Which eurpean nation had the largest empire at the beginig of the 20th century?

At the beginning of the 20th century, the British Empire was the largest empire in Europe and, in fact, the largest empire in history. It spanned across multiple continents, including territories in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Pacific, leading to the phrase "the sun never sets on the British Empire." This vast expanse of land and influence significantly shaped global politics, economics, and culture during that era.