How Many Countries Are In Europe?

Europe is the second-smallest continent covering an area of 10,180,000 sq. km and occupying the western portion of the Eurasian landmass. As per the latest census, about 745,173,774 people live in Europe, accounting for 10% of the world’s population. There are, at present, 44 countries in Europe, according to the UN. The United Nations geoscheme for Europe has divided the continent into different regions. As per this scheme, there are ten countries in Northern Europe, ten in Eastern Europe, nine in Western Europe, and fifteen in Southern Europe. This list, however, does not include the transcontinental nations, having territories in both Asia and Europe, and in which a significant portion of their population resides in Asia rather than Europe.

Northern Europe is made up of ten sovereign nations. These ten countries are Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and United Kingdom. Northern Europe is further subdivided into three regions: the Baltic region, the British Isles, and Scandinavia. Countries like Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia form a part of the Baltic region; the United Kingdom and Ireland form a part of the British Isles; and the remaining countries like Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden form a part of Scandinavia. As per the latest census, Northern Europe has a population of 107,430,527 inhabitants. The United Kingdom, with a population of 66,834,400 residents, is the region’s most populous nation. Iceland, with a population of 361,310 residents, is the region’s least populous nation.

Eastern Europe comprises ten sovereign nations. These ten countries are Belarus, Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, and Ukraine. A significant portion of Eastern Europe is occupied by Russia, which covers an area of 17,098,246 sq. km, and supports a population of 144,373,540 residents, making it the biggest and most populous nation in all of Europe. The region’s least populated nation is the Republic of Moldova, which supports a population of 2,657,640 inhabitants. It is to be noted that Russia is one of the transcontinental countries, but for statistical convenience, the United Nations Statistics Division placed it under Eastern Europe.

Western Europe is made up of nine sovereign nations. These nine countries are Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, and Switzerland. Approximately 196 million people live in Western Europe, about 80% of whom live in urban centers. Western Europe is also one of the world’s richest regions and is home to some of the European continent’s biggest cities like Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Hamburg, Marseille, Zurich, Cologne, Amsterdam, etc. Having a population of 83,132,800 inhabitants, Germany is Western Europe’s most populous country and Europe’s second-most populous country. Germany also has Europe’s highest GDP and the biggest financial surplus of any country. With a population of 38,020 inhabitants, Liechtenstein is the region’s least populated nation. Except for Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Monaco, all other Western European countries are Member States of the European Union.

Also referred to as Mediterranean Europe, Southern Europe is made up of fifteen sovereign nations. These fifteen countries are Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Vatican City. More than 150 million people reside in Southern Europe. Spain, Italy, and Greece are the three largest countries in Southern Europe by area, while Vatican City, Malta, and San Marino are the region’s three smallest countries by area. Having a population of 60,297,400 inhabitants, Italy is Southern Europe’s most populous country, while Vatican City, with only 825 residents, is the region’s as well as Europe’s least populous country.

Transcontinental countries are nations that have territories on two continents, in this case, both Asia and Europe. Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, and Cyprus are some of the transcontinental countries. It is to be noted that except for Russia, a significant population of the above-mentioned transcontinental countries reside in Asia and are thus not considered among the 44 European counties. A major part of Russia’s population resides in its European portion, located to the west of the Ural Mountains.

If Turkey was considered a portion of Southern Europe, then Turkey, with a population of 83,429,620 inhabitants, would have been Europe’s second-most populous nation. However, a bulk of Turkey’s population resides in the country’s Asian region in Anatolia. Only a small portion of Turkey which is placed on the Balkan Peninsula of Southeastern Europe hosts Istanbul – Turkey’s biggest city, with a population of more than 15, 840,900 inhabitants.