The world in 1885

On 1 July 1885, IntMap’s historical map draws 273 names across the world. The borders for this date come from OpenHistoricalMap (day by day), then Cliopatria, Seshat Global History Databank (by year), then historical-basemaps — each drawn only where the records before it are silent. It also draws 10 outlines whose name the record does not give for this date.

World map on 1 July 1885: the borders IntMap’s historical map draws on that date, from OpenHistoricalMap (day by day), then Cliopatria, Seshat Global History Databank (by year), then historical-basemaps — each drawn only where the records before it are silent.
Drawn when the site is built from the same records and the same code the map uses, on 1 July 1885, in the Equal Earth projection. The picture is simplified for display only: each outline is reduced to about one pixel at this size, and outlines smaller than a pixel are left out of the picture — the map itself draws every one of them in full. Grey is land on which no record states a polity on this date (today’s coastline, Natural Earth 1:110m). Paler fills are outlines drawn from the nearest historical-basemaps sheet (1880), which is not dated to this year.

Why this year has a page

Among the largest year-to-year changes in the records the map dates by year or by day: 27 names begin or stop being drawn between 1 July 1884 and 1 July 1885.

Names on the map

As the map labels them, largest first by the area of the outline drawn. Areas are of the drawn outline, rounded, and approximate. The record column says which record draws the outline; a Wikidata item is given where the record links one.

