50+ Territorial Purchases: Global History of Countries Buying Land
50+
Major Territory Sales
$2.5T+
Total Value (2025 USD)
500+ Years
Historical Span
6 Continents
Territories Affected
๐ Global Territorial Purchases: An Overview
- Largest Purchase: Louisiana Purchase (1803) - 827,987 sq mi for $15 million ($450+ billion in 2025 dollars)
- Best Deal Per Acre: Alaska Purchase (1867) - $7.2 million for 586,412 sq mi (~2 cents per acre)
- Most Expensive Per Square Mile: Hong Kong lease extensions and Virgin Islands purchase
- Most Recent Major Sale: US Virgin Islands (1917) from Denmark for $25 million
- Colonial Era Dominance: European powers bought, sold, and traded territories across Africa, Asia, and the Americas
๐บ๏ธ Interactive World Map of Territorial Purchases
Click on markers to view details about each territorial purchase. Zoom and pan to explore.
๐ Purchase Prices Comparison (Inflation-Adjusted)
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๐ Territory Sizes Comparison
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๐ฐ Price Per Square Mile (2025 USD)
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๐ Complete Database: Global Territorial Purchases (1494-Present)
| Year | Territory | Buyer | Seller | Original Price | 2025 USD | Area (sq mi) | Era |
|---|
๐๏ธ Major Historical Transactions by Era
๐ดโโ ๏ธ Colonial Era (1494-1799)
- 1626 - Manhattan Island: Dutch West India Company purchased from Lenape people for ~60 guilders ($24) - worth ~$1,100 in 2025 dollars, but land now valued at $1+ trillion
- 1667 - New Amsterdam โ New York: Dutch ceded to England in exchange for Suriname (Treaty of Breda)
- 1762 - Louisiana to Spain: France secretly transferred Louisiana to Spain (Treaty of Fontainebleau)
- 1783 - Florida to Spain: Britain returned Florida to Spain after American Revolution
๐ Expansion Era (1800-1899)
- 1800 - Louisiana to France: Spain returned Louisiana to France (Third Treaty of San Ildefonso)
- 1803 - Louisiana Purchase: France sold to US for $15 million - 828,000 sq mi doubling US size
- 1819 - Adams-Onรญs Treaty: Spain ceded Florida to US for $5 million in assumed claims
- 1848 - Mexican Cession: Mexico ceded California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, etc. for $15 million
- 1853 - Gadsden Purchase: US bought southern Arizona/New Mexico from Mexico for $10 million
- 1867 - Alaska Purchase: Russia sold Alaska to US for $7.2 million (2ยข per acre)
- 1898 - Treaty of Paris: Spain ceded Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico to US for $20 million
- 1899 - German Samoa: Germany purchased Western Samoa rights for $250,000
๐ Modern Era (1900-1945)
- 1917 - Danish West Indies: Denmark sold Virgin Islands to US for $25 million in gold
- 1916 - Palau, Mariana, Caroline Islands: Japan purchased from Germany during WWI
- 1940 - Destroyers-for-Bases: US acquired 99-year leases on British bases in exchange for destroyers
๐ Contemporary Era (1946-Present)
- 1946 - Philippine Independence: US granted independence, retained military bases
- 1977 - Panama Canal Zone: US agreed to transfer to Panama (completed 1999)
- 1997 - Hong Kong: UK returned to China (99-year lease expired)
- 1999 - Macau: Portugal returned to China
- 2019 - Greenland Inquiry: US inquired about purchasing from Denmark (rejected)
๐ Purchases by Decade
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Data Sources & Methodology:
Historical territorial purchase data compiled from: U.S. National Archives, Library of Congress, British National Archives, French National Archives, Treaty collections from Yale Law School's Avalon Project, World Bank historical data, academic historical research, and verified Wikipedia sources.
Inflation Adjustments: All 2025 USD values calculated using historical Consumer Price Index data, GDP deflators, and purchasing power parity adjustments. Colonial-era purchases use estimated equivalents based on gold/silver standards and relative economic output.
Note on "Purchases": Many territorial transfers involved complex negotiations including debt assumptions, trade concessions, military agreements, and political arrangements beyond simple cash payments. Values shown represent primary monetary components where documented.
Last Updated: January 2026
Historical territorial purchase data compiled from: U.S. National Archives, Library of Congress, British National Archives, French National Archives, Treaty collections from Yale Law School's Avalon Project, World Bank historical data, academic historical research, and verified Wikipedia sources.
Inflation Adjustments: All 2025 USD values calculated using historical Consumer Price Index data, GDP deflators, and purchasing power parity adjustments. Colonial-era purchases use estimated equivalents based on gold/silver standards and relative economic output.
Note on "Purchases": Many territorial transfers involved complex negotiations including debt assumptions, trade concessions, military agreements, and political arrangements beyond simple cash payments. Values shown represent primary monetary components where documented.
Last Updated: January 2026