States of Europe

The states of Europe are the sovereign and territorial countries located on the European continent. Europe is a continent located in the northwest of the Eurasian landmass (the connected territory of Europe and Asia). The number of sovereign states varies depending on how the eastern and southeastern boundaries of the continent are defined, and therefore different lists exist.

In general, Europe is said to contain between 44 and 50 sovereign states. The variation arises from countries such as Turkey, Russia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, whose territories lie partly in Europe or are culturally associated with it, and from states with limited or contested recognition.

Geographical divisions

Europe is commonly divided into four to five regions. Northern Europe comprises the Nordic countries such as Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland, and the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Western Europe comprises France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Southern Europe comprises Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and the Balkan countries. Eastern Europe comprises Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and Russia.

Microstates

Europe is home to some of the world's smallest countries. These include Vatican City, the smallest country in the world by land area and population, Monaco, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Andorra, and Malta. These states typically maintain close economic and financial ties with their neighbors.

Dependent territories and partial recognition

There are territories that are not sovereign states but have distinct administrations: Gibraltar, the Faroe Islands, Greenland (which is geographically part of North America but politically linked to Denmark), Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man. There are also territories whose recognition is divided internationally, such as Kosovo, and other territories with limited self-governance and minimal recognition.

Political organizations

The European Union is an economic and political organization comprising 27 member states, following the United Kingdom's departure in 2020. The Council of Europe is a separate, broader organization focused on human rights, with a larger membership than the EU. Many European countries are also members of NATO.