<P> Both what constitutes an empire and the calculation of the land area of a particular empire are controversial subjects . Rein Taagepera has defined an empire as "any relatively large sovereign political entity whose components are not sovereign" and its size as the area over which the empire has some undisputed military and taxation prerogatives . </P> <P> For context, note that the total land area of the Earth is 148,940,000 km (57,500,000 sq mi). This is a list of empires whose greatest extent exceeded 2% of that area . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Empire </Th> <Th> Max . land area (million km) </Th> <Th> Max . land area (million mi) </Th> <Th>% of world land area </Th> <Th> Year </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> British Empire </Td> <Td> 35.5 </Td> <Td> 13.71 </Td> <Td> 7001238400000000000 ♠ 23.84% </Td> <Td> 000000001920 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1920 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mongol Empire </Td> <Td> 24.0 </Td> <Td> 9.27 </Td> <Td> 7001161100000000000 ♠ 16.11% </Td> <Td> 000000001270 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1270 or 000000001309 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1309 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Russian Empire </Td> <Td> 22.8 </Td> <Td> 8.80 </Td> <Td> 7001153100000000000 ♠ 15.31% </Td> <Td> 000000001895 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1895 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Qing dynasty </Td> <Td> 14.7 </Td> <Td> 5.68 </Td> <Td> 7000986990000099999 ♠ 9.87% </Td> <Td> 000000001790 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1790 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Spanish Empire </Td> <Td> 13.7 </Td> <Td> 5.29 </Td> <Td> 7000920000000099999 ♠ 9.20% </Td> <Td> 000000001810 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1810 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Second French colonial empire </Td> <Td> 11.5 </Td> <Td> 4.44 </Td> <Td> 7000772000000000000 ♠ 7.72% </Td> <Td> 000000001920 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1920 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Abbasid Caliphate </Td> <Td> 11.1 </Td> <Td> 4.29 </Td> <Td> 7000745000000000000 ♠ 7.45% </Td> <Td> 000000000750 - 01 - 01 - 0000 750 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Umayyad Caliphate </Td> <Td> 11.1 </Td> <Td> 4.29 </Td> <Td> 7000745000000000000 ♠ 7.45% </Td> <Td> 000000000720 - 01 - 01 - 0000 720 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Yuan dynasty </Td> <Td> 11.0 </Td> <Td> 4.25 </Td> <Td> 7000739000000000000 ♠ 7.39% </Td> <Td> 000000001310 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1310 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Portuguese Empire </Td> <Td> 10.4 </Td> <Td> 4.02 </Td> <Td> 7000698000000000000 ♠ 6.98% </Td> <Td> 000000001815 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1815 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Xiongnu Empire </Td> <Td> 9.0 </Td> <Td> 3.47 </Td> <Td> 7000604000000000000 ♠ 6.04% </Td> <Td> - 999999999824 - 01 - 01 - 0000 176 BC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Empire of Brazil </Td> <Td> 8.337 </Td> <Td> 3.22 </Td> <Td> 7000560000000099999 ♠ 5.60% </Td> <Td> 000000001889 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1889 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Eastern Han Dynasty </Td> <Td> 6.5 </Td> <Td> 2.51 </Td> <Td> 7000436000000000000 ♠ 4.36% </Td> <Td> 000000000100 - 01 - 01 - 0000 100 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ming dynasty </Td> <Td> 6.5 </Td> <Td> 2.51 </Td> <Td> 7000436000000000000 ♠ 4.36% </Td> <Td> 000000001450 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1450 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rashidun Caliphate </Td> <Td> 6.4 </Td> <Td> 2.47 </Td> <Td> 7000430000000000000 ♠ 4.30% </Td> <Td> 000000000655 - 01 - 01 - 0000 655 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Göktürk Khaganate </Td> <Td> 6.0 </Td> <Td> 2.32 </Td> <Td> 7000403000000000000 ♠ 4.03% </Td> <Td> 000000000557 - 01 - 01 - 0000 557 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Golden Horde Khanate </Td> <Td> 6.0 </Td> <Td> 2.32 </Td> <Td> 7000403000000000000 ♠ 4.03% </Td> <Td> 000000001310 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1310 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Western Han Dynasty </Td> <Td> 6.0 </Td> <Td> 2.32 </Td> <Td> 7000403000000000000 ♠ 4.03% </Td> <Td> - 999999999950 - 01 - 01 - 0000 50 BC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Achaemenid Empire </Td> <Td> 5.5 </Td> <Td> 2.12 </Td> <Td> 7000369000000000000 ♠ 3.69% </Td> <Td> - 999999999500 - 01 - 01 - 0000 500 BC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tang dynasty </Td> <Td> 5.4 </Td> <Td> 2.08 </Td> <Td> 7000363000000000000 ♠ 3.63% </Td> <Td> 000000000715 - 01 - 01 - 0000 715 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Macedonian Empire </Td> <Td> 5.2 </Td> <Td> 2.01 </Td> <Td> 7000349000000000000 ♠ 3.49% </Td> <Td> - 999999999677 - 01 - 01 - 0000 323 BC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ottoman Empire </Td> <Td> 5.2 </Td> <Td> 2.01 </Td> <Td> 7000349000000000000 ♠ 3.49% </Td> <Td> 000000001683 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1683 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Maurya Empire </Td> <Td> 5.0 </Td> <Td> 1.93 </Td> <Td> 7000336000000000000 ♠ 3.36% </Td> <Td> - 999999999750 - 01 - 01 - 0000 250 