Europe is a continent in the western part of the Eurasian landmass, conventionally delimited by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and, toward the south and east, by the Mediterranean and Black seas, the northern shore of the Caspian via the Emba (Zhem) River/Mughalzhar Hills and the Kuma–Manych Depression, and the Ural Mountains. Europe covers “some 4 million square miles (10 million square km)” and has a highly indented coastline of roughly 38,000 km. Britannica. As of 2025 the continent’s population is approximately 744 million. Worldometer (UN estimates).

Geography and environment

• –Boundaries and physiography: Europe is the second-smallest continent by area but includes broad lowlands, central uplands, and southern mountain chains (Alps, Pyrenees, Apennines, Balkans) with extensive coastal peninsulas (Iberian, Italian, Balkan, Scandinavian, and Jutland) and major island groups (British Isles, Iceland, Svalbard, Balearic, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Crete, Cyprus). Britannica. The eastern boundary is commonly traced along the Urals and, southward, by the Emba (Zhem) River to the northern Caspian, and then the Kuma–Manych Depression; alternative schemes use the Greater Caucasus watershed. Britannica.
• –Extremes and hydrography: Mount Elbrus (5,642 m) in the Caucasus is Europe’s highest peak. Britannica. The Volga River (3,530 km) is the longest river, draining south to the Caspian Sea. Britannica. Lake Ladoga in northwest Russia (about 17,600 km²) is the largest lake entirely within Europe. Britannica.
• –Climate and change: Europe spans maritime, continental, and Mediterranean climates as classified in the Köppen system. Britannica. Recent observations show Europe warming faster than the global average: the 2015–2024 decade over European land was about 2.19–2.26°C above the 1850–1900 baseline; 2024 was the warmest year on record in Europe. European Environment Agency; Copernicus C3S/WMO; European Commission news on ESOTC 2024.

Peoples and languages

• –Demography: Europe’s population has plateaued and is projected to decline over the long run as fertility remains below replacement in many states and populations age. UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024; UN DESA Policy Brief No. 167.
• –Languages: Most native European languages belong to the Indo‑European family, especially the Romance, Germanic, and Slavic branches. Britannica. Across the continent more than 200 languages are spoken; within the European Union there are 24 official languages. EU Publications: Let’s Explore Europe; EEAS, European Day of Languages 2025.

Historical development

• –Antiquity to the medieval era: Classical Greek and Roman civilizations shaped law, governance, philosophy, and urbanism; after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, medieval institutions evolved across diverse polities. Britannica.
• –Early modern transformations: The Renaissance fostered humanism, arts, and science, and, with the Reformation and Scientific Revolution, reshaped European thought. Britannica.
• –Industrialization: The Industrial Revolution began in 18th‑century Britain and diffused across Europe, transforming production, labor, and urbanization and catalyzing global economic integration. Britannica; Britannica.
• –Twentieth century conflict and integration: After World War I, Europe endured renewed devastation in World War II, culminating in massive human and material losses and continent‑wide realignment. Britannica; Britannica. The 1949 North Atlantic Treaty created NATO as a collective‑defense alliance; it now has 32 members. NATO Treaty (official text); Britannica.

Political and institutional landscape

• –European Union: The EU is a political and economic union of 27 states, rooted in the 1957 Treaty of Rome (establishing the European Economic Community) and subsequent treaties (Maastricht 1993; Lisbon 2009). EUR‑Lex; European Parliament—Treaty of Rome; EU history 1945–59.
• –Free movement: The Schengen Area enables passport‑free travel and, as of 1 January 2025, covers 29 countries (25 EU members—excluding Ireland and Cyprus—plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland); Bulgaria and Romania became full Schengen members on 1 January 2025 after air/sea integration in March 2024. Council of the EU press release; European Commission news; European Commission (Jan 2024).
• –Currency union: The euro is the single currency of 20 EU members (the euro area). ECB Data Portal; Eurozone overview. (In June 2025 the EU/ECB approved Bulgaria to adopt the euro on 1 January 2026, which would raise euro‑area membership to 21 states.) Reuters.
• –Wider organizations: The Council of Europe (46 member states) promotes human rights and the rule of law via the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights. Council of Europe—members. The OSCE has 57 participating States spanning Europe, North America, and Central Asia. OSCE.

Economy and society

• –Structure: Europe possesses a long‑developed resource base and diversified economies in which services dominate employment and output, while manufacturing and agriculture remain significant; high educational attainment and urbanization are characteristic. Britannica.
• –EU population and market: The EU had about 449–450 million residents on 1 January 2024–2025; recent growth primarily reflects net migration amid low natural increase. Eurostat—Demography 2025; Eurostat news 11 July 2025.

Countries and classification

• –Counts vary by definition. Using the UN geoscheme for “Europe” (M49 region 150), many references list 44 sovereign states in Europe, while alternative geographic or political criteria produce different tallies. UN M49 overview; Worldometer (citing UN).

Internal links: European Union, Schengen Area, Renaissance, Industrial Revolution, World War II, NATO.