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What are the
GREATEST Empires
in History?
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What is an Empire?
An empire is a state that extends dominion over areas and populations distinct culturally and ethnically from the culture/ethnicity at the center of power. Dictionary.com defines an empire as a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, as the former British Empire, French Empire, Russian Empire, Byzantine Empire, or Roman Empire.
Difficulties in measuring and comparing empires
Empires are all individual in character, having been formed in widely different times under widely different political structures. In fact, the term Empire as stated above does not imply any particular form of government. Whether a nation is or was called an empire is also not relevant to whether it is considered an empire for the purposes of this article.
The calculation of the land area of a particular empire is controversial. In particular, there is the question of whether a particular empire can be considered to have laid claim to an area that is sparsely populated, or not populated at all. In general, this list errs on the side of including any land area that was explored and explicitly claimed, even if the areas were very sparsely populated or unpopulated.
For example, a large portion of Northern Siberia is not included in the size of the Mongol Empire. The Mongol Empire's northern border was somewhat ill-defined, but in most places it was simply the natural border between the steppe and the taiga. Occupied areas north of this are included in the area of the empire, but at the time the majority of the taiga and tundra were unexplored and uninhabited. This area was only very sparsely populated by the Russian Empire, but it had been explicitly claimed by the Russian Empire by the 1600s, and its extent had been entirely explored by the late 1800s. Similarly, the northernmost Canadian islands such as Ellesmere Island were explored and claimed by the British Empire by the mid 1800s (virtually the entire mainland was at least sparsely populated well before that). No claims on mainland Antarctica are included in the area of any of the empires.
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Due to the historical trend of increasing population and GDP (Gross Domestic Product), the list of largest empires in these categories is highly dependent on which relatively recent political entities are defined as empires. The measures of population and GDP as a percentage of the world total take into account this historical growth, although decent GDP data is only available for the last few centuries, accurate only for the last decades.
Abbreviations and Conversion to U.S. Units
km² = square kilometers; mi² = square miles
The conversion of square kilometers (Metric) to square miles (U.S. unit) is based on the formula:
1 square kilometer = .3861 square miles |
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Largest Empires in History by Total Land |
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- British Empire - 36.6 million km² or 14.13 million mi² (under King George V in 1922)
- Mongol Empire - 33.2 million km² or 12.82 million mi² (under Khublai Khan in 1268)
- Russian Empire - 22.8 million km² or 8.8 million mi² (under Nicholas II in 1895)
- Spanish Empire - 19 million km² or 7.33 million mi² (under King Charles III r. 1759-1788)
- Umayyad Arab Empire - 13.2 million km² or 5.1 million mi² (under Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik r. 723-743)
- French Empire - 12.5 million km² or 4.82 million mi² (under President Albert Lebrun in 1938)
- Qing Empire - 12 million km² or 4.63 million mi² (under Emperor Qianlong)
- Portuguese Empire - 10.4 million km² or 4.02 million mi²
- American Empire - 10 million km² or 3.86 million mi² (1898-1934)
- Rashidun Arab Empire - 9 million km² or 3.47 million mi² (under Caliph Uthman Ibn Affan r. 644-656)
- Brazilian Empire - 8.1 million km² or 3.13 million mi²
- Achaemenid Persian Empire - 7.5 million km² or 2.9 million mi² (under Darius the Great)
- Japanese Empire - 7.4 million km² or 2.86 million mi² (during World War II)
- Ming Empire - 6.5 million km² or 2.51 million mi² (under Emperor Jingtai in 1450)
- Han Empire - 6 million km² or 2.32 million mi²
- Roman Empire - 5.7 million km² or 2.2 million mi² (under Emperor Trajan)
- Ottoman Empire - 5.5 million km² or 2.12 million mi² (under Mehmed IV in 1680)
- Macedonian Empire - 5.4 million km² or 2.08 million mi² (under Alexander the Great)
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Rankings of Other Select Empires by Total Land |
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22. Mexican Empire - 4.5 million km² or 1.74 million mi²
