Please enter your email address to receive this data in your inbox. Note: Population densities for Asia and Europe above use a "split" Russia, with Western Russia's approximate area of 4M km² used for Europe, and Eastern Russia's approximate area of 13.1M km² used for Asia. Continents Overview As of 2017, the global population has reached more than 7.5 billion people, spanning the inhabited continents of Africa , North America and South America , Asia , Europe , and Australia/ Oceania . Encompassing the two most highly populated countries in the world – China and India – Asia is by far the largest of the continents, with a total population of over 4.5 billion people. Around 40 million people live in Australia/Oceania, the smallest continent. Australia/Oceania is a good example of how the definition of a continent can be complex, as this continent is often, but not always, considered to include the subregions of Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia, and can also be defined as including the entire area between the Americas and Asia. If these regions are excluded and only Australia and New Zealand are counted, the population total drops to under 30 million. Notably, of all the continents, only Southern and Eastern Europe show negative growth rates in 2017, with Southern Europe at -0.12% and Eastern Europe at -0.15%. Europe as a whole has had a modest population increase of 0.08%, which is the smallest growth rate of the inhabited continents, although Western Europe continues to have a high population density of 178.31 per sq km. In contrast, all of the regions of Africa show significant population growth rates, with increases of 2.5-3% across Central, Eastern, Western and Sub-Saharan Africa. Continents by Area The world's largest continent is Asia, which spans over 17,212,000 square miles (44,579,000 square kilometers). Asia comprises about 30.0% of the Earth's total land area. Africa is the world's second-largest continent with 11,508,000 square miles (30,065,000 square kilometers) of land, making up 20.3% of the Earth's total land area. World Population Pyramid This chart shows the global population by age and sex, with each bar segment grouped by continent. Facts About the 7 Continents People often think of continents as large landmasses, but they include much more, like islands and cultural diversity. Continents and Their Islands Australia includes New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Europe includes Iceland, Great Britain, and Greenland.

Asia includes Sri Lanka, Japan, and the Philippines. Even Antarctica has islands! Cultural Boundaries vs. Geography Europe and Asia share a landmass but are distinct due to cultural differences. Greenland is geographically part of North America but culturally tied to Europe. North America's Cultural Evolution Originally inhabited by Native tribes, later transformed by European settlers and African slaves. Mexico and Central America: Geographically part of North America but culturally aligned with Latin America (linked to South America through shared language and religion). Diversity Across Continents Continents are "mega-regions" with broad generalities but immense internal diversity. Example: The Yupik of Alaska and New Orleans residents differ more than the Yupik and Ainu of Japan. Explore Continents World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections. Continent With the Most Countries Continent With the Most Countries Transcontinental Countries Transcontinental Countries