A subregion is a part of a larger geographical region or continent. Cardinal directions are commonly used to define subregions. There are many criteria for creating systems of subregions; this article is focusing on the United Nations geoscheme, which is a changing, constantly updated, UN tool based on specific political geography and demography considerations relevant in UN statistics.
United Nations subregions
The Statistics Division of the United Nations (UN) is in charge of the collection, processing, and dissemination of statistical information for the UN. In 1999, it developed a system of macro-geographical (continental) regions, subregions, and other selected economic groups to report advances towards achieving numerous millennial development goals worldwide. These statistical divisions were devised for statistical purposes and is used for carrying out statistical analysis. The division's first publication was the book World's Women 2000: Trends and Statistics in 2000.
According to the UN, the assignment of countries or areas to specific groupings is for statistical convenience and does not imply any assumption regarding political or other affiliation of countries or territories.
Subregions by continent
The following is a non-exhaustive list of subregions, arranged alphabetically by region (i.e., by continent); in the UN geoscheme, higher-level, macro-geographical regions are arranged to the extent possible according to continents.
Sequence used in the list (not all criteria are applied to each continent):
- by the UN Statistics Division's geoscheme
- by geography
- by physiography
- by geopolitics
- by human geography
- by economics
- by culture
- by language
- by religion
- by biogeography
- by historical division
- by geology
Afro-Eurasia
Afro-Eurasia is a continental landmass comprising the continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe.
- by the United Nations Statistics Division's geoscheme (see also: UN geoscheme for Africa):
- Northern Africa
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Eastern Africa
- Middle Africa
- Southern Africa
- Western Africa
- by geography:
- North Africa (Also known as Saharan Africa)
- Maghreb (AKA Northwest Africa, also including Mauritania, which most geographers consider as a part of West Africa; some geographers consider Libya as a part of Northeast Africa and Western Sahara as a part of West Africa)
- Northeast Africa (including Egypt, the Horn of Africa, and the Sudans; some geographers consider Egypt, Libya, and the Sudan as Northeast Africa instead)
- Sub-Saharan Africa (AKA Tropical Africa)
- Central Africa (AKA Congo, Equatorial Africa or Middle Africa)
- East Africa (AKA Nile)
- Northeast Africa (including Egypt, the Horn of Africa, and the Sudans; some geographers consider Egypt, Libya, and the Sudan as Northeast Africa instead)
- Horn of Africa
- Southeast Africa (also including Botswana, Eswatini and Lesotho, which most geographers consider as part of Southern Africa)
- Northeast Africa (including Egypt, the Horn of Africa, and the Sudans; some geographers consider Egypt, Libya, and the Sudan as Northeast Africa instead)
- Southern Africa (AKA Kalahari)
- West Africa (AKA Niger)
- Guinea (region)
- Sudan (region)
- North Africa (Also known as Saharan Africa)
- by physiography:
- by economics:
- African Monetary Union (AMU)
- Arab League (including some West Asian countries)
- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
- Common Monetary Area (CMA)
- Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN-SAD)
- Council of Arab Economic Unity (GAFTA) – including some West Asian countries
- Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)
- Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
- EMEA (including Europe and the Middle East)
- Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
- Southern African Development Community (SADC)
- Union for the Mediterranean (including most Southern European countries and some West Asian countries)
- by biogeography:
- Macaronesia
- by historical division:
- Negroland
- by geology:
- Kaapvaal Craton
- Zimbabwe Craton
Eurasia is a continental mainland comprising the continents of Asia and Europe.
- by the United Nations Statistics Division's geoscheme (see also: UN geoscheme for Asia):
- Central Asia
- Eastern Asia
- South-eastern Asia
- Southern Asia – the UN geoscheme includes Afghanistan and Iran in this subregion
- Western Asia – the UN geoscheme includes Cyprus, the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia), and Turkey in this subregion
- by geography:
- Central Asia
- East Asia
- Greater China
- China
- Hong Kong (some geographers consider it as a part of Northeast Asia)
- Macau (some geographers consider it as a part of Northeast Asia)
- Mainland China (some geographers consider it as a part of Northeast Asia)
- North China (Eastern Inner Mongolia is also a part of Northeast China)
- Northeast China (AKA Manchuria) – also a part of Northeast Asia
- Southeast China (excluding Central China)
- East China (some geographers include Taiwan Island, Penghu, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, Socotra Rock, Parangcho, and the Senkaku Islands in this subregion)
- South Central China
- Central China
- South China (including Hainan Island and the South China Sea Islands, some geographers also include Hong Kong and Macau in this subregion)
- Western China
- Northwest China (some geographers consider Qinghai and Xinjiang as part of Central Asia)
