Independence and Constitutional Referendums Around the World

In Scotland’s Future: from the Referendum to Independence and a Written Constitution published in February 2013, the Scottish Government stated: “Of new states which have become UN members since 1945, 30 became independent following a referendum on independent statehood with the average length of time between the referendum and independence day being approximately 15 months.”

This note looks at independence referendums around the world and referendums on other constitutional arrangements short of full independence in the 20th and 21st centuries. The achievement of independence is taken to be membership of the United Nations. Thus, Kosovo, which has not been recognised by all UN Member States, is not considered independent even though there was a majority vote in favour of independence.