View source for Europe


[[Image:LocationEurope.png|thumb|250px|right|World map showing Europe]]
[[Image:Europe countries map en.png|thumb|250px|right|Political map (neighbouring countries in Asia and Africa also shown)]]

'''Europe''' is one of the seven traditional [[continent]]s of the [[Earth]]. The term ''continent'' here refers to a [[human geography|cultural and political]] distinction rather than a [[physical geography|physiographic]] one, leading to various perspectives about Europe's precise borders. Physically and [[geology|geologically]], Europe is the westernmost [[peninsula]] of [[Eurasia]], west of [[Asia]].  Europe is bounded to the north by the [[Arctic Ocean]], to the west by the [[Atlantic Ocean]], to the south by the [[Mediterranean Sea]], and to the southeast by the waterways adjoining the Mediterranean to and including the [[Black Sea]] and the [[Caucasus Mountains]] (in [[Caucasus (geographic region)|Caucasia]]). On the east, Europe is divided from Asia by the [[water divide]] of the [[Ural Mountains]] and by the [[Caspian Sea]].

Europe is the world's second-smallest continent in terms of [[area]], covering about 10&nbsp;400&nbsp;000&nbsp;[[square kilometre]]s (4,010,000 [[square mile|sq mi]]) or 2.0% of the [[Earth]]'s surface. The only continent smaller than Europe is [[Australia (continent)|Australia]]. In terms of [[population]], it is the third-largest continent (after Asia and [[Africa]]) with a population of some 710,000,000, or about 11% of the world's population.

The [[European Union]] – comprising 25 member [[state]]s, with two  countries acceding in 2007 ([[Bulgaria]] and [[Romania]]) and two candidates in accession negotiations ([[Turkey]] and [[Croatia]]) – is the largest political and economic entity covering the European continent, while [[Russia]] (excluding portions in Asia) is the second largest entity and Europe's largest state in area and population.


== Etymology ==
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Europa-Zeus-LDS.jpg|thumb|Picture of [[Europa (mythology)|Europa]], carried away by bull-shaped [[Zeus]].]] -->

In [[Greek mythology]], [[Europa (mythology)|Europa]] was a [[Phoenicia]]n princess who was abducted by [[Zeus]] in bull form and taken to the island of [[Crete]], where she gave birth to [[Minos]]. For [[Homer]], '''Europe''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: {{polytonic|Εὐρώπη}} ''{{Unicode|Eurṓpē}}''; see also [[List of traditional Greek place names]]) was a mythological queen of Crete, not a geographical designation. Later ''Europa'' stood for [[Geography of Greece|mainland Greece]], and by [[500 BC]] its meaning had been extended to lands to the north.

The Greek term ''Europe'' is derived from Greek words meaning broad (''eurys'') and face (''ops'') &ndash; ''broad'' having been an [[epithet]] of [[Earth]] herself in the reconstructed [[Proto-Indo-European religion]]; see [[Prithvi]] (''Plataia''). A minority, however, suggest this Greek [[popular etymology]] is really based on a [[Semitic]] word such as the [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] ''erebu'' meaning "sunset" (see also ''[[Erebus]]''). From the [[Middle East]]ern vantagepoint, the sun does set over Europe, the lands to the west. Likewise, [[Asia]] is sometimes thought to have derived from a Semitic word such as the Akkadian ''asu'', meaning "sunrise", and is the land to the east from a Middle Eastern perspective.

== History ==

The origins of Western [[democracy|democratic]] and [[individualism|individualistic]] [[culture]] are often attributed to [[Ancient Greece]], though numerous other distinct influences, in particular [[Christianity]], can also be credited with the spread of concepts such as [[egalitarianism]] and [[rule of law|universality of law]].

After the [[decline of the Roman Empire]], Europe entered a long period of changes arising from what is known as the [[Age of Migrations]]. That period has been known as the "[[Dark Ages]]" to [[Renaissance]] thinkers. Isolated monastic communities in [[Ireland]] and elsewhere carefully safeguarded and compiled written knowledge accumulated previously.

During this time, the western part of the Roman Empire was "reborn" as the [[Holy Roman Empire]], later called [[Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation]]. The eastern part of the Roman Empire became known in the west as the [[Byzantine Empire]] the 'Byzantines' themselves still called themselves {{polytonic|Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων}} ''Basileia tōn Romaiōn'' - the Empire of the Romans. In 1453, when the [[Ottoman Empire]] conquered the Byzantine capital [[Constantinople]], the Byzantine Empire ceased to exist, with a small hold out state of [[Empire of Trebizond|Trebizond]] which lasted until 1461.

The [[Renaissance]] and the [[New Monarchs]] marked the start of a period of discovery, exploration, and increase in scientific knowledge. In the 15th century, [[Portugal]] opened the age of discoveries, soon followed by [[Spain]]. They were later joined by [[France]], the [[Netherlands]] and the [[United Kingdom]] in building large colonial empires with vast holdings in [[Africa]], [[the Americas]], and [[Asia]].

After the age of discovery, the ideas of [[democracy]] took hold in Europe. Struggles for independence arose, most notably in [[France]] during the period known as the [[French Revolution]]. This led to vast upheaval in Europe as these revolutionary ideas propagated across the continent. The rise of democracy led to increased tension within Europe on top of the tension already existing due to competition within the [[New World]]. The most famous of these conflicts happened when [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon Bonaparte]] rose to power and set out on a conquest, forming a new [[First French Empire|French Empire]], which soon collapsed. After these conquests Europe stabilised, but the old foundations were already beginning to crumble.

The [[Industrial Revolution]] started in [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] in the late [[18th century]], leading to a move away from agriculture, much greater general prosperity and a corresponding increase in population. Many of the states in Europe took their present form in the [[aftermath of World War I#Geopolitical and Economic Consequences|aftermath of World War I]]. From the end of [[World War II]] through the end of the [[Cold War]], Europe was divided into two major political and economic blocks: [[Communism|Communist]] nations in [[Eastern Europe]]  and [[Capitalist]] countries in [[Southern Europe]], [[Northern Europe]] and [[Western Europe]]. About 1990, with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]], the wider [[Iron Curtain]], and the [[Soviet Union]] the [[Eastern Block]] disintegrated.

[[European integration]] has been a theme in European relations since the end of the second World War and has spread to Eastern Europe since the end of the Cold War. The [[European Union]], the successor to the [[European Community]], has enlarged from 6 original founding members to 25 today, and on [[27th September 2006]], the countries of [[Bulgaria]] and [[Romania]] were formally approved the right of sucession, to happen early in [[2007]].  The issue of [[Turkey]] is still a contentious one, being a transcontinental country and predominantly [[Muslim]], the negotiations can last for 15 years.  The [[European Union]] has developed from a peace-keeping and economic orientated organisation into an entity resembling a [[confederation]]. [[NATO]] has also enlarged since the end of the Cold War, with a number of Eastern European countries joining.

==Geography and extent==

[[Image:Kaukasus.jpg|thumb|left|Satellite image of [[Caucasus Mountains]], [[Black Sea]] (l.) and [[Caspian Sea]] (r.)]]
[[Physical geography|Physiographically]], Europe is the northwestern constituent of the larger landmass known as [[Eurasia]], or [[Afro-Eurasia]]: [[Asia]] occupies the eastern bulk of this continuous landmass and all share a common [[continental shelf]]. Europe's eastern frontier is now commonly delineated by the [[Ural Mountains]] in [[Russia]]. The first century AD geographer [[Strabo]], took the [[Tanais River]] to be the boundary, as did early [[Judea|Judaic]] sources. The southeast boundary with Asia is not universally defined. Most commonly the [[Ural River|Ural]] or, alternatively, the [[Emba River]] serve as possible boundaries. The boundary continues to the [[Caspian Sea]], the crest of the [[Caucasus Mountains]] or, alternatively, the [[Kura River]] in the [[Caucasus]], and on to the [[Black Sea]]; the [[Bosporus]], the [[Sea of Marmara]], the [[Dardanelles]], and the [[Aegean Sea]] conclude the Asian boundary. The [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the south separates Europe from [[Africa]]. The western boundary is the [[Atlantic Ocean]]; [[Iceland]], though nearer to [[Greenland]] ([[North America]]) than mainland Europe, is generally included in Europe.

