Colonial Empires Compared — World Map
Switch tabs to compare colonies by empire. Based on all historical rulers, so some countries appear in multiple tabs.
Britain — 69 countries
The largest empire in history. A quarter of the world's land. Spanned every continent, with lasting consequences for colonized peoples.
France — 28 countries
Concentrated in West and Central Africa. Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia (Indochina) were also French. Syria and Lebanon became French mandates after WWI.
Spain — 21 countries
The first global empire (16th century). Nearly all of Latin America + the Philippines (333 years) + Equatorial Guinea.
Japan — 13 countries/territories
Korea (1910–1945) and Taiwan (1895–1945) were under Japanese colonial rule. Most of Southeast Asia was occupied during WWII (1942–1945).
Germany — 10 countries
Entered the colonial race in 1884 and lost everything after WWI (1919). The empire lasted just 30 years.
Portugal — 8 countries
The first maritime empire (15th century). Held on to colonies the longest — until the 1974 Carnation Revolution triggered mass independence.
Italy — 6 countries
The invasion of Ethiopia (1935) drew international condemnation. Lost all colonies after WWII. Ethiopia is widely regarded as Africa's only uncolonized nation, though Italy militarily occupied it for 5 years (1936–1941).
Netherlands — 5 countries
Indonesia was the empire's crown jewel. 350 years of control from the VOC era (1602–1949). Suriname gained independence in 1975.
Belgium — 4 countries
The Congo was originally the personal property of King Leopold II (1885–1908). Widely regarded as one of the most brutal colonial regimes in history.
Overlapping countries
| Country | Empires |
|---|---|
| Philippines | Spain (333 yrs) → USA (48 yrs) → Japan (3 yrs) |
| Cameroon | Germany → Britain + France (split) |
| Somalia | Britain + Italy + France (three-way split) |
| Indonesia | Netherlands (350 yrs) + Japan (3 yrs) |
| Rwanda & Burundi | Germany → Belgium |
| Namibia | Germany → South Africa (British) |
| Vietnam | France → Japan (occupation) |
Waves of Independence
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1776–1830 | Americas — USA (1776), most of Latin America |
| 1945–1949 | Asia — India, Indonesia, Philippines, Korea |
| 1960 | Year of Africa — 17 countries gained independence in a single year |
| 1975 | Portuguese colonies — mass independence after the Carnation Revolution |