Which country became the world’s newest independent state in 2011?

South Sudan became the world’s newest widely recognized independent state in 2011.

It declared independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011 after a referendum in which an overwhelming majority of voters supported separation. The vote followed the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which ended the Second Sudanese Civil War and granted southern Sudan a path to self-determination.

South Sudan joined the United Nations on 14 July 2011 as its 193rd member state. Its capital is Juba, and English is its official working language, although many local languages are spoken. Eritrea became independent in 1993, and Timor-Leste became independent in 2002, so neither is the correct answer for 2011.