Because of sociopolitical and cultural differences, there are various descriptions of Europe's boundary; in some sources, some territories are not included in Europe, while other sources include them. For instance, geographers from [[Post-Soviet states|Russia and other post-Soviet states]] generally include the Urals in Europe while including Caucasia in Asia. Similarly, numerous geographers consider [[Azerbaijan]]'s and [[Armenia]]'s southern borders with [[Iran]] and [[Turkey]]'s southern and eastern borders with [[Syria]], [[Iraq]] and Iran as the boundary between Asia and Europe because of political and cultural reasons.{{Fact|date=December 2008}} In the same way, despite being close to Asia and Africa, the Mediterranean islands of [[Cyprus]] and [[Malta]] are considered part of Europe and currently form part of the [[EU]].

===Physical geography===
[[Image:Europe topography map en.jpg|thumb|right|Relief map of Europe]]
Land relief in Europe shows great variation within relatively small areas. The southern regions, however, are more mountainous, while moving north the terrain descends from the high [[Alps]], [[Pyrenees]] and [[Carpathian Mountains|Carpathians]], through hilly uplands, into broad, low northern plains, which are vast in the east. This extended lowland is known as the [[Great European Plain]], and at its heart lies the [[North German Plain]]. An arc of uplands also exists along the north-western seaboard, which begins in the western parts of the islands of [[Great Britain|Britain]] and [[Ireland]], and then continues along the mountainous, [[fjord]]-cut, spine of [[Norway]].

This description is simplified. Sub-regions such as the [[Iberian Peninsula]] and the [[Italian Peninsula]] contain their own complex features, as does mainland Central Europe itself, where the relief contains many plateaus, river valleys and basins that complicate the general trend. Sub-regions like [[Iceland]], Britain and Ireland are special cases. The former is a land unto itself in the northern ocean which is counted as part of Europe, while the latter are upland areas that were once joined to the mainland until rising sea levels cut them off.

==Climate==
[[Image:Vegetation Europe.png|frame|[[Biome]]s of Europe]]
[[Image:Gulf Stream water temperature.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Gulf Stream]] is orange and yellow in this thermal image of the [[Atlantic]].]]
Europe lies mainly in the [[temperate]] climate zones, being subjected to [[prevailing westerlies]].

The climate is milder in comparison to other areas of the same latitude around the globe due to the influence of the [[Gulf Stream]]. The Gulf Stream is nicknamed "Europe's central heating", because it makes Europe's climate warmer and wetter than it would otherwise be. The Gulf Stream not only carries warm water to Europe's coast but also warms up the prevailing westerly winds that blow across the continent from the Atlantic Ocean.

Therefore the average temperature throughout the year of Naples is 16&nbsp;°C (60.8&nbsp;°F), while it is only 12&nbsp;°C (53.6&nbsp;°F) in New York City which is almost on the same latitude. Berlin, Germany; Calgary, Canada; and Irkutsk, in the Asian part of Russia, lie on around the same latitude; January temperatures in Berlin average around 8&nbsp;°C (15&nbsp;°F) higher than those in Calgary, and they are almost 22&nbsp;°C (40&nbsp;°F) higher than average temperatures in Irkutsk.

==Geology==
{{main|Geology of Europe}}
The Geology of Europe is hugely varied and complex, and gives rise to the wide variety of landscapes found across the continent, from the [[Scottish Highlands]] to the rolling [[plain]]s of [[Hungary]].

Europe's most significant feature is the dichotomy between highland and mountainous [[Southern Europe]] and a vast, partially underwater, northern plain ranging from [[England]] in the west to [[Ural Mountains]] in the east. These two halves are separated by the mountain chains of the [[Pyrenees]] and [[Alps]]/[[Carpathian Mountains|Carpathians]]. The northern plains are delimited in the west by the [[Scandinavian Mountains]] and the mountainous parts of the [[British Isles]]. Major shallow water bodies submerging parts of the northern plains are the [[Celtic Sea]], the [[North Sea]], the [[Baltic Sea]] complex and [[Barents Sea]].

The northern plain contains the old geological continent of [[Baltica]], and so may be regarded geologically as the "main continent", while peripheral highlands and mountainous regions in the south and west constitute fragments from various other geological continents. Most of the older geology of [[Western Europe]] existed as part of the ancient [[microcontinent]] [[Avalonia]].

===Geological history===
The geological history of Europe traces back to the formation of the [[Baltic Shield]] (Fennoscandia) and the [[Sarmatian craton]], both around 2.25 billion years ago, followed by the [[Volgo-Uralia]] shield, the three together leading to the [[East European craton]] (≈ [[Baltica]]) which became a part of the [[supercontinent]] [[Columbia (supercontinent)|Columbia]]. Around 1.1 billion years ago, Baltica and Arctica (as part of the [[Laurentia]] block) became joined to [[Rodinia]], later resplitting around 550 million years ago to reform as Baltica. Around 440 million years ago [[Euramerica]] was formed from Baltica and Laurentia; a further joining with [[Gondwana]] then leading to the formation of [[Pangea]]. Around 190 million years ago, Gondwana and [[Laurasia]] split apart due to the widening of the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. Finally, and very soon afterwards, Laurasia itself split up again, into Laurentia ([[North America]]) and the Eurasian continent. The land connection between the two persisted for a considerable time, via [[Greenland]], leading to interchange of animal species. From around 50 million years ago, rising and falling sea levels have determined the actual shape of Europe, and its connections with continents such as [[Asia]]. Europe's present shape dates to the late [[Tertiary period]] about five million years ago.

==Biodiversity==

[[Image:Europe biogeography countries.svg|right|thumb|300px|[[Biogeography|Biogeographic regions]] of Europe]]
[[Image:Floristic regions in Europe (english).png|thumb|right|300px|Floristic regions in Europe according to Wolfgang Frey and Rainer Lösch]]

Having lived side-by-side with agricultural peoples for millennia, Europe's animals and plants have been profoundly affected by the presence and activities of man. With the exception of [[Fennoscandia]] and northern [[Russia]], few areas of untouched wilderness are currently found in Europe, except for various [[national park]]s.

The main natural vegetation cover in Europe is mixed [[forest]]. The conditions for growth are very favourable. In the north, the [[Gulf Stream]] and [[North Atlantic Current|North Atlantic Drift]] warm the continent. Southern Europe could be described as having a warm, but mild climate. There are frequent summer droughts in this region. Mountain ridges also affect the conditions. Some of these ([[Alps]], [[Pyrenees]]) are oriented east-west and allow the wind to carry large masses of water from the ocean in the interior. Others are oriented south-north ([[Scandinavian Mountains]], [[Dinaric Alps|Dinarides]], [[Carpathian Mountains|Carpathians]], [[Apennine Mountains|Apennines]]) and because the rain falls primarily on the side of mountains that is oriented towards sea, forests grow well on this side, while on the other side, the conditions are much less favourable. Few corners of mainland Europe have not been grazed by [[livestock]] at some point in time, and the cutting down of the pre-agricultural forest habitat caused disruption to the original plant and animal ecosystems.

Probably eighty to ninety per cent of Europe was once covered by forest. It stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the [[Arctic Ocean]]. Though over half of Europe's original forests disappeared through the centuries of [[deforestation]], Europe still has over one quarter of its land area as forest, such as the [[taiga]] of Scandinavia and Russia, mixed [[rainforest]]s of the Caucasus and the [[Cork oak]] forests in the western Mediterranean. During recent times, deforestation has been slowed and many trees have been planted. However, in many cases monoculture [[plantation]]s of [[Pinophyta|conifers]] have replaced the original mixed natural forest, because these grow quicker. The plantations now cover vast areas of land, but offer poorer habitats for many European forest dwelling species which require a mixture of tree species and diverse forest structure. The amount of natural forest in Western Europe is just 2–3% or less, in European Russia 5–10%. The country with the smallest percentage of forested area (excluding the [[micronations]]) is [[Iceland]] (1%), while the most forested country is [[Finland]] (77%).

In temperate Europe, mixed forest with both [[flowering plant|broadleaf]] and [[pinophyta|coniferous]] trees dominate. The most important species in central and western Europe are [[beech]] and [[oak]]. In the north, the [[taiga]] is a mixed [[spruce]]-[[pine]]-[[birch]] forest; further north within [[Russia]] and extreme northern [[Scandinavia]], the [[taiga]] gives way to [[tundra]] as the Arctic is approached. In the Mediterranean, many [[olive]] trees have been planted, which are very well adapted to its arid climate; [[Cupressus sempervirens|Mediterranean Cypress]] is also widely planted in southern Europe. The semi-arid Mediterranean region hosts much scrub forest. A narrow east-west tongue of Eurasian [[grassland]] (the [[steppe]]) extends eastwards from [[Ukraine]] and southern [[Russia]] and ends in [[Hungary]] and traverses into [[taiga]] to the north.

