The 7 continents
Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia. But whether there are 7 depends on where you went to school. Switch models to see why.
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7 continents
Taught in the US, UK, China, India and most English-speaking countries.
- Africa
- Antarctica
- Asia
- Australia (Oceania)
- Europe
- North America
- South America
The seven continents compared
| Continent | Area (km²) | Countries | Highest point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia | 44,579,000 | 48 | Mount Everest, 8,849 m |
| Africa | 30,370,000 | 54 | Kilimanjaro, 5,895 m |
| North America | 24,709,000 | 23 | Denali, 6,190 m |
| South America | 17,840,000 | 12 | Aconcagua, 6,961 m |
| Antarctica | 14,200,000 | 0 | Vinson Massif, 4,892 m |
| Europe | 10,180,000 | 46 | Mount Elbrus, 5,642 m |
| Oceania | 8,526,000 | 14 | Puncak Jaya, 4,884 m |
Areas: Encyclopaedia Britannica / National Geographic, rounded. Country counts use this site's list of 197.
Where one continent ends
Continents are mostly defined by convention, not by geology. Europe and Asia sit on one plate and one landmass; the line between them is traditionally drawn along the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus. North and South America meet at the Panama–Colombia border, and Africa and Asia at the Suez Canal. Geologists sometimes add an eighth, mostly-submerged continent, Zealandia, under New Zealand.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 7 continents?
Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia (often called Oceania when the Pacific islands are included), listed from largest to smallest.
What is the largest continent?
Asia, at about 44.6 million km², roughly 30% of Earth's land. It is also home to about 60% of the world's people.
What is the smallest continent?
Australia (Oceania), at about 8.5 million km².
Why do some people say there are 5 or 6 continents?
There is no single official definition. Continents are a convention, so different countries teach different models. Try the toggles above to see how the map changes.
Which continent has the most countries?
Africa, with 54 countries. Antarctica has none: it is governed by the Antarctic Treaty of 1959.