- Southwest China (some geographers consider Tibet as a part of Central Asia)
- South China Sea Islands (some geographers consider them as part of Northeast Asia)
- Paracel Islands
- Pratas Island
- Spratly Islands
- James Shoal (undersea feature)
- Taiping Island
- Zhongzhou Reef
- Zhongsha Islands
- Macclesfield Bank
- Walker Shoal
- Scarborough Shoal
- Macclesfield Bank
- Taiwan (some geographers consider it as a part of Northeast Asia)
- China
- Mongolia (some geographers consider it as a part of Central Asia or Northeast Asia)
- Northeast Asia
- China
- Eastern Inner Mongolia
- Northeast China (AKA Manchuria)
- Japan
- Daitō Islands
- Mainland Japan
- Hokkaido
- Honshu
- Kyushu
- Shikoku
- Nanpō Islands
- Ryukyu Islands
- Korea
- North Korea
- South Korea
- Russian Far East (also a part of North Asia, but not a part of East Asia)
- Outer Manchuria
- China
- Greater China
- North Asia (AKA Siberia)
- Russian Far East (also a part of Northeast Asia)
- Outer Manchuria
- Russian Far East (also a part of Northeast Asia)
- South Asia
- Eastern South Asia
- Northern South Asia
- Northwestern South Asia
- Northwestern Indian subcontinent
- Southern South Asia
- India
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Lakshadweep
- Mainland India
- Central India
- East India
- Northeast India
- North India
- Northwest India
- South India (AKA Peninsular India, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep)
- Western India
- Southeast Asia
- Mainland Southeast Asia
- Malay Peninsula
- Peninsular Malaysia
- Southern Thailand
- Tanintharyi Region
- Malay Peninsula
- Maritime Southeast Asia
- Borneo (including Labuan)
- Brunei
- East Malaysia
- Labuan
- Sabah
- Sarawak
- Kalimantan
- Borneo (including Labuan)
- Mainland Southeast Asia
- West Asia (AKA Southwest Asia)
- Anatolia (AKA Asia Minor)
- Arabia
- Eastern Arabia
- Hejaz (AKA Western Arabia)
- Najd (AKA Central Arabia)
- South Arabia
- Levant
- Southern Levant
- Mesopotamia
- South Caucasus (AKA Transcaucasia)
- by physiography:
- Anatolian Peninsula
- Arabian Peninsula
- Central Plateau
- Indian Ocean Coast
- Persian Gulf Coast
- Red Sea Coast
- Bahrain Island
- Caucasus Mountains
- Greater Caucasus
- Lesser Caucasus
- Daitō Islands
- Eurasian Steppe
- Fertile Crescent
- Hainan Island
- Himalayas
- Eastern Himalaya
- Western Himalaya
- Siachen Glacier
- Indian subcontinent
- Deccan Plateau
- Indochinese Peninsula
- Indo-Gangetic Plain
- Indus Valley
- Iranian Plateau
- Japanese Archipelago
- Hokkaido
- Honshu
- Kuril Islands
- Kyushu
- Ryukyu Islands
- Okinawa Island
- Sakhalin Island
- Shikoku
- Jeju Island
- Junggar Basin
- Kolyma
- Korean Peninsula
- Leizhou Peninsula
- Liaodong Peninsula
- Malay Archipelago (including New Guinea)
- Indonesian Archipelago
- Maluku Islands
- Sunda Islands
- Greater Sunda Islands
- Borneo
- Java
- Sulawesi
- Sumatra
- Lesser Sunda Islands
- Alor Archipelago
- Bali
- Barat Daya Islands
- Flores
- Komodo
- Lombok
- Sumba
- Sumbawa
- Tanimbar Islands
- Timor
- Greater Sunda Islands
- Philippine Archipelago
- Luzon
- Mindanao
- Visayan Islands
- Indonesian Archipelago
- Mongolian Plateau
- Nanpō Islands
- Bonin Islands
- Volcano Islands
- Qinghai Lake
- Shandong Peninsula
- Sichuan Basin
- Sri Lanka Island
- Taiwan Island
- Tarim Basin
- by geopolitics:
- Asia-Pacific (APAC) – including Oceania
- Far East/Pacific Asia
- Greater China
- China proper
- Inner Mongolia
- Manchuria
- Tibet
- Xinjiang
- Indochinese Peninsula
- Japanese Archipelago
- Korean Peninsula
- Malay Archipelago
- Russian Far East
- Greater China
- Far East/Pacific Asia
- Greater Middle East – including some African countries
- Middle East and North Africa (AKA MENA) – including North African countries
- Middle East (AKA the Near East) – including Egypt
- Arab League (AKA the Arab states) – including some African countries
- Mashriq – including Egypt and the Sudan
- Arabian Peninsula
- Levant – including Ash-Shām and Cyprus
- Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq)
- Mashriq – including Egypt and the Sudan
- Asia Minor
- South Caucasus (AKA Transcaucasia)
- Arab League (AKA the Arab states) – including some African countries
- Middle East (AKA the Near East) – including Egypt
- The 'stans
- Middle East and North Africa (AKA MENA) – including North African countries
- Indian subcontinent
- Himalayan states – including China
- Eastern Himalaya
- Western Himalaya
- Kashmir
- Himalayan states – including China
- Asia-Pacific (APAC) – including Oceania
- by economics:
- Arab League – including some African countries
- ASEAN Free Trade Area
- Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) – including Russia
- Asian Clearing Union (ACU)
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) – including Oceania
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
- Bamboo network
- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal Initiative (BBIN)
- Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
- Council of Arab Economic Unity (GAFTA) – including some African countries
- EMEA (including Africa and Europe)
- Eurasian Customs Union (ECU) – including Belarus
- Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) – including Belarus
- Greater Mekong Subregion
- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
- South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
- South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)
- South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC)
- Union for the Mediterranean (including most Southern European countries and North African countries)
