The 16 Newest Countries in the World

While it seems like the present-day map has remained unchanged for a long time, quite a few countries actually date back less than a few short decades. 

From the fall of the Soviet Union to 21st-century conflicts, there have been many modern-day impetuses for the formation of new nations. 

The world is constantly shifting, and what exists today could very well be different tomorrow. Discover which countries are the youngest in the world so that you can expand your bucket list with exciting new additions to our global map.

It’s hard to think of Germany — with its historic castles, 500 years of beer culture, brilliant composers and thinkers throughout the ages — as a “new” country. But while the language and land have been around for centuries, the country has only officially been Germany for three decades. 

Long a victim of shifting borders and empires, the country most recently existed as two separate nations, West Germany and East Germany, during the throes of the Cold War. As the communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union began to collapse at the end of the 1980s, Germany fully unified its eastern and western halves shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The official date of the reunification was October 3, 1990.

The story of Germany is a remarkable one; despite experiencing years of strife and division in the 20th century, it is today not only stable but thriving. And its tourism scene is, too. 

Nearly 40 million visitors head to the country annually, and that number is growing exponentially each year. Berlin, the capital and most-visited city in the country, invites guests to explore remnants of a fraught past while reveling in modern attractions and a progressive culture. 

A separation lasting 150 years came to an end in 1990 when Marxist South Yemen and conservative North Yemen unified as the Republic of Yemen. 

Yemen sits at the end of the Arabian Peninsula and was first divided between the British and the Ottomans in the mid-1800s. The unification in 1990 didn’t go smoothly, as Yemen had been divided along sectarian lines for centuries. The lack of a framework for the new state led to much dissension between north and south. 

Elections were held in 1993, but the results exposed divisions and led to a coalition government. Soon, a civil war broke out.

Today, the situation in Yemen is that of crisis. The conflict is rooted in political failures that continue to affect the country.

Today, tourism is not advised to Yemen due to civil war and famine. If and when the country becomes safe for travel again, it will have much to offer adventurers: from nature reserves to desert cities to gorgeous beaches. Visitors should also save Socotra Island on their list, as it’s the only place on Earth where you can see the mythical dragon blood trees.