The word continent is used to diiferentiate between various large land areas of Earth into which all the land surface of the planet is divided. The term refers to the ”mountain top” region of the Earth not flooded by water, dry land. The level of surrounding water ultimately defines the shape and borders of continents. More water implies less land and different outlines. Even more water, like that stored away as ice in the poles and glaciers, and you might live on a water planet, no continents.
All right, than, a continent is, ”a large, continuous area of land on Earth.” All continents of the Earth together make up about one- third of the total surface of the planet. The fact is more than two-thirds of the continental landmass is located in the Northern Hemisphere (the upper half of the globe, north of the equator). Why is that? This might be just a feature of our current point in geological time because some milion years ago, the bulk of the planet’s landmass was in the Southern Hemisphere.
7 continents of the world
- Asia includes 50 countries, and it is the most populated continent, the 60% of the total population of the Earth live here.
- Africa comprises 54 countries. It is the hottest continent and home of the world’s largest desert, the Sahara, occupying the 25% of the total area of Africa.
- North America includes 23 countries led by the USA as the largest economy in the world.
- South America comprises 12 countries. Here is located the largest forest, the Amazon rainforest, which covers 30% of the South America total area.
- Antarctica is the coldest continent in the world, completely covered with ice. There are no permanent inhabitants, except of scientists maintaining research stations in Antarctica.
- Europe comprises 51 countries. It is the most developed economically continent with the European Union as the biggest economic and political union in the world.
- Australia included 14 countries. It is the least populated continent after Antarctica, only 0,2% of the total Earth population live here.
How many countries are in the world?
The United Nations, as the most influential international organization, is often considered the start point for the correct counting the total number. All the 193 UN members are independent countries recognized worldwide.
List of countries in Asia
A –Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan
B–Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei
C–Cambodia, China, Cyprus
G–Georgia
I–India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel
J–Japan, Jordan
K–Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan
L–Laos. Lebanon
M– Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar
N–Nepal, North Korea
O–Oman
P–Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines
Q–Qatar
R–Russia
S–Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria
T–Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan
U–United Arab Emirates(UAE), Uzbekistan
V–Vietnam
Y–Yemen
List of countries in Africa
A–Algeri, Angola
B–Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi
C–Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo
D–Djibouti
E–Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia
G–Gabon, Gambia,Ghana, Guinea, Guinnea-Bissau
K–Kenya
L–Lesotho, Lyberia, Libya
M–Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Marocco, Mozambique
N–Namibia, Niger, Nigeria
R–Rwanda
S–Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan
T–Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia
U–Uganda
Z–Zambia, Zimbabwe
List of countries in North America
A–Antigua and Baruda
B–Bahamas, Barbados, Belize
C–Canada, Costa RIca, Cuba
D–Dominica, Dominican Republic
E–El Salvador
G–Grenada, Guatemala
H–Haiti, Honduras
J–Jamaica
M–Mexico
N–Nicaragua
P–Panama
S–Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
T–Trinidad and Tobago
U–United States of America(USA)
List of countries in South America
A–Argentina
B–Bolivia, Brazil
C–Chile, Columbia
E–Ecuador
G–Guyana
P–Paraguay, Peru
S–Suriname
U–Uruguay
V–Venezuela
List of countries in Europe
A–Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan
B–Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria
C–Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia
D–Denmark
E–Estonia
F–Finland, France
G–Georgia, Germany, Greece
H–Hungary
I–Iceland, Ireland, Italy
K–Kazahstan, Kosovo
L–Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg
M–Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro
N–Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway
P–Poland, Portugal
R–Romania, Russia
S–San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
T–Turkey
U–Ukraine, United Kingdom
V–Vatican city
List of countries in Australia
A–Australia
F–Fiji
K–Kiribati
M–Marshall Islands, Micronesia
N–Nauru, New Zeland
P–Palau, Papua New Guinea
S–Samoa, Solomon Islands
T–Tonga, Tuvalu
V–Vanuatu