- by culture:
- Eastern world
- East Asian cultural sphere
- Greater China
- Eastern and western China
- Northern and southern China
- China proper
- Manchuria
- Northern and southern China
- Eastern and western China
- Japan
- Korea
- Nanyang
- Vietnam
- Greater India
- Eastern Afghanistan
- Indian subcontinent
- Himalayan states
- Indian Himalayan Region
- Himalayan states
- Mainland Southeast Asia
- Maritime Southeast Asia
- Tibet
- Yunnan
- Greater China
- Greater Mongolia
- Inner Mongolia
- Mongolia (Outer Mongolia)
- East Asian cultural sphere
- Muslim world (AKA the Islamic world)
- Arab world
- Mashriq
- Arabia
- Al-Bahrain
- Al-Yamama
- Hadhramaut
- Tihamah
- Arabia
- Mashriq
- Malay world
- Greater Indonesia
- Nusantara
- Greater Indonesia
- Turkic world
- Azerbaijan
- Soviet Central Asia (excluding Tajikistan)
- Turkey
- Xinjiang
- Dzungaria (northern half of Xinjiang)
- Southern Xinjiang
- Greater Iran
- Greater Khorasan
- Arab world
- Eastern world
- by religion:
- Abrahamic religions (West Asian religions or Western religions)
- Eastern religions
- Dharmic religions (Indian religions)
- Taoic religions (East Asian religions or Far Eastern religions)
- by biogeography:
- Eastern Asia
- Malesia
- by historical division:
- East Indies (AKA the Indies)
- Farther India (AKA Ultraindia)
- Indochina
- Insulindia
- Farther India (AKA Ultraindia)
- East Indies (AKA the Indies)
- by geology:
- Izu–Bonin–Mariana Arc
- Kuril Island Arc
- Northeastern Japan Arc
- Ryukyu Island Arc
- Sakhalin Island Arc
- by the United Nations Statistics Division's geoscheme (see also: UN geoscheme for Europe):
- Eastern Europe – the UN geoscheme includes parts of Central Europe (Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia), parts of South-eastern Europe (Bulgaria and Romania), and Northern Asia (Siberia) in this subregion
- Northern Europe – the UN geoscheme includes the Baltic states, the British Isles, and the Channel Islands in this subregion
- Southern Europe – the UN geoscheme includes Slovenia in this subregion
- Western Europe – the UN geoscheme includes parts of Central Europe (the DACH countries and Liechtenstein) in this subregion
- by geography:
- Central and Eastern Europe
- Northern Europe
- North-central Europe
- North-eastern Europe
- North-western Europe
- Southern Europe
- South-central Europe
- Apennine Peninsula (aka the Italian Peninsula)
- Malta
- South-eastern Europe
- Balkan Peninsula (aka the Balkans)
- Romania
- South-western Europe
- Balearic Islands
- Iberian Peninsula (aka Iberia)
- Southern France
- South-central Europe
- Western Europe
- by physiography:
- Apennine Peninsula (aka the Italian Peninsula)
- Balkan Peninsula
- British Isles
- Great Britain
- Hebrides
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Isle of Wight
- Caucasus Mountains
- Greater Caucasus
- Lesser Caucasus – A part of West Asia
- Channel Islands
- Guernsey
- Jersey
- Eurasian Steppe
- Fennoscandian Peninsula
- Kola Peninsula
- Scandinavian Peninsula
- Great European Plain
- East European Plain
- Iberian Peninsula
- Mediterranean Basin
- by geopolitics:
- East-Central Europe
- Eastern Europe
- West-Central Europe (in German)
- Western Europe
- European Union (EU)
- NATO
- North Sea Commission (NSC)
- by economics:
- Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)
- Commonwealth of Independent States Free Trade Area (CISFTA) – including Armenia and most Central Asian countries
- Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – including Canada
- EMEA (including Africa and the Middle East)
- Eurasian Customs Union (EACU) – including Armenia and Kyrgyzstan
- Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) – including Armenia and Kyrgyzstan
- European Economic Area (EEA) – including Cyprus
- European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
- European Single Market (including Cyprus)
- European Union Customs Union (EUCU) – including Cyprus and Turkey
- European Union–Turkey Customs Union (including Cyprus and Turkey)
- Eurozone (including Cyprus)
- North Sea Region (NSR)
- Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) – including some West Asian countries and most North African countries
- Union State
- by culture:
- Balkans
- Eastern Balkans
- Western Balkans
- Baltic states
- Benelux
- Mediterranean Region
- Nordic countries and Karelia
- North Sea Region
- Sápmi, since 1809 divided between Finland and Sweden
- Scandinavia
- Visegrád Group
- Balkans
- by language:
- Celtic-speaking Europe
- Germanic-speaking Europe
- DACH countries
- Romance-speaking Europe (aka Latin Europe)
- Slavic-speaking Europe
- by religion:
- Eastern religions
- Indian religions
- Buddhism in Europe (Kalmykia)
- Indian religions
- Western religions (Abrahamic religions or West Asian religions)
- Christianity in Europe
- Catholicism in Europe
- Eastern Orthodoxy in Europe
- Protestantism in Europe
- Islam in Europe
- Christianity in Europe
- Eastern religions
- by biogeography:
- by historical division:
- Celtic tribes
- East–West Schism
- Catholic Church
- Eastern Orthodox Church
- Germanic tribes
- Greco-Roman world
- Hellenistic world
- Roman Empire
- Eastern Roman Empire
- Western Roman Empire
- Iranian tribes
- Iron Curtain
- Eastern Bloc
- Western Bloc
- Reformation (Protestantism)
- Slavic tribes
- Turkic tribes
- by geology:
- Alpine orogeny
- East European craton
- Baltic Shield
- Ukrainian Shield
The Americas is a continental landmass comprising the continents of North America and South America.
