The number of continents isn’t as straightforward as it seems—it depends on how a continent is defined. Different cultures and perspectives have led to various models of continental division.
The most widely accepted system, particularly in English-speaking countries, recognizes seven continents:
This seven-continent model is taught in many parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Some regions, particularly in Europe and Latin America, follow a six-continent model, which combines certain landmasses differently:
The Olympic Rings represent five continents: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. This model is mainly symbolic, used in the context of the Olympic Games rather than in geography education.
A minority view groups continents by geological or historical connections, leading to a four-continent system: Afro-Eurasia, America, Antarctica, and Australia.
Geologists sometimes view continents differently based on tectonic plates rather than traditional landmasses. This perspective leads to various interpretations, such as Zealandia, a mostly submerged continent in the Pacific, which includes New Zealand.
The number of continents varies depending on cultural, geographical, and scientific perspectives. The seven-continent model is the most commonly used, but six-, five-, and even four-continent models also exist.