Below are lists of the countries and territories that were formerly ruled or administered by the United Kingdom or part of the British Empire (including military occupations that did not retain the pre-war central government), with their independence days. Some countries did not gain their independence on a single date, therefore the latest day of independence is shown with a breakdown of dates further down. A total of 65 countries have claimed their independence from the British Empire/United Kingdom.
Tables
· Colonies, protectorates, and mandates
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Year
Year
Country
Day & month
Pre-independence name(if different)
Year
Antigua, Leeward Islands
Antigua, Leeward Islands
Country
Antigua and Barbuda
Pre-independence name(if different)
Antigua, Leeward Islands
Date of independenceor first stage
1 November
Date of independenceor first stage
1981
Notes
Antigua Termination of Association Order
British Protectorate of Bahrain
British Protectorate of Bahrain
Country
Bahrain
Pre-independence name(if different)
British Protectorate of Bahrain
Date of independenceor first stage
15 August
Date of independenceor first stage
1971
Notes
Now an independent kingdom outside the Commonwealth.
British Honduras
British Honduras
Country
Belize
Pre-independence name(if different)
British Honduras
Date of independenceor first stage
21 September
Date of independenceor first stage
1981
Notes
September Celebrations
Bechuanaland
Bechuanaland
Country
Botswana
Pre-independence name(if different)
Bechuanaland
Date of independenceor first stage
30 September
Date of independenceor first stage
1966
Notes
Botswana Independence Act 1966
Dominica, Windward Islands
Dominica, Windward Islands
Country
Dominica
Pre-independence name(if different)
Dominica, Windward Islands
Date of independenceor first stage
3 November
Date of independenceor first stage
1978
Gambia
Gambia
Country
The Gambia
Pre-independence name(if different)
Gambia
Date of independenceor first stage
18 February
Date of independenceor first stage
1965
Notes
Gained independence as a Dominion. Republic declared in 1970. Was temporarily a republic outside the Commonwealth from 2013 until it returned to the Commonwealth in 8 February 2018.
Gold Coast, British Togoland (Togoland was absorbed into the Gold Coast in 1957.)
Gold Coast, British Togoland (Togoland was absorbed into the Gold Coast in 1957.)
Country
Ghana
Pre-independence name(if different)
Gold Coast, British Togoland (Togoland was absorbed into the Gold Coast in 1957.)
Date of independenceor first stage
6 March
Date of independenceor first stage
1957
Notes
Became a Commonwealth republic on 1 July 1960.
Grenada, Windward Islands
Grenada, Windward Islands
Country
Grenada
Pre-independence name(if different)
Grenada, Windward Islands
Date of independenceor first stage
7 February
Date of independenceor first stage
1974
Notes
Independence Day (Grenada)
British Guiana
British Guiana
Country
Guyana
Pre-independence name(if different)
British Guiana
Date of independenceor first stage
26 May
Date of independenceor first stage
1966
Notes
Became a republic in 1970.
British India
British India
Country
India
Pre-independence name(if different)
British India
Date of independenceor first stage
15 August
Date of independenceor first stage
1947
Notes
Indian Independence Act 1947
Mandatory Palestine
Mandatory Palestine
Country
Israel
Pre-independence name(if different)
Mandatory Palestine
Date of independenceor first stage
14 May
Date of independenceor first stage
1948
Notes
End of British mandate
Transjordan
Transjordan
Country
Jordan
Pre-independence name(if different)
Transjordan
Date of independenceor first stage
25 May
Date of independenceor first stage
1946
Notes
Now an independent monarchy outside the Commonwealth.
Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Country
Kiribati
Pre-independence name(if different)
Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Date of independenceor first stage
12 July
Date of independenceor first stage
1979
British Kuwaiti Protectorate
British Kuwaiti Protectorate
Country
Kuwait
Pre-independence name(if different)
British Kuwaiti Protectorate
Date of independenceor first stage
19 June
Date of independenceor first stage
1961
Notes
Now an independent monarchy outside the Commonwealth.
