List of sovereign states and dependent territories by continent


This is a list of sovereign states and dependent territories of the world by continent, displayed with their respective national flags, including the following entities:
This list divides the world using the seven-continent model, with islands grouped into adjacent continents. Variations on are noted below and discussed in the following articles: Continent, Boundaries between the continents of Earth, and List of transcontinental countries.

Legend

Africa

For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Africa with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Africa: territories and regions.
Geologically, Africa is connected to Eurasia by the Isthmus of Suez and forms part of Afro-Eurasia.
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Asia with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Asia: territories and regions.
Geologically, Asia is part of Eurasia and due to the Isthmus of Suez forms part of Afro-Eurasia.
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Europe: political geography.
Geologically, Europe is part of Eurasia and due to the Isthmus of Suez forms part of Afro-Eurasia.
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in North America with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see North America: countries and territories.
Geologically, North America is joined with South America by the Isthmus of Panama to form the Americas.
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in Oceania with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see Oceania: territories and regions.
For a table of sovereign states and dependent territories in South America with geographical data such as area, population, and population density, see South America: demographics.
Geologically, South America is joined with North America by the Isthmus of Panama to form the Americas.
Antarctica is regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, which defines it as all land and ice shelves south of 60°S, and has no government and belongs to no country. However, the following territorial claims in Antarctica have been made:
The United States and Russia have reserved the right to claim territory on Antarctica.

Subantarctic islands

Unlike Antarctica itself, other nearby subantarctic island territories most commonly associated with the Antarctic continent, but lying north of 60°S, have had full sovereignty established over them by a governing state.
The following dependent territories are situated within in the wider Antarctic Region, but are not directly part of the Antarctic Treaty System:
FlagNameStatusRegionCapital
Bouvet IslandDependent territory of NorwayAtlantic Ocean—
French Southern and Antarctic LandsOverseas territory of FranceIndian OceanAlfred Faure
Port-aux-Français
Martin-de-Viviès
Heard Island and McDonald IslandsExternal territory of AustraliaIndian Ocean—
South Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsOverseas territory of the United KingdomAtlantic OceanKing Edward Point

In addition to the dependent territories listed above, the following islands are governed as a direct part of a controlling state. Thus they are fully and legally integrated within the governance structure of the respective state. They are similarly also not part of the Antarctic Treaty System.
Administering CountryNameStatusRegionSubdivisions
'Macquarie IslandPart of Tasmania.Oceania—
'New Zealand Subantarctic IslandsGoverned directly, not within local municipal structure.OceaniaThe Antipodes Islands, the Auckland Islands, the Bounty Islands, the Campbell Islands, and the Snares Islands.
Prince Edward IslandsPart of the City of Cape Town.AfricaPrince Edward Island and Marion Island.