The territory of Tuva was controlled by various groups, including the Xiongnu, Xianbei state, Rouran Khaganate, Tang dynasty, Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate, Mongol Empire, Yuan dynasty, Northern Yuan dynasty, Khotgoid Khanate, and Zunghar Khanate.

From 1758 to 1911, Tuva was part of China's Qing dynasty and administered by Outer Mongolia.

During the Xinhai Revolution in China, Tsarist Russia initiated a separatist movement among the Tuvans, while pro-independence and pro-Mongol groups also emerged.

Tsar Nicholas II agreed to the third petition by Tuva's leadership, establishing a protectorate over the then-independent state.

A Tuvan capital was established, called Belotsarsk.

Tuva became nominally independent as the Uryankhay Republic before becoming a Russian protectorate as Uryankhay Krai under Tsar Nicholas II.

Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, most of Tuva was occupied by Alexander Kolchak's White Russian troops until July 15, 1919.

From July 1919 to February 1920, the communist Red Army controlled Tuva.

From February 1920 to June 1921, Tuva was occupied by China, with Yan Shichao as governor.

The Bolsheviks expelled Chinese troops and established the Tuvan People's Republic, also known as Tannu-Tuva.

The capital of Tuva, formerly Belotsarsk (Khem-Beldyr since 1918), was renamed Kyzyl, meaning 'red'.

The pro-Soviet regime discarded the state's Mongol script in favor of a Latin alphabet designed for Tuva by Russian linguists.

Cyrillic script replaced the Latin alphabet in Tuva.

Tuva was annexed by the Soviet Union and became the Tuvan Autonomous Oblast within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

The territory became the Tuvan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

There was a wave of attacks against Tuva's Russian community, resulting in numerous deaths and prompting the deployment of Russian troops. Many Russians left the republic during this period.

The Tuvan Democratic Movement was founded by Kaadyr-ool Bicheldei to address issues such as job shortages, housing, and the status of the Tuvan language and culture.

Tuva was a signatory to the treaty that created the Russian Federation.

Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama, visited Tuva for three days. He blessed and consecrated the yellow-blue-white flag of Tuva, which had been officially adopted three days before.

The present flag of Tuva was adopted, featuring yellow for prosperity, blue for courage and strength, and white for purity.

A new constitution was drawn up for the republic, creating a 32-member parliament (Supreme Khural) and a Grand Khural. The official name was changed from Tuva (Тува) to Tyva (Тыва).

The new constitution was approved by Tuvans in a referendum.

Russian president Vladimir Putin nominated Sholban Kara-ool as the Chairman of the Government of Tuva.

Kara-ool's candidacy was approved by the Khural.

It is estimated that in 2020, there were 40 million metric tonnes of coal produced in Tuva, which accounts for approximately 9.4% of Russia's average annual coal production of 423 million metric tonnes.

In the 2024 Russian presidential election, President Vladimir Putin won 95.37% of the vote in Tuva.

The Kuragino–Kyzyl railway line is scheduled to be completed.