Asia
Asia has the second-highest number of countries of any continent, but exactly how many that is can be tricky to determine. The United Nations recognizes 49 countries in Asia, which is the most widely accepted number. However, depending upon which territories one recognizes and which intercontinental countries one includes, Asia could be said to have as few as 45 or as many as 53 countries. The most populous country in Asia (and the world) is China, which has more than 1.4 billion people. The largest country by land area is Russia, which is 6.6 million square miles (17.125 million square kilometers)—however, because 78% of its people live in the European part of the country, Russia is generally considered to be a European country. In fact, Asia is the continent with the largest number of transcontinental countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, and (surprisingly to many) Egypt, some of which are counted as Asian and some of which are not. Similarly, Cyprus is geographically located close to Asia’s Middle East region but is widely considered a European country. Finally, Asia also includes several partially recognized and/or disputed territories, such as Taiwan (claimed by China), Palestine (disputed territory), and China’s two “Special Administrative Regions,” Hong Kong and Macau. Below are all of the countries and territories in Asia, listed alphabetically:
Countries and territories of Asia:
Afghanistan
Armenia (transcontinental – generally considered Asian)
Azerbaijan (transcontinental – generally considered Asian)
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
British Indian Ocean Territory (UK territory)
Brunei
Cambodia
China
Cyprus (transcontinental – generally considered European)
Egypt (transcontinental – generally considered African)
Georgia (transcontinental – generally considered Asian)
Hong Kong (China – Special Administrative Region)
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel (U.N. member, though partially unrecognized)
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan (transcontinental – generally considered Asian)
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Macau (China – Special Administrative Region)
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar (formerly Burma)
Nepal
North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine (limited recognition)
Philippines
Qatar
Russia (transcontinental – generally considered European)
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea (Republic of Korea)
Sri Lanka
Syria
Taiwan (limited recognition – claimed by China)
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste/East Timor
Turkey (transcontinental – generally considered European)
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Africa
Africa has a total of 54 countries, the most of any continent. The most populous of these countries is Nigeria, which has more than 211 million people. The largest country by land area in Africa is Algeria, which spans over 919,595 mi² (2,381,741 km²). Africa also has one of the world’s best-known transcontinental countries, Egypt, whose northeastern corner extends into Asia. Below are the 54 countries in Africa in alphabetical order:
Countries of Africa:
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cabo Verde/Cape Verde
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Congo/Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Egypt (transcontinental – generally considered African)
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia, The
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Ivory Coast/Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Territories of Africa:
Canary Islands (Spain)
Ceuta (Spain)
French Southern and Antarctic Lands (France)
Madeira (Portugal)
Mayotte (France)
Melilla (Spain)
Pelagie Islands (Italy)
Plazas de Soberania (Spain)
Reunion (France)
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (UK)
Socotra Archipelago (Yemen)
Europe
Europe has 51 independent U.N.-recognized states. The largest country by both population and land area is Russia with 145.93 million people and spanning over 6.6 million square miles (17.125 million square kilometers). Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey are considered to be transcontinental countries, meaning that they are considered to be parts of both Asia and Europe. Europe’s countries are listed below in alphabetical order:
Countries of Europe:
Albania
Andorra
Armenia (transcontinental – generally considered Asian)
Austria
Azerbaijan (transcontinental – generally considered Asian)
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus (generally considered European)
Czechia/Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia (transcontinental – generally considered Asian)
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kazakhstan (transcontinental – generally considered Asian)
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia (transcontinental – generally considered European)
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey (transcontinental – generally considered European)
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Vatican City (Holy See)
Territories of Europe:
Åland (Finland)
Channel Islands (UK)
Faroe Islands (Denmark)
Gibraltar (UK)
Guernsey (UK – crown dependency)
Isle of Man (UK – crown dependency)
Jersey (UK – crown dependency)
Kosovo (partially recognized, claimed by Serbia)
Northern Cyprus (not recognized, claimed by Cyprus)
Northern Ireland (UK)
Svalbard (Norway)
North America
North America is made up of 23 countries and nearly as many territories. The most populated of these countries is the United States, which has a population of 329.9 million people. The largest country in North America by land area is Canada, which spans over 3.855 million square miles (9,984,670 square kilometers). Canada and the United States together occupy 79% of the continent’s total land area.
Countries of North America:
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Canada
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United States of America
Territories of North America:
North America also has 22 territories, including some of the world’s most compelling non-countries. For instance, Greenland is a vast island territory many times the size of its “parent” country, Denmark, and many smaller island territories in North America are sought-after vacation destinations, including Aruba, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In alphabetical order, North America’s 23 countries are as follows:
Anguilla (UK)
Aruba (Netherlands)
Bermuda (UK)
Bonaire (Netherlands)
British Virgin Islands (UK)
Cayman Islands (UK)
Clipperton Island (France)
Curaçao (Netherlands)
Greenland (Denmark)
Guadeloupe (France)
Martinique (France)
Montserrat (UK)
Navassa Island (USA)
Puerto Rico (USA)
Saba (Netherlands)
Saint Barthélemy (France)
Saint Martin (France)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France)
Sint Eustatius (Netherlands)
Sint Maarten (Netherlands)
Turks and Caicos (UK)
US Virgin Islands (USA)
Oceania and Australia
Oceania has 14 countries and many overseas dependent territories. The largest country by population and land area is Australia, which is home to 25.63 million people and has 2.97 million square miles (7,692,024 square kilometers) of area. Oceania also boasts a large number of territories, many of which are controlled by the United States.
Countries of Oceania
Australia
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia (The Federated States of)
Nauru
New Zealand
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Territories of Oceania:
American Samoa (US)
Ashmore and Cartier Islands (Australia)
Baker Island (US)
Cook Islands (New Zealand)
Coral Sea Islands (Australia)
Easter Island (Chile)
French Polynesia (France)
Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Guam (US)
Howland Island (US)
Jarvis Island (US)
Johnston Atoll (US)
Kingman Reef (US)
Midway Atoll (US)
New Caledonia (France)
Niue (New Zealand)
Norfolk Island (Australia)
Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Palmyra Atoll (US)
Papua (Indonesia) (Not same as Papua New Guinea)
Pitcairn Islands (UK)
San Andrés and Providencia (Colombia)
Tokelau (New Zealand)
Wake Island (US)
Wallis and Futuna (France)
West Papua (Indonesia)
South America
South America has 12 independent nations and a handful of dependent territories. The largest country in South America by population and land area is Brazil, which has about 211 million people and spans over 3.288 million square miles (8,515,7767 square kilometers). Brazil is also the country that contains the largest portion of the Amazon rainforest.
Countries of South America:
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Territories of South America:
Bouvet Island (Norway)
Falkland Islands (UK)
French Guinea (France)
Nueva Esparta (Venezuela)
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (UK)
Antarctica
There are technically no countries on the continent of Antarctica. However, seven sovereign states have territorial claims in Antarctica, resulting in the following territories:
Territories of Antarctica:
Adélie Land (France)
Argentine Antarctica (Argentina)
Australian Antarctic Territory (Australia)
British Antarctic Territory (UK)
Chilean Antarctic Territory (Chile)
Peter I Island (Norway)
Queen Maud Land (Norway)
Ross Dependency (New Zealand)
Additionally, the United States, Russia, Peru, and South Africa have all reserved their right to claim territory in Antarctica in the future if they so desire. Similarly, Brazil currently has a “zone of interest” but does not have an actual claim.