List of predecessors of sovereign states in North America

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This is a list of all present sovereign states in North America and their predecessors. The division between North and South America is unclear, generally viewed as lying somewhere in the Isthmus of Panama, however, the Caribbean Islands, Central America including the whole of Panama is considered to be part of North America as its southernmost nation. The continent was colonized by the Europeans: Mainly by the Spaniards, the French, the English and the Dutch. The United States of America gained its independence in American Revolutionary War; most of nations in Central America gained independence in the early 19th century; Canada and many other island countries in the Caribbean Sea (most of them were British colonies) gained their independence in 20th century. Today, North America consists of twenty-two sovereign states.

Sovereign statePredecessors
Antigua and Barbuda Flag of Leeward Islands (1952-1958).svg Colony of Antigua and Colony of Barbuda (1671–1816; 1833–1958) (part of the British Leeward Islands)
Flag of the West Indies Federation.svg Part of the West Indies Federation (1958–1962)
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg Colony of Antigua (1962–1981) (Associated State since 1967)
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda (1981–present) (Commonwealth realm)
Bahamas, The Flag of England.svg Colony of the Bahamas (1648–1717)
Flag of the Bahamas (1953-1964).svgFlag of the Bahamas.svg Colony of the Bahamas (1717–1973)
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Commonwealth of the Bahamas (1973–present)
Barbados Flag of the British Windward Islands (1903-1958).png Colony of Barbados (1625–1885) (part of the British Windward Islands)
Flag of Barbados (1870-1966).svg Colony of Barbados (1885–1958; 1962–1966) (separated Crown colony)
Flag of the West Indies Federation.svg Part of the West Indies Federation (1958–1962)
Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados (1966–present)
Belize Flag of British Honduras (1919-1981).svg British Honduras (1862–1973)
Flag of British Honduras (1919-1981).svg Belize (1973–1981) (British self-governing colony)
Flag of Belize.svg  Belize (1981–present) (Commonwealth realm)
Canada

Hundreds of First Nations, some of which have domestic national governments
Royal Standard of King Louis XIV.svg New France (1535–1763) (a French colony)
Flag of Great Britain.svg Province of Quebec (1763–1791)
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Provinces of Upper Canada and Lower Canada (1791–1841)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Province of Canada (1841–1867)
Hudsons Bay Company Flag.svg Rupert's Land (1670–1870) (a territory of the Hudson's Bay Company)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg North-Western Territory (1859–1870)
Flag of the Colony of British Columbia.svg Colony of British Columbia (1858–1871) (included the Colony of Vancouver Island and former British Columbia since 1866)
Provisional Government of Saskatchewan (1885) (unrecognized Métis republic defeated in the North-West Rebellion)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Newfoundland Colony (1610–1907)
Flag of the Dominion of Newfoundland.svg Dominion of Newfoundland (1907–1949) (a dominion within British Empire 1907–1934, a dependency of United Kingdom 1934–1949)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svgCanadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svgCanadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svgCanadian Red Ensign (1957-1965).svgFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada (1867–present) (before the Second World War the term Dominion of Canada was also used)

