The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Science & Nature›Geography›Eurasia
Science & Nature • Geography

Eurasia

Eurasia is the combined continental landmass of Europe and Asia.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Eurasia is the combined continental landmass of Europe and Asia. It is commonly described as the largest contiguous landmass on Earth and is treated in some contexts as a single continent or supercontinent. The term is also used in geography, geology, and geopolitics for the broad region spanning most of the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres.

Definition

Eurasia refers to the combined landmass of Europe and Asia. Depending on context, it may be described as a single continent, a supercontinent, or a broad geographic region.

Geography

Eurasia spans much of the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres and is bordered by the Atlantic, Arctic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, with Africa to the southwest.

Population and size

Eurasia is the largest continental landmass by area and contains the majority of the world’s population. Estimates place its area at about 55 million km² and its population at more than 5 billion.

Use of the term

The word Eurasia is a portmanteau of Europe and Asia. It is used in scholarly and popular writing to describe the physical landmass and, in some contexts, the interconnected political or cultural space within it.

Key facts

  • Eurasia combines the landmasses of Europe and Asia.
  • It covers about 55 million square kilometres, or roughly 36% of Earth’s land area.
  • It contains well over 5 billion people, or around 70% of the world’s population.
  • The Europe–Asia boundary is historically and conventionally defined rather than based on a sharp physical divide.
  • The term is used as a geographical, geological, and geopolitical concept.
🍁
Canadian context

Canadian geography curricula and encyclopedias often use Eurasia as a comparative example when discussing continents, plate tectonics, and the Europe–Asia boundary.

Frequently asked questions

What is Eurasia?
Eurasia is the combined landmass of Europe and Asia, often treated as the world’s largest contiguous land area.
Is Eurasia a continent?
In some classifications, yes. In others, Europe and Asia are counted separately, so Eurasia is treated as a combined continental region or supercontinent.
How big is Eurasia?
It covers about 55 million square kilometres, or roughly 36% of Earth’s land area.
How many people live in Eurasia?
Estimates place its population at more than 5 billion people, or around 70% of the world’s population.
Why is the Europe–Asia boundary debated?
The division is largely historical and conventional rather than based on a single clear physical boundary.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasia
    Supports: Area, population, hemispheric extent, countries, time zones, and the note that Europe–Asia division is a historical social construct.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/Eurasia
    Supports: Definition of Eurasia as a geological and geopolitical term and its portmanteau origin from Europe and Asia.
  3. WorldAtlas — https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/eurasia.html
    Supports: Geographic description, approximate area, population estimate, borders, and common country counts.