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List of largest empires

Updated: Wikipedia source

List of largest empires

Several empires in human history have been contenders for the largest of all time, depending on definition and mode of measurement. Possible ways of measuring size include area, population, economy, and power. Of these, area is the most commonly used because it has a relatively precise definition and can be feasibly measured with some degree of accuracy; nevertheless, even area is limited in this regard because of the difficulty in defining the boundaries of empires due to things like the indirect nature of imperial control and sparsely inhabited or even uninhabited areas that may nominally have been controlled by an empire but not meaningfully ruled by it. Estonian political scientist Rein Taagepera, who published a series of academic articles about the territorial extents of historical empires between 1978 and 1997, and a book in 2024, defined an empire in this context as "any relatively large sovereign political entity whose components are not sovereign" and its size as the area over which the empire has some undisputed military and taxation prerogatives. The list is not exhaustive as there is a lack of available data for several empires; for this reason and because of the inherent uncertainty in the estimates, no rankings are given.

Tables

· Largest empires by land area › Empires at their greatest extent
Million km2
Million km2
Empire
Million km2
Maximum land area
Million sq mi
Maximum land area
% of world
Maximum land area
Year
British Empire
British Empire
Empire
British Empire
Maximum land area
35
Maximum land area
13
Maximum land area
26 %
Maximum land area
1920
Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
Empire
Mongol Empire
Maximum land area
24
Maximum land area
9
Maximum land area
17 %
Maximum land area
1270 or 1309
Russian Empire
Russian Empire
Empire
Russian Empire
Maximum land area
22
Maximum land area
8
Maximum land area
16 %
Maximum land area
1895
Spanish Empire
Spanish Empire
Empire
Spanish Empire
Maximum land area
13
Maximum land area
5
Maximum land area
10 %
Maximum land area
1810
Second French colonial empire
Second French colonial empire
Empire
Second French colonial empire
Maximum land area
11
Maximum land area
4
Maximum land area
8 %
Maximum land area
1920
Abbasid Caliphate
Abbasid Caliphate
Empire
Abbasid Caliphate
Maximum land area
11
Maximum land area
4
Maximum land area
8 %
Maximum land area
750
Umayyad Caliphate
Umayyad Caliphate
Empire
Umayyad Caliphate
Maximum land area
11
Maximum land area
4
Maximum land area
8 %
Maximum land area
720
United States
United States
Empire
United States
Maximum land area
9
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
7 %
Maximum land area
1900
Xiongnu Empire
Xiongnu Empire
Empire
Xiongnu Empire
Maximum land area
9
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
6 %
Maximum land area
176 BC
Empire of Brazil
Empire of Brazil
Empire
Empire of Brazil
Maximum land area
8
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
6 %
Maximum land area
1889
Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
Empire
Empire of Japan
Maximum land area
7 –8
Maximum land area
2 –3
Maximum land area
5 %–6 %
Maximum land area
1942
Rashidun Caliphate
Rashidun Caliphate
Empire
Rashidun Caliphate
Maximum land area
6
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
4 %
Maximum land area
655
First Turkic Khaganate
First Turkic Khaganate
Empire
First Turkic Khaganate
Maximum land area
6
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
4 %
Maximum land area
557
Golden Horde Khanate
Golden Horde Khanate
Empire
Golden Horde Khanate
Maximum land area
6
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
4 %
Maximum land area
1310
Achaemenid Empire
Achaemenid Empire
Empire
Achaemenid Empire
Maximum land area
5
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
4 %
Maximum land area
500 BC
Second Portuguese Empire
Second Portuguese Empire
Empire
Second Portuguese Empire
Maximum land area
5
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
4 %
Maximum land area
1820
Macedonian Empire
Macedonian Empire
Empire
Macedonian Empire
Maximum land area
5
