Countries that might vanish in the next 50 years

Political borders may seem fixed, but history tells a different story. From the Roman Empire to the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, plenty of once-recognizable nations have vanished, merged, or fractured. Maps change, often faster than we think.

As climate change threatens coastlines and resources, and old colonial borders strain under political and ethnic pressure, it's possible that some of today’s countries may not be around in 50 years.

Click through the gallery to see which ones are at risk before they disappear from more than just your travel bucket list. 

Maldives: the sinking paradise

The Maldives, where most land sits barely above sea level, is slowly losing ground, literally. As oceans rise, the island nation is already scouting safer shores, even buying land abroad as a backup home for its people. 

Belgium: united on paper

Belgium’s motto, “Unity Makes Strength,” feels more hopeful than accurate. Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia already live like separate countries, divided by language, politics, media, and daily life.

Kiribati’s fight for survival

Kiribati’s low-lying coral atolls are sinking, even though they barely emit any greenhouse gases. Preparing for the worst, the government bought 6,000 acres (approximately 2,500 hectares) of land in Fiji to support a planned, dignified migration for its people.

North Korea: cracks in the wall

North Korea has outlasted countless predictions of collapse, but its future remains uncertain. Food shortages continue despite relentless farming drives, while smuggled media steadily chips away at the regime’s tight grip on information.

Yemen: a country divided

Yemen may still appear on maps, but years of brutal civil war have fractured it beyond recognition. Control is split between Houthi rebels in the northwest, the official government in the south, and a patchwork of other armed groups.

Tuvalu: high tides, higher stakes

Tuvalu may not need to fully sink to become unlivable. In recent years, king tides have turned once-dry village centers into shallow lagoons, forcing residents to wade through rising seawater just to get around.

Libya: a nation in pieces

Since Gaddafi’s fall in 2011, Libya has been split between rival governments. The chaos echoes its past: before colonial rule, regions like Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Fezzan operated more like separate states than one unified country.

The UK at a crossroads

The United Kingdom’s unity is under growing strain. Since Brexit, Scottish calls for independence have surged, fueled by frustration over being pulled out of the EU despite a strong pro-Remain vote north of the border.

The fragile reality of Somalia

Somalia is more of a recognized idea than a working nation. For over 30 years, it’s been a fragmented patchwork where central government control barely extends beyond the capital of Mogadishu.

Iraq’s unstable borders

Iraq’s colonial-era borders ignore deep ethnic and religious divides, creating constant tension. Kurdistan operates with significant autonomy, managing its own security and oil sales, exposing fractures in Iraq’s national cohesion.

Haiti on the edge

Haiti faces a governance crisis threatening its survival. Political chaos, environmental disasters, and gang violence have fractured control, leaving the government managing only parts of the capital.

Cyprus: two worlds on one island

Since 1974, Cyprus has been split between the internationally recognized Republic and the Turkish-backed Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey. Despite EU pressure and peace talks, ethnic divisions keep the island divided.

Moldova’s uncertain future

Moldova teeters in geopolitical limbo, split between its official territory and the breakaway region of Transnistria, an unrecognized, Russian-backed state since 1992.