Charted: The Number of European Colonies by Country (1450-2000)

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The Number of European Colonies by Country (1450-2000)

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Key Takeaways

  • European colonization began in the late 1400s, reaching a peak count of 101 colonies in 1914.
  • Britain built the largest empire of its peers, with 57 colonies between 1918 and 1919.

Europe’s colonial empires have shaped the world’s political and economic systems for over 500 years.

From Portugal’s early ventures in the 1400s, to Britain’s massive empire in the early 20th century, European nations have competed for control of territory and trade across nearly every continent. In this graphic, we trace the history of European colonies from 1462 to today, showing how the era of colonies rose and fell.

Data & Discussion

The data for this visualization comes from Our World in Data. It tracks the number of overseas colonies under the control of key European powers including the UK, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and others.

These numbers provide a historical record of how European influence expanded through exploration, conquest, and colonization, and later declined through wars, independence movements, and international pressure.

Year 🇬🇧 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 🇵🇹 🇧🇪 🇩🇪 🇮🇹 🇳🇱
1462 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1463 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1464 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1465 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1466 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1467 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1468 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1469 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1470 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1471 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1472 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1473 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1474 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1475 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1476 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1477 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1478 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1479 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1480 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1481 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1482 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
1483 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
1484 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
1485 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
1486 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
1487 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
1488 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
1489 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
1490 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
1491 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
1492 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
1493 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
1494 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
1495 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
1496 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
1497 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
1498 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
1499 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
1500 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
1501 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
1502 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
1503 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
1504 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
1505 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
1506 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
1507 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
1508 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
1509 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0
1510 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0
1511 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0
1512 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0
1513 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0
1514 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0
1515 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0
1516 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0
1517 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0
1518 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0
1519 0 0 4 3 0 0 0 0
1520 0 0 4 3 0 0 0 0
1521 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 0
1522 0 0 5 4 0 0 0 0
1523 0 0 5 4 0 0 0 0
1524 0 0 10 4 0 0 0 0
1525 0 0 11 4 0 0 0 0
1526 0 0 11 4 0 0 0 0
1527 0 0 11 4 0 0 0 0
1528 0 0 12 4 0 0 0 0
1529 0 0 12 4 0 0 0 0
1530 0 0 12 4 0 0 0 0
1531 0 0 12 4 0 0 0 0
1532 0 0 12 4 0 0 0 0
1533 0 0 13 5 0 0 0 0
1534 0 0 13 5 0 0 0 0
1535 0 0 14 5 0 0 0 0
1536 0 0 14 5 0 0 0 0
1537 0 0 15 5 0 0 0 0
1538 0 0 15 5 0 0 0 0
1539 0 0 15 5 0 0 0 0
1540 0 0 15 5 0 0 0 0
1541 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1542 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1543 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1544 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1545 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1546 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1547 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1548 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1549 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1550 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1551 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1552 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1553 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1554 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1555 0 0 16 5 0 0 0 0
1556 0 0 17 5 0 0 0 0
1557 0 0 17 5 0 0 0 0
1558 0 0 17 5 0 0 0 0
1559 0 0 18 5 0 0 0 0
1560 0 0 18 5 0 0 0 0
1561 0 0 18 5 0 0 0 0
1562 0 0 18 5 0 0 0 0
1563 0 0 18 5 0 0 0 0
1564 0 0 18 5 0 0 0 0
1565 0 0 19 5 0 0 0 0
1566 0 0 19 5 0 0 0 0
1567 0 0 19 5 0 0 0 0
1568 0 0 19 5 0 0 0 0
1569 0 0 19 5 0 0 0 0
1570 0 0 19 5 0 0 0 0
1571 0 0 19 5 0 0 0 0
1572 0 0 19 5 0 0 0 0
1573 0 0 19 5 0 0 0 0
1574 0 0 19 5 0 0 0 0
1575 0 0 19 5 0 0 0 0
1576 0 0 19 6 0 0 0 0
1577 0 0 19 6 0 0 0 0
1578 0 0 19 6 0 0 0 0
1579 0 0 19 6 0 0 0 0
1580 0 0 20 6 0 0 0 1
1581 0 0 20 6 0 0 0 1
1582 0 0 20 6 0 0 0 1
1583 0 0 20 6 0 0 0 1
1584 0 0 20 6 0 0 0 1
1585 0 0 20 6 0 0 0 1
1586 0 0 20 6 0 0 0 1
1587 0 0 20 6 0 0 0 1
1588 0 0 20 6 0 0 0 1
1589 0 0 20 6 0 0 0 1
1590 0 0 20 6 0 0 0 1
1591 0 0 20 6 0 0 0 1
1592 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1593 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1594 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1595 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1596 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1597 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1598 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1599 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1600 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1601 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1602 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1603 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1604 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1605 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1606 0 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1607 1 0 21 6 0 0 0 1
1608 1 1 21 6 0 0 0 1
1609 1 1 21 6 0 0 0 1
1610 1 1 21 6 0 0 0 1
1611 1 1 21 6 0 0 0 1
1612 1 1 21 6 0 0 0 1
1613 1 1 21 6 0 0 0 1
1614 1 1 21 6 0 0 0 1
