Once upon a time, the world map looked very different. Borders shifted, empires rose and fell, and some countries simply disappeared.
These nations were once proud and powerful, with their flags, leaders, and cultures. But today, they live only in history books and old maps.
Do you know about countries that no longer exist? Take Czechoslovakia, for example. It was a peaceful and strong country in Europe. But in 1993, it split into two new nations—the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Another one is Yugoslavia, which broke apart into several countries after years of conflict.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the top 5 countries that no longer exist. We’ll explore how they vanished, what caused their fall, and what remains of them today. Let’s begin.
Forgotten Flags: Which are the Top Countries That Don’t Exist Anymore? List of Top 5
According to World Population Review, the following countries have lost time due to various factors such as war, natural disasters, and political instability.
| Former Name | Current Status/Known As | Notes |
| Abyssinia | Ethiopia | |
| Austria-Hungary | Austria, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, the Balkans | Ceased to exist following World War I. |
| Basutoland | Lesotho | |
| Bengal | Part of India and Bangladesh | |
| Burma | Myanmar | |
| Catalonia | Autonomous region of Spain | |
| Ceylon | Sri Lanka | |
| Champa | Located in what is now Vietnam | |
| Corsica | Department of France | |
| East Germany | Reunited with West Germany to become Germany | |
| East Pakistan | Bangladesh | |
| England | Part of the United Kingdom | |
| Gran Colombia | Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela | |
| Hawaii | Annexed to the United States | It was a country until annexation. |
| New Grenada | Republic of Colombia | |
| Newfoundland | Canadian province | |
| North Yemen | United with South Yemen in 1990 to become Yemen | |
| Ottoman Empire | Parts of Hungary, Russia, Turkey, the Middle East, the Balkans, and North Africa | |
| Persia | Iran | |
| Prussia | Parts of Germany and Poland | Disbanded following World War II. |
| Rhodesia | Zimbabwe | |
| Scotland | Part of the United Kingdom | |
| Siam | Thailand | |
| Sikkim | Part of North India | |
| South Vietnam | Vietnam | |
| South Yemen | United with North Yemen in 1990 to become Yemen | |
| Southwest Africa | Namibia | |
| Tanganyika | United with Zanzibar to form Tanzania | |
| Texas | Annexed by the United States | It was an independent country until annexation. |
| Tibet | Autonomous region of China | |
| Transjordan | Jordan | |
| Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | Divided into 15 countries (1988-1991) | |
| United Arab Republic | Split into Syria and Egypt | |
| Vermont | Entered the U.S. as a state | It was an independent country until it entered the U.S. |
| Wales | Part of the United Kingdom | |
| West Florida (Republic of) | Parts of Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi became a U.S. territory | Declared independence from Spanish rule and became a United States territory in less than 90 days. |
| West Germany | Reunited with East Germany to become Germany | |
| Western Samoa | Changed name to Samoa in 1997 | (There is no Eastern Samoa, but American Samoa lies to the east.) |
| Yugoslavia | Split into six countries in the 1990s | |
| Zaire | Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| Zanzibar | United with Tanganyika to form Tanzania |
1. The Roman Empire
The Roman Empire became too vast to manage effectively. Internal conflicts, economic problems, and constant invasions from various tribal groups eventually led to its decline and division. The Western Roman Empire officially ended in 476 AD, while the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) continued for another thousand years.
2. The Soviet Union (USSR)
The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 due to a combination of factors. Its centrally planned economy struggled to keep up with the West, leading to shortages and discontent. Calls for more freedom from its various republics, along with significant economic and political reforms (like Perestroika and Glasnost), ultimately led to its dissolution into 15 independent countries.
3. Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia broke apart in the early 1990s due to deep-seated ethnic and religious tensions that resurfaced after the death of its strong leader, Josip Broz Tito. The desire for independence among its different republics (like Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, etc.) led to a series of violent conflicts and its fragmentation into multiple sovereign states.
4. Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved in 1993, an event known as the "Velvet Divorce". The main reasons were growing nationalist sentiments within both the Czech and Slovak regions, as well as differing economic priorities and political visions between the two main ethnic groups.
5. East Germany (German Democratic Republic)
East Germany ceased to exist in 1990 when it reunified with West Germany. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 symbolised the end of communist rule. Economic stagnation in East Germany and a strong desire by its citizens for the freedoms and prosperity enjoyed in West Germany led to its absorption into a united Germany.
6. Austro-Hungarian Empire
The Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed at the end of World War I in 1918. It was a vast, multi-ethnic empire, and the war exacerbated internal nationalist movements. Its defeat in the war, coupled with the desire for self-determination among its many different ethnic groups (Czechs, Slovaks, Poles, Hungarians, etc.), led to its complete dissolution and the formation of several new independent nations.
7. Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, often called the "Sick Man of Europe" in its later years, officially ended after its defeat in World War I in 1922. The empire had been weakening for centuries, facing internal revolts, economic difficulties, and territorial losses. Its final collapse led to the creation of modern Turkey and many other states in the Middle East and the Balkans.
8. Persia
Persia did not truly "cease to exist" but rather changed its name to Iran in 1935. It has a continuous history stretching back thousands of years. The name change was part of a modernisation effort by the then-ruling Pahlavi dynasty to emphasise the country's Aryan heritage. It remains the same geographical entity and a continuous civilisation.
9. Prussia
Prussia was a powerful German kingdom that played a crucial role in unifying Germany in the 19th century. It ceased to exist as an administrative unit after World War II in 1947. Its territories were divided among the newly formed German states and Poland, and its former identity was dissolved to prevent any resurgence of militarism, given its historical association with German nationalism and military power.
10. South Vietnam
South Vietnam ceased to exist in 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War. It was supported by the United States against North Vietnam, which was backed by communist powers. After the withdrawal of US troops, North Vietnamese forces successfully invaded and unified the country under communist rule, forming the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
