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Countries Unconquered since 1850

Name the countries that have not been controlled by a foreign power since 1850.
China is not counted because the Qing dynasty were not Han Chinese
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: May 14, 2016
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First submittedJune 8, 2014
Times taken58,587
Average score57.7%
Rating4.30
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Since
Country
1066
United Kingdom
1243
San Marino
1243
Turkey
1480
Russia
1523
Sweden
1634
Bhutan
1743
Oman
Since
Country
1768
Nepal
1781
United States
1808
Portugal
1813
Andorra
1814
Spain
1815
Liechtenstein
1815
Switzerland
Since
Country
1816
Argentina
1818
Chile
1819
Colombia
1822
Brazil
1825
Bolivia
1828
Uruguay
Since
Country
1830
Venezuela
1830
Ecuador
1838
Costa Rica
1838
Guatemala
1839
Peru
1847
Liberia
+3
Level 73
Oct 26, 2015
I think Peru should not be included. Chile occupied the southern half of Peru and Lima (the capital) for 3-4 years in the 1880s
+2
Level 54
Mar 28, 2017
^ i second this
+5
Level 74
Dec 21, 2015
San Marino an Liechtenstein (?) are missing. Especially San Marino has an unique history of not being conquered, it would be a shame not to add them.
+4
Level ∞
May 12, 2016
Those two countries have been added. Thanks!
+1
Level 58
Oct 22, 2022
I thought San Marino was occupied during WW2.
+4
Level 95
May 13, 2016
I think Andorra is unconquered too since napoleonic times.
+3
Level ∞
May 14, 2016
Added Andorra as well
+1
Level 65
Jul 22, 2016
I'm curious: who controlled the Vatican?
+5
Level 60
Nov 18, 2016
Italy. It wasn't until 1922 that the Vatican became it's own country.
+1
Level 59
Aug 11, 2020
1929, actually.
+1
Level 60
Sep 23, 2021
Hmm, maybe the country that surrounded them?
+2
Level 76
Aug 2, 2016
Wasn't Russia part of USSR from 1917 to 1990-odd?
+2
Level 83
Aug 13, 2016
It WAS the USSR, pretty much. Seeing as it was Russia that did the invading, I think we're safe to call it "unconquered" in this instance.
+1
Level 65
Mar 27, 2024
Didn't they end up leaving the Soviet Union before Kazakhstan though, leaving Kazakhstan as the entire USSR for a short period of time? I know this doesn't change that, but it is a fun fact!
+2
Level 48
Sep 11, 2016
Shouldn't countries like Bahrain and Tonga be included here if Nepal and Bhutan are?

All of those countries were protectorates of the UK even after 1850.

+1
Level 22
Nov 18, 2016
If you said that, Australia would be on the list.
+2
Level 58
Nov 21, 2016
Australia was a colony (or rather, a number of colonies), not a protectorate
+1
Level 75
Sep 21, 2016
I'll offer the Maldives for this list. While it was a protectorate of the UK from 1887 until 1965, no Brits resided anywhere in the country for most of that time, Maldivian government was undisturbed, and Britain even had to negotiate the use of the southern island of Gan as an airbase during World War II (a lease that was subsequently renewed and ultimately revoked by the Maldivian government using negotiations that were basically the same before and after the end of the protectorate). This certainly doesn't represent a "conquering." The only time in the last 2,000-2,500 years that the Maldives hasn't had local rulers was during a period of Portuguese control between 1558 and 1573. This isn't a complaint - it must be pretty hard to come up with a list that makes sense for this.
+1
Level 58
Nov 18, 2016
Iran has been conquered since 1850? I don't think so.
+4
Level ∞
Nov 18, 2016
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Russian_Entente
+1
Level 51
Nov 18, 2016
why not Haiti?
+3
Level 22
Nov 18, 2016
I believe the US occupied it for quite some time.
+2
Level 60
Nov 18, 2016
In January 1914, British, German and US military forces entered Haiti, ostensibly to protect their citizens from civil unrest at the time.[75] In an expression of the Theodore Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, the United States occupied the island in 1915. U.S. Marines were stationed in the country until 1934, a period of nineteen years.
+2
Level 49
Nov 18, 2016
Can I just say how much I disagree with not including China? They were never fully controlled by foreign powers after 1850, and Manchuria is now an integral part of China. Although not ethnically Han, there are many non-Han minorities inside China, and have been for centuries. It is hard to see the Manchu Qing as an alien group when those same people are still part of China, even if they are a different ethnicity.
+1
Level 63
Dec 16, 2022
Indeed if we do not include partially conquered like russia was in ww2 than china should definitely be there
+2
Level 64
Nov 18, 2016
"Name the countries that have not been controlled by a foreign power since 1850"

What is the criteria?

