This is a list of continents and continental subregions by population.
World population by continent, 2021
| Continent | Population (2021) [1] [2] [3] | % (world) | ±% p.a. (2010–2013) | Sovereign states (2024) | De facto states (2024) | Non-self-governing territory(ies) (2024) | Other area(s) (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World | 7,909,295,151 | 100% | 1.17% | 197 | 8 | 17 | 34 |
| Asia | 4,694,576,167 | 59.4% | 1.04% | 48 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Africa | 1,393,676,444 | 17.6% | 2.57% | 54 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Europe | 745,173,774 | 9.4% | 0.08% | 44 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| North America | 595,783,465 | 7.5% | 0.96% | 23 | 0 | 7 | 11 |
| South America | 434,254,119 | 5.5% | 1.06% | 12 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Oceania | 44,491,724 | 0.6% | 1.47% | 16 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| Antarctica | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Continent | Population (2021) [1] [2] [4] | % (world) | ±% p.a. (2010–2013) | Sovereign states (2024) | De facto states (2024) | Non-self-governing territory(ies) (2024) | Other area(s) (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World | 7,909,295,151 | 100% | 1.17% | 197 | 8 | 17 | 34 |
| Afroeurasia | 6,833,426,385 | 86.4% | 86.4% | 146 | 8 | 3 | 12 |
| America | 1,030,037,584 | 13% | 0.96% | 35 | 0 | 8 | 14 |
| Oceania | 44,491,724 | 0.6% | 1.47% | 16 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| Antarctica | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Continental subregion | Population (2021) [1] [2] | % (world) | ±% p.a. (2010–2013) | Sovereign states (2024) | De facto state(s) (2024) | Non-self-governing territory(ies) (2024) | Other area(s) (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World | 7,909,295,151 | 100% | 1.17% | 197 | 8 | 17 | 34 |
| Southern Asia [a] | 1,989,452,478 | 25.2% | 1.32% | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eastern Asia | 1,663,696,923 | 21.0% | 0.57% | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| South-eastern Asia | 675,796,065 | 8.5% | 1.20% | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eastern Africa [b] | 461,141,845 | 5.8% | 2.89% | 18 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| South America [c] | 434,254,119 | 5.5% | 1.06% | 12 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Western Africa [d] | 418,544,337 | 5.3% | 2.78% | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Northern America | 375,278,947 | 4.7% | 0.85% | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Eastern Europe [e] | 291,464,162 | 3.7% | 0.23% | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Western Asia [f] | 289,733,123 | 3.7% | 1.98% | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Africa [g] | 255,737,736 | 3.2% | 1.70% | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Western Europe [h] | 195,381,649 | 2.5% | 0.25% | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Middle Africa [i] | 190,267,973 | 2.4% | 2.79% | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Central America [j] | 177,661,929 | 2.2% | 1.40% | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Southern Europe | 152,130,606 | 1.9% | 0.24% | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Northern Europe [k] | 106,197,357 | 1.3% | 0.54% | 10 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Central Asia | 75,897,577 | 1.0% | 1.43% | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Southern Africa | 67,984,554 | 0.9% | 0.91% | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Caribbean | 44,182,048 | 0.6% | 0.71% | 13 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Australia and New Zealand [l] | 31,050,816 | 0.4% | N/A | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Melanesia [m] | 12,188,834 | 0.2% | N/A | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Polynesia | 717,467 | 0.009% | N/A | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Micronesia [n] | 534,606 | 0.007% | N/A | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Antarctica | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 66,923,000 | — |