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
3 %
Maximum land area
323 BC
Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
Empire
Ottoman Empire
Maximum land area
5
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
3 %
Maximum land area
1683
Roman Empire
Roman Empire
Empire
Roman Empire
Maximum land area
5
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
3 %
Maximum land area
117
Tibetan Empire
Tibetan Empire
Empire
Tibetan Empire
Maximum land area
4
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
3 %
Maximum land area
800
Xianbei state
Xianbei state
Empire
Xianbei state
Maximum land area
4
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
3 %
Maximum land area
200
First Mexican Empire
First Mexican Empire
Empire
First Mexican Empire
Maximum land area
4
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
3 %
Maximum land area
1821
Timurid Empire
Timurid Empire
Empire
Timurid Empire
Maximum land area
4
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
3 %
Maximum land area
1405
Fatimid Caliphate
Fatimid Caliphate
Empire
Fatimid Caliphate
Maximum land area
4
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
3 %
Maximum land area
969
Eastern Turkic Khaganate
Eastern Turkic Khaganate
Empire
Eastern Turkic Khaganate
Maximum land area
4
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
624
Hunnic Empire
Hunnic Empire
Empire
Hunnic Empire
Maximum land area
4
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
441
Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
Empire
Mughal Empire
Maximum land area
4
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
1690
Great Seljuq Empire
Great Seljuq Empire
Empire
Great Seljuq Empire
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
1080
Seleucid Empire
Seleucid Empire
Empire
Seleucid Empire
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
301 BC
Italian Empire
Italian Empire
Empire
Italian Empire
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
1938
Ilkhanate
Ilkhanate
Empire
Ilkhanate
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
1310
Dzungar Khanate
Dzungar Khanate
Empire
Dzungar Khanate
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
1650
Chagatai Khanate
Chagatai Khanate
Empire
Chagatai Khanate
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
1310 or 1350
Sasanian Empire
Sasanian Empire
Empire
Sasanian Empire
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
550
Western Turkic Khaganate
Western Turkic Khaganate
Empire
Western Turkic Khaganate
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
630
Western Xiongnu
Western Xiongnu
Empire
Western Xiongnu
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
20
First French colonial empire
First French colonial empire
Empire
First French colonial empire
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
1670
Ghaznavid Empire
Ghaznavid Empire
Empire
Ghaznavid Empire
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
1029
Maurya Empire
Maurya Empire
Empire
Maurya Empire
Maximum land area
3 –5
Maximum land area
1 –1
Maximum land area
2 %–3 %
Maximum land area
261 BC or 250 BC
Delhi Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate
Empire
Delhi Sultanate
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
1312
German colonial empire
German colonial empire
Empire
German colonial empire
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
1911
Uyghur Khaganate
Uyghur Khaganate
Empire
Uyghur Khaganate
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
800
Danish Empire
Danish Empire
Empire
Danish Empire
Maximum land area
3
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
1700
Safavid empire
Safavid empire
Empire
Safavid empire
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
1630
Samanid Empire
Samanid Empire
Empire
Samanid Empire
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
928
Median Empire
Median Empire
Empire
Median Empire
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
585 BC
Parthian Empire
Parthian Empire
Empire
Parthian Empire
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
1
Rouran Khaganate
Rouran Khaganate
Empire
Rouran Khaganate
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
2 %
Maximum land area
405
Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
Empire
Byzantine Empire
Maximum land area
2 –2
Maximum land area
1 –1
Maximum land area
2 %–2 %
Maximum land area
555 or 450
Indo-Scythian Kingdom
Indo-Scythian Kingdom
Empire
Indo-Scythian Kingdom
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
1
Maximum land area
1 %
Maximum land area
20
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
Empire
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
0
Maximum land area
1 %
Maximum land area
184 BC
Later Zhao
Later Zhao
Empire
Later Zhao
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
0
Maximum land area
1 %
Maximum land area
329
Maratha Empire
Maratha Empire
Empire
Maratha Empire
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
0
Maximum land area
1 %
Maximum land area
1760
Belgian colonial empire
Belgian colonial empire
Empire
Belgian colonial empire
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
0
Maximum land area
1 %
Maximum land area
1939
Khwarazmian Empire
Khwarazmian Empire
Empire
Khwarazmian Empire
Maximum land area
2 –3
Maximum land area
0 –1
Maximum land area
1 %–2 %
Maximum land area
1210 or 1218
Dutch Empire
Dutch Empire
Empire
Dutch Empire
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
0
Maximum land area
1 %
Maximum land area
1938
First French Empire
First French Empire
Empire
First French Empire
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
0
Maximum land area
1 %
Maximum land area
1813
Kievan Rus'
Kievan Rus'
Empire
Kievan Rus'
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
0
Maximum land area
1 %
Maximum land area
1000
Mamluk Sultanate
Mamluk Sultanate
Empire
Mamluk Sultanate
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
0
Maximum land area
1 %
Maximum land area
1300 or 1400
Third Portuguese Empire
Third Portuguese Empire
Empire
Third Portuguese Empire
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
0
Maximum land area
1 %
Maximum land area
1900
Almohad Caliphate
Almohad Caliphate
Empire
Almohad Caliphate
Maximum land area
2 –2
Maximum land area
0 –0
Maximum land area
1 %–1 %
Maximum land area
1200 or 1150
Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Empire
Cao Wei
Maximum land area
2
Maximum land area
0
Maximum land area
1 %
Maximum land area
263
Empire
Maximum land area
Million km2
Million sq mi
% of world
Year
British Empire
35
13
26 %
1920
Mongol Empire
24
9
17 %
1270 or 1309
Russian Empire
22
8
16 %
1895
Qing dynasty
14
5
10 %
1790
Spanish Empire
13
5
10 %
1810
Second French colonial empire
11
4
8 %
1920
Abbasid Caliphate
11
4
8 %
750
Umayyad Caliphate
11
4
8 %
720
Yuan dynasty
11
4
8 %
1310
United States
9
3
7 %
1900
Xiongnu Empire
9
3
6 %
176 BC
Empire of Brazil
8
3
6 %
1889
Empire of Japan
7 –8
2 –3
5 %–6 %
1942
Eastern Han dynasty
6
2
4 %
100
Ming dynasty
6
2
4 %
1450
Rashidun Caliphate
6
2
4 %
655
First Turkic Khaganate
6
2
4 %
557
Golden Horde Khanate
6
2
4 %
1310
Western Han dynasty
6
2
4 %
50 BC
Achaemenid Empire
5
2
4 %
500 BC
Second Portuguese Empire
5
2
4 %
1820
Tang dynasty
5
2
4 %
715
Macedonian Empire
5
2
3 %
323 BC
Ottoman Empire
5
2
3 %
1683
Northern Yuan dynasty
5
1
3 %
1368
Roman Empire
5
1
3 %
117
Xin dynasty
4
1
3 %
10
Tibetan Empire
4
1
3 %
800
Xianbei state
4
1
3 %
200
First Mexican Empire
4
1
3 %
1821
Timurid Empire
4
1
3 %
1405
Fatimid Caliphate
4
1
3 %
969
Eastern Turkic Khaganate
4
1
2 %
624
Hunnic Empire
4
1
2 %
441
Mughal Empire
4
1
2 %
1690
Great Seljuq Empire
3
1
2 %
1080
Seleucid Empire
3
1
2 %
301 BC
Italian Empire
3
1
2 %
1938
Ilkhanate
3
1
2 %
1310
Dzungar Khanate
3
1
2 %
1650
Chagatai Khanate
3
1
2 %
1310 or 1350
Sasanian Empire
3
1
2 %
550
Western Turkic Khaganate
3
1
2 %
630
Western Xiongnu
3
1
2 %
20
First French colonial empire
3
1
2 %
1670
Ghaznavid Empire
3
1
2 %
1029
Maurya Empire
3 –5
1 –1
2 %–3 %
261 BC or 250 BC
Delhi Sultanate
3
1
2 %
1312
· Largest empires by land area › Timeline of largest empires to date
Million km2
Million km2
Empire
Million km2
Land area
Million sq mi
Upper and Lower Egypt
Upper and Lower Egypt
Empire
Upper and Lower Egypt
Land area
0
Land area
0
Year
3000 BC
Old Kingdom of Egypt
Old Kingdom of Egypt
Empire
Old Kingdom of Egypt
Land area
0
Land area
0
Year
2850 BC
0
0
Empire
0
Land area
0
Land area
2400 BC
Akkadian Empire
Akkadian Empire
