"Official" List of Countries by Region for Challenges

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

I realize that many of these countries and localities can fall into more than one continent or geographical region. For the purposes of the group challenges, I have the following 9 regions:

2016 changes are in bold

Africa
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Canary Islands Can also be counted as Europe
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Congo (Republic)
Congo (DRC)
Djibouti
Egypt Can also be counted as Middle East
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire)
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Reunion
Rwanda
Sao Tome & Principe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Western Sahara
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Antarctica (Optional Region)

Asia
Afghanistan Can also be counted as Middle East
Armenia Can also be counted as Europe
Azerbaijan Can also be counted as Europe
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
Burma
Cambodia
China
East Timor
Georgia Can also be counted as Europe
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Kazakhstan
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Macau
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Nepal
Pakistan Can also be counted as Middle East
Philippines
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Tibet
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Vietnam

Caribbean
Anguilla
Antigua
Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
Bonaire
Cayman Islands
Cuba Can also be counted as Latin America
Curacao
Dominica
Dominican Republic Can also be counted as Latin America
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Haiti
Jamaica
Martinique
Montserrat
Puerto Rico Can also be counted as North America or Latin America
Saba
St. Barth's
St. Eustatius
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Maarten
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Trinidad & Tobago
Turks & Caicos
Virgin Islands (BVI)
Virgin Islands (USVI) Can also be counted as North America

Europe
Albania
Andorra
Austria
Azores
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Channel Islands (Guernsey, Jersey, may be counted separately)
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
England
Estonia
Faeroe Islands
Finland
France
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland - Republic of Ireland
Ireland - Northern Ireland
Italy (can also use Sardinia and Sicily separately)
Kosovo
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Madeira
Malta
Moldova
Monaco (Monte Carlo)
Montenegro
Netherlands (Holland)
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Scotland
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain (also Balearic Islands)
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
Vatican City
Wales

Latin America
Argentina
Belize Can also be counted as Caribbean
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Easter Island Can also be counted as Oceania
Ecuador
El Salvador
Falkland Islands
French Guiana Can also be counted as Caribbean
Galapagos Islands
Guatemala
Guyana Can also be counted as Caribbean
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname Can also be counted as Caribbean
Uruguay
Venezuela

The Middle East
Bahrain Can also be counted as Asia
Cyprus Can also be counted as Europe
Iran Can also be counted as Asia
Iraq Can also be counted as Asia
Israel Can also be counted as Asia
Jordan Can also be counted as Asia
Kuwait Can also be counted as Asia
Lebanon Can also be counted as Asia
Oman Can also be counted as Asia
Palestine Can also be counted as Asia
Qatar Can also be counted as Asia
Saudi Arabia Can also be counted as Asia
Syria Can also be counted as Asia
Turkey Can also be counted as Europe or Asia
United Arab Emirates Can also be counted as Asia
Yemen Can also be counted as Asia

North America
Bermuda Can also be counted as Caribbean
Canada
Greenland Can also be counted as Europe
Mexico Can also be counted as Latin America
USA

Oceania
Australia
Cook Islands
Fiji
French Polynesia (incl. Tahiti)
Guam & Wake
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Nauru
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Niue
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Pitcairn Island
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu

Ascension, Saint Helena, and Tristan da Cunha can be claimed as Oceania, Latin America, or Africa

[Courtney]

Diane wrote: "I realize that many of these countries and localities can fall into more than one continent or geographical region. For the purposes of the group challenges, I have the following 9 regions:

Afr..."

Did Syria and Uganda get kicked out? :-)

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Courtney wrote: "Diane wrote: "I realize that many of these countries and localities can fall into more than one continent or geographical region. For the purposes of the group challenges, I have the following 9 r..."

Oops. Not sure what happened. I put them back in.

[Erika]

I thought Hong Kong was part of China, and i put a book set in Hong Kong in China... I already changed it, though, after seeing this post.

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Erika wrote: "I thought Hong Kong was part of China, and i put a book set in Hong Kong in China... I already changed it, though, after seeing this post."

It is, but we have added a few semi-autonymous areas and some territories to the list for more options.

[Gemma]

Can I count the Arctic? Or does it have to have land under it...

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Gemma wrote: "Can I count the Arctic? Or does it have to have land under it..."

You can count it.

[Debra]

Since Okinawa is a protectorate of Japan, do I have to count it there or can I consider it a separate country?

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Debi wrote: "Since Okinawa is a protectorate of Japan, do I have to count it there or can I consider it a separate country?"

You can count it as either Japan or as Okinawa.

[Debra]

Thanks, Diane.

[Claire]

I was checking on Turkey to know where to add the book in my lists--neither listed in Asia nor Europe.

