- In the United States, the traditional list of continents includes exactly seven: Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica.
- The current list of continents is a human creation and very regionalized.
- Depending on where you studied, there could be anywhere from four to seven continents.
There are seven continents in the world: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, North America and South America. However, depending on where you live, you may have learned that there are five, six or even four continents. This is because there are no official criteria for determining continents. Although the position of landmasses on the continental crust can be used to define continents, geopolitical factors also affect their demarcation. Below is a continent overview of the world using the most popular classification system, the seven continents method.
Continent
Africa
- landing area:30.370.000 km2(11,730,000 square miles)
- Population: 1,225,080,510
- Number of sovereign states: 54
Africa is the second largest continent on Earth, both in land area and population. OEcuadorcrosses Africa in the middle of the continent. About a third of Africa is in the southern hemisphere. Africa represents about 20% of the total area of the planet. The Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea surround Africa to the east, west and north respectively.
Africa's climate consists of hot desert in the north and jungle and savannah in the middle and south. Africa is home to great biodiversity and is home to more megafauna (large animals) than anywhere else in the world. Examples of these animals are elephants, hippos, rhinos and giraffes.
Africa has the youngest population of any continent, with an average age of just 19.5 years. This is mainly due to strong population growth over the last 40 years. Africa is extremely linguistically diverse, with around two thousand languages spoken. Obiggest city in africait's Lagos.
Antarctica
- landing area:14.000.000km2 (5,400,000 square miles)
- Population: 1,106
- Number of sovereign states: 0
Antarctica is located at the South Poleno permanent populationand no country. It is reserved for use as a scientific basis. Antarctica is the fifth largest continent by land area and the most sparsely populated continent. Antarctica is an island and is completely surrounded by the Southern Ocean.
Strong winds, extremely cold temperatures, lack of vegetation and a very dry desert make Antarctica's climate highly inhospitable. Despite that,many waysadapted to the environment. These include seals, penguins and a variety of plants and bacteria.
The only human presence on Antarctica are the scientists who temporarily live on the island. It is also possible to visit Antarctica as a tourist.
Asia
- landing area:144.579.000km2 (17,212,000 square miles)
- Population: 4,462,676,731
- Number of sovereign states: 48
Asia is the world's largest continent by population and land area. Asia covers 30% of Earth's land area and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Indian Ocean to the south, and Europe to the west. About 60% of the world's population lives in Asia.
Asia has the longest coastline of any continent. The climate in Asia is very diverse, ranging from arctic to tropical. Throughout inland Asia, the climate is predominantly dry. The southern and eastern parts of the continent are prone to what are known as tropical storms.Monsoon. Animals unique to Asia include the Asian elephant, Indian snake and Japanese macaque.
More than four billion people live in Asia. China is Asia's most populous country, although India's population is expected to surpass China's by 2022. Asia is home to some of the world's major economic centers, including Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul.
Australia/Oceania
- landing area:8.600.000 km2 (3,300,000 square miles)
- Population: 35,000,000
- Number of sovereign states: 14
Australia is the smallest continent in the world and the second least populous. The term Oceania is also used to describe this region to differentiate it from the country of Australia. However, Oceania isno continentbut it is a continental grouping. The term Australasia is also sometimes used to refer to this region. Countries on the Australian mainland include Australia, Papua New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia.
Australia's climate ranges from tropical, dry and hot in the north to milder temperatures in the south. Due to its isolation and distance from the rest of the world, Australia has an impressive amount of endemism. Some of the species unique to Australia include the koala, platypus, wombat, kangaroo and echidna.
Aside from Antarctica, Australia has the smallest population of any continent. Its population of 35 million represents only about 0.50% of the world's population. Interestingly, New Zealand is not considered part of Australia/Oceania, but rather its own submerged continent.