- by the United Nations Statistics Division's geoscheme (see also: UN geoscheme for the Americas):
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- Caribbean – the UN includes the Lucayan Archipelago in this subregion
- Central America – the UN geoscheme includes Mexico in this subregion
- South America
- Northern America
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- by culture:
- Anglo-America
- Latin America
- French America
- Ibero-America
- Hispanic America
- Portuguese America
- by economics:
- Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)
- by geography:
- Middle America
- Caribbean (Insular America)
- Aves Island
- West Indies
- Antilles
- Greater Antilles
- Hispaniola
- Lesser Antilles
- Leeward Islands
- Saint Martin island
- SSS islands
- Virgin Islands
- British Virgin Islands
- Spanish Virgin Islands
- United States Virgin Islands
- Leeward Antilles
- ABC islands
- Windward Islands
- Leeward Islands
- Greater Antilles
- Lucayan Archipelago
- Antilles
- Central America
- San Andrés and Providencia
- Bajo Nuevo Bank
- Serranilla Bank
- San Andrés and Providencia
- Mexico
- Caribbean (Insular America)
- Northern America
- Bermuda
- Canada
- Eastern Canada
- Atlantic Canada
- The Maritimes
- Central Canada
- Atlantic Canada
- Northern Canada
- Canadian Arctic Archipelago
- Western Canada
- Canadian Prairies
- West Coast
- Eastern Canada
- Greenland
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- United States (excluding Hawaii)
- Alaska
- Contiguous United States
- Central United States
- Middle America (United States)
- Midwestern United States
- Eastern United States
- Northeastern United States
- Southeastern United States
- Northern United States
- Great Lakes region (including Ontario, Canada)
- Southern United States
- Western United States (including Alaska and Hawaii)
- Northwestern United States
- Southwestern United States (some geographers include the Oklahoma Panhandle and West Texas in this subregion)
- Central United States
- Middle America
- by physiography:
- Atlantic coastal plain
- Atlantic Seaboard Fall Line
- East Coast of the United States
- Great Basin
- Great Basin Desert
- Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Basin
- Great Plains
- Gulf Coast of the United States
- Piedmont
- West Coast of the United States
- by geopolitics:
- Dutch Caribbean
- Caribbean Netherlands (AKA the BES islands)
- Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
- Red states and blue states
- Western Caribbean zone
- Dutch Caribbean
- by economics:
- Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
- Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)
- Great Lakes Megalopolis
- Mesoamerican region
- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
- Northeast megalopolis
- Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
- Petrocaribe
- by culture:
- Heartland (United States)
- Mesoamerica
- Oasisamerica
- by biogeography:
- Aridoamerica
- by geology:
- Canadian Shield
- North American craton
- Slave craton
- Superior craton
- Wyoming craton
- by geography:
- Eastern South America: Federative Republic of Brazil
- Northern South America – the part of South America located in the Northern Hemisphere
- North-eastern South America: The Guianas
- North-western South America: Caribbean South America
- Southern South America: Southern Cone
- Western South America: Andean States
- by physiography:
- Altiplano
- Amazon basin
- Amazon rainforest
- Andes
- Brazilian Highlands
- Gran Chaco
- Pampa
- Pantanal
- Patagonia
- by economics:
- Andean Community
- Mercosur
- Union of South American Nations
- by geology:
- Guiana Shield
- by the United Nations Statistics Division's geoscheme:
- by geography:
- Antarctic and Subantarctic islands
- Bouvet Island (some geographers consider it as a part of South America)
- French Southern Territories (excluding Adélie Land and the Scattered Islands)
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands (some geographers consider them as part of Oceania)
- Macquarie Island (some geographers consider it as a part of Oceania)
- New Zealand Subantarctic Islands (some geographers consider them as part of Oceania)
- Antipodes Islands
- Auckland Islands
- Bounty Islands
- Campbell Islands
- Snares Islands
- Peter I Island
- Prince Edward Islands (some geographers consider them as part of Africa)
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (some geographers consider them as part of South America)
- South Orkney Islands
- South Shetland Islands
- Mainland Antarctica
- East Antarctica
- Transantarctic Mountains
- West Antarctica
- Antarctic Peninsula
- Antarctic and Subantarctic islands
- by the United Nations Statistics Division's geoscheme (see also: UN geoscheme for Oceania):
- Australia and New Zealand – the UN geoscheme includes the Cato, Elizabeth, and Middleton reefs, the Lord Howe Island Group, and Norfolk Island in this subregion
- Melanesia – the UN geoscheme includes New Caledonia and New Guinea in this subregion
- Micronesia
- Polynesia – the UN excludes New Zealand from this subregion
- by geography:
- Australasia
- Australia–New Guinea
- Australia (excluding the Australian Indian Ocean Territories, Heard Island and McDonald Islands and Norfolk Island)
- Ashmore and Cartier Islands
- Coral Sea Islands Territory (excluding the Cato, Elizabeth, and Middleton reefs)
- Mainland Australia
- Australian Capital Territory
- Jervis Bay Territory
- New South Wales (excluding the Lord Howe Island Group)
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- Western Australia
- Tasmania (excluding Macquarie Island)
- New Guinea (some geographers consider it as a part of Melanesia)
- Papua New Guinea (excluding the New Guinea Islands Region)
- Western New Guinea
- Papua
- West Papua
- Australia (excluding the Australian Indian Ocean Territories, Heard Island and McDonald Islands and Norfolk Island)
- Australian Indian Ocean Territories
- Christmas Island
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands
- Heard Island
- McDonald Islands
- Macquarie Island
- Zealandia
- Cato Reef
- Elizabeth Reef
- Lord Howe Island Group
- Middleton Reef
- New Caledonia (also a part of Melanesia)
- New Zealand (some geographers consider it as a part of Polynesia)
- New Zealand outlying islands (excluding the Kermadec Islands)
- Chatham Islands
- New Zealand Subantarctic Islands
