Provisional governments generally come to power in connection with a grave crisis that has caused the previous government to suddenly and irreversibly collapse, such as economic collapse, civil war, defeat in a foreign war, revolution, or the death of a long-serving authoritarian ruler.
The Continental Congress, a convention of delegates from 13 British colonies on the east coast of North America became the provisional government of the United States in 1776, during the American Revolutionary War.
Additionally, the Cameroonian provisional government currently exists in a splintered state, with several organizations claiming sole legitimacy.
As of 2024 in Asia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the State of Palestine under both Fatah (detailed above) and Hamas, Sri Lanka, Syria, and Yemen currently have provisional governments.
Provisional governments were also established throughout Europe as occupied nations were liberated from Nazi occupation by the Allies.