Transcontinental Countries 2025
Country | Transcontinental - Contiguous↑ | Transcontinental - Non-Contiguous | Transcontinental - Debatable | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Russia | |||
 | Egypt | |||
 | Turkey | |||
 | Kazakhstan | |||
 | United States | |||
 | Indonesia | |||
 | Japan | |||
 | United Kingdom | |||
 | Italy | |||
 | Colombia | |||
 | Spain | |||
 | Yemen | |||
 | Venezuela | |||
 | Chile | |||
 | Netherlands | |||
 | Ecuador | |||
 | Portugal | |||
 | Azerbaijan | |||
 | Denmark | |||
 | Panama | |||
 | Georgia | |||
 | Trinidad and Tobago |
- Transcontinental status is determined using the seven continents model, in which the seven continents are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania/Australia, and South America.
- Contiguous transcontinental countries are those whose main land area crosses a continental border. For example, the Russian mainland crosses the border between Europe and Asia.
- Non-contiguous transcontinental countries are those whose main land area lies entirely in one continent, but which have separate territory in another continent as well. For example, Denmark is located in Europe, but its territory Greenland is located in North America.
- Exception: Claims on the Antarctic mainland, which are not recognized by the United Nations, do not make a country transcontinental.
- Debatable transcontinental countries are those which are considered transcontinental by some sources and not by others, typically due to disagreement regarding the precise location of a continental border.
Most countries reside only on one continent, but some countries straddle two continents! The most well-known example is Russia, which spans both Europe and Asia. There are immense cultural differences between the European part of Russia and the Asian part of Russia, but both parts form one that is governed by the city of Moscow.
Another transcontinental country is Turkey, which also straddles both Europe and Asia. The city of Istanbul also straddles both Europe and Asia, with the dividing line being a body of water known as the Bosporus. Because of its presence in Europe, the Turkish government has sought inclusion in the European Union, but these requests have been denied due to political differences. The European part of Turkey is more urban, while the Asian region is more rural.
Kazakhstan is culturally part of Central Asia, but a small piece of its land lies on the west side of the Ural River, forming a boundary with Europe. As such, a small portion of Kazakhstan’s population lives in Europe, though the culture even there remains Central Asian. Azerbaijan, a Central Asian country, has a border that extends somewhat into Europe, so about five percent of its population lives in Europe.
Denmark is a European country, but it has as its territory the largest island in the world: Greenland. Greenland is considered part of North America, making Denmark a transcontinental country.
Some consider Panama to be on two continents, as there are no natural barriers – such as rivers or mountains – that determine precisely where the country’s border with Colombia is. Some consider that Panama exists in both North and South America, rather than only in North America.
The continental home of some of the Caribbean islands is disputed. They are usually considered part of North America, but some are geographically closer to South America and have more South American than North American culture. Trinidad and Tobago are actually on two continental shelves, so part of the islands are in North America, and part is in South America.
Egypt is a country in North Africa, but it also claims the Sinai Peninsula, which is in West Asia. Very few people live in the Sinai Peninsula, as it is so arid and mountainous that surviving there is extremely difficult.
Other countries have territories on a continent other than that on which the home country is located. These are all considered transcontinental countries.
