There are 49 European countries, though the exact number is often debated.
Geographically, Europe is the second smallest continent, larger only than Australia. It is located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
The 49 countries located on the European continent are not to be confused with the members of the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe.
The EU is a unique partnership between 27 member states, which is about 447 million people, approximately six percent of the world’s population. As an EU member, government ministers from each nation come together to discuss laws and coordinate policies. The ministers may commit their own governments to the actions agreed upon in the meetings.
The Council of Europe is separate from this. Established in 1949 after the Second World War, it currently has 46 members and focuses on promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across its member states.
The European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights can be attributed to the Council of Europe. The organization has played a crucial role in creating a legal framework that protects the rights of more than 700 million people.
Ancient Rome and Greece profoundly influenced Europe’s early political history and the governing of its various territories. It wasn’t until the 15th century, during the Age of Discovery, that the people of Europe began to dominate other parts of the globe. By 1914, more than 80% of nations had been colonized by Europeans at one point or another.
Countries in Europe in alphabetical order
Here is the alphabetical list of European countries with their capitals. We have also included the countries’ regions, the international standard for country codes (ISO 3166), and continents, as some extend over more than one continent.
Country | Country Capital | Country Abbreviation | Region | Continent |
---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | Tirana | AL | Balkan Peninsula, Southeastern Europe | Europe |
Andorra | Andorra la Vella | AD | Southwestern Europe | Europe |
Austria | Vienna | AT | Central Europe | Europe |
Azerbaijan | Baku | AZ | Causcasus Region, Southwestern Asia | Asia, Europe |
Belarus | Minsk | BY | Eastern Europe | Europe |
Belgium | Brussels | BE | Western Europe | Europe |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Sarajevo | BA | Balkan Peninsula, Southeastern Europe | Europe |
Bulgaria | Sofia | BG | Balkan Peninsula, Southeastern Europe | Europe |
Croatia | Zagreb | HR | Balkan Peninsula, Southeastern Europe | Europe |
Czechia (Czech Republic) | Prague | CZ | Central Europe | Europe |
Denmark | Copenhagen | DK | Northern Europe | Europe |
Estonia | Tallinn | EE | Eastern Europe | Europe |
Finland | Helsinki | FI | Northern Europe | Europe |
France | Paris | FR | Western Europe | Europe |
Georgia | Tbilisi | GE | Causcasus Region, Southwestern Asia | Europe |
Germany | Berlin | DE | Central Europe | Europe |
Greece | Athens | GR | Southern Europe | Europe |
Holy See (Vatican City) | Vatican City | VA | Southern Europe within Italy | Europe |
Hungary | Budapest | HU | Central Europe | Europe |
Iceland | Reykjavík | IS | Northern Europe | Europe |
Ireland | Dublin | IE | Northwestern Europe | Europe |
Italy | Rome | IT | Southern Europe | Europe |
Kazakhstan | Astana | KZ | Central Asia, Eastern Europe | Asia, Europe |
Kosovo | Pristina | KV | Balkan Peninsula, Southeasten Europe | Europe |
Latvia | Riga | LV | Eastern Europe | Europe |
Liechtenstein | Vaduz | LI | Central Europe | Europe |
Lithuania | Vilnius | LT | Eastern Europe | Europe |
Luxembourg | Luxembourg | LU | Western Europe | Europe |
Malta | Valletta | MT | Southern Europe | Europe |
Moldova | Chișinău | MD | Eastern Europe | Europe |
Monaco | Monaco | MC | Western Europe | Europe |
Montenegro | Podgorica | ME | Balkan Peninsula, Southeastern Europe | Europe |
Netherlands, The | Amsterdam | NL | Northwestern Europe | Europe |
North Macedonia | Skopje | MK | Balkan Peninsula, Southeast Europe | Europe |
Norway | Oslo | NO | Northern Europe | Europe |
Poland | Warsaw | PL | Central Europe | Europe |
Portugal | Lisbon | PT | Southwestern Europe | Europe |
Romania | Bucharest | RO | Balkan Peninsula, South-East Europe | Europe |
Russia | Moscow | RU | Eastern Europe and Northern Asia | Asia, Europe |
San Marino | San Marino | SM | Southern Europe within Italy | Europe |
Serbia | Belgrade | RS | Balkan Peninsula, South-East Europe | Europe |
Slovakia | Bratislava | SK | Central Europe | Europe |
Slovenia | Ljubljana | SI | Balkan Peninsula, Central Europe | Europe |
Spain | Madrid | ES | Southwestern Europe | Europe |
Sweden | Stockholm | SE | Northern Europe | Europe |
Switzerland | Bern | CH | Central Europe | Europe |
Türkiye (Turkey) | Ankara | TR | Southeastern Europe, Western Asia | Europe, Asia |
Ukraine | Kyiv | UA | Eastern Europe | Europe |
United Kingdom, The | London | GB | Northwestern Europe | Europe |
How many countries are in Europe?
There are 49 countries in Europe, according to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook. These countries are: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia (Czech Republic), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye (Turkey), Ukraine, United Kingdom.
Other reports sharing the number of European countries may include Armenia and Cyprus. Armenia, located in southwestern Asia, is considered geopolitically European. Cyrpus, located in the Middle East and part of the Asian continent, is also considered European in political geography.
If we include Armenia and Cyprus, there are 51 countries in Europe.
Related: How many countries are there in the world?
United Nations members in Europe
The United Nations (UN) recognizes 47 European member states.
Eastern European states:
- Albania
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Estonia
- Georgia
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Poland
- Republic of Moldova
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Ukraine
Western European states or other:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Türkiye* (Turkey)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The United Nations recognizes Cyprus as an Asian-Pacific state despite becoming a full EU member state in 2004. Kazakstan is also recognized as an Asian-Pacific state but has close ties with the EU, as its biggest trading partner and foreign investor.
Kosovo is not recognized by all UN members, so it cannot be included on this list. The Vatican City (Holy See) is also an independent state in which the Pope of the Catholic Church rules, but it is not a member of the UN.
The Holy See and the State of Palestine were granted permanent observer state status at the UN. As permanent observer states, Palestine and The Holy See have free access to most UN meetings and relevant documentation.
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe has 46 member states, which is explained by its exclusion of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, the Vatican City (Holy See), and Russia.
However, Armenia and Cyprus, both located on the Asian continent, are members due to their political geography.
The following countries are members of the Council of Europe:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Republic of Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Türkiye
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom