Borders fixed by international law
On the eve of the First World War, European empires control most of Africa and much of Asia, and the Russian, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires are still standing.
Explore 1914 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 | 21,484,088 km² (8,295,053 sq mi) | 14.4% |
| 2 | Canada | 9,508,823 km² (3,671,377 sq mi) | 6.4% |
| 3 | United States | 9,250,442 km² (3,571,616 sq mi) | 6.2% |
| 4 | Brazil | 8,420,242 km² (3,251,074 sq mi) | 5.7% |
| 5 | Australia | 7,661,590 km² (2,958,157 sq mi) | 5.1% |
| 6 | Republic of China | 6,574,216 km² (2,538,319 sq mi) | 4.4% |
| 7 | French West Africa | 6,380,250 km² (2,463,428 sq mi) | 4.3% |
| 8 | British Raj | 4,811,877 km² (1,857,876 sq mi) | 3.2% |
| 9 | Argentina | 2,774,836 km² (1,071,370 sq mi) | 1.9% |
| 10 | Anglo-Egyptian Sudan | 2,580,623 km² (996,384 sq mi) | 1.7% |
| 11 | Algeria | 2,461,746 km² (950,485 sq mi) | 1.7% |
| 12 | Belgian Congo | 2,346,328 km² (905,922 sq mi) | 1.6% |
Comparing the two snapshots. Some differences reflect improved mapping rather than real events, especially before 1500.
30 years from control to formal recognition · Proclamation of the Kingdom
Ibn Saud retakes Riyadh in 1902 and conquers the Hejaz in 1925. The unified kingdom is proclaimed 30 years after he began.
See it on the 1914 map5 years from control to formal recognition · Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty
Korea becomes a protectorate in 1905 and is annexed in 1910 under treaties signed under duress. A 1965 Japan–South Korea treaty declared them 'already null and void'.
See it on the 1914 map