| 1960 | 84,305,000 | +2.34% |
| 1970 | 110,428,000 | +2.74% |
| 1980 | 147,512,000 | +2.94% |
| 1990 | 198,232,000 | +3.00% |
| 2000 | 259,373,000 | +2.72% |
| 2010 | 342,743,000 | +2.83% |
| 2021 | 461,141,845 | +2.73% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 26,401,000 | — |
| 1960 | 32,216,000 | +2.01% |
| 1970 | 40,846,000 | +2.40% |
| 1980 | 53,135,000 | +2.67% |
| 1990 | 70,886,000 | +2.92% |
| 2000 | 96,113,000 | +3.09% |
| 2010 | 130,598,000 | +3.11% |
| 2021 | 190,267,973 | +3.48% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 49,222,000 | — |
| 1960 | 63,697,000 | +2.61% |
| 1970 | 82,883,000 | +2.67% |
| 1980 | 106,908,000 | +2.58% |
| 1990 | 140,117,000 | +2.74% |
| 2000 | 171,891,000 | +2.06% |
| 2010 | 203,717,000 | +1.71% |
| 2021 | 255,737,736 | +2.09% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 15,588,000 | — |
| 1960 | 19,724,000 | +2.38% |
| 1970 | 25,454,000 | +2.58% |
| 1980 | 32,997,000 | +2.63% |
| 1990 | 42,049,000 | +2.45% |
| 2000 | 51,451,000 | +2.04% |
| 2010 | 59,067,000 | +1.39% |
| 2021 | 67,984,554 | +1.29% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 70,769,000 | — |
| 1960 | 84,946,000 | +1.84% |
| 1970 | 106,015,000 | +2.24% |
| 1980 | 137,414,000 | +2.63% |
| 1990 | 180,331,000 | +2.76% |
| 2000 | 235,235,000 | +2.69% |
| 2010 | 307,982,000 | +2.73% |
| 2021 | 418,544,337 | +2.83% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 228,902,000 | — |
| 1960 | 284,887,000 | +2.21% |
| 1970 | 365,626,000 | +2.53% |
| 1980 | 477,965,000 | +2.72% |
| 1990 | 631,614,000 | +2.83% |
| 2000 | 814,063,000 | +2.57% |
| 2010 | 1,044,107,000 | +2.52% |
| 2021 | 1,393,676,444 | +2.66% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 340,459,000 | — |
| 1960 | 425,357,000 | +2.25% |
| 1970 | 519,522,000 | +2.02% |
| 1980 | 619,252,000 | +1.77% |
| 1990 | 727,522,000 | +1.62% |
| 2000 | 840,614,000 | +1.46% |
| 2010 | 943,952,000 | +1.17% |
| 2021 | 1,031,377,044 | +0.81% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 17,076,000 | — |
| 1960 | 20,724,000 | +1.96% |
| 1970 | 25,306,000 | +2.02% |
| 1980 | 29,748,000 | +1.63% |
| 1990 | 34,198,000 | +1.40% |
| 2000 | 38,314,000 | +1.14% |
| 2010 | 41,621,000 | +0.83% |
| 2021 | 44,182,048 | +0.54% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 38,029,000 | — |
| 1960 | 51,400,000 | +3.06% |
| 1970 | 69,702,000 | +3.09% |
| 1980 | 92,425,000 | +2.86% |
| 1990 | 114,823,000 | +2.19% |
| 2000 | 138,780,000 | +1.91% |
| 2010 | 161,117,000 | +1.50% |
| 2021 | 177,661,929 | +0.89% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 171,615,000 | — |
| 1960 | 204,167,000 | +1.75% |
| 1970 | 231,029,000 | +1.24% |
| 1980 | 254,217,000 | +0.96% |
| 1990 | 280,633,000 | +0.99% |
| 2000 | 313,724,000 | +1.12% |
| 2010 | 344,129,000 | +0.93% |
| 2021 | 375,278,947 | +0.79% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 226,719,000 | — |
| 1960 | 276,291,000 | +2.00% |
| 1970 | 326,036,000 | +1.67% |
| 1980 | 376,390,000 | +1.45% |
| 1990 | 429,653,000 | +1.33% |
| 2000 | 490,818,000 | +1.34% |
| 2010 | 546,867,000 | +1.09% |
| 2021 | 597,122,924 | +0.80% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 113,739,000 | — |
| 1960 | 149,066,000 | +2.74% |
| 1970 | 193,486,000 | +2.64% |
| 1980 | 242,862,000 | +2.30% |