Glaciation during the most recent [[ice age]] and the presence of man affected the distribution of [[Fauna of Europe|European fauna]]. As for the animals, in many parts of Europe most large animals and top [[predator]] species have been hunted to extinction. The [[woolly mammoth]] was extinct before the end of the [[Neolithic]] period. Today [[wolf|wolves]] ([[carnivore]]s) and [[bears]] ([[omnivore]]s) are endangered. Once they were found in most parts of Europe. However, deforestation and hunting caused these animals to withdraw further and further. By the [[Middle Ages]] the bears' habitats were limited to more or less inaccessible mountains with sufficient forest cover. Today, the [[European brown bear|brown bear]] lives primarily in the [[Balkan|Balkan peninsula]], [[Scandinavia]], and [[Russia]]; a small number also persist in other countries across Europe (Austria, Pyrenees etc.), but in these areas brown bear populations are fragmented and marginalised because of the destruction of their habitat. In addition, [[polar bear]]s may be found on [[Svalbard]], a [[Norway|Norwegian]] archipelago far north of Scandinavia. The [[Eurasian wolf|wolf]], the second largest predator in Europe after the brown bear, can be found primarily in [[Eastern Europe]] and in the Balkans, with a handful of packs in pockets of [[Western Europe]] ([[Scandinavia]], [[Spain]], etc.).

Other important European carnivores are [[Eurasian lynx]], European [[wild cat]], [[fox]]es (especially the [[red fox]]), [[jackal]] and different species of [[marten]]s, [[hedgehog]]s, different species of [[List of European reptiles|reptiles]] (like [[snakes]] as ([[Viperinae|vipers]] and [[grass snake]]s) and [[List of European amphibians|amphibians]], different [[List of European birds|birds]] ([[owl]]s, [[hawk]]s and other [[birds of prey]]).

Important European [[herbivore]]s are [[snail]]s, [[larva]]e, [[fish]], different birds, and [[List of European mammals|mammals]], like [[rodent]]s, [[deer]] and [[roe deer]], [[boar]]s, and living in the mountains, [[marmot]]s, [[Alpine Ibex|steinbocks]], [[chamois]] among others.

Sea creatures are also an important part of European flora and fauna. The sea flora is mainly [[phytoplankton]]. Important animals that live in European seas are [[zooplankton]], [[mollusc]]s, [[echinoderm]]s, different [[crustacean]]s, [[squid]]s and [[octopuses]], fish, [[dolphin]]s, and [[whales]].

Biodiversity is protected in Europe through the [[Council of Europe]]'s [[Bern Convention]], which has also been signed by the [[European Community]] as well as non-European states.

==Demographics==
{{main|Demographics of Europe|European ethnic groups|Immigration to Europe|Aging of Europe}}
[[Image:Europe's population growth - CIA 2008.jpg|thumb|260px|left|[[Population growth]] and decline of European countries]]
Since the [[Renaissance]], Europe has had a major influence in culture, economics and social movements in the world. The most significant [[invention]]s had their origins in
the Western world, primarily Europe and the United States.<ref>[http://corporate.britannica.com/press/inventions.html Encyclopædia Britannica's Great Inventions], Encyclopædia Britannica</ref> European demographics are important not only historically, but also in understanding current international relations and population issues.

Some current and past issues in European demographics have included [[Emigration|religious emigration]], [[race relations]], [[Immigration#Why do people immigrate?|economic immigration]], a declining [[birth rate]] and an [[aging population]]. In some countries, such as [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] and [[Poland]], access to [[abortion]] is currently limited; in the past, such restrictions and also restrictions on artificial birth control were commonplace throughout Europe. Abortion remains illegal on the island of [[Malta]] where [[Catholicism]] is the state religion. Furthermore, three European countries ([[The Netherlands]], [[Belgium]] and [[Switzerland]]) and the [[Autonomous Community]] of [[Andalusia]] (Spain)<ref>[http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/384485/ "Andalucía permitirá por ley la eutanasia pasiva para enfermos incurables"], ''20 Minutos''. 31 May 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=13065 "Andalusia euthanasia law unnecessary, expert warns"], Catholic News Agency. 26 Jun 2008</ref> have allowed a limited form of [[voluntary euthanasia]] for some terminally ill people.

In 2005 the population of Europe was estimated to be 731 million according to the [[United Nations]],<ref name="UNPP 2006"/> which is slightly more than one-ninth of the [[world]]'s population. A century ago Europe had nearly a quarter of the [[world population|world's population]]. The population of Europe has grown in the past century, but in other areas of the world (in particular [[Africa]] and [[Asia]]) the population has grown far more quickly. According to UN population projection, Europe's population may fall to about 7% of world population by 2050, or 653 million people (medium variant,  556 to 777  million in low and high variants, respectively). Within this context, significant disparities exist between regions in relation to [[overpopulation|fertility rates]]. The average number of [[List of countries and territories by fertility rate|children per female]] of child bearing age is 1.52. According to some sources, this rate is higher among [[Islam in Europe|Muslims]].
In 2005 the [[EU]] had an overall net gain from [[immigration]] of 1.8 million people, despite having one of the highest [[population density|population densities]] in the world. This accounted for almost 85% of Europe's total [[population growth]]. A tough new EU immigration law detaining [[illegal immigrant]]s for up to 18 months before deportation has triggered outrage across [[Latin America]], with Venezuelan President [[Hugo Chávez]] threatening to cut off [[Oil consumption|oil exports]] to Europe.

Europe is home to the highest number of migrants of all global regions at 70.6 million people, the [[International Organization for Migration|IOM]]'s report said. The centres are part of an EU effort to control a big surge in [[illegal immigration]] to Europe while meeting a need for low-skilled labour.


==Political geography==
{{main|Politics of Europe}}
{{seealso|Demographics of Europe|List of European countries by population}}
[[Image:Map of Europe (political).png|thumb|right|250px| Europe according to a widely accepted definition is shown in green (countries sometimes associated with European culture in dark blue, Asian parts of European states in light blue).]]
[[Image:Europe countries map en.png|thumb|right|250px|Modern [[political map]]]]
[[Image:Location-Europe-UNsubregions, Kosovo as part of Serbia.png|right|thumb|250px|Regional grouping according to the UN]]
[[Image:Regions of Europe based on CIA world factbook.png|right|thumb|250px|Regional grouping according to the [[CIA]] world factbook]]
[[Image:Europe, EU.png|thumb|right|250px|Europe according to the [[EU]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/abc/european_countries|publisher=[[European Commission]]|title=Countries|accessdate=2008-06-13}}</ref>]]
[[Image:WEU Map.svg|thumb|right|250px|[[WEU]]&nbsp;• <span style="color:#e82020;">Members</span>&nbsp;• <span style="color:#40a800;">Associate members</span>&nbsp;• <span style="color:#5874a8;">Observers</span>&nbsp;• <span style="color:#a080a8;">Associate partners</span>]]
[[Image:Map-Coeurope.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Council of Europe]] nations]]

According to different definitions, the territories may be subject to [[Geopolitical divisions of Europe|various categorisations]]. The table below shows the [[UN geoscheme|scheme for geographic subregions]] used by the [[United Nations]], alongside the regional grouping published in the [[CIA factbook]]. The socio-geographical data included are per sources in cross-referenced articles. Where they differ, provisos are clearly indicated.

The 27 [[European Union member state]]s are highly integrated economically and politically; the [[European Union]] itself forms part of the political geography of Europe.

In 2008, the [[Freedom House]] classified the following countries of Europe as ''not free'': [[Azerbaijan]], [[Belarus]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Kosovo]], and [[Russia]].