1615 1 1 21 6 0 0 0 1
1616 1 1 21 6 0 0 0 1
1617 1 1 21 6 0 0 0 1
1618 1 1 21 6 0 0 0 1
1619 1 1 21 7 0 0 0 1
1620 1 1 21 7 0 0 0 1
1621 1 1 21 7 0 0 0 1
1622 1 1 21 7 0 0 0 1
1623 2 1 21 7 0 0 0 2
1624 2 1 21 7 0 0 0 2
1625 2 1 22 7 0 0 0 2
1626 2 1 22 7 0 0 0 2
1627 3 1 22 7 0 0 0 2
1628 3 1 22 7 0 0 0 2
1629 3 1 22 7 0 0 0 2
1630 3 1 22 7 0 0 0 2
1631 3 1 22 7 0 0 0 2
1632 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1633 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1634 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1635 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1636 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1637 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1638 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1639 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1640 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1641 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1642 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1643 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1644 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1645 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1646 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1647 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1648 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1649 4 2 22 7 0 0 0 2
1650 4 4 23 7 0 0 0 2
1651 4 4 23 7 0 0 0 2
1652 4 4 23 7 0 0 0 3
1653 4 4 23 7 0 0 0 3
1654 4 4 23 7 0 0 0 3
1655 5 4 23 7 0 0 0 3
1656 5 4 22 7 0 0 0 3
1657 5 4 22 6 0 0 0 3
1658 5 4 22 6 0 0 0 3
1659 5 4 22 6 0 0 0 3
1660 5 4 22 6 0 0 0 3
1661 5 4 22 6 0 0 0 3
1662 5 4 22 6 0 0 0 3
1663 5 4 22 6 0 0 0 3
1664 5 4 22 6 0 0 0 3
1665 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 3
1666 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 3
1667 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 4
1668 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 4
1669 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 4
1670 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 4
1671 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 4
1672 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 4
1673 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 4
1674 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 4
1675 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 4
1676 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 4
1677 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 4
1678 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 4
1679 5 5 22 6 0 0 0 4
1680 5 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1681 5 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1682 5 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1683 5 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1684 5 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1685 5 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1686 5 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1687 5 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1688 5 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1689 5 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1690 5 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1691 5 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1692 5 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1693 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1694 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1695 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1696 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1697 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1698 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1699 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1700 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1701 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1702 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1703 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1704 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1705 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1706 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1707 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1708 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1709 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1710 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1711 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1712 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1713 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1714 6 5 22 7 0 0 0 4
1715 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1716 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1717 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1718 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1719 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1720 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1721 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1722 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1723 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1724 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1725 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1726 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1727 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1728 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1729 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1730 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1731 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1732 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1733 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1734 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1735 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1736 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1737 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1738 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1739 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1740 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1741 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1742 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1743 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1744 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1745 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1746 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1747 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1748 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1749 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1750 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1751 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1752 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1753 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1754 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1755 6 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1756 6 7 22 7 0 0 0 4
1757 6 7 22 7 0 0 0 4
1758 6 7 22 7 0 0 0 4
1759 6 7 22 7 0 0 0 4
1760 6 7 22 7 0 0 0 4
1761 6 7 22 7 0 0 0 4
1762 8 7 22 7 0 0 0 4
1763 9 6 22 7 0 0 0 4
1764 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1765 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1766 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1767 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1768 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1769 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1770 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1771 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1772 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1773 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1774 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1775 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1776 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1777 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1778 9 4 22 8 0 0 0 4