Empire
Akkadian Empire
Land area
0
Land area
0
Year
2300 BC
0
0
Empire
0
Land area
0
Land area
2250 BC
New Kingdom of Egypt
New Kingdom of Egypt
Empire
New Kingdom of Egypt
Land area
1
Land area
0
Year
1450 BC
Neo-Assyrian Empire
Neo-Assyrian Empire
Empire
Neo-Assyrian Empire
Land area
1
Land area
0
Year
670 BC
Median Empire
Median Empire
Empire
Median Empire
Land area
2
Land area
1
Year
585 BC
Achaemenid Empire
Achaemenid Empire
Empire
Achaemenid Empire
Land area
3
Land area
1
Year
539 BC
5
5
Empire
5
Land area
2
Land area
500 BC
Xiongnu Empire
Xiongnu Empire
Empire
Xiongnu Empire
Land area
9
Land area
3
Year
176 BC
Umayyad Caliphate
Umayyad Caliphate
Empire
Umayyad Caliphate
Land area
11
Land area
4
Year
720
Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
Empire
Mongol Empire
Land area
13
Land area
5
Year
1227
24
24
Empire
24
Land area
9
Land area
1309
British Empire
British Empire
Empire
British Empire
Land area
24
Land area
9
Year
1880
35
35
Empire
35
Land area
13
Land area
1920
More recent reassessment of the historical evidence, both archaeological and textual, has led modern scholars to question previous notions of the extent of the realm of the Medes and even its existence as a unified state. If the Median Empire never surpassed the size of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, the latter remained the largest empire the world had s
More recent reassessment of the historical evidence, both archaeological and textual, has led modern scholars to question previous notions of the extent of the realm of the Medes and even its existence as a unified state. If the Median Empire never surpassed the size of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, the latter remained the largest empire the world had s
Empire
More recent reassessment of the historical evidence, both archaeological and textual, has led modern scholars to question previous notions of the extent of the realm of the Medes and even its existence as a unified state. If the Median Empire never surpassed the size of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, the latter remained the largest empire the world had s
Empire
Land area
Year
Million km2
Million sq mi
Upper and Lower Egypt
0
0
3000 BC
Old Kingdom of Egypt
0
0
2850 BC
0
0
2400 BC
Akkadian Empire
0
0
2300 BC
0
0
2250 BC
New Kingdom of Egypt
1
0
1450 BC
Shang dynasty
1
0
1122 BC
Neo-Assyrian Empire
1
0
670 BC
Median Empire
2
1
585 BC
Achaemenid Empire
3
1
539 BC
5
2
500 BC
Xiongnu Empire
9
3
176 BC
Umayyad Caliphate
11
4
720
Mongol Empire
13
5
1227
24
9
1309
British Empire
24
9
1880
35
13
1920
More recent reassessment of the historical evidence, both archaeological and textual, has led modern scholars to question previous notions of the extent of the realm of the Medes and even its existence as a unified state. If the Median Empire never surpassed the size of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, the latter remained the largest empire the world had s
· Largest empires by land area › Timeline of largest empires at the time
Million km2
Million km2
Empire
Million km2
Land area during time as largest empire
Million sq mi
Upper Egypt
Upper Egypt
Empire
Upper Egypt
Land area during time as largest empire
0
Land area during time as largest empire
0
Approximate period
3000 BC
Old Kingdom of Egypt
Old Kingdom of Egypt
Empire
Old Kingdom of Egypt
Land area during time as largest empire
0 –0
Land area during time as largest empire
0 –0
Approximate period
2800 BC – 2400 BC
Akkadian Empire
Akkadian Empire
Empire
Akkadian Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
0 –0
Land area during time as largest empire
0 –0
Approximate period
2300 BC – 2200 BC
Indus Valley Civilisation
Indus Valley Civilisation
Empire
Indus Valley Civilisation
Land area during time as largest empire
0
Land area during time as largest empire
0
Approximate period
2100 BC
Middle Kingdom of Egypt
Middle Kingdom of Egypt
Empire
Middle Kingdom of Egypt
Land area during time as largest empire
0 –0
Land area during time as largest empire
0 –0
Approximate period
2000 BC – 1800 BC
Hyksos
Hyksos
Empire
Hyksos
Land area during time as largest empire
0
Land area during time as largest empire
0
Approximate period
1600 BC
