List of sovereign states and dependent territories by continent
This is a list of sovereign states and dependent territories of the world by continent, displayed with their respective national flags and capitals, including the following entities:
- In bold: Internationally recognized sovereign states
- The 193 member states of the United Nations (UN)
- Vatican City (administered by the Holy See, a UN-recognized non-member state)
- State of Palestine (administered by the PNA, a UN-recognized non-member state)
- In bold italics: States with limited recognition and associated states not members of the United Nations
- De facto sovereign states lacking general international recognition
- Cook Islands and Niue, two associated states of New Zealand without UN membership
- In italics: Non-sovereign territories that are recognized by the UN as part of some member state
- Dependent territories
- Special territories recognized by international treaty(such as the special administrative regions of China)
- Other territories often regarded as separate geographical territories even though they are integral parts of their mother countries (such as the overseas departments of France)
This list divides the world using the seven-continent model, with islands grouped into adjacent continents. The continents are:
In other models, Asia and Europe can be combined as Eurasia, while North and South America can be combined as the Americas (for a detailed description of how the world is divided into continents, including different models, see Continent: definitions and application).
There are sovereign states and dependent territories that can be considered to belong to more than one continent, according to geographical, political, or historical criteria.
Classification according to United Nations geoscheme
In this list, the sovereign states and dependent territories are classified according to the geoscheme created by the United Nations Statistics Division.[1] According to the UN, the assignment of countries or areas to specific groupings is for statistical convenience and does not imply any assumption regarding political or other affiliation of countries or territories.[2]
Africa
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Africa with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Africa: territories and regions.
Asia
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Asia with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Asia: territories and regions.
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- Transcontinental countries in Europe and Asia, classified as Eastern European countries by the United Nations Statistics Division:
Russia.
Europe
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Europe: political geography.
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- Notes
-
- Transcontinental countries in Europe and Asia, classified as West Asian countries by the United Nations Statistics Division:
Azerbaijan, 
Georgia, 
Kazakhstan, 
Turkey. - Entirely in West Asia, but commonly associated with Europe and a member of the Council of Europe:
Armenia, 
Cyprus.
- Transcontinental countries in Europe and Asia, classified as West Asian countries by the United Nations Statistics Division:
North America
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in North America with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see North America: countries and territories.
South America
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in South America with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see South America: demographics.
Oceania
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Oceania with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Oceania: territories and regions.
Antarctica
Antarctica is regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, which defines it as all land and ice shelves south of 60°S, and has no government and belongs to no country. However, the following territorial claims in Antarctica have been made:
- Argentina: Argentine Antarctica
- Australia: Australian Antarctic Territory
- Brazil: Brazilian Antarctica (unofficial)
- Chile: Antártica
- France: Adélie Land (part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands)
- New Zealand: Ross Dependency
- Norway: Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land
- United Kingdom: British Antarctic Territory
- (Unclaimed: Marie Byrd Land)
Moreover, the following dependent territories are situated in the wider Antarctic Region:
Geographical boundaries of continents
In this section, the geographical boundaries of the continents are used to divide the world into continents, where differences from the previous list according to the United Nations geoscheme are noted.
Boundaries of Africa
For a detailed description of the geographical boundaries of Africa, see Borders of the continents: Africa.
Suez Canal
Considering the Suez Canal as a boundary between Africa and Asia, the following change from the previous list occurs:
- Egypt: Africa, west of the Suez Canal; to the east, Asia.
Continental shelf of Africa
Considering the continental shelf of Africa, the following changes from the previous list occur:
- French Southern Territories: subantarctic territory; the Îles Éparses (Bassas da India, Europa Island, the Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island) in Africa.
- Italy: Europe; Pantelleria and the Pelagie Islands in Africa.
- Malta: Africa.
- Portugal: Europe; Madeira (including the Desertas Islands and the Savage Islands) in Africa.
