The first United Nations territories to achieve sovereignty were primarily former colonies and trust territories. One of the earliest examples is the territory of Libya, which gained independence from Italy in 1951.
Another significant instance is that of Indonesia, which, after a protracted struggle, was recognized as independent from Dutch colonial rule in 1949, although it initially declared independence in 1945.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, many countries in Africa and Asia gained independence, often through decolonization movements. This wave included nations such as Sudan (1956), Ghana (1957), and many others that followed during this transformative period.
Additionally, in the context of UN Trust Territories, Palau, Marshall Islands, and Micronesia became sovereign states in 1994 after the end of their trusteeship under the United States.
Each of these cases highlighted the broader trend of decolonization and the shift toward self-determination for various territories under colonial or foreign administration.