New Kingdom of Egypt
New Kingdom of Egypt
Empire
New Kingdom of Egypt
Land area during time as largest empire
0 –1
Land area during time as largest empire
0 –0
Approximate period
1500 BC – 1300 BC
New Kingdom of Egypt
New Kingdom of Egypt
Empire
New Kingdom of Egypt
Land area during time as largest empire
0 –0
Land area during time as largest empire
0 –0
Approximate period
1100 BC – 1050 BC
Neo-Assyrian Empire
Neo-Assyrian Empire
Empire
Neo-Assyrian Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
0 –1
Land area during time as largest empire
0 –0
Approximate period
850 BC – 650 BC
Median Empire
Median Empire
Empire
Median Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
3
Land area during time as largest empire
1
Approximate period
600 BC
Achaemenid Empire
Achaemenid Empire
Empire
Achaemenid Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
2 –5
Land area during time as largest empire
0 –2
Approximate period
550 BC – 350 BC
Macedonian Empire
Macedonian Empire
Empire
Macedonian Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
5
Land area during time as largest empire
2
Approximate period
323 BC
Seleucid Empire
Seleucid Empire
Empire
Seleucid Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
4
Land area during time as largest empire
1
Approximate period
300 BC
Maurya Empire
Maurya Empire
Empire
Maurya Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
3
Land area during time as largest empire
1
Approximate period
250 BC
Xiongnu Empire
Xiongnu Empire
Empire
Xiongnu Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
5
Land area during time as largest empire
2
Approximate period
150 BC
Roman Empire
Roman Empire
Empire
Roman Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
4
Land area during time as largest empire
1
Approximate period
250–350
Sasanian Empire
Sasanian Empire
Empire
Sasanian Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
3
Land area during time as largest empire
1
Approximate period
400
Hunnic Empire
Hunnic Empire
Empire
Hunnic Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
4
Land area during time as largest empire
1
Approximate period
450
Sasanian Empire
Sasanian Empire
Empire
Sasanian Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
3
Land area during time as largest empire
1
Approximate period
500
Göktürk Khaganate
Göktürk Khaganate
Empire
Göktürk Khaganate
Land area during time as largest empire
3 –5
Land area during time as largest empire
1 –2
Approximate period
550–600
Rashidun Caliphate
Rashidun Caliphate
Empire
Rashidun Caliphate
Land area during time as largest empire
5
Land area during time as largest empire
2
Approximate period
650
Umayyad Caliphate
Umayyad Caliphate
Empire
Umayyad Caliphate
Land area during time as largest empire
9 –11
Land area during time as largest empire
3 –4
Approximate period
700–750
Abbasid Caliphate
Abbasid Caliphate
Empire
Abbasid Caliphate
Land area during time as largest empire
8 –11
Land area during time as largest empire
3 –4
Approximate period
750–800
Tibet
Tibet
Empire
Tibet
Land area during time as largest empire
2 –4
Land area during time as largest empire
0 –1
Approximate period
850–950
Seljuk Empire
Seljuk Empire
Empire
Seljuk Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
3 –4
Land area during time as largest empire
1 –1
Approximate period
1050–1100
Tibet
Tibet
Empire
Tibet
Land area during time as largest empire
2
Land area during time as largest empire
0
Approximate period
1150
Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
Empire
Mongol Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
18 –24
Land area during time as largest empire
6 –9
Approximate period
1250–1300
Timurid Empire
Timurid Empire
Empire
Timurid Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
4
Land area during time as largest empire
1
Approximate period
1400
Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
Empire
Ottoman Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
4
Land area during time as largest empire
1
Approximate period
1550
Tsardom of Russia
Tsardom of Russia
Empire
Tsardom of Russia
Land area during time as largest empire
6 –12
Land area during time as largest empire
2 –4
Approximate period
1600–1700
Russian Empire
Russian Empire
Empire