Basutoland
Basutoland
Country
Lesotho
Pre-independence name(if different)
Basutoland
Date of independenceor first stage
4 October
Date of independenceor first stage
1966
Notes
Now an independent monarchy inside the Commonwealth.
Nyasaland
Nyasaland
Country
Malawi
Pre-independence name(if different)
Nyasaland
Date of independenceor first stage
6 July
Date of independenceor first stage
1964
Notes
Dominion of Malawi declared in 1964. Republic declared exactly 2 years later.
Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
Country
Oman
Pre-independence name(if different)
Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
Date of independenceor first stage
20 December
Date of independenceor first stage
1970
Notes
Now an independent monarchy outside the Commonwealth.
British India
British India
Country
Pakistan
Pre-independence name(if different)
British India
Date of independenceor first stage
14 August
Date of independenceor first stage
1947
Notes
Partition of India
British Qatari Protectorate
British Qatari Protectorate
Country
Qatar
Pre-independence name(if different)
British Qatari Protectorate
Date of independenceor first stage
3 September
Date of independenceor first stage
1971
Notes
Now an independent monarchy outside the Commonwealth.
St Lucia, Windward Islands
St Lucia, Windward Islands
Country
Saint Lucia
Pre-independence name(if different)
St Lucia, Windward Islands
Date of independenceor first stage
22 February
Date of independenceor first stage
1979
St Kitts–Nevis and Anguilla, Leeward Islands
St Kitts–Nevis and Anguilla, Leeward Islands
Country
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Pre-independence name(if different)
St Kitts–Nevis and Anguilla, Leeward Islands
Date of independenceor first stage
19 September
Date of independenceor first stage
1983
St Vincent, Windward Islands
St Vincent, Windward Islands
Country
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Pre-independence name(if different)
St Vincent, Windward Islands
Date of independenceor first stage
27 October
Date of independenceor first stage
1979
British Solomon Islands
British Solomon Islands
Country
Solomon Islands
Pre-independence name(if different)
British Solomon Islands
Date of independenceor first stage
7 July
Date of independenceor first stage
1978
British Somaliland Protectorate
British Somaliland Protectorate
Country
Somaliland
Pre-independence name(if different)
British Somaliland Protectorate
Date of independenceor first stage
26 June
Date of independenceor first stage
1960
Notes
The British Somaliland Protectorate gained independence on 26 June 1960 and united with the Trust Territory of Somalia on 1 July 1960 to form the Somali Republic, but later broke away and unilaterally declared independence in 1991. It is internationally unrecognised.
Protectorate of South ArabiaFederation of South Arabia
Protectorate of South ArabiaFederation of South Arabia
Country
South Yemen
Pre-independence name(if different)
Protectorate of South ArabiaFederation of South Arabia
Date of independenceor first stage
30 November
Date of independenceor first stage
1967
Notes
Merged with North Yemen to form Yemen in 1990
Ceylon
Ceylon
Country
Sri Lanka
Pre-independence name(if different)
Ceylon
Date of independenceor first stage
4 February
Date of independenceor first stage
1948
Notes
Gained independence as the Dominion of Ceylon. Renamed Sri Lanka in 1972 upon being declared a republic.
Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Country
Tuvalu
Pre-independence name(if different)
Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Date of independenceor first stage
1 October
Date of independenceor first stage
1978
Trucial States
Trucial States
Country
United Arab Emirates
Pre-independence name(if different)
Trucial States
Date of independenceor first stage
2 December
Date of independenceor first stage
1971
Notes
National Day (United Arab Emirates)
British America
British America
Country
United States
Pre-independence name(if different)
British America
Date of independenceor first stage
4 July
Date of independenceor first stage
1776
Notes
Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1776. British government recognized independence in 1783 with the Treaty of Paris.
New Hebrides
New Hebrides
Country
Vanuatu
Pre-independence name(if different)
New Hebrides
Date of independenceor first stage
30 July
Date of independenceor first stage
1980
Notes
Independence from United Kingdom and France in 1980. Vanuatu is a Commonwealth republic.