Costa Rica Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Part of the Real Audiencia of Guatemala (1543–1609) (part of New Spain)
Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala (1609–1821) (part of New Spain)
Bandera del Primer Imperio Mexicano.svg Part of the Mexican Empire (1822–1823)
Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.svg Part of the Federal Republic of Central America (1823–1838)
Flag of Costa Rica (1839-1848).svgFlag of Costa Rica (1840-1842).svgFlag of Costa Rica (1842-1848).svg Free State of Costa Rica (1838–1847)
Flag of Costa Rica (1848-1906).svg First Costa Rican Republic (1848–1948)
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Second Costa Rican Republic (1949–present)
Cuba Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Part of the Captaincy General of Santo Domingo (1512–1607)
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Captaincy General of Cuba (1607–1898)
Flag of the United States (1896-1908).svg United States Military Government in Cuba (1898–1902)
Flag of Cuba (sky blue).svg Republic of Cuba (1902–1959)
Flag of Cuba.svg  Republic of Cuba (1959–present)
Dominica Flag of Leeward Islands (1952-1958).svg Colony of Dominica (part of the British Leeward Islands 1871–1958) (1763–1958)
Flag of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962).svg Part of the West Indies Federation (1958–1962)
Flag of Dominica.svg Dominica (1962–1978) (Associated State since 1967)
Flag of Dominica.svg  Commonwealth of Dominica (1978–present)
Dominican Republic Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Captaincy General of Santo Domingo (1492–1795)
Royal Standard of King Louis XIV.svg Flag of France.svg Colony of Saint-Domingue (1795–1809)
Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Captaincy General of Santo Domingo (1809–1821)
Flag of Spanish Haiti.svg Republic of Spanish Haiti (1821–1822)
Flag of Haiti.svg Occupied by Haiti (1822–1844)
Flag of the Dominican Republic (up to 1844).svg Dominican Republic (1844–1861)
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Occupied by Spain (1861–1865)
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic (1865–present)
El Salvador Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Part of the Real Audiencia of Guatemala (1543–1609) (part of New Spain)
Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala (1609–1821) (part of New Spain)
Bandera del Primer Imperio Mexicano.svg Part of the Mexican Empire (1822–1823)
Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.svg Part of the Federal Republic of Central America (1823–1841)
Flag of El Salvador (1875-1877).svgFlag of El Salvador.svg  Republic of El Salvador (1841–present) (before 1890 referred to as Republic of Salvador in English)
Grenada Royal Standard of King Louis XIV.svg French Grenada (1649–1763)
Flag of Grenada (1875-1903).svg British Grenada (1763–1958) (part of Flag of the British Windward Islands (1903-1953).svg  British Windward Islands 1833–1958)
Flag of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962).svg Part of the West Indies Federation (1958–1962)
Flag of Grenada (1903-1967).svgFlag of Grenada (1967-1974).svg British Grenada (1962–1974) (Associated State from 1967)
Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada (1974–present) (Commonwealth realm)
Guatemala Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Part of the Real Audiencia of Guatemala (1543–1609)
Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala (1609–1821)
Bandera del Primer Imperio Mexicano.svg Part of the Mexican Empire (1822–1823)
Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.svg Part of the Federal Republic of Central America (1823–1839)
Flag of Guatemala (1839-1843).svgFlag of Guatemala (1843-1851).svgFlag of Guatemala (1851-1858).svgFlag of Guatemala (1858-1871).svgFlag of Guatemala.svg  Republic of Guatemala (1839–present)
Haiti Royal Standard of King Louis XIV.svgFlag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Colony of Saint-Domingue (1625–1804)
Flag of Haiti (1803-1804).svg First Empire of Haiti (1804–1806)
Flag of Haiti (1806-1811).svg State of Haiti (1806–1811) (northern Haiti)
Flag of Haiti (1814-1820).svg Kingdom of Haiti (1811–1820)
Flag of Haiti.svg Republic of Haiti (1806–1849) (included northern Haiti since 1820; with Dominican Republic annexed 1822–1844)
Flag of Haiti (1849-1859).png Second Empire of Haiti (1849–1859)
Flag of Haiti (1820-1849, 1859-1964).svgFlag of Haiti (1964-1986).svgFlag of Haiti.svg  Republic of Haiti (1859–present) (occupied by United States 1915–1934)
Honduras Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Part of the Real Audiencia of Guatemala (1543–1609)
Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala (1609–1821)
Bandera del Primer Imperio Mexicano.svg Part of the Mexican Empire (1822–1823)
Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.svg Part of the Federal Republic of Central America (1823–1838)
Flag of Honduras (1839-1866).svgFlag of Honduras (1866-1898).svgFlag of Honduras (1949-2022).svgFlag of Honduras (2022-).svg  Republic of Honduras (1838–present)
Jamaica Flag of Jamaica (1875-1906).svgFlag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svgFlag of Jamaica (1957-1962).svgFlag of Jamaica (1962).svg Colony of Jamaica (1655–1962)
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica (1962–present) (Commonwealth realm)
Mexico Olmecs (1600–400 BC)
Mixtec Civilization (1500 BC – 1523)
Xochitecatl (800 BC – 950)
Zapotec civilization (c.700 BC – 1521)
Teuchitlán Civilisation (350 BC – 450/500)
Teotihuacan (200 BC – 750)
Cholula city-state (2nd century BC – 1521)
Veracruz civilisation (100–1000)
Maya civilization (250–1697)
Toltec Empire (650–1122)
Colhuacan (717–1521)
Xochimilco (c.900 – 1521)
Azcapotzalco (995–1428)
Cocollan.jpg Cocollán (1100–1521)
Chalco (13th century – 1521)
Glifo Michhuahcan.png Purépecha Empire (1300–1520)
Chiefdom of Ameca (1325–1522)
Tlatelolco (1337–1473)
Aztec Triple Alliance.png Aztec Empire (1428–1521)

