Territorial change of British Empire (British Colonial Empire)

“British Empire”(British Colonial Empire) — appears in this map’s data from AD 1706 to 1999. Its territory was largest in AD 1900 – 1904, at ≈ 13.69 million km².

Territory by period

PeriodArea
AD 1706 – 1708≈ 174 km²
AD 1709 – 1712≈ 227 thousand km²
AD 1713 – 1717≈ 418 thousand km²
AD 1718 – 1720≈ 483 thousand km²
AD 1721 – 1726≈ 636 thousand km²
AD 1727 – 1733≈ 641 thousand km²
AD 1734 – 1737≈ 651 thousand km²
AD 1738 – 1740≈ 679 thousand km²
AD 1741 – 1743≈ 715 thousand km²
AD 1744 – 1751≈ 741 thousand km²
AD 1752 – 1756≈ 845 thousand km²
AD 1757 – 1761≈ 868 thousand km²
AD 1762 – 1762≈ 992 thousand km²
AD 1763 – 1768≈ 1.68 million km²
AD 1769 – 1771≈ 1.89 million km²
AD 1772 – 1774≈ 1.93 million km²
AD 1775 – 1775≈ 1.04 million km²
AD 1776 – 1777≈ 936 thousand km²
AD 1778 – 1779≈ 1.06 million km²
AD 1780 – 1780≈ 1.19 million km²
AD 1781 – 1782≈ 922 thousand km²
AD 1783 – 1787≈ 725 thousand km²
AD 1788 – 1793≈ 695 thousand km²
AD 1794 – 1795≈ 699 thousand km²
AD 1796 – 1796≈ 715 thousand km²
AD 1797 – 1798≈ 739 thousand km²
AD 1799 – 1799≈ 764 thousand km²
AD 1800 – 1802≈ 770 thousand km²
AD 1803 – 1804≈ 727 thousand km²
AD 1805 – 1805≈ 782 thousand km²
AD 1806 – 1806≈ 781 thousand km²
AD 1807 – 1808≈ 782 thousand km²
AD 1809 – 1810≈ 784 thousand km²
AD 1811 – 1811≈ 1.15 million km²
AD 1812 – 1813≈ 1.29 million km²
AD 1814 – 1814≈ 971 thousand km²
AD 1815 – 1819≈ 1.00 million km²
AD 1820 – 1821≈ 861 thousand km²
AD 1822 – 1823≈ 887 thousand km²
AD 1824 – 1824≈ 881 thousand km²
AD 1825 – 1827≈ 948 thousand km²
AD 1828 – 1829≈ 1.08 million km²
AD 1830 – 1833≈ 1.09 million km²
AD 1834 – 1835≈ 1.12 million km²
AD 1836 – 1839≈ 1.19 million km²
AD 1840 – 1841≈ 1.21 million km²
AD 1842 – 1845≈ 1.23 million km²
AD 1846 – 1847≈ 1.27 million km²
AD 1848 – 1852≈ 1.31 million km²
AD 1853 – 1855≈ 1.54 million km²
AD 1856 – 1856≈ 2.55 million km²
AD 1857 – 1858≈ 3.21 million km²
AD 1859 – 1859≈ 5.13 million km²
AD 1860 – 1861≈ 5.33 million km²
AD 1862 – 1862≈ 5.94 million km²
AD 1863 – 1863≈ 7.25 million km²
AD 1864 – 1865≈ 7.25 million km²
AD 1866 – 1867≈ 7.29 million km²
AD 1868 – 1869≈ 8.07 million km²
AD 1870 – 1870≈ 8.42 million km²
AD 1871 – 1872≈ 8.53 million km²
AD 1873 – 1876≈ 8.68 million km²
AD 1877 – 1879≈ 9.38 million km²
AD 1880 – 1884≈ 9.79 million km²
AD 1885 – 1889≈ 10.05 million km²
AD 1890 – 1894≈ 12.29 million km²
AD 1895 – 1897≈ 12.48 million km²
AD 1898 – 1899≈ 12.49 million km²
AD 1900 – 1904≈ 13.69 million km²
AD 1905 – 1907≈ 6.37 million km²
AD 1908 – 1910≈ 7.12 million km²
AD 1911 – 1913≈ 11.40 million km²
AD 1914 – 1914≈ 11.39 million km²
AD 1915 – 1916≈ 11.75 million km²
AD 1917 – 1917≈ 11.88 million km²
AD 1918 – 1919≈ 11.97 million km²
AD 1920 – 1921≈ 12.03 million km²
AD 1922 – 1923≈ 11.65 million km²
AD 1924 – 1925≈ 11.65 million km²
AD 1926 – 1926≈ 11.65 million km²
AD 1927 – 1927≈ 11.65 million km²
AD 1928 – 1931≈ 11.65 million km²
AD 1932 – 1941≈ 1.90 million km²
AD 1942 – 1945≈ 1.84 million km²
AD 1946 – 1946≈ 1.86 million km²
AD 1947 – 1957≈ 1.41 million km²
AD 1958 – 1962≈ 579 thousand km²
AD 1963 – 1968≈ 351 thousand km²
AD 1969 – 1995≈ 134 thousand km²
AD 1996 – 1999≈ 23 thousand km²
AD 1706AD 1999

Outline at its largest extent

Outline of the territory in AD 1900 – 1904 (map drawing). Neighbouring countries are not drawn.