New Hampshire Grants
New Hampshire Grants
Country
Vermont Republic
Pre-independence name(if different)
New Hampshire Grants
Date of independenceor first stage
15 January
Date of independenceor first stage
1777
Notes
Independence declared from the British colony of Quebec as well as from New York (which was contested between Britain and the newly-independent United States during the American Revolutionary War) and New Hampshire (which was fully under United States control).The Vermont Republic was admitted into the United States on 4 March 1791.
Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia
Country
Zambia
Pre-independence name(if different)
Northern Rhodesia
Date of independenceor first stage
24 October
Date of independenceor first stage
1964
Southern Rhodesia and Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia and Rhodesia
Country
Zimbabwe
Pre-independence name(if different)
Southern Rhodesia and Rhodesia
Date of independenceor first stage
18 April
Date of independenceor first stage
1980
Notes
Southern Rhodesia declared independence from United Kingdom on 11 November 1965 as Rhodesia, which was not internationally recognized. Rhodesia transitioned to majority rule as Zimbabwe-Rhodesia on 1 June 1979 with a view to eventual international recognition, but instead returned to British control under the Lancaster House Agreement followed by internationally recognised independence in 1980 as Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth, but withdrew in December 2003. Zimbabwe is in the process of returning to its membership of the Commonwealth.
Ranked list
Country
Pre-independence name(if different)
Date of independenceor first stage
Notes
Day & month
Year
Afghanistan
19 August
1919
Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua, Leeward Islands
1 November
1981
Antigua Termination of Association Order
The Bahamas
10 July
1973
Bahamas Independence Act 1973
Bahrain
British Protectorate of Bahrain
15 August
1971
Now an independent kingdom outside the Commonwealth.
Barbados
30 November
1966
Barbados Independence Act 1966 - now an independent republic in the Commonwealth of Nations since 30 November 2021.
Belize
British Honduras
21 September
1981
September Celebrations
Botswana
Bechuanaland
30 September
1966
Botswana Independence Act 1966
Brunei
1 January
1984
Cyprus
16 August
1960
Cyprus Independence Day is commonly celebrated on 1 October.
Dominica
Dominica, Windward Islands
3 November
1978
Egypt
28 February
1922
Control over the Suez Canal Zone was maintained until 1956.
Eswatini
6 September
1968
Initially called Swaziland, which was also its pre-independence name. Renamed eSwatini by King Mswati III in April 2018.
Fiji
10 October
1970
Fiji has been a Commonwealth republic since 1997.
The Gambia
Gambia
18 February
1965
Gained independence as a Dominion. Republic declared in 1970. Was temporarily a republic outside the Commonwealth from 2013 until it returned to the Commonwealth in 8 February 2018.
Ghana
Gold Coast, British Togoland (Togoland was absorbed into the Gold Coast in 1957.)
6 March
1957
Became a Commonwealth republic on 1 July 1960.
Grenada
Grenada, Windward Islands
7 February
1974
Independence Day (Grenada)
Guyana
British Guiana
26 May
1966
Became a republic in 1970.
India
British India
15 August
1947
Indian Independence Act 1947
Iraq
3 October
1932
Pursuant to the British Mandate for Mesopotamia
Israel
Mandatory Palestine
14 May
1948
End of British mandate
Jamaica
6 August
1962
Independence Day (6 August)
Jordan
Transjordan
25 May
1946
Now an independent monarchy outside the Commonwealth.
Kenya
12 December
1963
Dominion of Kenya declared in 1963. Republic declared exactly 1 year later.
Kiribati
Gilbert and Ellice Islands
12 July
1979
Kuwait
British Kuwaiti Protectorate
19 June
1961
Now an independent monarchy outside the Commonwealth.
Lesotho
Basutoland
4 October
1966
Now an independent monarchy inside the Commonwealth.
Libya
24 December
1951
From 1943 to 1951 Libya was under the control of Britain and France. On 24 December 1951, Libya declared its independence and became the United Kingdom of Libya.
Malawi
Nyasaland
6 July
1964
Dominion of Malawi declared in 1964. Republic declared exactly 2 years later.