23. Byzantine Empire - 4.5 million km² or 1.74 million mi²
25. Hunnic Empire - 4 million km² or 1.54 million mi² (under Attila the Hun in 441)
28. Italian Empire - 3.8 million km² or 1.47 million mi² (during World War II)
29. Dutch Empire - 3.7 million km² or 1.43 million mi²
30. Nazi German Empire - 3.6 million km² or 1.39 million mi² (during World War II)
31. German Empire - 3.5 million km² or 1.35 million mi² (under Wilhelm II before WWI)
40. Parthian Empire - 2.84 million km² or 1.1 million mi² (under Mithridates II 123–88 B.C.)
41. Median Empire - 2.8 million km² or 1.08 million mi²
47. Neo-Assyrian Empire - 1.4 million km² or 540,543 mi²
56. Egyptian Empire - 1 million km² or 386,102 mi²
61. Bulgarian Empire - 700,000 km² (under Tsar Simeon I) or 270,271 mi²
62. Austro-Hungarian Empire - 676,615 km² or 261,242 mi²
65. Neo-Babylonian Empire - 500,000 km² or 193,051 mi² |
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Largest Empires in History by Contiguous Area of Land |
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- Mongol Empire - 33.2 million km² or 12.82 million mi² (under Khublai Khan in 1268)
- Russian Empire - 22.8 million km² or 8.8 million mi² (under Nicholas II in 1895)
- Soviet Union - 22.4 million km² or 8.65 million mi² (in 1989)
(note: The term Soviet Empire referred to more lands than only those who were officially Soviet Union)
- Umayyad Arab Empire - 13.2 million km² or 5.1 million mi²
- Qing Empire - 12 million km² or 4.63 million mi² (under Emperor Qianlong)
- Rashidun Arab Empire - 9 million km² or 3.47 million mi² (under Caliph Uthman in 654)
- Brazilian Empire - 8.1 million km² or 3.13 million mi²
- Achaemenid Persian Empire - 7.5 million km² or 2.9 million mi² (under Darius the Great)
- Ming Empire - 6.5 million km² or 2.51 million mi²
- Han Empire - 6 million km² or 2.32 million mi²
- Ottoman Empire - 5.5 million km² or 2.12 million mi² (under Mehmed IV in 1680)
- Macedonian Empire - 5.4 million km² or 2.08 million mi² (under Alexander the Great)
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Rankings of Other Select Empires by Contiguous Area of Land |
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15. Mexican Empire - 4.7 million km² or 1.81 million mi²
16. Byzantine Empire/Eastern Roman Empire - 4.5 million km² or 1.74 million mi²
21. Nazi German Empire - 3.6 million km² or 1.74 million mi² (during World War II)
30. Parthian Empire - 2.84 million km² or 1.1 million mi² (under Mithridates II 123–88 B.C.)
31. Median Empire - 2.8 million km² or 1.08 million mi²
34. Neo-Assyrian Empire - 1.4 million km² or 540,543 mi²
40. Egyptian Empire - 1 million km² or 386,102 mi²
46. Austro-Hungarian Empire - 600,000 km² or 231,661 mi²
47. Neo-Babylonian Empire - 500,000 km² or 193,051 mi² |
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Greatest Maritime Powers in History |
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- British Empire - 36.6 million km² or 14.13 million mi² (under King George V in 1922)
- Spanish Empire - 19 million km² or 7.36 million mi² (under King Charles III)
- French Empire - 12.5 million km² or 4.83 million mi²
- Portuguese Empire - 10.4 million km² or 4.02 million mi²
- American Empire - 10 million km² or 3.86 million mi² (1898-1902 and 1906-1908)
- Japanese Empire - 7.4 million km² or 2.86 million mi² (during World War II)
- Italian Empire - 3.8 million km² or 1.47 million mi² (during World War II)
- Dutch Empire - 3.7 million km² or 1.43 million mi²
- German Empire - 3.5 million km² or 1.35 million mi² (under Wilhelm II before WWI)
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Largest, Most Powerful Ancient Empires |
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- Achaemenid Persian Empire - 7.5 million km² or 2.9 million mi² (under Darius the Great)
- Han Empire - 6 million km² or 2.32 million mi²
- Roman Empire - 5.7 million km² or 2.2 million mi² (under Emperor Trajan)
- Macedonian Empire - 5.4 million km² or 2.08 million mi² (under Alexander the Great)
- Maurya Empire - 5 million km² or 1.93 million mi² (under Ashoka the Great)
- Hunnic Empire - 4 million km² or 1.54 million mi² (under Attila the Hun in 441)
- Seleucid Empire - 3.9 million km² or 1.51 million mi²
- Gupta Empire - 3.5 million km² or 1.35 million mi² (under Chandragupta II in 400)
- Sassanid Persian Empire - 3.5 million km² or 1.35 million mi² (under Khosrau II in 626)
- Parthian Empire - 2.84 million km² or 1.1 million mi² (under Mithridates II 123–88 B.C.)
