List of countries by continents

This is a list of sovereign states and dependent territories of the world by  continents. 

* By **UN association**:
** The 193 members of the United Nations (UN)
** The 2 General Assembly Observer States, Vatican City (sometimes Holy See) and Palestine
* By **other states**:
** De facto states with disputed sovereignty 
** States that lack international recognition 
** Cook Islands and Niue, two states in free association with New Zealand, without UN membership
* By **non-sovereign territories**:
** Generally this includes non-sovereign territories recognized by the UN as part of any state.
** Dependent territories
** Other territories often regarded as separate geographical territories even through they are integral parts of their mother states (such as the overseas departments and regions of France)

Transcontinental countries are listed in the continent the United Nations has grouped them into. In some cases, it is not obvious which continent a country should be listed in.

## Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands. It covers 6% of Earth's total surface area and 20% of its land area. With 1.3 billion people as of 2018, it accounts for about 16% of the world's human population. It is surrounded by large areas of water. Africa is thought to be the continent where the first humans evolved. There are 54 fully recognized and independent countries in Africa, which are: 

### Sovereign states 
### Dependent territories 
* Transcontinental countries classified as Southern European countries: '*** (Madeira), **** (Canary Islands)

* Transcontinental countries classified as Western European countries: ***' (French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Mayotte and Reunion)

## Asia 
Asia is the largest and most populous continent and is a continent in the seven continent system. Asia has 46 countries that are members of the United Nations (UN) and 1 General Assembly Observer State, Palestine, along with many other highly autonomous regions and disputed areas that are often generalised as countries of their own.  The 47 countries are:

#

## Europe 
Europe is the second smallest continent, but the third most populous. It is a continent in the seven continent system. In other systems, it is part of Asia, Eurasia or Eurafrasia. Europe has 46 countries that are members of the United Nations (UN) and 1 General Assembly Observer State, Vatican City. The 47 countries are:

## North America
North America is the third largest continent and the fourth most populous. It is a continent in the 7 continents system, consisting of 23 countries, which are:

## South America 
South America is the fourth largest continent and fifth most populous. It is a continent in the seven continent system. In other systems, it is part of The Americas. Its 12 countries are:

## Oceania
Oceania is the smallest continent in land area and the second-least populated. The 16 countries are listed below according to their UN classification:

### Two states in free association with New Zealand, without UN membership 
## Notes 
## References
## Other website 
* http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/
* http://ontheworldmap.com