Historical map · 2020
Map of India and South Asia in 2020
In 2020, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 16 states, empires and other polities in India and South Asia. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were the Republic of India, the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The People's Republic of China reached well beyond India and South Asia: its whole territory measured about 9.4 million km².
See this map live. The interactive map opens on India and South Asia in 2020. Zoom in, move the year slider to watch the borders change, or ask the history guide a question and it draws the answer on the map.
OPEN 2020 ON THE MAP →Ask the history guide about 2020States and empires in India and South Asia in 2020
| State | In this region | In the data |
|---|---|---|
| Republic of India Wikipedia | 3.2 million km² | 1947–2024 |
| People's Republic of China Wikipedia | 2.0 million km² | 1950–2024 |
| Islamic Republic of Pakistan Wikipedia | 877,000 km² | 1947–2024 |
| Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Wikipedia | 641,000 km² | 1979–2024 |
| Republic of the Union of Myanmar Wikipedia | 629,000 km² | 1820–2024 |
| Islamic Republic of Iran Wikipedia | 327,000 km² | 1979–2024 |
| Nepal Wikipedia | 149,000 km² | 1775–2024 |
| People's Republic of Bangladesh Wikipedia | 145,000 km² | 1972–2024 |
| Turkmenistan Wikipedia | 115,000 km² | 1992–2024 |
| Republic of Indonesia Wikipedia | 103,000 km² | 1946–2024 |
| Sri Lanka Wikipedia | 74,000 km² | 1948–2024 |
| Kingdom of Thailand Wikipedia | 67,000 km² | 1932–2024 |
| Republic of Tajikistan Wikipedia | 44,000 km² | 1992–2024 |
| Kingdom of Bhutan Wikipedia | 41,000 km² | 1636–2024 |
| Sultanate of Oman Wikipedia | 13,000 km² | 1744–2024 |
| Republic of Uzbekistan Wikipedia | 9,490 km² | 1992–2024 |
"In the data" gives the first and last year the dataset draws the state under this identity; states often existed earlier or later in another form.
What changed since 2010
Between 2010 and 2020 the data shows the same states in India and South Asia; their borders may still have moved.
Questions about this map
Which countries were in India and South Asia in 2020?
The map data draws 16 states and other polities in India and South Asia in 2020. The largest by land were the Republic of India, the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
What was the largest empire in India and South Asia in 2020?
Of the states on this map, the People's Republic of China held the most land in total: about 9.4 million km² in the reconstruction used here. Ancient and frontier borders are approximate, so treat areas as estimates.
Can I explore India and South Asia in 2020 interactively?
Yes. Open the interactive map at 2020, zoom into any region, move through the years, and ask the history guide questions: it answers in plain words and draws places, armies and borders on the map.
About these borders
The borders come from Cliopatria (v0.2.1, Seshat Global History Databank, CC BY 4.0), the dataset behind our interactive map, with our audited name and border corrections. It records each state's territory year by year from 3400 BC to 2024. Borders before modern surveys are reconstructions: the data draws a state where it held control, and frontier zones, nomadic realms and loose overlordships are approximate. Areas are measured on an equal-area projection. Read how we make our maps.
India in other years
- 500 BC
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- AD 1
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- 2020