- Median Empire - 2.8 million km² or 1.08 million mi²
- Neo-Assyrian Empire - 1.4 million km² or 540,543 mi²
- Aksumite Empire - 1.25 million km² or 482,627 mi²
- Egyptian Empire - 1 million km² or 386,102 mi²
- Akkadian Empire - 650,000 km² or 250,966 mi²
- Neo-Babylonian Empire - 500,000 km² or 193,051 mi²
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Largest Modern Empires |
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- British Empire - 36.6 million km² or 14.13 million mi² (under King George V in 1922)
- Russian Empire - 22.8 million km² or 8.8 million mi² (under Alexander II in 1867)
- Soviet Union - 22.4 million km² or 8.65 million mi² (in 1989)
(note: The term Soviet Empire referred to more lands than only those who were officially Soviet Union)
- Spanish Empire - 19 million km² or 7.34 million mi² (under Charles III)
- French Empire - 12.5 million km² or 4.83 million mi²
- Qing Empire - 12 million km² or 4.63 million mi² (under Emperor Qianlong)
- Portuguese Empire - 10.4 million km² or 4.02 million mi²
- American Empire - 10 million km² or 3.86 million mi² (1898-1902 and 1906-1908)
- Brazilian Empire - 8.1 million km² or 3.13 million mi²
- Japanese Empire - 7.4 million km² or 2.86 million mi² (during World War II)
- Ottoman Empire - 5.5 million km² or 2.12 million mi² (under Mehmed IV in 1680)
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Rankings of Other Modern Empires |
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13. Italian Empire - 3.8 million km² or 1.47 million mi² (during World War II)
14. Dutch Empire - 3.7 million km² or 1.43 million mi²
15. Nazi German Empire - 3.6 million km² or 1.39 million mi² (during World War II)
16. German Empire - 3.5 million km² or 1.35 million mi² (under Wilhelm II before WWI)
23. Austro-Hungarian Empire - 676,615 km² or 261,242 mi² |
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Largest Empires in History by Population |
(Population estimates are unknown for many other ancient empires not listed here.) |
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- British Empire - 531.3 million (in 1938)
- Qing Empire - 432 million (in 1912)
- Soviet Union - 286,717,000 (in 1989)
- Russian Empire - 176.4 million (in 1913)
- Mughal Empire - 175 million (in 1700)
- Ming Empire - 160 million (in 1600)
- American Empire - 146.4 million (in 1942)
- Japanese Empire - 134.8 million (in 1938)
- French Empire - 112.9 million (in 1938)
- Mongol Empire - 110 million (in the 13th century)
- Dutch Empire - 80 million (1940)
- Nazi German Empire - 75.4 million (in 1938)
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Rankings of Other Select Empires by Population |
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16. Roman Empire - 60 million (in 1st century A.D.)
18. Italian Empire - 51.9 million (in 1938)
19. Austro-Hungarian Empire - 50.6 million (in 1913)
23. Ottoman Empire - 39 million (in the 17th century)
25. Byzantine Empire/Eastern Roman Empire - 34 million (5th-6th centuries) |
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Largest Empires in History By Percentage Of World Population |
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- Qing Empire - 36.6% (381 million out of 1.041 billion in 1820)
- Maurya Empire - 33.3% (50 million out of 150 million in the 2nd century B.C.)