- Spain: Europe; the Canary Islands and the plazas de soberanía in Africa (some of the plazas de soberanía, including Ceuta and Melilla, are on mainland Africa).
- Yemen: Asia; Socotra in Africa.
Boundaries between Asia and Europe
For a detailed description of the geographical boundaries between Asia and Europe, see Borders of the continents: Europe and Asia.
Sea of Marmara and Turkish Straits
Considering the Sea of Marmara and the Turkish Straits (the Bosporus and the Dardanelles) as a boundary between Asia and Europe, the following change from the previous list occurs:
- Turkey: Asia, east and south of the Sea of Marmara and the Turkish Straits; to the west and north, Europe.
Ural definitions
Considering the Ural definition that follows the watershed of the Ural Mountains, and then the Ural River until the Caspian Sea, as a boundary between Asia and Europe, the following changes from the previous list occur:
- Kazakhstan: Asia, east of the Ural River; to the west, Europe.
- Russia: Europe, west and north of the Ural Mountains watershed and the Ural River; to the east and south, Asia.
Considering the Ural definition that follows the watershed of the Ural Mountains, and then the Ural River until it reaches Kazakhstan's border for the first time, and then the Or River and the Emba River, as a boundary between Asia and Europe, the following changes from the previous list occur:
- Kazakhstan: Asia, east of the Or River and the Emba River; to the west, Europe.
- Russia: Europe, west of the Ural Mountains watershed and the Ural River (until it reaches Kazakhstan's border for the first time); to the east, Asia.
Caucasus definitions
Considering the Caucasus definition that follows the watershed of the Greater Caucasus of the Caucasus Mountains as a boundary between Asia and Europe, the following changes from the previous list occur:
- Azerbaijan: Asia, south of the Greater Caucasus watershed; to the north, Europe (very small area).
- Georgia: Asia, south of the Greater Caucasus watershed; to the north, Europe (very small area).
- Russia: Europe, north of the Greater Caucasus watershed; to the south, Asia (very small area).
Considering the Caucasus definition that follows the Kuma-Manych Depression, marked by the Kuma River and the Manych River, as a boundary between Asia and Europe, the following change from the previous list occurs:
- Russia: Europe, north of the Kuma River and the Manych River; to the south, Asia.
Continental shelfs of Asia and Europe
Considering the continental shelfs of Asia and Europe, the following change from the previous list occurs:
- Greece: Europe (including Crete, the Ionian Islands, the Cyclades, and near mainland Greek islands); the Aegean Islands, the Dodecanese, and nearby islands in Asia.
Boundaries between Asia and North America
For a detailed description of the geographical boundaries between Asia and North America, see Borders of the continents: Asia and North America.
Continental shelfs of Asia and North America
Considering the continental shelfs of Asia and North America, the following change from the previous list occurs:
- United States: North America; the Near Islands and St. Lawrence Island in Asia.
Boundaries between Europe and North America
For a detailed description of the geographical boundaries between Europe and North America, see Borders of the continents: Europe and North America.
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Though very rare, considering the Mid-Atlantic Ridge as a boundary between Europe and North America, the following change from the previous list occurs:
- Iceland: Europe, east of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; to the west, North America.
- Portugal: Europe (including São Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico, and Faial of the Azores); Flores and Corvo of the Azores in North America.
Boundaries between North and South America
For a detailed description of the geographical boundaries between North and South America, see Borders of the continents: the Americas.
Panama Canal
Considering the Panama Canal as a boundary between North and South America, the following change from the previous list occurs:
- Panama: North America, west of the Panama Canal; to the east, South America.
Continental shelfs of North and South America
Considering the continental shelfs of North and South America, the following changes from the previous list occur:
- Aruba: South America.
- Bonaire: South America.
- Colombia: South America; the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina in North America.
- Curaçao: South America.
- Trinidad and Tobago: South America.
- Venezuela: South America; Isla Aves in North America.
Boundaries of Oceania
For a detailed description of the geographical boundaries of Oceania, see Borders of the continents: Asia and Oceania.
