The changing shape of Britain’s empire can be seen in these three global snapshots showing its extent in 1775, 1914 and 2011. The acquisition and loss of colonies was usually an outcome of war and commerce (often tightly bound together). In 2011 Britain still retained a scattering of small possessions, some of them strategically useful. It was also part of the network of Commonwealth nations.
1775:
United Kingdom
Gibraltar
Menorca
British North America
British West Indies
Gambia
St Helena
Bengal
Bombay
Madras
1914:
United Kingdom
Gibraltar
Malta
Cyprus
West Africa
Sudan (UK/Egypt)
Somaliland
Uganda
East Africa (Kenya)
Zanzibar
Nyasaland
Rhodesia
Union of South Africa
Ascension
St Helena
Tristan da Cunha
Mauritius
Seychelles
Aden
India
Ceylon
Straits Settlements
Malay states
Hong Kong
Weihaiwei
Papua
Solomon Islands
Gilbert and Ellice Islands
New Hebrides (UK/France)
Australia
New Zealand
Fiji
Tonga
Cook Islands
Canada
Newfoundland and Labrador
Bermuda
British West Indies
British Honduras
British Guiana
Falkland Islands
2011:
United Kingdom
Gibraltar
Bermuda
Turks and Caicos Islands
Cayman Islands
British Virgin Islands
Montserrat
Anguilla
St Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha
Falkland Islands
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Pitcairn Island
British Indian Ocean Territory
Sovereign base areas (Cyprus)
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