- Antipodes Islands
- Auckland Islands
- Bounty Islands
- Campbell Islands
- Snares Islands
- Solander Islands
- Three Kings Islands
- New Zealand outlying islands (excluding the Kermadec Islands)
- Norfolk Island
- Australia–New Guinea
- Pacific Islands
- Melanesia (some geographers consider it as a part of Australasia)
- Island Melanesia
- Fiji (excluding Rotuma)
- New Caledonia (also a part of Zealandia)
- New Guinea Islands Region (excluding Bougainville)
- Santa Cruz Islands
- Solomon Islands (archipelago)
- Bougainville
- Solomon Islands (excluding the Santa Cruz Islands)
- Vanuatu
- New Guinea (also a part of Australia–New Guinea)
- Island Melanesia
- Micronesia (some geographers include the Bonin Islands and the Volcano Islands in this subregion)
- Mariana Islands
- Guam
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Wake Island
- Mariana Islands
- Polynesia (some geographers include Clipperton Island in this subregion)
- Cook Islands
- Easter Island
- Salas and Gómez Island
- French Polynesia
- Tahiti
- Hawaiian Islands
- Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
- Midway Atoll
- Southeastern Hawaiian Islands
- Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
- Howland and Baker Islands
- Baker Island
- Howland Island
- Kermadec Islands
- Niue
- Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
- Rotuma
- Samoan Islands
- American Samoa (excluding Swains Island)
- Samoa
- Tokelau Islands
- Swains Island
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Wallis and Futuna
- Alo
- Sigave
- Uvea
- Melanesia (some geographers consider it as a part of Australasia)
- Australasia
- by human geography:
- Near Oceania
- Remote Oceania
- by economics:
- Pacific Community
- Pacific Islands Forum
- Pacific Regional Environment Programme
- by biogeography:
- Papuasia
- East Melanesian Islands
- Papuasia
- by geology (see also: Geology of Australia):
- Archaean
- Australian Shield
- Centralian Superbasin
- Gawler Craton
- Ore genesis
- Perth Basin
- Pilbara Craton
- Western Plateau
- Yilgarn Craton
See also
- Autonomous administrative division
- Continent
- Continental fragment
- European Committee of the Regions
- Euroregion
- List of continents and continental subregions by population
- List of Latin names of regions
- Military district
- Polar regions of Earth
- Region
- Regional district
- Regional municipality
- Subcontinent
- Submerged continent
- Supercontinent
- United Nations geoscheme
References
- United Nations Statistics Division - About Us
- United Nations Statistics Division - Standard Country and Area Codes Classifications
- Standard country or area codes and geographical regions for statistical use
- These three subregions together form the continent of North America.
External links
- UN Statistics Division – Standard country or area codes for statistical use (M49)
A subregion is a part of a larger geographical region or continent Cardinal directions are commonly used to define subregions There are many criteria for creating systems of subregions this article is focusing on the United Nations geoscheme which is a changing constantly updated UN tool based on specific political geography and demography considerations relevant in UN statistics The United Nations geoscheme created by the United Nations Statistics Division For statistical consistency and convenience each country or area is shown in one continental subregion only For example Russia a transcontinental country in both Eastern Europe and Northern Asia has been included in Eastern Europe only United Nations subregionsThe Statistics Division of the United Nations UN is in charge of the collection processing and dissemination of statistical information for the UN In 1999 it developed a system of macro geographical continental regions subregions and other selected economic groups to report advances towards achieving numerous millennial development goals worldwide These statistical divisions were devised for statistical purposes and is used for carrying out statistical analysis The division s first publication was the book World s Women 2000 Trends and Statistics in 2000 According to the UN the assignment of countries or areas to specific groupings is for statistical convenience and does not imply any assumption regarding political or other affiliation of countries or territories Subregions by continentThe following is a non exhaustive list of subregions arranged alphabetically by region i e by continent in the UN geoscheme higher level macro geographical regions are arranged to the extent possible according to continents Sequence used in the list not all criteria are applied to each continent by the UN Statistics Division s geoscheme by geography by physiography by geopolitics by human geography by economics by culture by language by religion by biogeography by historical division by geologyAfro Eurasia Afro Eurasia is a continental landmass comprising the continents of Africa Asia and Europe Africa by the United Nations Statistics Division s geoscheme see also UN geoscheme for Africa Northern Africa Sub Saharan Africa Eastern Africa Middle Africa Southern Africa Western Africaby geography North Africa Also known as Saharan Africa Maghreb AKA Northwest Africa also including Mauritania which most geographers consider as a part of West Africa some geographers consider Libya as a part of Northeast Africa and Western Sahara as a part of West Africa Northeast Africa including Egypt the Horn of Africa and the Sudans some geographers consider Egypt Libya and the Sudan as Northeast Africa instead Sub Saharan Africa AKA Tropical Africa Central Africa AKA Congo Equatorial Africa or Middle Africa East Africa AKA Nile Northeast Africa including Egypt the Horn of Africa and the Sudans some geographers consider Egypt Libya and the Sudan as Northeast Africa instead Horn of Africa Southeast Africa also including Botswana Eswatini and Lesotho which most geographers consider as part of Southern Africa Southern Africa AKA Kalahari West Africa AKA Niger Guinea region Sudan region by physiography Congo Basin Kalahari Basin Kalahari Desert Namib Nile Basin Sahara Sahel Sudanian savanna East Sudanian savanna Sudd West Sudanian savannaby economics African Monetary Union AMU Arab League including some West Asian countries Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa COMESA Common Monetary Area CMA