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The 30 Largest Empires in History: A Look Back at the Giants of the Past
1. British Empire
Covering approximately 35.5 million square kilometers, the British Empire remains the largest empire in history. At its height, it controlled nearly 27% of the world’s population, earning it the nickname “the empire on which the sun never sets.” The British Empire’s influence was widespread, leaving a lasting legacy in language, culture, and political systems across continents.
2. Mongol Empire
Spanning roughly 24 million square kilometers, the Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous empire in history. Established by Genghis Khan in the 13th century, it controlled around 18% of the global population, facilitating Eurasian trade routes and cultural exchanges that shaped early global history.
3. Russian Empire
Covering about 22.8 million square kilometers, the Russian Empire controlled roughly 9% of the world’s population at its peak. It expanded dramatically across Eastern Europe, Siberia, and Asia, influencing geopolitics for centuries.
4. Qing Dynasty (China)
The Qing Dynasty held sovereignty over nearly 14.7 million square kilometers, accounting for approximately 5.6% of the world population. It marked the last imperial dynasty of China, dominating East Asia for centuries before its collapse in the early 20th century.
5. Spanish Empire
Covering 13.7 million square kilometers, Spain’s empire was among the earliest global empires, with territories in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Its global reach comprised about 5.3% of the world population, significantly influencing world history through exploration and colonization.
6. French Empire
Spanning around 11.5 million square kilometers, the French Empire, especially during the 19th and early 20th centuries, stretched across continents, including Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. It accounted for 4.4% of the world population at its zenith.
7. Abbasid Caliphate
Encompassing approximately 11.1 million square kilometers, the Abbasid Caliphate was a key cultural and scientific center during the Islamic Golden Age. It had a profound influence on agriculture, science, and philosophy, representing about 4.3% of the world population.
8. Portuguese Empire
With roughly 10.4 million square kilometers, the Portuguese Empire was a pioneer in maritime exploration, establishing colonies in Africa, Asia, and South America. It accounted for around 2.7% of the world population.
9. Ottoman Empire
Spanning 5.2 million square kilometers, the Ottoman Empire was a dominant power spanning Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. Its influence lasted centuries, impacting culture, politics, and religion in these regions.
10. Umayyad Caliphate
Stretching over 11 million square kilometers, the Umayyad Caliphate was the largest caliphate in history, controlling nearly 29% of the world population at the time. Its territories extended across North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia.
11. Nazi Germany
At its peak, Nazi Germany controlled about 12.4 million square kilometers and roughly 3.5% of the world’s population. Its expansion during World War II dramatically reshaped geopolitical boundaries and had lasting global repercussions.
12. Empire of Japan
Covering 8.5 million square kilometers, Japan’s empire extended across East Asia and the Pacific, comprising about 2.9% of the global population in its imperial period.
13. Almoravid Dynasty
This West African empire covered approximately 9 million square kilometers. It played a critical role in the spread of Islam and trade across North and West Africa, representing around 4% of the world’s population.
14. Dutch Empire
The Dutch Empire encompassed about 5 million square kilometers, including territories in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa. It was a major maritime and trading power, accounting for approximately 2.4% of the global population.
15. Maratha Empire
Size-wise, around 2.5 million square kilometers, the Maratha Empire was a dominant power in India during the 17th and 18th centuries, controlling about 9% of the world population at the time.
16. Argentine Confederation
Spanning roughly 5.5 million square kilometers, Argentina’s early states had limited global influence but held considerable territorial claims and potential.
17. Roman Empire
Once ruling about 5 million square kilometers, the Roman Empire profoundly influenced Western civilization, law, and governance, controlling roughly 21% of the world’s population.
18. Mughal Empire
Covering about 4 million square kilometers, the Mughals oversaw a flourishing Indian civilization, controlling roughly 25% of the world’s population during their peak.
19. Mexican Empire
Once large, the Mexican Empire covered roughly 5 million square kilometers, representing about 2% of the global population.
20. Maurya Empire
One of India’s most extensive empires, the Maurya Empire spanned 5 million square kilometers and governed approximately 33% of the world’s population, marking a significant era in Indian history.
21. Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Covering about 1 million square kilometers, this powerful coalition was a major Eurasian political entity, with approximately 11% of the world population.
22. Persian Empire (Achaemenid Empire)
Stretching over 5.5 million square kilometers, the Persian Empire was a precursor to many later empires, controlling nearly 44% of the world’s population at its height.
23. Empire of Brazil
Spanning around 8.5 million square kilometers, Brazil’s empire was among the largest in the Western Hemisphere, representing about 1% of the world population.
24. Ancient Egypt
Controlling roughly 1 million square kilometers, Ancient Egypt was a pioneering civilization, with a population comprising about 10% of the world population in its prime.
25. United States (Post-1945)
Following World War II, the US’s territorial reach expanded to approximately 9.8 million square kilometers, with about 23% of the world’s population under its influence.
26. Inca Empire
With about 2 million square kilometers, the Incas ruled a significant part of South America, encompassing around 0.5% of the world population.
27. Byzantine Empire
The continuation of the Roman Empire in the East, the Byzantine Empire covered around 1.5 million square kilometers and controlled roughly 4% of the world’s population.
28. Empire of Brazil (Second occurrence)
Repeating at 8.5 million square kilometers with 1% of the global population, the Brazilian state played a critical role in South American history.
29. Holy Roman Empire
At its largest, it covered about 1 million square kilometers, governing roughly 3% of the world’s population and influencing Central Europe’ politics.
30. Swedish Empire
Spanning about 1.3 million square kilometers, the Swedish Empire was a Baltic and Northern European power, accounting for around 1% of the world population at its height.
Images of historical empires have long captured the imagination of historians and enthusiasts alike, illustrating the vastness and complexity of human civilization’s expansion.
Source: Rein Taagepera, “Size and Duration of Empires,” Social Science History, 1979.
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