Historical map · 1990

Map of Asia in 1990

In 1990, 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 1990

Also on the map: Sri Lanka, People's Republic of Bulgaria, Central African Republic, Republic of China, Kingdom of Bhutan, Kingdom of Norway, State of Israel, Republic of Rwanda, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Djibouti, Third Hellenic Republic, Republic of Lithuania, State of Qatar, Malawi, Lebanon, Sultanate of Brunei, Republic of Cyprus, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (recognised only by Turkey), British Empire, 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 1980

New on the map: Republic of Yemen, State of Cambodia, Romania, Republic of Lithuania, Sultanate of Brunei.

Gone from the map: People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, People's Republic of Kampuchea, North Yemen, Socialist Republic of Romania, State of Kuwait.

What comes next: 2000

Appear by 2000: Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban), Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Republic of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kingdom of Cambodia, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Tajikistan, State of Eritrea, Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Republic of Bulgaria, Republic of Armenia, Republic of Latvia, Republic of Estonia, Republic of Moldova, East Timor (UN administration), Kuwait, Chechnya (Second Chechen War), Transnistria (unrecognised breakaway state), South Ossetia (unrecognised breakaway state), Palau, French Fifth Republic.

Gone by 2000: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Mongolian People's Republic, Zaire, State of Cambodia, People's Republic of Bulgaria, British Empire, Portugal.

Read the history of 1990

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

• 
  Camps, Screening and the CPAUprooted · chapter 11 · 1989
• 
  Gorbachev and the UnravelingThe Cold War · chapter 11 · NOV 1989
• 
  Two Crises ComparedUprooted · chapter 12 · 1990
• 
  Gorbachev’s GambleRemaking the State · chapter 8 · 1988

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 1990

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