Europe is made up of 44 different nations. According to the United Nations scheme for Europe, Europe is divided into four regions: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, and Northern Europe.
There are nine nations in Western Europe, ten in Eastern Europe, fifteen in Southern Europe, and ten in Northern Europe.
However, this does not include transcontinental nations that have land borders in both Europe and Asia, but where the bulk of their populace is concentrated in Asia rather than Europe.
1. Western Europe
The Western Europe region consists of 9 countries. The region’s total population is just over 268 million. With a population greater than 83million, Germany is the most populous Western European country.
However, the tiny principality Liechtenstein has just 38,000 residents within its borders. The European Union’s political and economic alliance in Western Europe is the core. The European Commission is located in Brussels, Belgium.
The European Parliament is in Strasbourg, France. In Frankfurt, Germany, the European Central Bank is based.
- Austria
- Belgium
- France
- Germany
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
2. Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe comprises 10 countries and has an estimated population of 293 million. Russia is the most populous country in Eastern Europe, with approximately 144 million residents. It is also the largest country in Europe.
Moldova is the least populated country in the region, with just under 2.5 million residents within its borders. Moldova is also Europe’s poorest country.
The Warsaw Pact was once the largest military alliance against NATO in Eastern Europe during the Cold War between the United States of America and the Soviet Union.
Many of the countries in the region are now part of NATO and the European Union. Also, Russia is a transcontinental country in Europe. Everything east of the Ural Mountains can be considered part of Asia.
- Belarus
- Bulgaria
- Czechia
- Hungary
- Poland
- Republic of Moldova
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Slovakia
- Ukraine
3. Northern Europe
Northern Europe is comprised of 10 countries. It has a population of around 34 million. This makes it the continent’s least populated region.
Finland is the region’s most populous nation, with approximately 5.5 million. Iceland is the least populated country in Northern Europe, with just 360,000 inhabitants.
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Norway
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
4. Southern Europe
Southern Europe is home to 15 countries. It has a population of approximately 153 million. Italy is the most populous country within the region, with more than 60million people. Vatican City is the country with the lowest population in the area.
It has less than one thousand inhabitants. This makes it the least populous country in Southern Europe and Europe and the most populous country worldwide.
Southern Europe was the site of many of Europe’s most recent conflicts. These were during the disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
- Albania
- Andorra
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Croatia
- Greece
- Italy
- Malta
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Vatican City
Transcontinental Countries
- Russia
- Turkey
- Kazakhstan
- Azerbaijan
- Georgia
- Armenia
- Cyprus
As we have already stated, Transcontinental countries are countries that have territory in both Europe and Asia. Except for Russia, all transcontinental European countries have most of their population in Asia.
They are not included in the 44 countries of Europe. However, most of Russia’s population lives on its European territory west of the Ural Mountains. Turkey would be part of Southern Europe if it were considered the most populous country.
It boasts a population of more than 83 million and would therefore be the 2nd most populous European country.
Most of Turkey’s inhabitants live in Anatolia (the Asian region). However, Turkey occupies a small portion of Europe, home to Istanbul, Europe’s largest city with more than 15 million residents.
Countries Of Europe
| Rank | Country | Estimated Population | Area (in sq. Km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 144,373,540 | 17,098,242 |
| – | Turkey | 83,429,620 | 783,562 |
| 2 | Germany | 83,132,800 | 357,022 |
| 3 | France | 67,059,890 | 643,801 |
| 4 | United Kingdom | 66,834,400 | 243,610 |
| 5 | Italy | 60,297,400 | 301,340 |
| 6 | Spain | 47,076,780 | 505,370 |
| 7 | Ukraine | 44,385,150 | 603,550 |
| 8 | Poland | 37,970,870 | 312,685 |
| 9 | Romania | 19,356,540 | 238,391 |
| – | Kazakhstan | 18,513,930 | 2,724,900 |
| 10 | Netherlands | 17,332,850 | 41,543 |
| 11 | Belgium | 11,484,060 | 30,528 |
| 12 | Greece | 10,716,320 | 131,957 |
| 13 | Czech Republic | 10,669,710 | 78,867 |
| 14 | Sweden | 10,285,450 | 450,295 |
| 15 | Portugal | 10,269,420 | 92,090 |
| – | Azerbaijan | 10,023,320 | 86,600 |
| 16 | Hungary | 9,769,950 | 93,028 |
| 17 | Belarus | 9,466,860 | 207,600 |
| 18 | Austria | 8,877,070 | 83,871 |
| 19 | Switzerland | 8,574,830 | 41,277 |
| 20 | Bulgaria | 6,975,760 | 110,879 |
| 21 | Serbia | 6,944,980 | 77,474 |
| 22 | Denmark | 5,818,550 | 43,094 |
| 23 | Finland | 5,520,310 | 338,145 |
| 24 | Slovakia | 5,454,070 | 49,035 |
| 25 | Norway | 5,347,900 | 323,802 |
| 26 | Ireland | 4,941,440 | 70,273 |
| 27 | Croatia | 4,067,500 | 56,594 |
| – | Georgia | 3,720,380 | 69,700 |
| 28 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3,301,000 | 51,197 |
| – | Armenia | 2,957,730 | 29,743 |
| 29 | Albania | 2,854,190 | 28,748 |
| 30 | Lithuania | 2,786,840 | 65,300 |
| 31 | Moldova | 2,657,640 | 33,851 |
| 32 | Slovenia | 2,087,950 | 20,273 |
| 33 | North Macedonia | 2,083,460 | 25,713 |
| 34 | Latvia | 1,912,790 | 64,589 |
| 35 | Estonia | 1,326,590 | 45,228 |
| – | Cyprus | 1,198,580 | 9,251 |
| 36 | Montenegro | 622,140 | 13,812 |
| 37 | Luxembourg | 619,900 | 2,586 |
| 38 | Malta | 502,650 | 316 |
| 39 | Iceland | 361,310 | 103,000 |
| 40 | Andorra | 77,140 | 468 |
| 41 | Monaco | 38,960 | 2 |
| 42 | Liechtenstein | 38,020 | 160 |
| 43 | San Marino | 33,860 | 61 |
| 44 | Vatican City | 825 | 0.44 |