North America is the third largest continent, covering an area of 24.7 million km² (9.5 million sq mi). It is situated entirely in Earth's western hemisphere, bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Caribbean Sea, and to the west and south by the Pacific Ocean.
The population of North America is 378,904,407 (2023). Central America and the Caribbean are generally considered part of North America, making it one of the most geographically and culturally diverse continents on Earth.
Fun Facts about North America
Mexico City is the largest city in North America — spanning 573 square miles with an estimated population of nearly 22 million people, making it one of the great megacities of the world.
The Missouri River is the longest river in North America at 3,943 km, crossing seven US states. Combined with the Mississippi, the river system stretches an extraordinary 7,725 km.
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world, straddling the Canada–United States border and holding about 10% of the world's surface fresh water.
St Kitts and Nevis is the smallest country in North America with only about 54,000 inhabitants — a tiny island nation nestled in the Caribbean Sea.
Denali (6,190 m / 20,310 ft) in the Alaska mountain range is the highest peak in North America, towering above the surrounding wilderness of the great Alaskan landscape.
Satellite & Street Map
Fittotravel Maps | Countries of the WorldInteractive Chart Map of North America
Countries of North America
The continent of North America comprises 23 independent countries, in addition to many non-sovereign territories, including Greenland, the largest island in the world.
Central America and the Caribbean are usually considered part of North America.
| # | Country | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States | 339,433,746 |
| 2 |  Mexico | 128,141,559 |
| 3 |  Canada | 38,673,345 |
| 4 |  Guatemala | 18,009,964 |
| 5 |  Haiti | 11,678,565 |
| 6 |  Dominican Republic | 11,298,579 |
| 7 |  Cuba | 11,200,287 |
| 8 |  Honduras | 10,540,543 |
| 9 |  Nicaragua | 7,013,923 |
| 10 |  El Salvador | 6,355,529 |
| 11 |  Costa Rica | 5,201,833 |
| 12 |  Panama | 4,448,409 |
| 13 |  Jamaica | 2,826,147 |
| 14 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 1,533,655 |
| 15 |  Bahamas | 411,753 |
| 16 |  Belize | 408,989 |
| 17 |  Barbados | 281,877 |
| 18 |  Saint Lucia | 180,122 |
| 19 |  Grenada | 125,938 |
| 20 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 103,781 |
| 21 |  Antigua and Barbuda | 94,122 |
| 22 |  Dominica | 72,940 |
| 23 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 47,723 |
Non-Sovereign Territories
A list of non-sovereign states and dependent territories in North America.
| Territory | Population | Dependency of |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | 3,256,028 | United States |
| Guadeloupe | 396,051 | France |
| Martinique | 368,796 | France |
| Curaçao | 190,338 | Netherlands |
| Aruba | 106,537 | Netherlands |
| United States Virgin Islands | 100,091 | United States |
| Cayman Islands | 68,136 | United Kingdom |
| Bermuda | 64,185 | United Kingdom |
| Greenland | 56,243 | Denmark |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | 45,114 | United Kingdom |
| Sint Maarten | 44,042 | Netherlands |
| British Virgin Islands | 31,122 | United Kingdom |
| Anguilla | 15,753 | United Kingdom |
| Montserrat | 4,417 | United Kingdom |
| Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 5,883 | France |
Is Panama considered part of North America?
Panama may seem like it belongs to South America geographically, but it is actually part of North America. The same applies to Costa Rica and the rest of Central America — these countries form a land bridge linking North and South America. Central America and the Caribbean are universally considered part of the North American continent.
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