1779 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1780 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1781 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1782 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1783 10 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1784 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1785 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1786 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1787 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1788 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1789 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1790 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1791 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1792 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1793 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1794 9 4 22 7 0 0 0 4
1795 9 3 22 7 0 0 0 4
1796 9 3 22 7 0 0 0 4
1797 10 3 22 7 0 0 0 4
1798 12 3 21 7 0 0 0 4
1799 12 3 21 7 0 0 0 4
1800 12 3 21 7 0 0 0 4
1801 12 3 21 7 0 0 0 4
1802 12 3 21 7 0 0 0 4
1803 12 3 21 7 0 0 0 4
1804 12 3 21 7 0 0 0 4
1805 13 2 21 7 0 0 0 4
1806 13 2 21 7 0 0 0 4
1807 13 2 21 7 0 0 0 3
1808 13 2 21 7 0 0 0 3
1809 13 2 21 7 0 0 0 3
1810 14 2 21 7 0 0 0 3
1811 14 1 21 7 0 0 0 3
1812 14 1 20 7 0 0 0 3
1813 14 1 20 7 0 0 0 3
1814 18 1 20 7 0 0 0 3
1815 18 0 20 7 0 0 0 3
1816 18 0 20 7 0 0 0 2
1817 18 0 20 7 0 0 0 2
1818 17 0 20 7 0 0 0 2
1819 17 0 19 7 0 0 0 2
1820 17 0 18 7 0 0 0 2
1821 17 0 17 7 0 0 0 2
1822 17 0 9 7 0 0 0 2
1823 17 0 9 5 0 0 0 2
1824 17 0 9 4 0 0 0 2
1825 17 0 8 4 0 0 0 2
1826 18 0 7 4 0 0 0 2
1827 19 0 7 4 0 0 0 2
1828 19 0 7 4 0 0 0 2
1829 20 0 6 4 0 0 0 2
1830 20 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1831 20 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1832 20 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1833 20 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1834 20 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1835 20 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1836 20 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1837 20 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1838 20 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1839 20 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1840 21 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1841 21 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1842 21 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1843 21 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1844 21 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1845 21 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1846 21 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1847 21 0 5 4 0 0 0 2
1848 21 1 5 4 0 0 0 2
1849 21 1 5 4 0 0 0 2
1850 21 1 5 4 0 0 0 2
1851 21 1 5 4 0 0 0 2
1852 21 1 5 4 0 0 0 2
1853 21 1 5 4 0 0 0 2
1854 21 2 5 4 0 0 0 2
1855 21 2 5 4 0 0 0 2
1856 21 2 5 4 0 0 0 2
1857 24 2 5 4 0 0 0 2
1858 23 2 6 4 0 0 0 2
1859 23 2 6 4 0 0 0 2
1860 23 2 6 4 0 0 0 2
1861 24 2 6 4 0 0 0 2
1862 24 2 6 4 0 0 0 2
1863 24 2 5 4 0 0 0 2
1864 24 2 5 4 0 0 0 2
1865 24 2 5 4 0 0 0 2
1866 24 2 4 4 0 0 0 2
1867 24 2 4 4 0 0 0 2
1868 24 2 4 4 0 0 0 2
1869 24 2 4 4 0 0 0 2
1870 24 2 4 4 0 0 0 2
1871 24 2 4 4 0 0 0 2
1872 24 2 4 4 0 0 0 2
1873 24 2 4 4 0 0 0 2
1874 26 2 4 4 0 0 0 2
1875 26 2 4 4 0 0 0 2
1876 26 2 4 4 0 0 0 2
1877 26 2 4 4 0 0 0 2
1878 26 2 4 4 0 0 0 2
1879 26 2 4 5 0 0 0 2
1880 26 2 4 5 0 0 0 2
1881 26 4 4 5 0 0 0 2
1882 27 5 4 5 0 0 0 2
1883 27 5 4 5 0 0 0 2
1884 29 7 5 5 0 2 0 2
1885 29 7 5 6 1 7 0 2
1886 30 8 6 6 1 7 0 2
1887 31 10 6 6 1 7 0 2
1888 35 10 6 6 1 8 0 2
1889 35 11 6 6 1 8 0 2
1890 35 11 6 6 1 8 1 2
1891 36 11 6 6 1 9 1 2
1892 39 11 6 6 1 9 1 2
1893 40 12 6 6 1 9 1 2
1894 41 13 6 6 1 9 1 2
1895 43 15 6 6 1 9 1 2
1896 44 15 6 6 1 9 1 2
1897 44 15 6 6 1 9 1 2
1898 45 15 6 6 1 9 1 2
1899 46 15 5 6 1 11 1 2
1900 47 15 2 6 1 12 1 2
1901 47 15 2 6 1 12 1 2
1902 47 15 2 6 1 12 1 2
1903 48 16 2 6 1 12 1 2
1904 48 17 2 6 1 12 1 2
1905 48 17 2 6 1 12 2 2
1906 49 18 2 6 1 12 2 2
1907 49 18 2 6 1 12 2 2
1908 49 18 2 6 1 12 2 2
1909 49 18 2 6 1 12 2 2
1910 50 19 2 6 1 12 2 2
1911 50 19 2 6 1 12 2 2
1912 50 20 2 6 1 12 3 2
1913 50 20 2 6 1 12 3 2
1914 54 21 2 6 1 12 3 2
1915 55 21 2 6 1 8 3 2
1916 56 21 2 6 1 6 3 2
1917 56 21 2 6 1 3 3 2
1918 57 21 2 6 1 2 3 2
1919 57 21 2 6 1 1 3 2
1920 56 21 2 6 1 1 3 2
1921 51 21 2 6 1 1 3 2
1922 51 24 2 6 2 1 3 2
1923 55 26 2 6 3 0 3 2
1924 55 26 2 6 3 0 3 2
1925 55 26 2 6 3 0 3 2
1926 55 26 2 6 3 0 3 2
1927 55 26 2 6 3 0 3 2
1928 55 26 2 6 3 0 3 2
1929 55 26 2 6 3 0 3 2
1930 55 26 2 6 3 0 3 2
1931 55 26 2 6 3 0 3 2
1932 55 26 2 6 3 0 3 2
1933 54 26 2 6 3 0 3 2
1934 54 26 2 6 3 0 3 2
1935 54 26 2 6 3 0 3 2
1936 53 26 2 6 3 0 3 2
1937 53 26 2 6 3 0 2 2
1938 53 26 2 6 3 0 2 2
1939 53 26 2 6 3 0 2 2
1940 53 26 2 6 3 0 2 2
1941 54 26 2 6 3 0 2 2
1942 54 26 2 6 3 0 1 2
1943 54 26 2 6 3 0 0 2
1944 54 26 2 6 3 0 0 2
1945 54 26 2 6 3 0 0 2
1946 55 26 2 6 3 0 0 2
1947 54 24 2 6 3 0 0 2
1948 51 24 2 6 3 0 0 2
1949 48 24 2 6 3 0 0 2
1950 47 24 2 6 3 0 0 2
1951 47 24 2 6 3 0 0 2
1952 46 24 2 6 3 0 0 2
1953 45 24 2 6 3 0 0 2
1954 45 23 2 6 3 0 0 2
1955 45 21 2 6 3 0 0 2
1956 45 21 2 6 3 0 0 2
1957 44 19 2 6 3 0 0 2
1958 43 19 2 6 3 0 0 2
1959 44 18 2 6 3 0 0 2
1960 44 18 2 6 3 0 0 2
1961 41 4 2 6 2 0 0 2
1962 39 4 2 6 2 0 0 2
1963 36 3 2 6 0 0 0 1
1964 32 3 2 6 0 0 0 1
1965 30 3 2 6 0 0 0 1
1966 28 3 2 6 0 0 0 1
1967 24 3 2 6 0 0 0 1
1968 23 3 2 6 0 0 0 1
1969 20 3 1 6 0 0 0 1
1970 20 3 1 6 0 0 0 1
1971 18 3 1 6 0 0 0 1
1972 15 3 1 6 0 0 0 1
1973 15 3 1 6 0 0 0 1
1974 14 3 1 6 0 0 0 1
1975 13 3 1 5 0 0 0 0
1976 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
1977 12 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
1978 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
1979 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
1980 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
1981 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1982 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1983 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1984 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1985 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1986 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1987 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1988 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1989 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1990 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1991 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1992 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1993 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1994 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1995 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1996 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1997 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1998 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1999 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2002 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2003 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2004 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2005 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2006 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2007 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2008 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2009 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2010 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2011 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2012 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2013 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2017 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2019 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

