Map of Africa in 1945
In 1945 CE the atlas maps 13 states and empires with territory in Africa. The largest by mapped territory was The British Empire, at about 16.71M km², followed by French Fourth Republic. The map below is set to 1945 CE; the table lists every state shown, with the modern countries its borders covered.
- States Mapped
- 13
- Largest
- 16.71M km²
- Modern Countries Covered
- 98
- Longest Established
- 1706–1945 CE
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Map of Africa in 1945 CE
Borders are drawn for 1945 CE. Drag the timeline to move to another year.
The Major Powers of 1945 CE
The British Empire
1706–1999 CEThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and colonisation attempts by Scotland during the 17th century.
Mapped extent in 1945 CE: 16.71M km²
French Fourth Republic
1945–1957 CEThe French Fourth Republic was the republican government of France from 27 October 1946 to 4 October 1958, governed by the fourth republican constitution of 13 October 1946. Essentially a reestablishment and continuation of the French Third Republic which governed from 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War to 1940 during World War II, it suffered many of the same problems which led to its end.
Mapped extent in 1945 CE: 12.42M km²
French Africa
1846–1957 CEFrench Africa includes all the historic holdings of France on the African continent.
Mapped extent in 1945 CE: 11.67M km²
British Africa
1885–1960 CEThe Scramble for Africa was the invasion, conquest, and colonisation of most of Africa by seven Western European powers, which were driven by the Second Industrial Revolution during the late 19th and early 20th centuries through the era of "New Imperialism". Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom were the contending powers.
Mapped extent in 1945 CE: 8.78M km²
Belgian Congo
1890–1962 CEThe Belgian Congo was a Belgian colony in Central Africa from 1908 until independence in 1960. It is today the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Mapped extent in 1945 CE: 2.36M km²
Estado Novo
1926–2024 CEThe Estado Novo was the corporatist Portuguese state installed in 1933. It evolved from the Ditadura Nacional formed after the coup d'état of 28 May 1926 against the unstable First Republic.
Mapped extent in 1945 CE: 2.18M km²
Descriptions are the opening of each state's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
States and Empires in 1945 CE
13 mapped, largest territory first. Dates are the span of each state's mapped borders.
1945 CE by Region
1945 CE: Quick Answers
- What empires and states existed in Africa in 1945 CE?
- The atlas maps 13 states in Africa in 1945 CE. The largest by mapped territory were The British Empire, French Fourth Republic, French Africa, British Africa, Belgian Congo, Estado Novo.
- What was the largest empire in Africa in 1945 CE?
- The British Empire had the largest mapped territory among states present in Africa in 1945 CE, about 16.71M km², followed by French Fourth Republic (12.42M km²). Areas are measured from the mapped borders and are approximate.
- What did the map of Africa look like in 1945?
- In 1945 CE the map of Africa was divided between 13 mapped states and empires. The British Empire held the largest territory, followed by French Fourth Republic. Their borders covered parts of 98 present-day countries.
- How many states are shown on the map for 1945 CE?
- 13. The map shows the states recorded in the atlas's dated border dataset for that year; states and peoples absent from that dataset are not shown.