{| border=1 cellspacing=3 cellpadding=4 style="float:center; margin:0 0 .5em 1em; width:600px; background:#505050; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px solid #999; font-size:83%; line-height:1.5; " summary="Infobox Automobile"
|- style="text-align:center; background:#505050;"
|- tr BGCOLOR=darkred
! Name of [[subregion|region]]{{Cref|a}} and<br />territory, with [[flag]]
! [[List of countries by area|Area]]<br />(km²)
! [[List of countries by population|Population]]<br />(1 July 2002 est.)
! [[List of countries by population density|Population density]]<br />(per km²)
! [[Capital (political)|Capital]]
|-
| {{flagiconÅland}} [[Åland]] ([[Finland]])
| align="right" | 1,552
| align="right" | 26,008
| align="right" | 16.8
| [[Mariehamn]]
|-
| {{flagiconAlbania}} [[Albania]]
| align="right" | 28,748
| align="right" | 3,600,523
| align="right" | 125.2
| [[Tirana]]
|-|
| {{flagiconAndorra}} [[Andorra]]
| align="right" | 468
| align="right" | 68,403
| align="right" | 146.2
| [[Andorra la Vella]]
|-|
|{{flagiconArmenia}} [[Armenia]]{{Cref|k}}
| align="right" | 29,800
| align="right" | 3,229,900
| align="right" | 101
| [[Yerevan]]
|-|
|{{flagiconAustria}} [[Austria]]
| align="right" | 83,858
| align="right" | 8,169,929
| align="right" | 97.4
| [[Vienna]]
|-
|{{flagiconAzerbaijan}} [[Azerbaijan]]{{Cref|l}}
| align="right" | 86,600
| align="right" | 8,621,000
| align="right" | 97
| [[Baku]]
|-
| {{flagiconBelarus}} [[Belarus]]
| align="right" | 207,600
| align="right" | 10,335,382
| align="right" | 49.8
| [[Minsk]]
|-
| {{flagiconBelgium}} [[Belgium]]
| align="right" | 30,510
| align="right" | 10,274,595
| align="right" | 336.8
| [[Brussels]]
|-
| {{flagiconBosnia and Herzegovina}} [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
| align="right" | 51,129
| align="right" | 4,448,500
| align="right" | 77.5
| [[Sarajevo]]
|-
| {{flagiconBulgaria}} [[Bulgaria]]
| align="right" | 110,910
| align="right" | 7,621,337
| align="right" | 68.7
| [[Sofia]]
|-
| {{flagiconCRO}} [[Croatia]]
| align="right" | 56,542
| align="right" | 4,437,460
| align="right" | 77.7
| [[Zagreb]]
|-
| {{flagiconCyprus}} [[Cyprus]]{{Cref|e}}
| align="right" | 9,251
| align="right" | 788,457
| align="right" | 85
| [[Nicosia]]
|-
| {{flagiconCzech Republic}} [[Czech Republic]]
| align="right" | 78,866
| align="right" | 10,256,760
| align="right" | 130.1
| [[Prague]]
|-
| {{flagiconDenmark}} [[Denmark]]
| align="right" | 43,094
| align="right" | 5,368,854
| align="right" | 124.6
| [[Copenhagen]]
|-
| {{flagiconEstonia}} [[Estonia]]
| align="right" | 45,226
| align="right" | 1,415,681
| align="right" | 31.3
| [[Tallinn]]
|-
| {{flagiconFaroe Islands}} [[Faroe Islands]] ([[Denmark]])
| align="right" | 1,399
| align="right" | 46,011
| align="right" | 32.9
| [[Tórshavn]]
|-
| {{flagiconFinland}} [[Finland]]
| align="right" | 336,593
| align="right" | 5,157,537
| align="right" | 15.3
| [[Helsinki]]
|-
| {{flagiconFrance}} [[France]]{{Cref|h}}
| align="right" | 547,030
| align="right" | 59,765,983
| align="right" | 109.3
| [[Paris]]
|-
| {{flagiconGeorgia}} [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] {{Cref|m}}
| align="right" | 69,700
| align="right" | 4,661,473
| align="right" | 64
| [[Tbilisi]]
|-
| {{flagiconGermany}} [[Germany]]
| align="right" | 357,021
| align="right" | 83,251,851
| align="right" | 233.2
| [[Berlin]]
|-
| {{flagiconGibraltar}} [[Gibraltar]] ([[United Kingdom|UK]])
| align="right" | 5.9
| align="right" | 27,714
| align="right" | 4,697.3
| [[Gibraltar]]
|-
| {{flagiconGreece}} [[Greece]]
| align="right" | 131,940
| align="right" | 10,645,343
| align="right" | 80.7
| [[Athens]]
|-
| {{flagiconGuernsey}} [[Guernsey]]{{Cref|d}}
| align="right" | 78
| align="right" | 64,587
| align="right" | 828.0
| [[St. Peter Port]]
|-
| {{flagiconHungary}} [[Hungary]]
| align="right" | 93,030
| align="right" | 10,075,034
| align="right" | 108.3
| [[Budapest]]
|-
| {{flagiconIceland}} [[Iceland]]
| align="right" | 103,000
| align="right" | 307,261
| align="right" | 2.7
| [[Reykjavík]]
|-
| {{flagiconIreland}} [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| align="right" | 70,280
| align="right" | 4,234,925
| align="right" | 60.3
| [[Dublin]]
|-|-
| {{flagiconIsle of Man}} [[Isle of Man]]{{Cref|d}}
| align="right" | 572
| align="right" | 73,873
| align="right" | 129.1
| [[Douglas, Isle of Man|Douglas]]
|-
| {{flagiconItaly}} [[Italy]]
| align="right" | 301,230
| align="right" | 58,751,711
| align="right" | 191.6
| [[Rome]]
|-
| {{flagiconJersey}} [[Jersey]]{{Cref|d}}
| align="right" | 116
| align="right" | 89,775
| align="right" | 773.9
| [[Saint Helier]]
|-
| {{flagiconKazakhstan}} [[Kazakhstan]]{{Cref|j}}
| align="right" | 2,724,900
| align="right" | 15,217,711
| align="right" | 5.6
| [[Astana]]
|-
| {{flagiconKosovo}} [[Kosovo]]{{Cref|p}}
| align="right" | 10,887
| align="right" | 2,126,708
| align="right" | 220
| [[Pristina]]
|-
| {{flagiconLatvia}} [[Latvia]]
| align="right" | 64,589
| align="right" | 2,366,515
| align="right" | 36.6
| [[Riga]]
|-
| {{flagiconLiechtenstein}} [[Liechtenstein]]
| align="right" | 160
| align="right" | 32,842
| align="right" | 205.3
| [[Vaduz]]
|-
| {{flagiconLithuania}} [[Lithuania]]
| align="right" | 65,200
| align="right" | 3,601,138
| align="right" | 55.2
| [[Vilnius]]
|-
| {{flagiconLuxembourg}} [[Luxembourg]]
| align="right" | 2,586
| align="right" | 448,569
| align="right" | 173.5
| [[Luxembourg (city)|Luxembourg]]
|-
| {{flagiconRepublic of Macedonia}} [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]]
| align="right" | 25,333
| align="right" | 2,054,800
| align="right" | 81.1
| [[Skopje]]
|-
| {{flagiconMalta}} [[Malta]]
| align="right" | 316
| align="right" | 397,499
| align="right" | 1,257.9
| [[Valletta]]
|-
| {{flagiconMoldova}} [[Moldova]]{{Cref|b}}
| align="right" | 33,843
| align="right" | 4,434,547
| align="right" | 131.0
| [[Chişinău]]
|-
| {{flagiconMonaco}} [[Monaco]]
| align="right" | 1.95
| align="right" | 31,987
| align="right" | 16,403.6
| [[Monaco]]
|-
| {{flagiconMontenegro}} [[Montenegro]]
| align="right" | 13,812
| align="right" | 616,258
| align="right" | 44.6
| [[Podgorica]]
|-
| {{flagiconNetherlands}} [[Netherlands]]{{Cref|i}}
| align="right" | 41,526
| align="right" | 16,318,199
| align="right" | 393.0
| [[Amsterdam]]
|-
|{{flagiconNorway}} [[Norway]]
| align="right" | 324,220
| align="right" | 4,525,116
| align="right" | 14.0
| [[Oslo]]
|-
| {{flagiconPoland}} [[Poland]]
| align="right" | 312,685
| align="right" | 38,625,478
| align="right" | 123.5
| [[Warsaw]]
|-
| {{flagiconPortugal}} [[Portugal]]{{Cref|f}}
| align="right" | 91,568
| align="right" | 10,409,995
| align="right" | 110.1
| [[Lisbon]]
|-
| {{flagiconRomania}} [[Romania]]
| align="right" | 238,391
| align="right" | 21,698,181
| align="right" | 91.0
| [[Bucharest]]
|-
| {{flagiconRussia}} [[Russia]]{{Cref|c}}
| align="right" | 17,075,400
| align="right" | 142,200,000
| align="right" | 26.8
| [[Moscow]]
|-
| {{flagiconSan Marino}} [[San Marino]]
| align="right" | 61
| align="right" | 27,730
| align="right" | 454.6
| [[San Marino, San Marino|San Marino]]
|-
| {{flagiconSerbia}} [[Serbia]] (including Kosovo){{Cref|g}}
| align="right" | 88,361
| align="right" | 9,663,742
| align="right" | 109.4
| [[Belgrade]]
|-
| {{flagiconSlovakia}} [[Slovakia]]
| align="right" | 48,845
| align="right" | 5,422,366
| align="right" | 111.0
| [[Bratislava]]
|-
| {{flagiconSlovenia}} [[Slovenia]]
| align="right" | 20,273
| align="right" | 1,932,917
| align="right" | 95.3
| [[Ljubljana]]
|-
| {{flagiconSpain}} [[Spain]]
| align="right" | 504,851
| align="right" | 45,061,274
| align="right" | 89.3
| [[Madrid]]
|-
| {{flagiconNorway}} [[Svalbard and Jan Mayen|Svalbard and Jan<br />Mayen Islands]] ([[Norway]])
| align="right" | 62,049
| align="right" | 2,868
| align="right" | 0.046
| [[Longyearbyen]]
|-
| {{flagiconSweden}} [[Sweden]]
| align="right" | 449,964
| align="right" | 9,090,113
| align="right" | 19.7
| [[Stockholm]]
|-
| {{flagiconSwitzerland}} [[Switzerland]]
| align="right" | 41,290
| align="right" | 7,507,000
| align="right" | 176.8
| [[Bern]]
|-
| {{flagiconTurkey}} [[Turkey]]{{Cref|n}}
| align="right" | 783,562
| align="right" | 70,586,256
| align="right" | 93
| [[Ankara]]
|-
| {{flagiconUkraine}} [[Ukraine]]
| align="right" | 603,700
| align="right" | 48,396,470
| align="right" | 80.2
| [[Kiev]]
|-
| {{flagiconUnited Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]]
| align="right" | 244,820
| align="right" | 61,100,835
| align="right" | 244.2
| [[London]]
|-
| {{flagiconVatican City}} [[Vatican City]]
| align="right" | 0.44
| align="right" | 900
| align="right" | 2,045.5
| [[Vatican City]]
|- style="font-weight:bold;"
| Total
| align="right" | 10,180,000{{Cref|o}}
| align="right" | 731,000,000{{Cref|o}}
| align="right" | 70
|}

