Nauru
31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered
UN trusteeship)
Nepal
1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)
Netherlands
23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low
Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; it was
not until 1648 that Spain recognized their independence)
Netherlands Antilles
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
New Caledonia
none (overseas territory of France); note - a
referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new
referendum is scheduled for 2014
New Zealand
26 September 1907 (from UK)
Nicaragua
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Niger
3 August 1960 (from France)
Nigeria
1 October 1960 (from UK)
Niue
on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary
government in free association with New Zealand