Country vs. Continent — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 31, 2023
Country is a nation with its own government and territory; Continent is a large continuous landmass grouped geographically.
Difference Between Country and Continent
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A Country typically refers to a distinct territorial body or political entity recognized as an independent nation. It has its own government, culture, and often, language. For instance, the United States, Canada, and Brazil are examples of countries. On the other hand, a Continent is a vast, continuous expanse of land that houses multiple countries. For example, North America, where countries like the United States and Canada are located, is a continent.
The main distinction between the two lies in their scale and the entities they encompass. A continent is much larger than a country and can contain numerous countries within its geographical boundaries.
Interestingly, some countries are so large they span a significant portion of a continent, such as Russia, which extends across both Europe and Asia. Yet, no matter the size of a country, it remains a subset of the continent or continents it resides on.
Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
A nation with its own government and territory.
A large continuous landmass.
Scale
Smaller; single political entity.
Larger; houses multiple countries.
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Example Entities
USA, Canada, Brazil.
North America, Asia, Europe.
Governance
Has its own governing body.
No specific governance; made up of individual countries.
Associated Concepts
Culture, language, government.
Geography, landmass, region.
Compare with Definitions
Country
A distinct territorial body with political sovereignty.
Japan is an island country.
Continent
Used to suggest a vast quantity.
There's a continent of information to sift through.
Country
The people of a nation or state.
The whole country mourned the loss.
Continent
Distinct from islands.
Australia is both a country and a continent.
Country
The land of a person's birth or citizenship.
She returned to her home country after years abroad.
Continent
One of the world's main continuous expanses of land.
Africa is the second-largest continent.
Country
A country is a distinct territorial body or political entity (i.e. a nation).
Continent
A continuous tract or extent.
A continent of dense forest.
Country
A nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory
The country's increasingly precarious economic position
Spain, Italy, and other European countries
Continent
A continent is one of several large landmasses. Generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, up to seven regions are commonly regarded as continents.
Country
Districts and small settlements outside large urban areas or the capital
A country lane
The airfield is right out in the country
Continent
One of the principal land masses of the earth, usually regarded as including Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
Country
An area or region with regard to its physical features
A tract of wild country
Continent
Continent The mainland of Europe. Used with the.
Country
Short for country music
Continent
Exercising continence.
Country
A nation or state.
Continent
Each of the main continuous land-masses on the earth's surface, now generally regarded as seven in number, including their related islands, continental shelves etc.
Country
The territory of a nation or state; land.
Continent
A large contiguous landmass considered independent of its islands, peninsulas etc. Specifically, the Old World continent of Europe–Asia–Africa. See the Continent.
Country
The people of a nation or state; populace
The whole country will profit from the new economic reforms.
Continent
(obsolete) Land (as opposed to the water).
Country
The land of a person's birth or citizenship
Foreign travel is restricted in his country.
Continent
Exercising self-restraint; controlled, temperate with respect to one's bodily needs or passions, especially sex, urination and/or defecation.
Country
A region, territory, or large tract of land distinguishable by features of topography, biology, or culture
Hill country.
Bible country.
Continent
Not interrupted; connected; continuous.
A continent fever
Country
An area or expanse outside cities and towns; a rural area
A vacation in the country.
Continent
(obsolete) Serving to restrain or limit; restraining; opposing.
Country
The people of a district who are eligible for jury service.
Continent
Serving to restrain or limit; restraining; opposing.
Country
A jury.
Continent
Exercising restraint as to the indulgence of desires or passions; temperate; moderate.
Have a continent forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower.
Country
(Informal) Country music.
Continent
Abstaining from sexual intercourse; exercising restraint upon the sexual appetite; esp., abstaining from illicit sexual intercourse; chaste.
My past life
Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true,
As I am now unhappy.
Country
Of, relating to, or typical of the country
A country road.
Country cooking.
Continent
Not interrupted; connected; continuous; as, a continent fever.
The northeast part of Asia is, if not continent with the west side of America, yet certainly it is the least disoined by sea of all that coast.
Country
Of or relating to country music.
Continent
That which contains anything; a receptacle.
The smaller continent which we call a pipkin.
Country
(chiefly British) An area of land; a district, region.