== Biodiversity ==
<!-- Probably this should be transferred to a new article named "Biodiversity of Europe" and only the summary should be left here. Specific species should be added. -->

Having lived side-by-side with agricultural peoples for millennia, Europe's animals and plants have been profoundly affected by the presence and activities of man. With the exception of [[Scandinavia]] and northern [[Russia]], few areas of untouched wilderness are today to be found in Europe, except for different national parks.

The main natural vegetation cover in Europe is [[forest]]. The conditions for growth are very favourable. In the north, the [[Gulf Stream]] and [[North Atlantic Drift]] warm the continent. Southern Europe could be described as having a warm, but mild climate. There are frequent summer droughts in this region. Mountain ridges also affect the conditions. Some of these ([[Alps]], [[Pyrenees]]) are oriented east-west and allow the wind to carry large masses of water from the ocean in the interior. Others are oriented south-north ([[Scandinavian Mountains]], [[Dinaric Alps|Dinarides]], [[Carpathians]], [[Apennines]]) and because the rain falls primarily on the side of mountains that is oriented towards sea, forests grow well on this side, while on the other side, the conditions are much less favourable. Few corners of mainland Europe have not been grazed by [[livestock]] at some point in time, and the cutting down of the pre-agricultural forest habitat caused disruption to the original plant and animal ecosystems.

Eighty to ninety per cent of Europe was once covered by forest. It stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the [[Arctic Ocean]]. Though over half of Europe's original forests disappeared through the centuries of [[deforestation]], Europe still has over one quarter of its land area as forest, such as the [[taiga]] of Scandinavia and Russia, mixed [[rainforest]]s of the Caucasus and the [[Cork oak]] forests in the western Mediterranean. During recent times, deforestation has been slowed and many trees have been planted. However, in many cases monoculture [[plantation]]s of [[Pinophyta|conifers]] have replaced the original mixed natural forest, because these grow quicker. The plantations now cover vast areas of land, but offer poorer habitats for many European forest dwelling species which require a mixture of tree species and diverse forest structure. The amount of natural forest in Western Europe is just 2&ndash;3% or less, in European Russia 5&ndash;10%. The country with the smallest percentage of forested area (excluding the micronations) is the [[Republic of Ireland]] (8%), while the most forested country is [[Finland]] (72%).
[[Image:Poland Bialowieza - BPN.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Białowieża National Park]], Poland]]
In temperate Europe, mixed forest with both [[flowering plant|broadleaf]] and [[pinophyta|coniferous]] trees dominate. The most important species in central and western Europe are [[beech]] and [[oak]]. In the north, the taiga is a mixed [[spruce]]-[[pine]]-[[birch]] forest; further north within Russia and extreme northern Scandinavia, the taiga gives way to [[tundra]] as the Arctic is approached. In the Mediterranean, many [[olive]] trees have been planted, which are very well adapted to its arid climate; [[Cupressus sempervirens|Mediterranean Cypress]] is also widely planted in southern Europe. The semi-arid Mediterranean region hosts much scrub forest. A narrow east-west tongue of Eurasian [[grassland]] (the [[steppe]]) extends eastwards from Ukraine and southern Russia and ends in Hungary and traverses into taiga to the north.

Glaciation during the most recent [[ice age]] and the presence of man affected the distribution of European fauna. As for the animals, in many parts of Europe most large animals and top [[predator]] species have been hunted to extinction. The [[woolly mammoth]] and [[aurochs]] were extinct before the end of the [[Neolithic]] period. Today [[wolf|wolves]] ([[carnivore]]s) and [[bears]] ([[omnivore]]s) are endangered. Once they were found in most parts of Europe. However, deforestation caused these animals to withdraw further and further. By the [[Middle Ages]] the bears' habitats were limited to more or less inaccessible mountains with sufficient forest cover. Today, the brown bear lives primarily in the Balkan peninsula, Scandinavia, and Russia; a small number also persist in other countries across Europe (Austria, Pyrenees etc.), but in these areas brown bear populations are fragmented and marginalised because of the destruction of their habitat. In addition, [[polar bear]]s may be found on [[Svalbard]], an autonomous [[Norway|Norwegian]] island region far north of Scandinavia. The wolf, the second largest predator in Europe after the brown bear, can be found primarily in [[Eastern Europe]] and in the Balkans, with a handful of packs in Spain and Scandinavia.

Other important European carnivores are [[Eurasian lynx]], European [[wild cat]], [[fox]]es (especially the [[red fox]]), [[jackal]] and different species of [[marten]]s, [[hedgehog]]s, different species of snakes ([[viper]]s, [[grass snake]]...), different birds ([[owl]]s, [[hawk]]s and other [[birds of prey]]).

Important European [[herbivore]]s are [[snail]]s, [[amphibian]] [[Larva|larvae]], [[fish]], different birds, and [[mammal]]s, like [[rodent]]s, [[deer]] and [[roe deer]], [[boar]]s, and living in the mountains, [[marmot]]s, [[Alpine Ibex|steinbocks]], [[chamois]] among others.

Sea creatures are also an important part of European flora and fauna. The sea flora is mainly [[phytoplankton]]. Important animals that live in European seas are [[zooplankton]], [[mollusc]]s, [[echinoderm]]s, different [[crustacean]]s, [[squid]]s and [[octopuses]], fish, [[dolphin]]s, and [[whales]].


== Demographics ==

Almost all of Europe was possibly settled before or during the last [[ice age]] about 10,000 years ago. It has been suggested that [[Neanderthal man]] and [[modern man]] coexisted during at least some of this time. Roman road building helped with the [[Hybrid|interbreeding]] of the native Europeans' genetics. In contemporary times Europe has one of the lowest [[fertility]] rates in the world.


