei]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Convenzione tra la Confederazione Svizzera e la Repubblica Italiana concernente una modificazione di confine nella Valle di Lei|url=http://www.admin.ch/opc/it/classified-compilation/19520241/196306260000/0.132.454.21.pdf|format=pdf|accessdate=15 June 2023|language=Italian}}</ref> * 1955, July 27 — The [[Austrian State Treaty]] comes into force, establishing an independent [[Austria]]n state from the four occupation zones of the Allied powers. * 1956 — The Soviet Union returns [[Porkkala]] to [[Finland]]. * 1957 — The [[Saar (protectorate)|Saar Protectorate]] is incorporated into [[West Germany]] as its state by plebiscite, having previously bordered [[Luxembourg]], France and West Germany. * 1961 — An adjustment to the Meuse river between [[The Netherlands]] and [[Belgium]] results in three small packages of land being exchanged between the two countries.<ref name="Belgium and the Netherlands swap land, remain friends - The New York Times">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/world/europe/belgium-netherlands-land-dispute.html |title=Belgium and the Netherlands Swap Land, and Remain Friends |first=Dan |last=Bilefsky |date=28 November 2016 |access-date=18 March 2019 |via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> * 1964 — [[Malta]] becomes independent from the [[United Kingdom]]. * 1972 — The [[United Kingdom]] formally annexes [[Rockall]] (by the [[Island of Rockall Act 1972]], declaring it to be part of [[Scotland]]). Ireland does not recognise the UK's territorial claim to Rockall. * 1990 — East Germany [[German reunification|unites]] with West Germany on October 3. [[Transnistria]] declares independence from the [[Moldavian SSR]] but is not recognised by any country. * 1991 — [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]] and [[Lithuania]] restore their independence from [[Soviet occupation of the Baltic states|Soviet occupation]]. With the complete [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], it is split up into a further 12&nbsp;[[Post-Soviet states|independent states]], including the European states of [[Russia]], [[Belarus]], [[Ukraine]], [[Moldova]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Armenia]] and [[Azerbaijan]]. The independence of all the former Soviet republics is recognised by December 26 (except the Baltic states, which the Soviet Union recognized on September 6).{{by whom|date=January 2021}} [[Slovenia]] (June 25) including the former "zone B" of the [[Free Territory of Trieste]], [[Croatia]] (June 25), and the [[North Macedonia|Republic of Macedonia]] (September 8) all declare their independence from [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]. Croatia and Slovenia are formally recognized on January 15, 1992 and Macedonia in April 1993.[[File:Balkans05.png|thumb|Map of the [[Serbia and Montenegro|Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] in 1998]] * 1992 — [[Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia and Herzegovina]] declares independence from Yugoslavia on March 1 and is formally recognised on April 6. A civil war breaks out, and as the result of the war, two largely autonomous entities are formed: [[Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]] and [[Republika Srpska]]. The remaining of Yugoslavia becomes the [[Serbia and Montenegro|Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] (renamed to [[Serbia and Montenegro]] in 2003). * 1993, January 1 — [[Czechoslovakia]] is dissolved into the [[Czech Republic]] and [[Slovakia]] in the "[[Dissolution of Czechoslovakia|Velvet Divorce]]". * 2003 — [[Lithuania]]'s share of [[Lake Vištytis]] increases to about 383&nbsp;ha (about 22% from 2.2%) from a new border treaty with [[Russia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lithuanian-Russian 2003 Border Treaty and Land Swap |url=http://geosite.jankrogh.com/borders/vistytis/vistytis_2003_swap.htm |publisher=Jan S. Krogh's Geosite |access-date=16 October 2017}}</ref> * 2006, June 3 — The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro is dissolved following [[2006 Montenegrin independence referendum|a referendum]]; [[Montenegro]] and [[Serbia]] each become independent states. * 2008, February 17 — [[Kosovo]] unilaterally declares independence from [[Serbia]] and is [[International recognition of Kosovo|recognised]] by just over half (101 out of 193) of UN member states. * 2014, March 18 — [[Russia]] [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexes]] [[Crimea]] from [[Ukraine]], following an internationally unrecognized [[2014 Crimean status referendum|plebiscite]]. * 2016, November 28 — [[Belgium]] and [[Netherlands|the Netherlands]] swap land near [[Lanaye]] and [[Oost-Maarland]] over the discovery of a headless body several years prior, which the Belgian authorities could not access without crossing Dutch territory. The [[Belgium–Netherlands border|border]] has been straightened out and now runs down the centre of the [[Meuse River]].