Pacific Islands
Considering all Pacific Islands as being part of Oceania, the following changes from the previous list occur:
- Chile: South America; Easter Island and Sala y Gómez in Oceania.
- Clipperton Island: Oceania
- Japan: Asia; the Bird Islands (Okinotorishima and Minamitorishima) in Oceania.
- United States: North America; Hawaii in Oceania.
Boundaries of Antarctica
For a detailed description of the geographical boundaries of Antarctica, see Borders of the continents: Antarctica.
Subantarctic islands
Considering List of Antarctic and subantarctic islands north of 60°S which are fully integrated with its country, the following changes from the previous list occur:
- Australia: Oceania; Macquarie Island, subantarctic territory.
- New Zealand: Oceania; the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands (the Antipodes Islands, the Auckland Islands, the Bounty Islands, the Campbell Islands, and the Snares Islands), subantarctic territory.
- South Africa: Africa; the Prince Edward Islands, subantarctic territory.
Continental intergovernmental organizations
There are a number of intergovernmental organizations with continental scope and having the most wide and possibly non-overlapping membership:
- Africa: African Union
- Asia: Asia Cooperation Dialogue
- Europe: Council of Europe
- Not to be confused with the European Union (EU)
- Americas: Organization of American States
- South America: Union of South American Nations
- Oceania: Pacific Islands Forum
Therefore, a member of one of these organizations may be considered as belonging to that particular continent according to political criteria. Considering this, the following changes from the previous list occur:
- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, and Turkey are members of the Council of Europe. In particular, Cyprus is an EU member, while Turkey is a candidate.
- Russia is a member of both the Council of Europe and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue.
However, in general only internationally recognized sovereign states are members of intergovernmental organizations, and not every one of them is a member of one of the organizations listed above.
Dependent territories
Dependent territories, through political ties with their mother countries, may be associated with another continent other than its own geographical continent. For example, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Réunion, all overseas departments of France, are part of the EU and use the euro as their official currency. Other dependent territories of EU members, such as Greenland, while not part of the EU, enjoy special relationships with the EU.
The following dependent territories, all of them sparsely populated islands remote from continental mass, may be grouped into more than one continent, as there is no general convention as to which continent they belong to:
- The British Indian Ocean Territory is geographically located in the Indian Ocean, about equidistant from Africa and Asia. Politically it is administered from the United Kingdom, while historically it is part of Mauritius. It may be grouped into either Africa or Asia.
- Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands are geographically located in the Indian Ocean, much closer to Asia than to Australia. Politically they are administered from Australia. They may be grouped into Asia or Oceania.
- Clipperton Island is geographically located in the Pacific Ocean, much closer to North America than to other Pacific Islands. Politically they are administered from France, previously from French Polynesia. They may be grouped into North America or Oceania.
- The French Southern Territories, which exclude the Antarctic territorial claim of Adélie Land, are geographically located in the Indian Ocean; the Îles Éparses are close to Madagascar, while other islands are approximately equidistant from Africa, Antarctica and Australia. Politically they are administered from Réunion. They may be grouped into Africa or Antarctica.
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is geographically in the Atlantic Ocean, about equidistant from South America and Antarctica. Politically it is administered from the Falkland Islands. It may be grouped into South America or Antarctica.
See also
- List of sovereign states and dependent territories by continent (data file) — this data in a plain text format suitable for automated processing
- List of countries and capitals in native languages
- List of national capitals
- Gallery of sovereign state flags
- Gallery of dependent territory flags
References
- ↑ "Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings". United Nations Statistics Division.
- ↑ "Standard country or area codes and geographical regions for statistical use". United Nations Statistics Division.
External links
- UN List of Territories
- CIA – The World Factbook
- U.S. Department of State: Background notes
- European Commission: List of countries, territories and currencies
- Administrative Divisions of Countries ("Statoids")
- World Gazetteer
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