Portugal was not controlled by French Empire during Napoleon invasions. French invaded Portugal and there were many battles, but they never had political control. In fact officially they never took control of the main cities Lisbon or Porto, despite of the atempts. The French killed many people, sacked lots of precious objects, food, etc, but they NEVER had control of the territory.

Likewise the Swedish conquered Moscow in 1610 but you are not counting it and that;s correct because Russia did not lose sovereignty, even though they had another country invading the territory. And like that it happened to other countries in this list...countries that were invaded, there were battles without losing sovereignty. Last time Portugal was officially ruled by other country was in 1640, at that time Spain ruled Portugal.

+2
Level 60
Nov 18, 2016
Portugal is a correct answer...?
+1
Level 58
Nov 21, 2016
He is arguing for a 1640 rather than 1808 date for Portugal.
+1
Level 28
Nov 18, 2016
German troops occupied San Marino for a few days
+1
Level 60
Nov 18, 2016
According to your source, Andorra was occupied by France in 1933 and Greece has been unconquered since 1822.
+3
Level 58
Nov 21, 2016
Greece was under German occupation in World War 2
+1
Level 61
Nov 18, 2016
Way too much grey area in this quiz
+2
Level 46
Nov 19, 2016
Seems to me all the South American ones are on here because nobody could be bothered going so far away for some rainforest :)

(referring to Europeans here mostly)

+3
Level 50
Jul 20, 2018
Most South American countries gained independence in the early 1800s.
+3
Level 66
Nov 19, 2016
Thailand has never been conquered by any foreign power. Thailand's close relationship with British, Dutch, French, Spanish and Japanese made them the only unconquered country in Southeast Asia.
+1
Level 58
Nov 21, 2016
Agree. 1238 seems to be the year according to Wikipedia
+1
Level 81
Jan 9, 2019
They were never conquered or colonized by a Western power, but I believe the Burmese controlled them for some period in the late 1800s, even though they mostly fought off Burmese invasions. Maybe someone can clarify.
+4
Level 51
Nov 19, 2016
If china is not accepted Russia shouldn't be either because of the USSR.
+1
Level 32
Mar 28, 2017
Until, not since
+3
Level 29
Mar 28, 2017
turkey = ottoman empire wich was invaded and occupied in world war 1
+1
Level 43
May 2, 2017
I thought South America got its independence after Australia so I tried Australia and Failed and then was like well I guess south America isn't one
+4
Level 84
May 17, 2017
Really? As in REALLY???????

I mean, the Latin American nations emancipation from Europe (basically: Spain, Portugal and France) came on the heels of the US independence, the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Australia was still a British Dominion during WWI, almost a century later.