Community of Sahel Saharan States CEN SAD Council of Arab Economic Unity GAFTA including some West Asian countries Economic Community of Central African States ECCAS Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS EMEA including Europe and the Middle East Southern African Customs Union SACU Southern African Development Community SADC Union for the Mediterranean including most Southern European countries and some West Asian countries by biogeography Macaronesiaby historical division Negrolandby geology Kaapvaal Craton Zimbabwe CratonEurasia Eurasia is a continental mainland comprising the continents of Asia and Europe Asia by the United Nations Statistics Division s geoscheme see also UN geoscheme for Asia Central Asia Eastern Asia South eastern Asia Southern Asia the UN geoscheme includes Afghanistan and Iran in this subregion Western Asia the UN geoscheme includes Cyprus the South Caucasus Armenia Azerbaijan and Georgia and Turkey in this subregionby geography Central Asia East Asia Greater China China Hong Kong some geographers consider it as a part of Northeast Asia Macau some geographers consider it as a part of Northeast Asia Mainland China some geographers consider it as a part of Northeast Asia North China Eastern Inner Mongolia is also a part of Northeast China Northeast China AKA Manchuria also a part of Northeast Asia Southeast China excluding Central China East China some geographers include Taiwan Island Penghu Kinmen the Matsu Islands Socotra Rock Parangcho and the Senkaku Islands in this subregion South Central China Central China South China including Hainan Island and the South China Sea Islands some geographers also include Hong Kong and Macau in this subregion Western China Northwest China some geographers consider Qinghai and Xinjiang as part of Central Asia Southwest China some geographers consider Tibet as a part of Central Asia South China Sea Islands some geographers consider them as part of Northeast Asia Paracel Islands Pratas Island Spratly Islands James Shoal undersea feature Taiping Island Zhongzhou Reef Zhongsha Islands Macclesfield Bank Walker Shoal Scarborough Shoal Taiwan some geographers consider it as a part of Northeast Asia Mongolia some geographers consider it as a part of Central Asia or Northeast Asia Northeast Asia China Eastern Inner Mongolia Northeast China AKA Manchuria Japan Daitō Islands Mainland Japan Hokkaido Honshu Kyushu Shikoku Nanpō Islands Ryukyu Islands Korea North Korea South Korea Russian Far East also a part of North Asia but not a part of East Asia Outer Manchuria North Asia AKA Siberia Russian Far East also a part of Northeast Asia Outer Manchuria South Asia Eastern South Asia Northern South Asia Northwestern South Asia Northwestern Indian subcontinent Southern South Asia India Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lakshadweep Mainland India Central India East India Northeast India North India Northwest India South India AKA Peninsular India including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Western India Southeast Asia Mainland Southeast Asia Malay Peninsula Peninsular Malaysia Southern Thailand Tanintharyi Region Maritime Southeast Asia Borneo including Labuan Brunei East Malaysia Labuan Sabah Sarawak Kalimantan West Asia AKA Southwest Asia Anatolia AKA Asia Minor Arabia Eastern Arabia Hejaz AKA Western Arabia Najd AKA Central Arabia South Arabia Levant Southern Levant Mesopotamia South Caucasus AKA Transcaucasia by physiography Anatolian Peninsula Arabian Peninsula Central Plateau Indian Ocean Coast Persian Gulf Coast Red Sea Coast Bahrain Island Caucasus Mountains Greater Caucasus Lesser Caucasus Daitō Islands Eurasian Steppe Fertile Crescent Mesopotamia Hainan Island Himalayas Eastern Himalaya Western Himalaya Siachen Glacier Indian subcontinent Deccan Plateau Indochinese Peninsula Indo Gangetic Plain Indus Valley Iranian Plateau Japanese Archipelago Hokkaido Honshu Kuril Islands Kyushu Ryukyu Islands Okinawa Island Sakhalin Island Shikoku Jeju Island Junggar Basin Kolyma Korean Peninsula Leizhou Peninsula Liaodong Peninsula Malay Archipelago including New Guinea Indonesian Archipelago Maluku Islands Sunda Islands Greater Sunda Islands Borneo Java Sulawesi Sumatra Lesser Sunda Islands Alor Archipelago Bali Barat Daya Islands Flores Komodo Lombok Sumba Sumbawa Tanimbar Islands Timor Philippine Archipelago Luzon Mindanao Visayan Islands Mongolian Plateau Nanpō Islands Bonin Islands Volcano Islands Qinghai Lake Shandong Peninsula Sichuan Basin Sri Lanka Island Taiwan Island Tarim Basinby geopolitics Asia Pacific APAC including Oceania Far East Pacific Asia Greater China China proper Inner Mongolia Manchuria Tibet Xinjiang Indochinese Peninsula Japanese Archipelago Korean Peninsula Malay Archipelago Russian Far East Greater Middle East including some African countries Middle East and North Africa AKA MENA including North African countries Middle East AKA the Near East including Egypt Arab League AKA the Arab states including some African countries Mashriq including Egypt and the Sudan Arabian Peninsula Levant including Ash Sham and Cyprus Mesopotamia modern day Iraq Asia Minor South Caucasus AKA Transcaucasia The stans Indian subcontinent Himalayan states including China Eastern Himalaya Western Himalaya Kashmirby economics Arab League including some African countries ASEAN Free Trade Area Asia Cooperation Dialogue ACD including Russia Asian Clearing Union ACU Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC including Oceania Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN Bamboo network Bangladesh Bhutan India Nepal Initiative BBIN Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation BIMSTEC Council of Arab Economic Unity GAFTA including some African countries EMEA including Africa and Europe Eurasian Customs Union ECU including Belarus Eurasian Economic Union EEU including Belarus Greater Mekong Subregion Gulf Cooperation Council GCC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAARC South Asian Free Trade Area SAFTA South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation SASEC Union for the Mediterranean including most Southern European countries and North African countries by culture Eastern world East Asian cultural sphere Greater China Eastern and western China Northern and southern China China proper Manchuria Japan Korea Nanyang Vietnam Greater