Continent
One of the grand divisions of land on the globe; the main land; specifically (Phys. Geog.), a large body of land differing from an island, not merely in its size, but in its structure, which is that of a large basin bordered by mountain chains; as, the continent of North America.
Country
A set region of land having particular human occupation or agreed limits, especially inhabited by members of the same race, speakers of the same language etc., or associated with a given person, occupation, species etc.
Continent
One of the large landmasses of the earth;
There are seven continents
Pioneers had to cross the continent on foot
Country
The territory of a nation, especially an independent nation state or formerly independent nation; a political entity asserting ultimate authority over a geographical area; a sovereign state.
Continent
The European mainland;
Englishmen like to visit the Continent but they wouldn't like to live there
Country
A rural area, as opposed to a town or city; the countryside.
Continent
Having control over urination and defecation
Country
Ellipsis of country music
A country song
A country singer
A country festival
Continent
Abstaining from sexual intercourse;
Celibate priests
Country
(mining) The rock through which a vein runs.
Continent
A grouping of countries based on geography.
Europe is a continent rich in history.
Country
From or in the countryside or connected with it.
Country
Of or connected to country music.
Country
Originating in India rather than being imported from Europe or elsewhere.
Country
A tract of land; a region; the territory of an independent nation; (as distinguished from any other region, and with a personal pronoun) the region of one's birth, permanent residence, or citizenship.
Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred.
I might have learned this by my last exile,that change of countries cannot change my state.
Many a famous realmAnd country, whereof here needs no account
Country
Rural regions, as opposed to a city or town.
As they walked, on their way into the country.
God made the covatry, and man made the town.
Only very great men were in the habit of dividing the year between town and country.
Country
The inhabitants or people of a state or a region; the populace; the public. Hence: (a) One's constituents. (b) The whole body of the electors of state; as, to dissolve Parliament and appeal to the country.
All the country in a general voiceCried hate upon him.
Country
A jury, as representing the citizens of a country.
Country
The rock through which a vein runs.
Country
Pertaining to the regions remote from a city; rural; rustic; as, a country life; a country town; the country party, as opposed to city.
Country
Destitute of refinement; rude; unpolished; rustic; not urbane; as, country manners.
Country
Pertaining, or peculiar, to one's own country.
She, bowing herself towards him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, spake in her country language.
Country
The territory occupied by a nation;
He returned to the land of his birth
He visited several European countries
Country
A politically organized body of people under a single government;
The state has elected a new president
African nations
Students who had come to the nation's capitol
The country's largest manufacturer
An industrialized land
Country
The people who live in a nation or country;
A statement that sums up the nation's mood
The news was announced to the nation
The whole country worshipped him
Country
An area outside of cities and towns;
His poetry celebrated the slower pace of life in the country
Country
A particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography);
It was a mountainous area
Bible country
Country
A rural area as opposed to a city.
He lived in the country, away from urban hustle.
Country
A region marked by specific characteristics.
Wine country is known for its beautiful vineyards.
Common Curiosities
Which continent has the most countries?
Africa has the most countries, with 54 recognized nations.
How many countries are there in the world?
As of my last update in 2022, there are 195 countries in the world.
What defines a country's boundaries?
Political decisions, treaties, wars, negotiations, and historical claims can define a country's boundaries.
What is the largest country by land area?
Russia is the largest country by land area.
Can a country be on more than one continent?
Yes, for instance, Russia is in both Europe and Asia.
Can a country exist on two continents?
Yes, Turkey is a transcontinental country with land in both Europe and Asia.
How many continents are there?
There are seven continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.
Which continents are entirely in the Southern Hemisphere?
Australia and Antarctica are entirely in the Southern Hemisphere.
Is Australia a country or a continent?
Australia is both a country and a continent.
Is there a difference between a country and a nation?
Yes, a "nation" refers to a group of people with a shared identity, while a "country" is a political entity with defined borders.
Are continents defined by geology or geography?
Continents are primarily defined by geography, but geological factors like tectonic plates can influence definitions.
Do all countries have their own currency?
No, some countries share a currency, like the Euro in the European Union.
Can continents change over time?
Yes, due to tectonic movements, continents can change shape and position over millions of years.
What's the smallest country in the world?
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world by land area.
Which continent has the largest population?
Asia has the largest population of any continent.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