NameRecordDrawn area (km²)
Russian EmpireOpenHistoricalMap · Cliopatria Q3426622,700,000
QingOpenHistoricalMap11,400,000
Dominion of CanadaOpenHistoricalMap10,400,000
United StatesOpenHistoricalMap9,820,000
Empire of BrazilOpenHistoricalMap8,230,000
British Raj (British India)OpenHistoricalMap · Cliopatria Q1292865,010,000
Ottoman EmpireOpenHistoricalMap · Cliopatria · historical-basemaps Q12560 Q15292613,500,000
ArgentinaOpenHistoricalMap · historical-basemaps3,410,000
Colony of Western AustraliaOpenHistoricalMap2,610,000
DenmarkOpenHistoricalMap2,500,000
Colony of South AustraliaOpenHistoricalMap2,400,000
Congo Free StateOpenHistoricalMap2,340,000
Dutch East IndiesOpenHistoricalMap2,280,000
Mahdist StateCliopatria Q31253682,230,000
Colony of QueenslandOpenHistoricalMap2,070,000
MexicoOpenHistoricalMap2,020,000
British EmpireCliopatria Q86801,890,000
PersiaOpenHistoricalMap1,640,000
BoliviaOpenHistoricalMap1,530,000
British AfricaCliopatria1,320,000
ColombiaOpenHistoricalMap1,310,000
Upper RiverOpenHistoricalMap1,260,000
Arabiahistorical-basemaps1,140,000
ChileOpenHistoricalMap · historical-basemaps1,130,000
United States of VenezuelaOpenHistoricalMap1,100,000
Sokoto CaliphateOpenHistoricalMap · Cliopatria · historical-basemaps Q6005241,070,000
Kingdom of PortugalOpenHistoricalMap · Cliopatria Q456701,040,000
PeruOpenHistoricalMap1,020,000
French RepublicOpenHistoricalMap1,010,000
German East AfricaOpenHistoricalMap956,000
Sweden–NorwayOpenHistoricalMap · historical-basemaps949,000
Portuguese EmpireCliopatria Q200464943,000
German South-West AfricaOpenHistoricalMap816,000
Colony of New South WalesOpenHistoricalMap813,000
Province of MozambiqueOpenHistoricalMap811,000
SiamOpenHistoricalMap775,000
EcuadorOpenHistoricalMap675,000
Emirate of AfghanistanOpenHistoricalMap642,000
Protectorate of AfghanistanOpenHistoricalMap642,000
Austria-HungaryOpenHistoricalMap639,000
Kingdom of ImerinaOpenHistoricalMap626,000
French CongoOpenHistoricalMap615,000
Cape ColonyOpenHistoricalMap · historical-basemaps612,000
German ReichOpenHistoricalMap561,000
SpainOpenHistoricalMap529,000
German CameroonOpenHistoricalMap527,000
French Third RepublicCliopatria · historical-basemaps Q70802522,000
Empire of Japan (1879-1895)OpenHistoricalMap510,000
ParaguayOpenHistoricalMap487,000
French AfricaCliopatria421,000
All 273 names
NameRecordDrawn area (km²)
Alawi SultanateOpenHistoricalMap392,000
United Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandOpenHistoricalMap383,000
Wadai EmpireCliopatria · historical-basemaps Q1132786379,000
Captaincy General of the PhilippinesOpenHistoricalMap348,000
Spanish PhilippinesOpenHistoricalMap343,000
Ethiopian EmpireCliopatria · historical-basemaps Q207521342,000
Bechuanaland ProtectorateOpenHistoricalMap324,000
Colony of New ZealandOpenHistoricalMap318,000
Kingdom of ItalyOpenHistoricalMap314,000
Sultanate of Uteterahistorical-basemaps305,000
South African RepublicOpenHistoricalMap · Cliopatria Q550374292,000
German New GuineaOpenHistoricalMap290,000
Sultinate of Zanzibarhistorical-basemaps271,000
JoseonOpenHistoricalMap268,000
Emirate of NejdCliopatria Q146862268,000
French GabonOpenHistoricalMap267,000
Aden ProtectorateOpenHistoricalMap251,000
Colony of VictoriaOpenHistoricalMap238,000
Crown Colony of NewfoundlandOpenHistoricalMap227,000
Emirate of Jabal ShammarCliopatria Q5362837222,000
Mossi Stateshistorical-basemaps207,000
Kingdom of the NetherlandsOpenHistoricalMap195,000
Emirate of BukharaOpenHistoricalMap189,000
Lozihistorical-basemaps188,000
Yekehistorical-basemaps187,000
UruguayOpenHistoricalMap182,000
Kong Empirehistorical-basemaps180,000
Bornu EmpireCliopatria Q1139762179,000
New Spain (1865-1899)OpenHistoricalMap170,000
Mirambo Unyanyembe Ukimbuhistorical-basemaps169,000
French protectorate of TunisiaOpenHistoricalMap165,000
