In the 1500s, the first map to include North America became available. At that time, the addition of the New World was mind-blowing. Here is a list of countries that don’t exist anymore.

Since then the world map has drastically changed several times over the years. While there’s no New World to discover, old worlds disappear. It’s common for countries to no longer exist, altering the world map. These countries didn’t just pick up and disappear. Once powerful countries and empires who were competing superpowers dissolved, giving independence to small nations, resulting in countries that don’t exist anymore.

While some countries left a powerful one, others joined up with a bigger government. Larger countries sometimes invaded other nations intending to annex them and take control. Some countries disappeared after being on the losing end of a war. Several powerful Empires would rule and influence the world for many years only to lose all of their power, leading to them disappearing. Over the years, the global map has changed and altered with the ever-changing world around us.

List Of Countries That Don’t Exist Anymore

1. Soviet Union

Following the October Revolution in 1917, the Soviet Union came into power in 1922. Also known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the transcontinental country consisted of 15 small nations comprising most of Eurasia.

After World War II, the Soviet Union emerged as a superpower, pitted against the United States. Both countries wanted to reign supreme during the Cold War as they competed in proxy wars, sports, and the famous space race. The Soviet Union led the way for numerous breakthroughs, including the first human spaceflight.

Internally, the Soviet Union began to unravel, leading to an attempted coup. While the coup failed, it was the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union. It officially came to a close on December 26, 1991. Several countries left the union and declared their independence.

2. South Vietnam

The 1954 division of Vietnam created the countries of South and North Vietnam. With tensions building, the Vietnam War began in 1955. While North Vietnam had the backing of the Soviet Union and China, the United States backed the South. The fighting escalated and became a full-blown war that caused controversy around the globe. The violent war waged on for years, but both sides began discussing a cease-fire by the early 70s.

The end of the Vietnam war coincided with the end of South Vietnam. In 1975, North Vietnam took control of the South creating the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam. By 1976, the two sides officially merged to create the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

3. Ottoman Empire

Throughout history, the Ottoman Empire was a powerful force that ruled most of the world at one point. It all began in 1299 as the Empire slowly built itself up to conquer the rest of the globe. The Empire consisted of a series of conquered countries.

By the 1400s, they were at the height of their power and success, but like all good things that must end, their power weakened and they began losing their grip on their empire by the 19th century. They were still hanging on when World War I broke out, but when that ended and many of the nations involved were about to enter their most prosperous times, the Ottoman Empire fell apart. By 1923, the once-powerful Empire was no more.

4. North Yemen

In 1918, The Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen became an independent state after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. However, in 1962, revolutionaries overthrew King Muhammed al-Badr creating the Yemen Arab Republic. Also known as North Yemen, the new state continued to fight Badr’s forces in the southeast.

The war continued throughout the 70s with periods of peace. Despite the conflict, the two sides were friendly. In fact, both sides discussed unifying by the late 80s. The Yemen Arab Republic and the People’s Republic of Yemen unified on May 22, 1990, to form the Republic of Yemen.

5. The British Empire

The British Empire grew to become the largest and most powerful Empire in history. They influenced the rest of the globe through music, art, literature, and language spreading across the world. It soon became the most powerful colonial force in North America. Furthermore, it controlled India through the East Indian Company and later The British Raj. After America gained its independence, the Empire lost control over parts of North America. As history shows, no empire can rule forever.

World War I and World War II weakened the British Empire despite being victorious. Then, several colonies and dominions, such as India, gained independence in 1947. By the 20th century, the Soviet Union and America had surpassed the British Empire.