Malaya
31 August
1957
Federation of Malaya Independence Act 1957.
Maldives
26 July
1965
Became an independent kingdom outside the Commonwealth in 1965. Became a republic in 1968. Became a Commonwealth republic in 1982. Temporarily a republic outside the Commonwealth from 2016 until 1 February 2020, when the Maldives returned.
Malta
21 September
1964
This occurred in spite of the 1956 Maltese United Kingdom integration referendum, but in accordance with the 1964 Maltese constitutional referendum. Malta became a republic on 13 December 1974.
Mauritius
12 March
1968
Dominion of Mauritius declared in 1968. Republic declared in 1992.
Myanmar
4 January
1948
Gained independence as a republic outside the Commonwealth as Burma. Renamed Myanmar by the military dictatorship in 1989, but still officially known by the United Kingdom government as Burma.
Nauru
31 January
1968
Co-trustee with Australia and New Zealand; independence effected through Australian legislation (Nauru Independence Act 1967).
Nigeria
1 October
1960
Took in Northern Cameroons
Oman
Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
20 December
1970
Now an independent monarchy outside the Commonwealth.
Pakistan
British India
14 August
1947
Partition of India
Qatar
British Qatari Protectorate
3 September
1971
Now an independent monarchy outside the Commonwealth.
Saint Lucia
St Lucia, Windward Islands
22 February
1979
Saint Kitts and Nevis
St Kitts–Nevis and Anguilla, Leeward Islands
19 September
1983
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
St Vincent, Windward Islands
27 October
1979
Seychelles
29 June
1976
Sierra Leone
27 April
1961
Dominion of Sierra Leone declared in 1961. Republic declared in 1971.
Solomon Islands
British Solomon Islands
7 July
1978
Somaliland
British Somaliland Protectorate
26 June
1960
The British Somaliland Protectorate gained independence on 26 June 1960 and united with the Trust Territory of Somalia on 1 July 1960 to form the Somali Republic, but later broke away and unilaterally declared independence in 1991. It is internationally unrecognised.
South Yemen
Protectorate of South ArabiaFederation of South Arabia
30 November
1967
Merged with North Yemen to form Yemen in 1990
Sri Lanka
Ceylon
4 February
1948
Gained independence as the Dominion of Ceylon. Renamed Sri Lanka in 1972 upon being declared a republic.
Sudan
1 January
1956
Termination of dual Anglo-Egyptian condominium.
· Evolution of dominions to independence
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Australia
Australia
Country
Australia
Date of Dominion status
1 January 1901
Date of adoption of the Statute of Westminster
9 October 1942†
Date of finalrelinquishmentof British powers
3 March 1986
Instrument ofrelinquishment
Australia Act 1986
Canada
Canada
Country
Canada
Date of Dominion status
1 July 1867
Date of adoption of the Statute of Westminster
11 December 1931
Date of finalrelinquishmentof British powers
17 April 1982
Instrument ofrelinquishment
Canada Act 1982
Ireland
Ireland
Country
Ireland
Date of Dominion status
6 December 1922
Date of adoption of the Statute of Westminster
12 November 1931
Date of finalrelinquishmentof British powers
18 April 1949
Instrument ofrelinquishment
Republic of Ireland Act and Ireland Act 1949
Notes
The 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic and 1919 Irish Declaration of Independence were never recognised by the UK but were given symbolic priority by post-1922 Irish leaders. From the 1932 Irish election, successive governments unilaterally amended the state's status:
the Constitution (Removal of Oath) Act on 3 May 1933 implicitly abrogated the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty;
the 27th amendment and External Relations Act, both on 12 December 1936, attenuated the role of the monarchy;
the enactment of the Constitution on 29 December 1937 established the office of President and definitively abolished all British powers over Ireland except diplomatic functions, which remained vested with King George VI;
the Republic of Ireland Act, which transferred diplomatic functions to the President of Ireland, came into force on 18 April 1949, with Ireland formally leaving the British Commonwealth.
