There are generally seven continents recognized by most English-speaking countries and many others worldwide. These seven continents, ordered from largest to smallest by area, are:
- Asia
- Africa
- North America
- South America
- Antarctica
- Europe
- Australia (sometimes referred to as Oceania when including nearby islands)
However, the exact number of continents can vary depending on the model or cultural perspective:
- Some models combine Europe and Asia into Eurasia, resulting in six continents.
- Others merge North and South America into a single America, also resulting in six continents.
- There are even models with as few as four continents based on large continuous landmasses separated by water: Afro-Eurasia, America, Antarctica, and Australia
In summary, the most commonly taught and used model worldwide is the seven- continent model, but alternative models with fewer continents also exist based on different criteria.