Area and rank by frame

For each frame in which borders change: this country’s territory and its rank by area among the countries that have territory in that frame.

FrameAreaRank
AD 1706≈ 174 km²113 of 114
AD 1709≈ 227 thousand km²32 of 120
AD 1713≈ 418 thousand km²20 of 123
AD 1718≈ 483 thousand km²21 of 124
AD 1721≈ 636 thousand km²15 of 125
AD 1727≈ 641 thousand km²14 of 128
AD 1734≈ 651 thousand km²14 of 132
AD 1738≈ 679 thousand km²14 of 125
AD 1741≈ 715 thousand km²13 of 125
AD 1744≈ 741 thousand km²12 of 129
AD 1748≈ 741 thousand km²12 of 132
AD 1752≈ 845 thousand km²13 of 132
AD 1757≈ 868 thousand km²11 of 132
AD 1762≈ 992 thousand km²11 of 131
AD 1763≈ 1.68 million km²8 of 132
AD 1769≈ 1.89 million km²8 of 128
AD 1772≈ 1.93 million km²7 of 127
AD 1775≈ 1.04 million km²11 of 132
AD 1776≈ 936 thousand km²12 of 132
AD 1778≈ 1.06 million km²11 of 131
AD 1780≈ 1.19 million km²11 of 131
AD 1781≈ 922 thousand km²12 of 131
AD 1783≈ 725 thousand km²13 of 130
AD 1788≈ 695 thousand km²13 of 129
AD 1791≈ 695 thousand km²15 of 128
AD 1792≈ 695 thousand km²14 of 130
AD 1794≈ 699 thousand km²13 of 125
AD 1796≈ 715 thousand km²14 of 124
AD 1797≈ 739 thousand km²13 of 125
AD 1799≈ 764 thousand km²14 of 124
AD 1800≈ 770 thousand km²14 of 123
AD 1803≈ 727 thousand km²15 of 123
AD 1805≈ 782 thousand km²14 of 125
AD 1806≈ 781 thousand km²14 of 138
AD 1807≈ 782 thousand km²15 of 132
AD 1809≈ 784 thousand km²14 of 131
AD 1811≈ 1.15 million km²14 of 131
AD 1812≈ 1.29 million km²13 of 133
AD 1814≈ 971 thousand km²13 of 142
AD 1815≈ 1.00 million km²11 of 139
AD 1820≈ 861 thousand km²13 of 148
AD 1822≈ 887 thousand km²15 of 147
AD 1824≈ 881 thousand km²15 of 148
AD 1825≈ 948 thousand km²15 of 150
AD 1828≈ 1.08 million km²15 of 144
AD 1830≈ 1.09 million km²15 of 143
AD 1834≈ 1.12 million km²15 of 143
AD 1836≈ 1.19 million km²15 of 145
AD 1840≈ 1.21 million km²15 of 155
AD 1842≈ 1.23 million km²15 of 156
AD 1846≈ 1.27 million km²15 of 152
AD 1848≈ 1.31 million km²14 of 147
AD 1849≈ 1.31 million km²14 of 144
AD 1853≈ 1.54 million km²11 of 144
AD 1856≈ 2.55 million km²6 of 149
AD 1857≈ 3.21 million km²6 of 150
AD 1859≈ 5.13 million km²4 of 146
AD 1860≈ 5.33 million km²4 of 142
AD 1861≈ 5.33 million km²4 of 140
AD 1862≈ 5.94 million km²4 of 138
AD 1863≈ 7.25 million km²4 of 139
AD 1864≈ 7.25 million km²4 of 139
AD 1865≈ 7.25 million km²4 of 139
AD 1866≈ 7.29 million km²4 of 133
AD 1868≈ 8.07 million km²4 of 134
AD 1870≈ 8.42 million km²4 of 132
AD 1871≈ 8.53 million km²3 of 113
AD 1873≈ 8.68 million km²3 of 108
AD 1877≈ 9.38 million km²3 of 104
AD 1880≈ 9.79 million km²3 of 104
AD 1884≈ 9.79 million km²3 of 105
AD 1885≈ 10.05 million km²3 of 101
AD 1890≈ 12.29 million km²2 of 99
AD 1895≈ 12.48 million km²2 of 90
AD 1898≈ 12.49 million km²2 of 87
AD 1900≈ 13.69 million km²2 of 84
AD 1905≈ 6.37 million km²8 of 83
AD 1908≈ 7.12 million km²8 of 79
AD 1911≈ 11.40 million km²2 of 76
AD 1912≈ 11.40 million km²2 of 77
AD 1913≈ 11.40 million km²2 of 78
AD 1914≈ 11.39 million km²2 of 76
AD 1915≈ 11.75 million km²2 of 75
AD 1916≈ 11.75 million km²2 of 71
AD 1917≈ 11.88 million km²2 of 71
AD 1918≈ 11.97 million km²2 of 80
AD 1919≈ 11.97 million km²2 of 88
AD 1920≈ 12.03 million km²2 of 84
AD 1922≈ 11.65 million km²2 of 87
AD 1924≈ 11.65 million km²2 of 86
AD 1926≈ 11.65 million km²2 of 84
AD 1927≈ 11.65 million km²2 of 84
AD 1928≈ 11.65 million km²2 of 85
AD 1929≈ 11.65 million km²2 of 85
AD 1930≈ 11.65 million km²2 of 86
AD 1932≈ 1.90 million km²18 of 88
AD 1936≈ 1.90 million km²20 of 89
AD 1938≈ 1.90 million km²20 of 88
AD 1939≈ 1.90 million km²20 of 86
AD 1940≈ 1.90 million km²20 of 77
AD 1941≈ 1.90 million km²19 of 74
AD 1942≈ 1.84 million km²20 of 75
AD 1943≈ 1.84 million km²19 of 73
AD 1944≈ 1.84 million km²18 of 73
AD 1945≈ 1.84 million km²17 of 76
AD 1946≈ 1.86 million km²17 of 83
AD 1947≈ 1.41 million km²20 of 92
AD 1948≈ 1.41 million km²21 of 96
AD 1949≈ 1.41 million km²21 of 96
AD 1950≈ 1.41 million km²20 of 94
AD 1953≈ 1.41 million km²21 of 97
AD 1956≈ 1.41 million km²22 of 103
AD 1958≈ 579 thousand km²36 of 101
AD 1960≈ 579 thousand km²39 of 107
AD 1961≈ 579 thousand km²44 of 122
AD 1962≈ 579 thousand km²44 of 122
AD 1963≈ 351 thousand km²55 of 129
AD 1967≈ 351 thousand km²58 of 140
AD 1969≈ 134 thousand km²88 of 145
AD 1973≈ 134 thousand km²90 of 152
AD 1974≈ 134 thousand km²90 of 152
AD 1976≈ 134 thousand km²90 of 157
AD 1979≈ 134 thousand km²90 of 161
AD 1983≈ 134 thousand km²90 of 162
AD 1987≈ 134 thousand km²90 of 164
AD 1990≈ 134 thousand km²90 of 164
AD 1991≈ 134 thousand km²90 of 164
AD 1992≈ 134 thousand km²97 of 185
AD 1996≈ 23 thousand km²149 of 186

