Countries Founded: 1990s to 2010s Quiz

Answer: Lithuania

Founded in 1009, Lithuania was once a powerful empire which dominated much of east Europe during the 14th-16th centuries. For the next two centuries, it became part of the Polish-Lithuanian confederation. From 1772 to 1795, it lost most its territories to the Russian Empire. In 1918, it became independent after WWI. In 1944, it was again annexed by the USSR after the Russians defeated the Germans in WWII.

On March 11, 1990, Lithuania seceded from the USSR. On 6 September 1991, its independence was fully recognized when the USSR was dissolved. Its capital city is Vilnius.

Answer: Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in Central Asia and the ninth largest country in the world with an area size of 2.75 million sq. km (1.08 sq. mi). In 1936, it became part of the USSR, but was often neglected by the Soviet government. After the breakup of the USSR, it declared self-independence on 16 December 1991. Its capital is Nursultan, previously known as Astana.

Answer: Moldova

Moldova is located in northeastern corner of the Balkan region. It is a landlocked country bordered by Romania to the west and to the north, south and the east by Ukraine. The region was part of the Romanian principality known as Moldavia until 1812 before it was ceded to Russia. Moldova was founded on 27 August 1991 after the USSR was dissolved.

Its capital Chisinau is located in the south central part of the country.

Answer: North Macedonia

After 27 years of dispute with Greece, Macedonia changed its name to the Republic of North Macedonia, as it occupies mainly the northern region of Macedonia. The northern region is about two-fifths of the region of Macedonia, with the rest of region belonging to Greece and Bulgaria.

It seceded from Yugoslavia on 8 September 1991, but was formally recognized by the United Nations in 1993. Its capital is Skopje located in the north central region of the country.

Answer: Slovenia

Slovenia is located in central Europe, bordered by Italy in the west, Austria in the north, Hungary in the east and Croatia in the south. It has the longest border with Croatia, which is 670 km (416 mi) long. For most of its history, it was ruled by the Habsburgs of Austria.

After WWII, it was part of the Yugoslavia Federation. After Yugoslavia was dissolved, it was founded on 25 June 1991 on the same day as Croatia.

Answer: Namibia

Namibia, previously known as South West Africa, became a German colony in 1886. In 1920, the League of Nations granted South Africa the mandate to rule South West Africa. In 1968, it was officially renamed as Namibia. In 1978, the UN Security Council passed a planned transition to allow for its self-government. It became independent in 21 March 1990.

It is bordered by Angola to the north, north east by Zambia, west by Botswana and south by South Africa. The Namib Desert lies on the entire west side of the country, with the Kalahari Desert lying to the east. Its capital is Windhoek.

Answer: Palau

Palau was part of the Trust Territory of Pacific Islands (administered by the United States for over 30 years) and gained independence on 1 October 1994. The country consists of about 340 islands of which the most populous island is Koror.

Marshall Islands, which was also part of the Trust Territory of Pacific Islands, (administered by the United States) gained independence on 17 September 1991.

On the same date, Micronesia, previously known as the Caroline Islands, also became independent from the United States.

Answer: East Timor

Timor Leste aka East Timor is located in Timor Island bordered by Ombai Strait, the greater Banda Sea and Wetar Strait. It declared independence from Portugal in 1975 but was invaded and annexed by Indonesia in 1976 until 2002. Western Timor is still a part of Indonesia. About 98% of the population are Roman Catholics.

Answer: 2

On 22 May 1990, Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) merged with the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) to form a unified Yemen. Sanaa, formerly the capital of North Yemen, became the political capital, while port city Aden, formerly the capital of South Yemen, became the commercial centre.

On 3 October 1990, East and West Germany formally unified as one country after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Answer: Eritrea

During the second half of the 20th century, Eritrea was annexed by Ethiopia after WWII when Italy was defeated. From 1961 to 1991, Eritrea fought a long war against Ethiopia, leading to a peaceful referendum to form a separate nation on 25 May 1993. The two nations later became involved in a violent war from 1998 to 2000 over disputed territory. A peace agreement was signed in 2018.

On July 2011, South Sudan peacefully seceded from Sudan after many years of civil wars.