Europa
- landing area:10.180.000km2 (3,930,000 square miles)
- Population: 741,447,158
- Number of sovereign states: 50
Europe is the third largest continent in the world and the sixth largest continent by land area. Although physically linked to Asia, Europe has historically been considered aseparate continentdue to cultural and language differences. The Urals and the Caucasus are generally considered the eastern border of Europe. Europe's other borders include the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. More than 10% of the world's population lives in Europe.
The climate in Europe is significantly influenced by the currents of the Atlantic Ocean, which regulate a mild temperature in most of the coastal areas of the continent. More extreme temperatures are being experienced across the interior of the continent.
Europe has the second highest population density in the world after Asia. Monaco is the most densely populated country on the continent. Many of the languages spoken in Europe today date back to the Roman Empire. Germanic and Slavic languages are also spoken. In Europe there are some countries that are considered transcontinental, that is, H. both in Europe and in Asia. These countries include Turkey, Armenia, Georgia and Russia.
North America
- landing area:24.709.000km2 (9,540,000 square miles)
- Population: 579,024,000
- Number of sovereign states: 23
North America is the third largest continent on Earth by area. It is the fourth largest in terms of population. Sometimes considered aSubcontinentNorth America is located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west and South America to the south. North America is home to the longest land border in the world, shared between Canada and the United States.
North America's climate is warmer in the south of the continent and colder in the north. While temperatures near the coast tend to be mild, temperatures inland can be extreme. While the southern part of the continent in the southern United States and Central America is subtropical, the northern part of the continent mainly consists of arctic tundra.
The United States is the most populous country in North America, followed by Mexico. The people of North America are ethnically diverse. English, Spanish and French are the most widely spoken languages on the continent, although there are also several minority languages.
South America
- landing area:17.840.000km2 (6,890,000 square miles)
- Population: 420,458,044
- Number of sovereign states: 12
South America is the fourth largest continent in the world by area and the fifth largest in the world. It is mostly found in the southern hemisphere, except for a small area in the northernmost part of the continent. Occurs entirely in the western hemisphere. South America is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Southern Ocean to the south and North America to the north.
The climate in South America ranges from aridAndakan desertto the lush rainforests of the Amazon. The Andean Plateau, located in the Andes, is the largest plateau in the world outside of Tibet. South America is home to incredible species of flora and fauna, including unique tropical birds and monkeys.
Brazil is the most populous country in South America, followed by Colombia and Argentina. The most popular language in South America is Spanish, although there are a large number of Portuguese speakers due to its status as the official language of Brazil. English is the official language in Guyana, while Dutch is spoken in Suriname.
Subcontinent
A subcontinent is a land mass with a distinct geographic or cultural identity. Although subcontinents are very large, they are too small to be considered continents by themselves. A land mass can also be considered a subcontinent if it is on its own tectonic plate.
Indian subcontinent
OIndian subcontinentis in South Asia. It is located south of the Himalayan Mountains and consists of the countries of India, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Indian subcontinent is sometimes referred to as South Asia or the South Asian subcontinent. It is referred to as a subcontinent because of its unique culture and distinct landmass.
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a subcontinent because it sits on its own tectonic plate. And thegreater peninsulain the world. The Arabian Peninsula consists of the countries Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, as well as parts of Iraq and Jordan.
Central America
Greenland
Greenland, thebiggest islandin the world it is referred to as a subcontinent due to its size and location in North America. However, Greenland does not lie on its own tectonic plate.
Other mainland divisions
four continents model
- Afro-Eurasia
- America
- Antarctica
- Australia
The four continents model promotes the idea that all continents are land masses divided by oceans. Since Europe and Asia inhabit the landmass, and Africa and Asia are connected by the Isthmus of Suez, they are considered a continent called "Afro-Eurasia". Also in this model, North America and South America are considered as a single continent, connected by the Isthmus of Panama.
five continents model
- Africa
- Eurasia
- America
- Antarctica
- Australia
In the five continents model, Europe and Asia are seen as one continent called Eurasia. Antarctica is also omitted due to the lack of permanent settlement. This model is used by the United Nations.