| 1990 | 297,869,000 | +2.06% |
| 2000 | 349,796,000 | +1.62% |
| 2010 | 397,085,000 | +1.28% |
| 2021 | 434,254,119 | +0.82% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 18,131,000 | — |
| 1960 | 24,616,000 | +3.10% |
| 1970 | 33,156,000 | +3.02% |
| 1980 | 41,277,000 | +2.21% |
| 1990 | 50,407,929 | +2.02% |
| 2000 | 55,117,000 | +0.90% |
| 2010 | 62,139,000 | +1.21% |
| 2021 | 75,897,577 | +1.83% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 666,586,000 | — |
| 1960 | 788,145,000 | +1.69% |
| 1970 | 978,113,000 | +2.18% |
| 1980 | 1,173,372,000 | +1.84% |
| 1990 | 1,368,592,000 | +1.55% |
| 2000 | 1,496,284,000 | +0.90% |
| 2010 | 1,575,320,000 | +0.52% |
| 2021 | 1,663,696,923 | +0.50% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 164,900,000 | — |
| 1960 | 213,838,000 | +2.63% |
| 1970 | 281,521,000 | +2.79% |
| 1980 | 358,106,000 | +2.44% |
| 1990 | 445,665,000 | +2.21% |
| 2000 | 526,179,000 | +1.67% |
| 2010 | 596,708,000 | +1.27% |
| 2021 | 675,796,065 | +1.14% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 493,443,000 | — |
| 1960 | 593,943,000 | +1.87% |
| 1970 | 741,603,000 | +2.25% |
| 1980 | 939,043,000 | +2.39% |
| 1990 | 1,189,261,000 | +2.39% |
| 2000 | 1,451,933,000 | +2.02% |
| 2010 | 1,702,969,000 | +1.61% |
| 2021 | 1,989,452,478 | +1.42% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 50,957,000 | — |
| 1960 | 66,156,000 | +2.64% |
| 1970 | 86,037,000 | +2.66% |
| 1980 | 113,786,000 | +2.83% |
| 1990 | 148,552,000 | +2.70% |
| 2000 | 184,957,000 | +2.22% |
| 2010 | 232,703,000 | +2.32% |
| 2021 | 289,733,123 | +2.01% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1,394,018,000 | — |
| 1960 | 1,686,698,000 | +1.92% |
| 1970 | 2,120,430,000 | +2.31% |
| 1980 | 2,625,584,000 | +2.16% |
| 1990 | 3,202,475,000 | +2.01% |
| 2000 | 3,714,470,000 | +1.49% |
| 2010 | 4,169,850,000 | +1.16% |
| 2021 | 4,694,576,167 | +1.08% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 220,171,000 | — |
| 1960 | 253,630,000 | +1.42% |
| 1970 | 276,396,000 | +0.86% |
| 1980 | 295,042,000 | +0.65% |
| 1990 | 310,027,000 | +0.50% |
| 2000 | 303,789,000 | −0.20% |
| 2010 | 294,591,000 | −0.31% |
| 2021 | 291,464,162 | −0.10% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 78,030,000 | — |
| 1960 | 81,790,000 | +0.47% |
| 1970 | 87,305,000 | +0.65% |
| 1980 | 89,833,000 | +0.29% |
| 1990 | 92,040,000 | +0.24% |
| 2000 | 94,397,000 | +0.25% |
| 2010 | 99,682,000 | +0.55% |
| 2021 | 106,197,357 | +0.58% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 108,633,000 | — |
| 1960 | 117,879,000 | +0.82% |
| 1970 | 127,617,000 | +0.80% |
| 1980 | 138,495,000 | +0.82% |
| 1990 | 143,404,000 | +0.35% |
| 2000 | 145,058,000 | +0.11% |
| 2010 | 153,360,000 | +0.56% |
| 2021 | 152,130,606 | −0.07% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 142,256,000 | — |
| 1960 | 152,320,000 | +0.69% |
| 1970 | 165,903,000 | +0.86% |
| 1980 | 170,489,000 | +0.27% |
| 1990 | 175,615,000 | +0.30% |
| 2000 | 183,163,000 | +0.42% |
| 2010 | 187,762,000 | +0.25% |
| 2021 | 195,381,649 | +0.36% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 549,089,000 | — |
| 1960 | 605,619,000 | +0.98% |
| 1970 | 657,221,000 | +0.82% |
| 1980 | 693,859,000 | +0.54% |
| 1990 | 721,086,000 | +0.39% |
| 2000 | 726,407,000 | +0.07% |
| 2010 | 735,395,000 | +0.12% |
| 2021 | 745,173,774 | +0.12% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12,682,000 | — |
| 1960 | 15,784,000 | +2.21% |
| 1970 | 19,688,000 | +2.23% |
| 1980 | 22,972,000 | +1.55% |
| 1990 | 26,971,000 | +1.62% |
| 2000 | 31,068,000 | +1.42% |
| 2010 | 36,411,000 | +1.60% |
| 2016 | 39,901,000 | +1.54% |
| 2021 | 44,491,724 | +2.20% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,525,149,000 | — |
