The Largest States in the World in 1492
On the world border map for 1492, the largest state was Chagatai Khanate, with about 8.37 million km² — some 6% of the world's land. It was followed by Ming Empire and White Horde.
The 20 largest states in 1492
| Rank | State | Area | Share of world land | Rank in 1400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chagatai Khanate | 8.37 million km² | 5.6% | 7 |
| 2 | Ming Empire | 4.21 million km² | 2.8% | 3 |
| 3 | White Horde | 2.70 million km² | 1.8% | 4 |
| 4 | Michif Piyii (Métis) | 2.66 million km² | 1.8% | new |
| 5 | Timurid Emirates | 2.16 million km² | 1.5% | new |
| 6 | Tekohá (Guarani) | 2.04 million km² | 1.4% | new |
| 7 | Grand Duchy of Moscow | 1.97 million km² | 1.3% | new |
| 8 | Tibet | 1.94 million km² | 1.3% | 9 |
| 9 | Emirate of the White Sheep Turks | 1.82 million km² | 1.2% | new |
| 10 | Malaysian Islamic states | 1.75 million km² | 1.2% | new |
| 11 | Cree | 1.66 million km² | 1.1% | new |
| 12 | Mamluk Sultanate | 1.47 million km² | 1.0% | 11 |
| 13 | Golden Horde | 1.19 million km² | 0.8% | new |
| 14 | Poland-Lithuania | 1.18 million km² | 0.8% | 13 |
| 15 | Wallmapu (Mapuche) | 1.18 million km² | 0.8% | new |
| 16 | Ottoman Empire | 1.09 million km² | 0.7% | – |
| 17 | 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage) | 1.04 million km² | 0.7% | new |
| 18 | Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo) | 940,000 km² | 0.6% | new |
| 19 | Günün a atük (Günün a küna) | 940,000 km² | 0.6% | new |
| 20 | Holy Roman Empire | 850,000 km² | 0.6% | 12 |
Areas are measured from the border polygons of the map and are approximate; claimed areas, tributaries and unorganised land are not included.
Largest states by region
Europe
| Rank | State | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Duchy of Moscow | 1.97 million km² |
| 2 | Emirate of the White Sheep Turks | 1.82 million km² |
| 3 | Golden Horde | 1.19 million km² |
| 4 | Poland-Lithuania | 1.18 million km² |
| 5 | Ottoman Empire | 1.09 million km² |
Asia
| Rank | State | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chagatai Khanate | 8.37 million km² |
| 2 | Ming Empire | 4.21 million km² |
| 3 | White Horde | 2.70 million km² |
| 4 | Timurid Emirates | 2.16 million km² |
| 5 | Tibet | 1.94 million km² |
Africa
| Rank | State | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mamluk Sultanate | 1.47 million km² |
| 2 | Mali | 620,000 km² |
| 3 | Songhai | 610,000 km² |
| 4 | Ethiopia | 500,000 km² |
| 5 | Mwenemutapa | 490,000 km² |
Americas
| Rank | State | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michif Piyii (Métis) | 2.66 million km² |
| 2 | Tekohá (Guarani) | 2.04 million km² |
| 3 | Cree | 1.66 million km² |
| 4 | Wallmapu (Mapuche) | 1.18 million km² |
| 5 | 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage) | 1.04 million km² |
Oceania
| Rank | State | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Papua New Guinea | 420,000 km² |
| 2 | Tuʻi Tonga Empire | 20,000 km² |
Questions
What was the largest country in the world in 1492?
Chagatai Khanate, with about 8.37 million km², on the border map for 1492.
What were the five largest states in 1492?
1. Chagatai Khanate (8.37 million km²); 2. Ming Empire (4.21 million km²); 3. White Horde (2.70 million km²); 4. Michif Piyii (Métis) (2.66 million km²); 5. Timurid Emirates (2.16 million km²).
What was the largest state in Europe in 1492?
Grand Duchy of Moscow, with about 1.97 million km².
What was the largest state in Asia in 1492?
Chagatai Khanate, with about 8.37 million km².
What was the largest state in Africa in 1492?
Mamluk Sultanate, with about 1.47 million km².
← Largest states in 1400 · Largest states in 1500 → · Largest empires in history · The world in 1492
Last updated 10 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.