British SomalilandOpenHistoricalMap162,000
Captaincy General of CubaOpenHistoricalMap152,000
NepalOpenHistoricalMap148,000
Kanem-Bornuhistorical-basemaps142,000
Sultanate of HobyoOpenHistoricalMap134,000
Egypthistorical-basemaps134,000
Kingdom of RomaniaOpenHistoricalMap132,000
Orange Free StateOpenHistoricalMap131,000
Colony of the Rio de OroOpenHistoricalMap122,000
French TonkinOpenHistoricalMap122,000
French Protectorate of AnnamOpenHistoricalMap121,000
Dendi Kingdomhistorical-basemaps120,000
HondurasOpenHistoricalMap120,000
Sultanate of Muscat and OmanOpenHistoricalMap117,000
Majeerteen SultanateOpenHistoricalMap115,000
Borgu Stateshistorical-basemaps114,000
Oil Rivers ProtectorateOpenHistoricalMap110,000
GuatemalaOpenHistoricalMap109,000
NicaraguaOpenHistoricalMap106,000
Ashanti EmpireCliopatria Q722071104,000
Sultanate of Dar al KutiOpenHistoricalMap100,000
LiberiaOpenHistoricalMap99,700
Barotsehistorical-basemaps97,600
Kingdom of GreeceOpenHistoricalMap94,700
Sultanate of Qishn and SocotraOpenHistoricalMap90,500
Colony of TasmaniaOpenHistoricalMap88,600
North BorneoOpenHistoricalMap88,300
Togoland ProtectorateOpenHistoricalMap88,300
Colony of French GuianaOpenHistoricalMap86,600
Sultanate of OmanCliopatria Q84285,600
Lagos ColonyOpenHistoricalMap81,300
Trucial StatesOpenHistoricalMap80,900
British GuianaOpenHistoricalMap80,000
Kingdom of LundaCliopatria Q179622379,700
Shonahistorical-basemaps79,300
Kingdom of SarawakCliopatria Q165841178,100
Colony of Sierra LeoneOpenHistoricalMap76,500
Lundahistorical-basemaps76,300
British CeylonOpenHistoricalMap75,700
Mbailunduhistorical-basemaps72,700
Colony of CochinchinaOpenHistoricalMap72,600
Malayahistorical-basemaps71,700
Yakahistorical-basemaps67,500
Gold Coast ColonyOpenHistoricalMap65,400
Sultanate of MaguindanaoOpenHistoricalMap64,900
Harer (Egypt)historical-basemaps62,600
Ovimbunduhistorical-basemaps61,000
Kubahistorical-basemaps60,900
Costa RicaOpenHistoricalMap60,100
Ndebelehistorical-basemaps59,700
Bunyorohistorical-basemaps58,900
Bugandahistorical-basemaps58,500
Rattanakosin KingdomCliopatria Q115570058,100
Dominican RepublicOpenHistoricalMap56,300
British Colonial EmpireCliopatria Q868053,800
Tekehistorical-basemaps53,300
Angola (Portugal)historical-basemaps52,900
Portuguese GuineaOpenHistoricalMap · historical-basemaps51,800
British Western Pacific TerritoriesOpenHistoricalMap48,700
Transvaalhistorical-basemaps48,600
Kingdom of SerbiaOpenHistoricalMap48,100
Colony of the BahamasOpenHistoricalMap47,200
Colony of NatalOpenHistoricalMap46,900
Colony of FijiOpenHistoricalMap43,400
Pahang SultanateCliopatria41,400
SwitzerlandOpenHistoricalMap41,200
Kingdom of RwandaOpenHistoricalMap40,000
BhutanOpenHistoricalMap39,200
Khanate of Khiva (1873-1920)OpenHistoricalMap37,200
New CaledoniaOpenHistoricalMap36,500
Republic of HaitiOpenHistoricalMap35,700
Ngunihistorical-basemaps35,400
J'raiOpenHistoricalMap35,100
Sultanate of Damagaramhistorical-basemaps32,700
British Honduras ColonyOpenHistoricalMap31,700
Kingdom of Luang PhrabangCliopatria31,600
Sultanate of the Maldive IslandsOpenHistoricalMap31,300
Colony of BasutolandOpenHistoricalMap30,600
Futa Jalonhistorical-basemaps30,400
Mosquito ReserveOpenHistoricalMap30,200
Ngwatohistorical-basemaps30,000
SwazilandCliopatria · historical-basemaps30,000
BelgiumOpenHistoricalMap29,900
Hawaiian KingdomOpenHistoricalMap28,600
Kingdom of BurundiOpenHistoricalMap26,900
ZululandCliopatria25,100
Obock and Protectorates of the Somali Coast and Dankils CountriesOpenHistoricalMap23,900
Kingdom of SpainCliopatria Q2923,800
Spanish EmpireCliopatria Q8070223,800
El SalvadorOpenHistoricalMap22,900
Johore ProtectorateOpenHistoricalMap22,800
Manipur StateOpenHistoricalMap22,400
Perak ProtectorateOpenHistoricalMap21,300
Basutolandhistorical-basemaps21,300
Chan Santa CruzOpenHistoricalMap20,900
