How many continents are there? I'm sure, at primary school we were taught five -Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, South America.
At secondary school, the problem of Australia (or Australasia, or Oceania) and Antarctica raised their heads. And Central America was added to the equation.
Harwich for the Continent, they said, (and Frinton for the incontinent).
Alternatively, there are but two main continents - Eurasia/Africa and America. Oh, and Australia and Antarctica.
But how many of the world's population live in island states>
- Indonesia 210 million
- Japan 127 million
- Phillipines 85 million
- UK 60 million
- Caribbean nations and territories 38 million
- Madagascar 16 million
- New Zealand 4 million
- Ireland 4 million
- Mauritius 1.2 million
- plus Hong Kong's 7 million, whose sovereign status I don't fully understand
Also, there are dozens of nations and territories with populations in the tens and hundreds of thousands. And Pitcairn with its population of 44.
This indicates that some 600 million, one tenth of the world's population, lives in island nations or territories. This does not include those who live in the island regions of continental countries, such as Spain and USA.
- stats from Foreign Office