== Political geography ==
=== Extent ===

[[Image:Map_of_Europe_(political).png|thumb|center|500px|Territories of Europe (also see [[transcontinental nation]]):

{{legend|#67e863|Europe}}

{{legend|#9ac0ea|Extension into Asia of the continuous territory of a European state}}

{{legend|#5d66be|Physiographically in Asia, considered European for cultural and historical reasons<sup>&#91;[[Wikipedia:Citing sources|''citation&nbsp;needed'']]&#93;</sup> }}]]

=== Territories and regions ===
[[Image:Location-Europe-UNsubregions.png|right|thumb|230px|[[Region]]s of Europe as delineated by the 
The countries in this table are categorised according to the [[UN geoscheme|scheme for geographic subregions]] used by the [[United Nations]], and data included are per sources in cross-referenced articles. Where they differ, provisos are clearly indicated.

According to different definitions, such as consideration of the concept of [[Central Europe]], the following territories and regions may be subject to various other categorisations.

{| border=1 cellspacing=3 cellpadding=4 style="float:center; margin:0 0 .5em 1em; width:500px; background:#505050; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px solid #999; font-size:83%; line-height:1.5; " summary="Infobox Automobile"
|- style="text-align:center; background:#505050;"
|- tr BGCOLOR=darkred
! Name of [[subregion|region]] and<br>territory, with [[flag]]
! [[List of countries by area|Area]]<br>(km²)
! [[List of countries by population|Population]]<br>([[1 July]] [[2002]] est.)
! [[List of countries by population density|Population density]]<br>(per km²)
! [[Capital]]
|-
| colspan=5 style="background:darkred;" | '''[[Eastern Europe]]:'''
|-
| Belarus  --   [[Belarus]]
| align="right" | 207,600
| align="right" | 10,335,382
| align="right" | 49.8
| [[Minsk]]
|-
| Bulgaria  --   [[Bulgaria]]
| align="right" | 110,910
| align="right" | 7,621,337
| align="right" | 68.7
| [[Sofia]]
|-
| Czech Republic  --   [[Czech Republic]]
| align="right" | 78,866
| align="right" | 10,256,760
| align="right" | 130.1
| [[Prague]]
|-
| Hungary  --   [[Hungary]]
| align="right" | 93,030
| align="right" | 10,075,034
| align="right" | 108.3
| [[Budapest]]
|-
| Moldova  --   [[Moldova]]
| align="right" | 33,843
| align="right" | 4,434,547
| align="right" | 131.0
| [[Chişinău]]
|-
| Poland  --   [[Poland]]
| align="right" | 312,685
| align="right" | 38,625,478
| align="right" | 123.5
| [[Warsaw]]
|-
| Romania  --   [[Romania]]
| align="right" | 238,391
| align="right" | 21,698,181
| align="right" | 91.0
| [[Bucharest]]
|-
| Russia  --   [[Russia]]
| align="right" | 3,960,000
| align="right" | 106,037,143
| align="right" | 26.8
| [[Moscow]]
|-
| Slovakia  --   [[Slovakia]]
| align="right" | 48,845
| align="right" | 5,422,366
| align="right" | 111.0
| [[Bratislava]]
|-
| Ukraine  --   [[Ukraine]]
| align="right" | 603,700
| align="right" | 48,396,470
| align="right" | 80.2
| [[Kyiv]]
|-
| colspan=5 style="background:darkred;" | '''[[Northern Europe]]:'''
|-
| Åland  --   [[Åland]] ([[Finland]])
| align="right" | 1,552
| align="right" | 26,008
| align="right" | 16.8
| [[Mariehamn]]
|-
| Denmark  --   [[Denmark]]
| align="right" | 43,094
| align="right" | 5,368,854
| align="right" | 124.6
| [[Copenhagen]]
|-
| Estonia  --   [[Estonia]]
| align="right" | 45,226
| align="right" | 1,415,681
| align="right" | 31.3
| [[Tallinn]]
|-
| Faroe Islands  --   [[Faroe Islands]] ([[Denmark]])
| align="right" | 1,399
| align="right" | 46,011
| align="right" | 32.9
| [[Tórshavn]]
|-
| Finland  --   [[Finland]]
| align="right" | 336,593
| align="right" | 5,157,537
| align="right" | 15.3
| [[Helsinki]]
|-
| Guernsey  --   [[Guernsey]]
| align="right" | 78
| align="right" | 64,587
| align="right" | 828.0
| [[St Peter Port]]
|-
| Iceland  --   [[Iceland]]
| align="right" | 103,000
| align="right" | 304,334
| align="right" | 2.7
| [[Reykjavík]]
|-
| Ireland  --   [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| align="right" | 70,280
| align="right" | 3,883,159
| align="right" | 55.3
| [[Dublin]]
|-
| Isle of Man  --   [[Isle of Man]]
| align="right" | 572
| align="right" | 73,873
| align="right" | 129.1
| [[Douglas, Isle of Man|Douglas]]
|-
| Jersey  --   [[Jersey]]
| align="right" | 116
| align="right" | 89,775
| align="right" | 773.9
| [[Saint Helier]]
|-
| Latvia  --   [[Latvia]]
| align="right" | 64,589
| align="right" | 2,366,515
| align="right" | 36.6
| [[Riga]]
|-
| Lithuania  --   [[Lithuania]]
| align="right" | 65,200
| align="right" | 3,601,138
| align="right" | 55.2
| [[Vilnius]]
|-
| Norway  --   [[Norway]]
| align="right" | 324,220
| align="right" | 4,525,116
| align="right" | 14.0
| [[Oslo]]
|-
| Norway  --   [[Svalbard and Jan Mayen|Svalbard and Jan<br>Mayen Islands]] ([[Norway]])
| align="right" | 62,049
| align="right" | 2,868
| align="right" | 0.046
| [[Longyearbyen]]
|-
| Sweden  --   [[Sweden]]
| align="right" | 449,964
| align="right" | 9,090,113
| align="right" | 19.7
| [[Stockholm]]
|-
| United Kingdom  --   [[United Kingdom]]
| align="right" | 244,820
| align="right" | 60,201,000
| align="right" | 244.2
| [[London]]
|-
| colspan=5 style="background:darkred;" | '''[[Southern Europe]]:'''
|-
| Albania  --   [[Albania]]
| align="right" | 28,748
| align="right" | 3,544,841
| align="right" | 123.3
| [[Tirana]]
|-
| Andorra  --   [[Andorra]]
| align="right" | 468
| align="right" | 68,403
| align="right" | 146.2
| [[Andorra la Vella]]
|-
| Bosnia and Herzegovina  --   [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
| align="right" | 51,129
| align="right" | 3,964,388
| align="right" | 77.5
| [[Sarajevo]]
|-
| CRO  --   [[Croatia]]
| align="right" | 56,542
| align="right" | 4,390,751
| align="right" | 77.7
| [[Zagreb]]
|-
| Gibraltar  --   [[Gibraltar]] ([[United Kingdom|UK]])
| align="right" | 5.9
| align="right" | 27,714
| align="right" | 4,697.3
| [[Gibraltar]]
|-
| Greece  --   [[Greece]]
| align="right" | 131,940
| align="right" | 10,645,343
| align="right" | 80.7
| [[Athens]]
|-
| Italy  --   [[Italy]]
| align="right" | 301,230
| align="right" | 57,715,625
| align="right" | 191.6
| [[Rome]]
|-
| Macedonia  --   [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]]
| align="right" | 25,333
| align="right" | 2,054,800
| align="right" | 81.1
| [[Skopje]]
|-
| Malta  --   [[Malta]]
| align="right" | 316
| align="right" | 397,499
| align="right" | 1,257.9
| [[Valletta]]
|-
| Montenegro  --   [[Montenegro]]
| align="right" | 13,812
| align="right" | 616,258
| align="right" | 44.6
| [[Podgorica]]
|-
| Portugal  --   [[Portugal]]
| align="right" | 91,568
| align="right" | 10,084,245
| align="right" | 110.1
| [[Lisbon]]
|-
| San Marino  --   [[San Marino]]
| align="right" | 61
| align="right" | 27,730
| align="right" | 454.6
| [[San Marino, San Marino|San Marino]]
|-
| Serbia  --   [[Serbia]]
| align="right" | 88,361
| align="right" | 9,663,742
| align="right" | 109.4
| [[Belgrade]]
|-
| Slovenia  --   [[Slovenia]]
| align="right" | 20,273
| align="right" | 1,932,917
| align="right" | 95.3
| [[Ljubljana]]
|-
| Spain  --   [[Spain]]
| align="right" | 498,506
| align="right" | 40,077,100
| align="right" | 80.4
| [[Madrid]]
|-
| Vatican City  --   [[Vatican City]]
| align="right" | 0.44
| align="right" | 900
| align="right" | 2,045.5
| [[Vatican City]]
|-
| colspan=5 style="background:darkred;" | '''[[Western Europe]]:'''
|-
| Austria  --   [[Austria]]
| align="right" | 83,858
| align="right" | 8,169,929
| align="right" | 97.4
| [[Vienna]]
|-
| Belgium  --   [[Belgium]]
| align="right" | 30,510
| align="right" | 10,274,595
| align="right" | 336.8
| [[Brussels]]
|-
| France  --   [[France]]
| align="right" | 547,030
| align="right" | 59,765,983
| align="right" | 109.3
| [[Paris]]
|-
| Germany  --   [[Germany]]
| align="right" | 357,021
| align="right" | 83,251,851
| align="right" | 233.2
| [[Berlin]]
|-
| Liechtenstein  --   [[Liechtenstein]]
| align="right" | 160
| align="right" | 32,842
| align="right" | 205.3
| [[Vaduz]]
|-
| Luxembourg  --   [[Luxembourg]]
| align="right" | 2,586
| align="right" | 448,569
| align="right" | 173.5
| [[Luxembourg (city)|Luxembourg]]
|-
| Monaco  --   [[Monaco]]
| align="right" | 1.95
| align="right" | 31,987
| align="right" | 16,403.6
| [[Monaco]]
|-
| Netherlands  --   [[Netherlands]]
| align="right" | 41,526
| align="right" | 16,318,199
| align="right" | 393.0
| [[Amsterdam]]
|-
| Switzerland  --   [[Switzerland]]
| align="right" | 41,290
| align="right" | 7,301,994
| align="right" | 176.8
| [[Bern]]
|-
| colspan=5 style="background:darkred;" | '''[[Central Asia]]:'''
|-
| Kazakhstan  --   [[Kazakhstan]]
| align="right" | 370,373
| align="right" | 1,285,174
| align="right" | 3.4
| [[Astana]]
|-
| colspan=5 style="background:darkred;" | '''[[Western Asia]] and [[Caucasus]]:'''
|-
| Armenia  --   [[Armenia]]
| align="right" | 29,800
| align="right" | 3,215,800
| align="right" | 101
| [[Yerevan]]
|-
| Azerbaijan  --   [[Azerbaijan]]
| align="right" | 39,730
| align="right" | 4,198,491
| align="right" | 105.7
| [[Baku]]
|-
| Cyprus  --   [[Cyprus]]
| align="right" | 9,251
| align="right" | 835,000
| align="right" | 90
| [[Nicosia]]
|-
| Georgia  --   [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]
| align="right" | 49,240
| align="right" | 2,447,176
| align="right" | 49.7
| [[Tbilisi]]
|-
| Turkey  --   [[Turkey]]
| align="right" | 24,378
| align="right" | 11,044,932
| align="right" | 453.1
| [[Ankara]]
|- style=" font-weight:bold; "
| Total
| align="right" | 10,396,619
| align="right" | 708,241,928
| align="right" | 68.1
|}