- Umayyad Arab Empire - 29.5% (62 million out of 210 million in the 7th century)
- Mughal Empire - 29.2% (175 million out of 600 million in 1700)
- Ming Empire - 28.8% (160 million out of 556.2 million in 1600)
- Achaemenid Persian Empire - 27.6% (42 million out of 152 million in the 4th century B.C.)
- Han Empire - 26.5% (59.6 million out of 226 million in 2 A.D.)
- Roman Empire - 26.5% (60 million out of 226 million in the 1st century A.D.)
- Mongol Empire - 25.6% (110 million out of 429 million in the 13th century)
- British Empire - 23.15% (531.3 million out of 2.295 billion in 1938)
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Rankings of Other Select Empires by Percentage Of World Population |
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14. Russian Empire - 9.8% (176.4 million out of 1.791 billion in 1913)
15. Ottoman Empire - 7.1% (39 million out of 556 million in the 17th century)
16. American Empire - 6.4% (146.4 million out of 2.295 billion in 1938)
17. Japanese Empire - 5.9% (134.8 million out of 2.295 billion in 1938)
19. Soviet Union - 5.5% (286,717,000 out of 5.175 billion in 1989)
20. French Empire - 4.9% (112.9 million out of 2.295 billion in 1938)
21. Nazi German Empire - 3.3% (75.4 million out of 2.295 billion in 1938)
22. Austro-Hungarian Empire - 2.8% (50.6 million out of 1.791 billion in 1913)
23. Italian Empire - 2.3% (51.9 million out of 2.295 billion in 1938) |
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Wealthiest Empires in History |
GDP, which stands for Gross Domestic Product, measures the total value of the output of all products and services produced by a country or nation. GDP estimates in the following list are only given for empires in modern times, from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries. All dollar amounts are in 1990 USD.
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Largest Empires in History By GDP size |
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- American Empire - $1,713.6 billion (in 1944)
- British Empire - $683.3 billion (in 1938)
- Nazi German Empire - $375.6 billion (in 1938)
- Japanese Empire - $260.7 billion (in 1938)
- Russian Empire - $257.7 billion (in 1913)
- Qing Empire - $241.3 billion (GDP decline to 1912, immediately before its downfall)
- French Empire - $234.1 billion (in 1938)
- Italian Empire - $143.4 billion (in 1938)
- Austro-Hungarian Empire - $100.5 billion (in 1913)
- Mughal Empire - $90.8 billion (GDP decline in 1700)
- Ottoman Empire - $26.4 billion (in 1913)
- Portuguese Empire - $12.6 billion (in 1913)
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Largest Empires in History By Percentage of World GDP |
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- American Empire - 35% ($1,644.8 billion out of $4,699 billion in 1945)
- Qing Empire - 32.9% ($228.6 billion out of $694.4 billion in 1820)
- Mughal Empire - 24.5% ($90.8 billion out of $371 billion in 1700)
- British Empire - 23.8% ($265 billion out of $1,111 billion in 1870)
- Russian Empire - 9.4% ($257.7 billion out of $2,733 billion in 1913)
- Nazi German Empire - 8.3% ($375.6 billion out of $4,502 billion in 1938)
- Japanese Empire - 5.8% ($260.7 billion out of $4,502 billion in 1938)
- French Empire - 5.2% ($234.1 billion out of $4,502 billion in 1938)
- Austro-Hungarian Empire - 3.7% ($100.5 billion out of $2,733 billion in 1913)
- Italian Empire - 3.2% ($143.4 billion out of $4,502 billion in 1938)
- Ottoman Empire - 1% ($26.4 billion out of $2,733 billion in 1913)
- Portuguese Empire - 0.5% ($12.6 billion out of $2,733 billion in 1913)
Article edited and conversion to U.S. units by BibleStudy.org.
Rankings based on Wikipedia material and other sources. |
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