India Eastern Afghanistan Indian subcontinent Himalayan states Indian Himalayan Region Mainland Southeast Asia Maritime Southeast Asia Tibet Yunnan Greater Mongolia Inner Mongolia Mongolia Outer Mongolia Muslim world AKA the Islamic world Arab world Mashriq Arabia Al Bahrain Al Yamama Hadhramaut Tihamah Malay world Greater Indonesia Nusantara Turkic world Azerbaijan Soviet Central Asia excluding Tajikistan Turkey Xinjiang Dzungaria northern half of Xinjiang Southern Xinjiang Greater Iran Greater Khorasanby religion Abrahamic religions West Asian religions or Western religions Eastern religions Dharmic religions Indian religions Taoic religions East Asian religions or Far Eastern religions by biogeography Eastern Asia Malesiaby historical division East Indies AKA the Indies Farther India AKA Ultraindia Indochina Insulindiaby geology Izu Bonin Mariana Arc Kuril Island Arc Northeastern Japan Arc Ryukyu Island Arc Sakhalin Island ArcEurope by the United Nations Statistics Division s geoscheme see also UN geoscheme for Europe Eastern Europe the UN geoscheme includes parts of Central Europe Czechia Hungary Poland and Slovakia parts of South eastern Europe Bulgaria and Romania and Northern Asia Siberia in this subregion Northern Europe the UN geoscheme includes the Baltic states the British Isles and the Channel Islands in this subregion Southern Europe the UN geoscheme includes Slovenia in this subregion Western Europe the UN geoscheme includes parts of Central Europe the DACH countries and Liechtenstein in this subregionby geography Central and Eastern Europe Central Europe Eastern Europe Caucasus North Caucasus aka Ciscaucasia South Caucasus aka Transcaucasia a subregion of West Asia Northern Europe North central Europe Scandinavia North eastern Europe North western Europe Southern Europe South central Europe Apennine Peninsula aka the Italian Peninsula Malta South eastern Europe Balkan Peninsula aka the Balkans Romania South western Europe Balearic Islands Iberian Peninsula aka Iberia Southern France Western Europeby physiography Apennine Peninsula aka the Italian Peninsula Balkan Peninsula British Isles Great Britain Hebrides Ireland Isle of Man Isle of Wight Caucasus Mountains Greater Caucasus Lesser Caucasus A part of West Asia Channel Islands Guernsey Jersey Eurasian Steppe Fennoscandian Peninsula Kola Peninsula Scandinavian Peninsula Great European Plain East European Plain Iberian Peninsula Mediterranean Basinby geopolitics East Central Europe Eastern Europe Post Soviet states Baltic states Commonwealth of Independent States Union State North Caucasus Georgia Ukraine West Central Europe in German Western Europe European Union EU NATO North Sea Commission NSC by economics Central European Free Trade Agreement CEFTA Commonwealth of Independent States Free Trade Area CISFTA including Armenia and most Central Asian countries Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement CETA including Canada EMEA including Africa and the Middle East Eurasian Customs Union EACU including Armenia and Kyrgyzstan Eurasian Economic Union EAEU including Armenia and Kyrgyzstan European Economic Area EEA including Cyprus European Free Trade Association EFTA European Single Market including Cyprus European Union Customs Union EUCU including Cyprus and Turkey European Union Turkey Customs Union including Cyprus and Turkey Eurozone including Cyprus North Sea Region NSR Union for the Mediterranean UfM including some West Asian countries and most North African countries Union Stateby culture Balkans Eastern Balkans Western Balkans Baltic states Benelux Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg Mediterranean Region Nordic countries and Karelia North Sea Region Sapmi since 1809 divided between Finland and Sweden Scandinavia Visegrad Groupby language Celtic speaking Europe Germanic speaking Europe DACH countries Germany Deutschland Austria Switzerland Confoederatio Helvetica Romance speaking Europe aka Latin Europe Slavic speaking Europeby religion Eastern religions Indian religions Buddhism in Europe Kalmykia Western religions Abrahamic religions or West Asian religions Christianity in Europe Catholicism in Europe Eastern Orthodoxy in Europe Protestantism in Europe Islam in Europeby biogeography Mediterranean Regionby historical division Celtic tribes East West Schism Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Germanic tribes Greco Roman world Hellenistic world Roman Empire Eastern Roman Empire Western Roman Empire Iranian tribes Iron Curtain Eastern Bloc Western Bloc Reformation Protestantism Slavic tribes Turkic tribesby geology Alpine orogeny East European craton Baltic Shield Ukrainian ShieldAmericas The Americas is a continental landmass comprising the continents of North America and South America by the United Nations Statistics Division s geoscheme see also UN geoscheme for the Americas Latin America and the Caribbean Caribbean the UN includes the Lucayan Archipelago in this subregion Central America the UN geoscheme includes Mexico in this subregion South America Northern Americaby culture Anglo America Latin America French America Ibero America Hispanic America Portuguese Americaby economics Community of Latin American and Caribbean States CELAC North America by geography Middle America Caribbean Insular America Aves Island West Indies Antilles Greater Antilles Hispaniola Lesser Antilles Leeward Islands Saint Martin island SSS islands Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands Spanish Virgin Islands United States Virgin Islands Leeward Antilles ABC islands Windward Islands Lucayan Archipelago Central America San Andres and Providencia Bajo Nuevo Bank Serranilla Bank Mexico Northern America Bermuda Canada Eastern Canada Atlantic Canada The Maritimes Central Canada Northern Canada Canadian Arctic Archipelago Western Canada Canadian Prairies West Coast Greenland Saint Pierre and Miquelon United States excluding Hawaii Alaska Contiguous United States Central United States Middle America United States Midwestern United States Eastern United States Northeastern United States Southeastern United States Northern United States Great Lakes region including Ontario Canada Southern United States South Central United States Western United States including Alaska and Hawaii Northwestern United States Southwestern United States some geographers include the Oklahoma