<br>

==Languages and cultures== <!-- The section needs to be edited and improved. -->

[[Image:Europa-Lingvoj--RS2006030842.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Map showing the approximate current distribution of languages in Europe.]]

[[Image:Europe countries map local lang.png|right|250px|thumb|Europe countries in local languages.]]


: ''See also: [[Eurolinguistics]]''

There are several linguistic groups widely recognised in Europe. These sometimes (but not always) coincide with cultural and historical connections between the various nations, though in other cases religion is considered a more significant distinguishing factor.


=== Romance languages ===

[[Romance languages]] are spoken more or less in south-western Europe, as well as [[Romania]] and [[Moldova]] which are situated in [[Eastern Europe]]. This area consists of: [[Italy]], [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], [[France]], [[Romania]], [[Moldova]], French-speaking [[Belgium]] ([[Wallonia]], [[Brussels]]), [[Romandy]], [[French language|French]]-speaking Switzerland, [[Romansh]]-speaking Switzerland, and [[Italian language|Italian]]-speaking Switzerland.  All Romance languages are derived from the Roman language, [[Latin]].

=== Germanic languages ===

[[Germanic languages]] are spoken more or less in north-western Europe and some parts of [[central Europe]]. This region consists of:  [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Germany]], most of the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[Republic of Ireland]], [[Denmark]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Austria]], [[Liechtenstein]], most of [[Switzerland]],   [[Iceland]],  [[Flanders]] and the German-speaking areas of [[Belgium]], the [[Faroe Islands]], [[Luxembourg]],  the [[Finland Swedish|Swedish-speaking]] [[municipalities of Finland|municipalities]] of Finland, and [[South Tyrol]] in Italy.

=== Slavic languages ===

[[Slavic languages]] are spoken in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. This area consists of: [[Belarus]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Croatia]], the [[Czech Republic]], [[Saxony]]   and [[Brandenburg]] in [[Germany]], the [[Republic of Macedonia]], [[Montenegro]], [[Poland]], [[Russia]], [[Serbia]], [[Slovakia]], [[Slovenia]] and [[Ukraine]].

==== Cyrillic Alphabet ====

The [[Cyrillic alphabet]] is named after St Cyril, a missionary from Byzantium. It was invented in the [[First Bulgarian Empire]] sometime during the 10th century AD, possibly by St Kliment of Ohrid, to write the Old Church Slavonic language. The Cyrillic alphabet achieved its current form in 1708 during the reign of Peter the Great. Four letters were eliminated from the alphabet in a 1917/18 reform.

The Cyrillic alphabet has been adapted to write over 50 different languages, mainly in Russia, Central Asia and part of Eastern Europe. In many cases additional letters are used, some of which are adaptations of standard Cyrillic letters, while others are taken from the Greek or Latin alphabets.

=== Uralic languages ===

The [[Uralic Languages]] are divided into three main groups of which the [[Finno-Permic languages]] are spoken in [[Finland]], [[Estonia]] and European [[Russia]] while the [[Ugric]] languages are spoken in [[Hungary]], parts of [[Romania]], [[Slovakia]], [[Serbia]], [[Ukraine]], and Siberian Russia. These two main branches form the group of the [[Finno-Ugric languages]].

=== Altaic languages ===

[[Turkic Languages]] are spoken in [[Turkey]], [[Azerbaijan]], the [[Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus]] (recognised only by Turkey), parts of [[Bulgaria]], parts of [[Greece]], parts of [[Romania]], parts of the [[Republic of Macedonia]], parts of [[Moldova]], parts of [[Russia]], parts of [[Ukraine]] and parts of the [[Caucasus]].

=== Baltic languages ===

[[Baltic languages]] are spoken in [[Lithuania]] and [[Latvia]]. ([[Estonia]]'s national language is part of the [[Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric]] family even though it is a [[Baltic state]] geographically.)

=== Celtic languages ===

[[Celtic Languages]] were originally used only to describe the [[Irish language|Gaelic]] language in [[Ireland]], however the term now extends to the other [[Goidelic languages|Gaelic]] and [[Brythonic languages]]. [[Celtic Europe]] are those countries and regions where [[Celtic languages]] are spoken. The [[Celtic nations]] are: [[Ireland]], [[Scotland]] (UK), [[Wales]] (UK), [[Cornwall]] (UK), the [[Isle of Man]] (a [[Crown Dependency|British Crown dependency]]) and [[Brittany]] (within [[France]]). These are all nations where a [[Celtic Languages|Celtic language]] is spoken and share in Celtic organisations (see [[Pan Celticism]]).

Sometimes considered Celtic nations are [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] and [[Asturias]] (both autonomous communities of [[Spain]]), and England (in addition to Cornwall) where Celtic influence remains in some regional dialects (see [[Cumbric]]), although [[Southwestern Brythonic|England's Celtic languages]] died out as recently as the 18th century in Devon.


