Europe Overview
Europe is a continent that comprises the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia. It’s usually divided from Asia by the watershed divides of the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, the Caucasus and Ural Mountains and waterways that connect the Black and Aegean Seas together. The continent’s estimated 2016 population is over 738 million.
Europe is the second-smallest continent by surface area and covers 10.18 million square kilometers (3.93 million square miles), or 2% of the Earth’s surface and 6.8% of the world’s land area. There are approximately 50 countries in Europe. The largest by size is Russia with 40% of the continent, and Vatican City is the smallest.
Europe is the third most populous continent behind Asia and Africa. Its population in 2016 is estimated at 738 million, which accounts for 11% of the world’s population. The continent is currently growing at a rate of 0.3%. Europe has been in a decline for some time and its population is aging rapidly in most countries.
Most Populous Countries in Europe
By far the most populous country in Europe is Russia, which is actually located in both Europe and Asia. Russia’s population of 143 million is almost equal to the combined populations of the 2nd and 3rd most populous countries on the continent.
Russia is a very interesting situation, as its population is very hard to determine with Russian and CIA estimates varying by 3 million. The country is also very representative of all of Europe with a rapidly declining population growth and an aging population.
Least Populous Countries in Europe
The least populous country in Europe is Vatican City with just over 800 residents. It’s also the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world, both in area and population. Vatican City is a landlocked city-state with a territory consisting of a walled enclave within Rome, Italy. Vatican City is ruled by the Pope and it’s the sovereign territory of the Holy See.