The Early Days of Colonization

Portugal was the first European nation to establish an overseas colony, beginning in the 1400s along the African coast and Atlantic islands. Spain followed soon after with its vast empire in the Americas.

An important milestone was the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), which granted Spain and Portugal exclusive rights to explore, claim, and colonize along an agreed meridian. Backed by royal patronage and emerging maritime technology, Portugal built trading outposts from Brazil to the Indian Ocean, while Spain established vast territorial colonies across the Americas through conquest, settlement, and resource extraction.

By the early 1600s, Britain, France, and the Netherlands had joined the race, creating colonies in North America, the Caribbean, and Asia. This competition fueled centuries of maritime exploration and conflict, laying the groundwork for global trade and cultural exchange.

Unfortunately, colonization also brought about exploitation and displacement, characterized by the seizure of land and resources, forced labor, and the disruption of indigenous peoples.

Decolonization and the End of Empire

After World War II, global power shifted. European empires were financially drained and politically weakened, losing the capacity to control their vast overseas territories. Meanwhile, rising nationalist movements across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East pushed for independence.

A clear example is India’s independence from Britain in 1947, which became a catalyst for global decolonization. Britain was exhausted after World War II, and with growing independence movements led by Mahatma Gandhi, the British government was forced to concede sovereignty.

Between 1945 and the late 20th century, the number of European-controlled colonial territories declined dramatically, marking the end of formal empire building. Dozens of former colonies across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East gained independence during this period.

What remains today are a small number of overseas territories—such as islands and enclaves—administered by European states under special constitutional arrangements. These territories generally have significant local autonomy and are no longer considered colonies in the traditional sense, though debates over self-determination persist in some cases.

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