Related UK statutes included the Éire (Confirmation of Agreements) Act 1938 and the Ireland Act 1949.
Dominion of Newfoundland
Dominion of Newfoundland
Country
Dominion of Newfoundland
Date of Dominion status
26 September 1907
Date of adoption of the Statute of Westminster
—
Date of finalrelinquishmentof British powers
17 April 1982
Instrument ofrelinquishment
Canada Act 1982
Notes
Newfoundland voted to join Canada in 1948 in a 52–48 vote; this became effective on 31 March 1949.
New Zealand
New Zealand
Country
New Zealand
Date of Dominion status
26 September 1907
Date of adoption of the Statute of Westminster
25 November 1947
Date of finalrelinquishmentof British powers
13 December 1986
Instrument ofrelinquishment
Constitution Act 1986
Notes
Declaration of Independence of New Zealand 1835, Treaty of Waitangi 1840, Dominion of New Zealand declared on 26 September 1907
South Africa
South Africa
Country
South Africa
Date of Dominion status
31 May 1910
Date of adoption of the Statute of Westminster
11 December 1931
Date of finalrelinquishmentof British powers
21 May 1961
Instrument ofrelinquishment
South African Constitution of 1961
Ranked list
Country
Date of Dominion status
Date of adoption of the Statute of Westminster
Date of finalrelinquishmentof British powers
Instrument ofrelinquishment
Notes
Australia
1 January 1901
9 October 1942†
3 March 1986
Australia Act 1986
Canada
1 July 1867
11 December 1931
17 April 1982
Canada Act 1982
Ireland
6 December 1922
12 November 1931
18 April 1949
Republic of Ireland Act and Ireland Act 1949
The 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic and 1919 Irish Declaration of Independence were never recognised by the UK but were given symbolic priority by post-1922 Irish leaders. From the 1932 Irish election, successive governments unilaterally amended the state's status: the Constitution (Removal of Oath) Act on 3 May 1933 implicitly abrogated the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty; the 27th amendment and External Relations Act, both on 12 December 1936, attenuated the role of the monarchy; the enactment of the Constitution on 29 December 1937 established the office of President and definitively abolished all British powers over Ireland except diplomatic functions, which remained vested with King George VI; the Republic of Ireland Act, which transferred diplomatic functions to the President of Ireland, came into force on 18 April 1949, with Ireland formally leaving the British Commonwealth. Related UK statutes included the Éire (Confirmation of Agreements) Act 1938 and the Ireland Act 1949.
Dominion of Newfoundland
26 September 1907
—
17 April 1982
Canada Act 1982
Newfoundland voted to join Canada in 1948 in a 52–48 vote; this became effective on 31 March 1949.
New Zealand
26 September 1907
25 November 1947
13 December 1986
Constitution Act 1986
Declaration of Independence of New Zealand 1835, Treaty of Waitangi 1840, Dominion of New Zealand declared on 26 September 1907
South Africa
31 May 1910
11 December 1931
21 May 1961
South African Constitution of 1961
· Military occupations that did not retain the pre-war central government
Multi-metric bars
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Coalition Provisional Authority
Coalition Provisional Authority
Country
Iraq
Pre-independence name(different)
Coalition Provisional Authority
Date
28 June
Year of independence or first stage
2004
Notes
Jointly with the United States and Poland, as part of the Multi-National Force – Iraq which operated under United States leadership
Ranked list
Country
Pre-independence name(different)
Date
Year of independence or first stage
Notes
Iraq
Coalition Provisional Authority
28 June
2004
Jointly with the United States and Poland, as part of the Multi-National Force – Iraq which operated under United States leadership
· Former British crown colonies that declared independence then later restored British rule
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Day & month
Day & month
Country
Day & month
Date of independence
Year
Date of independence
Day & month
Date of restorationof British rule
Year
Anguilla
Anguilla
Country
Anguilla
Date of independence
12 July
Date of independence
1967
Date of restorationof British rule
19 March
Date of restorationof British rule
1969
Notes
The isles of Anguilla were a dependency of Saint Kitts alongside Nevis. The ruling party administration for St. Kitts moved to make the Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla colony into a looser associated state status with the UK in 1967 much to the dismay of many in Anguilla, with agitation turning into the Anguillan Revolution; Anguilla's population moved in favour of returning to British authority in 1971 with full British Crown Colony status (renamed in 2002 as British Overseas Territory status) returning in 1980.
Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Country
Rhodesia
Date of independence
11 November
Date of independence
1965
Date of restorationof British rule
21 December
Date of restorationof British rule
1979
Notes
Southern Rhodesia declared independence from United Kingdom on 11 November 1965 as Rhodesia, which was not internationally recognized. Rhodesia transitioned to majority rule as Zimbabwe-Rhodesia on 1 June 1979 with a view to eventual international recognition, but instead returned to British control under the Lancaster House Agreement followed by internationally recognised independence in 1980 as Zimbabwe.
Ranked list
Country
Date of independence
Date of restorationof British rule
Notes
Day & month
Year
Day & month
Year
Anguilla
12 July
1967
19 March
1969
The isles of Anguilla were a dependency of Saint Kitts alongside Nevis. The ruling party administration for St. Kitts moved to make the Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla colony into a looser associated state status with the UK in 1967 much to the dismay of many in Anguilla, with agitation turning into the Anguillan Revolution; Anguilla's population moved in favour of returning to British authority in 1971 with full British Crown Colony status (renamed in 2002 as British Overseas Territory status) returning in 1980.
Rhodesia
11 November
1965
21 December
1979
Southern Rhodesia declared independence from United Kingdom on 11 November 1965 as Rhodesia, which was not internationally recognized. Rhodesia transitioned to majority rule as Zimbabwe-Rhodesia on 1 June 1979 with a view to eventual international recognition, but instead returned to British control under the Lancaster House Agreement followed by internationally recognised independence in 1980 as Zimbabwe.
· British overseas territories independence/sovereignty referendums
Multi-metric bars
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Bermuda
Bermuda
Territory
Bermuda
Date
16 August
Date
1995
Notes
Bermudians voted against independence for the territory in a 1995 referendum by 73.6% to 25.7%.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Territory
Gibraltar
Date
7 November
Date
2002
Notes
Gibraltar held a referendum on whether or not to share sovereignty with Spain. 98.48% of voters rejected the proposal in favour of remaining solely a British overseas territory with only 1.02% supporting the proposal.
Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
Territory
Falkland Islands
Date
11 March
Date
2013
Notes
Falkland Islanders voted in favour of remaining a British overseas territory by 99.8% to 0.2%.
Ranked list
Territory
Date
Notes
Bermuda
16 August
1995
Bermudians voted against independence for the territory in a 1995 referendum by 73.6% to 25.7%.
Gibraltar
7 November
2002
Gibraltar held a referendum on whether or not to share sovereignty with Spain. 98.48% of voters rejected the proposal in favour of remaining solely a British overseas territory with only 1.02% supporting the proposal.
Falkland Islands
11 March
2013
Falkland Islanders voted in favour of remaining a British overseas territory by 99.8% to 0.2%.
· Territories which were relinquished to other sovereign states
Multi-metric bars
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Bay Islands
Bay Islands
Territory
Bay Islands
Recipient state
Honduras
Date
30 April
Year
1859
Notes
See Bay Islands § Colony of the Bay Islands and § Cession of the Colony to Honduras
Northern Cameroons
Northern Cameroons
Territory
Northern Cameroons
Recipient state
Nigeria
Date
1 October
Year
1961
Notes
British Mandate territory in West Africa. In the 1961 British Cameroons referendum, the Northern Cameroons voted to join Nigeria (which itself gained independence from the United Kingdom), while the Southern Cameroons voted to join the Republic of Cameroun (which itself gained independence from France).