TlaxcalaGlyph.jpg Tlaxcala (1348–1520)
Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Viceroyalty of New Spain (1521–1821)
Bandera del Primer Imperio Mexicano.svg First Mexican Empire (1821–1823)
Flag of Mexico (1823-1864, 1867-1893).svg Provisional Government of Mexico (1823–1824)
Bandera Historica de la Republica Mexicana (1824-1918).svg First Mexican Republic (1824–1835)
Flag of Mexico (1823-1864, 1867-1893).svg Centralist Republic of Mexico (1835–1846)
Flag of the Republic of Yucatan.svg Republic of Yucatán (1841–1848)
Bandera Historica de la Republica Mexicana (1824-1918).svg Second Federal Republic of Mexico (1846–1863)
Imperial Standard of Mexico (1864-1867).svg Second Mexican Empire (1863–1867)
Flag of Mexico (1893-1916).svgFlag of Mexico (1916-1934).svgFlag of Mexico.svg  United Mexican States (1867–present)

Nicaragua Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Part of the Real Audiencia of Guatemala (1543–1609)
Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala (1609–1821)
Bandera del Primer Imperio Mexicano.svg Part of the Mexican Empire (1822–1823)
Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.svg Part of the Federal Republic of Central America (1823–1838)
Flag of Nicaragua (1839-1858).svgFlag of Nicaragua (1858-1889 and 1893-1896).svgFlag of Nicaragua.svg  Republic of Nicaragua (1838–present)
Saint Kitts and Nevis Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colony of Saint Christopher (1623–1882) and Colony of Nevis (1628–1882) (from 1833 part of Flag of Leeward Islands (1952-1958).svg  British Leeward Islands)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colony of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla (1882–1958) (part of the Flag of Leeward Islands (1952-1958).svg  British Leeward Islands; Anguilla separated from 1882 to 1951)
Flag of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962).svg Part of the West Indies Federation (1958–1962)
Flag of St Christopher Nevis Anguilla.svg  Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla (1962–1983) (Associated State from 1967; Anguilla separated since 1980)
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg  Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis (1983–present) (officially the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis)

(Commonwealth realm)

Saint Lucia Royal Standard of King Louis XIV.svg Colony of Sainte Lucie (1674–1814)
Flag of Saint Lucia (1939-1967).svg Colony of Saint Lucia (1814–1958) (from 1838 part of the Flag of the British Windward Islands (1903-1953).svg  British Windward Islands)
Flag of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962).svg Part of the West Indies Federation (1958–1962)
Flag of Saint Lucia (1939-1967).svgFlag of Saint Lucia 1967.svg Colony of Saint Lucia (1962–1979) (Associated State from 1967)
Flag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia (1979–present) (Commonwealth realm)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1907-1979).svg Colony of Saint Vincent (1763–1958) (from 1838 part of the Flag of the British Windward Islands (1903-1953).svg  British Windward Islands)
Flag of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962).svg Part of the West Indies Federation (1958–1962)
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1907-1979).svg Colony of Saint Vincent (1962–1979) (Associated State since 1967)
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1979-1985).svgFlag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1985).svgFlag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1979–present) (Commonwealth realm)
United States

See also