=== Other languages ===

Outside of these six main linguistic groups one can find:

* The [[Greek language]], spoken in [[Greece]], [[Cyprus]] and parts of [[Turkey]], [[Albania]] and [[Italy]], and in [[Greek diaspora]] communities in several other European countries (most notably [[Germany]]).
* The [[Albanian language]] is its own independent branch of the Indo-European language family with no close living relatives. Most scholars maintain that it derives from the [[Illyrian language]]. Major Albanian-speaking communities outside Albania live in Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece, and Turkey.
* Ibero-Caucasian, a group that includes ethnic groups throughout the [[Caucasus]] region (both North and South). [[Ibero-Caucasian languages]] are not linked to the [[Indo-European languages]]. This group includes [[Georgians]], [[Abkhaz people|Abkhaz]], [[Chechens]], [[Ingush]], [[Bats people|Bats]], and a number of other smaller ethnic groups that reside in the [[Caucasus]].
* The [[Maltese language]], a member of the Afro-Asian group, which includes [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], is spoken in [[Malta]]. Unlike other Semitic languages, Maltese is written in the [[Roman alphabet]].
* The [[Basque language]] is spoken in parts of southern France and northern Spain, i.e. the [[Basque Country (historical territory)|Basque Country]]

== Religions ==

[[Image:Europe religion map en.png|thumb|250px|Predominant religions in Europe]]


The most popular religions of Europe are the following:

* '''[[Christianity]]'''
** '''[[Roman Catholicism]]''': Countries or areas with significant Catholic populations are [[Portugal]], [[Spain]], [[France]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Belgium]], south [[Netherlands]], the [[Republic of Ireland]], [[Northern Ireland]], south and west [[Germany]], south [[Switzerland]], [[Italy]], [[Malta]], [[Austria]], [[Hungary]],[[Slovenia]], [[Croatia]], the Croatian parts of [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Slovakia]], the [[Czech Republic]], [[Poland]], west [[Belarus]],[[Romania]], [[Latgale]] region in [[Latvia]], and [[Lithuania]]. There are also large Catholic minorities in [[England]], [[Scotland]], [[Wales]] and most European Countries.
** '''[[Eastern Rite Catholic Churches|Eastern-Rite Catholicism]]''': including west [[Ukraine]].
** '''[[Orthodox Christianity]]''': The countries with significant Orthodox populations are [[Albania]], [[Armenia]], [[Belarus]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Cyprus]], [[Finland]] ([[Karelia]]), [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Greece]], [[the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]], [[Moldova]], [[Montenegro]], [[Romania]], [[Russia]], [[Serbia]], [[Ukraine]].
** '''[[Protestantism]]''': Countries with significant Protestant populations include [[Norway]], [[Iceland]], [[Sweden]], [[Finland]], [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Denmark]], [[Germany]], the [[Netherlands]] and [[Switzerland]]. There are significant minorities in [[France]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Hungary]].
* '''[[Islam]]''': Countries with significant Muslim population are [[Albania]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Bulgaria]],  [[Republic of Macedonia]], [[Serbia]] (especially in [[Kosovo]]), [[Montenegro]], several republics of [[Russia]], [[Crimea]] in [[Ukraine]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Turkey]], [[Azerbaijan]] and [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. Also, [[as of 2005]], about 5% of the EU identify themselves as Muslims, with small but well-established immigrant communities in [[Germany]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Benelux]], [[Sweden]] and [[France]].

Other religions are practised by smaller groups in Europe, including:

* '''[[Judaism]]''', mainly in [[Germany]], [[France]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Russia]] and [[Turkey]].
* '''[[Hinduism]]''', mainly among [[India]]n immigrants in the [[United Kingdom]].
* '''[[Buddhism]]''', thinly spread throughout western Europe, and in [[Kalmykia]], [[Russia]]
* Indigenous European '''[[Polytheistic reconstructionism|pagan]]''' traditions and beliefs, many countries.
* '''[[Rastafari]]''', communities in the [[United Kingdom]], France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and elsewhere.
* '''[[Sikhism]]''' and '''[[Jainism]]''', both mainly among Indian immigrants in the [[United Kingdom]].
* '''[[Voodoo]]''', mainly among [[blacks|black]] [[Caribbean]] and [[West African]] immigrants in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[France]].
* '''[[African religions|Traditional African Religions]]''' (including [[Muti]]), mainly in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[France]].

Millions of Europeans profess no religion or are atheist or agnostic. The largest non-confessional populations (as a percentage) are found in the [[Netherlands]], [[Sweden]], the [[Czech Republic]], [[Belgium]] and [[France]], although most former [[communist]] countries have significant non-confessional populations. Attendance at church is a minority activity in most Western European countries - as an example, the Church of England attracts around 1 million worshippers on a Sunday [http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr0306.html], which corresponds to about 2% of the population of [[England]].

=== Official religions ===

A number of countries in Europe have [[official religion]]s, including Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Vatican City (Catholic), Greece (Eastern Orthodox); Denmark, Iceland, and Norway (Lutheran). In Switzerland, some [[Cantons of Switzerland|cantons]] are officially Catholic, others Reformed Protestant. Some Swiss villages even have their religion as well as the village name written on the signs at their entrances.

Georgia has no established church, but the [[Georgian Orthodox Church]] enjoys "''de facto''" privileged status. In Finland, both [[Finnish Orthodox Church]] and [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland|Lutheran church]] are official. England, a part of the UK, has [[Anglicanism]] as its official religion. Scotland, another part of the UK, has Presbyterianism as the 'National' church, but is no longer "official", and in Sweden, the 'National' church is [[Lutheran]], but no longer "official". Portugal, Spain, France, Romania, Turkey and Azerbaijan are officially "secular".

== See also ==

* [[Eurasia]]
* [[Culture of Europe]]
* [[Economy of Europe]]
* [[Eurolinguistics]]
* [[List of extinct animals of Europe|Extinct animals of Europe]]
* [[Geography of Europe]]
* [[Prehistoric Europe]]
* [[History of Europe]]
* [[The European miracle]]
* [[Politics of Europe]]
* [[Transport in Europe]]
* [[Eurozone]]
* [[European Union]]
* [[Visegrad Group]]
* [[Superpower#European Union controversy|Europe as a potential superpower]]
* [[Euroregion]]
* [[European American]]

===Lists and tables===
====General====
* [[Flags of Europe]]
* [[Europe#Territories and regions|Table of European territories and regions]]
====Demographics====
* [[Area and population of European countries]]
* [[European Union Statistics]]
* [[Largest European metropolitan areas|The most populous metropolitan areas in Europe]]
* [[Largest urban areas of the European Union|The most populous urban areas of the European Union]]
* [[Largest cities of the European Union by population within city limits]]
====Economy====
* [[Economy of the European Union]]
* [[Financial and social rankings of European countries]]
* [[List of European countries by GDP|GDP of European Countries]]
====Political====
* [[Names of European cities in different languages|Alternative names of European cities]]
* [[Date of independence of European countries]]
* [[International Organisations in Europe]] (table of membership)
====Geography====
* [[List of European countries in order of geographical area]]
====Other====
* [[List of Europe-related topics]]

== External links ==

* "Europe". ''[http://www.columbiagazetteer.org/ The Columbia Gazetteer of the World Online]''. 2005.  New York: Columbia University Press.
* [http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk/ Essays on European Borders, Identity, Culture and Society] Hidden Europe Magazine. pub. Berlin: Germany (in English)
* [http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=13266 Europe at Night] at [[NASA Earth Observatory]]
* [http://www.eurotravelinfo.com Need to know about Visiting Europe]
* [http://www.geog.tamu.edu/~prout/GVmidtermTwo.html Regions of Europe]
* [http://www.eufpc.org EUFPC European Foreign Policy Council]
* [http://www.parks.it/europa/Eindex.html Parks in Europe] - National parks, nature parks, reserves and other protected areas.
* [http://www.ee-photo.com Eastern European Photos @ ee-photo.com]
* [http://www.euratlas.com/europe_photos/ 500+ Photos of Europe]
* [http://www.scs.uiuc.edu/~mcdonald/WorldHaplogroupsMaps.pdf Genetic distribution for the world and specifically for Europe] (PDF)
* [http://www.europe2u.com Europe2U] Maps Photos and information about Europe.
* [http://www.worldmapfinder.com/Map_Search.php?ID=/En/Europe  Maps of Europe]
* [http://www.panoramy.net/home.php?lang=english_gb Panoramic photos of Central Europe]
* [http://www.ena.lu History and institutions of the united Europe (videos, photos, maps,...)] : European Navigator
*[http://www.neurope.eu  International Newspaper Political, business and economic news for EU, Balkans, Russia and Eurasia. Includes news analysis, editorial and Kassandra's Notebook. ] : New Europe Newspaper


[[Category:Continents]]
[[Category:Europe|Europe]]