Southern Cameroons
Southern Cameroons
Territory
Southern Cameroons
Recipient state
Cameroon
Date
1 October
Year
1961
Columbia District
Columbia District
Territory
Columbia District
Recipient state
United States
Date
15 June
Year
1846
Notes
Under the Oregon Treaty, the existing border between the United States and British North America, set on the 49th parallel north between Lake of the Woods and the Rocky Mountains by the Treaty of 1818, was extended west of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, with the exception that all of Vancouver Island would remain British.
East Florida
East Florida
Territory
East Florida
Recipient state
Spanish Empire
Date
25 November
Year
1783
Notes
Ceded to Spain as part of the 1783 Treaty of Paris; Spain subsequently ceded it to the United States in 1819.
West Florida
West Florida
Territory
West Florida
Recipient state
Spanish Empire
Date
25 November
Year
1783
Notes
Ceded to Spain as part of the 1783 Treaty of Paris; Spain subsequently ceded it to the United States in 1819.
British Occupation zone in Germany
British Occupation zone in Germany
Territory
British Occupation zone in Germany
Recipient state
Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)
Date
23 May
Year
1949
Notes
Nazi Germany occupied by Britain, France, the United States and the Soviet Union in 1945. Unlike in Austria, no German central government was retained in any of the occupation zones. The British and American occupation zones were merged in 1947 to form the Bizone, and the French zone was added into it in 1948. The resulting Trizone became host to a new German central government on 23 May 1949. The territories of the former Soviet zone — which had established a central government of its own called the German Democratic Republic — joined the Federal Republic on 3 October 1990.
Heligoland
Heligoland
Territory
Heligoland
Recipient state
German Empire
Date
1 July
Year
1890
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Territory
Hong Kong
Recipient state
People's Republic of China
Date
30 June
Year
1997
Notes
In 1984 the British government signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration with China and agreed to turn over Hong Kong and its dependencies in 1997. British rule ended on 30 June 1997, with China taking over at midnight, 1 July 1997 (at end of the 99-year lease over the New Territories, along with the ceded Hong Kong Island and Kowloon).
United States of the Ionian Islands
United States of the Ionian Islands
Territory
United States of the Ionian Islands
Recipient state
Kingdom of Greece
Date
28 May
Year
1864
North Borneo
North Borneo
Territory
North Borneo
Recipient state
Malaya
Date
16 September
Year
1963
Notes
British protectorate established in 1881. Proclaimed a Crown Colony in 1946, granted self rule on 31 August 1963 in preparation to become a part of Malaysia on 16 September 1963 as the state of Sabah.
Red River Colony
Red River Colony
Territory
Red River Colony
Recipient state
United States
Date
30 January
Year
1819
Notes
Under the Treaty of 1818, the borders between the United States and British North America west of Lake of the Woods and east of the Rocky Mountains were set to follow the 49th parallel north.
Sarawak
Sarawak
Territory
Sarawak
Recipient state
Malaya
Date
16 September
Year
1963
Notes
Independent Raj of Sarawak 1841-1946. Annexed by Britain as a Crown Colony in 1946, granted self rule on 22 July 1963 in preparation to become a part of Malaysia on 16 September 1963.
Singapore
Singapore
Territory
Singapore
Recipient state
Malaya
Date
16 September
Year
1963
Notes
Became self-governing on 3 June 1959, and became a part of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Subsequently gained independence from Malaysia on the 9 August 1965.
Ranked list
Territory
Recipient state
Date
Year
Notes
Bay Islands
Honduras
30 April
1859
See Bay Islands § Colony of the Bay Islands and § Cession of the Colony to Honduras
Northern Cameroons
Nigeria
1 October
1961
British Mandate territory in West Africa. In the 1961 British Cameroons referendum, the Northern Cameroons voted to join Nigeria (which itself gained independence from the United Kingdom), while the Southern Cameroons voted to join the Republic of Cameroun (which itself gained independence from France).
Southern Cameroons
Cameroon
1 October
1961
Columbia District
United States
15 June
1846
Under the Oregon Treaty, the existing border between the United States and British North America, set on the 49th parallel north between Lake of the Woods and the Rocky Mountains by the Treaty of 1818, was extended west of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, with the exception that all of Vancouver Island would remain British.
