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Last edited September 21, 2026
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North America
AreaAround 24.71 million km2
PopulationAround 528 million
DemonymNorth American
Countries23

North America is a continent in the Northern and Western Hemispheres of Earth. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Central America and the Caribbean are commonly included as parts of North America.

North America is the third-largest continent by area and has a population of more than 500 million people. It includes Canada, United States, Mexico, the countries of Central America, and the Caribbean island countries.

Geography

North America has a wide range of landscapes, including mountains, forests, deserts, plains and tropical islands. Major mountain systems include the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains. Important rivers include the Mississippi River and Missouri River.[1]

The continent is connected to South America by the Isthmus of Panama. During past ice ages, Beringia connected North America with Asia.[2]

Countries

North America contains 23 sovereign countries. These include Canada, United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Antigua and Barbuda.

Related pages

Reference

  1. ↑ "Central America | Countries, History, Geography, Language, Culture, & Maps | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2026-09-18. Retrieved 2026-09-21.
  2. ↑ "North America | Countries, Regions, Map, Geography, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2026-09-20. Retrieved 2026-09-21.