Which 30 countries decided to be independent?

Celebrations after results in the Southern Sudan referendum in 2011

The Scottish government says it will take until March 2016 for Scotland to become independent if there is a "Yes" vote in the referendum in autumn next year.

First Minister Alex Salmond said the timescale was in line with previous international experience.

He told BBC Scotland: "30 countries have gone through the process of having a referendum and then becoming independent.

"The average timescale for these 30 countries since the Second World War is 15 months - we've actually allowed a bit longer than that in the process."

Mr Salmond then asked: "If 30 other countries managed to do it, then why couldn't Scotland?"

The Scottish government has given the BBC a list of the 30 countries which it says have decided on independence since World War II - along with the year they took UN membership.