West Asia: Countries – Map Quiz

West Asia (also called Western Asia or Southwest Asia) is the westernmost region of Asia. As defined by most academics, UN bodies and other institutions, the subregion consists of Anatolia, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Mesopotamia, the Armenian highlands, the Levant, the Sinai Peninsula and the South Caucasus.

West Asia does not have one exact definition. Different organizations and researchers include different countries in the region.

Some definitions include countries such as Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Jordan, and the Gulf states. Other definitions also include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Cyprus.

The United Nations Statistics Division includes Turkey, Georgia, and Cyprus in West Asia, but places Iran in South Asia. Other organizations, such as the OECD, include Iran but not countries in the South Caucasus.

Some groups use “West Asia” as a geographical term instead of “Middle East.” In this use, West Asia usually excludes most of Egypt but may include the South Caucasus. The term “Middle East” is more political and can change depending on historical and political context.

Because of these differences, there is no single universally accepted list of West Asian countries.