Kingdom of JolofOpenHistoricalMap20,500
Moroccohistorical-basemaps20,500
Kingdom of DahomeyOpenHistoricalMap20,400
Rabih az-Zubayrhistorical-basemaps20,300
Gabonhistorical-basemaps19,700
Portuguese TimorOpenHistoricalMap19,400
Lubahistorical-basemaps19,400
Dahomeyhistorical-basemaps19,200
Congohistorical-basemaps19,000
Colony of JamaicaOpenHistoricalMap18,900
BunduOpenHistoricalMap18,900
Sultanate of SuluOpenHistoricalMap18,500
British MauritiusOpenHistoricalMap16,000
Sultanate of TerengganuCliopatria Q576944414,900
Ivory Coasthistorical-basemaps14,900
Ato trading confederacyhistorical-basemaps14,400
Kingdom of CayorOpenHistoricalMap14,100
Spanish Guineahistorical-basemaps13,600
Captaincy General of Puerto RicoOpenHistoricalMap12,800
Cyprus ProtectorateOpenHistoricalMap12,400
Calabarhistorical-basemaps12,200
Beninhistorical-basemaps12,000
Sultanate of BruneiCliopatria Q88780311,900
Gambia Colony and ProtectorateOpenHistoricalMap11,700
Kingdom of NianiOpenHistoricalMap11,700
Griqualand Westhistorical-basemaps10,900
Nieuwe RepubliekCliopatria Q55215710,200
Selangor ProtectorateOpenHistoricalMap9,550
Sultanate of KedahCliopatria Q13175799,370
Algeria (FR)historical-basemaps9,200
British Gold CoastCliopatria Q5036239,010
Principality of MontenegroOpenHistoricalMap9,010
Spanish Posessions on the Gulf of GuineaOpenHistoricalMap8,920
KelantanCliopatria Q1859448,610
Kingdom of TongaOpenHistoricalMap8,310
Sultanate of LahejOpenHistoricalMap8,120
Protectorate of WitulandOpenHistoricalMap8,030
Mozambiquehistorical-basemaps7,850
Colony of TrinidadOpenHistoricalMap7,680
Protectorate of CabindaOpenHistoricalMap7,600
Sultanate of ZanzibarOpenHistoricalMap7,260
Trucial Omanhistorical-basemaps7,050
Opobohistorical-basemaps7,000
Negri Sembilan ProtectorateOpenHistoricalMap6,960
Colony of the Straits SettlementOpenHistoricalMap6,500
Rwandahistorical-basemaps6,070
Kingdom of KakongoOpenHistoricalMap6,050
British Windward IslandsOpenHistoricalMap5,890
Mayotte and DependenciesOpenHistoricalMap5,870
Kingdom of WuliOpenHistoricalMap5,410
Natalhistorical-basemaps5,180
Colony of GuadelupeOpenHistoricalMap4,740
People's Republic of ZanzibarCliopatria4,320
La RéunionOpenHistoricalMap3,930
Kingdom of NgoyoOpenHistoricalMap3,920
Senegal (FR)historical-basemaps3,610
Cotonouhistorical-basemaps3,260
Tahiti ColonyOpenHistoricalMap3,100
Tukular Caliphatehistorical-basemaps3,050
Samoahistorical-basemaps2,960
LuxembourgOpenHistoricalMap2,590
Portuguese São Tomé and PríncipeOpenHistoricalMap2,560
Kingdom of SineOpenHistoricalMap2,320
Protectorate of BahrainOpenHistoricalMap2,180
Confederate States of LanaoOpenHistoricalMap2,060
Territory of IfniOpenHistoricalMap1,920
Danish West IndiesOpenHistoricalMap1,890
Haushabi SultanateOpenHistoricalMap1,860
Cayman IslandsOpenHistoricalMap1,520
Isle of ManOpenHistoricalMap1,350
Sultanate of NdzuwaniOpenHistoricalMap1,260
French Nosy BeOpenHistoricalMap1,110
Saint Pierre and MiquelonOpenHistoricalMap1,100
Colony of BarbadosOpenHistoricalMap1,020
JerseyOpenHistoricalMap984
Crown Colony of MaltaOpenHistoricalMap925
Sultanate of MwaliOpenHistoricalMap923
GuernseyOpenHistoricalMap909
Nosy BorahaOpenHistoricalMap888
French IndiaOpenHistoricalMap792
Pitcairn IslandsOpenHistoricalMap691
Portuguese IndiaOpenHistoricalMap654
Colony of LabuanOpenHistoricalMap638
Bruneihistorical-basemaps612
Colony of BermudaOpenHistoricalMap555
Alawi SheikhdomOpenHistoricalMap538
Saint Helena Crown ColonyOpenHistoricalMap508
AndorraOpenHistoricalMap467
Niuehistorical-basemaps252
American Samoahistorical-basemaps234
Polynesianshistorical-basemaps192
Wallis and Futuna Islandshistorical-basemaps166
British Hong KongOpenHistoricalMap160
HeligolandOpenHistoricalMap156
LiechtensteinOpenHistoricalMap156
San MarinoOpenHistoricalMap60.1
MonacoOpenHistoricalMap17.9