<ref name="Belgium and the Netherlands swap land, remain friends - The New York Times"/> The change took effect on 1 January 2018. [[File:Annexation of Southern and Eastern Ukraine.svg|thumb|Regions of Ukraine annexed by Russia since 2014 ([[Crimea]]) and 2022 ([[Donetsk Oblast|Donetsk]], [[Kherson Oblast|Kherson]], [[Luhansk Oblast|Luhansk]] and [[Zaporizhzhia Oblast|Zaporizhzhia]]), with a red line marking the area of actual control by Russia on 30 September 2022.]] * 2022, February 21 — The [[State Duma]] of [[Russia]] passed a bill to officially recognize the self-proclaimed [[Donetsk People's Republic]] and [[Luhansk People's Republic]] in [[Eastern Ukraine]] as independent states. The bill was approved by [[President of Russia|President]] [[Vladimir Putin]]. [[Russia]] began an [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion]] of [[Ukraine]] on 24 February, in a major escalation of the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]] that began in 2014. * 2022, September 30 — Russia [[Annexation of Southern and Eastern Ukraine|unilaterally declares the annexation]] of the Ukrainian oblasts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Similar to the annexation of Crimea in 2014, this border change is not recognised internationally. ==North America== * 1927, April 1 — The [[Imperial Privy Council]] of the United Kingdom establishes the boundaries of the [[Dominion of Newfoundland]] and Canada, in particular, the province of [[Quebec]], which affirmed that territories claimed by Quebec were part of Newfoundland. Previous maps showed the disputed territory as undefined. * 1949, March 31 — The Dominion of Newfoundland joins Canada. The territory is now called [[Newfoundland and Labrador]]. * 1962, August 6 — [[Jamaica]] gains independence from the United Kingdom. * 1962, August 31 — [[Trinidad and Tobago]] gains independence from the United Kingdom. * 1966, November 30 — [[Barbados]] gains independence from the United Kingdom. * 1973, July 10 — The Commonwealth of [[The Bahamas]] gains independence from the United Kingdom. * 1974, February 7 — [[Grenada]] gains independence from the United Kingdom. * 1977 — The town of [[Río Rico, Tamaulipas]] is ceded into Mexico from the US. * 1978, November 3 — The [[Dominica|Commonwealth of Dominica]] gains independence from the United Kingdom. * 1979, February 22 — [[Saint Lucia]] gains independence from the United Kingdom. * 1981, September 21 — The British [[self-governing colony]] of [[British Honduras]] gains independence as [[Belize]]. * 1981, November 25 — [[Antigua and Barbuda]] gains independence from the United Kingdom. * 1983, September 19 — [[St. Kitts and Nevis|The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis]] gains independence from the United Kingdom. * 1986, January 1 — [[Aruba]] secedes from the [[Netherlands Antilles]] to become a [[Countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands|constituent country]] of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]. * 1999 — [[Panama Canal Zone]] returns from [[condominium (international law)|joint US–Panamanian control]] to [[Panama]]nian control. A previous important development was the 1979 change from US control to joint US–Panama control, with plans for full Panamanian sovereignty at some point after that. * 2010 — The [[Netherlands Antilles]] is [[Dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles|dissolved]], as [[Curaçao]] and [[Sint Maarten]] become [[Countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands|constituent countries]] of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]], while [[Bonaire]], [[Saba (island)|Saba]] and [[Sint Eustatius]] become [[Caribbean Netherlands|special municipalities]] of the [[Netherlands]]. * 2022, June 14 — [[Hans Island]] is split between [[Canada]] and the Danish territory of [[Greenland]]. ==Oceania== [[File:TTPI-locatormap.png|thumb|[[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]] in [[Micronesia]] administered by the United States from 1947 to 1986]] * 1946 — United States formally mandate [[South Seas Mandate]] from Japan, becomes the [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]] * 1949, July — The [[Territory of New Guinea]] joins with the Australian [[Territory of Papua]] to form The Territory of Papua and New Guinea.