Decolonization

When the UN was founded in 1945, almost one third of the world’s population lived in Territories that were governed by colonial powers. As a result of decolonization, many countries gained their independence. The United Nations played a crucial role in that historic change by encouraging the aspirations of people in dependent territories and by setting goals and standards to accelerate their attainment of independence. Since the founding of the United Nations, 80 former dependencies have gained their independence. Today, fewer than 2 million people live in the 17 remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories. The United Nations continues to monitor the situation in those Non-Self-Governing Territories, working to help them achieve the self-determination that is the right of all peoples.