Samsung Group, the country's top conglomerate, has expanded its overseas operations aggressively in the past four years with the number of its affiliates in overseas markets surging 58 percent, data showed on Wednesday.

The number of Samsung's overseas affiliates stood at 446 at the end of last year, compared with 281 at the end of 2008, according to the data compiled on the basis of regulatory filings.

Samsung Group had the largest number of its operations in China with 79 affiliates at the end of last year where the South Korean group is involved in businesses ranging from insurance and construction to logistics.

The U.S. housed the second-largest number of Samsung affiliates with 55, followed by Canada with 25, Hong Kong with 19 and Britain with 17, according to the data.

Samsung Electronics Co., the group's flagship unit, had the largest number of overseas affiliates among its sister companies at 129 at the end of last year, up from 100 in 2008.

Samsung Electronics, the world's largest manufacturer of smartphones and computer memory chips, established new affiliates in Denmark, Egypt, Pakistan and Tunisia last year.

Samsung C&T Corp., the group's construction unit, had the second-largest number of overseas affiliates at 114 at the end of last year, a surge from 62 in 2008, as it has set up special purpose companies (SPC) to conduct overseas construction projects. (Yonhap News)