The seven continents compared
How large is Asia compared with Africa? Which continent is the most sparsely populated? And which summit stands tallest? Click a column heading to sort the table and see how the seven continents relate to one another.
Sortable comparison table
Click a column heading to sort. Click again to reverse the order. All figures: as of 2025 (UN WPP 2024, CIA World Factbook, Worldometer 2025).
| Continent | Population 2025 | Area (km²) | Density (pop/km²) | Countries | Highest point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia | 4,840,000,000 | 44,580,000 | 109 | 48 | Mount Everest 8,849 m |
| Africa | 1,550,000,000 | 30,370,000 | 51 | 54 | Kilimanjaro 5,895 m |
| Europe | 744,000,000 | 10,180,000 | 73 | 44 | Elbrus 5,642 m |
| North America | 617,000,000 | 24,710,000 | 25 | 23 | Denali 6,190 m |
| South America | 438,000,000 | 17,840,000 | 25 | 12 | Aconcagua 6,961 m |
| Oceania | 47,000,000 | 8,510,000 | 6 | 14 | Puncak Jaya 4,884 m |
| Antarctica | ~0 | 14,200,000 | 0 | 0 | Vinson Massif 4,892 m |
Population density calculated as population ÷ area (rounded to whole numbers). Source: UN WPP 2024, CIA World Factbook.
Population distribution by continent
Asia sets the scale for everything else: its population of 4.84 billion puts every other continent in perspective.
Bar width proportional to Asia (= 100%). Source: UN WPP 2024.
What the figures tell us
Asia dominates every population ranking: nearly six in ten people on Earth live there. With a population density of around 109 people per square kilometre it is also one of the most densely populated continents — though that varies enormously, from the virtually empty Mongolian steppes to the overcrowded river deltas of Bangladesh. The most populous countries in the world are therefore almost all in Asia.
Europe is relatively small — just 10.2 million km² — yet at 73 people per km² it is considerably more densely populated than North or South America, both of which come in at around 25. The Elbrus in the Caucasus, at 5,642 m, is Europe's highest peak, though not all atlases agree: those that place the Ural Mountains as the boundary put Elbrus on the Asian side.
Extremes and surprises
Antarctica is the strangest entry in the comparison: fifth in area (14.2 million km²), yet with virtually no permanent residents and no countries whatsoever. The Antarctic Treaty (1959) prohibits territorial claims and military activity. In summer up to about 5,000 researchers stay there; in winter only around 1,000 — all in temporary research stations.
Oceania surprises from the other direction: 14 countries spread across just 47 million people, scattered over an ocean area larger than all of Africa. Its low density of 6 people per km² reflects the dominance of desert and dry interior in Australia. See also how the largest countries by area compare, or read about the time zones that span the continents.
Sources
- UN — World Population Prospects 2024 (population figures per continent)
- Worldometer 2025 — current estimates
- CIA World Factbook — area data and country counts