Its highest rank was in AD 1900: number 84 of 2.

Neighbouring countries

In order of the number of frames in which they share a border (a parent state, its colonies and other names of the same country are counted as one group).

Territory exchanged with

Computed from changes in territory between frames (only changes of about 20,000 km² or more are counted; these are not actual routes of advance). Top 30 by area (of 35 in total).

FrameOther countryArea
AD 1942lostEmpire of Japan≈ 358 thousand km²
AD 1942gainedPahlavi dynasty≈ 290 thousand km²
AD 1946lostPahlavi dynasty≈ 290 thousand km²
AD 1915gainedGerman Empire≈ 255 thousand km²
AD 1946gainedEmpire of Japan≈ 230 thousand km²
AD 1763gainedSpanish Empire≈ 162 thousand km²
AD 1781lostSpanish Empire≈ 158 thousand km²
AD 1820lostNetherlands Antilles≈ 148 thousand km²
AD 1783lostSpanish Empire≈ 132 thousand km²
AD 1780gainedUnited States≈ 130 thousand km²
AD 1947gainedRaj of Sarawak≈ 129 thousand km²
AD 1781lostUnited States≈ 126 thousand km²
AD 1917gainedOttoman Empire≈ 121 thousand km²
AD 1778gainedUnited States≈ 120 thousand km²
AD 1762gainedNew France≈ 119 thousand km²
AD 1922lostQajar dynasty≈ 100 thousand km²
AD 1915gainedQajar dynasty≈ 93 thousand km²
AD 1895gainedRaj of Sarawak≈ 85 thousand km²
AD 1825gainedMyanmar≈ 64 thousand km²
AD 1918gainedQajar dynasty≈ 47 thousand km²
AD 1920lostQajar dynasty≈ 47 thousand km²
AD 1918gainedOttoman Empire≈ 47 thousand km²
AD 1880gainedSultanate of Sulu≈ 44 thousand km²
AD 1805gainedDutch East Indies≈ 44 thousand km²
AD 1803lostDutch East Indies≈ 43 thousand km²
AD 1890gainedPahang Sultanate≈ 41 thousand km²
AD 1783lostUnited States≈ 39 thousand km²
AD 1814lostDutch East Indies≈ 34 thousand km²
AD 1788lostSpanish Empire≈ 29 thousand km²
AD 1769gainedHaudenosaunee≈ 26 thousand km²

Preceded and succeeded by

Preceded by: English overseas possession

Source: Wikidata (CC0)

Wikipedia summary

The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states.

Wikipedia (English) “British Empire”, introduction (first sentences) · text under CC BY-SA 4.0 · read more on Wikipedia

Show on the map — open the AD 1900 frame