[Muriel]

I believe it's Asia.

[dely]

Claire wrote: "I was checking on Turkey to know where to add the book in my lists--neither listed in Asia nor Europe."

Turkey is considered middle-east.

[Donna]

I've included Russia as Asia, rather than as Europe. Geographically it's more in Asia than in Europe, and it's not a member of the European Union.

[Ugur]

I ama not sure putting Turkey to middle east group. according to Wikipedia it belongs to Europe, Asia and middle east.

in most organizations it belongs to Europe.
geographically most of it belongs to Asia.
culturally it is a bridge between three of the regions above.

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

I do realize some countries can be in more than one geographical area

(See post: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6...)

Feel free to count them however you like for challenge purposes, I just separated them out as a rough guideline based on how I learned them in geography class as a kid (many years ago and before many changes in the world). I just keep them in that order for consistency with my country lists and "Where We Have Been" lists.

I do realize that technically most of Russia and most of the countries I have placed in the middle east are in Asia.

[dely]

I have read Cloud Atlas who is set in the Hawaii.
Is it America or Oceania? Where must I add it? I couldn't find it.

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

dely wrote: "I have read Cloud Atlas who is set in the Hawaii.
Is it America or Oceania? Where must I add it? I couldn't find it."

You can count it as either.

[dely]

Fine, thanks ;)

[Suzanne]

I just finished In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors and it takes place mostly in the water (Pacific Ocean / Philipine Sea). The area is definitely Oceania, but I'm not sure where I could list the book. Maybe Guam since that was the last land port the USS Indianapolis touched before being torpedoed? Guam is also where the survivors were brought.

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Suzanne wrote: "I just finished In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors and it takes place mostly in the water (Pacific Ocean / Philipine Sea). The area ..."

Guam would certainly work as the setting.

[Suzanne]

Thanks Diane!

[Sharon]

As I mentioned in another post, Guyana really belongs in the Caribbean!

[Ines]

You put Azores and Madeira on the Europe list but they're part of Portugal. If for Spain you write "Spain (also Balearic Islands)", should Portugal say "Portugal (also Azores and Madeira)"?

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Toocreatives wrote: "You put Azores and Madeira on the Europe list but they're part of Portugal. If for Spain you write "Spain (also Balearic Islands)", should Portugal say "Portugal (also Azores and Madeira)"?"

I realize they are part of Portugal, but count them separately due to their distance from the main country.

[Ines]

Diane wrote: "Toocreatives wrote: "You put Azores and Madeira on the Europe list but they're part of Portugal. If for Spain you write "Spain (also Balearic Islands)", should Portugal say "Portugal (also Azores a..."

I see your point but as Portuguese, it doesn't make any sense. :)

[Jessica]

I like having those "separate" places :) not only because I can count it as an additional "country" in my challenge. It's also possible that the place could have a different culture/history etc. from the main country.

[Deedee]

I'm reading a historical mystery (Critique of Criminal Reason by Michael Gregorio) set in Königsberg, Prussia. Today, Königsberg is called Kaliningrad and is a part of Russia. The novel, however, has a very "German" feel to it, Königsberg was a German city at the time of the novel, the characters all have German names, and so on and so on. I keep going back and forth between counting it as Germany and counting it as Russia. What do you think?

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Deedee wrote: "I'm reading a historical mystery (Critique of Criminal Reason by Michael Gregorio) set in Königsberg, Prussia. Today, Königsberg is called Kaliningrad and is a part of Russia. The novel, however,..."

You can count it as either country.

[Laurel]

I was wondering about St. Croix-I know it is part of the US Virgin Islands, so does that make it technically part of the USA? Thanks. I found a book set in St. Croix-that's why I am inquiring. I am assuming so, but thought I might as well check. Thanks.

On Readerboard as LAUREL CA, but Laurel on GR

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Laurel wrote: "I was wondering about St. Croix-I know it is part of the US Virgin Islands, so does that make it technically part of the USA? Thanks. I found a book set in St. Croix-that's why I am inquiring. I am..."

You can count it as a separate country.

[Laurel]

Diane wrote: "Laurel wrote: "I was wondering about St. Croix-I know it is part of the US Virgin Islands, so does that make it technically part of the USA? Thanks. I found a book set in St. Croix-that's why I am ..."

Thank you!

[Susan]

Not to be political, but for challenge purposes, is Western Sahara a separate country or can I pass through it as part of Morocco?

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Susan wrote: "Not to be political, but for challenge purposes, is Western Sahara a separate country or can I pass through it as part of Morocco?"

You can use it either as a separate country or as part of Morocco.

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

See 2016 changes above