British Empire Map in 3D: How It Grew to a Quarter of the World
The British Empire grew from a few trading posts and colonies into the largest empire in history. By the early 1920s it covered about a quarter of the world's land. On the 3D History Globe you can watch it spread across the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
Explore in 3DBritish Empire quick facts
| Dates | Late 1500s to 1997 (handover of Hong Kong) |
|---|---|
| Peak | Around 1920 |
| Capital | London |
| Largest area | About 35 million km², around a quarter of Earth's land |
| People | Over 400 million at its height |
| Famous monarchs | Elizabeth I, Victoria, George V |
Interesting facts
- At its height it covered around a quarter of the world's land.
- People said the sun never set on it, because some part was always in daylight.
- English spread around the world largely because of the empire.
- Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807 and slavery in most of its colonies in 1833, after years of profiting from it.
- Most former colonies are now independent countries, many in the Commonwealth.
British Empire timeline
- 1600The East India Company is founded
- 1700sColonies in North America and the Caribbean grow
- 1783The American colonies win independence
- 1858Britain takes direct rule of India
- 1920The empire reaches its largest size
- 1947India and Pakistan become independent
- 1997Hong Kong is handed back to China
On the History Globe, press play to watch these stages appear one by one, with the borders growing across the map.
More empires in 3D
British Empire questions
How big was the British Empire?
At its peak around 1920 it covered about 35 million km², roughly a quarter of the world's land.
Why was it said the sun never set on the British Empire?
Its lands were spread across every time zone, so it was always daytime somewhere in the empire.
When did the British Empire end?
It shrank through the 1900s as colonies became independent. The handover of Hong Kong in 1997 is often seen as the end.
When did India become independent?
In 1947, when British rule ended and India and Pakistan became separate countries.
What was the largest empire in history?
By land area, the British Empire, followed by the Mongol Empire, which was the largest connected land empire.
The 3D History Globe is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up. Map borders are approximate, for learning.