Across decades, nations have reshaped their identities by changing names to reflect independence, culture, or political transformation. From simple spelling updates to complete renaming, these changes reveal powerful stories of sovereignty and self-definition. The following timeline offers a clear record of countries that have altered their names or state titles up to 2026.
Why Countries Change Their Names
Changing a country’s name is never a small matter. It reflects shifts in identity, politics, culture, or independence. Over the years, many nations have chosen to alter their names or state titles to better represent their people and aspirations. Country name changes highlight global shifts in identity and sovereignty. These changes are often tied to independence movements, constitutional reforms, or efforts to reclaim traditional heritage. For example, some countries have simplified their names to make them more recognisable globally, while others have adopted titles that highlight their political systems or cultural roots. In certain cases, spelling adjustments have been made to align with local usage or international standards.
Timeline of Country Name Changes (2025–1971)
2025
- Micronesia changed to Federated States of Micronesia.
2022
- Iceland: Republic of Iceland changed to Iceland.
- Turkey: Republic of Turkey changed to Turkey; Republic of Türkiye.
2020
- Nepal: changed state title from Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to Nepal.
2019
- Macedonia: Republic of Macedonia changed to North Macedonia; Republic of North Macedonia.
- Burma changed to Myanmar (Burma). State title, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, is unchanged.
2018
- Swaziland: Kingdom of Swaziland changed to Eswatini; Kingdom of Eswatini.
2017
- New state title of Libya adopted as State of Libya.
2016
- Czechia introduced as country name; Czech Republic remains state title.
2014
- Republic of Cabo Verde adopted as state title. Cape Verde had circulated a request for this form to be used.
2013
- Burkina Faso used as both country name and state title, replacing Burkina.
- Removed ‘Democratic’ from state title of Somalia to become Federal Republic of Somalia.
2012
- Surinam to Suriname spelling change for country name agreed for British use.
2011
- South Sudan: Republic of South Sudan created.
- Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya became simply Libya.
2010
- New state title Republic of the Union of Myanmar, replacing Union of Myanmar. Country name remains Burma.
2009
- State title of Bolivia altered from Republic of Bolivia to Plurinational State of Bolivia.
2008
- Kosovo: Republic of Kosovo: independence from Serbia recognised by HMG.
- Nepal state title became Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.
2007
- Montenegro removed Republic from formal name so Montenegro both country name and state title.
2006
- Montenegro created from Serbia and Montenegro. Republic of Montenegro briefly used as state title.
- Nepal: changed state title from Kingdom of Nepal to Nepal.
- Serbia: Republic of Serbia created from Serbia and Montenegro.
2002
- Bahrain changed state title from State of Bahrain to Kingdom of Bahrain.
- East Timor: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste became independent from Indonesia.
2001
- Comoros adopted new state title: Union of the Comoros.
1997
- Western Samoa renamed Samoa; Independent State of Samoa.
- Zaire became Congo (Democratic Republic).
1994
- Palau: Republic of Palau gained independence.
1993
- Eritrea: State of Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia.
- Czechoslovakia divided into Czech Republic and Slovakia.
1992
- Congo: Republic of the Congo restored as state title, replacing People’s Republic of the Congo.
1990–92
- New country names consequent on the breakup of Yugoslavia: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia.
1990–91
- New country names consequent on the dissolution of the USSR: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
1990
- Benin: People’s Republic of Benin state title changed to Republic of Benin.
- Namibia: Republic of Namibia gained independence.
- North Yemen and South Yemen joined to form Yemen.
- Reunification of East and West Germany becoming Germany; Federal Republic of Germany.
1989
- State title altered to Union of Myanmar, previously Union of Burma.
1986
- Federated States of Micronesia became independent.
1984
- Brunei: Brunei Darussalam gained full independence.
- Upper Volta renamed Burkina Faso.
1983
- St Kitts and Nevis gained independence.
1981
- Antigua and Barbuda gained independence.
- Belize gained independence.
1980
- Southern Rhodesia became Zimbabwe.
- Vanuatu became independent.
1979
- Iran: Islamic Republic of Iran became state title.
- Kiribati gained independence.
- St Lucia gained independence.
- St Vincent and the Grenadines gained independence.
1978
- Dominica gained independence.
- Solomon Islands became independent.
- Tuvalu became independent.
1977
- Djibouti gained independence from France.
1976
- Seychelles gained independence.
- Vietnam reunified as Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
1975
- Angola gained independence.
- Dahomey renamed Benin.
- Cape Verde gained independence.
- Comoros gained independence.
- Laos became Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
- Mozambique gained independence.
- Papua New Guinea gained independence.
- Sao Tome and Principe gained independence.
- Surinam gained independence.
1974
- Grenada gained independence.
- Guinea Bissau’s independence recognised.
1973
- The Bahamas gained independence.
1972
- Sri Lanka adopted as country name change from Ceylon.
1971
- Bahrain gained independence.
- Bangladesh became independent.
- Congo renamed Zaire.
- Egypt adopted Arab Republic of Egypt.
- Qatar gained independence.
- United Arab Emirates gained independence.
Independence movements drive historic renaming across continents. These changes continue to shape global diplomacy and national identity.
