Borders fixed by international law
166 states, peoples and territories are mapped in 1900. The largest are Russian Empire, Manchu Empire, Canada.
Explore 1900 on the mapAreas calculated from the map outlines (≈). Share of Earth's land area including Antarctica.
| # | State or people | Area | Share of land |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russian Empire | 21,542,976 km² (8,317,790 sq mi) | 14.5% |
| 2 | Manchu Empire | 11,012,527 km² (4,251,961 sq mi) | 7.4% |
| 3 | Canada | 9,508,823 km² (3,671,377 sq mi) | 6.4% |
| 4 | United States of America | 9,239,917 km² (3,567,552 sq mi) | 6.2% |
| 5 | Brazil | 8,031,263 km² (3,100,888 sq mi) | 5.4% |
| 6 | British Raj | 4,712,400 km² (1,819,468 sq mi) | 3.2% |
| 7 | Ottoman Empire | 3,141,037 km² (1,212,761 sq mi) | 2.1% |
| 8 | Argentina | 2,774,836 km² (1,071,370 sq mi) | 1.9% |
| 9 | Western Australia (UK) | 2,514,184 km² (970,732 sq mi) | 1.7% |
| 10 | Arabia | 2,227,127 km² (859,899 sq mi) | 1.5% |
| 11 | Greenland | 2,091,253 km² (807,437 sq mi) | 1.4% |
| 12 | Egypt | 2,039,105 km² (787,303 sq mi) | 1.4% |
Comparing the two snapshots. Some differences reflect improved mapping rather than real events, especially before 1500.
1 year from control to formal recognition · General Act of the Berlin Conference
No African state is invited. By 1914 roughly 90% of the continent is under European control, and only Ethiopia and Liberia remain independent.
See it on the 1900 map5 years from control to formal recognition · Newlands Resolution (not a treaty)
American businessmen overthrow Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1893. An annexation treaty fails in the Senate, so Congress annexes Hawaii by joint resolution in 1898. Congress formally apologized for the overthrow in 1993.
See it on the 1900 mapFormalized the same year · Treaty of Paris (1898)
After a four-month war, Spain gives up its last major colonies. The Philippine–American War follows (1899–1902).
See it on the 1900 map