+1
Level 77
May 17, 2017
Wasn't Oman under the rule of British Empire or something? And isn't Bhutan like a puppet state of India?
+1
Level 84
May 17, 2017
Bhutan is kinda weird: The 1949 treaty with India lets India "guide" the Bhutanese foreign policy; however, it also calls for non-interference in each other's internal affairs. So calling Bhutan a "puppet state" of India would be mostly wrong.
+1
Level 66
Aug 28, 2018
mostly
+3
Level 63
Jul 28, 2017
so, we're not counting all foreign invasions, such as when the U.S. overthrew democratically elected leader of Guatemala Arbenz in 1954? sure, the U.S. didn't technically seize control of the nation, but instituted it's own chosen "leadership." just like they've done in countless countries around the world... but i guess that doesn't count.
+1
Level 47
Nov 6, 2017
This one got me thinking. Had to think about which country was actually a country at the time before deciding which ones to answer.
+1
Level 58
Dec 5, 2017
Ethiopia has not been conquered by Europe.
+4
Level 66
Jan 22, 2018
Italy conquered it in World War II
+1
Level 66
Aug 28, 2018
Try telling that to an Ethiopian.
+2
Level 82
Jan 9, 2019
I tried. Now what? Nationalist rhetoric trumps facts?
+1
Level 65
Mar 10, 2018
How did I get Oman but not Russia?
+1
Level 12
Aug 28, 2018
Shouldn't Mexico be on here?
+1
Level 66
Aug 28, 2018
nope.
+1
Level 37
Jan 9, 2019
what about the uk being ruled by norseman and a dutch king?
+2
Level 82
Jan 9, 2019
the Viking conquest of England was before 1066.
+1
Level 61
Apr 7, 2019
I got Oman and Liberia but the United States.
+1
Level 32
Apr 8, 2019
Why don't Ethiopia and Thailand make the cut?
+1
Level 64
Aug 25, 2021
Ethiopia was occupied by Italy in 1936. Thailand was made a puppet state of Japan during WWII.
+1
Level 17
Apr 8, 2019
I'm a proud swiss citizen...
+1
Level 68
Apr 8, 2019
Canada has been its own country since 1867. It's part of the commonwealth but is not controlled by the UK at all.
+2
Level 50
Apr 19, 2019
That's true, but it should not be on the list, because it was controlled by the UK in 1850.
+1
Level 59
Aug 11, 2020
It's not true, in my opinion. I'd say Canada became truly independent only in 1931. Or even arguably in 1982, since the UK's consent was needed to modify the Canadian constitution prior to that date.
+1
Level 60
Apr 5, 2021
I'd say that Canada is still part of the U.K.
+1
Level 50
Jan 2, 2022
Yes, it was certainly a gradual independence. But whatever date you choose, it only started in 1867, so Canada does not belong on the list.
+1
Level 56
May 30, 2019
Russia was conquered by Poland in XVII century.
+1
Level 82
Nov 28, 2020
Large parts of it were conquered by Poland (including Moscow), but it was never fully or even mostly under Polish control at any given point in time.
+1
Level 50
Aug 8, 2019
Parts of UK was conquered during WWII (Jersey at least) as USA by Japan (Guam at least).

Anyway, good quiz!

+1
Level 57
Apr 11, 2022
Jersey isn't part of the UK, nor are the other Channel Islands. They're Crown Dependencies.
+1
Level 67
Mar 15, 2020
I am not sure Guatemala should be on here. Operation PBSUCCESS I think should disqualify it.
+1
Level 76
May 9, 2020
Peru, Bolivia, and Chile were involved in a war from 1879 to 1883. Bolivia became landlocked, and Peru also lost territory.
+1
Level 68
Jun 4, 2020
But land gain/loss is irrelevant, none of them were conquered
+2
Level 73
Aug 25, 2020
Wasn't Ottoman conquered after WW1?
+1
Level 82
Nov 28, 2020
It was defeated, but not conquered or occupied.
+2
Level 84
Sep 22, 2021
Being carved up and having the majority of its territory divided between the victorious Allied powers sounds pretty conquered to me. Having treaty conditions forced on them and having their parliament dissolved by foreign powers seems pretty conquered. Armistic of Mudros
+2
Level 84
Sep 22, 2021
"The armistice was followed by the occupation of Constantinople (Istanbul) and the subsequent partitioning of the Ottoman Empire. The Treaty of Sèvres (10 August 1920), which was signed in the aftermath of World War I, imposed harsh terms on the Ottoman Empire, but it was never ratified by the Ottoman Parliament in Istanbul. The Ottoman Parliament was officially disbanded by the Allies on 11 April 1920 due to the overwhelming opposition of the Turkish MPs to the provisions discussed in Sèvres."

All things that happen to a country that has been neither conquered nor occupied.

+1
Level 91
Nov 27, 2020
For some reason I was expecting Mongolia to be on the list.
+2
Level 82
Nov 28, 2020
Pretty certain Thailand belongs on here. Japan did invade it in 1941, but the war lasted 5 hours and Thailand was never conquered before it traded in neutrality to join the Axis. Before that it was never colonised by any European power and it hasn't been in war since then. I can't really see any reason to leave it off this list, though I'm assuming it's because of the events of 1941, though I don't think these constitute a conquest by any stretch of the imagination.

