Geographic History

World map in 1949

103 states share the map in 1949. The largest by mapped area are Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, France and United States of America.

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is the largest state on the map in 1949, 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 46% of all land with a recorded ruler. Nearly all land on the map has a recorded state. There are more states than in 1945: 103 against 77.

Historical map of the world in 1949 showing the borders of states and empires
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The world in 1949, colored by ruling state. Grey land has no state recorded in the dataset.

Largest states in 1949

StateMapped areaProvinces
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics22 million km²287
France12 million km²201
United States of America9.4 million km²223
United Kingdom9.2 million km²176
Brazil8.6 million km²83
Canada8.5 million km²84
People's Republic of China8 million km²150
Australia8 million km²41
India2.9 million km²111
Argentina2.7 million km²38

What changed since 1945

  • On the map, Syria takes the place of French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon (about 190 thousand km²).
  • Apart from that, 626 provinces changed hands between 1945 and 1949.
  • People's Republic of China gained about 7.7 million km², mostly from Republic of China and Empire of Japan.
  • India gained about 2.8 million km², mostly from United Kingdom.
  • Iran gained about 1.6 million km², mostly from United Kingdom and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
  • Indonesia gained about 1.4 million km², mostly from Empire of Japan.
  • New on the map: Iran, Indonesia, Pakistan, Burma and Iraq.
  • No longer on the map: Empire of Japan, Republic of China, Manchukuo, East Turkestan Republic and Nazi Germany.

Battles, 1949

  • 1949Beijing
    Civil War - won by Chinese Communists
  • 1949Chenguanzhuang
    3rd Chinese Revolutionary Wars - won by Chinese Communists
  • 1949Taiyuan
    3rd Chinese Revolutionary Civil War - won by Chinese Communists
  • 1949Tianjin
    3rd Chinese Revolutionary Civil War - won by Chinese Communists
  • 1949Vitsi
    Greek Civil War - won by Greece
  • 1949Florina
    Greek Civil War - won by Greece
  • 1949Jaffa
    Israeli War of Independence - won by Zionists
  • 1949Yangzi Incident
    3rd Chinese Revolutionary Civil War - won by Incident
  • 1949Grammos
    Greek Civil War - won by Greek Government
  • 1949Karpenision
    Greek Civil War - won by Greece
  • 1949Nanjing
    3rd Chinese Revolutionary Civil War - won by Chinese Communists
  • 1949Xian
    3rd Chinese Revolutionary Civil Wars - won by Chinese Communists

Empire maps for this period

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