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1969 CE

This year falls in the Twentieth century (1901–2000). Two world wars, the Russian and Chinese revolutions, the Cold War and the end of most colonial empires fall in this century. It also brings mass air travel, nuclear weapons, antibiotics and computers.

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Within fifteen years

Country · Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea1968–Equatorial Guinea is a small Central African country, the only African state where Spanish is official. It became independent from Spain in 1968. Oil wealth flows to the ruling family of Teodoro Obiang, president since 1979.
Country · EswatiniEswatini1968–Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is a small landlocked kingdom in southern Africa. It became independent from Britain in 1968. King Mswati III rules as an absolute monarch, one of the last in the world.
Country · FijiFiji1970–Fiji is an archipelago of more than three hundred islands in the South Pacific. Britain ruled it from 1874 until independence in 1970. Coups have troubled it; it is now a parliamentary republic.
Country · MauritiusMauritius1968–Mauritius is an island country in the Indian Ocean, once home to the dodo. It became independent from Britain in 1968. It is a stable parliamentary republic and one of Africa's wealthiest states.
Country · NauruNauru1968–Nauru is a tiny Pacific island country, the world's smallest republic. Phosphate mining made it briefly one of the richest states per person. It became independent in 1968 and is a parliamentary republic.
Country · TongaTonga1970–Tonga is a Polynesian kingdom in the South Pacific, the only Pacific island state never formally colonized. It became fully independent in 1970. It is a constitutional monarchy under the Tupou dynasty.
Country · BahrainBahrain1971–Bahrain is a small island kingdom in the Persian Gulf. It was a British protectorate until independence in 1971. Ruled by the Al Khalifa family, it is a constitutional monarchy and a banking center.
Country · BangladeshBangladesh1971–Bangladesh is a densely populated country on the Bay of Bengal, home to most of the world's Bengali speakers. It broke away from Pakistan in a bloody war in 1971. It is a parliamentary republic.
Country · QatarQatar1971–Qatar is a small, immensely wealthy emirate on the Persian Gulf. It became independent from Britain in 1971. Vast natural gas reserves made it one of the richest countries per person in the world.
Country · United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates1971–The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates on the Persian Gulf, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It formed in 1971 when the British withdrew. Oil wealth built it into a global business hub.
Country · BarbadosBarbados1966–Barbados is a small island country in the Caribbean. It was a British sugar colony for three centuries until independence in 1966. In 2021 it removed the British monarch and became a parliamentary republic.
Country · BotswanaBotswana1966–Botswana is a landlocked country in southern Africa, mostly covered by the Kalahari Desert. It became independent from Britain in 1966. It is a parliamentary republic and one of Africa's most stable democracies.
Event · Twentieth century · ChinaCultural Revolution1966–1976The campaign Mao launched in 1966 against officials, teachers, and people classed as enemies. Schools closed. Red Guards and later factional fighting killed large numbers. A full count is not agreed. Generally treated as lasting until Mao's death in 1976.
Country · GuyanaGuyana1966–Guyana is a country on the Atlantic coast of South America, the only English speaking state on the continent. It became independent from Britain in 1966. Oil found offshore promises to transform it.
Country · LesothoLesotho1966–Lesotho is a mountain kingdom entirely surrounded by South Africa. King Moshoeshoe I founded it in the nineteenth century as a refuge from the Zulu wars. It became independent from Britain in 1966 and is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
Country · BahamasBahamas1973–The Bahamas is an archipelago of about seven hundred islands off Florida. Columbus made his first landfall here in 1492. It became independent from Britain in 1973 and is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
Country · GambiaGambia1965–The Gambia is a tiny country wrapped around the Gambia River, surrounded by Senegal. It became independent from Britain in 1965. It is a presidential republic.
Country · MaldivesMaldives1965–The Maldives is an archipelago of about twelve hundred coral islands in the Indian Ocean. It became independent from Britain in 1965. It is a presidential republic and a luxury tourist destination threatened by rising seas.
Country · SingaporeSingapore1965–Singapore is a city state at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, one of the world's great ports. It was expelled from Malaysia in 1965 and became independent alone. Under Lee Kuan Yew it grew into one of the richest countries on earth.
Country · GrenadaGrenada1974–Grenada is a small island country in the Caribbean, known as the Spice Isle for its nutmeg. It became independent from Britain in 1974. The United States invaded in 1983 to topple a Marxist regime.
Country · Guinea-BissauGuinea-Bissau1974–Guinea-Bissau is a small West African country of coast and islands. Portugal fought a long colonial war here before independence in 1974. It is a semi presidential republic plagued by coups and drug trafficking.
Country · MalawiMalawi1964–Malawi is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa, named for Lake Malawi. It became independent from Britain in 1964. Hastings Banda ruled as a dictator for three decades; it is now a presidential republic.
Country · MaltaMalta1964–Malta is a small island country in the central Mediterranean. Its position made it one of the most fought over islands in history. It became independent from Britain in 1964 and a republic in 1974.
Country · TanzaniaTanzania1964–Tanzania is an East African country home to Mount Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti. Tanganyika and Zanzibar united in 1964. Julius Nyerere built a peaceful single party state; it is now a presidential republic.