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The British Empire reaches a quarter of the world

c. 1920

About a quarter of Earth's land and people

Estimated Biggest empires · Verified 2026-10-31 · WWV-HS-EM-010

After World War I, the British Empire covered about a quarter of the world's land and held roughly a quarter of its people. Independence movements and the costs of World War II led to rapid decolonization.

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