Six Continents Model (Version One)
- Africa
- Asia
- America
- Antarctica
- Australia/Oceania
- Europa
This model is most commonly taught in Western Europe, including France and Spain. Here, North and South America are considered as a single continent of the Americas.
Six Continents Model (Version Two)
- Africa
- Eurasia
- North America
- South America
- Antarctica
- Australia/Oceania
This model is mainly taught in Eastern Europe and Japan. In this model, North and South America are separated from Europe and Asia is combined into one continent of Eurasia.
Model of the seven continents
- Africa
- Antarctica
- Asia
- Australia/Oceania
- Europa
- North America
- South America
The seven continents model is the most used model. It is most commonly taught in English-speaking countries, as well as China, India and Pakistan.
The continents of the world
| Model | Continent |
|---|---|
| seven continents | Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, North America, South America |
| Six continents (version one) | Africa, Asia, America, Antarctica, Australia/Oceania |
| Six continents (version two) | Africa, Eurasia, North America, South America, Antarctica, Australia/Oceania |
| five continents | Africa, Eurasia, America, Antarctica, Australia |
| four continents | Afro-Eurasia, America, Antarctica, Australia |
Rachel Cribby Emworld facts
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- world facts
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FAQs
Do we have 7 or 8 continents? ›
By most standards, there is a maximum of seven continents - Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, North America, and South America. Many geographers and scientists now refer to six continents, in which Europe and Asia are combined (because they're one solid landmass).
Which are the 7 continents and 5 oceans? ›- 7 Continents. The 7 continents are given below: Asia. Europe. Africa. North America. South America. Australia. Antarctica.
- 5 Oceans. The 5 Oceans are given below: Pacific Ocean. Atlantic Ocean. Indian Ocean. Arctic Ocean. Antarctic Ocean.
In 1912, German scientist Alfred Wegener proposed a theory he called continental drift. According to Wegener's theory, Earth's continents once formed a single, giant landmass, which he called Pangaea. Over millions of years, Pangaea slowly broke apart, eventually forming the continents as they are today.
Do people live in Antarctica? ›Antarctica is the only continent with no permanent human habitation. There are, however, permanent human settlements, where scientists and support staff live for part of the year on a rotating basis. The continent of Antarctica makes up most of the Antarctic region.
Is Antarctica is a country? ›Nope! No country owns Antarctica, and there are no nations within the continent. A country is usually defined by a clear territory, governance, a permanent population, and the ability to engage with other countries. While there is the law of the land in Antarctica – ask any Emperor penguin – it is not a country.
Which is the largest ocean in the world? ›The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of the world ocean basins. Covering approximately 63 million square miles and containing more than half of the free water on Earth, the Pacific is by far the largest of the world's ocean basins. All of the world's continents could fit into the Pacific basin.
Why is it 5 oceans and not one? ›National Geographic decided to designate the Antarctic waters as its own ocean (instead of merely southern parts the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific) to bring awareness to, and promote conservation of the waters. But also because of its unique attributes, which scientists and geographers have long recognized.
What are the 5 oceans called? ›Historically, there are four named oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic. However, most countries - including the United States - now recognize the Southern (Antarctic) as the fifth ocean. The Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian are the most commonly known. The Southern Ocean is the 'newest' named ocean.
Is there really an 8th continent? ›At 4.9 million square kilometres, about two-thirds the size of Australia, Zealandia is the smallest, narrowest, and youngest continent in the world.
Do we have 8th continent? ›Finally, after about 375 years, in 2017, the geologists finally made the discovery of Zealandia, and now we have 8 continents of the world. Did you know that Zealandia is called Te Riu-a-Māui in the Māori language? The total area of Zealandia is about 4.9 million sq kilometres.
Is 8th continent discovered? ›
Based on these standards, geologists have discovered a new continent called 'Zealandia' a term proposed by geophysicist Bruce Luyendyk in 1995 also known as Te Riu-a-Māui in Māori.
How many continents are there in the world a 8 B 5 C 6 D 7? ›Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica are the seven continents of the world.