Panhandle and West Texas in this subregion by physiography Atlantic coastal plain Atlantic Seaboard Fall Line East Coast of the United States Great Basin Great Basin Desert Great Lakes Great Lakes Basin Great Plains Gulf Coast of the United States Piedmont West Coast of the United Statesby geopolitics Dutch Caribbean Caribbean Netherlands AKA the BES islands Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Red states and blue states Western Caribbean zoneby economics Caribbean Community CARICOM Central America Free Trade Agreement CAFTA Great Lakes Megalopolis Mesoamerican region North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA Northeast megalopolis Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Petrocaribeby culture Heartland United States Mesoamerica Oasisamericaby biogeography Aridoamericaby geology Canadian Shield North American craton Slave craton Superior craton Wyoming cratonSouth America by geography Eastern South America Federative Republic of Brazil Northern South America the part of South America located in the Northern Hemisphere North eastern South America The Guianas North western South America Caribbean South America Southern South America Southern Cone Western South America Andean Statesby physiography Altiplano Amazon basin Amazon rainforest Andes Brazilian Highlands Gran Chaco Pampa Pantanal Patagoniaby economics Andean Community Mercosur Union of South American Nationsby geology Guiana ShieldAntarctica by the United Nations Statistics Division s geoscheme Antarcticaby geography Antarctic and Subantarctic islands Bouvet Island some geographers consider it as a part of South America French Southern Territories excluding Adelie Land and the Scattered Islands Crozet Islands some geographers consider them as part of Africa Kerguelen Islands some geographers consider them as part of Africa Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands some geographers consider them as part of Africa Heard Island and McDonald Islands some geographers consider them as part of Oceania Macquarie Island some geographers consider it as a part of Oceania New Zealand Subantarctic Islands some geographers consider them as part of Oceania Antipodes Islands Auckland Islands Bounty Islands Campbell Islands Snares Islands Peter I Island Prince Edward Islands some geographers consider them as part of Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands some geographers consider them as part of South America South Orkney Islands South Shetland Islands Mainland Antarctica East Antarctica Transantarctic Mountains West Antarctica Antarctic PeninsulaOceania by the United Nations Statistics Division s geoscheme see also UN geoscheme for Oceania Australia and New Zealand the UN geoscheme includes the Cato Elizabeth and Middleton reefs the Lord Howe Island Group and Norfolk Island in this subregion Melanesia the UN geoscheme includes New Caledonia and New Guinea in this subregion Micronesia Polynesia the UN excludes New Zealand from this subregionby geography Australasia Australia New Guinea Australia excluding the Australian Indian Ocean Territories Heard Island and McDonald Islands and Norfolk Island Ashmore and Cartier Islands Coral Sea Islands Territory excluding the Cato Elizabeth and Middleton reefs Mainland Australia Australian Capital Territory Jervis Bay Territory New South Wales excluding the Lord Howe Island Group Northern Territory Queensland South Australia Victoria Western Australia Tasmania excluding Macquarie Island New Guinea some geographers consider it as a part of Melanesia Papua New Guinea excluding the New Guinea Islands Region Western New Guinea Papua West Papua Australian Indian Ocean Territories Christmas Island Cocos Keeling Islands Heard Island and McDonald Islands Heard Island McDonald Islands Macquarie Island Zealandia Cato Reef Elizabeth Reef Lord Howe Island Group Middleton Reef New Caledonia also a part of Melanesia New Zealand some geographers consider it as a part of Polynesia New Zealand outlying islands excluding the Kermadec Islands Chatham Islands New Zealand Subantarctic Islands Antipodes Islands Auckland Islands Bounty Islands Campbell Islands Snares Islands Solander Islands Three Kings Islands Norfolk Island Pacific Islands Melanesia some geographers consider it as a part of Australasia Island Melanesia Fiji excluding Rotuma New Caledonia also a part of Zealandia New Guinea Islands Region excluding Bougainville Santa Cruz Islands Solomon Islands archipelago Bougainville Solomon Islands excluding the Santa Cruz Islands Vanuatu New Guinea also a part of Australia New Guinea Micronesia some geographers include the Bonin Islands and the Volcano Islands in this subregion Mariana Islands Guam Northern Mariana Islands Wake Island Polynesia some geographers include Clipperton Island in this subregion Cook Islands Easter Island Salas and Gomez Island French Polynesia Tahiti Hawaiian Islands Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Midway Atoll Southeastern Hawaiian Islands Howland and Baker Islands Baker Island Howland Island Kermadec Islands Niue Pitcairn Henderson Ducie and Oeno Islands Rotuma Samoan Islands American Samoa excluding Swains Island Samoa Tokelau Islands Swains Island Tokelau Tonga Tuvalu Wallis and Futuna Alo Sigave Uveaby human geography Near Oceania Remote Oceaniaby economics Pacific Community Pacific Islands Forum Pacific Regional Environment Programmeby biogeography Papuasia East Melanesian Islandsby geology see also Geology of Australia Archaean Australian Shield Centralian Superbasin Gawler Craton Ore genesis Perth Basin Pilbara Craton Western Plateau Yilgarn CratonSee alsoAutonomous administrative division Continent Continental fragment European Committee of the Regions Euroregion List of continents and continental subregions by population List of Latin names of regions Military district Polar regions of Earth Region Regional district Regional municipality Subcontinent Submerged continent Supercontinent United Nations geoschemeReferencesUnited Nations Statistics Division About Us United Nations Statistics Division Standard Country and Area Codes Classifications Standard country or area codes and geographical regions for statistical use These three subregions together form the continent of North America External linksUN Statistics Division Standard country or area codes for statistical use M49