World Map in 1938
This world map shows state borders in 1938. The largest states and empires were USSR, United States, Canada, Brazil and Australia. The map stays in use until the next recorded border change in 1945.
Open the world in 1938 in the interactive map
Largest states and empires in 1938
Areas are approximate, from the historical border data.
| State | Approx. area | Region |
|---|---|---|
| USSR | 21.13 million km² | – |
| United States | 9.38 million km² | – |
| Canada | 8.99 million km² | – |
| Brazil | 8.42 million km² | – |
| Australia | 8.09 million km² | Oceania |
| Chinese warlords | 5.45 million km² | Asia |
| British Raj | 4.81 million km² | Asia |
| French West Africa | 4.63 million km² | Africa |
| Argentina | 2.77 million km² | – |
| Sudan | 2.51 million km² | Africa |
| Belgian Congo | 2.35 million km² | Africa |
| Algeria (France) | 2.31 million km² | Africa |
| Denmark | 2.23 million km² | – |
| French Equatorial Africa | 2.16 million km² | Africa |
| Union of South Africa | 2.02 million km² | Africa |
| Saudi Arabia | 2.01 million km² | Africa |
| Mexico | 1.91 million km² | – |
| Empire of Japan | 1.79 million km² | Asia |
| Dutch East Indies | 1.70 million km² | Asia |
| Xinjiang | 1.63 million km² | Asia |
| Libya | 1.62 million km² | Africa |
| Iran | 1.60 million km² | Europe |
| Mongolia | 1.57 million km² | Asia |
| Peru | 1.30 million km² | – |
| Angola (Portugal) | 1.24 million km² | Africa |
| Colombia | 1.15 million km² | – |
| Emirate of Bin Shal'an | 1.14 million km² | Africa |
| Tibet | 1.14 million km² | Asia |
| Ethiopia (Italy) | 1.14 million km² | Africa |
| Bolivia | 1.09 million km² | – |
Regional maps
- Europe in 1938 (map image) · open in the interactive map
- Asia in 1938 (map image) · open in the interactive map
- Africa in 1938 (map image) · open in the interactive map
- Oceania in 1938 (map image) · open in the interactive map
- Europe in 1938: rulers and events
Key events, 1938 to 1944
| Year | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Anschluss; Munich Agreement | |
| 1939 | Germany invades Poland; WWII begins | Warsaw |
| 1942 | Battle of Stalingrad | Battle of Stalingrad |
| 1942 | Fall of Singapore | Singapore |
| 1943 | Battle of Kursk | Battle of Kursk |
| 1944 | D-Day landings in Normandy | Normandy Landings |
| 1944 | Republic of Iceland founded | Reykjavík |
Battles and sites in this period
- Battle of Stalingrad · 1942
- Battle of Guadalcanal · 1942
- Battle of Kursk · 1943
- Normandy Landings · 1944