Britain Colonial Loot of India: $64.80 Trillion Enough to Build the World's Top Economies
According to Oxfam’s new report, Britain’s colonial exploitation of India from 1765 to 1900 resulted in a staggering $64.80 trillion, enough to build the five largest economies of the world today.
Britain Colonial Loot of India: A fresh report by Oxfam International has revealed that during the 135 years of British colonial rule over India, Britain drained a massive $64.80 trillion from the country between 1765 and 1900. This wealth extraction is equivalent to the combined GDP of the United States, China, Japan, Germany, and India today. The report highlights the deep and lasting impacts of colonialism, showcasing that the wealth accumulated by Britain contributed to the rise of modern multinational corporations, which were a direct result of colonial exploitation.
The $64.80 Trillion Loot: A Shocking Revelation
According to Oxfam’s report, the loot over this period came primarily from India’s natural resources and wealth, benefiting Britain’s wealthiest 10%. This group alone took $33.80 trillion from India, an amount equal to the current GDP of the United States. The report further notes that if the amount of $64.80 trillion were converted into 50-pound notes, it would cover four times the surface area of London.
The report was released ahead of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting and also emphasized how the colonial era created systemic inequality that has shaped the modern world. The exploitation not only enriched Britain but also laid the foundation for the highly unequal global system we live in today.
Colonial Exploitation and the Rise of Global Inequality
Oxfam argues that the colonial period saw the creation of extreme inequality, which still exists today. India's socio-economic divisions, based on caste, religion, gender, language, and geography, were expanded and exacerbated during British rule. These divisions helped to maintain control and maximize exploitation. The educational system during colonial rule largely ignored India’s native languages, with only 0.14% of India’s native languages being used as the medium of instruction.
How the Loot Could Have Built the Top 5 Economies of the World
The report concludes by stating that the $64.80 trillion taken by Britain could have built the world’s top five economies. According to the IMF's 2025 projections, the combined GDP of the United States, China, Japan, Germany, and India will be $63.46 trillion, less than the amount Britain extracted from India during colonial rule. This stark comparison shows just how immense the wealth extraction was during this period.