Which Countries Lie In Both Europe And Asia? List of Transcontinental Countries in the World

Some countries lie on more than one continent. These are called transcontinental countries. A transcontinental country has land that stretches across two or more continents. This can happen due to geography, history, or political borders.

The most common type is when a country spans Europe and Asia. These two continents are connected by land, so some countries naturally fall into both. Other transcontinental countries may lie between Africa and Asia, Asia and Oceania, or North and South America.

There are over a dozen transcontinental countries in the world. Some are large and well-known, like Russia and Turkey. Others are smaller or less obvious, like Kazakhstan or Egypt.

In this article, we'll examine the countries that straddle the border between Europe and Asia. We'll explore how they are divided, why they are considered part of two continents, and what makes them unique.

What Are Transcontinental Countries?

Transcontinental countries, also known as intercontinental or bi-continental states, are sovereign nations that have portions of their territory geographically located on at least two different continents.

These countries can be broadly categorised into two types:

• Contiguous Transcontinental Countries: These countries have a continuous or immediately adjacent landmass that spans a continental boundary. The most common examples are countries that straddle the traditional border between Europe and Asia.
• Examples: Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Egypt (with the Sinai Peninsula being in Asia).
• Non-Contiguous Transcontinental Countries: These countries have their main land area in one continent but also possess separate territories (often islands or overseas territories) located on another continent.
• Examples: France (with overseas regions in South America and the Caribbean), Spain (with territories in Africa like Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands), Denmark (with Greenland in North America), the United States (with Hawaii in Oceania and the Aleutian Islands extending towards Asia), Portugal (with Madeira in Africa and the Azores sometimes considered North American), and Chile (with Easter Island in Oceania).

List of Transcontinental Countries

According to the World Population Review, here's the list of the Transcontinental countries in the world:

How Many Transcontinental Countries Are in the World?

There are several transcontinental countries, including Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Colombia, Venezuela, and others. 

Transcontinental Countries Overview

• Total Number: Over 10 countries are commonly recognised as transcontinental.

Key Examples:

Some of the most commonly recognised transcontinental countries include:

• Russia: Spans Europe and Asia.
• Turkey: Spans Europe and Asia.
• Egypt: Spans Africa and Asia (Sinai Peninsula).
• Kazakhstan: Spans Europe and Asia.
• Azerbaijan: Spans Europe and Asia.
• Georgia: Spans Europe and Asia.
• United States: Spanning North America and, through various territories (such as Hawaii and the Aleutian Islands), can be considered to have ties to Asia and Oceania.
• France: Spans Europe and, through overseas departments and territories, has land in South America, North America, Africa, and Oceania.
• United Kingdom: Spanning Europe and possessing numerous overseas territories worldwide.
• Spain Spans Europe and has territories in Africa (e.g., Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands).
• Portugal Spans Europe and has territories often considered part of Africa (Madeira) and potentially part of North America (Azores).
• Denmark: Spans Europe, with Greenland being geographically part of North America.
• Netherlands: Spans Europe and has islands in the Caribbean (North America).
• Indonesia: Primarily in Asia, but some eastern islands are considered part of Oceania.
• Chile: Primarily in South America, with Easter Island in Oceania.
• Colombia: Primarily in South America, but some islands are considered part of North America.
• Yemen: Primarily in Asia, but the island of Socotra is geographically considered part of Africa.
• Greece: Primarily in Europe, but some islands are very close to or are considered part of Asia Minor.

Continent Connections