Russian Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
14 –17
Land area during time as largest empire
5 –6
Approximate period
1750–1800
British Empire
British Empire
Empire
British Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
23 –34
Land area during time as largest empire
8 –13
Approximate period
1850–1925
Soviet Union
Soviet Union
Empire
Soviet Union
Land area during time as largest empire
22
Land area during time as largest empire
8
Approximate period
1950–1975
The extent to which this constituted a cohesive political entity is uncertain. If the largest empire in the year 2100 BC was not the Indus Valley Civilisation, it was the First Intermediate Period of Egypt with an area of 0 million km2 (0 million sq mi). More recent reassessment of the historical evidence, both archaeological and textual, h
The extent to which this constituted a cohesive political entity is uncertain. If the largest empire in the year 2100 BC was not the Indus Valley Civilisation, it was the First Intermediate Period of Egypt with an area of 0 million km2 (0 million sq mi). More recent reassessment of the historical evidence, both archaeological and textual, h
Empire
The extent to which this constituted a cohesive political entity is uncertain. If the largest empire in the year 2100 BC was not the Indus Valley Civilisation, it was the First Intermediate Period of Egypt with an area of 0 million km2 (0 million sq mi). More recent reassessment of the historical evidence, both archaeological and textual, h
Empire
Land area during time as largest empire
Approximate period
Million km2
Million sq mi
Upper Egypt
0
0
3000 BC
Old Kingdom of Egypt
0 –0
0 –0
2800 BC – 2400 BC
Akkadian Empire
0 –0
0 –0
2300 BC – 2200 BC
Indus Valley Civilisation
0
0
2100 BC
Middle Kingdom of Egypt
0 –0
0 –0
2000 BC – 1800 BC
Xia dynasty
0
0
1700 BC
Hyksos
0
0
1600 BC
New Kingdom of Egypt
0 –1
0 –0
1500 BC – 1300 BC
Shang dynasty
0 –1
0 –0
1250 BC – 1150 BC
New Kingdom of Egypt
0 –0
0 –0
1100 BC – 1050 BC
Zhou dynasty
0 –0
0 –0
1000 BC – 900 BC
Neo-Assyrian Empire
0 –1
0 –0
850 BC – 650 BC
Median Empire
3
1
600 BC
Achaemenid Empire
2 –5
0 –2
550 BC – 350 BC
Macedonian Empire
5
2
323 BC
Seleucid Empire
4
1
300 BC
Maurya Empire
3
1
250 BC
Han dynasty
2
0
200 BC
Xiongnu Empire
5
2
150 BC
Han dynasty
4 –6
1 –2
100 BC – 200 AD
Roman Empire
4
1
250–350
Sasanian Empire
3
1
400
Hunnic Empire
4
1
450
Sasanian Empire
3
1
500
Göktürk Khaganate
3 –5
1 –2
550–600
Rashidun Caliphate
5
2
650
Umayyad Caliphate
9 –11
3 –4
700–750
Abbasid Caliphate
8 –11
3 –4
750–800
Tibet
2 –4
0 –1
850–950
Song dynasty
3
1
1000
Seljuk Empire
3 –4
1 –1
1050–1100
Tibet
2
0
1150
Jin dynasty (1115–1234)
2
0
1200
Mongol Empire
18 –24
6 –9
1250–1300
Yuan dynasty
11
4
1350
Timurid Empire
4
1
1400
Ming dynasty
4 –6
1 –2
1450–1500
Ottoman Empire
4
1
1550
Tsardom of Russia
6 –12
2 –4
1600–1700
Russian Empire
14 –17
5 –6
1750–1800
British Empire
23 –34
8 –13
1850–1925
Soviet Union
22
8
1950–1975
The extent to which this constituted a cohesive political entity is uncertain. If the largest empire in the year 2100 BC was not the Indus Valley Civilisation, it was the First Intermediate Period of Egypt with an area of 0 million km2 (0 million sq mi). More recent reassessment of the historical evidence, both archaeological and textual, h
· Largest empires by share of world population
Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
Empire
Mongol Empire
Empire population as percentage of world population
31
Year
1290
Roman Empire
Roman Empire
Empire
Roman Empire
Empire population as percentage of world population
30
Year
150
Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
Empire
Mughal Empire
Empire population as percentage of world population
24
Year
1700
Delhi Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate
Empire
Delhi Sultanate
Empire population as percentage of world population
23
Year
1350
British Empire
British Empire
Empire
British Empire
Empire population as percentage of world population
23
Year
1938
Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
Empire
Empire of Japan
Empire population as percentage of world population
20
Year
1943
Maurya Empire
Maurya Empire
Empire
Maurya Empire
Empire population as percentage of world population
19
Year
