What continent has the most countries?


Quick Answer

Africa has the most countries at a total of 53, as of 2015. Europe comes in second with 50 countries, followed by Asia with 47, North America with 23 and South America with 13 countries. Australia, traditionally considered as a distinct continent, is also a country, while the Antarctic continent does not contain a single nation.

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Full Answer

Earth's land surface is divided into continents, normally regarded as massive, discrete landmasses that are completely cut off from other lands. Depending on the model used, the planet can be separated into seven, six, five or even four continents. The most common convention recognizes seven. However, modern geographers take into account other factors, with some frameworks merging Europe and Asia into a single Eurasian continent or joining North America and South America into the Americas. Africa, Europe and Asia are also sometimes grouped together into the Afro-Eurasian continent. When considered as a distinct landmass, the African continent is the second largest in the world in terms of area.

Africa encompasses approximately 11,668,600 sq. miles of territory. Known to many as the "Cradle of Mankind," Africa is surrounded by the Red Sea, Suez Canal, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean. Some countries in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa include Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Burundi, Malawi, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Swaziland, South Africa, Gabon, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Kenya.

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