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/3028825.stm Timeline: Papua New Guinea], ''[[BBC News Online]]'', May 5, 2009</ref> The union is an administrative one only and does not affect the separate position of the Territory of New Guinea as a territory governed by Australia as a United Nations trust territory. * 1955, November 23 — The [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]] transferred from [[British Singapore|Singapore]] to Australia. * 1957 — [[Christmas Island]] transferred from [[British Singapore|Singapore]] to Australia. * 1969 — [[West Papua (region)|Western Papua]] becomes part of [[Indonesia]] under the 1969 [[Act of Free Choice]]. *1974 — A [[1974 Ellice Islands self-determination referendum|referendum]] is held in the British colony of the [[Gilbert and Ellice Islands]]. Per the results of the referendum, the colony was divided into two. *1975, September 16 — The [[Territory of New Guinea]] and the [[Territory of Papua]] which were in an administrative union under Australian governance with the name Papua New Guinea are unified as a single sovereign country called the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. * 1978, July 7 — The British colony of the [[British Solomon Islands]] gains independence as the [[Solomon Islands]]. * 1978, October 1 — The British colony of the [[Gilbert and Ellice Islands|Ellice Islands]] gains independence as [[Tuvalu]]. * 1978 — The [[Northern Mariana Islands]] breaks away from the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, becomes a U.S. [[Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)|Commonwealth]]. * 1979 — The [[Marshall Islands]] leaves the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, becomes an independent country while also an [[associated state]] with the U.S. * 1979 — The [[Federated States of Micronesia]] formed from part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific, also independent as an associated state with the U.S. *1979 — The British colony of the [[Gilbert and Ellice Islands|Gilbert Islands]] gains independence as the [[Kiribati|Republic of Kiribati]]. * 1980 — The [[New Hebrides|Anglo-French New Hebrides Condominium]] gains independence as the [[Vanuatu|Republic of Vanuatu]]. * 1994 — The [[Palau|Republic of Palau]] is formed from the remainder of the Trust Territory of the Pacific, as an independent state associated with the U.S. ==South America== * 1938 — A ceasefire signed between [[Paraguay]] and [[Bolivia]] awards Paraguay three-quarters of the Chaco Boreal which it took over during the [[Chaco War]] (1932–35). * 1941 — The [[Rio Protocol]] recognises Peru as having control of the territory it won in the [[Ecuadorian–Peruvian War]]. * 1966, May 26 — The colony of [[British Guiana]] gains independence from the United Kingdom as [[Guyana (1966–1970)|Guyana]]. * 1975, November 25 — The Dutch constituent country of [[Suriname (Kingdom of the Netherlands)|Suriname]] gains independence from the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]] as the [[Suriname|Republic of Suriname]]. ==World maps showing borders== {{See also|commons:category:blank maps of the world for historical use|l1=blank historical world maps}} (Click to enlarge) <gallery widths="300" heights="150"> BlankMap-World-WWI.PNG|National boundaries around the time of the start of the [[First World War]] (1914) BlankMap-World-WWII.PNG|Boundaries during the [[Second World War]] in November 1942, at the height of Axis power, especially in Europe. BlankMap-World 1985.svg|National boundaries in 1985, during the [[Cold War]] BlankMap-World.svg|Present-day boundaries </gallery> ==See also== *[[Timeline of geopolitical changes (1900−1999)]] *[[Timeline of geopolitical changes (2000−present)]] *[[List of border conflicts]] ==References== {{Reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:List Of National Border Changes Since World War I}} [[Category:Border-related lists|Changes since World War I]] [[Category:20th century in international relations]] [[Category:21st century in international relations]]'