What changed since 1880

Names counted are those the records date to the year or the day (CShapes, OpenHistoricalMap, Cliopatria). Outlines filled from the nearest historical-basemaps sheet are counted only when both years are years that sheet was drawn for — otherwise the change would be the switch between two sheets, not a change in the world. Names are compared as written, so a polity a record names differently in the two years (Carthaginian Empire, then Carthage) is in both lists.

Now drawn (33)

Congo Free State, Mahdist State, British Africa, German East Africa, German South-West Africa, French Congo, German Cameroon, Bechuanaland Protectorate, South African Republic, German New Guinea, French Gabon, French protectorate of Tunisia, British Somaliland, Kingdom of Romania, Colony of the Rio de Oro, French Tonkin, French Protectorate of Annam, Oil Rivers Protectorate, North Borneo, Togoland Protectorate, Kingdom of Serbia, Colony of Basutoland, Swaziland, Obock and Protectorates of the Somali Coast and Dankils Countries, Kingdom of Spain, Spanish Empire, Johore Protectorate, Nieuwe Republiek, British Gold Coast, Protectorate of Wituland, Protectorate of Cabinda, Mayotte and Dependencies, Colony of Barbados

No longer drawn (16)

Khedivate of Egypt, British Arctic Territories, Burma, Đại Nam, Transvaal Colony, United Romanian Principalities, Principality of Serbia, Morocco, Sultanate of Johor, Obock Colony, British Cape Colony, Chiangmai, German Africa, Mayotte, Walvis Bay Colony, French Tourane

Events dated to 1885

The index of dated events holds no event for 1885.

Sources and method

Borders and names: OpenHistoricalMap (openhistoricalmap.org) · CC0 1.0 + Cliopatria v0.2.1 (Seshat Global History Databank, github.com/Seshat-Global-History-Databank/cliopatria) · CC BY 4.0 · adapted by IntMap: simplified, BC years made astronomical, and the ground OpenHistoricalMap (1689–1885, and from 1886 where CShapes is silent) and CShapes (1886–2019) state removed on their own dates + aourednik/historical-basemaps (github.com/aourednik/historical-basemaps) · GPL-3.0 · adapted by IntMap: each sheet before 1886 less the ground OpenHistoricalMap and Cliopatria state at that sheet's year.

Which years have a page is worked out when the site is built, from three rules applied to the records themselves: every year the historical-basemaps atlas drew a world sheet for; every year whose change from the year before (names the dated records begin or stop drawing) is in the top 5% of all such year-to-year changes since the dated records begin, leaving out the years where one record hands over to another; and every year of a geopolitical, war or revolution event in the dated events index, up to the last year the border records cover (2019).

On each year the map is read on 1 July, the instant the app’s own year links open on. Names are the source’s own, translated where the source or IntMap’s name table has a translation. A name is what a record draws there, not a verdict of history.

World map in 1885 — the map, with the years it stays the same Historical maps by region Countries On this day

All data sources →

Share this page

X Bluesky Threads Facebook LINE Reddit

Each link opens that service in a new tab with the address of this page filled in. Nothing is sent until you post it there yourself.