| 1960 | 3,018,344,000 | +1.80% |
| 1970 | 3,682,488,000 | +2.01% |
| 1980 | 4,439,632,000 | +1.89% |
| 1990 | 5,309,668,000 | +1.81% |
| 2000 | 6,126,622,000 | +1.44% |
| 2010 | 6,929,725,000 | +1.24% |
| 2021 | 7,909,295,151 | +1.21% |
Southern Europe is the southern region of Europe. It is also known as Mediterranean Europe, as its geography is marked by the Mediterranean Sea. Definitions of southern Europe include some or all of these countries and regions: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Greece, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, southern France, Spain, Turkey, and Vatican City.
A subregion is a part of a larger geographical region or continent. Cardinal directions are commonly used to define subregions. There are many criteria for creating systems of subregions; this article is focusing on the United Nations geoscheme, which is a changing, constantly updated, UN tool based on specific political geography and demography considerations relevant in UN statistics.
Figures for the population of Europe vary according to the particular definition of Europe's boundaries. In 2018, Europe had a total population of over 751 million people. 448 million of them lived in the European Union and 110 million in European Russia; Russia is the most populous country in Europe.
Northern America is the northernmost subregion of North America as well as the northernmost region in the Americas. The boundaries may be drawn significantly differently depending on the source of the definition. In one definition, it lies directly north of Middle America. Northern America's land frontier with the rest of North America then coincides with the Mexico–United States border. Geopolitically, according to the United Nations' scheme of geographical regions and subregions, Northern America consists of Bermuda, Canada, Greenland, Saint Pierre and Miquelon and the United States.
The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, which comprises 13 independent island countries and 19 dependencies in three archipelagos: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Lucayan Archipelago.
The United Nations geoscheme is a system which divides 248 countries and territories in the world into six continental regions, 22 geographical subregions, and two intermediary regions. It was devised by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) based on the M49 coding classification. The creators note that "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".
The following is an alphabetical list of subregions in the United Nations geoscheme for Africa, used by the United Nations and maintained by the UNSD department for statistical purposes.
The United Nations geoscheme for the Americas is an internal tool created and used by the UN's Statistics Division (UNSD) for the specific purpose of UN statistics.
The following is an alphabetical list of subregions in the United Nations geoscheme for Europe, created by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD). The scheme subdivides the continent into Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, and Western Europe. The UNSD notes that "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".
The United Nations geoscheme for Oceania is an internal tool created and used by the UN's Statistics Division (UNSD) for the specific purpose of UN statistics.
The United Nations geoscheme for Asia is an internal tool created and used by the United Nations, maintained by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) for the specific purpose of UN statistics. The scheme's subregions are presented here in alphabetical order. Its subregions may not coincide with other geographic categorization schemes.