East Florida
Spanish Empire
25 November
1783
Ceded to Spain as part of the 1783 Treaty of Paris; Spain subsequently ceded it to the United States in 1819.
West Florida
Spanish Empire
25 November
1783
Ceded to Spain as part of the 1783 Treaty of Paris; Spain subsequently ceded it to the United States in 1819.
British Occupation zone in Germany
Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)
23 May
1949
Nazi Germany occupied by Britain, France, the United States and the Soviet Union in 1945. Unlike in Austria, no German central government was retained in any of the occupation zones. The British and American occupation zones were merged in 1947 to form the Bizone, and the French zone was added into it in 1948. The resulting Trizone became host to a new German central government on 23 May 1949. The territories of the former Soviet zone — which had established a central government of its own called the German Democratic Republic — joined the Federal Republic on 3 October 1990.
Heligoland
German Empire
1 July
1890
Hong Kong
People's Republic of China
30 June
1997
In 1984 the British government signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration with China and agreed to turn over Hong Kong and its dependencies in 1997. British rule ended on 30 June 1997, with China taking over at midnight, 1 July 1997 (at end of the 99-year lease over the New Territories, along with the ceded Hong Kong Island and Kowloon).
United States of the Ionian Islands
Kingdom of Greece
28 May
1864
North Borneo
Malaya
16 September
1963
British protectorate established in 1881. Proclaimed a Crown Colony in 1946, granted self rule on 31 August 1963 in preparation to become a part of Malaysia on 16 September 1963 as the state of Sabah.
Red River Colony
United States
30 January
1819
Under the Treaty of 1818, the borders between the United States and British North America west of Lake of the Woods and east of the Rocky Mountains were set to follow the 49th parallel north.
Sarawak
Malaya
16 September
1963
Independent Raj of Sarawak 1841-1946. Annexed by Britain as a Crown Colony in 1946, granted self rule on 22 July 1963 in preparation to become a part of Malaysia on 16 September 1963.
Singapore
Malaya
16 September
1963
Became self-governing on 3 June 1959, and became a part of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Subsequently gained independence from Malaysia on the 9 August 1965.
· Countries of the United Kingdom that have voted against independence
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Date
8 March
Year
1973
Notes
In a 1973 Northern Ireland referendum, voters in Northern Ireland were asked to decide if they wanted to remain in the United Kingdom or to leave and join with the Republic of Ireland. They voted in favour of the United Kingdom by 98.9% to 1.1%, although Irish Nationalists boycotted the vote.
Scotland
Scotland
Country
Scotland
Date
18 September
Year
2014
Notes
In the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, 55.3% of voters who qualified as residents of Scotland, chose 'No' to the question: 'Should Scotland be an independent country?' 44.7% of voters chose 'Yes'. In March 2017, preliminary negotiations to begin to prepare an agreement to run a second referendum were proposed by the Scottish Parliament but were rejected out of hand by the Prime Minister. The proposal of preliminary negotiations was triggered by the Brexit vote, which saw a majority of voters in England and Wales vote to leave the EU while a majority in Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain.
Ranked list
Country
Date
Year
Notes
Northern Ireland
8 March
1973
In a 1973 Northern Ireland referendum, voters in Northern Ireland were asked to decide if they wanted to remain in the United Kingdom or to leave and join with the Republic of Ireland. They voted in favour of the United Kingdom by 98.9% to 1.1%, although Irish Nationalists boycotted the vote.
Scotland
18 September
2014
In the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, 55.3% of voters who qualified as residents of Scotland, chose 'No' to the question: 'Should Scotland be an independent country?' 44.7% of voters chose 'Yes'. In March 2017, preliminary negotiations to begin to prepare an agreement to run a second referendum were proposed by the Scottish Parliament but were rejected out of hand by the Prime Minister. The proposal of preliminary negotiations was triggered by the Brexit vote, which saw a majority of voters in England and Wales vote to leave the EU while a majority in Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain.
References
West Indies Associated States
Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 (effective from 1939)