250 BC
Former Qin
Former Qin
Empire
Former Qin
Empire population as percentage of world population
19
Year
376
Northern Zhou
Northern Zhou
Empire
Northern Zhou
Empire population as percentage of world population
16
Year
580
Macedonian Empire
Macedonian Empire
Empire
Macedonian Empire
Empire population as percentage of world population
15
Year
323 BC
Empire of Harsha
Empire of Harsha
Empire
Empire of Harsha
Empire population as percentage of world population
15
Year
647
Gupta Empire
Gupta Empire
Empire
Gupta Empire
Empire population as percentage of world population
13
Year
450
Northern Wei
Northern Wei
Empire
Northern Wei
Empire population as percentage of world population
13
Year
500
Umayyad Caliphate
Umayyad Caliphate
Empire
Umayyad Caliphate
Empire population as percentage of world population
13
Year
750
Achaemenid Empire
Achaemenid Empire
Empire
Achaemenid Empire
Empire population as percentage of world population
12
Year
450 BC
Former Yan
Former Yan
Empire
Former Yan
Empire population as percentage of world population
12
Year
366
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Empire
Nazi Germany
Empire population as percentage of world population
12
Year
1943
Empire
Empire population as percentage of world population
Year
Qing dynasty
37
1800
Northern Song dynasty
33
1100
Western Han dynasty
32
1
Mongol Empire
31
1290
Roman Empire
30
150
Jin dynasty (266–420)
28
280
Ming dynasty
28
1600
Qin dynasty
24
220 BC
Mughal Empire
24
1700
Tang dynasty
23
900
Delhi Sultanate
23
1350
British Empire
23
1938
Empire of Japan
20
1943
Maurya Empire
19
250 BC
Former Qin
19
376
Northern Zhou
16
580
Macedonian Empire
15
323 BC
Empire of Harsha
15
647
Gupta Empire
13
450
Northern Wei
13
500
Umayyad Caliphate
13
750
Achaemenid Empire
12
450 BC
Former Yan
12
366
Jin dynasty (1115–1234)
12
1200
Nazi Germany
12
1943

References

  1. The Mongol Empire eventually fractured into four separate khanates: the Yuan dynasty, Chagatai Khanate, Ilkhanate, and G
  2. Its successor state the USSR and its successor in turn, the Russian Federation, reached maximum extents of 22 million km
  3. Its successor state the Republic of China (1912–1949) and its successor in turn, the People's Republic of China (since 1
  4. Described explicitly as an empire by Taagepera & Nemčok on p and Harmsworth on p
  5. The reason the Empire of Brazil is listed as having a larger area in 1889 than the Portuguese Empire had in 1820, despit
  6. More recent reassessment of the historical evidence, both archaeological and textual, has led modern scholars to questio
  7. The extent to which this constituted a cohesive political entity is uncertain.
  8. More recent reassessment of the historical evidence, both archaeological and textual, has led modern scholars to questio
  9. The extent to which this constituted a cohesive political entity is uncertain. If the largest empire in the year 2100 BC
  10. More recent reassessment of the historical evidence, both archaeological and textual, has led modern scholars to questio
  11. Social Science Research
    https://escholarship.org/content/qt8vx325vq/qt8vx325vq_noSplash_a2c2db5cdb06a3d4d4e35b2852a74948.pdf
  12. International Studies Quarterly
    https://escholarship.org/content/qt3cn68807/qt3cn68807.pdf
  13. Social Science Research
    https://escholarship.org/content/qt8vx325vq/qt8vx325vq_noSplash_a2c2db5cdb06a3d4d4e35b2852a74948.pdf
  14. The Oxford World History of Empire: Volume One: The Imperial Experience
    https://books.google.com/books?id=9mkLEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA94
  15. Social Science Research
    https://escholarship.org/content/qt8vx325vq/qt8vx325vq_noSplash_a2c2db5cdb06a3d4d4e35b2852a74948.pdf
  16. Social Science Research
    https://escholarship.org/content/qt6wf6m5qg/qt6wf6m5qg.pdf
  17. Social Science History
    https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1170959
  18. International Studies Quarterly
    https://escholarship.org/content/qt3cn68807/qt3cn68807.pdf
  19. More People, Fewer States
    https://books.google.com/books?id=r6gfEQAAQBAJ
  20. Social Science History
    https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1170959
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