Geographic History

World map in 1930

85 states share the map in 1930. The largest by mapped area are Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom and France.

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is the largest state on the map in 1930, a position it has held since 1920 (before that: United Kingdom). It stays in first place until 1991, when Russian Federation takes over. The five largest states hold 51% of all land with a recorded ruler. 2% of the land on the map has no recorded state. The number of states is about the same as in 1923: 85 against 86.

Historical map of the world in 1930 showing the borders of states and empires
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The world in 1930, colored by ruling state. Grey land has no state recorded in the dataset.

Largest states in 1930

StateMapped areaProvinces
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics21 million km²254
United Kingdom15 million km²368
France12 million km²212
United States of America9.7 million km²235
Brazil8.6 million km²83
Australia8.2 million km²43
Republic of China8 million km²147
Canada6.6 million km²82
Argentina2.7 million km²38
Italy2.6 million km²66

What changed since 1923

  • On the map, Mongolian People's Republic takes the place of Mongolian Khanate (about 1.6 million km²).
  • On the map, Kingdom of Afghanistan takes the place of Emirate of Afghanistan (about 650 thousand km²).
  • Apart from that, 22 provinces changed hands between 1923 and 1930.
  • Diriyah gained about 760 thousand km², mostly from The Hedjaz and United Kingdom.
  • Union of Soviet Socialist Republics gained about 570 thousand km², mostly from Russia and Mongolian Khanate.
  • Canada gained about 200 thousand km², mostly from land with no recorded state.
  • Denmark gained about 100 thousand km², mostly from Iceland.
  • New on the map: People's Republic of China and Republic of Ararat.
  • No longer on the map: The Hedjaz, Russia and Iceland.

Battles, 1930 - 1938

  • 1934Guangchang
    2nd Chinese Revolutionary War - won by Chinese Nationalists
  • 1934Xiang
    2nd Chinese Revolutionary Civil War - won by Chinese Nationalists
  • 1935Adigrat
    2nd Italo-Ethiopian War - won by Italy
  • 1935Dembeguina
    2nd Italo- Ethiopian War - won by Ethiopia
  • 1936Tembien (2nd)
    2nd Italo-Ethiopian War - won by Italy
  • 1937Shanghai
    Sino-Japanese War - won by Japan
  • 1937Xuzhou
    Sino-Japanese War - won by Japan
  • 1937Nankou Pass
    Sino-Japanese War - won by Japan
  • 1937Taiyuan
    Sino-Japanese War - won by Japan
  • 1938Wuhan
    Sino-Japanese War - won by Japan
  • 1938Barcelona, Spain
    Spanish Civil War - won by Spanish Nationalists
  • 1938Ebro
    Spanish Civil War - won by Spanish Nationalists

Empire maps for this period

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