How Many Former European Colonies Now Have Larger Economies Than Their Colonizers?

The map above shows how many former European overseas colonies of each country are now part of a country with a larger GDP than the original coloniser.

GDP figures come from the IMF and are in nominal terms at 2025 exchange rates.

For example, the US, India and China (via Hong Kong and other concessions) all have larger GDPs than the UK. That said, I’ve actually made a mistake and the UK should actually be 4, not 3 (see below).

You can see the full list below with an example where not obvious:

Portugal (9): GDP $320 Billion

1. China (Macau): $19.5 trillion
2. Japan (Portuguese Nagasaki): $4.4 trillion
3. India (Goa): $4.3 trillion
4. Canada (Newfoundland): $2.3 trillion
5. Brazil: $2.3 trillion
6. Indonesia (Moluccas): $1.5 trillion
7. Malaysia (Malacca): $488 billion
8. Bangladesh (Chittagong): $482 billion
9. Iran (Bandar Abbas): $464 billion

Netherlands (5): GDP $1.3 Trillion

1. United States (New Netherland):$30.3 trillion
2. Japan (Dejima): $4.4 trillion
3. India (Dutch India): $4.3 trillion
4. Brazil (Dutch Brazil): $2.3 trillion
5. Indonesia (Dutch East Indies): $1.5 trillion

UK (4): GDP $3.7 Trillion

1. United States: $30.3 trillion
2. China (Hong Kong): $19.5 trillion
3. Japan (Bonin Islands): $4.4 trillion
4. India: $4.3 trillion

France (3): GDP $3.3 Trillion

1. US (Louisiana): $30.3 trillion
2. China (Leased Territory of Guangzhouwan): $19.5 trillion
3. India (French India): $4.3 trillion

Hungary (as part of Austria-Hungary) (3): GDP $246 Billion

1. China (Tianjin concession): $19.5 trillion
2. India (Nicobar Islands): $4.3 trillion
3. Malaysia (North Borneo):  $488 billion

Austria (as part of Austria-Hungary) (2): GDP $559 billion

1. China (Tianjin concession): $19.5 trillion
2. India (Nicobar Islands): $4.3 trillion

Russia (2): GDP $2.2 Trillion

1. United States (Russian Alaska): $30.3 trillion
2. China (Russian concession of Tianjin): $19.5 trillion

Spain: (2): GDP $1.8 Trillion

1. United States (New Spain): $30.3 trillion
2. Canada (Nootka Sound): $2.3 trillion

* Mexico’s GDP is almost the same size as Spain’s, but in 2025 came in $10 billion smaller.  

Sweden (2): GDP $639 Billion

1. United States (New Sweden): $30.3 trillion
2. India (Parangipettai): $4.3 trillion

Germany (1): GDP $4.9 Trillion

1. China (German concession of Tianjin): $30.3 trillion

Italy (1): GDP $2.5 Trillion

1. China (Italian concession of Tianjin): $30.3 trillion

Belgium (1): GDP $689 Trillion

1. China (Belgian concession of Tianjin): $30.3 trillion

Denmark (as part of Denmark-Norway) (1): GDP $431 Billion

1. India (Tharangambadi): $4.3 trillion

Norway (as part of Denmark-Norway) (1): GDP $506 Billion

1. India (Tharangambadi): $4.3 trillion

Iceland: (1) $35 Billion

• Canada (Vineland in Newfoundland): $2.3 trillion

Which one surprises you the most?