BC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Roman Empire </Td> <Td> 5.0 </Td> <Td> 1.93 </Td> <Td> 7000336000000000000 ♠ 3.36% </Td> <Td> 000000000117 - 01 - 01 - 0000 117 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tibetan Empire </Td> <Td> 4.6 </Td> <Td> 1.78 </Td> <Td> 7000309000000000000 ♠ 3.09% </Td> <Td> 000000000800 - 01 - 01 - 0000 800 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Timurid Empire </Td> <Td> 4.4 </Td> <Td> 1.70 </Td> <Td> 7000295000000000000 ♠ 2.95% </Td> <Td> 000000001405 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1405 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Fatimid Caliphate </Td> <Td> 4.1 </Td> <Td> 1.58 </Td> <Td> 7000275000000000000 ♠ 2.75% </Td> <Td> 000000000969 - 01 - 01 - 0000 969 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Eastern Turkic Khaganate </Td> <Td> 4.0 </Td> <Td> 1.54 </Td> <Td> 7000269000000000000 ♠ 2.69% </Td> <Td> 000000000624 - 01 - 01 - 0000 624 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hephthalite Empire </Td> <Td> 4.0 </Td> <Td> 1.54 </Td> <Td> 7000269000000000000 ♠ 2.69% </Td> <Td> 000000000470 - 01 - 01 - 0000 470 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hunnic Empire </Td> <Td> 4.0 </Td> <Td> 1.54 </Td> <Td> 7000269000000000000 ♠ 2.69% </Td> <Td> 000000000441 - 01 - 01 - 0000 441 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mughal Empire </Td> <Td> 4.0 </Td> <Td> 1.54 </Td> <Td> 7000269000000000000 ♠ 2.69% </Td> <Td> 000000001690 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1690 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Great Seljuq Empire </Td> <Td> 3.9 </Td> <Td> 1.51 </Td> <Td> 7000262000000000000 ♠ 2.62% </Td> <Td> 000000001080 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1080 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Seleucid Empire </Td> <Td> 3.9 </Td> <Td> 1.51 </Td> <Td> 7000262000000000000 ♠ 2.62% </Td> <Td> - 999999999699 - 01 - 01 - 0000 301 BC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Italian Empire </Td> <Td> 3.798 </Td> <Td> 1.47 </Td> <Td> 7000255000000099999 ♠ 2.55% </Td> <Td> 000000001938 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1938 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ilkhanate </Td> <Td> 3.75 </Td> <Td> 1.45 </Td> <Td> 7000252000000000000 ♠ 2.52% </Td> <Td> 000000001310 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1310 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Khwarazmian Empire </Td> <Td> 3.6 </Td> <Td> 1.39 </Td> <Td> 7000242000000000000 ♠ 2.42% </Td> <Td> 000000001218 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1218 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Chagatai Khanate </Td> <Td> 3.5 </Td> <Td> 1.35 </Td> <Td> 7000235000000000000 ♠ 2.35% </Td> <Td> 000000001310 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1310 or 000000001350 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1350 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Gupta Empire </Td> <Td> 3.5 </Td> <Td> 1.35 </Td> <Td> 7000235000000000000 ♠ 2.35% </Td> <Td> 000000000400 - 01 - 01 - 0000 400 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sasanian Empire </Td> <Td> 3.5 </Td> <Td> 1.35 </Td> <Td> 7000235000000000000 ♠ 2.35% </Td> <Td> 000000000550 - 01 - 01 - 0000 550 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Western Turkic Khaganate </Td> <Td> 3.5 </Td> <Td> 1.35 </Td> <Td> 7000235000000000000 ♠ 2.35% </Td> <Td> 000000000630 - 01 - 01 - 0000 630 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> First French colonial empire </Td> <Td> 3.4 </Td> <Td> 1.31 </Td> <Td> 7000227990000099999 ♠ 2.28% </Td> <Td> 000000001670 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1670 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ghaznavid Empire </Td> <Td> 3.4 </Td> <Td> 1.31 </Td> <Td> 7000227990000099999 ♠ 2.28% </Td> <Td> 000000001029 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1029 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Delhi Sultanate (Tughlaq dynasty) </Td> <Td> 3.2 </Td> <Td> 1.24 </Td> <Td> 7000215000000000000 ♠ 2.15% </Td> <Td> 000000001312 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1312 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> German colonial empire </Td> <Td> 3.199 </Td> <Td> 1.24 </Td> <Td> 7000215000000000000 ♠ 2.15% </Td> <Td> 000000001912 - 01 - 01 - 0000 1912 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Song dynasty </Td> <Td> 3.1 </Td> <Td> 1.20 </Td> <Td> 7000208000000000000 ♠ 2.08% </Td> <Td> 000000000980 - 01 - 01 - 0000 980 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Uyghur Khaganate </Td> <Td> 3.1 </Td> <Td> 1.20 </Td> <Td> 7000208000000000000 ♠ 2.08% </Td> <Td> 000000000800 - 01 - 01 - 0000 800 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Western Jin dynasty </Td> <Td> 3.1 </Td> <Td> 1.20 </Td> <Td> 7000208000000000000 ♠ 2.08% </Td> <Td> 000000000280 - 01 - 01 - 0000 280 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Khazar Khanate </Td> <Td> 3.0 </Td> <Td> 1.16 </Td> <Td> 7000200999999999999 ♠ 2.01% </Td> <Td> 000000000850 - 01 - 01 - 0000 850 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sui Dynasty </Td> <Td> 3.0 </Td> <Td> 1.16 </Td> <Td> 7000200999999999999 ♠ 2.01% </Td> <Td> 000000000589 - 01 - 01 - 0000 589 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Empire </Th> <Th> Max . land area (million km) </Th> <Th> Max . land area (million mi) </Th> <Th>% of world land area </Th> <Th> Year </Th> </Tr>

Who had the largest empire of all time