Historical map · 1980

Map of Asia in 1980

In 1980, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 67 states, empires and other polities in Asia. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of India.

States and empires in Asia in 1980

Also on the map: State of Israel, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, People's Republic of Bulgaria, Central African Republic, Republic of China, Kingdom of Bhutan, Kingdom of Norway, Republic of Rwanda, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Djibouti, Third Hellenic Republic, State of Kuwait, State of Qatar, British Empire, Malawi, Lebanon, Republic of Cyprus, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Turkish Federated State of Kıbrıs, Mozambique, United States of America, Commonwealth of Australia, State of Bahrain, Republic of Singapore, United Kingdom, Portugal.

"In the data" gives the first and last year the dataset draws the state under this identity; states often existed earlier or later in another form.

What changed since 1970

New on the map: Islamic Republic of Iran, Arab Republic of Egypt, Zaire, Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Lao People's Democratic Republic, People's Republic of Kampuchea, People's Republic of Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, Republic of Djibouti, Third Hellenic Republic, State of Qatar, Turkish Federated State of Kıbrıs, Mozambique, State of Bahrain.

Gone from the map: Pahlavi Iran, United Arab Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kingdom of Afghanistan, Territory of Papua and New Guinea (Australian), Kingdom of Laos, Republic of Vietnam, Khmer Republic, Democratic Republic of Vietnam, French Fifth Republic, Greek junta.

What comes next: 1990

Appear by 1990: Republic of Yemen, State of Cambodia, Romania, Republic of Lithuania, Sultanate of Brunei.

Gone by 1990: People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, People's Republic of Kampuchea, North Yemen, Socialist Republic of Romania, State of Kuwait.

Read the history of 1980

Guided atlas chapters set near this date, each with its own map, causes and consequences:

• 
  The Stagnant SuperpowerRemaking the State · chapter 7 · 1980
• 
  Geneva and the US ResponseUprooted · chapter 10 · 1979
• 
  The Boat PeopleUprooted · chapter 9 · 1979
• 
  Re-education and FlightUprooted · chapter 8 · 1978

About these borders

The borders come from Cliopatria (v0.2.1, Seshat Global History Databank, CC BY 4.0), the dataset behind our interactive map, with our audited name and border corrections. It records each state's territory year by year from 3400 BC to 2024. Borders before modern surveys are reconstructions: the data draws a state where it held control, and frontier zones, nomadic realms and loose overlordships are approximate. Areas are measured on an equal-area projection. Read how we make our maps.

Asia in other years

• 3000 BC
• 2000 BC
• 1500 BC
• 1000 BC
• 750 BC
• 500 BC
• 323 BC
• 200 BC
• 100 BC
• AD 1
• 100
• 200
• 300
• 400
• 500
• 600
• 700
• 800
• 900
• 1000
• 1100
• 1200
• 1300
• 1400
• 1444
• 1453
• 1492
• 1500
• 1550
• 1600
• 1648
• 1700
• 1750
• 1776
• 1789
• 1800
• 1815
• 1830
• 1850
• 1871
• 1880
• 1900
• 1910
• 1914
• 1918
• 1920
• 1930
• 1938
• 1939
• 1940
• 1942
• 1945
• 1950
• 1960
• 1970
• 1980
• 1990
• 2000
• 2010
• 2020

Other regions in 1980

• World
• Europe
• Middle East
• Africa
• India
• China
• North America
• South America