Also I'm not really sold on the Manchu justification for not including China - since 1850 Manchuria has continually been a part of China (and for centuries prior).* The Manchus weren't ethnically Han Chinese, but I'm not sure this is a quiz about the ethnic make up of the government and I think you're getting into pretty weird territory when you start saying a nation has been "conquered" because its leaders come from an ethnic minority.

*As far as I'm aware, Manchukuo never received formal international recognition

+1
Level 64
Aug 25, 2021
Japan made Thailand a puppet state and the quiz says "Not controlled by a foreign power." Manchukuo/Manchuria was also made a puppet state, for example, but the Japanese still conquered it.
+2
Level 71
Dec 19, 2020
Napoleon put his brother on the throne of Spain.
+3
Level 33
May 6, 2021
This was confusing because settler colonies like the US were counted as "unconquered" rather than the conquest itself.
+3
Level 39
May 28, 2021
ha, that's an interesting point. Most of the current territory of the USA was conquered post 1781, but by the USA. Same argument goes for Russia I guess.
+1
Level 56
Jun 7, 2021
wait I thought Napoleon conquered Russia, even going as far to Moscow in 1812. Correct me if I am wrong.
+1
Level 58
Jun 17, 2021
He got the city (which was burnt by the Russians before that), but the Russian army was very much still there, so was the rest of vast territory (especially that Moscow wasn't even the capital), so you can't really say he conquered it.

You can argue that Poland did it, as we entered Moscow (the capital) and put our Tzar on the throne.

+3
Level 64
Aug 25, 2021
If he conquered Russia why do we still laugh at Napoleon for invading Russia in the winter?
+1
Level 84
Sep 22, 2021
Occupying part of a country is not conquest. Who won the war?
+1
Level 82
Oct 16, 2021
How about putting some caveat about "conquered"? Completely conquered? (Bolivia) The capital conquered? (Turkey) Or some other definition?
+1
Level 78
Oct 27, 2021
Strange idea for a quiz when you consider most of Europe was occupied by Nazi Germany, all of Africa except Liberia was colonised until the mid-20th century. All of Oceania was a battleground between the Allies (US Navy) and Japan. It leaves behind South America and the neutrals, plus USA, Russia, UK, Turkey and those countries that were not desirable. An odd and eclectic collection of nations yoked together in an unnatural grouping.
+1
Level 78
Oct 27, 2021
But nevertheless (and admittedly) popular :)
+1
Level 76
Dec 25, 2021
Time for bed. I got them all except for Russia and Brazil...face palm.
+1
Level 43
Feb 6, 2022
san marino was occupied by the germans during ww2...
+1
Level 59
Mar 22, 2022
To add on to what others have been saying the UK should have a later date, Oman shouldn't be there (bc of the UK), Turkey obviously shouldn't be there (was not even a state until 1917 or sth) and Russia shouldn't be there (the Russian heartland was conquered by the Germans)
+1
Level 46
Apr 11, 2022
russia was the ussr but that never counted it was never russia until 1991
+1
Level 48
May 3, 2022
I can't believe I forgot Sweden... got everything else but not that :D
+1
Level 65
May 31, 2022
I would argue that China should make the list in that Manchu conquest happened before 1850. Modern British monarchy derives its legitimacy ultimately from the conquest Normandy dynasty, and should the same standards apply then the UK shall not be included either.
+1
Level 69
Feb 27, 2023
Russia is questionable. Significant parts of their land were temporarily occupid during the Nazi and Napoleonic invasions respectively
+1
Level 64
May 16, 2023
how did i missed uk?!
+1
Level 65
Oct 28, 2023
Oman was a british colony, Turkey had plenty of wars before the creation of the modern state, where nations took mainland turkish lands and I’m pretty sure we Germans were in St Petersburg, Volgograd and before Moscow. I guess not fully occupied yeah, well you sure have your definitions, so I guess it can be right too. But not easy for the masses if that’s what is “right”
+1
Level 65
Feb 10, 2024
We're on the list either way, but you could argue Britain was conquered by a foreign power in the glorious revolution of 1688.
+1
Level 62
Mar 23, 2024
Sweden have never been conquerd