The Largest States in the World in 400 BC

On the world border map for 400 BC, the largest state was Achaemenid Empire, with about 6.02 million km² — some 4% of the world's land. It was followed by Xiongnu and Hindu kingdoms.

World map in 400 BC — Border map for 400 BC. See the world in 400 BC.

The 20 largest states in 400 BC

Rank	State	Area	Share of world land	Rank in 500 BC
1	Achaemenid Empire	6.02 million km²	4.0%	1
2	Xiongnu	3.89 million km²	2.6%	new
3	Hindu kingdoms	2.41 million km²	1.6%	3
4	Zhou states	1.55 million km²	1.0%	2
5	Zhangzhung Kingdom	660,000 km²	0.4%	new
6	Magadha	650,000 km²	0.4%	8
7	Carthaginian Empire	630,000 km²	0.4%	4
8	Gojoseon	540,000 km²	0.4%	new
9	Kush	310,000 km²	0.2%	new
10	Adena Culture	230,000 km²	0.2%	7
11	Greek city-states	150,000 km²	0.1%	6
12	Greek colonies	120,000 km²	0.1%	new
13	Yayoi	110,000 km²	0.1%	new
14	Chavin	80,000 km²	0.1%	10
15	Simhala	60,000 km²	0.0%	13
16	Olmec	50,000 km²	0.0%	16
17	Boii	40,000 km²	0.0%	18
18	Etruscans	30,000 km²	0.0%	19
19	Paracas	30,000 km²	0.0%	new
20	Sabines	10,000 km²	0.0%	–

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	Achaemenid Empire	6.02 million km²
2	Carthaginian Empire	630,000 km²
3	Greek city-states	150,000 km²
4	Greek colonies	120,000 km²
5	Boii	40,000 km²

Asia

Rank	State	Area
1	Xiongnu	3.89 million km²
2	Hindu kingdoms	2.41 million km²
3	Zhou states	1.55 million km²
4	Zhangzhung Kingdom	660,000 km²
5	Magadha	650,000 km²

Africa

Rank	State	Area
1	Kush	310,000 km²

Americas

Rank	State	Area
1	Adena Culture	230,000 km²
2	Chavin	80,000 km²
3	Olmec	50,000 km²
4	Paracas	30,000 km²

Questions

What was the largest country in the world in 400 BC?

Achaemenid Empire, with about 6.02 million km², on the border map for 400 BC.

What were the five largest states in 400 BC?

1. Achaemenid Empire (6.02 million km²); 2. Xiongnu (3.89 million km²); 3. Hindu kingdoms (2.41 million km²); 4. Zhou states (1.55 million km²); 5. Zhangzhung Kingdom (660,000 km²).

What was the largest state in Europe in 400 BC?

Achaemenid Empire, with about 6.02 million km².

What was the largest state in Asia in 400 BC?

Xiongnu, with about 3.89 million km².

What was the largest state in Africa in 400 BC?

Kush, with about 310,000 km².

← Largest states in 500 BC · Largest states in 323 BC → · Largest empires in history · The world in 400 BC

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.