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On August 17, 1945, Sukarno proclaimed the independence of Indonesia just two days after Japan's surrender, in a brief ceremony held in Jakarta before a small group of witnesses. The Netherlands took four years to recognise it. Indonesia would go on to become the fourth most populous country in the world and the largest Muslim-majority nation.

On August 17, 1973, NASA launched the Pioneer 11 probe, which six years later became the first spacecraft to fly past Saturn and photograph its rings up close. In 1990 it crossed the boundaries of the solar system and continues travelling toward the stars today, though no longer able to communicate with Earth.

On August 17, 1960, Gabon proclaimed its independence from France, becoming one of the countries of the Year of Africa. Despite being one of the most resource-rich countries on the continent, thanks to its oil and manganese reserves, it has maintained for decades one of the most unequal distributions of wealth in Africa.